The Free Lawyer

In this podcast episode, Gary interviews Kerri Coby White, an expert in helping law firms grow and be more successful with less work. Kerri shares her professional journey and how she built the Law Firm Growth Machine, which takes all the little annoying things that every attorney needs to do and sets it all on autopilot. She emphasizes the four fundamental aspects of growing a law firm, including having the right people, marketing dollars, having a CEO mindset, and automation. Carrie also highlights the biggest challenges that lawyers face today and suggests starting with a solid growth strategy, treating files as people, and building relationships with clients. She offers her book, "The Law Firm Growth Machine," as a comprehensive guide to building a growth machine for your law firm. Kerri Coby White has been serving the legal industry in growth and business development for more than a  decade, merging her consulting firm with that of James Brooks and forming KerriJames, LLC in 2019. As CEO of KerriJames, Kerri speaks on the value of data and technology in achieving next level growth. It is her personal belief that strategy-driven systems can provide firms with the intelligence that enables them to compete amidst a host of challenges and do the important work of seeking justice, supporting clients, and growing organizations that serve their communities. Would you like to learn how to create greater personal freedom in your practice? If so, I can help. You can schedule a courtesy call here: https://calendly.com/garymiles-successcoach/one-one-discovery-call

What was your motivation for becoming a lawyer? Was it to make a lot of money? Or was it to serve and help others? Very few of us became lawyers to make a lot of money. Primarily, we did it to be of service to others. We encountered onerous billable hour requirements, demanding clients, competition, and complex work requirements. The pressure and stress wiped out our sense of fulfillment. How can we rebuild our purpose of service, which initially motivated us?  In today's, I will review the obstacles to our fulfillment and the problems we suffer when we are not fulfilled,  discuss the benefits of recreating fulfillment in our career,  and lay a recipe to find that purpose in our work. Are you interested in having a more fulfilling career? If so, this is a message for you. Would you like to learn how to create greater personal freedom by being more fulfilled? If so, I can help. You can schedule a courtesy call here: https://calendly.com/garymiles-successcoach/one-one-discovery-call

In today's episode, Gary interviews Lesa Koski, an attorney turned mediator who handles family law in a unique way. Lesa shares her passion for doing divorces differently and helping couples fashion their own solutions using skilled empathetic mediation. She discusses the challenges she faces as a mediator, particularly when one party is not willing to participate. Lesa emphasizes the importance of taking care of oneself as a legal professional and suggests simple tactics such as breathing exercises, moving one's body, and talking to a trusted friend or therapist. The episode highlights the importance of doing divorce differently and the role of skilled mediators like Lisa in achieving that goal. Lesa is a wife, a mama, a grandma and an animal lover.  She is blessed to be serving people from her barn office.  She is obsessed with learning and communication.  She loves sharing what she has learned with all of you!  There is nothing more gratifying for her than holding people's hands through difficult conversations.   Lesa is an attorney based in Woodbury, MN with over 20 years of experience with a strong desire to help people through difficult situations.  That's why becoming a divorce mediator was the best fit for both herself and my clients. All of her links are here:  https://linktr.ee/lesakoski Would you like to learn how to create greater personal freedom by being more efficient? If so, I can help. You can schedule a courtesy call here: https://calendly.com/garymiles-successcoach/one-one-discovery-call

How well is your law firm doing? Which of your attorneys is most profitable and contributes most to your success? How satisfied are your clients? What kinds of matters are most profitable? What is the cost of acquiring a new client or a new matter? What client development activities are most successful? These are all fundamental questions that many law firm partners do not know the answers to. Yet, they are critical for our success. The law firm must answer those fundamental questions using Key Performance Indicators (KPIs). It seems everyone now is throwing around the term “KPI.”. But do we understand KPIs, how they work, and how to best utilize them? In this episode, we will discuss KPIs and the important reasons to use them. We will analyze some common drawbacks and concerns about KPIs. Finally, we will go over a step-by-step process for using them in your firm. If you want to learn how to run your firm as a business and to be more profitable, this podcast is a must listen. Want to learn more about how to be profitable in your law business? Please feel free to reach out to me at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://calendly.com/garymiles-successcoach/one-one-discovery-call⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Let’s chat!!.

Stephanie McDonald joins us today with a unique story of transformation and growth. Stephanie is an employment law attorney with her firm in Canada. She took charge of her career and developed a practice that aligns with her values. Stephanie shares her insights on: -The challenges of toxic law firms today, where there is a lack of compassion and self-awareness -The benefits of listening to your intuition to determine what you want to do and who want to represent -The importance of aligning with your values to create happiness and freedom -The benefits of using outside help to identify your goals and to support you on your journey -The struggles with mental health in the law profession and the tools to manage the stress that we all face -How to find personal freedom by practicing law with your heart Stephanie McDonald is an employment lawyer living in downtown Toronto. She began her career at small to medium-sized plaintiff-side employment law firms, where she gained excellent experience and training.  Stephanie is passionate about making workplaces better. Unfortunately, Stephanie has experienced less than favorable work environments, and many of her employee clients deal with employers who act unlawfully, fail to treat employees with dignity and respect and fail to make their workplaces enjoyable. Stephanie is uniquely qualified to attack this problem by helping employees empower themselves and working with self-aware employers to open their hearts and lead with vulnerability.  Having spent years in firms unable to be her authentic self, Stephanie is committed to being true to herself and serving her clients uniquely.  Stephanie runs a human-first practice. She holds space for her client's difficulties while maintaining an analytical and practical lens to solve her client’s problems. She leads with her heart and mind and encourages her client to follow her example. Want to learn more about how to align your practice with your values? Please feel free to reach out to me at ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://calendly.com/garymiles-successcoach/one-one-discovery-call⁠⁠⁠⁠. Let’s chat!!.

Do you ever feel overwhelmed? Are you stuck? Do you sometimes wonder if you are in the right place? Do you feel frustrated, stressed, and unsure of how to create the satisfaction you crave? As a lawyer, it's easy to get caught up in the demands of a busy legal practice. Finding time and energy to focus on personal and professional development can be challenging between long hours, high-pressure situations, and the need to improve skills continually. A coach can help you achieve your goals.   I discuss the benefits of having a mentor or coach for lawyers. As someone who has been practicing law for 45 years, I have seen firsthand how a coach can help lawyers achieve their goals, provide accountability, and improve communication skills. I encourage lawyers to consider working with a coach to unlock their full potential and achieve success. A coach can provide valuable insights and support, helping lawyers to overcome obstacles and reach their goals. With the right coach by your side, you can take your career to the next level and achieve the success you deserve. In this episode, we'll explore why every lawyer should consider working with a coach and how it can help you to succeed in your legal career and beyond. We will also explain the common objections to using a coach, the traits you should look for in a coach, and how to find the right coach.  Want to learn more about how coaching can help you? Please feel free to reach out to me at ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://calendly.com/garymiles-successcoach/one-one-discovery-call⁠⁠⁠⁠. Let’s chat!!.

Marco Brown, esteemed Utah family lawyer and owner of his own thriving firm, joins The Free Lawyer today to share his thoughts about how to practice law the right way, and to achieve financial freedom at the same time. In a very short time, Marco has overcome incredible hurdles and built a profitable law firm of 11 attorneys and more coming. We discuss: -How to handle family law cases in a respectful way, seeking solutions through mediation and putting the children first -The importance of treating other attorneys the right way, and showing courtesies with other counsel -The benefits of living life in a way that seeks to make others better -The keys to building a successful firm, including rainmaking, selling and closing Are you interested in learning the keys to building your own firm? Have a listen! Marco grew up in a small village in Alaska called Cold Bay (population 85). He never did manage to graduate from high school, getting his GED before moving on to college, and eventually graduating with honors from law school. In 2010, Marco and his wife, Demaree, moved to Utah and Marco started Brown Family Law, with no clients and no network, on the floor of their condo. They were $160,000 in student loan debt at the time. Since then, Marco has been awarded Utah family law attorney of the year, as voted on by his peers in the Utah Bar Association. Brown Family Law has grown and helped over 4000 through divorce and family law situations in Utah, and its expanding beyond Utah to help people in other states. In his free time, Marco spends most of his time with his wife and three kids. He also loves to cook and travel, usually to Italy. For exercise, he does what he enjoys: walking and lifting heavy things and puts them down.

You have been practicing law successfully, handling files, winning cases, working tirelessly and billing many hours. But, now you hear you are expected to engage in business development. “What does that mean? How do I do it? Where do I find the time? I was never taught anything about this in law school!" As we progress from young associates to successful majority partners, we learn that we are expected to develop business for the practice. Yet, we need training in business development. We never learned about it in law school. We have so little time. Why is this important, and how can we make it happen? In this episode, I discuss the importance of business development for lawyers and provide ten practical steps for developing a successful business development plan. Building a book of clients not only makes lawyers more valuable to their firm but also gives them the freedom to move to another firm or start their own practice. However, many lawyers face common obstacles when it comes to business development. To overcome these obstacles, I provide steps such as establishing oneself as a thought leader, focusing on exceptional client service, and leveraging technology to streamline business development efforts. These are 10 steps to follow: 1. Develop your niche. 2. Identify your target market. 3. Build your network. 4. Choose the path that suits you. 5. Establish yourself as an expert in your field. 6. Focus on exceptional client service. 7. Market effectively. 8. Be proactive. 9. Leverage Technology. 10. Measure your results. Want to learn more about how to start developing your business? Please feel free to reach out to me at ⁠⁠⁠https://calendly.com/garymiles-successcoach/one-one-discovery-call⁠⁠⁠. Let’s chat!!. 

Susanne Mariga, CPA, Fractional CFO, author and entrepreneur, joins The Free Lawyer today to show us how to best maximize profit in our law practice. Doesn't it often seem like we work so hard, trying to produce fees and generate new files, and yet have a hard time creating profit? Susanne shows us how to create that income we deserve by putting our profit first. She shares her wisdom on: -The Profit First system and how it can work in your law practice -How to keep your expenses in line with industry targets -How to intentionally create the profit we want and eliminate unnecessary expenses -Important tax tips for lawyers and entrepreneurs -Key tips for maximizing profits in your law practice -Crucial cash management tips Don't we all want to make more profit? Susanne shows us how! You will enjoy listening to her. Susanne Mariga is a CPA and Fractional CFO specializing in high net worth strategies for 7 and 8 figure entrepreneurs using the Profit First System. Susanne is the CEO of The Mariga Group which is a Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Business, the 2021 Profit First Professional Firm Of The Year, and a recipient of the 2011 Houston Minority Supplier Development E-10 Award. Susanne has been featured in the Houston Business Journal, MBE Magazine, and in a variety of other media outlets. She is the author of Kirkus reviewed and Publisher’s Weekly’s Editor’s Pick, Profit First For Minority Business Enterprises which was written in collaboration with Mike Michalowicz, under the Profit First brand. She is the host of the Profit Talk Podcast. Before founding her own firm, Susanne worked at Arthur Andersen LLP, as well as one of the Big 4 firms, KPMG. Combining her industry knowledge with her own experience of growing a small business has allowed Susanne to help her clients design unique, profit-first based business plans that ensure success and long-term financial stability.

Have you ever thought about developing your brand? How might it help you grow your practice? Do you ever wonder if it is worth it to you as an attorney to brand yourself? Personal branding has become increasingly important in a world overflowing with attorneys and an atmosphere of intense competition. How can you stand out in a crowded field? How can people grow to trust you as a professional? Personal branding is the answer. In this episode of The Free Lawyer, I will explain what it means to have a personal brand and the benefits to us as attorneys to develop our brand. I will review common objections often expressed about branding and some common mistakes that we make.  Finally, I will provide 10 tangible tools for you to start creating your brand: 1. Identify what makes you unique and valuable. 2. Know your audience, their pain points and concerns. 3. Be consistent, 4. Develop a unique and memorable tagline 5. Create a powerful online presence. 6. Publish content that educates and informs. 7. Network and collaborate 8. Use visual branding 9. Ask for referral and recommendations. 10. Get feedback. Want to learn more about how to set yourself apart and find the success you crave? Please feel free to reach out to me at ⁠⁠https://calendly.com/garymiles-successcoach/one-one-discovery-call⁠⁠. Let’s chat!!.