The Agile Attorney Podcast

In law firms across the country, I'm seeing a concerning pattern emerge when one attorney adopts Kanban and Agile methods while their partner - often from an older generation of lawyers - resists these systematic approaches. This clash of perspectives frequently pushes teams back into overload and burnout.This week, I explore how this capacity tension manifests in law firms, particularly during succession planning. I share specific strategies for implementing personal Kanban systems to manage competing demands and discuss the critical difference between basic Kanban board interfaces and true Kanban methodology tools designed to support sustainable legal practice management.Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://www.agileattorney.com/74

A concerning trend I've noticed both in my own practice and among my clients is that the rise of AI technology is making it harder to accurately assess our true capacity. Between constant marketing messages and the promise of enhanced productivity through AI tools, many of us are failing to gauge our own capacity and falling into the trap of overcommitting.The legal tech landscape is evolving rapidly, and technology companies are using sophisticated attention-hacking techniques to convince us their products are essential. Without clear goals and strategies in place, we become more susceptible to these marketing messages and risk adopting tools that don't actually serve our practice needs.In this episode, I explore how to maintain an honest assessment of capacity while embracing new technology and the problem with chasing every new technological promise. I share my personal experience with AI tools leading to overcommitment, and discuss the importance of using systems like Kanban boards to track capacity objectively.Get full show notes, transcript and more information here: https://www.agileattorney.com/73

We don't talk about overcapacity enough in legal practice, especially not the hidden ways it erodes performance, burns out your team, and stalls your cases. In this episode, I take a closer look at what really happens when you're operating beyond your firm's functional capacity. From unnecessary administrative overhead to frustrated clients and cherry-picked tasks, the ripple effects of overload are costing you more than you think. If your firm is feeling stretched, stuck, or constantly in firefighting mode, this episode will help you understand why. Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://www.agileattorney.com/72

The impact of trauma in legal practice extends far beyond individual client interactions. From law school through retirement, lawyers face unique psychological challenges that can fundamentally alter their personalities, relationships, and effectiveness as advocates. Dr. Colin James, author of "Vicarious Trauma and Burnout in Law," brings decades of experience as a senior lecturer of law and researcher to examine how trauma theory applies to legal practice. Through exploring concepts like vicarious trauma, compassion fatigue, and post-traumatic growth, this conversation illuminates practical ways that individual practitioners and organizations can build more trauma-informed approaches.Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://www.agileattorney.com/71For Oregon Attorneys, you can claim CLE credit under the "Mental Health & Substance Abuse" requirement. Just go to yourt Oregon Bar MCLE Dashboard, select "Accredited Group Course," enter MCLE ID 122717 in the search field. For attorneys in other jurisdictions, you may be able to claim CLE credit using the following steps:Check your state's CLE rules to see if they accept credit from Oregon-accredited programs. Many do, especially for courses taken out of state.Confirm if your jurisdiction allows on-demand (pre-recorded) courses and whether there are any limits or special requirements.Search for the Oregon accreditation info at www.osbar.org using the approved course title (Trauma Informed Lawyering with Dr. Colin James) or the application ID 122717.Document the number and type of credits approved by Oregon (e.g., general, ethics) and whether the course is listed as recorded.Self-report the credit to your state bar using their required process, and retain documentation in case of audit.

Is your law practice truly profitable? Not just cash-flow positive, but actually generating the kind of profit that allows you to serve your clients well, take care of your team, and live the life you want? In this episode, I dive deep into the critical topic of law firm profitability with RJon Robins, founder of How to Manage a Small Law Firm and author of Profit First for Lawyers.We explore why so many lawyers struggle with profitability, how to properly calculate your cost of goods sold, and why understanding the difference between static and dynamic overhead can transform your practice. While RJon and I have different communication styles, we align on the core principle: putting profit first isn't selfish—it's essential for creating a sustainable practice that truly serves everyone involved.Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://www.agileattorney.com/70

If you've ever tried to turn one of your documents or templates into something repeatable, you probably already know it is harder than it looks. Whether you're looking to streamline routine documents or create client-facing tools, this week's conversation will help you find the most effective and straightforward solution for your needs.I'm joined by Quinten Steenhuis, co-director of the Legal Innovation and Technology Lab at Suffolk Law School and owner of Lemma Consulting. His work with the Document Assembly Line project during the pandemic revolutionized access to justice when courts physically closed but legal needs remained urgent. We explore the intersection of document automation, generative AI, and legal practice, uncovering practical insights for firms of all sizes. Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://www.agileattorney.com/69

It's easy to say lawyers need to “be more adaptable” in today's shifting tech and economic climate, but real adaptability isn't about working harder or reacting faster. It's about responding intelligently to change by staying grounded in your mission, your goals, and the strategies that support them. In this episode, I break down what intentional adaptability looks like in practice, and how clarity at the strategic level helps you navigate complexity without losing your footing. I share how to make better tech decisions and future-proof your practice without sacrificing what matters most: delivering real results to your clients.Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://www.agileattorney.com/68

What makes legal writing truly effective? It's not just about knowing the law—it's about knowing how to communicate it. In this episode, I'm joined by Professor Jonah Perlin from Georgetown Law School, where he teaches first-year legal practice and advanced legal writing courses.We explore how the process of putting ideas into words -wrestling with language and structure- is actually the path to stronger analysis and deeper understanding, and the role AI has in effective legal writing. We discuss the importance of feedback in legal education and practice, and how both giving and receiving feedback effectively is a skill that needs to be developed. Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://www.agileattorney.com/67

There has never been a better time in the history of lawyers to start your own law practice. The tools, know-how, and access to support are better than ever before, and they keep improving every day. Whether you're facing job uncertainty, working at a firm with values that don't align with yours, or simply tired of working for someone else, going solo might be the best career move you can make.This week, I'm joined by Carolyn Elefant, the brains behind myshingle.com and the author of "Solo by Choice," the go-to guidebook for creating a startup law practice that aligns with your values and serves your life. Carolyn shares insights on how to overcome common obstacles, build a client base through relationship marketing, and structure your day for maximum productivity.Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://www.agileattorney.com/66

Most law firms start by building support structures around the expert (you), but eventually hit a ceiling where growth becomes limited by your personal capacity. No matter how efficient your team becomes at supporting you, the system can only move as fast as you can.In this episode, I explore how to transform your practice from an expert-dependent model to a resilient mesh system where quality standards are embedded in your processes and your team is empowered to make decisions without constant oversight. The result? A practice that can scale far beyond your personal limitations while maintaining the quality your clients expect.Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://www.agileattorney.com/65

Ever feel like you're constantly juggling multiple client matters at once, switching between tasks, and never fully focusing on any single piece of work? This scattered way of working is more detrimental to your practice than you realize. One incredibly effective solution to this problem is understanding what call The Dental Chair Theory of Lawyering, and I'm explaining it in today's episode. This approach not only improves the quality of your work but also enhances the client experience and ultimately leads to a more efficient, less stressful practice.Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://www.agileattorney.com/64

Is your law practice suffering from too much automation? Today, I'm sharing how to recognize when automation is hurting rather than helping your practice. I'll explain why efficiency should never be your primary goal, how to avoid the "transactional trap" that alienates clients, and most importantly, how to design automations that enhance rather than replace the human elements of your practice. By keeping both client and team needs at the center of your automation strategy, you can create systems that truly deliver better outcomes for everyone involved.Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://www.agileattorney.com/63

Have you ever delegated legal work to a colleague, only to get back something that completely misses the mark? Maybe they dove way too deep into the weeds, or perhaps they barely scratched the surface of what you needed. As a lawyer, calibrating expectations when delegating tasks can be a constant challenge.In this episode, I tackle a listener question about managing the extremes when delegating legal work. What do you do when you've got a true "lawyer's lawyer" on your team who loves to explore every rabbit hole? And how do you handle a junior team member who doesn't yet have the context to know which path to take? Listen in to find out.Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://www.agileattorney.com/62

Does your firm have legal matters that are endlessly dragging on, frustrating both you and your clients? It may seem like investing in the latest AI tools is the obvious next step to speed up your firm's delivery, but the real solution lies in managing the flow of work across your entire system.This week, I share three powerful strategies for reducing waiting time in your law practice. By implementing these techniques, you'll be able to deliver quality outcomes to your clients faster, improve their overall experience, and boost your firm's profitability and sustainability. Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://www.agileattorney.com/61

Have you been wondering how AI can help your law practice today?In this episode, I talk with Damien Riehl, a lawyer and legal technologist who has been at the forefront of AI in law for years. We skip past the usual AI ethics debates to focus on the most important question: how can small and mid-sized firms use AI right now to improve client service and profitability?Damien breaks down the core functions of lawyering - assessing risk, navigating complexity, and providing wise counsel - and explains how today's AI tools can enhance each one. Whether you're an AI skeptic or an enthusiastic early adopter, you won't want to miss Damien's practical, actionable insights on the tools that are already transforming law practice.Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://www.agileattorney.com/60

Are you tired of the billable hour grind? Do you feel like it's creating a constant conflict of interest between you and your clients? I'm thrilled to have Jonathan Stark back on the show to dive deep into alternatives to hourly billing.Jonathan is a former software developer turned consultant who has been on a mission to rid the world of hourly billing since 2006. He's the author of Hourly Billing Is Nuts and has helped countless professionals in various industries break free from the time-based pricing model. In this episode, we explore alternative pricing strategies, from fixed fees and productized services to value-based pricing and fractional engagements. If you're ready to stop billing and start pricing, this is the episode for you.Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://www.agileattorney.com/59

Are you drowning in an overwhelming caseload, struggling to keep up with the demands of clients and the court? This week, I speak with family law attorney and author Brita Long about how flat fee pricing can be a catalyst for creating a healthier, more balanced law practice. Whether you're curious about flat fees, feeling skeptical, or just looking for ways to achieve better balance in your practice, this conversation will give you a new perspective on an age-old problem in the legal profession. Get ready to challenge your assumptions and discover a path to becoming a happier attorney.Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://www.agileattorney.com/58

As attorneys, we often forget that our engagement letters occupy a unique space - they're not just contracts, but also the final step in our marketing cycle. So why do so many of these crucial documents end up feeling dense, overwhelming, and even off-putting to clients?Tune in this week to learn how to create engagement letters that not only protect your firm but also set the stage for a positive, productive attorney-client relationship. I share some simple, actionable ways to make your engagement letter a seamless, welcoming transition into the legal services you provide.Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://www.agileattorney.com/57

Do you find yourself juggling too many tasks at once, struggling to make meaningful progress on any of them? In this episode, I dive deep into one of the core practices of the Kanban method: limiting work in progress, or WIP. We'll explore how taking on too many concurrent tasks can wreak havoc on your brain, your client experience, and your ability to keep your commitments. I also provide you with several practical tools and strategies for setting WIP limits in your personal work and your practice as a whole. By the end of this episode, you'll have a clear roadmap for regaining control of your workload and consistently delivering your best work. Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://www.agileattorney.com/56

Do you dread assigning client homework, knowing it will likely stall your case for weeks or even months? Chasing down questionnaires and documents from clients can feel like a never-ending battle, leaving you frustrated and resentful. After years of working with law firms to improve their workflows, I've discovered that the client homework bottleneck isn't actually about the clients - it's about how we structure and support the assignments. In this episode, I'm sharing my proven six-part framework for optimizing client homework. Tune in because these techniques will help you get unstuck and achieve a more predictable, efficient flow of work, creating a better experience for both your firm and your clients.Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://www.agileattorney.com/55

Today, I'm excited to welcome Tim Lennon back to the podcast to explore the Taoist concept of Wei Wu Wei, or "action without action." Tim and I dive into why understanding and navigating obstacles is more important than trying to bust through them, why feedback loops are essential to making progress (and how to make those feedback loops more effective), and why preparation and intentionality are the keys to true agility. If you're looking for ways to work smarter, not harder, in your law practice, this episode is for you.Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://www.agileattorney.com/54

Do you ever feel like there aren't enough hours in the day to get everything done? You're not alone. As legal professionals, we often struggle to fit all our commitments into our finite capacity. Here's the thing: having a completely empty calendar isn't the productivity blessing you might think it is. Today, I share two powerful techniques - calendar blocking and calendar bucketing - that will transform how you think about and use your time. Get ready to take control of your calendar and supercharge your productivity!Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://www.agileattorney.com/53

What if I told you that a simple 15-minute daily standup meeting could dramatically improve your team's performance and help everyone work more effectively and predictably within their actual capacity?In this episode, I share how implementing a daily standup can be a game-changer for your law practice. You'll learn the key elements of an effective daily standup, including the three essential questions to ask, how to keep the meeting focused and concise, and how to use the standup to surface dependencies and roadblocks. I also detail some pitfalls to avoid and techniques to make your standup meetings productive from day one.Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://www.agileattorney.com/52

You've probably already set your goals for 2025 in your law practice, but do you have a system for following through on your plans and goals week after week? Implementing a simple weekly planning and review habit could be the key to helping you and your team manage capacity and prioritize the right work, transforming your firm's productivity and predictability.Tune in to learn a step-by-step process for conducting effective weekly planning and review meetings with your team. I share tips for structuring the meetings, involving your whole team, and using the insights gained to continuously improve your practice. Implementing this habit consistently can help you break free from the cycle of overcommitment and overwhelm too many law firms fall into.Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://www.agileattorney.com/51

How do you address the unpredictability of legal fees in your practice? In this episode, I talk with practicing attorney Elise Buie, founder of Elise Buie Family Law, about her journey implementing flat fee pricing in her practice. This was originally an interview conducted by Emery Wager for Confido Legal's podcast Financially Legal, and Emery has his own insight to share in this area too.Join us this week to dive into the nuts and bolts of designing and implementing flat fee services in a legal practice. Whether you're just starting to explore alternative pricing models or looking to refine your existing approach, you'll come away with valuable insights and practical strategies you can apply in your own firm.Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://www.agileattorney.com/50

Something I find fascinating is the extent to which the behaviors and practices of the legal profession have evolved over the years, and the extent to which they haven't. In this unique episode, I take a look at some intriguing insights from the legal files of my great-grandfather, Lloyd Wright Sr., a pioneering entertainment lawyer who represented some of the biggest names of the era.Join me as I explore the captivating case of Jane Wyman's divorce from Ronald Reagan in 1948, which offers a glimpse into the world of celebrity marriages, for-cause divorces, and the evolution of legal practices, as well as an interesting look into the history of flat-fee billing.Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://www.agileattorney.com/49

As a lawyer, it's easy to fall into the trap of equating more hours with more revenue. But as Jonathan Stark points out, this mindset often leads to a vicious cycle of overwork and burnout, without necessarily translating into increased profitability or client satisfaction. The key to breaking free from this cycle lies in streamlining your processes and focusing on delivering value, rather than simply billing time. In this episode, I share an episode I recorded with Jonathan Stark on his podcast Ditching Hourly exploring how improving your delivery workflows can make the switch to value pricing a no-brainer. From implementing systems and checklists to leveraging technology and outsourcing, we explore the many ways you can optimize your workflows to deliver better results in less time.Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://www.agileattorney.com/48

How do you build the systems, tools, and culture required to sustain and scale a law practice and deliver the results your clients need, even when you have non-standard working arrangements, or a fairly unique practice area? In this episode, I'm joined by Richard Hoare, owner of Hoare Associates, to discuss how he transformed his music-centric law practice by embracing Agile and Kanban methodologies with a heavy emphasis on capacity liquidity. Richard explains how visual management systems and Kanban thinking have allowed his firm to be more responsive, efficient, and profitable in support of their mission. Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://www.agileattorney.com/47

I walk you through the specific steps my client took to optimize their workflow, improve their client experience, and ultimately achieve remarkable results by embracing Kanban without implementing new software. Whether you're a solo practitioner or part of a larger organization, you'll learn valuable insights and actionable strategies to implement Kanban principles, even if you're restricted in terms of the tech you have available.Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://www.agileattorney.com/46

There are people all over the US who find themselves in legal binds, but are unable to get the legal help they need. As we enter this season of giving, this episode is here to highlight an Access to Justice success story that I've been fortunate enough to be a part of, albeit one that is still very much in its early chapters. I'm sharing this to spread a little hope, but also to illustrate some Agile tools and concepts that you might be able to use in your own private practice.Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://www.agileattorney.com/45

When you're buried in work, your to-do list is flowing off the page, and you're feeling totally overwhelmed in your day-to-day activities, I invite you to hit play on this episode. I go old school, describing how to build a very simple Kanban board on your wall, a whiteboard, or any simple Kanban system. Discover how using even the most basic Kanban board can help you break down your work into manageable pieces, focus on what matters most, and start crossing those items off your list with confidence, one sticky note at a time.Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://www.agileattorney.com/44

One of the biggest challenges law firms face when moving away from hourly billing and towards incorporating flat fees is motivating your team in a way that actually supports the new business model.Tune in this week as I challenge the conventional wisdom around using billable hours as a key performance metric, even for firms that bill by the hour. I explain why billable targets often work against efficiency and profitability, especially for firms incorporating flat fee billing. But more importantly, I dive into the social science behind human motivation and share proven strategies for tapping into your team's intrinsic drive to do great work.Get full show notes, transcript, and more here: https://www.agileattorney.com/43

Do you know the most profitable parts of your law practice? If you're like most lawyers, the answer is probably no. But without a clear understanding of matter-level profitability, you could be making costly decisions about where to invest your limited time and resources.In this episode, I explain why the traditional approach of using effective hourly rate to compare flat fee and hourly matters is flawed and what to do instead. By assigning a direct cost to each team member's time and calculating the gross profit on a matter-by-matter basis, you'll be able to make more informed decisions about which types of work to pursue. The result is a more profitable and intentional law practice.Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://www.agileattorney.com/42Start your Agile transformation today and check out free resources, including my Law Firm Policy Template, to help you and your team develop a more Agile legal practice: https://www.agileattorney.com/start

Transitioning away from the billable hour can feel daunting, but it doesn't have to be an all-or-nothing proposition. By taking an iterative, milestone-based approach to your matters, you can begin to identify which phases of work are ripe for flat fee billing, helping you increase your firm's profitability.As I share more insights and takeaways from the most recent Clio Cloud Conference, I walk you through real-world examples of how this phased approach has worked for firms in different practice areas and at different price points. Even if you're already using flat fees in your practice, what I share today will help you refine your approach and ultimately boost your bottom line.Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://www.agileattorney.com/41Start your Agile transformation today and check out free resources, including my Law Firm Policy Template, to help you and your team develop a more Agile legal practice: https://www.agileattorney.com/start

Are you familiar with Clio's Kanban-inspired feature, Clio Matter Stages? It's been around for a while now, but as a Kanban enthusiast, I was eager to check it out at this year's Clio Cloud Conference. While it's certainly a step in the right direction and an interesting tool for Clio users, how does it measure up when it comes to implementing some of the more robust Kanban systems?In this episode, I share my first impressions of Clio Matter Stages, and explore some key Kanban principles that can help you level up your workflow, including the power of queue columns, work-in-progress limits, and definitions of done.Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://www.agileattorney.com/40Start your Agile transformation today and check out free resources, including my Law Firm Policy Template, to help you and your team develop a more Agile legal practice: https://www.agileattorney.com/start

I'm a massive fan of Bottleneck Theory. This is the idea that you can make massive improvements to your legal workflows by finding and focusing on just one part of your overall system: the bottleneck. In this episode, I'm super excited to bring you an interview with The Bottleneck Guy himself, Clarke Ching.Tune in this week to explore where the bottlenecks might be in your legal practice, and discover how to address these constraints. We discuss how small iterative adjustments can create big changes in how work flows through your practice, and you'll learn the value of preserving your capacity, so you don't end up being a bottleneck in your own practice.For full show notes, transcript, and more information, visit: https://www.agileattorney.com/39Start your Agile transformation today and check out free resources, including my Law Firm Policy Template, to help you and your team develop a more Agile legal practice: https://www.agileattorney.com/start

Have you ever struggled with giving tough feedback to your team members? Do you find yourself resorting to the criticism sandwich approach, hoping to soften the blow by sandwiching negative comments between compliments? Tune in this week to discover why the criticism sandwich doesn't work. I also discuss the importance of setting clear quality standards, providing explicit training, and offering timely feedback to help your team members grow and succeed. Plus, I address the recent trend of blaming younger generations for workplace shortcomings and offer a more productive approach to building the skills and capabilities your law firm needs.For full show notes, transcript, and more information, visit: https://www.agileattorney.com/38Start your Agile transformation today and check out free resources, including my Law Firm Policy Template, to help you and your team develop a more Agile legal practice: https://www.agileattorney.com/start

Something I see with my lawyer clients is that they have so many different things on their plate that each piece of work looks like an object, like a static thing that we need to deal with, as opposed to a dynamic part of a bigger process. When you are overloaded, that is totally natural. But this phenomenon points to the importance of seeing work as flow.Tune in this week to discover a helpful tool to help you get work flowing more smoothly and predictably through your law practice. You'll learn how to break down your workflow into its component parts so you can identify bottlenecks, streamline processes, and keep work moving smoothly through your law practice.For full show notes, transcript, and more information, visit: https://www.agileattorney.com/37Catch me at the Clio Cloud Conference 2024, Tuesday, October 8th at 3pm (Discount code: ACTFAST): https://cliocloudconference.com/

Adding capacity to your law practice, whether through hiring new team members, outsourcing work, or using AI to help you with certain tasks does not always add up to overall workflow improvement. This can be really frustrating for law firm owners because you've spent time and money on these solutions, only for the work to continue getting stuck in workflow bottlenecks.Melissa Shanahan and Ben Hudson join me today to discuss what changes when you shift your focus from resource efficiency to flow efficiency, and why sometimes the key to increasing capacity is actually doing less. Ben shares his insights on using data to inform hiring decisions, improving client perception, and defining productivity in a way that aligns with his goals, and we dive deep into the tools and strategies that make a difference.For full show notes, transcript, and more information, visit: https://www.agileattorney.com/36Catch me at the Clio Cloud Conference 2024, Tuesday, October 8th at 3pm (Discount code: ACTFAST): https://cliocloudconference.com/

Have you ever felt like certain tasks in your law practice are taking longer than they should? What if I told you that sometimes the key to efficiency is slowing down and working together? This is where a concept from the software development world called "paired programming" can help you create better outcomes in your legal practice.Tune in this week to discover how to accelerate your law firm's efficiency using the concept of paired programming. From co-working on complex briefs to training new team members, you'll learn how working together in real-time can reduce miscommunication, accelerate feedback loops, and ultimately lead to a better work product for your clients.For full show notes, transcript, and more information, visit: https://www.agileattorney.com/35Start your Agile transformation today and check out free resources, including my Law Firm Policy Template, to help you and your team develop a more Agile legal practice: https://www.agileattorney.com/start

One common anti-pattern I run into in working with lawyers and law practices is people who are constantly looking for little efficiencies to try to improve particular parts of their practice or their legal workflow. But sometimes, finding those short-term efficiencies, even if they work in the short term, can actually cut against the long-term productivity or the overall flow of work through your practice.Tune in this week to discover where you might be sacrificing long-term flow in pursuit of short-term efficiency. I discuss how engaging your clients in the legal process improves long-term efficiency, and you'll learn how to start balancing the immediate demands of your legal work with long-term efficiency in your practice.For full show notes, transcript, and more information, visit: https://www.agileattorney.com/34Start your Agile transformation today and check out free resources, including my Law Firm Policy Template, to help you and your team develop a more Agile legal practice: https://www.agileattorney.com/start

As professionals, it's easy to jump to conclusions about what clients need based on our experience and the patterns we see emerging. But in making these assumptions, are we missing a critical opportunity to truly connect with them by not taking the time to understand their individual motivations and worries?Tune in this week as I explore why giving clients space to articulate their "why" is so important for delivering great service and keeping them engaged throughout the process. I discuss how to make your client intake meetings more effective, write a compelling professional bio that resonates with your ideal clients, and ultimately build a more sustainable, profitable practice by staying connected to your own "why."For full show notes, transcript, and more information, visit: https://www.agileattorney.com/33Start your Agile transformation today and check out free resources, including my Law Firm Policy Template, to help you and your team develop a more Agile legal practice: https://www.agileattorney.com/start

As law practice owners, we can gain valuable insights by looking outside of the legal industry. Today, I'm excited to bring you an interview with Michael Clarke. Michael is the co-owner of the financial advisory firm Protection Point Advisors and co-author of the book A Firm Worth Building: Running a Better Professional Business.Tune in this week to explore the differences between having a law practice and running your law practice like a successful business. Michael gives us his perspective on legal services as someone outside of the legal industry. Michael discusses what he's looking for when he hires lawyers for his own business needs, and shares what he considers when referring his clients out for legal help.For full show notes, transcript, and more information, visit: https://www.agileattorney.com/32Start your Agile transformation today and check out free resources, including my Law Firm Policy Template, to help you and your team develop a more Agile legal practice: https://www.agileattorney.com/start

Are you a struggling solo attorney trying to get more clients in the door? Before you turn to an expensive technology solution, it's important to take a step back and fully understand the nature of the problem you're trying to solve in your law practice. I'm all for utilizing tech, but it's dangerous to imbue technology with too many magical properties. So, what can you do instead to come up with better, more sustainable solutions to your business problems?While investing in the right technology can certainly help streamline your practice, it's not a magic bullet. If you're struggling to get clients in the door, the key is to first get clear on your business strategy and really understand your target market. Tune in this week to discover valuable tips for focusing on your core strengths, niching down, and how to best serve the marketplace effectively.For full show notes, transcript, and more information, visit: https://www.agileattorney.com/31Start your Agile transformation today and check out free resources, including my Law Firm Policy Template, to help you and your team develop a more Agile legal practice: https://www.agileattorney.com/start

Do you feel like you're stuck on the hamster wheel of your law practice, constantly working on being more productive as an individual, but never getting ahead? It's time to explore how shifting your mindset from individual excellence to team excellence can help you break free and build a thriving, sustainable firm.Tune in this week to discover criminal defense attorney-turned-law-firm-owner Justie Nicol's secrets for creating a law firm that supports your personal goals and enables your team to do their best work. From implementing unique meeting structures to tracking meaningful KPIs, Justie offers a wealth of practical tips and hard-won wisdom that can help you transform your own practice.For full show notes, transcript, and more information, visit: https://www.agileattorney.com/30Start your Agile transformation today and check out free resources, including my Law Firm Policy Template, to help you and your team develop a more Agile legal practice: https://www.agileattorney.com/start

Engaging your team around process improvement is a vital part of successfully implementing changes in the way you work in your law practice. When everyone is on the same page, working toward the same goals while you empower each member of your team to demonstrate leadership in their field of expertise, process improvement becomes an easier proposition, no matter the size of your firm.Tune in this week to discover my favorite tools and concepts for fostering an environment that is not only open to change, but actively recruits your people to be willing participants, and even leaders in those improvement efforts.For full show notes, transcript, and more information, visit: https://www.agileattorney.com/29Start your Agile transformation today and check out free resources, including my Law Firm Policy Template, to help you and your team develop a more Agile legal practice: https://www.agileattorney.com/start

Are you struggling to keep up with your law practice workload, like there's never enough time to get everything done? You may be operating at or over your practice's ideal effective capacity, meaning just one or two small tasks added to your team's workload could potentially grind everything to a halt.In this episode, you'll discover the three key indicators that your practice has too much work in progress, as well as three helpful techniques for rightsizing your workload and getting back to a more comfortable working space. With the strategies I share, you'll be on your way to feeling more in control of your practice and delivering a better experience for your clients.For full show notes, transcript, and more information, visit: https://www.agileattorney.com/28Start your Agile transformation today and check out free resources, including my Law Firm Policy Template, to help you and your team develop a more Agile legal practice: https://www.agileattorney.com/start

A common piece of conventional wisdom around how law firms prioritize their work is that they should organize everything around deadlines and due dates. While deadline-driven prioritization does have a place, it's my experience that there's a better technique that law firms should be adopting as their default prioritization method: first-in first-out (FIFO).Tune in this week to discover the advantages of a first-in first-out policy in your law firm. I discuss how deadline-driven prioritization leads to overwhelm and unpredictability, and you'll learn how FIFO as a default prioritization method will keep work flowing through your organization.For full show notes, transcript, and more information, visit: https://www.agileattorney.com/27Start your Agile transformation today and check out free resources, including my Law Firm Policy Template, to help you and your team develop a more Agile legal practice: https://www.agileattorney.com/start

Why is the concept of "start with what you do now" crucial for creating meaningful and durable change in your law practice? This principle helps you understand your current processes and the people involved in them, recognizing why you are where you are, so you can make more informed decisions about how to move forward.Tune in this week for a dive into a foundational aspect of the Kanban Method: Start with what you do now. I share tips for initiating sustainable change in your law practice, respecting the roles and titles of your current team, helping them embrace the changes you want to see in your firm, and allowing them to become a valuable part of the change process.For full show notes, transcript, and more information, visit: https://www.agileattorney.com/26Start your Agile transformation today and check out free resources, including my Law Firm Policy Template, to help you and your team develop a more Agile legal practice: https://www.agileattorney.com/start

Melissa Shanahan, founder of Velocity Work and host of The Law Firm Owner Podcast, teaches her clients a planning and accountability method she calls Monday Map/Friday Wrap. This method highlights some vital parts of the Agile practices of weekly planning and weekly review meetings.Monday Map/Friday Wrap is about creating micro-feedback loops within the context of a larger strategic plan, which is the kind of thing I love, so tune in this week as Melissa and I unpack this methodology, and have an all-round entertaining discussion about strategic planning and its benefits in general for the leaders of legal teams.For full show notes, transcript, and more information, visit: https://www.agileattorney.com/25Start your Agile transformation today and check out these free resources to help you and your team develop a more Agile legal practice: https://www.agileattorney.com/start

Visualizing your work on a Kanban Board can be a life-changing improvement to your and your team's overall productivity. But adopting the board as a tool and the Kanban method more broadly can be a little uncomfortable at first, especially when you see all of your to-dos laid out in one place. So, how do you stick with change, like using a Kanban Board, when change gets hard?Your Kanban Board can be overwhelming to look at, especially if you're new to the concept, so tune in this week to discover how to stick with it and keep your work flowing, even if your workflow looks overcommitted right now and you want to give up on your Kanban Board altogether.For full show notes, transcript, and more information, visit: https://www.agileattorney.com/24Start your Agile transformation today and check out these free resources to help you and your team develop a more Agile legal practice: https://www.agileattorney.com/start