New Solo

What does it take to pivot from a career in law enforcement to launching a solo elder law practice? In this episode of New Solo’s First Flight series, Adriana Linares sits down with Andrew Schierberg, a former police chief who retired after 20 years of service and started a second career in law. Andrew shares how he found his passion for elder law, why he chose a holistic service model, and the systems he put in place to build a client-centered firm in Northern Kentucky. From his decision to practice law on his own terms to hiring a care coordinator as his first team member, Andrew's story is one of intentional design, service-driven values, and entrepreneurial smarts. Later in the episode, Adriana is joined by ALPS Insurance’s Rio Laine to talk about hiring smart, supervising staff, and how the right technology and documented workflows help safeguard your growing solo firm.   Hear the original episode with Andrew Schierberg Learn more about ALPS Insurance.  Receive email notifications every time we release a new episode.

Guest Jared Correia of Red Cave Law Firm Consulting helps law firms run better and helps lawyers live their best lives. In addition, he’s both an attorney and an avid podcaster and writer. In this episode Correia and good friend, host Adriana Linares, dive into how law firms can leverage video content to build their business and how to outsource tasks and maximize technical efficiencies.  Correia explains step by step how lawyers can get in the video content game. Buy a tripod, fire up your cell phone, and get started. Modern platforms are your friend, from YouTube to LinkedIn, Loom to VideoAsk, even Zoom.  Make mastering the art of video your goal this summer. Hear where you can find subject ideas, edit and publish, and use AI to turn recordings into articles.  Plus, managing remote contract workers to streamline your business, creating “role-based access” to your files, automating tasks and workflows, and getting the most out of the software that’s already on your desk.  Questions or ideas about solo and small practices? Drop us a line at NewSolo@legaltalknetwork.com   Topics: If you’re not leveraging video content to build your business, you’re probably losing out to someone who does. Make mastering video production and distribution your summer goal (hear how to get started).  Make use of the newest tech tools – and learn how to use the tools you’re already paying for – to automate, streamline, manage, and outsource your daily tasks. Plus, a special guest, Legal Talk Network producer Adam Lockwood drops by to share some pro podcasting and video tips for beginners.  Resources:  YouTube Loom video VideoAsk Riverside.fm video editing Clio Legal Tech Smokeball TaskGate.io Notion Microsoft Teams Adobe Acrobat ChatGPT Microsoft Office tools Acuity scheduling Kevin Stratvert on YouTube ABA Techshow 2026 Clio Cloud Conference 2025 Clio Legal Trends Report Legal Late Night podcast Above The Law podcast Legal Toolkit podcast, Legal Talk Network “How Law Firms Can Leverage Video Content To Drive Business” “How Remote Staff Can Help Small Firms Punch Above Their Weight” “Helping Hands: The Value Proposition Of Remote Work For Law Firms” Previous appearance on New Solo, “Solo, But Not? Shared Office Space (Plus, Chatbots and A.I.)” Previous appearance on Legal Talk Network, Un-Billable Hour, “Separating The Wheat From The Chaff In Legal Tech (And AI)”

Can a young lawyer balance motherhood, burnout, and building a solo practice? In this episode of New Solo’s First Flight series, Adriana Linares talks with immigration attorney Kim Felton, whose legal career was born from necessity and built with purpose. After facing rejection while pregnant and being let go from a hostile firm, Kim turned to contract work and eventually launched her own immigration practice and consulting company, Innovation Litigation. Kim shares how she carved her own path using legal tech, project management tools, and an unshakable drive to create a family-friendly law firm not just for herself, but to help other attorneys do the same. Later in the episode, Adriana and ALPS Insurance’s Rio Laine discuss how documenting procedures, adopting the right case management system, and creating a positive work culture can protect your practice and your peace of mind. Hear the original episode with Kimberley Felton Learn more about ALPS Insurance.  Receive email notifications every time we release a new episode

Take a deep dive into today’s case management and accounting tech with one of the leading voices in legal technology, Allan Mackenzie, the founding partner of the firm Efficient Legal.  Moving from older systems and into the cloud can open lots of doors, affordably. Even small firms can dig into today’s modern technology to help manage documents, accounting tasks, and more.  Iron out the wrinkles in your data management, connect platforms, and work seamlessly and efficiently. Case management systems have evolved to include dashboards, workflows, document assembly, phone call and text messaging systems, and even accounting tech and credit card processing. Hear what Mackenzie looks for when he sets out to build the right-sized system for a law firm, whether that’s a solo practice or a large organization.  Questions or ideas about solo and small practices? Drop us a line at NewSolo@legaltalknetwork.com   Topics: Think your legal software and systems are fine because they’re what you’ve always used? Think again. Six months is an eternity in legal tech, and if you haven’t reviewed and renewed your software suite, you could be leaving money on the table.  Integrate everything, including your billing, collections, and your phone calls, into every part of your firm, from information management to confidential storage and efficient search and recall.  Your clients are texting more than ever. Today’s case management systems incorporate technology to securely receive, sort, and store text messages. Resources: Clio Legal Tech MyCase Smokeball CARET (formerly Zola) Leap Neos Dialpad RingCentral Ion8 Lightbulb Slack Quickbooks MyFirmData Zoho Invoice Centerbase Microsoft Teams Universal Migrator Actionstep Dropbox Dash ABA Techshow 2026  Previously on New Solo, “Winning The Battle: When It’s Time To Modernize But There’s One Holdout”  Previously on New Solo, guest Peggy Gruenke, “What’s New in Legal Financial Management? An Expert’s Perspective”  Previously on New Solo, guest Amanda Moore, “Money Management 101 for Solo and Small Firm Professionals”  Clio Cloud Conference 2025 Clio Legal Trends Report

Can your law firm be both professional and personal? In this episode, host Adriana Linares revisits her conversation with Cassandra Koeing, a solo family lawyer who launched Aloha Divorce straight out of school and found success by leaning into her personality and values. From creating a business plan with heart to growing a referral network through community events and Instagram, Cassandra shares how authenticity helped her attract the right clients. Plus, Adriana Linares and Rio Laine from ALPS Insurance break down how choosing the right tech, building good habits, and learning when to say no can keep your practice and your peace of mind on track from day one. Here the original episode with Cassandra Koeing Learn more about ALPS Insurance  Receive email notifications every time we release a new episode

Join John K. Phoebus, a personal injury and criminal defense attorney from Maryland, as he discusses revolutionizing small law firms through technology. He shares how his boutique firm leverages innovative tools to manage hefty case loads and sift through mountains of evidence, including decades of medical records. Phoebus emphasizes the importance of legal marketing and tailored case management systems, illustrating how AI can turn small firms into formidable competitors against larger counterparts, all while enhancing client service.

Starting a law firm straight out of school? Meet Philip Mauriello, an attorney who wasted no time launching his solo practice just three months after passing the bar. In this episode, host Adriana Linares revisits her conversation with Philip, who shares the smart, scrappy strategies that helped him build a successful business from the ground up. From freelancing to build startup capital to picking the right tech stack before day one, Philip shares real-world strategies for getting up and running fast. Plus, Adriana Linares and Rio Laine from ALPS Insurance break down why thinking ahead, specializing early, and planning your growth can reduce risk and lead to long-term success. Hear the original episode with Philip Mauriello.Learn more about ALPS Insurance. Receive email notifications every time we release a new episode.

Get inspired and stay inspired as a solo legal practitioner. Guest Paige Greenlee started her firm, Greenlee Law PLLC, in 2014 and is still going strong on her own. Hear how she does it. Keeping the lights on, and keeping track of cases, business, even contract help is a full load, but you can do it. Having worked for large firms, Greenlee realized she wanted to control her own business, use the technology that worked for her, and manage her own calendar and cases. But as so many have noted, you learn the law in law school – not business management. Hear how Greenlee leaned on family experiences, mentors, and her own trial and error to keep the lights on, keep the cases coming in the door, and stay organized and efficient. Here’s a hint, a lot of running a solo practice comes down to making a business decision and then outsourcing the implementation. Greenlee learned to delegate tasks, including accounting and technology management. And as she started to build her practice, she learned to find and hire the right assistants to manage day-to-day duties. She relies heavily on tech tools – the right tools, not cheap imitations – to eliminate the forest of paper documents that comes her way daily. Questions or ideas about solo and small practices? Drop us a line at NewSolo@legaltalknetwork.com  Topics: Hear how a successful solo law firm founder learned to practice law, enjoy her life, and take care of the day-to-day chores it takes to run a business It’s easy to fall into the habit of trying to do everything yourself. Learn when to “outsource,” turning over business issues such as bookkeeping and administration to contract employees and firms. When it comes to your tech, don’t skimp. If you need it, get it. “Good enough” is rarely good enough.  Mentioned in This Episode:Clio Legal TechMicrosoft 365 for BusinessNetDocumentsScanSnapGliss Marketing and ConsultingTrialPadFlorida Bar AssociationABA TECHSHOW 2025Clio Cloud Conference 2025Clio Legal Trends Report 

Introverted and shy attorneys, this episode is for you! Discover the key differences between introversion and shyness, gain practical tips to overcome performance anxiety, and learn how to harness your natural strengths to thrive in the legal profession with episode highlights from Heidi Brown, professor at Brooklyn Law and author of The Introverted Lawyer. Plus, don’t miss the heartfelt conversation with Rio Lane from ALPS Insurance on why “fake it till you make it” isn’t always the best approach and how lawyer wellbeing is essential for success. Hear the original episode with Heidi K. Brown.

In this “Super Episode,” host Adriana Linares is joined by Stephanie Everett, a host for the Lawyerist podcast on the Legal Talk Network and the chief growth officer, lab coach, and speaker with Lawyerist, a firm dedicated to helping solo and small legal practices flourish in every area including marketing, finance, staffing, and legal tech. Twice the hosting! Together, they tackle the transition to flat-fee billing and explain how it can sometimes be a better solution for lawyers and their clients. Clients are used to the traditional billable hour, but in reality, they aren’t paying for your time, they are paying for results. They are paying you for what you achieve. So why not bill that way? This doesn’t have to be all or nothing. Some jobs can be better handled with a straight up, flat fee or a subscription model. Others may still require hourly billing. Or maybe one part of the case is a set amount, with hourly add-ons if the case drags on. The goal is never to see your practice earn less revenue, but flat-fee billing can benefit both client and lawyer. Think of how many times clients were afraid to call you or chat a bit to build a relationship because they worried the clock was ticking. Hear how you can try it out, “play with” a rate shift. Maybe even present clients with an option. If you’ve been curious about how flat-fee billing can work, this is the episode for you. Questions or ideas about solo and small practices? Drop us a line at NewSolo@legaltalknetwork.com  Topics: Flat-fee billing? It can be done, and it can offer advantages to both clients and law firms. Clients are paying for results, not “hours. How you price your services doesn’t have to be one way or the other. It can be both. Some tasks can be set for a straight up, transparent flat fee. Others may work best at an hourly rat Explaining fees to clients is a new concept. But clients often warm up to new ways of doing things if they’re given the chance and understand their options. It starts with honest, clear conversations. (Don’t forget to help your own staff understand, too.)  Mentioned in This Episode:Previously on Lawyerist podcast, “#547: Legal Tech You Need for Flat Fees, with Adriana Linares”ABA TECHSHOW 2025Clio Cloud Conference 2025Clio Legal Trends Report