#545: Overcoming Personal Financial Struggles as a Lawyer, with Rho Thomas

Zack talks with the hosts of the Lunch Hour Legal Marketing Podcast, Gyi Tsakalakis, and Conrad Saam about how artificial intelligence is affecting consumer behavior and how your law firm should adjust to the changing market. Additionally, they discuss how to leverage AI to your advantage against your own marketing data to be more deliberate with your legal marketing spend.   Additionally, Zack and Jennifer discuss the Lawyerist’s annual Best Law Firm Website contest, where they dig into what makes a website “work.”  Links from the episode:   Subscribe to Lunch Hour Legal Marketing https://www.youtube.com/@LHLM  https://www.gorillaz.com/  Chapters  00:00 Introduction to AI in Marketing  03:04 Best Practices for Law Firm Websites  06:11 The Importance of Emotional Connection  08:53 Innovative Website Experiences  12:08 Navigating AI's Impact on Marketing  15:02 Consumer Behavior and Marketing Strategies  20:42 The Impact of AI on Business Visibility  24:24 Leveraging AI for Client Insights  28:19 Data Analysis and AI: Transforming Marketing Strategies  32:44 Democratizing Data Access with AI  36:56 The Importance of Accurate Data Tracking  41:03 Practical Marketing Takeaways in the AI Era  46:12 lawyerist-podcast-outro.mp4

In this conversation, Temi Siyanbade, founder of TOS Legal, discusses the importance of video marketing for legal professionals. She shares her journey into using video to connect with clients and build her brand, emphasizing the need to overcome the fear of being on camera. Temi explains how video can enhance legal marketing by building rapport with potential clients and providing valuable information. She also offers practical advice on starting with basic equipment and measuring success in video marketing, encouraging lawyers to embrace this medium to better serve their clients.  Additionally, Zack talks with the folks at NetDocuments about the importance of organizing your digital files and recent advancements in document search.  Links from the episode:    Request a demo from NetDocuments  Show, Don't Tell by Temi Siyanbade

Dreaming of launching your own law firm or leveling up your current practice? In this episode, Stephanie Everett shares the top five game-changing strategies you need to know to build a thriving law firm. From crafting a crystal-clear vision to mastering your tech stack and establishing solid legal and financial foundations, they’ve got you covered.  Links from the episode:   Amplify your legal practice with Paxton AI   Paxton AI  We just announced a $22M Series A funding round  Listeners can sign up for our webinar - accelerating your practice with AI on 2/19 here.   CHAPTERS:   00:00 - Best Law Firm Websites Contest   04:16 - AI in Legal Research with Paxton.ai   12:39 - Introduction to Stephanie   16:48 - Define Vision and Business Strategy   19:30 - Legal and Financial Framework Setup   22:49 - Legal Tech Stack Overview   26:54 - Marketing Strategies for Law Firms   31:05 - Financial and Operational Discipline   33:35 - Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) Tracking   37:15 - Importance of Saying No in Business   39:45 - Five Essential Actions for Success   41:43 - Outro

Stephanie talks with New Solo podcast host, Adriana Linares, about the technology necessary to run a law practice and move away from the billable hour. Adriana emphasizes the importance of automation and organized client files and communication. Additionally, Zack talks with Lindsay Bushong, from MyCase, about what software law firms can use to manage their accounting in both a flat-fee and hourly billing environment.  Links from the episode:   https://legaltalknetwork.com/podcasts/new-solo/  https://mycase.com/lawyerist  Chapters  0:00 – Intro  3:20 – MyCase Accounting Software  10:21 – Adriana Linares and New Solo Intro  12:00 – Transitioning From Billable Hour to Flat Fees  14:05 – The Role of Technology in Legal Practices  22:18 – Maximizing Efficiency with Client Portals

In this conversation, Karin Conroy and Zack Glaser discuss the integration of AI in marketing, emphasizing the importance of maintaining a human touch while leveraging technology. They explore the significance of a unique brand voice, particularly the value of female perspectives in marketing. The discussion also covers Google's EAT principles, the need for content optimization for AI search, and the importance of regularly reviewing and refining marketing strategies. Finally, they stress the necessity of defining an ideal client to enhance marketing effectiveness.  Links from the episode:   Check out Conroy Creative Counsel

In this conversation, Rho Thomas, a money coach for lawyers, discusses the financial struggles faced by legal professionals, particularly focusing on student loans, lifestyle expectations, and the impact of debt. Rho emphasizes the importance of intentional spending, budgeting, and making significant financial decisions, such as housing choices. The discussion also covers the balance between investing and paying off debt, strategies for increasing income, and the importance of communication and shared vision in financial planning. Rho shares her personal journey of overcoming debt and offers insights into building net worth through effective financial management.  Links from the episode:   The guide to mistakes that keep lawyers from making money  Lawyerist Alternative Fee Structures Webinar (March 12)      00:00 Financial Struggles of Lawyers  06:05 Lifestyle Creep: Hidden Costs  11:52 Big Financial Decisions: Housing & Lifestyle  18:01 Investing vs. Paying Off Debt  24:02 Building Net Worth Beyond Debt

In this conversation, Zack Glaser and Erica Harold discuss the prevalence of bullying in the legal profession, highlighting a study conducted by the Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Professionalism. They explore the findings of the study, which revealed that one in four Illinois lawyers experienced bullying and discuss the need for concrete recommendations to address this issue within law firms. The conversation emphasizes the importance of creating a culture of respect and civility in the legal field, as well as actionable steps that can be taken by individuals and organizations to combat bullying.  Links from the episode:   https://www.2civility.org/  CHAPTERS:  00:00 - Intro   03:00- Interview with Erika Harold  09:18- Combat Bullying in Legal Industry   13:57- Defining Progress in Law   16:22- Next Steps for Change

In this conversation, Hillary Gerzhoy discusses the intersection of legal ethics and artificial intelligence (AI) in the legal profession. She highlights the risks associated with incorporating AI into legal practices, emphasizing the importance of confidentiality and the distinction between open and closed AI systems. The conversation also delves into the supervisory obligations lawyers have when using AI, the challenges of traditional billing models in light of AI efficiencies, and the potential future of AI in making legal services more accessible and affordable.  Chapters:  0:00 - Women in AI Summit  03:45 - AI as a Thought Partner  06:43 - Introduction to iManage  14:35 - Introduction of Hilary Gerzhoy  17:45 - Impact of AI on the Public  19:35 - Relying on AI Technology  22:58 - Open vs Closed AI Systems  25:00 - Billing for AI Services  27:30 - Innovation vs Profit in AI  34:34 - AI's Impact on Lawyer Productivity  35:50 - Access to Justice with AI  37:35 - Final Thoughts on AI Integration  37:47 - Advice for Attorneys on AI Implementation

In this conversation, Ruby Powers and Stephanie discuss the significance of attending legal conferences, particularly the ABA TECHSHOW. They explore the differences between local and national events, the benefits of networking, and how to maximize the conference experience. Ruby shares her personal experiences and insights on how these events can be life-changing for legal professionals, emphasizing the importance of staying updated with technology and trends in the legal field. They also provide practical tips for attendees and highlight the upcoming ABA Tech Show in Chicago.  Links from the episode:   https://techshow.com

In this episode, Stephanie talks with Michael Bungay Stanier, the author of The Coaching Habit, about his new book How to Work with (Almost) Anyone. They discuss how successful law firm leaders know how to effectively coach teammates and how to foster what Stanier calls the ‘Best Possible Relationships’ (BPRs). This discussion emphasizes the importance of curiosity over advice-giving, and the need for psychological safety in both client and employee relationships. The discussion is rich with practical insights and actionable strategies for improving workplace dynamics and fostering better communication, including how to have a Keystone Conversation and build better self-awareness in leadership.  Links from the episode:   Check out Michael's books  MBS Works  Women & AI Summit  Chapters 00:00 - Women + AI Summit  04:08 - Michael Bungay Stanier Insights  11:34 - Understanding BPR (Best Possible Relationship)  15:30 - Keystone Conversations Explained  19:53 - Qualities of a Great Team Member  23:20 - Getting Started with Effective Practices  26:31 - Importance of the "Read Me" Document  28:50 - Finding Michael Bungay Stanier Online  29:10 - Exploring More of Stanier's Work  29:45 - Outro