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suzanne

10 Tips to Make Networking Work For You

Mar 10, 2016 in Guest Bloggers, Marketing, Savvy Solos, Solo & Small Firm Practice

Have you ever heard the advice, “Never eat lunch alone?” That’s what they teach sales people who need to schmooze clients and referral sources in order to get new business. It’s not bad advice, but it is woefully incomplete.

It is not enough to simply go to lunch with people you like and call it networking. It’s not enough to show up at chamber of commerce meetings, bar association luncheons, and networking happy hours. In the world of networking, the “work” piece is the important part. This is how I get clients.

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aboutphotosusan

We Need More Law Schools. Yes. We Really Do. Here’s Why.

Mar 7, 2016 in Law School Innovation, Subjective Opinions, The BS-Free Zone

Many people talk about Access to Justice (A2J), the big legal movement of the 21st century. But the biggest hurdle to A2J is the delivery of the legal education itself. The organization who controls what constitutes a valid education to gain a license to practice law is the American Bar Association (ABA). They determine accreditation. And as we all know, in order to sit for the bar exam you have to have graduated from an ABA-accredited law school (with the exception of California, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, and Wyoming).

Yes, it’s true. The ABA is the greatest hurdle to providing access to justice for the millions in this country who need affordable legal services. Let me tell you why.

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tony-lai

The Power of Networks Is Not Just For Commercial Legal Companies Anymore – Guest Lecture with Tony Lai

Feb 29, 2016 in Audio, Guest Lectures, Marketing, Technology

Amazon transformed the retail industry by networking small businesses together. It eventually replaced the individuality of each small business with it’s own ‘brand’, Amazon. Eventually, small businesses were able to reduce their overhead further by cutting out their physical real estate, cutting employees and simply marketing and selling their goods through Amazon. This on-demand online company is a ‘networked platform’ and meets the customer where they are. Imagine a network for lawyers that has nothing to do with a commercially branded company, but through bar associations, or through certain law schools or an AmLaw 100 firm. Imagine a network for solos in a given state or region. Imagine a network driven by the lawyers. This is an eye-opening guest lecture which will help you to envision practicing the way you want to practice. Listen and learn.

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toya

Can Lawyers Learn How To Run A Business From Online Entrepreneurs?

Feb 23, 2016 in Guest Bloggers, Savvy Solos, Solo & Small Firm Practice, Technology

Now I know there is a huge debate about whether attorneys should engage in the “practice of law” or the “business of law”. However, I think this debate misses the mark. The salient question is – how can we continue to serve our clients’ legal needs while keeping up with their expectations for business? In other words, how can we practice law and maintain the business persona that our customers expect?

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Jared

Mastering the Sales Re-Cycle – Guest Lecture with Jared Correia

Feb 22, 2016 in Audio, Guest Lectures, Jared Correia

Do you think a signed retainer agreement is the beginning or end of your marketing to gain a client? The beginning or end of the ‘sale’? Today we talk about the reality that once a client retains you it is just the beginning of the sales ‘re-cycle’ – the continuing process of re-affirmations that the client made the right choice in selecting you as their attorney. Listen and learn.

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Debra Bruce

How to CYA without Looking Like an A

Feb 18, 2016 in Guest Bloggers, Marketing, Subjective Opinions

“You never told me that!” Those are words a lawyer never wants to hear, but unfortunately many of us do. That’s why CYA (cover your a$$) can be so important.

Often a lawyer’s interaction with a client occurs during one of the most stressful times of the client’s life. Although it may be a routine matter to the lawyer, it may be the only time the client has ever been in this circumstance. Just when the client needs full brain power to comprehend new and complicated concepts, stress negatively impacts the client’s ability to think and remember. So put yourself in your client’s shoes and see how you can make their experience easier while covering yourself.

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