The Legal Toolkit

In this episode of The Legal Toolkit, host Jared Correia talks with ClariLegal founder and CEO Cash Butler about litigation support options available to law firms and legal practitioners. Cash encourages all litigation law firms to have a selection of providers that they are comfortable with so that they can execute work in a timely fashion. He acknowledges that it can be more difficult for smaller firms that don’t have a large litigation team but states that you must be as proactive as possible. Cash shares that large corporations that are highly litigious usually have preferred vendors that they like their law firms to use, however he does emphasize that service provider selection should be based on fiscal and service value. Choosing a litigation service provider in this manner allows for collaboration and greater transparency between the corporations seeking assistance and the law firm. He provides his list of fixed processes, like interviewing multiple service providers, that should be in place for vendor selection and his basic principles, like acquiring three to five bids for your litigation, that law firms and legal departments should apply to their decision making process. Cash discusses the different services that he feels law firms need to use on a regular basis and he closes the interview with an analysis of the importance of cost management throughout the entire vendor selection process. Special thanks to our sponsors Amicus Attorney and Scorpion.

In this episode of The Legal Toolkit, founder and president of Sword and the Script Media, LLC. Frank Strong talks with Heidi Alexander about content marketing and why it’s so important for lawyers. Frank starts by defining content marketing, a business process for creating and distributing relevant and valuable content, and briefly explains how this process can help lawyers build trust with their existing and prospective client base. He lists a few content marketing characteristics, like working consistently and ensuring that you own your distribution channel, and emphasizes that your content creation efforts should focus mainly on whichever platform you own. Frank encourages attorneys to seek client-oriented questions to help them in the content creation process and to use their own anecdotal style to guarantee a unique brand. He warns lawyers to establish a consistent publishing schedule, manageable with their busy lives, and reiterates that sustainability is the goal. Frank also instructs legal professionals to view their social media outlets as satellites that operate around, and integrate into, their main content hub. He lists his content marketing best practices, like clear documentation and iterative improvement focused progress, and provides a few examples of what makes a good marketing strategy. Frank closes the interview with a reflection on how content marketing has changed over the years and some emerging trends he sees for the future. Frank Strong is the founder and president of Sword and the Script Media, LLC, a veteran-owned business based in Atlanta focused on PR, content marketing and social media services.  However, most folks in the legal community will recognize him from his previous assignment as the communications director for the LexisNexis software division in Raleigh. During his tenure at LexisNexis he was the primary champion behind the LexisNexis Business of Law Blog, which garnered tens of thousands of visitors from the legal community every month and earned praise from likes of Forbes. Special thanks to our sponsors Amicus Attorney and Scorpion.

In this episode of The Legal Toolkit, FindLaw Senior Director of Strategic Development and Thought Leadership Mark Jacobsen talks with Jared Correia about the 2015 U.S. Consumer Legal Needs Survey. The study asks a consistent set of questions to a randomly selected group of consumers, ages 18 and over, who have had (or have family members who have had) legal concerns that they consider important or very important. Mark reveals that they typically receive around 2,000 responses and ensure a clean survey pool by disqualifying anyone who works for a law firm or marketing services group that does business with law firms. The purpose of the survey is to understand the mindset, preferences, and motivations of the consumer as they realize their legal problem and take steps toward rectifying it. The results of the 2015 survey reveal that 58% of consumers choose to contact a legal professional upon recognizing that they have a legal issue, and Mark analyzes the most influential of the eight core motivators, like aversion to risk and desire for competent representation, on consumer decision making when purchasing legal services. Mark continues with this investigation and provides examples of how law firms can use these buyer impulses to better market to potential clients. He also discusses the importance of social media and the mobile sphere in finding new clients and provides tips attorneys can use to show expertise and build trust in these respective spaces. The interview closes with advice to help lawyers and law firms optimally balance their marketing efforts between online and offline resources. Mark Jacobsen leads a team focused on the early stage development of products, services, and capabilities to help law firms generate new business opportunities and grow the quality and quantity of their clients. Before joining FindLaw, Mark was a pioneer in the software and Web development sectors. He is a regular speaker at industry conferences on such topics as digital marketing strategy, search, web development, project management, online learning, and interactive multimedia applications. Special thanks to our sponsors Amicus Attorney and Scorpion.

Many lawyers view legal technology in terms of how it can aid them in easing their daily work load. In what ways could emergent tech be harnessed in the legal marketplace to better aid clients? In this episode of The Legal Toolkit, Ledger Labs head of operations and legal Josh Stark talks with Heidi Alexander about self-executing contracts, Bitcoin, and how blockchain technology could impact the practice of law. Josh explains that blockchain technology consists of a ledger or database and a network of computers to oversee and secure that database. He gives a brief background of the creation of Bitcoin, the first technology built on blockchain, and points out that it was designed to create a digital cash-like currency that wouldn’t require any centralized party. David addresses security concerns and illustrates how the use of public and private cryptography, as well as the economic security model of Bitcoin, provides more security than traditional credit card transactions and discourages attacks on the network. He defines what smart executing contracts are and gives an in-depth analysis of how blockchain technology could make it easier for clients to do things with fewer billable hours while utilizing basic software features. David closes the interview with his thoughts on the impact that smart executing contracts and blockchain technology could have on the legal industry. Josh Stark is head of Operations and Legal at Ledger Labs, Canada's leading blockchain technology consultancy. A lawyer by trade, Josh left a career in corporate law to work full-time in the blockchain technology space in 2015. At Ledger Labs, he helps clients develop blockchain use cases and understand the long-term implications of the technology for various industries. Josh studied law at the University of Toronto ('13) and has a B.A. from McGill University ('09). Special thanks to our sponsors Amicus Attorney and Scorpion.

It is widely understood that attorneys must be well-organized. However, many struggle to achieve a level of daily discipline that would help them achieve maximum success. How can lawyers become more productive and organized as they pursue the practice of law? In this episode of The Legal Tool Kit, host Heidi Alexander talks with Lawyerist founder and editor in chief Sam Glover about how lawyers can increase their organization and productivity. Sam explains concepts of organization and productivity, like planning ahead, meeting your deadlines, keeping appointments, and why they are essential to the successful practice of law. He then explains his approach to organization, a mindset he calls “productive laziness”, which is to take inventory of everything on your plate and take care of the most pressing issues first. Stephen encourages lawyers to use a work plan, which is figuring out what you have to do and when you have to do it, and to cultivate a daily practice of writing down your daily tasks. He analyzes David Allen’s 5 step Getting Things Done method (capture, clarify, organize, reflect, and engage) and provides suggestions on how beginners can simplify the steps. Stephen closes the interview with some of his favorite software to help you stay organized maximize your workflow. Sam Glover is a lawyer and the founder and editor in chief of Lawyerist.com, an online law practice magazine and home to the largest community of solo and small-firm lawyers on the web. On Lawyerist, Sam writes and podcasts about legal technology, law practice management, access to justice, and more. Special thanks to our sponsors Amicus Attorney and Scorpion.

In order for any lawyer to be a successful advocate for their client or law firm they must become an excellent dealmaker. However, the secrets to the art of deal closing can seem incredibly elusive to even the most initiated. What are the fundamental tenets of being a good dealmaker, and how does one focus on honing these skills? In this episode of The Legal Toolkit, host Jared Correia sits down with Cohen Gardner LLP Co-Founder Jeff B. Cohen, a former child actor best remembered for his role as Chunk in The Goonies, to discuss dealmaking in the context of the law. The conversation opens with Jeff providing insights into his experiences behind the camera as a child actor and how this unique upbringing influences his perception of entertainment dealmaking. Within these recollections he also discusses how Machiavelli’s “The Prince” aided him after his acting career ended and how these teachings inspired his book “The Dealmaker’s Ten Commandments: Ten Essential Tools for Business Forged in the Trenches of Hollywood.” Jeff provides a glimpse into his methodologies and why he thinks it’s so important for lawyers to effectively manage their time. He then provides a few of his personal commandments and best practices that any legal professional can use to become a more effective and successful dealmaker. Jeff B. Cohen co-founded Cohen Gardner LLP in 2002 and focuses on transactional representation for clients in the entertainment, media and technology verticals. His first book, “The Dealmaker's Ten Commandments: Ten Essential Tools for Business Forged in the Trenches of Hollywood” was published by the American Bar Association's imprint Ankerwycke in 2015. Jeff received his Juris Doctor from UCLA Law School with an emphasis in business law and his undergraduate degree from The University of California at Berkeley, Haas School of Business. While at UC Berkeley, Jeff served as President of the Associated Students of the University of California. Special thanks to our sponsors Amicus Attorney and Scorpion.

Many lawyers today are thinking about going solo or starting their own firms. But running a law firm is like running a business, which involves much more than providing legal services. You have to think about billing and business management, when to accept and reject clients, and maintaining a calm composure under a stressful situation. What goes into planning to start your own practice, what essential items should you purchase first, and should you even go out on your own right now? In this episode of The Legal Toolkit, Heidi Alexander interviews Ben Carter, a Louisville attorney who started a solo practice after spending years at the Kentucky Legal Aid Society, about his experience and advice for others. He recommends newly solo lawyers keep overheads low, run the firm like a startup business, and spend some time in a bigger law firm first (if possible) to acquire the substantive and marketplace experience needed. Ben then discusses what lawyers would need to purchase first: a high end paper scanner, a computer, and malpractice insurance. The interview is packed with useful advice like how much money you might need to save before starting your firm and why choosing the right niche can make up for many other missteps. Tune in to hear this any many more technology, process, and life tips from a successful solo lawyer. After spending many years defending homeowners from foreclosure for the Kentucky Legal Aid Society, Louisville attorney Ben Carter decided to start a solo practice. In addition to running a solo practice, Ben co-hosts the podcast “Let’s Start a Firm,” in which they tackle topics like why an attorney might want to start their own firm, loan forgiveness, office space, office supplies, banking, trust accounting, entity selection, insurance, technology, legal research and writing, and more.

The last 10 years have seen a 75% rise in legal costs, which compares to a 20% increase for other fields. It’s estimated that there are one billion dollars worth of unrecognized legal needs in today’s market. Even when legal needs are recognized, it’s common for potential clients to see their problems as prohibitively expensive. As a solo practitioner or law firm, you might be wondering how to tap into that potential billable revenue. As it turns out, your answer could be branded networks. In this episode of Legal Toolkit, host Jared Correia and Solo Practice University founder Susan Cartier Liebel discuss the benefits of being part of branded networks like Legalzoom, Rocket Lawyer, Avvo, upcounsel, LawGo, Priori Legal, and lawtrades. By leveraging network marketing resources, participating practitioners get the benefit of a large scale advertising campaign without having to make an in kind investment. In addition, some of these organizations are capable of offering low cost malpractice insurance and/or invoicing platforms to help make practice life easier. Whether you decide to join a branded network or not, the prediction is that they are here to stay. Stay tuned to hear advice on selecting a network to be part of as well as Jared’s true feelings about Peyton Manning. Susan Cartier Liebel is the founder and CEO of Solo Practice University®, the only online educational and professional networking community for lawyers and law students who want to create and grow their solo/small firm practices.

Do you charge for initial consultation in your practice? If not, you might be missing out on higher quality meetings and additional revenue. Despite this claim, most lawyers are worried that changing their fee structure will chase potential clients away from the front door. How can we, as lawyers, offer discernible value and make people actually want to pay for an initial consultation? In this episode of The Legal Toolkit, Jared Correia discusses charging for initial consultations with Sarah Poriss, a foreclosure defense lawyer in Connecticut. Sarah explains why she charges initial consultation fees, how to offer the right legal service value in these appointments, and ways lawyers can determine their rates. Let’s face it, she says, are you looking for the type of client who pays or one who doesn’t? Topics include: How fees improve the meeting quality: on-time, attentive, and serious clients The risks of charging initial consultation Gaining an edge on your competition Setting the right expectations for legal services and retainers Preparing for a fee discussion Onboarding, client intake, and follow-up Confidently setting a rate and making changes as needed Special thanks to our sponsor Amicus Attorney.

Online review sites are increasingly important for product and service consumers, but to what extent are people really taking them into consideration when selecting an attorney? If potential clients are counting stars before they call, how do lawyers take control of their online reputations? Furthermore, with limited time and marketing budgets, what should solo and small firms focus on? On this episode of The Legal Toolkit, Jared Correia interviews Jabez LeBret, co-founder of the digital marketing agency Get Noticed Get Found, about how lawyers can and should monitor their online reviews, how to respond to negative feedback, and ways to increase positive reviews where they matter. Topics include: General consumers' interest in online reviews Get stars to get calls The hierarchy of your online marketing budget Ethical responsibility of review content Who to send to Google, Yelp, and Avvo Two types of clients who leave anonymous reviews Checking your pride at the door when responding Collecting and analyzing data to determine what’s effective Jabez LeBret is the co-founder and chief marketing officer at the digital marketing agency GNGF (Get Noticed Get Found). He is co-author of “Online Law Practice Strategies,” a columnist for NBC Chicago Business, and a regular contributor to Forbes in the areas of Business and Technology. Jabez is also a sought after speaker on a number of topics including ethical online marketing, reputation management, and marketing analytics. Special thanks to our sponsor Amicus Attorney.