Solo Practice University® Guest Lectures

What is your ultimate goal? To retain more of your earnings, right? Today Jared and I talk about six different strategies, not complex, which need to be consistently applied. Learn about these simple options you can execute on to make your financial goals a reality. Listen and learn.Written by Susan Cartier Liebel

This is such a forward-thinking podcast. We're talking professional law firm management, bringing in non-lawyers to do those business-growth tasks to take you to the next level in the 21st century. As always, we wander into the stratosphere and you will enjoy the ride. I promise.Written by Susan Cartier Liebel

Is creating a virtual workforce the future of law practice? Why is creating a virtual workforce not getting the attention it deserves in the legal community? Is it the lawyer's personality? The incessant need to micromanage employees? Is it not knowing how to manage a virtual workforce? But what do you do in a crisis, a hurricane, a wildfire, a pandemic? Does your practice just come to a halt? We discuss at length and in depth the pros and cons and then how to overcome the cons. Listen and learn.Written by Susan Cartier Liebel

If a global pandemic isn't enough to get you to reimagine your law firm, including your billing model, what are you waiting for? An asteroid strike? Clearly, now is the time to rethink your billing model and start creating a sustainable client-friendly billing model which will give you both profitability and client satisfaction. The models are out there and being reimagined on the daily. The time to revisit and change your model is now. Listen and learn.Written by Susan Cartier Liebel

Jared and I discuss one of our favorite topics - the Initial Consultation. While the goal is to get a new client, what you are trying to accomplish is multi-layered and it changes over the course of your legal career. This is a podcast to bookmark and keep referring to over and over, again. Listen and learn.Written by Susan Cartier Liebel

What happens in a world of unexpected business interruptions, prolonged business interruptions, life-altering business interruptions and life interruptions. This podcast was recorded earlier during the pandemic but our conversation is timeless because it discusses how to make your practice hyper-efficient all the time. Even those who have worked from home previously, this has changed, too, in a major way. Jared and I discuss the changes and how to make your practice hyper-efficient. And then ask yourself, will you keep these new changes going forward regardless. Listen and learn.Written by Susan Cartier Liebel

Every one you meet will have a differing opinion on how to market your law firm. It can be exhausting and confusing. But more importantly, it can make or break your solo/small firm practice. Truly. How do you differentiate yourself? And will you? Listen and learn.Written by Susan Cartier Liebel

We've all heard about Alternative Business Structures (ABS) and how they have been kept at bay, for the most part, from changing the legal profession. Well, guess what? We predict the fortress walls will be crumbling and we even hint at who the players will be who will be allowed entry. And maybe sooner than we think. Listen and learn.Written by Susan Cartier Liebel

How has the pandemic and the fallout from the pandemic changed your feelings about your solo/small firm practice? How has it changed how you will practice going forward? This is a very important discussion because, guess what? Your clients were changed, too. Listen and learn.Written by Susan Cartier Liebel

How do you create a turn-key law practice from the day you start practicing law? In this day and age of disruptions to society, from pandemics to snow storms to wildfires, how do you create a seamless practice which can handle these disruptions, change of personnel and more, and then be saleable by just 'handing over the key' to the practice? This is the million dollar question and the future of law practice for solo/small firms. Listen and learn.Written by Susan Cartier Liebel

Every situation, good or bad, we face in life presents opportunities for those who can capitalize on what is happening. It is no different for those looking to venture out in solo practice. This last year shook up the world for practically everyone. Even if you are already solo, you had to rethink how you were approaching your practice. So, join us as we discuss the opportunities!Written by Susan Cartier Liebel

We all know that this pandemic has really shaken things up – on both a micro & macro scale. The industry has changed, but so has day-to-day. When your dog is your coworker, your bedroom is your office and the lines of what used to be your workday are now blurred more than ever, life and work have definitely changed. But have you changed with it in order to meet client expectations? Many solo and small firms have been presented with a fight or flight scenario, and while it’s incredibly sad to see, the folks who were forced to try new things & pivot often found more success. And the overall goals haven’t changed for these solo and small firms – they want to create a sustainable business model & still have that desire for growth. Listen and Learn.Written by Susan Cartier Liebel

By now you’ve heard about the lawyer who was videoconferencing on zoom with a federal judge and couldn’t remove a cat filter.  It was funny, embarrassing, and went viral. To his credit, he kept his composure. However, it has opened up an important conversation about web conferencing best practices, security, audio and video settings, and […]Written by Susan Cartier Liebel

The pandemic has thrust virtual work into the spotlight. While for some it's no different than pre-pandemic work, for others it is a sea change in how they conduct business. It is showcasing the financial benefits and work-life perks of remote work. But, it is also laying bare the weaknesses in our solo/small firm practices and highlighting where we all need to improve. It is critical we start reimagining working virtually from acquiring new clients to the courthouse. What will it look like a year from now? What technologies will shine and others disappear? What technologies must you implement or upgrade to stay competitive? This is a fascinating guest lecture to help you start reshaping your future work world. Listen and learn.Written by Susan Cartier Liebel

Did you know the World Health Organization has classified 'Burnout' as a health issue? Did you know that burnout is not based on the number of hours you work but the quality of those hours? Cynthia Sharp and Becky Howlett founded legalburnout.com, a resource to help solo and small firm practitioners navigate the emotional roadmap of solo/small firm practice to keep you healthy and grounded through a pandemic and the rest of your lives. This information-packed podcast will have you taking action immediately to help ground you and elevate you at the same time. Listen and learn. Written by Susan Cartier Liebel

Many solos don't know how to value and sell their law firm because most solos don't understand the value of what they've created even when they are no longer a part of the firm. Listen and learn how to value and sell your solo practice. Know how to create a succession plan. Written by Susan Cartier Liebel

What's in a name? Everything. How do you build your brand with your solo/small firm name? What limitations are there for law firms? Many! This is a very interesting discussion and, as always, we have fun as we teach. Listen and learn.Written by Susan Cartier Liebel

2020 is proving quite the year and we're only in the 2nd Quarter! What we are experiencing now is unlike anything we have seen in our lifetimes. Yet, life must go on and so must your practice. But how do you practice in the age of pandemics? Jared and I discuss the changes, the modifications, both technical and emotional. How do you pivot your marketing so as not to be insensitive but more human? What technology must you use now? How do you handle it all without falling apart? We answer these questions and more so join us. You'll be glad you did.Written by Susan Cartier Liebel

In order to grow, solos will need to delegate legal work to paralegals, administrative staff, free lance lawyers and associates and any vendor you hire on your behalf. Even hiring a marketing firm! But do you really know the ethics surrounding delegation of work you are ultimately ethically responsible for as the the owner of your law firm? This is a critically important topic. Listen and learn.Written by Susan Cartier Liebel

Is the billable hour in its final death throes? If so, how do we deal with this while we build our practices? Of course, people have been saying this since last century. Listen and learn Jared's unique take on this perennially hot button issue.Written by Susan Cartier Liebel