Big Law Life #74: How to Differentiate Yourself in a Crowded Legal Market
When it feels like you’re one of thousands of lawyers competing for the same clients, even within your own firm, differentiation becomes critical. In today’s episode, I talk about how to stand out when everyone around you seems to have the same credentials, practice area, and experience. I walk through tangible steps you can take—starting today—to position yourself as a go-to expert by identifying what makes your legal practice different and making that difference obvious to clients, partners, and prospective business. From narrowing your niche to using specific language that paints a vivid picture of your value, I cover ways to clarify your messaging, share your wins, and better connect with what your clients actually care about.
Whether you’re frustrated by a lack of inbound work, worried that your expertise is becoming commoditized, or simply trying to rise above the noise, this episode offers a practical approach to help you cut through.
At a Glance: 00:00 Competing in a saturated legal market and why general expertise falls flat 02:10 Reframing self-doubt into an opportunity to differentiate your legal practice 02:56 Carving out a niche with specificity—without becoming too narrow 04:09 Why factual, example-driven descriptions resonate more than generalities 05:06 Sharing proof of success: specific outcomes and stories that build trust 05:59 How to communicate your expertise effectively with media and audiences 07:15 A 3-question framework to define your unique value proposition 08:31 Going beyond labels: describing what you do in real terms 10:02 Understanding how you help clients—and what makes your approach unique 11:40 Tying it all together: using this framework to refine your personal brand 12:11 Listening to your clients to understand what success means to them 13:10 A client re-engagement story that shows the power of simply checking in 14:09 Why differentiation about personal resilience as well as strategy
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Interested in doing 1-2-1 coaching with Laura Terrell? Or learning more about her work coaching and consulting? Here are ways to reach out to her:
laura@lauraterrell.com
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Show notes: https://www.lauraterrell.com/podcast