Maximum Lawyer

Are you looking for a new hobby to add to your routine? In this episode of the Maximum Lawyer Podcast, Tyson talks about cold plunging and the various benefits of it.There is a lot of buzz around cold plunges. It is gaining a lot of traction and professional athletes are beginning to include it in their routines. Cold plunges do have a ton of benefits including improving your mood, strengthening your immune system, helping with inflammation and minimizing stress. Cold plunges can provide energy all day so you don't have to rely on coffee.Tyson talks about the different ways you can create a cold plunge, which includes his very own creation of turning a chest freezer into a cold plunge tank. Adding a temperature controller onto a tank is important because it will freeze the water to a certain degree and then turn off. When starting to implement cold plunges into your daily routine, it is important to start with small increments of time. Do not just jump in and stay in the tank for 30 or 40 minutes. Start slow with 5 minutes and gradually increase the time as you continue to use it.Listen in to learn more about cold plunges!2:07 Explanation of how to convert a chest freezer into a cold plunge tank6:20 The various benefits of cold plunging9:05 Starting with shorter durations9:51 Tyson advises listeners to consult with their doctors before trying cold plunges🎥 Watch the full video on YouTube here. Resources:Join the Guild MembershipSubscribe to the Maximum Lawyer Youtube ChannelFollow us on InstagramJoin the Facebook GroupFollow the Facebook PageFollow us on LinkedIn

Do you need help improving your law firm's client journey? Are you finding it hard to get clients? In this episode, Matt Spiegel, the co-founder and CEO of Lawmatics, discusses the importance of providing excellent customer service in the legal industry and improving the client journey.It is evident that lawyers are not CEOs. They don't run businesses. But, Matt emphasizes the need for law firm owners to run their practice like a business. Law firm owners need to go out and find clients to grow their firm just like a CEO would go out and make connections to grow their success. Part of growing your business and law firm ensures the client is always happy because a happy client equals a happy practice. Matt delves into the ways to prioritize the happiness of a client.1 | Client Begins The client journey begins the moment a client reaches out to your firm via email or phone. This is part of the “client intake phase”. This phase is crucial to getting a client because they are reaching out to multiple firms at once. You need to ensure staff are engaging right away so they don't lose the client. Immediate engagement shows the client exactly how you will respond to them throughout the process. It shows that those in the firm care and are ready to provide the client with what they need, even if it's just basic legal information.2 | Active ClientThe “active matter phase” is the communication throughout the length of a client's case. Like phase one, communication is key to getting and retaining a client. It is important to provide the client information throughout the journey. Make it a habit to market to them. Send them information like newsletters that include things that are external to your firm. It is a good idea to set up a client portal, where individuals can go into a system and get updates on their case. If email communication is too much (and it can be in this industry), a client portal is a great way to input all necessary information and the client can retrieve it on the other end. 3 | Former Client The “former client phase” is a neglected but important phase in the client journey. 75% of clients come from referrals. Even when a client’s case is complete, the relationship between the attorney and client needs to continue. There are many ways to maintain a good relationship with a former client. Send a birthday and holiday email every year or add them to a mailing list for networking events. What this does is let the client know the firm has their best interests in mind even after the working relationship ends.Matt speaks about only doing things in your law firm that you can measure. You need to be able to back up your success with KPIs and numbers. Think about the conversion rates of initial screening calls that lead to actual clients. This will measure how successful the intake process is for your firm. Cost per lead and cost per client is another metric to consider to ensure the amount it takes to bring a client on board and how much you are making from that client makes sense.Take a listen!6:57 Immediate engagement and rapid response to create a positive first impression8:45 Focusing on maintaining the relationship with a former client8:58 Providing excellent customer service from the very first contact with a client9:53 Delighting clients through effective communication during the active matter phase17:29 The importance of automation🎥 Watch the full video on YouTube here.Connect with Matt:Website InstagramFacebookLinkedin Resources:Join the Guild MembershipSubscribe to the Maximum Lawyer Youtube ChannelFollow us on InstagramJoin the Facebook GroupFollow the Facebook PageFollow us on LinkedIn

Are you curious about using AI in your law firm? In this podcast episode, Jim and Tyson interview Manny Griffiths, the CEO and co-founder of Hona (formerly known as Milestones), a legal tech company that uses AI to change the client management experience.Hona was created as a way for client's going through the legal system to keep up to date on the progress of their cases. Manny shares about Hona as a “Domino's pizza tracker” type of system, where clients can know every aspect of their case and know where their cases are in the legal process. This stemmed from a personal story of being out of the loop in a case for months at a time, with no answers from his lawyer. Hona really works to improve the client experience and ensures those going through the legal process always know the status of their case. What makes Hona such a great product is that it includes every aspect of the client-lawyer interaction. The app includes basic communication, data collection (ie. basic personal information), billing and an AI chatbot that provides additional information on a case. Manny speaks to the fact that AI is drastically changing the way lawyers do their work. Though there are some that are hesitant to adopt it in their own firms, those that are wanting to elevate their firms are using it. Manny talks about how other people are becoming eager to learn about Hona and provides demos on how the app was created and how it is used. This shows the popularity of AI within the legal field. With the adoption of AI, the legal field is moving in a direction that many thought it would not go down. Simply put, the firms who are smart and take advantage of AI will prosper and the firms who are rejecting it will eventually go out of business. Listen in to learn more!Jim’s Hack: Respond to your YouTube comments and see more engagement!Manny’s Tip: Pay college football players or college athletes to do a small commercial or snippet and then send it to your alumni that are a fan of that team. Great, fun marketing! Tyson’s Tip: Use the Amazon smart plug to make life a little easier!2:53 The motivation behind starting Milestones10:06 The vision for Hona as a bridge between law firms and clients11:18 Discussion of how clients can use the AI chatbot in Hona19:03 Insights on the growing trend of niche AI startups in the legal tech space21:28 Discussion on advancements in technology and legal knowledge🎥 Watch the full video on YouTube here.Connect with Manny:Website Twitter InstagramLinkedin  

Are you trying to figure out what software to use in your business? In this episode, Tyson talks about the use of different software solutions within the legal industry and how to determine which software deserves to be used in your firm.Software is meant to be a solution, not add another layer of complexity in your firm. That is why it is important to really think about what software is going to help your firm achieve success. Think about what your firm really needs and what softwares will help with that. It is also important to think about usability. Most softwares are not user friendly and people can find it difficult to work with them when doing their day to day work. If it is too hard to navigate, move on to the next.1 | IntegrationIt is important that softwares integrates with each other. Think about Microsoft and the many applications that integrate. Outlook connects to Planner as well as Teams which includes the Tasks and Approvals function. These various applications all coincide with each other, making working with this software very popular. 2 | Non-NegotiablesTyson talks about a non-negotiable when it comes to software in the legal field. Software with very good security and compliance is not something to ignore. Those working in the legal field handle sensitive subjects and details all day long. The software used needs to meet security benchmarks for the industry to keep client information safe. This can really put your firm at risk if this is not considered.  Make sure to always include the stakeholders in your decision to use software. At the end of the day, those in the firm will be using it on a daily basis. So, make it a point to include them in the decision: ask for opinions, run a test demo and get feedback.Take a listen to learn about what to consider when looking at new software for your firm!00:24 The importance of considering different things when evaluating software2:28 Software needs to be able to easily integrate with existing tools3:24 The non-negotiable requirement for software🎥 Watch the full video on YouTube here. Resources:Join the Guild MembershipSubscribe to the Maximum Lawyer Youtube ChannelFollow us on InstagramJoin the Facebook GroupFollow the Facebook PageFollow us on LinkedIn

The podcast discusses the qualities to look for in team members, including passion, energy, and the ability to execute tasks. It emphasizes the importance of having a positive and caring team, as well as the ability to make tough decisions and get things done.

Do you want to create a more successful law firm, where you are able to take home more money? In this episode of the Maximum Lawyer Podcast, speaker Brooke Lively shares her personal experience of firing her biggest client and the resulting financial struggles for her business. Starting from scratch and building a successful business is a hard thing to achieve. Brooke talks about using the rule of thirds strategy to make her company a profitable one. The strategy involves the following: allocating a third of your revenue to paying salaries, a third to overhead and a third to profit. 1 | SalariesWhen it comes to paying employees, it is best to design compensation packages that work for your firm. Accountability within a law firm is so important. It moves work through a firm and can be used to dictate pay. One way to hold people accountable is helping them to create goals. Discussing goals will help employees understand what they want to accomplish. As an owner of a law firm, it is important to dedicate time with each employee on a weekly basis to speak through goals so that everyone is on track. 2 | Overhead A lot of firms spend way too much money on marketing. Brooke speaks to how cutting the marketing budget is a great way to save money. One way to do this is to analyze the return on investment on all marketing channels for a firm each month. Whichever is the lowest that month is cut, which can save tens of thousands of dollars. Another way to save money is to review the monthly credit card bill to see what expenses have been neglected and therefore removed.3 | Profit As a firm owner, there are many things you can do for your profit. One thing is to monitor it every month, tracking the increase or decrease of profit. Another thing is to figure out your salary, distributions and personal finances monthly to make sure you are not only making what you deserve but are paying off your expenses.Listen in to learn how to make your law firm more profitable!2:58 The rule of thirds6:27 The importance of accountability in law firms.10:51 Your digital marketing budget11:35 Exploration of the expenses and benefits of coaching16:28 The importance of properly compensating law firm owners.🎥 Watch the full video on YouTube here.Connect with Brooke:Website Instagram FacebookLinkedin  Resources:Join the Guild MembershipSubscribe to the Maximum Lawyer Youtube ChannelFollow us on InstagramJoin the Facebook GroupFollow the Facebook PageFollow us on LinkedIn

Do you need some help in hiring for your law firm? Are you unsure what roles you need filled? In this podcast episode, Jim and Tyson welcome Brett Trembly, CEO and co-founder of Get Staffed Up. He discusses his new book "24 Months to Freedom: How Modern Law Firms Use Smarter Staffing Solutions to Fast Track Their Way to Success." The book lists seven crucial positions to hire that every law firm needs.In order to have a successful law firm, you need the right people. You need to have an adequate amount of staff who are skilled in what they do. One of the most important roles to fill is that of an executive assistant. Without an executive assistant, many attorneys take on much more tasks in their day to day schedule. This ultimately takes away from what they need to do. An executive assistant wears many hats in a law firm. The role includes answering phones, preparing documents and bookkeeping. It is a multi-dimensional role that helps keep law firms running.Many attorneys have a fear of hiring and will stall in getting it done. Sometimes this comes down to money. Brett speaks to not needing tens of thousands of dollars in the bank to hire. As long as there is enough to pay someone for the first 2 weeks, that is when it is time to hire. Hiring someone is not going to cost you money, but it will make you money. It will allow an attorney to focus on the important work, bring in more clients and therefore bring in more money.Every successful law firm needs to have a full proof intake system, which includes a few different positions. ➡️ One is a receptionist, who will answer phones and take messages. A receptionist is usually the first person a potential client will interact with, so this individual needs to be very well rounded. Answering the phones in a swift and quick manner is crucial to ensuring that potential clients are provided with what they need. If a firm does not have a receptionist, there is much opportunity to lose out on new clients. ➡️Hiring an intake specialist is another position that is included in the intake process. This individual will know the process of the law firm in and out and will have some legal knowledge as well. They screen clients to ensure they are the right fit, refer clients to other firms when they are not and will set up  consultations for attorneys. These two positions not only add value to a firm but allow attorneys to focus on the core work.Brett provides a few tips to help firms hire the right people. One great tip is to give potential candidates practical tests to see if they can not only handle the job but show off their skills and experience. For example, if you are hiring for an intake specialist role, do a quick role play scenario of a client screening call. This way, the candidate can show you in real time how they would handle that situation and what skills they would use to complete a successful call. Take a listen to learn more about who to hire and how to hire for a law firm!6:30 Hiring an executive assistant10:14 The fear that law firms have when hiring11:27 The misconception of waiting to hire13:23 The importance of hiring a full-time dedicated receptionist20:23 Giving candidates a testJim's Hack: Have quarterly meetings with each team member to have conversations on a variety of things. This really shows the effort made to keep tabs on employees and discuss important aspects of one’s career, whether it be goals or growth. These conversations also help with understanding what is and isn't working for a firm from the eyes of an employee.Brett’s Tip: Force yourself to take time off with your family. If you find you are more stressed when you return to work, that means you have more things to work on to address either your stress or your ways of working.Tyson’s Tip: Have reference checks for hiring new people. They provide additional information that help get the right people in the right roles. It does add a little more time to the hiring process, but it is really worth it in the end.🎥 Watch the full video on YouTube here. Connect with Brett:Website Facebook  Company LinkedIn Linkedin  

Are you looking for a better way to maximize meeting notes? In this episode, Tyson introduces the new segment, Max Law Tech Tips. He shares a valuable tech tip on optimizing meeting notes using ChatGPT.Many have used ChatGPT for writing content, whether it be essays or resumes. But, it can really help with elevating meeting notes, especially within the legal field. Tyson shares his experience in using the platform, more so on how it provides the opportunity to create a visual timeline of cases. Pasting content into ChatGPT can provide deeper explanations, potential follow up questions and suggestions on next steps. It takes on the role of a legal assistant who gives you quick advice on what to do next. Test it out for yourself!Take a listen!00:24 Tysons journey to using Chat GPT1:12 The various capabilities of  Chat GPT🎥 Watch the full video on YouTube here.  Resources:Join the Guild MembershipSubscribe to the Maximum Lawyer Youtube ChannelFollow us on InstagramJoin the Facebook GroupFollow the Facebook PageFollow us on LinkedIn

Do you struggle with constantly checking your email or phone notifications? In this episode of the Maximum Lawyer Podcast, Tyson discusses how constantly checking your emails can have a negative impact on productivity and mental well-being. Whether you work in an office or work for yourself, many people fall victim to constantly checking their emails. This might not be at the fault of an individual person. This can stem from a culture of needing to respond to messages and emails quickly. Tyson refers to a study that shows that a constant string of emails can keep employees in a state of high alert all the time and actually increase stress levels.It can be difficult to maintain focus when checking emails. If you are focusing on a task and you keep stopping to check an email, it will take more time to complete that task. It helps more to schedule time to check emails in blocks so you can complete all of your tasks for the day.Tyson provides a few tips on checking emails at specific times throughout the day. Choose times in the day that work for you or when you usually find there is some downtime. If you find yourself more focused in the morning, check emails after lunch. If you have a specific day where a majority of your meetings are in the afternoon, check your emails in the morning.Another tip is to communicate this schedule with clients. Let them know in your email signature that you check emails a few times a day so they know they might not get a response quickly. This way, you are able to maintain a level of consistency and efficiency in your day.Take a listen!2:42 Discusses the challenges and costs of constantly checking emails3:47 Discussion of how a study shows that constant emails increase stress levels7:09 Provides pointers for transitioning to checking emails only at designated times🎥 Watch the full video on YouTube here. Resources:Join the Guild MembershipSubscribe to the Maximum Lawyer Youtube ChannelFollow us on InstagramJoin the Facebook GroupFollow the Facebook PageFollow us on LinkedIn

Are you struggling in the intake process as a lawyer? Is your firm finding it hard to maintain clients? In this episode, attorney Gary Falkowitz shares his insights on how to win at intake. Gary works with law firms to patch up the holes that exist and make firms better. Intake involves the process of when a potential client connects with a law firm. There are many steps to ensure the intake process is top tier.1 | ClientsOne of the many important things to consider when going through intake is understanding the mindset of a client. Living in a fast paced digital world, people want quick responses. If a firm wants a new client, that firm needs to be swift and respond as fast as possible. If not, the firm risks losing them to another law firm. Clients seeking legal representation are usually dealing with heavy things. Whether it be an injury, criminal case or a divorce, no one wants a lawyer. With that said, make sure you are showing compassion and speaking to them in plain language. Many cannot understand legal jargon!2 | Training What makes intake a significant part of working with a client is the training process. It is important that those that work in a law firm are equipped with ongoing training to stay up to date on the intake process. Training can include how to respond to clients when they first reach out or how to run a successful intake call or meeting. Lawyers need to know how to make a decision on the fly, especially if a prospective client calls and wants a quick response. If the lawyer is up to date on the criteria, they should be able to know at that moment if the client can be represented. 3 | Follow UpFollowing up during the intake process is where some clients actually make a decision on a law firm. Most times, potential clients are submitting inquiries to multiple firms just waiting on the first response. If a client emails an inquiry question, respond once and then follow up again. Most times, clients are juggling a lot of different priorities and that inquiry fell off their radar. The follow up might just be the thing that reminds them and pulls them in.The best way to keep a client is having a strong transition. Once a client is signed, give them homework. Give them all the information they need to feel supported. Provide information materials about the firm, contact information for the team, what you as an attorney expect from them and vice versa. Managing expectations is key. You need to express what you need from them and they need to express what they as a client need from you.Take a listen to learn more about how to have a successful intake process!2:09 Understanding the mindset of potential clients3:53 The significance of training and ongoing education9:27 Staff should be trained to make decisions11:58 Law firms should continue following up17:04 The importance of maintaining communication with clients🎥 Watch the full video on YouTube here. Connect with Gary:Website Resources:Join the Guild MembershipSubscribe to the Maximum Lawyer Youtube ChannelFollow us on InstagramJoin the Facebook GroupFollow the Facebook PageFollow us on LinkedIn