The Gen Why Lawyer Podcast: Inspiration, Growth, and Tactics for Millennial Lawyers and Attorney Entrepreneurs

Jim Hart is a business and intellectual property attorney in North Carolina. He is also an entrepreneur and podcaster. His practice focuses on helping online entrepreneurs with their legal needs. What We Cover in this Episode: * Are you sabotaging yourself and your practice and you don’t even know it? * Even if you practice in a niche area, it doesn’t mean that’s all you’re going to do * Niching down is for the sake of public perception and marketing * How do you motivate clients to hire you when there’s no immediate pain point? * Writing a book will very likely propel your authority status * Should lawyers and business owners actively seek out their ideal client or should they wait until the clients come to them? * Think of how you can implement various marketing methods to attract clients. * What other content creation platforms can you use to start building your authority? * Jim’s top 3 legal marketing tips Give to Get Grab a free copy of Jim’s book about online business protection at www.hawthornlaw.net/book Contact Information http://www.hawthornlaw.net/ Twitter: @hawthornlaw Jim’s Podcast – Legal Marketing Made Easy

Julia Shapiro CEO and Founder of Hire an Esquire, an online legal recruiting and staffing company which allows lawyers to be autonomous and entrepreneurial. Julia herself stumbled upon freelance legal work when she became ill and was unable to commit to a full-time associate position. When she recovered, she realized that there was a huge gap in this space of freelance legal work. She also noticed an issue with the way staffing companies had been doing things thus far so she started Hire an Esquire to provide a solution. What We Chat About in this Episode Why freelance legal jobs are going to become highly coveted How Hire an Esquire is like an online dating site for lawyers and firms Why taking a lawyer’s personality and preferred work culture is important when considering a match with a firm What is the future of traditional law firms? How Julia handles belonging to two industries (legal and tech) that tend to be highly unfriendly to women What the greatest benefit of freelancing is for women What factors should college students take into consideration before making the decision to go to law school Give to Get If you’re a lawyer and you’re interested in registering for Hire an Esquire and work on a freelance basis or if you know of a firm that might have work they want to offer on a freelancing basis, reach out to Julia. Contact Information Email: Julia@hireanesquire.com Twitter: @hireanesquire

Bari Tessler Linden, MA, is a financial therapist, a mentor/coach, and a mamapreneur. Bari’s gentle, body-centered approach weaves together personal, couple, and creative entrepreneurial money teachings into one complete tapestry. She is the founder of The Art of Money: a global, year-long money school, which integrates Money Healing, Money Practices and Money Maps. What We Chat About in this Episode: What are the roadblocks people have regarding money Don’t call it a budget, call it a money map How to deal with our money shame and gauge our range of emotions when it comes to money Do you need a financial support team? The importance of acknowledging our money stories that are passed down from our parents Is there a difference in attitudes towards money between Millennials and other generations? How do we figure out how to charge for our services? Resources: Art of Money Podcast www.baritessler.com –  7 Day Mini Art of Money Course Do You Know Your Own Value? [Article] How to Claim Your Value The Art of Money: A Life-Changing Guide to Financial Happiness –  Available June 14, 2016

Aiden Kramer is a young attorney in Denver, Colorado. She helps small businesses and startups with their business and estate planning needs. Aiden is a self-proclaimed mild Youtube sensation and with over 5,342 Youtube subscribers, I can see why she calls herself that. What We Chat About in this Episode: Why Youtube is an underutilized platform by lawyers How to get over the nerves of expressing your personality on video Figure out if your intended audience and clients are searching on Youtube for information before you commit to creating videos The procedure and mechanics of recording a video Where to find the content for videos What is the perfect length for a video? Does your video quality have to be perfect for people to watch it? How to repurpose your video content Resources Mentioned Google Keyword Planner Logitech HD Webcam Blue Snowball microphone Portrait lighting umbrellas Jenna Marbles Give to Get If you have expertise in any topic related to starting or running a business, reach out to Aiden for a potential video collaboration Contact Information www.aidenkramerlaw.com Email: aiden@aidenkramerlaw.com www.youtube.com/aidenkramerlaw Thanks for Checking Out the Show Notes and for Listening! I really hope you enjoyed this episode. It was certainly a great experience for me. If you feel like you just can’t keep the excitement you feel for this episode to yourself, please share it using the social media buttons you see at the bottom of the post. Also, please don’t forget to subscribe to the GWL Podcast in iTunes or in Stitcher Radio. That way, every time I prepare a new episode for you, it’ll automatically show up in your phone.  No Fear Of Missing Out here. Once last thing: I would truly appreciate it if you could leave an honest review for The Gen Why Lawyer Podcast in iTunes. Positive ratings and reviews help boost the visibility of the show and help me in reaching more young lawyers.                                                                                                                                         

Jay Fleischman is a student loan lawyer. He speaks regularly at national events on the subjects of student loans, bankruptcy, and consumer protection. What We Cover In This Episode: Here’s one thing you should realize if you’re going to go solo,  with no money, no clients, and no experience How Jay niched down to student loan law and how he began attracting clients Where the idea for his podcast came from and why it’s better than blogging for him Why the state of student loans sucks Why the real problem with student loans is not what you think Where your focus should be if you’re on an income-dependent repayment plan How does marriage affect your student loans? Jay answers a Listener’s Question: What advice would you give undergrad and grad students looking to take out large student loans to finance hefty school tuitions? Recommended Resources: Jay Fleischman’s Student Loan Show Podcast www.studentloans.gov Give to Get Jay would be happy to speak at your law school, college, bar association, organization, etc. about student loans. He has his presentation ready to go. If you’re in Southern California, he will even speak for free! Contact Information Studentloanshow.com Consumerhelpcentral.com Email: jay@legalpracticepro.com

Follow me on Snapchat @nic_abboud and send me your questions, I’ll send you back my answers. My guest today is John Skiba, a consumer debt collection and bankruptcy attorney in Arizona. John is a solo practitioner and fellow podcaster. His podcast, the JDBlogger podcast, focuses on smart legal marketing techniques. What we cover in this episode: Why John’s first attempt at going solo didn’t succeed and what he did differently the second time around Incorporating technology into your practice is essential to a solo practitioner’s success How to strike a balance between work and life when you work from a home office Why your mentors can be wrong about the advice they give you The benefits of starting a podcast are endless, especially for attracting clients Video is the most powerful tool to converting clients Every attorney has something that he/she is good at. Find it and don’t be afraid to use it Where to start when embarking on a content marketing journey Resources Mentioned: JD Blogger Podcast – Episode 73 – How Two Lawyers Started a Non-Profit Law Firm Right out of Law School Episode 30 – Create Your Own Path – Interview with Creative Lawyer Kiffanie Stahle Episode 87– The Texas Law Hawk – Interview with Attorney Bryan Wilson Episode 04– Implementing Video Into Your Law Firm Marketing with Gerry Oginsky Bryan Wilson’s commercial Give to Get John would love to be connected with you, or anyone you know, if you’re practicing law in a different way. Contact Information Email: john@jdblogger.com Twitter: @johnskiba www.jdblogger.com

My guest this week is Seema Iyer, a criminal defense attorney in New York. You might recognize Seema’s name, especially if you’ve ever watched MSNBC. Seema was a regular legal contributor as well as the host and producer of The Docket. Seem also recently launched her own podcast, The Bollywood Lawyer. What We Discuss in this Episode: Why Seema is so in love with being in court and what to do if you don’t have the same feeling about going to court How Seema secured a reoccurring commentary spot on MSNBC and eventually produced her own show If you’re presented with an opportunity, treat it like it’s going to be your only shot If you’re interested in being a legal correspondent on tv, get used to doing a lot of engagements for free before you start getting paid How to decipher between healthy nerves and debilitating nerves How to build a supportive team Writing is what will allow you to build a legacy as a lawyer One thing Seema wishes she knew when she was first starting off in her career Contact Information: Twitter: @seemaiyeresq

We’ve turned 1!! Woohoo! Thank you so much for your support! After interview over 55 amazing lawyers, I learned a few things!  Here’s a quick recap of the lessons: Being Different is Good Mitch Jackson – Episode 9 Rob Schenk – Episode 36 Productivity, Although the Enemy of the Billable Hour, is Your Friend Shemia Fagan – Episode 31 Kerriann Stout – Episode 50 Give to Get Mandy Woodland – Episode 22 Jacob Sapochnick – Episode 23 Patience is a Virtue (Yet a Rarity) in the Legal Profession Lenise Williams – Episode 24 Genavieve Shingle – Episode 48 Dana Robinson – Episode 49 Happiness Can Be Created Aria Safar – Episode 20 Crystal Marsh – Episode 25 Reach out to me with any questions you’d like answered on the show! Here are my social media usernames: Instagram and Snapchat: @nic_abboud Twitter and Periscope: @nicoleabboud Thank you!

Jackie Stoughton is a lawyer and author of the blog Jade & Oak, a blog aimed at helping other bloggers figure out the legal and business side of growing a blog. Things We Discuss in this Episode: You can use your JD degree without necessarily practicing law Can blogging serve as a creative outlet for lawyers? When starting a blog, how can you decide if you should write to promote your practice area or as a hobby. All the work that goes into writing a blog article How do you figure out who to “speak to” on your blog? What legal issues should bloggers be aware of? Readers prefer quality posts as opposed to frequent posts The power of webinars to boost your name recognition and trust factor   Resources: * Evernote * Google Docs * Dropbox * WordPress * Blogger * Google Hangout On Air Contact Information: www.jadeoak.com Email: jadeandoak@gmail.com How We Can Help Jackie (aka if you can hook a sister up, please do!): Any lawyer who is offering legal tips online who would be able to speak with Jackie about avoiding offering legal advice online and avoiding potential malpractice suits. Thanks for Checking Out the Show Notes and for Listening! I really hope you enjoyed this episode. It was certainly a great experience for me. If you feel like you just can’t keep the excitement you feel for this episode to yourself, please share it using the social media buttons you see at the bottom of the post. Also, please don’t forget to subscribe to the GWL Podcast in iTunes or in Stitcher Radio. That way, every time I prepare a new episode for you, it’ll automatically show up in your phone.  No Fear Of Missing Out here. Once last thing: I would truly appreciate it if you could leave an honest review for The Gen Why Lawyer Podcast in iTunes. Positive ratings and reviews help boost the visibility of the show and help me in reaching more young lawyers.

On the show this week is Dan Linna, the assistant dean of career services at MSU College of Law and the director of LegalRnD – the Center for Legal Services Innovation Coming from a background in information technology and public policy and administration, Dan believes in the importance of incorporating technology into the practice of law in order to establish processes and standards to help improve the overall practice. What We Discuss in this Episode: Can law schools look to MSU Law’s Legal RnD as an example of successful marriage of tech and law? What is a T-shaped lawyer? Why is innovation even necessary? What’s going to happen to the rule of law when people feel disconnected from the legal system? Students should go to law school with their eyes wide open The legal aid space is going through exciting innovation that will help us bridge the justice gap Technology isn’t necessarily going to replace lawyers. Instead, tech will offer the profession great opportunities How you can best serve your clients through process improvement and data management Resources: Ken Grady Legal Hackers Contact Information: Twitter: @danlinna linnadan@law.msu.edu Thanks for Checking Out the Show Notes and for Listening!   I really hope you enjoyed this episode. It was certainly a great experience for me. If you feel like you just can’t keep the excitement you feel for this episode to yourself, please share it using the social media buttons you see at the bottom of the post. Also, please don’t forget to subscribe to the GWL Podcast in iTunes or in Stitcher Radio. That way, every time I prepare a new episode for you, it’ll automatically show up in your phone.  No Fear Of Missing Out here.     Once last thing: I would truly appreciate it if you could leave an honest review for The Gen Why Lawyer Podcast in iTunes. Positive ratings and reviews help boost the visibility of the show and help me in reaching more young lawyers.

Alison Cardy is a professional career coach who helps guide people, including lawyers, through career transitions. She helps move people through any obstacles and get un-stuck. Stuff we talk about in this episode: How to acknowledge you’re stuck and the first step in seeking help How “movement” is the way to get unstuck Are most lawyers lost before they even go to law school? We discuss the all-important question, “If not this, then what?” Some deep exercises Alison goes through with her clients Is your frustration misplaced? How do you know when you need a career change and when you just need to change your job environment Will adopting a new practice area help? Should you start a side business while you transition out of the law? Alison’s new book: Career Grease: How to Get Untuck and Pivot Your Career FREE resource – The Step by Step Career Change e-course Martha Beck – Finding Your Own North Star: Claiming the Life You Were Meant to Live (Affiliate link*) Contact Information: www.cardycareercoaching.com Email: coach@alisonelissa.com Thanks for Checking Out the Show Notes and for Listening! I really hope you enjoyed this episode. It was certainly a great experience for me. If you feel like you just can’t keep the excitement you feel for this episode to yourself, please share it using the social media buttons you see at the bottom of the post. Also, please don’t forget to subscribe to the GWL Podcast in iTunes or in Stitcher Radio. That way, every time I prepare a new episode for you, it’ll automatically show up in your phone.  No Fear Of Missing Out here. Once last thing: I would truly appreciate it if you could leave an honest review for The Gen Why Lawyer Podcast in iTunes. Positive ratings and reviews help boost the visibility of the show and help me in reaching more young lawyers. *Disclosure:  Please note that the link above is an affiliate link, and at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you decide to purchase this book for your reading pleasure.

My guest this week is litigation attorney, Don Bivens. Don is a partner at Snell & Wilmer in Phoenix, Arizona. He handles complex litigation of all types and corporate investigations. He has tried cases involving securities fraud, patent infringement, trade secrets, lender liability, environmental liability, professional negligence, officer and director liability, products liability, employment discrimination, real estate and construction matters, significant estate disputes, business torts, and class actions. Don is the immediate past chair of the 55,000-member Section of Litigation of the American Bar Association. In this episode, Don and I chat about litigation practice in general: what the major differences are between a litigation and transactional practice, what skills are necessary to be a successful litigator, and how to handle a litigation workload along with a fulfilling life. We also take a look at the process of litigation in general and its changing nature taking into consideration the recent push towards alternative dispute resolution. Recommended Resource: ABA Litigation Section page 5 Traits of the Best Lawyers I Know by Don Bivens 14 Tips to Make You a Better Litigator by Don Bivens Litigation Magazine Don’s Contact Information: (602) 382-6549 Email: dbivens@swlaw.com

The Instagram Expert, Sue B. Zimmerman, shares her tips about how young lawyers can use IG to build their communities, connect with clients, and bring in more business.

Kerrian is a jill of all trades. She runs an immigration law practice with her partner, Pouyan. She also runs a business called Vinco where she coaches law students studying for finals and for the New York and New Jersey bars. She is also the associate director of academic success at a New York law school. Kerriann started off as a partner at the immigration practice and soon realized she wasn’t making the kind of money she wanted to be making in her law practice, so she decided to look elsewhere to start generating more income. That’s when Vinco was conceived. What we talk about in this episode: What qualities to search for in a law practice and business partner Sometimes, you become an accidental business owner How Kerriann established her tutoring business How she grew her business strictly through word of mouth Some daily activities that help move the business forward What leading a “Bankable over Billable” lifestyle means to Kerriann Resources Mentioned: Virtual Assistant Staffer with Jay Hunter – www.vastaffer.com Chris Ducker’s Virtual Staff Finder – www.virtualstafffinder.com Contact Information: Email: kerriann@vincoprep.com Facebook group – www.facebook.com/groups/vincoprep

My guest this week, Dana Robinson, is possibly the most distant attorney I’ve had on this show. At the item of the interview, Dana was in Bali, running his law practice remotely, and enjoying life. In this episode, Dana and I discuss what it takes to set up systems in order to manage our practices the way he is, effectively and from abroad. We also chat about Dana’s spiritual and religious influences on his practice and businesses.  As a former pastor, Dana is doing a great job at combining his holistic approach to lawyering with his business acumen. Things we discuss: How to reconcile your faith with your lawyering duties Being a lawyer doesn’t mean you’re evil. Being a lawyer involves a lot of counseling How you can find meaning in what you’re doing as a lawyer Is it possible to effectively manage a law practice while you’re thousands of miles away? Should you start a business while you’re practicing? How to put systems in place to manage your practice from afar Law practice can be awesome so long as you’re able to make time for what makes you happy as well outside the law Don’t dilute yourself. Focus on your practice and perhaps 1 or 2 side projects Can you use your existing knowledge to create a course that you can sell online? Give away your knowledge – that’ll attract more clients Contact Information: Email: dana@danarobinson.com Websites: www.danarobinson.com and www.techlawllp.com Thanks for Checking Out the Show Notes and for Listening! I really hope you enjoyed this episode. It was certainly a great experience for me. If you feel like you just can’t keep the excitement you feel for this episode to yourself, please share it using the social media buttons you see at the bottom of the post. Also, please don’t forget to subscribe to the GWL Podcast in iTunes or in Stitcher Radio. That way, every time I prepare a new episode for you, it’ll automatically show up in your phone.  No Fear Of Missing Out here. Once last thing: I would truly appreciate it if you could leave an honest review for The Gen Why Lawyer Podcast in iTunes. Positive ratings and reviews help boost the visibility of the show and help me in reaching more young lawyers.