Maximum Lawyer

Watch the YouTube version of this episode HEREAre you looking for ways to spice up your team meetings? In the latest episode of the Maximum Lawyer Podcast, Tyson reflects on his law firm's recent quarterly meeting, which embraced a "Future is Bright" theme. Tyson shares the activities that occurred during the firm's quarterly meeting that can be impactful for staff. Activities included functional games that had a purpose. Some included playing games where you would get feedback from colleagues or games to get to know each other. The goal for these activities is to share ideas that could lead to a change in how something is done in the workplace or the implementation of a new process. Another aspect of these quarterly meetings is to go over the company’s core values, mission as well as the review of the past 4 months to see what has been accomplished.Listen in to learn how to incorporate Tyson’s ideas into your quarterly meetings!1:35 Explanation of the theme for the quarterly meeting 4:32 Description of the light-hearted activities that happen during the meeting7:03 Discussion and sharing of simple yet impactful ideas10:01 Review of priorities and future focus for the upcoming quarterTune in to today’s episode and checkout the full show notes here.  Resources:Join the Guild MembershipSubscribe to the Maximum Lawyer Youtube ChannelFollow us on InstagramJoin the Facebook GroupFollow the Facebook PageFollow us on LinkedIn

Vaidas and Steve from RizeUp Media discuss selecting a digital marketing agency based on firm goals and red flags to watch out for. Communication is key for a successful partnership with a marketing agency, emphasizing the importance of consistent feedback and strategy adjustments.

Watch the YouTube version of this episode HEREAre you a law firm owner that is looking for ways to show appreciation to your staff? In this episode of the Maximum Lawyer Podcast, Tyson delves into the positive impacts of the "Teammate of the Quarter" award at his law firm. Tyson shares some highlights of the award and what makes it such a great aspect of the law firm. Since law firms are such busy environments, it can be difficult to stop, reflect and recognize the hard work of those who work at the firm. What this award does is cultivate a culture of appreciation for those that contribute to its success. Having a positive work environment is crucial to any successful law firm, and awards like the Teammate of the Quarter help achieve that goal.The Teammate of the Quarter award contributes to better collaboration and engagement amongst a team. The award allows for team members to get to know each other on a personal level and it can lead to better collaboration when working on tasks and projects. Tools like Zoho and Google Meets Polls can be utilized to create surveys for staff to provide their input on who the Teammate of the Quarter should be!Listen in to learn how to integrate this award within your firm!00:24 The benefits of the Teammate of the Quarter Award3:16 How the award drives a positive work environment10:28 The success of the award processTune in to today’s episode and checkout the full show notes here.  Resources:Join the Guild MembershipSubscribe to the Maximum Lawyer Youtube ChannelFollow us on InstagramJoin the Facebook GroupFollow the Facebook PageFollow us on LinkedIn

Ali Zahid, CEO of LegalMate, discusses the transformative impact of legal tech on law firms. LegalMate streamlines processes, integrates with CRMs like Clio, and automates tasks such as intake. Starting small is key for firms new to automation. The future includes AI agents handling legal tasks for greater efficiency.

Watch the YouTube version of this episode HEREAre you a lawyer that would like to work on their public speaking skills? In this episode of the Maximum Lawyer Podcast, Jim and Tyson are joined by Kerry Barrett, an expert in on-camera media training for Fortune 500 companies. Kerry shares her insights on public speaking and offers tips for lawyers to improve their on-camera skills and connect with potential clients. Public speaking can be a very intimidating thing to overcome. For lawyers, public speaking is something that needs to be mastered as there are instances like tv work or in person court hearings and trials that provide the space to speak in front of people. Carrie provides some tips for lawyers to get over this hurdle. One way is to step outside of your comfort zone and find ways to make yourself and your name known to people. Apply to be on a podcast about the legal field or research media opportunities to network and let others know who you are. It is all about getting comfortable with being uncomfortable.    Communicating to people as a lawyer can be a tricky task, especially if someone is not well versed in speaking with clients. One issue Kerry identifies for lawyers is that most speak to clients using legal terms. Clients do not know any legal jargon, so it is important to break down what is being said in simple terms. This also applies to lawyers who are speaking on camera. In this setting, lawyers are performing and not simply delivering information in a courtroom. What is being provided in terms of content needs to be laid out in a way that can be understood easily.Listen in to learn more from Kerry on public speaking!Jim's Hack: If you find yourself with a few minutes to spare, just pull out your phone and record a TikTok to see what happens. Get the content out there and then deal with graphics later on.Kerry’s Tip: When you are on stage or you're in front of a camera, there are two things you always need to have. One is a plan and one is presence. The plan is that you understand your delivery and the presence is what comes into play when all that other stuff goes sideways.Tyson's Tip: Ted Talk called the 100 Days of Rejection, where this guy puts himself through 100 days of possible moments of rejection from people. It is a great watch for those that struggle talking to people, being on stage or doing videos.4:19 Advice on teaching public speaking skills7:09 Discussion on common mistakes lawyers make on television17:14 How lawyers can build connections with potential clients20:06 How to use simple language for effective communicationTune in to today’s episode and checkout the full show notes here.Connect with Kerry:WebsiteLinkedIn YouTubeInstagramFacebook TikTokPinterestBlog

Watch the YouTube version of this episode HEREAre you a law firm owner who is finding it difficult to manage finances? In this episode of the Maximum Lawyer Podcast, Jim and Tyson delve into financial management within law firms.Many law firm owners struggle with financial management, especially when it comes to paying themselves a salary. Jim and Tyson share the importance of paying yourself as a law firm owner. There is discipline involved when establishing how much money you receive as an owner. Many law firm owners feel they can take however much they want because they are in charge and bring in clients. But, this mentality is how lawyers end up with a struggling business, so it is important to determine and maintain a balance.Jim and Tyson discuss the emotional and psychological challenges law firm owners face when it comes to handling finances. It is so easy to get lost in the amount of money that starts to come in when things get busy and more staff are hired. It is important to maintain good financial habits to ensure not only you as the owner are given a decent wage, but your employees and all necessary expenses are paid. Hiring a good accountant or bookkeeper for a firm is key to ensuring nothing is out of the ordinary.Take a listen to learn more about responsible financial management!Jim's Hack: Download the ChatGPT Apple iPhone app and just talk to it. You can ask it all types of questions and it gets better each day.Tyson's Tip: Challenge people to not drink for 30 days and see how it makes you feel.1:38 The importance of paying yourself a salary 15:20 The psychological barriers associated with financial management18:13 The importance of reflecting on financial mattersTune in to today’s episode and checkout the full show notes here.

Watch the YouTube version of this episode HEREIn this podcast episode, Tyson tackles the sensitive topic of employee termination. His tips include: acting promptly, communicating directly and respectfully, and having a termination plan, particularly for remote workers. Some of the points Tyson dive deeper in this episode is to avoid prolonging discussions during the termination meeting, being objective, and not disparaging the employee post-termination. You could also offer support for the employee's transition and being transparent with the team are also highlighted. It’s the leader's responsibility to make tough decisions for the firm's health which includes the tasks of parting with employees. But hopefully, these shared tips will make things a little easier. Listen in!01:31 Making the decision to part with an employee03:41 The preferred method of being direct and respectful when parting with an employee06:38 The importance of being open with the team about a termination07:33 Considering offering help to the terminated employee10:05 The necessity of seeking legal counsel and supportTune in to today’s episode and checkout the full show notes here. Resources:Join the Guild MembershipSubscribe to the Maximum Lawyer Youtube ChannelFollow us on InstagramJoin the Facebook GroupFollow the Facebook PageFollow us on LinkedIn

Watch the YouTube version of this episode HEREAre you thinking about becoming your own boss and starting a law practice? In this podcast episode, Jim and Tyson interview Margeaux Thomas, a seasoned lawyer who specializes in business divorces. Margeaux shares her transition from working in a large firm to establishing her own practice.Margeaux provides some insights on establishing her own practice and some things she had to consider beforehand. One thing was connecting with other lawyers in her circle who provided some tips and tricks to getting started on her own and what was needed to become her own boss. Another thing was understanding that as a lawyer, you can always pivot and work at another firm if starting your own doesn't work out. This mentality helped Margeaux in becoming more confident in her ability to succeed.Margeaux shares her thoughts on how to partner up in a law firm and what to focus on. Looking at a business partnership like a marriage is something Margeaux tells people that come to her for advice. It is important to communicate to a potential business partner about the roles each person will have, finances and each other’s risk tolerance to decide if it is something to move forward with. It is also crucial to get a prenup or operating agreement to ensure both individuals are on the same page.Listen in to learn more!Jim's Hack: Read the book “Already Free” by Benjamin Hardy. It is about the intersection of psychotherapy and Buddhism and talks about the value of therapy.Margeaux Tip: Read the book “Domestic Assistant Advantage’' by Steve Riley. She learned to hire a personal assistant to help with personal tasks to expand her reach. https://amzn.to/3TmuDS8Tyson's Tip: Use TEMU to order office supplies.2:17 Discussion of learning curves 9:24 Insights on partnering in a law firm 14:26 The importance of building a team earlier when starting a businessTune in to today’s episode and checkout the full show notes here. Connect with Margeaux:Website Facebook LinkedIn LinkedIn Office

Watch the YouTube version of this episode HEREIn this podcast episode, Tyson shares insights into his firm and the recently revised office hours. The firm shifted from team-specific hours to a more unified approach, introducing one mandatory 15-minute office hour from 12:45 pm to 1:00 pm, and two optional slots at 8:45 am and 3:45 pm, all in central time. This office hour change, aims to simplify scheduling, foster better communication, and improve productivity. 01:12 Tyson explains the new approach with mandatory and optional office hours03:09 Tyson details the new office hours structure, providing flexibility and opportunities for communication within the firm05:17 The positive impact of the changes to office hours and encourages feedback from the listenersTune in to today’s episode and checkout the full show notes here.  Resources:Join the Guild MembershipSubscribe to the Maximum Lawyer Youtube ChannelFollow us on InstagramJoin the Facebook GroupFollow the Facebook PageFollow us on LinkedIn

Watch the YouTube version of this episode HEREAre you a law firm owner who needs a tool to visualize the work of your team? In this podcast episode, Jim and Tyson interview John Grant about implementing the Kanban methodology in legal practices.John provides some insight on what the Kanban methodology is and why it is such a great thing to add to law firms. Kanban boards are used in the project management space and can be used as a tool to outline work. It is often used in scrum meetings among teams to break down goals. For example, if a team is working on a project to streamline the intake process, a Kanban board can be used to visualize how that process can go using columns and cards. They are meant to allow users to see workflows and identify areas where there is a roadblock. It can be customized to the likeness of any team!John shares some of the templates he has created that can help law firms succeed. One is a litigation workflow, which can be used to help outline a case. There is a column for intake and research, one for strategy, one for mediation/negotiation and then one for the trial process. This lays out the whole case in front of you which when visualized can help see the whole picture. The transactional template is similar but might not include a trial phase.John provides a few examples of different types of Kanban boards. One of them is BusinessMap, which is great for large firms due to the amount of users that can utilize it at once. KanbanZone is another tool that is great for lawyers as there are functionalities that work well for the type of work lawyers do. Choose a Kanban board that works for your firm to maximize its great benefits!Listen in to learn more from John Grant!Jim's Hack: Read the book “10 X is Better than 2 X”, by Dan Sullivan and Benjamin Hardy. There is a concept in the book about how we ease ourselves out of the day to day practice of the firm by using free days.John’s Tip: Make policies explicit. It is not just about what the policy is and what I want you to do, but getting to the why behind the policy. Tyson's Tip: Use sticky notes to start putting stuff on the walls as a starting ground.2:59 The Kanban methodology and its application in law firms7:36 The benefits of using visual Kanban boards to manage tasks12:51 Recommendations for tools like BusinessMap and Kanban Zone 15:46 Best practices for setting up a Kanban board for litigationConnect with John:Website  FacebookLinkedin Tune in to today’s episode and checkout the full show notes here.