The Free Lawyer

Viveca Hess is an expert in using LinkedIn to help lawyers grow their book of business. She shares her expertise on these important topics: -The best practices in using LinkedIn -The power of LinkedIn and how it can grow your brand -The best business building approaches -How to overcome the fear of competition -The importance of determining what sets you apart as an attorney - The benefits of being an authentic and effective listener -The incredible stress of the billable hour requirements Studying people, human nature and how we communicate to build meaningful relationships is Viveca's passion, always has been. But, it wasn’t until several years after graduating from law school that she owned up to her passion for blending creative story-crafting with the design and psychology of communication and content. She initiated, created and directed the marketing and communication efforts at the law firm where she had worked for nearly a decade and realized she was smitten with a practice having little to do with the law. After nearly a decade she left this firm to launch her own online marketing company in 2009. Though she has never looked back, her legal background lends itself well for insight to what lawyers, law firms, and a few other regulated or politically sensitive industries require to be protected while successfully promoted in an ever-evolving online sphere. This is part of her unique, odd, sometimes uncomfortable, and very happy character-building story. Much like the passion triggers of her business, Viveca is easily impassioned by all things under, in, or on our oceans. Whether surfing the internet or waves, diving deep into content psychology or along underwater parks, the salt from both sweat and ocean has always done her good. Fortunately, her family feels similarly, mostly harmoniously. Husband even works on complicated water projections (that quite honestly make her eyes glaze over sometimes). Her teen daughter (going on twenty) applies an uncanny discipline, humor and design eye for online artistry when they are not making a splash offline somehow. She admits she has a thing (or more) to learn from her, like understanding that peace and crazy can co-exist. You can find Viveca on LinkedIn where she is ever present, and can connect by email at viveca@hessconnect.com.

Have you ever wanted to share something important with someone, and you knew they were not really listening? Or, they interrupted you to tell you what they wanted to tell you? And didn’t that make you feel disrespected and disconnected from that person? One of the keys to effective relationship building and true human connection is being a mindful and effective listener. In this episode of The Free Lawyer, I will discuss some typical barriers to effective listening, the consequences of poor listening habits, a process for effective listening, and the gifts that we enjoy when we truly listen to and hear the other party to the conversation. Are any of you suffering from burnout and a difficulty in setting boundaries? If so, obtain my free tips on how to set boundaries and avoid burnout here: https://www.garymiles.net/burnout

Do you ever feel trapped and overwhelmed in your law career? As if you have no choice or power? Talar Herculian Coursey is a lawyer by day, a Life Coach and published author. She joins The Free Lawyer to share her powerful journey and great insights on -The gift of a community to support us in our legal career -How to find fulfillment through service -How to manage mental health challenges in our legal profession -The importance of mentorship -How we each have the freedom to choose our own path in law -Understanding that we all have the power to free ourselves and select our own journey Talar has served as General Counsel for Vista Ford Lincoln in Woodland Hills, California since 2011. Before that, she was a file clerk, associate and partner at the national labor and employment law firm, Fisher Phillips LLP.  Talar is a co-author of #Networked and Women In Law and the author of her first children’s book, Ralphy’s Rules for Living the Good Life, all of which are available on Amazon (all profits going to charities). Talar has served as the president of the Salt Lake City Chapter for the Society for Orphaned Armenian Relief (“SOAR”) since 2015. SOAR, founded in 2005, supports orphanages in Syria, Lebanon and Armenia. To date, Talar has raised over $100,000 for the orphanages in Lebanon in memory of her father, Mardig Herculian. Talar wrote Ralphy’s Rules for Living the Good Life to raise money for SOAR. In addition to being a mother, wife, lawyer, life coach and philanthropist, Talar is also a runner, yogi and Jesus, Ekhart Tolle, Peloton and Brandon Flowers groupie. You can find Talar on LinkedIn @TalarEsq or on her website www.TalarEsq.com.

Have you ever felt that you are working so hard, so busy, too many things on your desk, keeping all the balls in the air?  And when the day is done, do you feel like you got nothing accomplished? I know I have. See, busyness is often harmful to our business as well as to us personally. We all know it is no fun to be stuck in the busyness quagmire, nor is it good for our professional success. In Episode 47 ot the Free Lawyer, I will explain why we get stuck in busyness, discuss some of the problems with it, and give you 8 tangible tools to escape  the prison of busyness. Are any of you suffering from burnout and a difficulty in setting boundaries? If so, obtain my free tips on how to set boundaries and avoid burnout here: https://www.garymiles.net/burnout

Do you want to be both successful and happy as a lawyer? This is an episode not to be missed. Lara Quie (pronounced Queen - without the “n”) is a connector of people and has been a business development and marketing professional in the legal industry in Singapore for the past eight years. Lara shares some amazing insights about: -The importance of connecting with clients and prospects on a personal level -How to build our personal brand -How to grow your book of business to be truly successful -The benefits of choosing your own path in the legal profession that satisfies you -How to set boundaries, maintain your own scheduling freedom and prevent burnout -The need to practice self-care, have a hobby, sleep well and take care of yourself A graduate of Oxford University, Lara was originally a BigLaw antitrust attorney in London before became a Montessori teacher, entrepreneur, head of sales and executive coach. She has lived in Asia for ten years and is currently the Head of Business Development, Asia Pacific at Twenty Essex, a leading international barristers’ chambers. In her spare time, Lara is an executive coach for lawyers and is the host of the popular Legal Genie Podcast. Lara is a wife and mother of three wonderful daughters and two unruly sausage dogs. Are any of you suffering from burnout and a difficulty in setting boundaries? If so, obtain my free tips on how to set boundaries and avoid burnout here: https://www.garymiles.net/burnout

Are you someone who would prefer to stick to your habits and well known routines? Or, do you have a passion for learning new things? Are you someone who believes you were given certain traits and talents that are fundamentally unchangeable? That you have the skills you have, and can use them, but are not able to develop new ones? Or, do you believe you can grow, change, learn and develop? That is the difference between a growth mindset and a fixed mindset. For us to succeed as we really want, it is important that we develop a growth mindset. In Episode 45 of The Free Lawyer, I will describe what is a fixed mindset; what is a growth mindset; and 8 steps we can take to develop the growth mindset that we need to be as successful and fulfilled as we deserve. Are any of you suffering from burnout and a difficulty in setting boundaries? If so, obtain my free tips on how to set boundaries and avoid burnout here: https://www.garymiles.net/burnout

Today's guest on The Free Lawyer is Ravit Rose. Ravit is passionate about making the divorce process more effective and less stressful. She shares: -What she learned from her personal journey through the divorce process -How to best manage the emotions while divorcing -What makes a family lawyer truly exceptional -The importance of being a compassionate problem solver as an attorney handling divorce cases -The benefits of being self-aware, mindful and not reactive Ravit Rose has survived and thrived her decade long nasty divorce. After having spent over $100k in legal fees, she finally understood the "divorce game". She summarizes the root cause of this problem in one sentence: "We don't know how to marry and we certainly don't know how to divorce either." Since Ravit saw the bright light at the end of this tunnel, her life purpose shifted towards helping parents avoid ending up broke & broken. She wants parents to learn how to stop their emotions from sabotaging the family. As the founder of Divorce by Rose, she's replacing the outdated status quo with a fresh, balanced system. When parents join this community app anonymously, they access 24/7 instant support & solutions from specialized coaches. The various types of coaches are trained to assist parents in making the logical & methodical decision to either stay married or get divorced and then, help them figure out their next steps with coping strategies and realistic solutions. Ravit shines when she sees families from far and wide moving FORWARD in life. She can be reached at info@ravitrose.com and through her website, www.divorcebyrose.com.  Are any of you suffering from burnout and a difficulty in setting boundaries? If so, obtain my free tips on how to set boundaries and avoid burnout here: https://www.garymiles.net/burnout

Did you ever consider trying something new, and tell yourself that you were not smart enough or good enough? Did you ever have an opportunity to speak, or present, or try a new opportunity, but tell yourself you would not succeed? So often we struggle with limiting beliefs. We tell ourselves a story to make an excuse as to why we should not try something new. We are afraid of failing, so we use our limiting beliefs as a protection. The trouble is that our limiting beliefs prevent us from accomplishing our goals and dreams. They also stop us from being as fulfilled and happy as we want. They can be overcome. In Episode 43 of The Free Lawyer, I will describe what a limiting belief is, give examples of some of the frequent ones, discuss their causes, and most importantly give you tangible tools to overcome your own limiting beliefs. Are any of you suffering from burnout and a difficulty in setting boundaries? If so, obtain my free tips on how to set boundaries and avoid burnout here: https://www.garymiles.net/burnout

So excited that Brittany Leonard joins The Free Lawyer today. Brittany is a dynamite young attorney who has created a life in the legal profession that is fulfilling and satisfying. She is passionate about lifting the legal profession and helping other lawyers find a life they truly love.  We discuss: -How she found true joy and satisfaction in her legal career -The biggest problems lawyers are facing today -The importance of reflection and evaluation in choosing what you really want in your life. -Her top 5 tips for young lawyers today -The importance of wellness and self-care in a stressful profession Brittany is General Counsel  at Civix where she manages a multinational company and its subsidiaries.  Her passion is seeing businesses thrive and helping facilitate those successes. She provides legal advice and strategic leadership on all things related to the company from tech deployment, employment relations to data privacy and M&A transactions and everything in between.   You can follow her journey on LinkedIn where she was recently nominated a top 35 Legal Influencer:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/brittany-leonard-b3a7b2a4/ Are any of you suffering from burnout and a difficulty in setting boundaries? If so, obtain my free tips on how to set boundaries and avoid burnout here: https://www.garymiles.net/burnout

Have you ever said something that in hindsight you absolutely wish you had not,and each day it bothers you that you said it? Or, have you ever made a decision not to pursue something, and then deeply regretted that you did not give it an opportunity? Regret is a powerful emotion that, if not resolved, can  destroy our happiness and limit our success. In this episode, I will explain what regret is, how it affects us, and how we can overcome it. Are any of you suffering from burnout and a difficulty in setting boundaries? If so, obtain my free tips on how to set boundaries and avoid burnout here: https://www.garymiles.net/burnout