BE THAT LAWYER

In this episode, Steve Fretzin and Joe Jones discuss:The transition from traditional legal practice to entrepreneurshipStrategies for evaluating and managing professional riskTools and systems that support solo and startup legal venturesThe mindset and preparation needed to pursue legal tech innovation Key Takeaways:Successfully transitioning from law firm practice to a tech-driven startup can be less daunting when done gradually, by maintaining income and slowly validating the new concept before fully stepping away.Fear of entrepreneurial failure can be reduced by building out clear backup plans—even unconventional ones—to provide psychological safety and optionality during uncertain times.Implementing automated scheduling systems and encouraging clients to use them can significantly reduce administrative burden, lower phone interruptions, and create a more organized and prepared client experience.New product ideas should be tested not by pitching, but by asking target users how they currently solve the problem, which leads to more honest feedback and uncovers existing competitors or gaps in the market. "There’s just so many tools out there that you can get that aren’t very expensive, that take a huge headache away from you." —  Joe Jones Unlock the secrets of the industry's top rainmakers with Be That Lawyer: 101 Top Rainmakers’ Secrets to Growing a Successful Law Practice. Grab your ultimate guide to building a thriving law firm now on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0F78HXJHT Thank you to our Sponsors!Rankings.io: https://rankings.io/ Ready to grow your law practice without selling or chasing? Book your free 30-minute strategy session now—let's make this your breakout year: https://fretzin.com/ Episode References: The Mom Test by Rob Fitzpatrick: https://www.amazon.com/Mom-Test-customers-business-everyone/dp/1492180742About Joe Jones: Joe Jones is a board-certified personal injury trial lawyer, the Co-Founder and CEO of StreamSettle, and a U.S. Marine Corps veteran with a driving passion for resolving conflict. From his early days in his law school's Mediation Clinic to serving as a Judge Advocate in the Marines, Joe has been helping people find solutions to their legal disputes.After a successful run managing a Houston office for a top Texas personal injury firm and making partner, Joe's entrepreneurial spirit led him to launch Joe Jones Law Firm. But he didn't stop there. Seeing a need for innovation, he co-founded StreamSettle with his wife Chrysa—a software solution shaking up the dispute resolution world.When he's not working, Joe is all about family, cheering on Texas A&M and Houston sports teams, playing music, and hitting the slopes.Connect with Joe Jones:  Website: https://streamsettle.com/Email: jjones@streamsettle.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joe-jones-9802a3a/ & https://www.linkedin.com/company/streamsettleConnect with Steve Fretzin:LinkedIn: Steve FretzinTwitter: @stevefretzinInstagram: @fretzinsteveFacebook: Fretzin, Inc.Website: Fretzin.comEmail: Steve@Fretzin.comBook: Legal Business Development Isn't Rocket Science and more!YouTube: Steve FretzinCall Steve directly at 847-602-6911 Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it. 

Dan Lear, VP of partnerships at InfoTrack and a seasoned tech lawyer, dives into the evolution of sales strategies in the legal sector. He emphasizes that today's market favors a consultative approach over aggressive tactics, prioritizing client needs. Lear discusses the importance of qualifying prospects effectively and suggests building genuine relationships for long-term success. He also shares insights on clarifying personal professional goals, offering practical advice for navigating uncertainty and aligning actions with aspirations.

In this engaging discussion, Gavin Sharpe, a seasoned law firm advisor and coach, dives into the essential link between mindset and success in legal business development. He reveals how emotional intelligence can reshape lawyers’ approaches to networking and client relations. By debunking the rainmaker myth, Sharpe encourages introverted lawyers to harness their unique strengths in a structured, authentic manner. He also highlights the overlooked potential in intra-firm collaborations, urging legal professionals to take small, manageable steps toward building sustainable client relationships.

Janet Falk, a strategic communications professional with over 30 years in public relations, guides attorneys on enhancing their visibility and credibility. She discusses the evolving marketing strategies for legal professionals, emphasizing the 'Marketing RBI' approach for networking and promotion. Janet highlights the importance of personal branding through platforms like LinkedIn and newsletters. The conversation also dives into AI's impact on client searches, underscoring the need for high-quality content that builds trust and attracts new clients.

In this episode, Steve Fretzin and Ben Walker discuss:Navigating the complexities of government contracting and responding to requests for proposals (RFPs)Strategies for effective employee retention and building long-term professional relationshipsLessons learned through costly mistakes in vendor selection and employee hiringMarketing and sales tactics for growing service-based businesses in highly regulated industries Key Takeaways:A structured “go or no-go” system helps companies quickly evaluate whether to respond to a request for proposal by screening for essential fit criteria such as pricing compatibility, service capabilities, and competition scope.Government contracting success often comes from proactive outreach, including attending local procurement events and targeting check-writing buyers to build relationships long before proposals are even announced.Past mistakes in hiring and vendor engagement revealed the critical importance of conducting thorough reference checks and background investigations to avoid long-term financial and operational damage.Customizing every proposal by adopting the agency’s language, tone, and acronyms dramatically increases the likelihood of success by signaling subject matter expertise and genuine alignment with their needs. "If you're not hiring people that are getting other offers, then I think you might be hiring the wrong people." —  Ben Walker Unlock the secrets of the industry's top rainmakers with Be That Lawyer: 101 Top Rainmakers’ Secrets to Growing a Successful Law Practice. Grab your ultimate guide to building a thriving law firm now on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0F78HXJHT Ready to go from good to GOAT in your legal marketing game? Don’t miss PIMCON—where the brightest minds in professional services gather to share what really works. Lock in your spot now: https://www.pimcon.org/ Thank you to our Sponsors!Rankings.io: https://rankings.io/ Ready to grow your law practice without selling or chasing? Book your free 30-minute strategy session now—let's make this your breakout year: https://fretzin.com/ About Ben Walker: Ben Walker is the founder and CEO of Ditto Transcripts, the leading global provider of transcription services to the legal, law enforcement, medical, academic, financial, and general business industries. Born and raised in Omaha, Nebraska, Ben attended Creighton Prep High School in Omaha and Colorado State University in Fort Collins, Colorado, where he earned his degree in Economics. Connect with Ben Walker:  Website: https://www.dittotranscripts.com/Phone: (720) 287-3710LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benkwalker/ & https://www.linkedin.com/company/ditto-transcripts/Twitter: https://x.com/benjaminkwalkerFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000712517059 & https://www.facebook.com/Transcription.Services.Company/Connect with Steve Fretzin:LinkedIn: Steve FretzinTwitter: @stevefretzinInstagram: @fretzinsteveFacebook: Fretzin, Inc.Website: Fretzin.comEmail: Steve@Fretzin.comBook: Legal Business Development Isn't Rocket Science and more!YouTube: Steve FretzinCall Steve directly at 847-602-6911 Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it. 

In this episode, Steve Fretzin and Sue Kirchner discuss:The role of personal and firm branding in professional servicesDifferentiation strategies in a competitive legal marketplaceThe evolving dynamics between name-based and value-based brandingBranding’s impact on mergers, acquisitions, and business longevity Key Takeaways:Law firms that remove individual names from their brand and adopt a more strategic, memorable identity are better positioned for scalability, talent acquisition, and potential future sale or merger.Before spending on marketing, professional service firms must first define their brand strategy by clarifying their core values, audience, messaging, and differentiators to ensure efforts resonate and generate ROI.In a saturated legal market, individual lawyers must actively build personal brands—often rooted in authentic personality traits or interests—to stand out and create emotional connections that drive client decisions.During mergers and acquisitions, brand strategy is essential at every stage—from making the firm attractive pre-sale, to managing messaging consistency on day one, to ensuring smooth internal integration post-deal. "The best you can do is to have your messaging and your actions best reflect what you want them to take away from your brand." —  Sue Kirchner Unlock the secrets of the industry's top rainmakers with Be That Lawyer: 101 Top Rainmakers’ Secrets to Growing a Successful Law Practice. Grab your ultimate guide to building a thriving law firm now on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0F78HXJHT Thank you to our Sponsors!Rankings.io: https://rankings.io/ Ready to grow your law practice without selling or chasing? Book your free 30-minute strategy session now—let's make this your breakout year: https://fretzin.com/ About Sue Kirchner: For over 25 years, Sue Kirchner, Founder of Brand Strong Marketing—a brand strategy consulting firm—has helped thriving businesses create Wow! brands, allowing them to scale faster, easier, and more successfully.Her proven Brand Strong Methodology has enabled organizations to attract the right customers and employees, enter new markets successfully, create an amazing customer experience, and increase sales to consistently take the business to the next level.She is also the host of The Turbo Branding Show, a podcast and video series designed to help Founders and CEOs of thriving businesses gain the insights and inspiration they need to ignite growth by leveraging their brand. Connect with Sue Kirchner:  Website: https://brandstrongmarketing.com/Show: The Turbo Branding Show: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-turbo-branding-show/id1771868942LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/suekirchner/ & https://www.linkedin.com/company/brand-strong-marketing/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BrandStrongMarketingInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/brandstrongmarketing/ Connect with Steve Fretzin:LinkedIn: Steve FretzinTwitter: @stevefretzinInstagram: @fretzinsteveFacebook: Fretzin, Inc.Website: Fretzin.comEmail: Steve@Fretzin.comBook: Legal Business Development Isn't Rocket Science and more!YouTube: Steve FretzinCall Steve directly at 847-602-6911 Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it. 

In this episode, Steve Fretzin and Rafi Arbel discuss:Persistence is a key element in long-term marketing and outreachThe impact of in-person networking on professional relationshipsBlending digital tools with personal follow-up strategiesSystem-building as a solution for scaling and stabilizing a business Key Takeaways:Attending legal trade shows and following up with structured CRM tools like HubSpot or even a spreadsheet is crucial for relationship-driven client acquisition.AI tools like Fathom are effectively used post-Zoom calls to generate meeting summaries, action items, and even tailored follow-up emails.A major operational failure—losing a key employee without SOPs—led to the implementation of structured daily team meetings and detailed task documentation using ClickUp and SweetProcess.Personalized outreach, such as sending curated articles based on someone's interests or social media activity, is a highly effective way to maintain engagement with referral sources. "The reason the water cuts through the rock is that it is a constant, constantly hitting it with small forces. And that's really what we're doing in marketing." —  Rafi Arbel Unlock the secrets of the industry's top rainmakers with Be That Lawyer: 101 Top Rainmakers’ Secrets to Growing a Successful Law Practice. Grab your ultimate guide to building a thriving law firm now on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0F78HXJHT Ready to go from good to GOAT in your legal marketing game? Don’t miss PIMCON—where the brightest minds in professional services gather to share what really works. Lock in your spot now: https://www.pimcon.org/ Thank you to our Sponsors!Rankings.io: https://rankings.io/ Ready to grow your law practice without selling or chasing? Book your free 30-minute strategy session now—let's make this your breakout year: https://fretzin.com/ About Rafi Arbel: Rafi Arbel is the founder of Market JD, a digital marketing agency for consumer law firms. A former trial attorney, Rafi helps personal injury, criminal defense, family, and immigration lawyers grow their practices through SEO, PPC, and high-converting websites. He’s a recognized voice on legal marketing strategy, referral network building, and law firm growth. Connect with Rafi Arbel:  Website: https://marketjd.comEmail: rafi@marketjd.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rafiarbel/ & https://www.linkedin.com/company/market-jd-inc-/Twitter: https://x.com/rarbelFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/rafi.arbel/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rafi.arbel/ Connect with Steve Fretzin:LinkedIn: Steve FretzinTwitter: @stevefretzinInstagram: @fretzinsteveFacebook: Fretzin, Inc.Website: Fretzin.comEmail: Steve@Fretzin.comBook: Legal Business Development Isn't Rocket Science and more!YouTube: Steve FretzinCall Steve directly at 847-602-6911 Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it. 

In this episode, Steve Fretzin and Seth Price discuss:Challenges of marketing and business development for lawyers and law firmsStrategic differences between B2B and B2C legal marketingImportance of content creation and personal branding in legal marketingLessons from entrepreneurial growth and mistakes in legal and digital ventures Key Takeaways:Lawyers in B2B markets should avoid SEO as a first strategy and instead build relationships through networking, targeted events, or personalized outreach.Creating consistent, niche-specific content on LinkedIn is a powerful yet underutilized strategy for establishing authority in legal fields.Delegating legal versus business responsibilities within a firm can allow for more focused and scalable growth, as seen in the speaker's dual-leadership model.Trying to network with senior lawyers often yields less return than building long-term relationships with peers who grow into referral sources over time. "If you create great content over time... you may not get a ton of interaction, but the people that are interested are going to find it, and you're going to be that guy." —  Seth Price Unlock the secrets of the industry's top rainmakers with Be That Lawyer: 101 Top Rainmakers’ Secrets to Growing a Successful Law Practice. Grab your ultimate guide to building a thriving law firm now on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0F78HXJHT Ready to go from good to GOAT in your legal marketing game? Don’t miss PIMCON—where the brightest minds in professional services gather to share what really works. Lock in your spot now: https://www.pimcon.org/ Thank you to our Sponsors!Rankings.io: https://rankings.io/ Ready to grow your law practice without selling or chasing? Book your free 30-minute strategy session now—let's make this your breakout year: https://fretzin.com/ About Seth Price: Seth Price is a seasoned marketing and branding expert with over two decades of experience in digital marketing. He has consulted for more than 300 companies, including 19 of the Fortune 500, and has helped build four multimillion-dollar companies from the ground up. As VP of Marketing at Placester, he has guided tens of thousands of real estate professionals through social media and content strategies, and he also founded the Real Estate Marketing Academy, which reaches over 75,000 marketers monthly. A recognized thought leader, Seth is a frequent keynote speaker and contributor to outlets like Entrepreneur, Forbes, and REALTOR.com. He is also the author of The Road to Recognition, a go-to guide for building personal brands in the digital age. Connect with Seth Price:  Website: https://pricebenowitz.com/Book: The Road to Recognition: https://www.amazon.com/Road-Recognition-Z-Accelerating-Professional/dp/1940858364LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sethpriceConnect with Steve Fretzin:LinkedIn: Steve FretzinTwitter: @stevefretzinInstagram: @fretzinsteveFacebook: Fretzin, Inc.Website: Fretzin.comEmail: Steve@Fretzin.comBook: Legal Business Development Isn't Rocket Science and more!YouTube: Steve FretzinCall Steve directly at 847-602-6911 Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it. 

In this episode, Steve Fretzin and Claire Parsons discuss:Integrating mindfulness into high-pressure professional environmentsNavigating mental health challenges while maintaining demanding careersRethinking traditional views on business development for introvertsBuilding emotional resilience and clarity through intentional daily practices Key Takeaways:Starting with just one minute of daily meditation can create subtle but lasting shifts in emotional regulation, clarity, and resilience under pressure.Mindfulness doesn’t eliminate stress but reshapes how it’s processed, making space for more grounded decisions and healthier coping habits.Emotional regulation skills gained through meditation reduce fear of rejection, making business development feel less risky and more authentic.Practices like breathwork, body scans, and loving-kindness help professionals stay centered during conflict, reconnect with purpose, and act from intention rather than reactivity. "A lot of law practice involves a gut check… and you have to consistently check in with your values to make sure you're representing your client as best you can." —  Claire Parsons Unlock the secrets of the industry's top rainmakers with Be That Lawyer: 101 Top Rainmakers’ Secrets to Growing a Successful Law Practice. Grab your ultimate guide to building a thriving law firm now on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0F78HXJHT Ready to go from good to GOAT in your legal marketing game? Don’t miss PIMCON—where the brightest minds in professional services gather to share what really works. Lock in your spot now: https://www.pimcon.org/ Thank you to our Sponsors!Rankings.io: https://rankings.io/ Ready to grow your law practice without selling or chasing? Book your free 30-minute strategy session now—let's make this your breakout year: https://fretzin.com/ About Claire Parsons: Claire E. Parsons is a Cincinnati-based attorney practicing in school law, employment law, and litigation. In addition to her legal work, she teaches mindfulness and compassion to lawyers and professionals and frequently shares her insights on these topics through her blog, Brilliant Legal Mind, and her published books. Claire draws on both personal experience and formal training to make mindfulness practices accessible, practical, and effective for busy professionals. Her work blends deep legal expertise with a commitment to well-being, helping others find clarity and resilience in high-pressure environments. Connect with Claire Parsons:  Website: https://brilliantlegalmind.com/ & https://www.brickergraydon.com/team/claire-parsonsBook: How to Be a Badass Lawyer: https://www.amazon.com/How-Badass-Lawyer-Development-Mindfulness/dp/B0BLQYNBXZLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/claireeparsons/ & https://www.linkedin.com/company/bricker-graydon/ Connect with Steve Fretzin:LinkedIn: Steve FretzinTwitter: @stevefretzinInstagram: @fretzinsteveFacebook: Fretzin, Inc.Website: Fretzin.comEmail: Steve@Fretzin.comBook: Legal Business Development Isn't Rocket Science and more!YouTube: Steve FretzinCall Steve directly at 847-602-6911 Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it. 

In this episode, Steve Fretzin and Shireen Hilal discuss:Navigating modern law firm strategy in a rapidly evolving legal marketImproving internal operations and team culture to boost law firm performanceEnhancing client engagement and retention amid budget constraintsLeveraging cross-selling and business development tactics within law firms Key Takeaways:Law firms that prioritize understanding and responding to their clients' future needs instead of mirroring competitors can unlock unique opportunities for differentiation and growth.Clear and value-based billing practices—paired with proactive scope, time, and budget alignment—are essential to reinforcing client trust and maintaining healthy payment cycles.Structured programs like internal expert briefings and strategic client lunches can make cross-selling more natural and effective by focusing on solving client problems rather than pitching services.Communicating pricing changes with context and care rather than through generic finance memos helps strengthen client relationships and reinforces long-term loyalty. "The problem with obsessing about your competition instead of your clients is that, if you do, you are almost, by definition, falling in the middle. So the better way to get ahead, I think, is to be client-obsessed." —  Shireen Hilal Unlock the secrets of the industry's top rainmakers with Be That Lawyer: 101 Top Rainmakers’ Secrets to Growing a Successful Law Practice. Grab your ultimate guide to building a thriving law firm now on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0F78HXJHT Thank you to our Sponsors!Rankings.io: https://rankings.io/ Ready to grow your law practice without selling or chasing? Book your free 30-minute strategy session now—let's make this your breakout year: https://fretzin.com/ About Shireen Hilal: Shireen is the CEO of Maior, a boutique consultancy that helps law firms with their pain points and plateaus with strategic and operational support, ranging from go-to-market solutions and profitability programs to process improvement and enhancing employee engagement.Before starting Maior, Shireen spent a decade practicing at AmLaw100 firms and then had the privilege of serving in several executive roles: COO of a national law firm (where she increased revenue by 20%, profits per partner by 30%, and achieved "best place to work" accolades), pivoting strategy and operations for enterprise firms (KPMG and BDO), and building out the growth division of a communications consulting firm.Through Maior, she now helps growing firms skyrocket, early-stage firms maintain their "special sauce" as they scale, and mature firms with a fresh perspective.Shireen also serves on the advisory board of a Top 100 accounting and advisory firm and writes a quarterly column for Law360 answering law firm leaders' questions. Connect with Shireen Hilal:  Website: https://www.maiorconsultants.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shireenhilal/ & https://www.linkedin.com/company/maior-consultants/Connect with Steve Fretzin:LinkedIn: Steve FretzinTwitter: @stevefretzinInstagram: @fretzinsteveFacebook: Fretzin, Inc.Website: Fretzin.comEmail: Steve@Fretzin.comBook: Legal Business Development Isn't Rocket Science and more!YouTube: Steve FretzinCall Steve directly at 847-602-6911 Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.