Back to Law (Practice) School: Everything Law School Didn't Teach You with Joyce Brafford

I spoke with a bar association executive about reading works of fiction & how her state bar serves attorney members. Episode Highlights 03:38 - Kim Velk’s role at Vermont Bar Association. 04:53 - Snowy Vermont weather experience. 06:08 - Transition from practicing lawyer to education role. 08:15 - Importance of reading for relaxation and communication. 11:12 - Discovering and enjoying Hilary Mantel’s historical fiction. 12:44 - Discussing historical fiction and its appeal. 16:55 - Kim’s favorite authors and books. 18:11 - Bookstore vs. online book buying. 21:07 - Discussing current projects at Vermont Bar Association. 24:48 - Technology and AI education at bar associations. 27:15 - Low volume in media on technology discussions lately. Episode Resources Connect with Jared Correia [email protected] https://redcavelegal.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaredcorreia  https://twitter.com/RedCaveLegal www.linkedin.com/in/jaredcorreia/ Connect with Kim Velk [email protected] https://www.vtbar.org/  

I spoke with a law firm marketing expert about how to build a marketing program for the upcoming year. Episode Highlights 01:14 - Legal marketing rebuilding. 01:32 - Introducing Gyi Tsakalakis. 05:55 - Favorite Christmas gift memory. 07:00 - Importance of annual planning for law firms. 09:08 - Metrics and law firm identity. 10:32 - Affinity audiences explained. 11:30 - Google de-indexing explanation. 13:13 - AI impacting search results. 15:30 - Google’s AI challenges. 16:50 - Strategy for AI content placement. 19:50 - Rise of AI search engines. 23:15 - Importance of brand vs. direct response. 26:10 - CRM’s role in marketing. 28:05 - Owning your marketing data. 30:38 - Practicing gratitude daily. Episode Resources Connect with Jared Correia [email protected] https://redcavelegal.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaredcorreia https://twitter.com/RedCaveLegal www.linkedin.com/in/jaredcorreia/ Connect with Gyi Tsakalakis [email protected] https://www.attorneysync.com/ https://legaltalknetwork.com/podcasts/lunch-hour-legal-marketing/  

For the eleventh episode of our special series with ProfitSolv, we talk about the usefulness of dashboards in modern software - including how law firms can deploy them to effectively and regularly surface practice data, alongside ProfitSolv’s Joyce Brafford & Cosmolex's JD Robinson. [SPONSORED BY COSMOLEX] Episode Highlights 44:41 - Importance of dashboard flexibility and customization. 49:00 - Financial metrics and productivity insights. 53:36 - Key challenges firms face in capturing data. 53:41 - Role of passive time tracking for time capture. 01:16:03 - Next-gen tools in ProfitSolv’s lineup.   Episode Resources Connect with Jared Correia [email protected] https://redcavelegal.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaredcorreia https://twitter.com/RedCaveLegal www.linkedin.com/in/jaredcorreia/ Connect with Joyce Brafford and JD Robinson [email protected] [email protected] https://www.cosmolex.com/ https://www.profitsolv.com/ 

I spoke with a construction lawyer, who built his niche practice, with shrewd moves around marketing, hiring & technology. Episode Highlights 04:25 - Chris Strang’s origin as a New York Jets fan. 05:54 - Most traumatic Jets moment: Vinnie Testaverde injury. 06:25 - Best Jets moment: Beating the Patriots in 2011. 09:05 - Chris Strang: Mastering personal networking. 13:07 - Critical view on lawyer referral sites. 18:13 - Post-pandemic changes in commercial office space. 19:56 - Importance of proactive hiring strategies. 23:54 - Challenges with current legal technology. 27:02 - Chris’ love for bourbon and recommendations.   Episode Resources Connect with Jared Correia [email protected] https://redcavelegal.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaredcorreia https://twitter.com/RedCaveLegal www.linkedin.com/in/jaredcorreia/ Connect with Chris Strang [email protected] https://www.strangscott.com/  

I talked to a lawyer who launched a law firm with lesser-known technology, and a unique practice mix. Episode Highlights 03:06 - Thanksgiving food dislikes. 05:13 - Faith Alvarez’s legal career journey. 09:12 - Launching a business during a recession. 11:17 - Challenges as a state prosecutor. 12:49 - Transitioning to personal injury law. 16:01 - Wise business strategy advice. 21:28 - Hiring flexible, part-time staff. 25:01 - Using social media for firm marketing. 28:36 - Innovative use of CRM technology. 30:07 - Community engagement and outreach. 32:36 - The Lady Justice Foundation. 35:26 - Future growth plans for the firm.   Episode Resources Connect with Jared Correia [email protected] https://redcavelegal.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaredcorreia https://twitter.com/RedCaveLegal www.linkedin.com/in/jaredcorreia/ Connect with Faith Alvarez [email protected] https://faithalvarez.com/ 

I talked with an IP attorney about how he started & grew his law firm. Episode Highlights 01:01 - How to build a successful IP law firm. 02:17 - Favorite fall activity: apple picking. 05:50 - Journey into trademark law amidst economic downturns. 12:26 - The pivotal role of vision boards and focus. 15:20 - Leveraging technology like Alt Legal for firm management. 18:09 - Hiring talent globally with virtual structures. 24:26 - Exciting client roster with pop culture links. 27:01 - Marketing with pop culture references. 29:40 - Reflecting on childhood interests shaping career. Episode Resources Connect with Jared Correia [email protected] https://redcavelegal.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaredcorreia https://twitter.com/RedCaveLegal www.linkedin.com/in/jaredcorreia/ Connect with Scott Sisun [email protected] https://www.sisunlaw.com/ 

I talked with a legaltech expert about how law firms can outgrow their tech stacks & what to do about it. Episode Highlights 00:13 -  Simplifying legal tech access. 04:18 - Challenges in tech adoption for lawyers. 10:06 - Transition to cloud-based solutions. 15:49 - Bottlenecks: Identifying inefficiencies. 21:30 - Importance of client feedback. 24:09 - Streamlining software use in firms. 27:10 - Integration of software applications. 34:02 - Automation and workflows. 40:23 - Winding down practices with tech. 46:11 - Building firm value through tech.   Episode Resources Connect with Jared Correia [email protected] https://redcavelegal.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaredcorreia https://twitter.com/RedCaveLegal www.linkedin.com/in/jaredcorreia/ Connect with Matt Orlinsky  [email protected] https://www.practicepanther.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattheworlinsky  

For the tenth episode of our special series with ProfitSolv, we talk about forward-looking financial management strategies used by top law firms - including how AI and data are affecting law firm billing tactics, alongside ProfitSolv’s Joyce Brafford & Cathedral Capital's Brooke Lively. [SPONSORED BY ROCKETMATTER] Episode Highlights 15:41 - Introducing the “Sticklefish” metaphor for work. 39:26 - Brooke’s five essential AR puzzle pieces. 58:53 - Discussing individualized law firm metrics. 1:04:39 - Customizable dashboards for law firms.   Episode Resources Connect with Jared Correia [email protected] https://redcavelegal.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaredcorreia https://twitter.com/RedCaveLegal www.linkedin.com/in/jaredcorreia/ Connect with Joyce Brafford and Brooke Lively [email protected] [email protected] https://cathcap.com/ https://www.profitsolv.com/ https://www.rocketmatter.com/  

I talked with an immigration attorney who executed a plan to grow her law firm from a solo practice. Episode Highlights 01:08 - Revamping an immigration law firm. 03:39 - Favorite cold-weather drinks. 06:06 - Transition from nonprofit to for-profit law. 07:52 - The influence of “the patriarchy” in career decisions. 10:33 - Challenges of constructing a work-life balance with a partner. 13:10 - The journey from solo practice to a larger firm. 14:59 - Importance of team and roles in firm expansion. 19:59 - Decision to rebrand and create a new website. 22:12 - Transitioning from lawyer to business owner. 25:41 - Selecting the right technology tools for law practice. Episode Resources Connect with Jared Correia [email protected] https://redcavelegal.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaredcorreia https://twitter.com/RedCaveLegal www.linkedin.com/in/jaredcorreia/ Connect with Ellen Sullivan [email protected] https://cambridgeimmigrationlaw.com/  

We explored the viability of contract lifecycle management software in the legal space, including AI features and integrations. Episode Highlights 18:00 - Expansion beyond legal teams. 24:00 - AI’s role in contract management. 30:00 - Automatic redlining feature. 36:00 - Importance of integration. 49:00 - Generative AI’s potential and limits. Episode Resources Connect with Jared Correia [email protected] https://redcavelegal.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaredcorreia https://twitter.com/RedCaveLegal www.linkedin.com/in/jaredcorreia/ Connect with Kristin Riviello http://cobblestonesoftware.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristin-riviello