The Free Lawyer

Jeffrey Cunningham joins the podcast today to share some critical thoughts about how to protect yourself and your law firm from potential malpractice claims and grievances. Jeff is a partner in the firm of Goldberg Segalla and a true expert in the field of risk protection for law firms. Jeff provides important advice on; - The key items to have in your retainer agreements - The biggest risk factors for law firms - The benefits of having outside general counsel to your law firm - The importance of getting expert advice on how to protect yourself from claims and grievances - How to maintain the important attorney-client privilege when discussing potential claims with your counsel This is an episode to be listened to by every attorney! Jeff is originally from Albany, NY and currently lives in Stamford, CT with his wife and two sons. He graduated from Fordham Law School and obtained his undergrad degree from The Citadel. He serves as 'turn-key' outside General Counsel for law firms. His mission is to provide the same protection big law firms use to solo, small and mid-sized firms, all protected by the attorney-client privilege. For over a decade he has defended lawyers sued for legal malpractice or facing ethics issues. His approach is based on simple risk management, education and response planning. In addition to attorneys, Jeff defends accountants, brokers, and other professionals in a wide range of professional liability matters in New York and Connecticut State and Federal Courts. 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 felt angry at someone for something they did to you and feel powerless to stop it or change it? And that feeling keeps coming back, and festering? Resentments are one of the most insidious and harmful negative emotions we feel. But many, even most of us, experience them, and often without knowing or understanding it. In this episode of The Free Lawyer, I will be explaining what a resentment is, how it affects us, and give you seven tangible tips to overcome your resentments and free yourself from the pain we cause ourselves. 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

On  this week's episode of The Free Lawyer, we are joined by the incredible Scott Simmons. Scott is a toolbox for turning lawyers into rainmakers. After a successful career in law where he faced similar situations to the lawyers of today, he discovered a love of coaching and training that has seen him coaching young professionals on how to build their own careers, as well as more senior executives to become rainmakers.   Scott shares some helpful advice on how to grow your law practice including: -Avoiding burnout and the importance of talking about it -The difference between marketing and business development -How to focus on the needs of the client, helping them to find solutions to their problems -The benefits of value based billing -How to stop billing at the end and then chasing clients for payment - How to best market our services --Managing changes in the legal landscape -The Importance of PRECISION selling Scott is the Director of Legal Balance. He offers bespoke training, coaching and leadership courses to professionals at all stages of their career and developed The BD Breakthrough Blueprint©, a two-day training course, to facilitate this. Scott has spent the last 10 years coaching and training lawyers and regularly writes and speaks on the subject of professional services business development. Scott is a husband and father and also an avid film lover, so do not be surprised when he includes a BD analogy relating to ‘Jaws’ or ‘When Harry Met Sally’ into any training or coaching session.  Want to get in touch with Scott? Contact Details scott.simmons@legalbalance.co.uk www.legalbalance.co.uk https://www.linkedin.com/in/scottsimmonsbdm/ 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

How serious are you about achieving your dreams? Are you willing to do what is necessary to earn the promotion, go for the raise, or seek a new and better job? What is your biggest professional goal? Why haven't you accomplished it yet? For most of us, the answer is fear. Fear limits us from achieving what we really want. If we do not strive for a professional goal because we are "afraid," we will never accomplish it. So why not try? The problem is that our fear can often be unknown and very powerful. We sometimes succumb to it without even knowing. How you respond to fear is precisely what differentiates you from all the others, and sets you on your path to success.  In this edition of The Free Lawyer newsletter, I disucss what fear is, and how it affects us; and give you 12 tangible steps to overcome your fear and move closer to the dreams of your life. 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

Steve Fretzin, four time author, podcaster, and legal development coach, joins The Free Lawyer to talk about: -How to be a confident, authentic and skilled rainmaker -Building your own book of portable clients -The importance of effective consulting relationships with your clients - How to do what you love to do for others -Creating your own personal and financial freedom This is a can't miss episode! Driven, focused and passionate about helping attorneys to reach their full potential, Steve is regarded as the premier coach, skills trainer and keynote speaker on business development for attorneys. Over the past 17 years, Steve  has devoted his career to helping lawyers master the art of business development to achieve their business goals and the peace of mind that comes with developing a successful law practice. In addition to writing four books on legal marketing and business development, Steve has a highly-rated podcast BE THAT LAWYER, and has been featured in the Chicago Tribune, Crain’s, and Entrepreneur.com. He has appeared on NBC News, WGN Radio and has written articles for Attorney at Law Magazine, the National Law Review, the American Bar Association, and the Illinois State Bar Association. You can also find his monthly column in the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin. 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

Seems like a contradiction, doesn't it? Get uncomfortable and be free? When I was young, I always wanted to have a comfortable life. To be safe, to have a relaxed, easy life. That's what some people call our "comfort zone." But is it really enough? Are we really satisfied in our comfort zone? In this Episode, I will explain the comfort zone, what it is, and why it works for many of us. But some people find it boring and incomplete. Some of us want something better, where we can grow, have a more exciting and fulfilling life, pursue our dreams.  I will share some tangible tips for you to follow in becoming free and accepting the fact that being uncomfortable is a good thing. I am now coaching attorneys, entrepreneurs and professionals how to enjoy personal freedom and be more successful. Would you like to learn more? Please visit www.garymiles.net and sign up for a free discovery call. Be well, be safe and be free!

So many of us struggle with this problem. Our partner keeps giving us more work to do. The court schedules unexpected hearings. Our clients call, asking us to help resolve a crisis. We have so much work to do, and seemingly so little time, that we feel overwhelmed and stressed. What to do? In Episode 20 of The Free Lawyer podcast,  I will give you 12 tips to help efficiently manage your work in so much less time, creating more freedom for you to enjoy your life and to be fulfilled. Which tool is most helpful to you? I am now coaching attorneys, entrepreneurs and professionals how to enjoy personal freedom and be more successful. Would you like to learn more? Please visit www.garymiles.net and sign up for a free discovery call. Be well, be safe and be free!!

We face so many stresses in our professions. We encounter demands of clients; stresses about money and paying bills; too much work and too little time; and the pressures of the court, other attorneys, and our full calendar. The pressure builds. We work harder. But, we just feel more overwhelmed. We eliminate any time for ourselves. We just do not have any time for self-care. And, so the stress worsens. We get more distracted, and our focus weakens. It is a challenging downward cycle. How do we change that? How can we be successful in our profession handling our workload, but still find fulfillment and peace? In this episode of The Free Lawyer, I will explain why self-care is so important, detail the five most important benefits of self-care, and give you eight tangible tips for building healthy self-care habits. Let me know what you think! I am now coaching attorneys, entrepreneurs and professionals how to enjoy personal freedom and be more successful. Would you like to learn more? Please visit www.garymiles.net and sign up for a free discovery call. Be well, be safe and be free

Our practices can be so stressful, overwhelming at times. But, there is one way to find greater fulfillment in our profession. Do you want to learn and grow as a person? Feel happier? Be more optimistic? Help your practice to become more successful? Manage your stress and feel more fulfilled? Changing our focus from just the grind of the work we do, to consciously trying to serve our clients and help them solve their problems is the answer. In this episode of The Free Lawyer, I will share a recent war story, and then explain six powerful gifts of service. I am now coaching attorneys, entrepreneurs and professionals how to enjoy personal freedom and be more successful. Would you like to learn more? Please visit www.garymiles.net and sign up for a free discovery call.  Be well, be safe and be free

We joined the legal profession for many reasons, with great excitement and enthusiasm. But many of us some time later are stressed, burned out and overwhelmed. There is a huge issue of wellness in the legal profession. In Episode 17 of The Free Lawyer Podcast, I discuss some very concerning statistics from some studies that were done about wellness of the legal profession; I explain 4 hallmarks of wellness for lawyers; and I provide 10 tangible tips that we can all utilize to achieve a healthier way of life. We are in a wonderful profession and together we can make it a more satisfying and healthy arena for all of us.  Which of these tips resonated with you? I am now coaching attorneys, entrepreneurs and professionals how to enjoy personal freedom and be more successful. Would you like to learn more? Please visit www.garymiles.net and sign up for a free discovery call. Be well, be safe and be free!