Maximum Lawyer

What happens if there is sudden death in your firm and what happens for planned succession? Steven McClelland joins us today for practical tips and valuable insight on this situation. Not only because Steven has dealt with this first hand in his firm but also because he believes that as attorneys, we have to come to the realization that we are replaceable. With a staggering stat of 72% of attorney’s not having an “after death” plan in place, he is on a mission to share how to make this practical and possible.01:05 Where do you start when it comes to getting prepared for:  When the owner of your firm passes away? 02:39 Meet Steven and why this is his passion 09:27 A couple practical actions are … 12:00 What about your spouse?15:40 These few documents are helpful …. 18:49 Where do you put your documents for people to access after death? 21:04 What about if the person doesn't actually pass? 23:10 What about your bills? Who pays them? How does this work out?28:10 If you put together ONE document for your firm … The most important document would be is …29:15 How plans for death affect the ways the people you love process through death. Jim’s Hack: Deep Questions Podcast by Cal Newport Guest Tip: Create a video of instructions for your team in case you die. Also think of creative ways to support and connect with your family and kids after death as well. Tyson’s Tip: Use this easy editing app called InShot for assistance with your Reels etc. 🎥 Watch the full video on YouTube.Connect with Steven McClelland:Website Blog Resources:Join the Guild MembershipMeet us in San Diego! The final quarterly mastermind of 2022 still has tickets available! Become a member to purchase your ticket.Subscribe to the Maximum Lawyer Youtube ChannelFollow us on InstagramJoin the Facebook GroupFollow the Facebook PageFollow us on LinkedIn Resources:Join the Guild MembershipSubscribe to the Maximum Lawyer Youtube ChannelFollow us on InstagramJoin the Facebook GroupFollow the Facebook PageFollow us on LinkedIn

From a small immigration law firm job to one of the top 20 Business Immigration Lawyers in the Nation by HR Executive Magazine, Sameer thought he was at the pinnacle of success.Like many, Sameer felt like something was missing, and he was faced with learning more about himself which began his journey of self-discovery. Understanding who you are, which is an ongoing process, and how that work is instrumental to having a vision and building a business based on that vision is what makes all the difference.Going back to square one, he decided to branch out on his own and find that connection with his work. He soon realized that he valued three things: freedom, service, and being a disruptive force.Building from his own experience as an immigrant and corporate immigration expertise, Sameer works to help highly skilled immigrants that struggle to navigate the severely arcane immigration system.2:17 need to fit in6:38 helping individuals11:16 I don’t have to do it all myself14:51 decision to niche down19:06 I just start talking about this24:03 there’s so much moreJim’s Hack: People always say, “I don’t know what to do.” If you find yourself in that situation, Les Brown said, instead say to yourself, “If I did know what to do, what would I do?” Presume you do know what to do, and just do that.Sameer’s Tip: Check out the chrome extension PDF Friendly. It makes any web page print friendly & PDF.Tyson’s Tip: When evaluating anything, always start with the positive and then move into the negative. This mindset shift is hard to change because it goes against nature. Don’t ignore the negative; just practice starting with the positive. 🎥 Watch the full video on YouTube.Connect with Sameer:WebsiteLinkedInResources:Join the Guild MembershipMeet us in Scottsdale, Arizona! The first quarterly mastermind of 2023 has tickets available! Become a member to purchase your ticket.Subscribe to the Maximum Lawyer Youtube ChannelFollow us on InstagramJoin the Facebook GroupFollow the Facebook PageFollow us on LinkedIn Resources:Join the Guild MembershipSubscribe to the Maximum Lawyer Youtube ChannelFollow us on InstagramJoin the Facebook GroupFollow the Facebook PageFollow us on LinkedIn

He is the CEO of Connecticut Trial Firm and attorney of the highest bodily injury verdict in the State of Connecticut!With a dollar amount in mind, Ryan and his partner set out with a specific goal in mind about five years ago when it all began with his client, but this verdict certainly exceeded expectations.Something that may surprise many is that Ryan had no doubt about his goal. He set out knowing that his goal was going to happen but also knew it was going to take a significant amount of work and skill.One of the great things about Ryan is that he understands that clients are scared, hurt and confused, which is why he represents individuals every day against multi-billion dollar corporations that are focused on profits, not people.Being the first person in his family to graduate from a four-year college, Ryan has dedicated his life to putting law into plain English. 2:35 we want a $10 million jury verdict6:23 we were not established11:03 we really wanted to understand what they went through14:07 initial demand of $60 million19:51 I was in court sobbingJim’s Hack: There’s no substitute for looking out into the future deciding where you want to be, writing it down, and then working backward to build the infrastructure to get where you want to be.Ryan’s Tip: Even if something feels out of reach for you, believe in yourself. Surround yourself will better people, go for it and figure it out because you can do it. Everything is figuroutable!Tyson’s Tip: For visuals and recreations, check out highimpact.com. For animations, check out https://www.totaltrialsolutions.com/animations/🎥 Watch the full video on YouTube.Connect with Ryan:WebsiteLinkedInResources:Join the Guild MembershipMeet us in Scottsdale, Arizona! The first quarterly mastermind of 2023 has tickets available! Become a member to purchase your ticket.Subscribe to the Maximum Lawyer Youtube ChannelFollow us on InstagramJoin the Facebook GroupFollow the Facebook PageFollow us on LinkedIn 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 find yourself being all in or all out?In this episode, Jim and Tyson discuss going from one extreme to another.Going beyond what is reasonable on one end to then changing your mind and heading in the opposite direction can be challenging to deal with in any law firm. While there are many people with this type of personality, one of the most important things is to have someone who can help balance you out.It’s essential to think about making progress by moving more toward a smooth and steady path instead of swinging from one extreme to the other.2:36 walk a little faster Hacking6:15 take violent liking to things10:15 you’re not just one dial14:35 picture yourself as the whole team17:25 not being on either one of those extremes20:42 what were the things you needed to know thenJim’s Hack: Check out the Netflix documentary called 14 Peaks: Nothing is Impossible. It’s about a fearless Nepali mountaineer, Nimsdai Purja, embarking on a seemingly impossible quest to summit all 14 of the world’s 8,000-meter peaks in seven months.Tyson’s Tip: Check out the language learning app Pimsleur. Learn to speak a new language in just 30 days.🎥 Watch the full video on YouTube.Resources:Join the Guild MembershipMeet us in Scottsdale, Arizona! The first quarterly mastermind of 2023 has tickets available! Become a member to purchase your ticket.Subscribe to the Maximum Lawyer Youtube ChannelFollow us on InstagramJoin the Facebook GroupFollow the Facebook PageFollow us on LinkedIn Resources:Join the Guild MembershipSubscribe to the Maximum Lawyer Youtube ChannelFollow us on InstagramJoin the Facebook GroupFollow the Facebook PageFollow us on LinkedIn

Gary’s lightbulb moment was when he was working as a personal injury attorney. He quickly realized that smarts didn’t matter as much as how one chooses to run their business.From there, his knowledge and expertise in the intake arena took off, and he began consulting with law firms. Gary is now the proud founder of Intake Conversion Experts, LLC, Principal Consultant at Maximum Intake Consulting Inc., Managing Partner at The Falkowitz Law Firm PLLC, and as his kids would attest to, "The Loudest Guy In The Room".He authored the book, The Complete Guide to Law Firm Intake, which is a great read for all personal injury law firms spending money to generate leads. Gary has also started a coaching program called The Intake Playbook.In this conversation, Gary shares his story, the truth he teaches to help law firms fix their intake, as well as doing everything you can to sign as many potentially good clients as possible.2:23 the lightbulb went off 6:48 teaching law firms how to run a business11:41 that is fantastic14:17 how much money they're wasting  19:15 this is 100% sales26:23 make them subject matter experts 30:35 trying to provoke thoughtJim’s Hack: Check out the book Zone to Win: Organizing to Compete in an Age of Disruption by Geoffrey Moore. Established firms and companies need to play offense and defense and maintain their current position while innovating. If you stand still, you’ll get run over!Gary’s Tip: Take five minutes and call your law firm during off hours to see what the experience is like. Make up a name and use a different phone number.Tyson’s Tip: Every week pick one thing from your calendar to be removed or delegated. This will help you get to the work you were meant to do.🎥 Watch the full video on YouTube.Check out the Maximum Intake Episodes at the links below:Maximum Intake Pt. 1 w/ Jim Hacking and Gary Falkowtiz 254Maximum Intake Pt. 2 w/ Jim Hacking and Gary Falkowitz 257Maximum Intake Pt. 3 w/ Jim Hacking and Gary Falkowtiz 260Maximum Intake Pt. 4 w/ Jim Hacking and Gary Falkowtiz 263Maximum Intake Pt. 5 w/ Jim Hacking and Gary Falkowtiz 266Maximum Intake Pt. 6 w/ Jim Hacking and Gary Falkowitz 269Maximum Intake Pt. 7 w/ Jim Hacking and Gary FalkowitzConnect with Gary:WebsiteLinkedInResources:Join the Guild MembershipMeet us in Scottsdale, Arizona! The first quarterly mastermind of 2023 has tickets available! Become a member to purchase your ticket.Subscribe to the Maximum Lawyer Youtube ChannelFollow us on InstagramJoin the Facebook GroupFollow the Facebook PageFollow us on LinkedIn Resources:Join the Guild MembershipSubscribe to the Maximum Lawyer Youtube ChannelFollow us on InstagramJoin the Facebook GroupFollow the Facebook PageFollow us on LinkedIn

From teaching to certified financial planner, Darren specializes in serving the unique financial planning needs of attorneys and law firm owners.When it comes to clarifying your needs, he takes a deep dive into getting to know and understand you and the people and things that matter most to you.Welcome back to another episode of the Maximum Lawyer; this time around, we have 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. Darren is active in his local community and dedicated to helping his clients transition from their working life to a comfortable retirement with confidence.2:42 burned out6:02 during the pandemic11:19 the basics work14:39 you have to be proactive and plan19:03 how can we accomplish your goalsJim’s Hack: Don’t allow yourself to become a victim of employee blackmail. When employees say no to doing multiple things at once, you have to decide the priorities of your firm and figure out a way to make it happen.Darren’s Tip: An upside to inflation is having a high-yield savings account. Marcus.com offers a 1.7% high-yield savings account. Tyson’s Tip: For podcasting, both of us use Shure mics. Tyson’s model is an SM7B, and Jim uses a USB model, the MV7.🎥 Watch the full video on YouTube.Connect with Darren:Website FacebookLinkedInTwitterResources:Join the Guild MembershipMeet us in Scottsdale, Arizona! The first quarterly mastermind of 2023 has tickets available! Become a member to purchase your ticket.Subscribe to the Maximum Lawyer Youtube ChannelFollow us on InstagramJoin the Facebook GroupFollow the Facebook PageFollow us on LinkedIn Resources:Join the Guild MembershipSubscribe to the Maximum Lawyer Youtube ChannelFollow us on InstagramJoin the Facebook GroupFollow the Facebook PageFollow us on LinkedIn

When you’re faced with a scenario like this, how can you hold yourself accountable?In this episode, Jim and Tyson discuss spot-checking yourself for accountability. There are often a million things running through your mind when something like this happens. Start by identifying the problem and then begin looking for solutions. It may not always be about putting a better system in place.It’s important to think about the process and the things that need to be fixed. When you find that the ball has been dropped, review your operations and build in what is necessary to prevent this from happening again in the future.2:27 how to keep people accountable6:02 our system doesn’t have alarm bells10:21 start to finish14:22 that’s how it’s framed17:51 my biggest concern20:37 file reviews on a regular basisJim’s Hack: There’s a huge difference between having nothing on your calendar and having one thing on your calendar. Have big blocks of time away from the office where you can focus and do the high-level work that only you can do.Tyson’s Tip: Write down the different lessons learned in a journal to give to your children when they’re older. Fill it with wisdom to pass along the way so they can treasure it forever.🎥 Watch the full video on YouTube.Resources:Join the Guild MembershipMeet us in Scottsdale, Arizona! The first quarterly mastermind of 2023 has tickets available! Become a member to purchase your ticket.Subscribe to the Maximum Lawyer Youtube ChannelFollow us on InstagramJoin the Facebook GroupFollow the Facebook PageFollow us on LinkedIn Resources:Join the Guild MembershipSubscribe to the Maximum Lawyer Youtube ChannelFollow us on InstagramJoin the Facebook GroupFollow the Facebook PageFollow us on LinkedIn

When you find yourself on the verge of going under, how do you turn it all around?In this episode, the author of LegalEase and one of the top criminal defense lawyer’s in the country, Mike Chastain shares how anyone can turn their firm into a profitable business while still making time for family, friends, and other interests. Mike Chastaine is an award-winning speaker and author. He is also a gifted storyteller with the ability to take complex ideas and simplify them to make them easily understood and actionable. In his career, he has been a warrior in the courtroom, committed to helping educate people, and an all around great guy. Through his experiences and great endurance, Mike has been able to weave together the blueprint for success.2:43 about seventeen years6:28 I stopped being afraid to say no11:07 getting enough sleep14:45 I need to know what my time commitment is 19:11 you want Tom BradyJim’s Hack: Getting up and getting things moving before your mind has the opportunity to tell you no, makes things a lot easier.Mike’s Tip: Do a weekly to do list for the following week on Fridays. Doing it on Fridays gives you the opportunity to reflect on the week prior to see if you got those things done.Tyson’s Tip: Check out the book, This Is Marketing: You Can't Be Seen Until You Learn to See by Seth Godin. 🎥 Watch the full video on YouTube.Connect with Mike:Website FacebookLinkedInResources:Join the Guild MembershipMeet us in Scottsdale, Arizona! The first quarterly mastermind of 2023 has tickets available! Become a member to purchase your ticket.Subscribe to the Maximum Lawyer Youtube ChannelFollow us on InstagramJoin the Facebook GroupFollow the Facebook PageFollow us on LinkedIn Resources:Join the Guild MembershipSubscribe to the Maximum Lawyer Youtube ChannelFollow us on InstagramJoin the Facebook GroupFollow the Facebook PageFollow us on LinkedIn

Not only is Carolyn the author of the book Solo by Choice, but she runs the longest-running blog on solo and small law firm practice.It all began with a website in the early 90s for solo and small firm practitioners. She would go on to focus on legal innovation, woman ownership, and diversity in the legal profession. Now, she’s the owner of a national law firm focused on power, pipelines, and property. Carolyn has been quoted in publications like the New York Times, featured in the ABA Journal, and appeared on the Daily Show. Additionally, her book has helped launch thousands of solo and small law firms. In this episode, super lawyer Carolyn shares how she got started before the world wide web was what it is today, how her blog has evolved, and how she is helping so many others start their own law firms.2:43 HTML7:18 about 20 more visitors11:42 advancing diversity and creating new practice areas14:12 try to be very encouraging19:41 opportunity to build and really create something new25:38 clerkships are a really great starter Jim’s Hack: Check out the book The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma by Bessel van der Kolk.Carolyn’s Tip: Loom is great for quick content creation. Tyson’s Tip: A great key feature that can be found in your Google Workspace account is color coding your calendar.🎥 Watch the full video on YouTube.Connect with Carolyn:Website Instagram FacebookLinkedInResources:Join the Guild MembershipMeet us in Scottsdale, Arizona! The first quarterly mastermind of 2023 has tickets available! Become a member to purchase your ticket.Subscribe to the Maximum Lawyer Youtube ChannelFollow us on InstagramJoin the Facebook GroupFollow the Facebook PageFollow us on LinkedIn Resources:Join the Guild MembershipSubscribe to the Maximum Lawyer Youtube ChannelFollow us on InstagramJoin the Facebook GroupFollow the Facebook PageFollow us on LinkedIn

Taking the path from trial lawyer to podcast producer was anything but direct for Robert.After suffering for years with anxiety, battling long hours, intense pressure, and constant conflict, Robert knew he had to make a change. Not knowing what to do next, he stumbled upon a love for podcasts. With no marketing or business experience, he decided to start a podcast for his firm with the hope that one day he could help law firms launch their own podcast.Within four years, Robert’s dream became a reality, and LawPods was producing podcasts for the biggest brands in law!Robert is the founder of LawPods, podcasts for lawyers. At LawPods, Robert and his team help some of the premier law firms in the world launch and grow branded podcasts that build relationships, boost SEO, and drive revenue.Nowadays, Robert also enjoys teaching the art of podcasting and speaking on topics such as Podcast Content Marketing, Prioritizing Mental Health, Entrepreneurship, and Law Office Technology. If there’s one thing he wants you to know, it’s that you only need a minimal time investment to have a world-class firm podcast.2:12 started out in criminal defense 6:23 you’ve got to get it together10:45 biggest obstacles in the beginning14:28 not having a plan18:51 listen to those blocks of episodes25:05 video, having the video on YouTubeJim’s Hack: Check out the book Lovingkindness: The Revolutionary Art of Happiness by Sharon Salzberg.Robert’s Tip: Check out the Personal Injury Mastermind podcast by Chris Dreyer and the book Mindset by Carol Dweck.Tyson’s Tip: A good stress management tip is to declutter and clean your freaking desk!🎥 Watch the full video on YouTube.Connect with Robert:WebsiteInstagram FacebookLinkedInResources:Join the Guild MembershipMeet us in San Diego! The final quarterly mastermind of 2022 still has tickets available! Become a member to purchase your ticket.Subscribe to the Maximum Lawyer Youtube ChannelFollow us on InstagramJoin the Facebook GroupFollow the Facebook PageFollow us on LinkedIn Resources:Join the Guild MembershipSubscribe to the Maximum Lawyer Youtube ChannelFollow us on InstagramJoin the Facebook GroupFollow the Facebook PageFollow us on LinkedIn