Grow Your Law Firm

Welcome to episode 154 of the Grow Your Law Firm podcast, hosted by Ken Hardison. In this episode Ken sits down with Greg Ward and they talk about building a great law firm using processes and procedures. Attorney Greg Ward is the founder and managing partner of the Ward Law Group, one of South Florida's largest car accident law firms. He is an experienced courtroom lawyer and negotiator who fights tirelessly to make sure car accident victims in Florida (Miami / South Florida) receive the compensation they deserve for their physical injuries and financial losses. Together with his wife and co-founder, Jany Martinez-Ward, Greg focuses on serving the Hispanic community throughout Florida and beyond, bringing quality legal service to a community that is often underserved. For over a decade he has been an advocate for Spanish-speaking car accident victims and their family members who need assistance with complex and intimidating legal issues. The Ward Law Group distinguishes itself from other firms by providing clients with services tailored to their specific needs as Spanish-speakers. Greg believes that his clients deserve lawyers who speak their language and understand their stories. Greg ensures that his staff is trained to understand the challenges and limitations of every client so that they will receive what they are entitled to including exceptional service. Greg used to work for insurance companies. So, he has a deep understanding of how insurance businesses operate. He also knows the issues that can determine the ultimate success or failure of a case. This experience has given the Ward Law Group an edge in helping Spanish-speaking victims of car accidents who have suffered injuries and emotional trauma because of the wrongful actions of others. As a result of Greg's expertise, and practicing law for over 20 years, clients in Miami/South Florida have recovered over $250 million in compensation. "Insurance companies make money collecting premiums, not paying claims. So, there is a natural desire for insurance companies to want to reduce their payouts. This can put profits over people. At the Ward Law Group, we stand against that. I stand against that. Greg explains. In 2012, he founded the Ward Law Group with partner and wife, Jany. Initially, it was just the two of them, crammed into a small office with a folding table and a laptop. Soon their hired two other employees. With limited resources and funds, they took on the mission of assisting car accident victims in Hispanic communities in South Florida. Today, the Ward Law Group is one of South Florida's most reputable law firms dedicated to helping Spanish-speaking clients get justice for their injuries. Within the first decade, the Ward Law Group grew from a two-person team to over 120 team members devoted to helping accident victims and their families. It is rare to find a personal injury law firm where over 95% of the staff speaks Spanish. Our firm has been able to fill a void. It has truly been a blessing to be able to serve the Hispanic community and provide the legal representation that they are in need of Greg adds. What you’ll learn about in this episode: How Greg went from having nothing to creating a successful law firm Having a great story to build your law firm Remembering to celebrate the milestones within your company How offshore employees can benefit your firm Creating systems & processes to keep your firm running smoothly Utilizing call auditing with your team The importance of revenue per employee   Resources:  Twitter: https://twitter.com/gregorycward Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/attorneygregward/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gwardlaw/     Additional Resources:  PILMMA’s Super Summit: https://www.pilmma.org/summit/ The Mastermind Effect: https://www.pilmma.org/the-mastermind-effect/ PILMMA’s Free Resources: https://www.pilmma.org/resources/ PILMMA Join Page: https://www.pilmma.org/mastermind/

Welcome to episode 153 of the Grow Your Law Firm podcast, hosted by Ken Hardison. In this episode Ken sits down with Verne Harnish and they talk about compensation design for your workforce. Verne Harnish is founder of the world-renowned Entrepreneurs’ Organization (EO), with over 16,000 members worldwide, and chaired for fifteen years EO’s premiere CEO program held at MIT, a program in which he still teaches today. Founder and CEO of Scaling Up, a global executive education and coaching company with over 200 partners on six continents, Verne has spent the past four decades helping companies scaleup.  He’s the author of the bestseller Mastering the Rockefeller Habits; authored The Greatest Business Decisions of All Times," for which Jim Collins wrote the foreword; and wrote Scaling Up (Rockefeller Habits 2.0) which has been translated into 22 languages and has won eight major international book awards including the prestigious International Book Award for Best General Business book. His latest book, Scaling Up Compensation, rocketed to the #1 HR book on Amazon. Verne also chairs the annual ScaleUp Summits and serves on several boards including vice chair of The Riordan Clinic; co-founder and chair of Geoversity; and board member of the social venture, Million Dollar Women. A private investor in many scaleups, Verne enjoys piano, tennis, and magic as a card-carrying member of the International Brotherhood of Magicians.   What you’ll learn about in this episode: The five questions cutomers have and why you need to be prepared to answer them The importance of the language you use to refer to your workforce Strategist as the number one role of a succesfull leader The five principles for effective compensation design Leaving the past behind to move forward Incentivizing behaviors in your employees that make clients reach for their wallets Being different with your branding How there is nothing more unequal than the equal treatment of unequals When and how you should structure bonuses How peers work harder for each other than the boss   Resources:   Website: www.scalingup.com   Additional Resources: PILMMA’s Super Summit: https://www.pilmma.org/summit/ The Mastermind Effect: https://www.pilmma.org/the-mastermind-effect/ PILMMA’s Free Resources: https://www.pilmma.org/resources/ PILMMA Join Page: https://www.pilmma.org/mastermind/

Welcome to episode 152 of the Grow Your Law Firm podcast, hosted by Ken Hardison. In this episode Ken sits down with Jason Melton and they talk about the benefits to hiring offshore employees.   Jason started his career fighting for victims in Florida's criminal courtrooms and has continued that drive for equity and accountability in the civil arena against insurance companies and some of the country’s largest corporate entities. He is a life member of both the Million Dollar and Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum. Jason has also earned an AV Preeminent rating by Martindale-Hubbell and has been listed among Florida's Super Lawyers. He is a founding member of the National Academy of Motorcycle Injury Lawyers and was named Top 20 Motorcycle Injury Lawyer in the United States in 2020. Jason was also named among the top 100 High Stakes Litigators for his experience in cases worth over $2,000,000. Less than one-half percent (0.5%) of litigators in the United States are qualified for this distinction.   Bottom of Form What you’ll learn about in this episode:   How remote work is here to stay The benefits of hiring offshore employees for your company How hiring offshore lawyers to do paralegal work was a game changer Learn why offshore is becoming more popular   Resources:    Website: https://www.thefllawfirm.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/whittelandmelton/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jasonmeltonesquire/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-melton-206990/   Additional Resources:   PILMMA’s Super Summit: https://www.pilmma.org/summit/ The Mastermind Effect: https://www.pilmma.org/the-mastermind-effect/ PILMMA’s Free Resources: https://www.pilmma.org/resources/ PILMMA Join Page: https://www.pilmma.org/mastermind/  

Using Automation for Intake Efficiency Welcome to episode 151 of the Grow Your Law Firm podcast, hosted by Ken Hardison. In this episode Ken sits down with Joseph Ruotolo and they talk about using chat features to qualify leads. Joe is the Strategic Partnerships Manager at Intaker. He collaborates with Intaker's channel partners to drive results for their mutual client family with a focus on legal marketing technology and intake strategy. Before starting his career in tech, Joseph dedicated himself to teaching, both as a lecturer in mathematics and as a learning coach, where he helped bright young minds prepare for success in the most competitive colleges across the country. Joseph carried his passion for relationship building and analytical problem solving into the fast-paced startup world when he joined Intaker in 2020. Now, his mission is to help legal marketing agencies and channel partners equip their clients with the best-in-class automation tools to ignite their growth.   What you’ll learn about in this episode: Engaging leads with AI chat to qualify leads The importance of video marketing Why you need to include empathy and be authentic Guidance on creating video content An overview of Intaker and what makes it work Providing resources to unqualified leads to soften the rejection   Resources:  Website: http://intaker.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/intake_r Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/intaker/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/intaker/   Additional Resources: PILMMA’s Super Summit: https://www.pilmma.org/summit/ The Mastermind Effect: https://www.pilmma.org/the-mastermind-effect/ PILMMA’s Free Resources: https://www.pilmma.org/resources/ PILMMA Join Page: https://www.pilmma.org/mastermind/  

Welcome to episode 150 of the Grow Your Law Firm podcast, hosted by Ken Hardison. In this episode Ken sits down with David Haskins and they talk about types of growth strategies. David Haskins is the Founder & CEO of DRIVE Law Firm Marketing. He got his start in Law Firm Marketing back in 2009 helping Attorney David Aylor launch his practice. With little more than some creativity and hard work, they grew the office to 4 locations in 3 years. Since then, he has worked with over 100 law firms creating and implementing smart, aggressive growth strategies. His philosophy on marketing came from his early days at the firm, where money was tight and every dollar, lead, and new case was vital to the firm’s growth. What you’ll learn about in this episode: Lead magnets and if they’re useful on your homepage The importance of your organic ranking Secrets for LSAs Places to find your lead leaks Why you should check in on your intake calls Resources:  Website: https://wedrivecases.com/intake-accelerator/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WeDriveCases Twitter: https://twitter.com/wedrivecases LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/skinnysc   Additional Resources: PILMMA’s Super Summit: https://www.pilmma.org/summit/ The Mastermind Effect: https://www.pilmma.org/the-mastermind-effect/ PILMMA’s Free Resources: https://www.pilmma.org/resources/ PILMMA Join Page: https://www.pilmma.org/mastermind/  

Year End Planning   Welcome to episode 149 of the Grow Your Law Firm podcast, hosted by Ken Hardison. In this episode Ken has another solocast to go over your end of year planning. Ken Hardison is known as the "Millionaire Maker" for a reason. He has helped lawyers across the country double, triple, or quadruple their law practices and income. Ken teaches law firm owners the insights, knowledge, and critical strategies of Legal Marketing and Management that can only be learned in the trenches of real law firm success.  With over 30 years of legal experience, Ken has personally grown and sold two seven-figure law firms. Ken has shared his knowledge and experience with attorneys, helping them experience exponential growth, increased profits, and ethical market preeminence.  With a passion and deep understanding of both grassroots and cutting-edge online legal marketing strategies, Ken is committed to helping lawyers experience greater levels of financial success, freedom, and personal satisfaction- the kind that comes from building an ethical and exceptional law practice.  Focusing on the practical and the proven rather than the cerebral, Ken guides lawyers through the steps needed to build the law practice many lawyers have only dreamed possible.   What you’ll learn about in this episode: How to review your budget for the end of this year Ways to set up your monthly budget for next year Five examples of things to plan for in 2023 How to balance cash flow and cash reserves Why daily huddles are necessary for big wins, daily priorities, and getting unstuck Reasons to attend the PILMMA Super Summit Where to get “The Mastermind Effect”   Resources: PILMMA’s Super Summit: https://www.pilmma.org/summit/ The Mastermind Effect: https://www.pilmma.org/the-mastermind-effect/ PILMMA’s Free Resources: https://www.pilmma.org/resources/ PILMMA Join Page: https://www.pilmma.org/mastermind/  

Using Your Authentic Self for Social Media Advertising   Welcome to episode 148 of the Grow Your Law Firm podcast, hosted by Ken Hardison. In this episode Ken sits down with Dennis Yu and they talk about being authentic in social media. Early search engine engineer with now the best-selling book in social media on Amazon. Creator of "dollar a day" strategy. On a mission to create a million digital marketing jobs. Avid fan of Ken Hardison and Ali Awad.   What you’ll learn about in this episode: Letting the algorithm work for you How to humanize your business Ways to be yourself in your content The importance of showing gratitude What the “Dollar A Day” testing strategy is A guide to how often to post on social media in a day   Resources:  Website: https://www.dennis-yu.com/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@dennisyu5 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/getfound LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dennisyu/   Additional Resources: PILMMA’s Super Summit: https://www.pilmma.org/summit/ The Mastermind Effect: https://www.pilmma.org/the-mastermind-effect/ PILMMA’s Free Resources: https://www.pilmma.org/resources/ PILMMA Join Page: https://www.pilmma.org/mastermind/  

Riches & Niches: Maximizing Your Wealth in Your Firm   Welcome to episode 147 of the Grow Your Law Firm podcast, hosted by Ken Hardison. In this episode Ken sits down with Darren Wurz and they talk about becoming the lawyer millionaire. Darren specializes in serving the unique financial planning needs of attorneys and law firm owners. He is the host of The Lawyer Millionaire Podcast and author of The Lawyer Millionaire: The Complete Guide for Attorneys on Maximizing Wealth, Minimizing Taxes, and Retiring with Confidence, published by the American Bar Association.   What you’ll learn about in this episode: The biggest money mistakes attorneys make Where to consider making investments Why a 401k is the best thing for you   Resources:  Website: https://wurzfinancialservices.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wurzfinancialservice Twitter: https://twitter.com/wurzfinancial LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/darren-p-wurz/   Additional Resources: PILMMA’s Super Summit: https://www.pilmma.org/summit/ The Mastermind Effect: https://www.pilmma.org/the-mastermind-effect/ PILMMA’s Free Resources: https://www.pilmma.org/resources/ PILMMA Join Page: https://www.pilmma.org/mastermind/  

Implementing New Software with Attorneys   Welcome to episode 146 of the Grow Your Law Firm podcast, hosted by Ken Hardison. In this episode Ken sits down with Ashley O’Neil and they talk about implementing new software and establishing patterns of growth. As Director of Customer Success, Ashley is responsible for ensuring that our users reach their productivity and growth goals with GrowPath. She spends her day-to-day working with customers and keeping them informed about underutilized, new, and upcoming features to help them boost their bottom line. Prior to joining GrowPath, Ashley worked as a paralegal for a large law firm, handling intakes and her own caseload. She helped develop new procedures for her department when the firm transitioned to GrowPath as their case management system (and saw immediate results). Ashley builds professional and personal relationships with her clients and leverages creative technological processes to help firms maximize their efficiency     What you’ll learn about in this episode: Implementing case management software and training staff to use it. The details of keeping case information organized and easily searchable. Organization of tasks making it easier for all members of staff to complete tasks. How to avoid the mistake of “too many cooks in the kitchen” when dealing with case management. Give yourself and staff the grace to learn and increase productivity.   Resources:  https://growpath.com/     Additional Resources: PILMMA’s Super Summit: https://www.pilmma.org/summit/ The Mastermind Effect: https://www.pilmma.org/the-mastermind-effect/ PILMMA’s Free Resources: https://www.pilmma.org/resources/ PILMMA Join Page: https://www.pilmma.org/mastermind/  

National Podcast Day Special Welcome to episode 145 of the Grow Your Law Firm podcast, hosted by Ken Hardison. In this episode Ken sits down with Matt Dubin, Scott Monge, and Bertrand Russell Parnall and they talk about what tools they used to create successful practices. Matt Dubin has spent more than 20 years honing his skills as one of the top personal injury lawyers in the State of Washington. He has earned a rare “AV Preeminent” rating from Martindale-Hubbell, the highest rating available for legal ability and ethical standards. Matt has been recognized as a Top 10 Personal Injury Attorney in the Nation by the National Academy of Personal Injury Attorneys, and a Top One Percent Lawyer by the National Association of Distinguished Counsel. He has been named a Top 100 Lawyer by the National Trial Lawyers. Matt has recovered nearly $20 million on behalf of his clients. Scott Monge of Monge & Associates, a 200-member law firm headquartered in Atlanta, GA. Identified by Trial Magazine of One of the Most Influential Law Firms in America Monge Lawyers have argued and won cases before state Supreme Court. Bertrand Russell Parnall is an Albuquerque native, salutatorian of the Class of 1988 at Albuquerque High School, and co-captain of the district football champion Bulldogs. He earned his undergraduate degree from Rice University with a double major in history and French, and his law degree from the University of New Mexico School of Law after coming home to Albuquerque. Prior to starting his own firm, Bert worked in legal aid for the U.S. District Court for New Mexico, as a senior trial prosecutor in Valencia County (Los Lunas) criminal courts, and as a partner at another personal injury law firm.     What you’ll learn about in this episode: What it means to go from failure to failure with enthusiasm Matt, Scott, & Bert’s keys to success The importance of the 3 Ts How to build for tomorrow Advice on managing remote workers Strategies to handle potential market challenges   Resources:  Matt Dubin - Website: https://www.dubinlawoffice.com/ YouTube: https://m.youtube.com/c/Dubinlawoffice Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dubinlawoffice/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/dubinlawgroup   Scott Monge – Website: https://www.becauseyouwanttowin.com/   Bert Parnall – Website: https://www.hurtcallbert.com/     Additional Resources: PILMMA’s Super Summit: https://www.pilmma.org/summit/ The Mastermind Effect: https://www.pilmma.org/the-mastermind-effect/ PILMMA’s Free Resources: https://www.pilmma.org/resources/ PILMMA Join Page: https://www.pilmma.org/mastermind/