Maximum Lawyer

Marc Brown, a personal injury attorney and founder of a thriving plaintiff firm, shares his journey from the pressures of big law to entrepreneurial success. He reveals how unhappiness in his legal career sparked a pivot to plaintiff work, driven by a desire for authenticity and client service. Additionally, Marc discusses his passion for food, co-owning a cheesesteak restaurant while balancing law and family. His insights on personal branding, innovative marketing strategies, and the courage to bet on oneself are both inspiring and actionable.

Ryan Weber, a marketing strategist and CMO at Weber Marketing, brings a wealth of expertise to the discussion. He emphasizes the shift towards video-first marketing for lawyers, debunking common excuses for avoiding video and showcasing the success of his wife’s real estate law YouTube channel. Ryan argues that a strong online presence is essential in today’s market, as clients research lawyers digitally. He also advocates for finding unique video formats that stand out, helping lawyers build trust and effectively reach new clients.

Christopher Earley, a personal-injury lawyer and author of 'Scaling the Wall', shares his unconventional journey in law and personal growth. He emphasizes the significance of mindset shifts and healing childhood trauma in shaping both professional success and personal well-being. Earley talks about the power of vulnerability in marketing, using social media to connect authentically with clients. He discusses practical self-care strategies like meditation and journaling, stressing that healing past wounds leads to better leadership and advocacy.

Explore the struggles law firm owners face with work-life balance and the guilt of stepping away from the office. Tyson shares his personal journey of renovation, paralleling it with the need to delegate and trust teams. He emphasizes that true leadership is measured by outcomes, not mere presence. The contrast between visible effort and meaningful progress is discussed, encouraging a focus on intentional actions that drive firm success. Ultimately, freedom from constant involvement is presented as a key indicator of success.

Matthew Kerbis, founder of Subscription Attorney and host of Law Subscribed, dives into the transformative power of AI in legal practices. He discusses the emerging subscription model as a superior alternative to the traditional billable hour system. With AI, tasks that once took hours can now be completed in minutes, fostering better client relationships and predictable revenue. Kerbis also highlights the importance of using specialized AI tools and shares insights on navigating the ethical implications of changing legal pricing structures.

Watch the YouTube version of this episode HEREAre you looking for some insights on how to create a healthy firm culture? In this episode of the Maximum Lawyer Podcast, Tyson interviews law firm co-founder, Travis Howard about his journey from corporate life to building a firm with a strong, authentic culture rooted in shared values, transparency, and conscious leadership. They discuss practical strategies for defining and sustaining company culture, managing ego, and fostering emotional intelligence. As a law firm owner who can control the culture of that firm, it is important for the culture to mimic that of the owners. It is important to take shared experiences of the owners and use those to design the foundations of the culture from that. You don’t want to create a culture that simply mimics that of another because you feel that is what your workers want. Using it as inspiration, you understand your own values and that of your staff and create something dynamic.Travis shares some practices that enable growth for a firm. One practice is to be honest with each other about what the core principles are for the firm and follow them. For Travis, his firm still does formal reviews, which began at the start of the firm, to talk about things staff are displeased with and things they can do better. This really builds trust for staff and allows for open dialogue.Listen in to learn more!• 4:19 Building Law Firm Culture• 8:08 Avoiding Toxic Culture• 17:30 Unique Cultural Practices• 31:27 Culture’s Role in Reputation and Trust • 35:21 Practices That Enable Growth• 44:51 Introspective and Conscious LeadershipConnect with Travis:Website LinkedIn Tune in to today’s episode and checkout the full show notes here. 

Tyson Mutrux dives into the concept of "sparks"—the small moments that ignite creativity within a team. He discusses how these sparks can arise from friction or fresh insights during conversations. Learn how to create the right conditions for these sparks, treat ideas as testable hypotheses, and recognize when to execute or abandon them. With examples from successful innovators and practical tips like Becca's List, this episode encourages capturing those fleeting ideas and acting decisively on the good ones.

Devon Slovensky, founder of a family law firm in Southwestern Virginia, shares her innovative approach to client communication through 'client happiness calls.' These calls help maintain high standards of service and accountability within a growing firm. Devon explains how tracking client satisfaction reveals hidden issues and how proactive outreach can mend relationships with unsatisfied clients. She emphasizes that clear communication is valued over speed and showcases how this system boosts referrals and improves overall client relationships.

Watch the YouTube version of this episode HEREAre you an attorney looking to learn some things from a seasoned attorney? In this episode of the Maximum Lawyer Podcast, Tyson chats with William Reid. who shares insights from his career fighting institutional “bullies,” the challenges and rewards of plaintiff-side practice, and the importance of work-life balance and being present as a parent. William shares some insights on the challenges of practicing criminal law. One challenge is leveling the playing field for those who don’t have access to justice. This can lead to many people not getting the conclusions they deserve because they can’t afford a lawyer who will fight for them. Many lawyers are only in it to make their money and not fight for their clients. For William and his colleagues, they work to ensure their clients are the main priority.William and Tyson talk about using AI in the legal space. William used AI when he has jury trials. He will read his opening or closing statements into the AI machine and it pops out some good snippets that he will use in court. AI tools can be used as time saving devices in an environment where time is not on your side. For William, trial prep time dropped significantly and this can give you more time to focus on other things.Listen in to learn more!2:25  Motivation for Fighting Giants in Law5:20  Challenges in Criminal Defense and Big Law8:09  AI’s Impact on Legal Fees and Law Practice17:54  Practical Uses of AI in Legal Work27:21  Starting a Law Firm and Defining Success39:15  Building and Hiring a Great Legal Team48:26  Empowering Young Lawyers and Team Success Tune in to today’s episode and checkout the full show notes here. Connect with William:Website Linkedin 

Watch the YouTube version of this episode HEREAre you a firm owner struggling with hiring top talent? In this episode, Tyson shares a personal story about hiring and professionalism. Tyson encourages listeners to look beyond surface-level traits and trust their intuition, highlighting that true professionalism is revealed in small, everyday actions.After buying a new car, Tyson provides some insights on first impressions for the hiring process. When Tyson called the dealership, he encountered an individual who had amazing phone training. This individual asked him all the right questions, anticipated his answers and overall showed Tyson what smooth, client interactions can look like. After receiving a text from this person asking about a job at his firm, Tyson reflects on professionalism and what to look for when hiring good talent.When it comes to hiring for a firm, it is important to assess fit and look at certain qualities in a candidate. When looking to hire, sometimes you might find someone that checks all of your boxes and might actually be a really good fit. But, it is important to find someone that takes it to the next level. To determine this, you look at those deeper qualities. Do they have the character needed to do well and represent your firm well? This might be the most important quality, so if someone does not have it, you need to re-evaluate.Take a listen!4:12 Reflection on First Impressions and Hiring Process5:42 Cialdini’s Principle and Breach of Professionalism10:21 Employer-Employee Relationship and Professional Courtesy12:29 Timing and Judgment in Professional Interactions15:43 Assessing Fit and Deeper Qualities in HiringTune in to today’s episode and checkout the full show notes here.