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Chris Dreyer: Powerful SEO for Attorneys without Compromising Authenticity | THE 1958 LAWYER Podcast

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Developing powerful SEO for your law firm doesn’t mean catering to the robots at the cost of the human being. Attorneys can differentiate their practices, help people, and gain backlinks. Chris Dreyer explains SEO, new options for attorneys, and offers case examples of brand and law firm marketing that offer personality robots could never mimic.

Quick answers to hot questions:

  • What is SEO? (09:35)
  • On-site SEO & Off-site SEO (11:46)
  • What’s working right now for law firm marketing (19:32)
  • The 3 funnels of content explained (24:22)
  • Time frame till SEO shows results (27:26)
  • What Chris Dreyer sees for the future of legal marketing (40:25)

Follow “The 1958 Lawyer” on Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts | Stitcher

MEMORABLE QUOTES

“We were looking at different strategies to bring exposure to a firm, but also to acquire backlinks… We wanted to kind of be a win-win all-around approach and one of the things that we did was we would offer a scholarship to either a local community or nationwide….[Financial aid pages] would link back to the listing, not because they thought they were doing SEO but because it was good for the consumer.”

“You first have to be able to at least know the basics and the foundation in order to evaluate if the SEO specialist you’re working with is even doing a good job. And you need to be able to speak the same type of language and understand those KPIs and goals that everyone’s striving for because SEO is not immediate like Google ads.”

“It is the most challenging circumstance when [law firms] don’t have something that’s different. It makes it really hard for any type of marketing to have the extreme effectiveness that it could have.”

“If you’re really focusing on quality and helping the consumer and not just creating fluff pieces of content, [but] where it’s excellent resourceful content; that can really go a long way in the Evergreen approach.”

 

CONNECT WITH CHRIS DREYER

Chris Dreyer is the President and Founder of Rankings.io, an agency that specializes in personal injury lawyer SEO. His agency ranks personal injury firms for the most lucrative keywords in your industry with end-to-end SEO, from content creation to technical optimization.

“Most personal injury attorneys struggle to rank at the top of the search results. That’s why I’m here: I help elite personal injury law firms generate motor vehicle and serious injury cases through Google’s organic search results.” Chris Dreyer

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrisdreyerco/

Rankings.io: https://rankings.io/

KEEP READING

Have comments, questions, or concerns? Contact us at [email protected]

“The 1958 Lawyer and his 1938 Dollar” still defines the business of law…
It’s time for a change.

If you’re a lawyer, you’re familiar with the ABA article “The 1958 Lawyer and his 1938 Dollar” which gives our podcast its title, and its inspiration. That article was the start of the billable hour for law firms…And the last major change to the business of law, 70+ years ago now. Well, it’s past time for another change.

This podcast is all about bucking the status quo of the business of law. Your hosts Ron Bockstahler and Kirsten Mayfield run Amata Law Office Suites, providing law firms an alternative to the traditional fixed-cost business model that places unwanted stress on attorneys to work long hours that often-times lead to burn out, broken relationships and in many cases substance abuse. Each week they’ll discuss alternatives to the 12 hours days, endless rotation of clerks and paralegals, and the expensive offices leased to impress clients who rarely show up in person anymore. They’ll interview successful lawyers who are doing law differently, and finding a work-life balance while still running a successful firm.

Do you want to find a better way to run your law firm? It’s time for the next big change in the business of law, and you’ll get it here on The 1958 Lawyer.

More episodes of The 1958 Lawyer podcast

Need marketing support? Discover our legal support staff for lawyers in Chicago.

Michelle Lawless: Relief Through Technology. How Family Law Clients Benefit from Tech-Savvy Firms. | The 1958 LAWYER Podcast

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Family law is rife with emotion. Michelle Lawless kept that in mind when she built her solo family law practice, after a 19-year tenure at a successful Chicago family law firm. Balancing kindness with efficient processes, Michelle explains how technology, which is usually on the wrong side of the ‘good for mental health’ equation, actually makes difficult family matters easier to emotionally handle. It’s just a bonus that it keeps her solo venture moving full speed.

Key moments:

  • Attorney assisted mediation and collaborative law (05:16)
  • Crafting a kind and effective intake process for family law clients (21:42)
  • “The Daley Center is a daily education!”: Building experience in family law (28:26)
  • What Michelle Lawless wants to see changed in the legal profession (39:37)

Follow “The 1958 Lawyer” on Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts | Stitcher

MEMORABLE QUOTES

“[Mediation has] been a growing trend…. Clients want an alternative to litigation… Litigation is emotionally difficult. It can be protracted and inefficient [and] incredibly expensive.”

“Clients have told me how difficult it was to almost get up the courage to walk into a divorce lawyer’s office for a console. Because, physically, it was a manifestation that their marriage was over, and that that was a really difficult step to take…. [Because of this] I was kind of thinking about, ‘are there ways to do Virtual Counsel,’ and then boom COVID hit.”

“I’m using online forms to capture information that you need in every divorce case but you don’t want to keep asking people for, like the names and the ages of their kids and the birth dates….Making things easier on clients was something that I was really looking to do.”

“I always prided myself on providing personalized service, and being there for clients, listening to them. Getting back to them quickly, as quickly as I can…. As a solo I think that’s even more critical because it’s me. I mean, the business is me. So, I need to provide almost… I look at it like a better client experience. Because I am the client experience. A hundred percent.”

CONNECT WITH MICHELLE LAWLESS

Michelle has spent her entire 20-year career assisting high-net-worth individuals and their spouses by protecting and preserving their assets during divorce. After spending 19 years with one of the most prominent family law firms in the country, she opened her own law practice in 2020, where she is able to take her in-depth training and experience with executive compensation packages, valuations of closely-held businesses, and other complex, hard-to-value assets and income streams to her own practice.

She is a graduate of the American Bar Association’s Advanced Trial Advocacy Institute focusing exclusively on business valuations and has also been named one of the 10 Best Attorneys in Illinois for Outstanding Client Service by the American Institute of Family Law Attorney (2017-2019). Michelle is a past recipient of the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin’s “40 Under 40” award and holds certifications in Collaborative Law and mediation.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michellealawless/

Michelle’s Firm: www.malfamilylaw.com

CONTINUE EXPLORING

Have comments, questions, or concerns? Contact us at [email protected]

“The 1958 Lawyer and his 1938 Dollar” still defines the business of law…
It’s time for a change.

If you’re a lawyer, you’re familiar with the ABA article “The 1958 Lawyer and his 1938 Dollar” which gives our podcast its title, and its inspiration. That article was the start of the billable hour for law firms…And the last major change to the business of law, 70+ years ago now. Well, it’s past time for another change.

This podcast is all about bucking the status quo of the business of law. Your hosts Ron Bockstahler and Kirsten Mayfield run Amata Law Office Suites, providing law firms an alternative to the traditional fixed-cost business model that places unwanted stress on attorneys to work long hours that often-times lead to burn out, broken relationships and in many cases substance abuse. Each week they’ll discuss alternatives to the 12 hours days, endless rotation of clerks and paralegals, and the expensive offices leased to impress clients who rarely show up in person anymore. They’ll interview successful lawyers who are doing law differently, and finding a work-life balance while still running a successful firm.

Do you want to find a better way to run your law firm? It’s time for the next big change in the business of law, and you’ll get it here on The 1958 Lawyer.

More episodes of The 1958 Lawyer podcast

Discover our legal support staff for lawyers in Chicago.

For This Father-Daughter Law Team, Communication and Serving the Vulnerable are Top Priorities

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As Sarah LeRose studied to become a Chicago lawyer, she planned to work at the Cook County State’s Attorney’s office upon graduation. But once she started working as a law clerk at her father’s boutique probate law firm, that plan shifted. She quickly fell in love with probate law and joined his team as an associate attorney after passing the Illinois bar exam in 2014.

“It’s funny because it was an area of law I never thought I would practice in,” Sarah said. “It definitely wasn’t planned.”

Sarah, her father, Leonard, and longtime legal assistant, Cindy, are the forces behind the Law Office of Leonard J. LeRose Jr., Ltd. For the past two years, they chose to office at Amata Law Office Suites, Chicago’s first legal community of more than 700 attorneys and seven Class-A downtown offices.

Leonard has practiced probate law in the Chicago area for more than 35 years, specializing in decedent’s estates, guardianships and estate cases for minors. Sarah focuses on contested guardianships as well as estate litigation and administration. Both Sarah and Leonard serve older clients, minors and those with mental or developmental disabilities, an aspect of the work they find most appealing.

“You’re taking some of the most vulnerable people … who can’t really defend themselves,” Sarah said. “It’s nice to be their voice because they may not have one or know what’s going on.”

Since joining the firm, Sarah has been elected to the Illinois State Bar Association Assembly, the “supreme policy-making body of the Association,” and the Illinois State Bar Association Board of Governors for Cook County. She was also named an emerging lawyer by Law Bulletin Media, an accolade reportedly given to fewer than 2% of Illinois lawyers who are under 40 years of age or have been practicing for 10 years or fewer. But Sarah’s most meaningful achievements are the times when she and her dad have returned property to older individuals who have been financially exploited.

“Any time when we can correct something that’s been really wronged for somebody, that’s always pretty rewarding,” she said.

The U.S. Census Bureau estimates that 90% of American businesses are family-owned or controlled. While running a law firm with family members can be enjoyable, various factors, such as the inability to separate work and personal life, can put a strain on family dynamics. Experts cite communication as a top tip for running a successful family business, which is a strength for Sarah and Leonard.

As a father-daughter team, they spend plenty of time together. Before the COVID-19 pandemic surged, they made daily joint court appearances. Now, they call to confer with each other at least 10 times per day.

“We get along really well,” Sarah said. “Even on the bad days, we can speak honestly and still be okay by the end of the day.”

When things get hectic, Amata’s amenities help their relationship run even smoother. The on-demand live receptionists and experienced paralegal team compliment longtime assistant Cindy’s work of answering phones, scanning documents and more. The fact that their Class-A downtown office is just steps away from the Circuit Court of Cook County is an “amazing” convenience too. Before Amata, their firm was located in the south suburbs, creating a daily, hour-long commute to court.

Amata allows attorneys to easily upgrade or downgrade office space as needed. Sarah and Leonard chose offices down the hall from each other, making it convenient to discuss something by simply walking over. For Sarah, it’s truly a “collaborative environment.”

Don’t let work-related stress ruin family relationships. Amata strives to eliminate lawyers’ daily stress so you can spend more time with family and practicing law. Call us or visit our website and take an online or in-person tour of one of our seven Class-A law firm office spaces to learn how our legal support and live reception services allow your business to run smoother and help keep your relationships intact.

Discover our networking events for Chicago lawyers.

Steve Fretzin: Sports Metaphors for Attorneys to Take Chances and Become Rainmakers | The 1958 LAWYER Podcast

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Platform tennis, golf, ironman competitions, fishing; no sport is safe in this conversation about marketing and building a book of business as a lawyer. Passionate about helping attorneys reach their full potential, Steve Fretzin is regarded as the premier coach and skills trainer on legal business development.

Key moments:

  • Making changes and taking chances as an attorney (03:57)
  • Succeeding without running yourself crazy (12:35)
  • Past-Present-Future of marketing for law firms (22:20)
  • The Three Ps: Planning, Process, Performance (31:17)
  • What Steve Fretzin wants to see changed in the legal profession (47:55)

Follow “The 1958 Lawyer” on Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts | Stitcher

MEMORABLE QUOTES

“I think the biggest misstep that’s happening is lawyers are afraid to miss something. They’re afraid to leave something out for fear that if they do, that they’re going to miss out on the business. And the reality is that listing off five or ten things that you do, pretty much just falls on deaf ears.”

“It’s all about organization. And it’s all about leveraging resources…. Whether it’s work that you shouldn’t be doing that you should be…handing over to associates, paralegals assistants, etc. or it’s the idea that… you haven’t made the proper hire, to be able to delegate and then go out and get more business.”

“Into the simplest form: it’s about having a great plan. Something that you can look at every day that you can execute on every week, that speaks to you. And it’s the lowest hanging fruit. It’s not about how many hours you put into it. It’s about a plan that’s focused and targeted, as well as having a tracking system, because as we talked about earlier, if you don’t measure it, you can’t manage it.”

CONNECT WITH STEVE FRETZIN

Steve Fretzin

Over the past 16 years, Steve Fretzin has devoted his career to helping law firms and lawyers master the art of legal business development to achieve their business goals and the peace of mind that comes with developing a successful law practice.

In addition to writing three books on legal business development, Steve 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. You can also find his podcast show BE THAT LAWYER, where Steve interviews rainmakers and legal marketing experts.

Fretzin, INC.: https://fretzin.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevefretzin/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stevefretzin

Twitter: @stevefretzin

Be That Lawyer Podcast: https://fretzin.com/podcast/

KEEP READING

After recording this episode, legal industry journalist Roy Strom posted an article also equating the legal profession to DeChambeau. Read his in-depth and well researched thoughts here: https://news.bloomberglaw.com/business-and-practice/dechambeaus-big-miss-at-masters-is-lesson-in-successful-failure

Have comments, questions, or concerns? Contact us at [email protected]

“The 1958 Lawyer and his 1938 Dollar” still defines the business of law…
It’s time for a change.

If you’re a lawyer, you’re familiar with the ABA article “The 1958 Lawyer and his 1938 Dollar” which gives our podcast its title, and its inspiration. That article was the start of the billable hour for law firms…And the last major change to the business of law, 70+ years ago now. Well, it’s past time for another change.

This podcast is all about bucking the status quo of the business of law. Your hosts Ron Bockstahler and Kirsten Mayfield run Amata Law Office Suites, providing law firms an alternative to the traditional fixed-cost business model that places unwanted stress on attorneys to work long hours that often-times lead to burn out, broken relationships and in many cases substance abuse. Each week they’ll discuss alternatives to the 12 hours days, endless rotation of clerks and paralegals, and the expensive offices leased to impress clients who rarely show up in person anymore. They’ll interview successful lawyers who are doing law differently, and finding a work-life balance while still running a successful firm.

Do you want to find a better way to run your law firm? It’s time for the next big change in the business of law, and you’ll get it here on The 1958 Lawyer.

More episodes of The 1958 Lawyer podcast

Need marketing support? Discover our legal support staff for lawyers in Chicago.

Odell Mitchell III: Musician, Visual Artist, Single Father, and Lawyer for Creatives | THE 1958 LAWYER Podcast

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It started as a means to an end. Now it’s a passion filled career. Odell Mitchell III gives us a peak behind the curtain at life as an entertainment lawyer running his own firm, as a single father of two young girls, and as an African American man in the legal industry.

Key moments:

  • A glimpse into Entertainment Law (05:51)
  • Juggling single fatherhood and running a law firm (22:43)
  • Music and performance in the time of Covid-19 (27:17)
  • Being African American in a creative industry versus legal industry at large (30:56)

Follow “The 1958 Lawyer” on Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts | Stitcher

MEMORABLE QUOTES

“For me as an African American male we usually cannot like look back and see a lot of our lineage – or it’s harder to do. And so that’s something I hold very dear to me. The fact that I have that. So, I’ve always tried to incorporate it somehow.”

“As things have moved from more analog to more digital it has opened up so much more opportunity for artists and creatives alike…. There are more places where they could have control. But it also means there are more places for other entities to try to take back control.”

“These days people want to like who they’re working with. They want to feel like they have access to you. They want to feel like they can connect with you. And those things in a lot of ways are imperative [now], whereas they might have been ‘nice to have’ not even that long ago.”

“I’m certainly not shy about being a single parent. I don’t think you can be…. I am fortunate that I am able, at this point to enlist the right level of support. I don’t have a lot of people around me – I do most of it by myself – but I have a few trusted avenues…. I think it’s really hard for single parents and it gets missed a lot there. Again, especially for women in the workforce.”

CONNECT WITH ODELL MITCHELL III

Odell Mitchell

Odell practices in the heart of Chicago, IL. He earned a BM in Music Business and an independent study in graphic design from Millikin University. He earned his JD from IIT Chicago-Kent College of Law.

Prior to founding Thirdinline Legal, Odell operated as a manager, recording engineer, producer and creative director. As a musician and visual artist himself, he understands the needs of the creative entrepreneur firsthand. With over 10 years of experience in the arts and entertainment industries, Odell is pleased to unite his passions of creativity and the law to provide excellent legal services to other entertainment, business, and creative professionals.

Third in Line Legal: www.thirdinlinelegal.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/odellmitchelliii/

Instagram: @odellcommaesq

Twitter: @odellcommaesq

Email Odell Mitchell III: [email protected]

CONTINUE EXPLORING

WHAT ODELL IS LISTENING TO

Have comments, questions, or concerns? Contact us at [email protected]

“The 1958 Lawyer and his 1938 Dollar” still defines the business of law…
It’s time for a change.

If you’re a lawyer, you’re familiar with the ABA article “The 1958 Lawyer and his 1938 Dollar” which gives our podcast its title, and its inspiration. That article was the start of the billable hour for law firms…And the last major change to the business of law, 70+ years ago now. Well, it’s past time for another change.

This podcast is all about bucking the status quo of the business of law. Your hosts Ron Bockstahler and Kirsten Mayfield run Amata Law Office Suites, providing law firms an alternative to the traditional fixed-cost business model that places unwanted stress on attorneys to work long hours that often-times lead to burn out, broken relationships and in many cases substance abuse. Each week they’ll discuss alternatives to the 12 hours days, endless rotation of clerks and paralegals, and the expensive offices leased to impress clients who rarely show up in person anymore. They’ll interview successful lawyers who are doing law differently, and finding a work-life balance while still running a successful firm.

Do you want to find a better way to run your law firm? It’s time for the next big change in the business of law, and you’ll get it here on The 1958 Lawyer.

More episodes of The 1958 Lawyer podcast

Discover our networking events for Chicago lawyers.

Trisha Daho: Diversity, Advocacy, and Becoming the Lawyer You Want to Be | THE 1958 LAWYER Podcast

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Trisha is starting a mastermind with AMATA Law Office Suites and Breakthrough Bound which begins February 2021! For more information email Trisha: [email protected]

Trisha Daho has a fun job, she helps attorneys become the people and leaders they want to be. But she also tackles big issues at firms. Like building real diversity and managing a law firm minorities thrive within. The road to partner is getting paved for women and diverse ethnicities, and Trisha is helping firms at every step.

Key moments:

  • Differentiating yourself from other law firms (05:46)
  • Diversity and mentorship vs. sponsorship vs. advocacy (09:26)
  • Running a firm? Do the things you want to do (18:35)
  • What Trisha Daho wants to see changed in the legal professional (30:56)

Follow “The 1958 Lawyer” on Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts | Stitcher

MEMORABLE QUOTES

“I will tell you from my own personal experience, without an advocate for what you want your career path to be, that has some juice in the firm, it is extremely hard to accelerate any kind of career path up to equity partner and beyond into real leadership positions.”

“Differentiating is honestly something that is almost never done. But once firms do it, they grow exponentially in comparison to their competitors…. Frankly, even the big boys, the giant law firms, are not doing a very good job of explaining to their most important targets and clients why they should choose one firm over another.”

“Firms that actually have great levels of diversity and inclusion usually are experiencing results that are 17% to 25% better than they would if they had no diversity. So, there’s a real there’s a business case, why [diversity] is important.”

CONNECT WITH TRISHA DAHO

Trisha Daho

Trisha spent most of her career leading large, diverse teams toward the delivery of value for her clients at a Big 4 Accounting and Advisory firm, wherein she served as a partner.  She has been pivotal in the discovery and sustainability of value in the billions of dollars for her clients.  She has worked with executives and their teams in dozens of Fortune 500 companies in the majority of states.  She has also created enormous value for entrepreneurs, high growth companies, and aspiring start-ups.  She left the corporate arena to light up the world of diversity, equity, and inclusion. And hence, Empowered was born.

With her own company, Trisha partners with C-suites and managing partners to think, plan, and execute strategically for the purpose of accelerated and sustainable growth, primarily in service-based firms. She also partners with firms of all types to create success for women and diverse people who are entering leadership positions through a diversity and inclusion peer advisory experience focused on strategy, high performing teams, and advocacy in leadership. Empowered helps organizations to create more diverse talent acquisition and development strategies, accountability and measurement in leader performance, and the development of more inclusive cultures where diverse people thrive.

Empowered: www.empoweredlc.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/trishadaho/

KEEP READING

Have comments, questions, or concerns? Contact us at [email protected]

“The 1958 Lawyer and his 1938 Dollar” still defines the business of law…
It’s time for a change.

If you’re a lawyer, you’re familiar with the ABA article “The 1958 Lawyer and his 1938 Dollar” which gives our podcast its title, and its inspiration. That article was the start of the billable hour for law firms…And the last major change to the business of law, 70+ years ago now. Well, it’s past time for another change.

This podcast is all about bucking the status quo of the business of law. Your hosts Ron Bockstahler and Kirsten Mayfield run Amata Law Office Suites, providing law firms an alternative to the traditional fixed-cost business model that places unwanted stress on attorneys to work long hours that often-times lead to burn out, broken relationships and in many cases substance abuse. Each week they’ll discuss alternatives to the 12 hours days, endless rotation of clerks and paralegals, and the expensive offices leased to impress clients who rarely show up in person anymore. They’ll interview successful lawyers who are doing law differently, and finding a work-life balance while still running a successful firm.

Do you want to find a better way to run your law firm? It’s time for the next big change in the business of law, and you’ll get it here on The 1958 Lawyer.

More episodes of The 1958 Lawyer podcast

Discover our legal support staff for lawyers in Chicago.

Dear Lawyers: You’re in Your Own Way. Build Your Firm by Thinking Anew

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By Trisha Daho

Join a mastermind program specifically designed for attorneys, starting in 2021! Contact Trisha Daho for more information: [email protected].

We know you love control. It’s part of what makes you a great attorney. Knowing what’s next, anticipating the next fact, the next action, we get it. People rely on you for your skills of anticipation. The plans you implement in the present help them mitigate the future.

But this year, the ability to plan and predict fell apart. Most of us didn’t see this coming. (Though Bill Gates gets a pass.) The courts closed. Schools closed. The world closed. You have done what you needed to do to keep your law practice going. You’ve not only pivoted but bounced, twisted, and leapt. And you are still here! That is something to celebrate.

If you are like the rest of us, you’ve also done some soul searching about your life as a lawyer:

Do I love this? What am I doing that isn’t working very well? Many have gone even further and asked what the legal industry should be doing differently, both to handle the present situation and permanently. Because guess what? Not only do you not have to run a law firm like they’ve been run for 200 years, your firm will thrive if you don’t. You can be more successful thinking and doing in a different way.

First, it takes a mindset shift. You need to change how you think about yourself, your job, and your law firm. All of it. That may seem a bit dramatic, but it also means dramatic growth. You may also start to regain that feeling of control you once had.

But how? Here are some great steps:

1. Ask yourself: What is my strongest aspiration for the new year?

If the answer is “build your firm and grow business revenue,” good for you.

It may seem vague, but this goal allows you flexibility with how you’ll grow your business, and your expectations can start small. Multiple quick, small wins will breed more wins and you can scale up from there. The key is to feel good because that will encourage you to want to change further. Pain, criticism, and failure only sow seeds for more pain, criticism, and failure. Success breeds more success.

Read more: The aggregation of marginal gains.

2. Ask yourself: What type of person do I want to be in 2021?

Then answer for yourself: “The type of lawyer who has an ever-growing business.”

This is the mindset you want. Your brain has to buy in. You need to see yourself as the type of person whose business is always growing. In other words, success begins between your ears. It starts as an inside job.

3. Begin the brainstorm!

Now you need to prove to your brain that through your actions – what you do (not just think) – you’re becoming the type of attorney you want to be. This is when you begin brainstorming different strategies to grow your law firm.

Select the ideas you want to pursue, that you have the skills to do, and that will be effective in helping you grow your practice. Create a brand for yourself and the firm, design a marketing and business development strategy that produces predictable and sustainable results. Be strategic, insightful, innovative. Think big, about how the whole industry could be doing it differently, then move small and decide how to implement changes that lead there, starting with you and your firm. Measure what happens.

We predict you will grow between 20-35% in your first year when you get truly intentional instead of reactional. Your law firm and practice will be differentiated from the thousands of similar attorneys still stuck on the rollercoaster of marketing then practicing law, instead of laying new tracks like you will be.

4. Now really begin to build your firm: start tiny and celebrate every small action.

(Do not skip the champagne because it feels foreign!)

Based on 20 years of research at Stanford University and 40,000 case studies, BJ Fogg’s 2020 book, Tiny Habits, smashes various habit myths. Change does not have to be hard!

Habits can be formed quickly and easily but assertive self-motivation is not the key – that wavers and can be unreliable. What you need are good anchors for new habits: start with micro behaviors and celebrate your actions immediately. This is the recipe for a successful mindset shift.

As your results steadily improve day-by-day, you will literally see yourself become the attorney and person you want to be and this avoids self-sabotaging. Your brain and your thinking are in sync. The final step: teach your team to do the same. Commit to these practices and they become a culture, a thriving one.

Intentionality and focus are hard in times like these. While the solution lies solely with you, we can help.

AMATA Law Office Suites, Empowered, and Breakthrough Bound have collaborated on a growth mindset mastermind designed specifically for lawyers looking to thrive differently. Are you in? Email Trisha Daho: [email protected]

Discover our networking events for Chicago lawyers.

Douglas Church: A 50 Year Journey of Practicing Law | THE 1958 LAWYER Podcast

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Doug Church recently became a Legendary Lawyer at the Indiana Bar Foundation. An incredible honor with intensive qualifications for nominees, including a mandatory 50 years of practicing law. Doug takes us back in time and discusses what he’s seen in law in the past five decades and offers the knowledge he’s learned along the way.

Key moments:

  • 50 years of practicing law: a journey into the past (1:58)
  • Experiences on the Conner Prairie Board of Directors (22:22)
  • What Douglas Church wants to see changed in the legal profession (31:07)

Follow “The 1958 Lawyer” on Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts | Stitcher

MEMORABLE QUOTES

“You need to take time for yourself, number one, because the law is a jealous mistress and you can find yourself working twelve, fourteen hours a day….It’s important to try to make sure you don’t let yourself become a slave to your practice.”

“I’ve always operated under the theory that you got to be somewhere. So some people choose to be somewhere by sitting in their easy chair or watching TV, some people sit and read a book, I chose to just spend my time being involved with organizations that were advancing some cause that I felt strongly about.”

“My dad always told me as a young person: ‘If you set out to make money you’re going to be disappointed because there will never be enough.’ You can set out to do a good job at whatever it is you’re doing and money will follow, because people will appreciate your good work, whatever that may be. And I believe that that is true.”

Douglas Church

CONNECT WITH DOUG CHURCH

Doug is the Senior Partner of Hamilton County based Church Church Hittle + Antrim law firm which was founded in 1880.  He has been actively involved with the Hamilton County, Indiana State and American Bar Association serving in various leadership positions.  He served as the Noblesville City attorney from 1987-1995 and the Town of Fishers attorney from 1980- 2014.

Doug was instrumental in the development of the Hamilton County Leadership Academy serving as a Faculty Member and Dean (1992) and as Board President (1996-98).  He has also been actively involved with Conner Prairie as the Chairperson, 1999-2001 and Member, Board of Trustees, 1997, 2003.  He currently serves as an Emeritus Member of the Museum Board of Trustees.  Doug has also served on a number of other Hamilton County organizations’ Boards of Directors.  Doug is an avid swimmer and promoter of the sport.

Church Church Hittle + Antrim: www.cchalaw.com

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Have comments, questions, or concerns? Contact us at [email protected]

“The 1958 Lawyer and his 1938 Dollar” still defines the business of law…
It’s time for a change.

If you’re a lawyer, you’re familiar with the ABA article “The 1958 Lawyer and his 1938 Dollar” which gives our podcast its title, and its inspiration. That article was the start of the billable hour for law firms…And the last major change to the business of law, 70+ years ago now. Well, it’s past time for another change.

This podcast is all about bucking the status quo of the business of law. Your hosts Ron Bockstahler and Kirsten Mayfield run Amata Law Office Suites, providing law firms an alternative to the traditional fixed-cost business model that places unwanted stress on attorneys to work long hours that often-times lead to burn out, broken relationships and in many cases substance abuse. Each week they’ll discuss alternatives to the 12 hours days, endless rotation of clerks and paralegals, and the expensive offices leased to impress clients who rarely show up in person anymore. They’ll interview successful lawyers who are doing law differently, and finding a work-life balance while still running a successful firm.

Do you want to find a better way to run your law firm? It’s time for the next big change in the business of law, and you’ll get it here on The 1958 Lawyer.

More episodes of The 1958 Lawyer podcast

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Daniel A. Cotter: Cyber-Insurance, Legal Tech and The Chief Justices | THE 1958 LAWYER Podcast

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You could say Daniel A. Cotter has had an accomplished 26 years so far as an attorney. He’s worked in-house and as outside counsel, taught Insurance Law at the John Marshall Law School, published a book about the Chief Justices, been an Illinois Leading Lawyer and Super Lawyer for four years, and he is active in the Chicago Bar Association and American Bar Association alike. But Dan also makes sure to mention his son benches more than him, the kid he tutors has more intensive math skills, and his marriage is 31 years strong. If you pay attention, life has a way of rounding you out, even as a busy attorney.

Key moments:

  • Cybersecurity and insurance insights, from an Insurance Law professor (07:35)
  • Technology discrepancies in small firms versus Big Law (16:59)
  • “The Chief Justices,” meeting RBG, and charity work (25:58)
  • What Daniel Cotter wants to see changed in the legal profession (38:54)

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MEMORABLE QUOTES

“Companies need to think through ‘what’s the ramifications of having all of our people work from home?’ Right, ‘is it our responsibility if something happens to Dan Cotter while he’s at his house,’ or you know, does he need to look at his own insurance policy and does he need to notify his insurance company that he’s working from home?”

“I’ve seen programs that talk about artificial intelligence and how it frees up the attorney and, you know, it’s great, and then the cost is prohibitive for many [private practice attorneys]….Their needs can’t be met because the cost is so prohibitive.”

“I’m a big proponent of belonging to the bar association of your choice. Whether it’s the state bar or the city bar, an affinity bar. I just find that bar membership has been rewarding… and I can say that it’s probably provided me with work over the years.”

“I am passionate about the law, and optimistic, but also concerned about the challenges, especially for graduates. In the last decade, it’s been a tough road with a major recession in 2008 and then 2013 again. And now the pandemic.”

CONNECT WITH DANIEL COTTER

Daniel Cotter

Daniel A. Cotter is Attorney and Counselor at Howard & Howard Attorneys PLLC. Dan focuses his practices in a variety of areas of corporate law and litigation, including insurance law, complex business disputes and counseling, employment law, corporate transactions, corporate governance and compliance, and cybersecurity and privacy law. His clients benefit from his diverse professional experience, which – in addition to his years serving as trusted outside counsel – includes positions as a corporate accountant and an in-house attorney. Dan has been working in cyber and privacy since the late 1990s, before cyber was a thing.

Twitter: @scotusbios

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SCOTUSlyYours

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cotterdan/

Howard & Howard: www.howardandhoward.com

CONTINUE EXPLORING

If you’re interested in getting involved with Lawyers Lend-A-Hand, or simply want to connect, reach out to Dan at [email protected]!

Have comments, questions, or concerns? Contact us at [email protected]

“The 1958 Lawyer and his 1938 Dollar” still defines the business of law…
It’s time for a change.

If you’re a lawyer, you’re familiar with the ABA article “The 1958 Lawyer and his 1938 Dollar” which gives our podcast its title, and its inspiration. That article was the start of the billable hour for law firms…And the last major change to the business of law, 70+ years ago now. Well, it’s past time for another change.

This podcast is all about bucking the status quo of the business of law. Your hosts Ron Bockstahler and Kirsten Mayfield run Amata Law Office Suites, providing law firms an alternative to the traditional fixed-cost business model that places unwanted stress on attorneys to work long hours that often-times lead to burn out, broken relationships and in many cases substance abuse. Each week they’ll discuss alternatives to the 12 hours days, endless rotation of clerks and paralegals, and the expensive offices leased to impress clients who rarely show up in person anymore. They’ll interview successful lawyers who are doing law differently, and finding a work-life balance while still running a successful firm.

Do you want to find a better way to run your law firm? It’s time for the next big change in the business of law, and you’ll get it here on The 1958 Lawyer.

More episodes of The 1958 Lawyer podcast

Discover our legal support staff for lawyers in Chicago.