Episodes

  • How Specialization and Structure Can Prevent Future Headaches for Lawyers | First Flight Series

    How Specialization and Structure Can Prevent Future Headaches for Lawyers | First Flight Series
    Feb 13 2025
    To soar as a solo attorney, you need financial stability, a clear flight plan to attract the right clients, and a reliable system that delivers the best ROI, while setting you apart from the competition. In this first episode of the First Flight series, Adriana Linares and Rio Laine dive into the essential habits that can make or break a solo practice. Inspired by Marco Brown’s "Eight Commandments" for solo attorneys, they discuss the importance of structuring your practice from day one, managing trust accounts responsibly, and developing good financial habits before unsustainable ones take hold. They also explore why specialization can help streamline your firm and even lower malpractice insurance premiums. Plus, they tackle imposter syndrome, the importance of mentorship, and how technology can lift the burden of running a law firm. Hear the original episode with Marco Brown. Learn more about ALPS Insurance. Receive email notifications every time we release a new episode.
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    43 mins
  • Coming Soon: New Solo’s First Flight Series

    Coming Soon: New Solo’s First Flight Series
    Feb 12 2025
    Welcome aboard New Solo: First Flight! In this special series, hosts Adriana Linares and Rio Laine of ALPS Insurance are your captains, guiding you through the ups and downs of launching your own law firm. Before takeoff, leave your emotional baggage from law school and big law behind—this journey is all about charting your own course as a solo practitioner. Buckle up as we cover essential topics like choosing the right tech, working with a practice management advisor, and finding networking opportunities. Our first episode lands on February 13th. Subscribe now so you don’t miss a moment of the ride! ✈️ Subscribe on Spotify Subscribe on Apple Podcasts Sign Up for Email Notifications Learn More About ALPS Insurance
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    1 min
  • A Deposition Queen’s Tips for Overcoming Fear and Standing Tall During Litigation

    A Deposition Queen’s Tips for Overcoming Fear and Standing Tall During Litigation
    Jan 23 2025
    Most of us aren’t born with a powerful courtroom presence and a reputation for extracting crucial information in tense depositions. But we can learn. Guest Tara-Jane Flynn has been called a “Princess Warrior” and “The Deposition Queen” for her tough, compelling courtroom manner. But the veteran California personal injury litigator says she started out as a shy girl too overwhelmed to give a classroom speech in school. She taught herself to be strong and to be the strength her clients need. She got involved in theater and public speaking. She guest hosted podcasts. And she developed a strong social media presence. You can, too. In this episode, you’ll hear valuable tips for winning depositions, learning how to leverage social media, and being the lawyer your client needs to believe in from a Los Angeles attorney at home battling for 8-figure verdicts. Get ready to be inspired. Questions or ideas about solo and small practices? Drop us a line at NewSolo@legaltalknetwork.com Topics: Overcoming shyness to become a force of nature in the courtroom doesn’t always come naturally. Learn what you can do intentionally to build your presence and your confidence. Social media? It’s not as hard as you think. Find an attorney with a social media presence you admire and do what they do. How’s that for easy? Really. Extracting valuable evidence in a deposition can feel intimidating, but there are things you can do. Hear how to let the deponent talk, ask follow-up questions as simple as why or why not, and prepare, prepare, prepare. Mentioned in This Episode: Toastmasters Previous episode, “T.V. Advertising: What to Expect” with guess Conti Moore The Wayback Machine ABA TECHSHOW 2025 Clio Cloud Conference 2025 Clio Legal Trends Report
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    43 mins
  • The Secret To Better Documents Is Right In Front Of You

    The Secret To Better Documents Is Right In Front Of You
    Dec 19 2024
    Want better documents and better use of your time? You only need to master what you already own, that includes your Microsoft tools. The solution you didn’t even know you were searching for is right there in front of you (you just didn’t know it). Let’s fix that. Guest Barron K. Henley is a self-proclaimed “nerdy lawyer” who helped found the Affinity Consulting Group, a team of “recovering lawyers” dedicated to helping attorneys maximize productivity through technology. Hear how Henley and his team teach lawyers about Microsoft “styles,” voice to text solutions, formatting, and importing and synchronizing Excel data and tables. Save time, minimize errors, and stop feeling frustrated. You won’t come across these solutions by accident, but you can invest a little time in learning. It’ll pay you back in the long run. Questions or ideas about solo and small practices? Drop us a line at NewSolo@legaltalknetwork.com Topics: The solutions to better document creation and management are probably right there in front of you An investment in training yourself, and your staff, in the ordinary everyday tech you use, such as the Microsoft 365 suite, pays you back exponentially Voice to text tech is vastly underrated for some tasks. People can speak at 180 words a minute, converting that into text automatically saves you a block of time that can be better used on real, creative efforts. Mentioned in This Episode: Previously on Legal Talk Network, The Lawyerist Podcast, “How Lawyers Can Maximize Word, With Barron Henley” ABA TECHSHOW 2025 Microsoft Voice to Text Microsoft 365 WordPerfect Hotdocs Copilot by Microsoft “Customize or Create New Styles” by Microsoft “How to Merge Word Documents” by Microsoft “Get Started With Voice Access” by Microsoft Netdocuments (Netdocs) Excel Templates by Microsoft Dragon Legal Clio Cloud Conference 2025 Clio Legal Trends Report
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    42 mins
  • Tech, Automation, and Cybersecurity: A Pioneering Attorney’s Perspective

    Tech, Automation, and Cybersecurity: A Pioneering Attorney’s Perspective
    Dec 2 2024
    Technology and automation are vital when it comes to helping a new firm blossom in today’s environment. Guest Kellam Parks started out in a relatively large firm after law school, but his desire to go paperless and incorporate technology drove him to launch a solo practice that has grown to a three offices in the Virginia Beach area. The firm, Parks Zeigler PLCC, incorporates technologies from case preparation to presentation and to create seamless communication channels among attorneys, staff, and clients. Parks and his partner grew the firm and expanded into new locations and specialties by inviting like minded attorneys with a book of business who may not be happy in their current situation to join the firm. Learn how a practice management system and outside professionals can help you manage and direct your success. Your time is best used practicing law, don’t be afraid to reach out to professionals for help, from tech administration to financial management, to coaching. Don’t be afraid to join professional groups, get involved, and learn from other attorneys who have been there and done that. If you’re a new solo interested in growing your firm, you can’t miss this episode. Questions or ideas about solo and small practices? Drop us a line at NewSolo@legaltalknetwork.com Topics: Technology can be a critical part of your firm. It creates efficiencies, encourages collaboration, improves cybersecurity, and builds your business (and yes, you can do this) Pay for professional help when you need it. You might be a great attorney, but you can’t do everything. Recognize when you’re doing so well that you need a professional, whether that’s a technology consultant or a financial officer or tax pro. When you’ve done all you can getting your firm up and running and don’t know how to take the next step, consider hiring a business coach, someone who can help you recognize opportunities and chart your path forward. Mentioned in This Episode: Previously on Legal Talk Network, Digital Detectives, “ Cybersecurity: Getting to Good for the Small Law Firm” “Traction: Get a Grip on Your Business,” by Gino Wickman Stephanie Everett, “The Lawyerist” The Lawyerist Affinity Consulting EOS Worldwide Previously on New Solo, guest Debbie Foster, “Winning the Battle: When It’s Time to Modernize but There’s One Holdout” Previously on New Solo, guest Ernie “The Attorney” Svenson, “Ernie The Attorney: A Tech Whisperer Shares His Legal Tech Secrets” Ernie’s Inner Circle Ernie The Attorney Caret Legal Microsoft 365 for Business Lawmatics Adobe HotDocs legal documents Dialpad VoIP Lawyer on the Beach, Facebook 1Password, password manager SentinelOne cybersecurity Virginia State Bar Special Committee “Technology and the Future Practice of Law” Florida Bar Association Clio Cloud Conference 2025 Clio Legal Trends Report
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    55 mins
  • What’s New in Legal Financial Management? An Expert’s Perspective

    What’s New in Legal Financial Management? An Expert’s Perspective
    Oct 30 2024
    Guest Peggy Gruenke is an expert in the accounting management tools tailored to small law firms. Gruenke is the founder and co-owner of CPN Legal, helping small and solo firm lawyers manage and grow their business through legal software solutions and outsourced financial management and bookkeeping services. Let’s talk about your firm’s finances and profitability: how are you keeping track of your business? Hear what’s new in automated accounting packages – but don’t give up on Quickbooks, and don’t cut ties with your bookkeeper. Online accounting services are great. But they are not meant to replace a professional, especially as your firm grows. You’re not a bookkeeper, you’re a lawyer. But these tools do help with the basics of money management. The challenge is mixing and matching. Operational efficiencies and financial planning are part of running a successful firm. Don’t shortchange the importance of bookkeeping and managing your income, marketing ROI, expenses, and taxes. It’s vital you keep your finger on the pulse of your business, and there are tools and people who can help you. As Gruenke says, “Treat your business with respect.” Questions or ideas about solo and small practices? Drop us a line at NewSolo@legaltalknetwork.com Topics: If you’re a small or solo firm, you’re a business. Every business must track their finances, their expenses, and their taxes. Hear about the latest tools that help you track every part of your firm’s financial life. Repeat after us: Lawyers are not bookkeepers. This is why you need not only software but someone who tracks your business performance, watches your bottom line, and keeps you ready for tax time. Security, checks and balances, and financial snapshots are all vital. It’s a lot to keep up with, but investing the time and money to assemble the tools you need will help you grow (and profit). Mentioned in This Episode: Clio Cloud Conference 2025 Mycase Clio Accounting Clio Draft Lawcus Quickbooks Previously on New Solo, “New From Clio: Legal Practice Management Including Legal Accounting” Previously on New Solo, “Money Management 101 for Solo and Small Firm Professionals” Previously on New Solo, “Oh, The Messes We See” Clio Legal Trends Report Chase Business credit cards Capital One Business credit cards ABA Techshow
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    42 mins
  • Ernie The Attorney: A Tech Whisperer Shares His Legal Tech Secrets

    Ernie The Attorney: A Tech Whisperer Shares His Legal Tech Secrets
    Sep 30 2024
    Get the most out of today’s tech products that are specifically created to save you time on the mundane stuff so you can focus on getting results for your clients. Guest Ernie “The Attorney” Svenson’s biz tech consulting firm helps small and solo firms apply tech solutions without being overwhelmed and learn the “80/20 Rule,” getting more output with less input. When it comes to efficiencies, automation plays a big role. In a solo or small firm, resources come at a premium. Learn to reduce wasted input through standardized, repeatable operating procedures and automation. (There are even tech products that help you create written standard processes learning from and organizing the work you’re already doing). Imagine speaking into an app as you “brain dump” and having those thoughts come out organized and notated for later use. Imagine dictating legal work into an app and having AI organize your dictation, even correct it. You don’t need to type everything in today’s tech world. Maximize downtime. It’s all about training yourself to think “automation first.” Even when a virtual assistant (VA) located in another country can fill gaps in your practice, learn your preferences, match your brand, and help you be your most efficient you without hiring a full-tie employee. Today’s most successful law firms are high-tech hubs. Don’t let fear of the unknown hold you back. Questions or ideas about solo and small practices? Drop us a line at NewSolo@legaltalknetwork.com Topics: There’s no reason for a solo practitioner or small firm not to engage in today’s tech. Leverage technology to get a lot of results without a lot of effort. Learn how the “80/20 Rule” helps you get more done with less effort. If you’re a lawyer, time spent marketing is time spent not lawyering. Automation can perform repeatable marketing tasks (even social media, newsletters, and referral marketing) to help you bring in new business while you focus on results for your clients. Virtual assistants, or VAs, are remote workers, often in another country, who can perform the routine tasks that are eating up your time while you focus on practicing law. Mentioned in This Episode: ABA Techshow Loom Zoom Clips Otter.ai Fireflies.ai Letterly Cleft Windows dictation Text Expander “8 Great TextExpander Alternatives” FancyHands Lawclerk legal assistants Perplexity.ai
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    1 hr and 1 min
  • New From Clio: Legal Practice Management Including Legal Accounting

    New From Clio: Legal Practice Management Including Legal Accounting
    Aug 29 2024
    Clio, the longtime, long-trusted software tech provider for lawyers, has plunged into the accounting game. Time and case management, billing, payments, and simply keeping track of your bottom line all take up time when you could be doing something else, like, you know, serving your clients’ needs. Now Clio has baked that accounting service directly into its practice management software package. Frankly, attorneys – especially new solo practitioners – may have been taught very little about running a business. Being a good lawyer is only part of the game. Lawyers also need to know how to manage money and accounting. That’s where software and money management programs can help, including tax prep, accounting for ongoing work in anticipation of payment, capital distributions, and handling funds your clients have entrusted you with. Hear why legal-specific accounting is so important (hint, legal accounting is not like any other accounting, and mistakes can truly hurt your practice). Plus, the top five features that must be part of any legal accounting platform. Questions or ideas about solo and small practices? Drop us a line at NewSolo@legaltalknetwork.com Topics: Law schools and legal training may overlook the importance of accounting for a new law firm. It’s not intuitive. Hear how legal practice management firm Clio is incorporating legal-specific accounting functions into its platform Practicing law is what you signed up for, but managing money is what will keep your firm running. Never forget, your firm is a business that depends on accounting. Tax management, income statements, balance sheets, and cash flow management are not only crucial, but very weirdly specific in the world of legal accounting. Mentioned in This Episode: Clio Clio Accounting and Demo 2024 Legal Trends for Solo and Small Law Firms New Solo, “Oh, The Messes We See” New Solo, “Money Management 101 for Solo and Small Firm Professionals” New Solo, “Winning The Battle: When It’s Time To ‘Modernize’ But There’s One Holdout” cpnLEGAL Affinity Consulting Joshua’s Previous Appearances on Legal Talk Network: New Solo, “HIPAA Happens, But Compliance Software Can Help” On Balance: “Insights on Clio’s 2023 Legal Trends Report with Joshua Lenon”
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    47 mins