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Wealth Counsel's robust estate planning drafting software has united with LEAP's sleek automations to create a powerful end-to-end solution for estate planning and administration. Dan Lear talks with Ari Bulmash to discuss the combination of these technologies, along with other examples of merging tools in the legal technology sphere. They also look ahead to consider the implications of developments in AI and legal tech for attorneys and the future practice of law. Ari Bulmash is Director of Estate Planning and Administration at LEAP Legal Software US. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dan Lear talks with Jordan Turk of Smokeball about her career and how she moved on from her work as an attorney to get involved in legal tech companies. Jordan offers realistic tips for lawyers on how to be creative in your career path and venture into new arenas. Later, they chat about Jordan's many CLE class offerings for lawyers and which topics are currently top of mind, including AI, fee agreements, cross-examinations, and much more. Jordan Turk is Director of Education and Attorney Development at Smokeball. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Case management software's AI and automations will continue to become more essential in lawyers' everyday practice, but attorneys should still maintain a human touch to ensure high quality in their work. Dan Lear talks with Jim Garrett about his ideology and approach to AI tools and how to apply them in effective ways in your law firm. Later, if you're feeling very out of the loop on AI's uses in legal, Dan and Jim share tips for becoming AI-literate in manageable ways. Jim Garrett is Chief Technology Officer at Assembly Software, a legal profession provider of innovative case management software. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Lawyers know they need to think about processes and efficiency in their practice, but it's not always easy to map your workflows when you've got so much else on your plate as a busy attorney. Dan Lear welcomes Lauren Murphy to learn how she helps law firms automate workflows to create reliable consistencies in their processes. Implementing automation helps firms streamline everyday tasks, discover solutions to pain points, prevent missed details, and boost growth. Lauren Murphy is Vice President of Product Market Strategy at ProfitSolv. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Boosting efficiency starts with basic tools your law firm probably already has! But, if you're not engaging with your tools effectively, your firm may very well be falling behind the competition. Niki Black and Stephanie Everett talk with Dan Lear about their session on enhancing law firm workflows and client experience with simple, innovative technology. Embracing tools for scheduling, finances, communications, and more improves your firm's productivity, draws in new clients, and helps you do your best work. Nicole Black is an attorney, author and journalist, and serves as the principal legal insight strategist at MyCase (AffiniPay). She is the nationally-recognized author of “Cloud Computing for Lawyers” and co-authored “Social Media for Lawyers: The Next Frontier”. Stephanie Everett is CEO and a Law Firm Business Coach at Lawyerist and serves as Affinity Consulting Group's Chief Growth Officer. She is a co-author of Lawyerist's book, “The Small Firm Roadmap”. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Setting a clear vision for your law firm can be challenging for many attorneys. Lawyers are highly educated and intelligent professionals, but they may not have the business knowledge to maximize their success. Dan Lear welcomes Mark Britton and Alex Shipillo to hear about their session on practical business strategies for modern, competitive law firms. They talk about developing fundamental values, identifying key performance indicators, effective collaboration, and other operational principles for transforming your legal practice. Mark Britton is the founder of the legal marketplace, Avvo.com. Alex Shipillo is the Vice President of Growth Marketing at Clio.
Differentiating your law firm in a competitive market is essential for success. Dan Lear talks with session speakers Bob Simon, Rob Dickson, and Jenny Dingus about highlights from their panel geared toward midsize and large law firms. In the new age of AI, they discuss the latest implementations for legal software (including Clio Grow), genAI tools, automation, marketing, and more, helping firms understand how to adapt to changing trends. Robert Simon is a trial lawyer and founder of the Justice Team and Justice HQ. Robert Dickson serves as the Managing Partner of Dickson Frohlich Phillips Burgess, PLLC, one of the fastest-growing law firms in the Pacific Northwest. Jenny Dingus is the Senior Vice President of Global Sales at Clio.
A new survey finds that clients care deeply about their attorney's tech tools and tech skills. The numbers don't lie: Legal tech matters. An efficient, integrated system is no longer “nice to have.” It's table stakes, from case management to client communications to online filing and billing. As a lawyer, guest Dan Lear found himself gravitating to the field of legal tech, including stints at Microsoft and Avvo and now as vice president of partnerships at InfoTrack, helping software developers provide the tech today's lawyers, and their clients, want. If you're running your own firm, hear what clients say about their attorney's tech skills and their expectations and how you can explore and implement the latest tools. And if you're a law school graduate who has found you aren't truly attracted to traditional legal work, hear about the fascinating opportunities for lawyers in the field of legal tech development and consulting. Questions or ideas about solo and small practices? Drop us a line at NewSolo@legaltalknetwork.com Topics: A new survey finds clients care (deeply) about their attorney's tech and tech skills. And they expect those attorneys to use that tech to efficiently manage their cases Legal tech tools are advancing rapidly. Today's tools can integrate every facet of a law practice, from case management and scheduling to digitally filing briefs, seamlessly. There are opportunities for law school graduates who don't want to practice traditional law, instead helping tech firms develop new tools and helping law firms understand and implement those tools. Mentioned in This Episode: InfoTrack Attorney Competence and the Client Experience Previous episodes featuring guest Dan Lear, On the Road, “Legalweek 2024: The Future State of the Industry”
A new survey finds that clients care deeply about their attorney's tech tools and tech skills. The numbers don't lie: Legal tech matters. An efficient, integrated system is no longer “nice to have.” It's table stakes, from case management to client communications to online filing and billing. As a lawyer, guest Dan Lear found himself gravitating to the field of legal tech, including stints at Microsoft and Avvo and now as vice president of partnerships at InfoTrack, helping software developers provide the tech today's lawyers, and their clients, want. If you're running your own firm, hear what clients say about their attorney's tech skills and their expectations and how you can explore and implement the latest tools. And if you're a law school graduate who has found you aren't truly attracted to traditional legal work, hear about the fascinating opportunities for lawyers in the field of legal tech development and consulting. Questions or ideas about solo and small practices? Drop us a line at NewSolo@legaltalknetwork.com Topics: A new survey finds clients care (deeply) about their attorney's tech and tech skills. And they expect those attorneys to use that tech to efficiently manage their cases Legal tech tools are advancing rapidly. Today's tools can integrate every facet of a law practice, from case management and scheduling to digitally filing briefs, seamlessly. There are opportunities for law school graduates who don't want to practice traditional law, instead helping tech firms develop new tools and helping law firms understand and implement those tools. Mentioned in This Episode: InfoTrack Attorney Competence and the Client Experience Previous episodes featuring guest Dan Lear, On the Road, “Legalweek 2024: The Future State of the Industry”
In this episode of "The Geek in Review," co-hosts Greg Lambert and Marlene Gebauer engage with Dan Lear, VP of Partnerships at InfoTrack, capturing insights from the latest LegalWeek 2024 conference. Lear shares his observations on the evolving landscape of legal technology, noting the increased diversity of technologies present at the conference compared to previous years. He highlights a shift from a narrow focus on eDiscovery to a broader array of legal tech solutions, indicating a significant expansion in the sector's innovation and investment interest. Dan Lear delves into the transformative impact of artificial intelligence (AI) in the legal industry. While AI dominated previous discussions with a mix of fear and fascination, Lear suggests the narrative is shifting towards practical integration and utility. The conversation reflects on the cyclical hype surrounding AI, with speculation on whether the legal sector has reached or surpassed its peak AI moment. Lear posits that the real value of AI will unfold as it becomes more embedded in legal workflows, transforming efficiency rather than replacing legal professionals outright. InfoTrack's role and offerings in the legal tech space receive a detailed exploration. Lear explains how InfoTrack serves primarily small to medium-sized law firms, facilitating more efficient litigation support through integrated cloud-based solutions. He underscores the challenge and opportunity in educating and transitioning firms to embrace digital practices for docketing and court filings, emphasizing InfoTrack's mission to expand electronic access to court services for the betterment of legal accessibility and efficiency. Lear further discusses the demands and dynamics of InfoTrack's clientele, identifying a trend towards specialization and business acumen within law firms. He predicts that technology will play a pivotal role in enabling firms to succeed by enhancing client acquisition, service delivery, and operational efficiency. The conversation underscores a broader industry evolution towards recognizing and leveraging technology not just for the sake of innovation, but as a strategic asset to differentiate and thrive in a competitive landscape. Concluding the episode, Lear reflects on the future trajectory of the legal industry and InfoTrack's place within it. He envisions a legal sector increasingly shaped by technological advancements, where AI and digital platforms streamline processes and redefine the nature of legal work. Through Lear's insights, the episode offers a compelling snapshot of the current state and exciting prospects of legal technology, highlighting the continuous journey towards more accessible, efficient, and innovative legal services. Twitter: @gebauerm, or @glambertThreads: @glambertpod or @gebauerm66Email: geekinreviewpodcast@gmail.comMusic: Jerry David DeCicca and Eve Searls Listen on mobile platforms: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube Contact Us: Transcript:
Looking ahead, Dan Lear talks with Stephanie Wilkins about what evolutions the next 5-10 years may bring to the legal profession. Stephanie explains the focus of her panel discussion, particularly discussing AI's current and potential applications in the legal world as it moves from theoretical to practical uses. Dan Lear is vice president of partnerships at InfoTrack. Stephanie Wilkins is the Editor-in-Chief of Legaltech News at ALM.
Looking ahead, Dan Lear talks with Stephanie Wilkins about what evolutions the next 5-10 years may bring to the legal profession. Stephanie explains the focus of her panel discussion, particularly discussing AI's current and potential applications in the legal world as it moves from theoretical to practical uses. Dan Lear is vice president of partnerships at InfoTrack. Stephanie Wilkins is the Editor-in-Chief of Legaltech News at ALM.
In this special series focused on legal case management software, host Dan Lear explores various case management companies to help firms make informed decisions. In the latest episode, Dan interviews Dorothy Radke, Director of Strategy and Marketing at SimpleLaw, a cloud-based case management software designed to streamline the complexities of running a law firm. For more information and resources on choosing the right case management system for your firm, visit our legal case management center
In this special series focused on legal case management software, host Dan Lear explores various case management companies to help firms make informed decisions. In this episode, host Dan Lear discusses the world of QuickBooks, a cornerstone in both small business and small legal tech ecosystems. This episode features Matt Bright, a Senior Product Specialist at Intuit with 23 years of experience at the company. Together, they shed light on the various ways law firms leverage QuickBooks and how it can revolutionize their financial management. For more information and resources on choosing the right case management system for your firm, visit our legal case management center.
In this special series focused on legal case management software, host Dan Lear explores various case management companies to help firms make informed decisions. In this episode, we dive into the world of legal case management software with Clever Case, a tool designed by attorneys for attorneys. Host Dan Lear speaks with Brett Spooner, the CEO and founder of Gravis Law and the founder of Clever Case, to explore the features, target audience, and philosophy behind this innovative case management solution. For more information and resources on choosing the right case management system for your firm, visit our legal case management center.
In this special series focused on legal case management software, host Dan Lear explores various case management companies to help firms make informed decisions. In this episode, Dan speaks with Harsimran Singh, Founder and CEO of Lawcus. Lawcus offers a comprehensive solution, combining legal practice management, client relationship management (CRM), client intake, and no-code automation, all unified in a single platform. Learn more and watch here.
In this special series focused on legal case management software, host Dan Lear explores various case management companies to help firms make informed decisions. In this episode, Dan speaks with Dov Slansky, Vice President of Strategy and Innovation at Litify, a legal operating solution that helps law firms, in-house legal departments, and government agencies run smarter. Learn more and watch here.
In this special series focused on legal case management software, host Dan Lear explores various case management companies to help firms make informed decisions. In this episode, Dan speaks with Dragana Milovanovic from Matter365, a user friendly cloud solution that fully integrates all data from Microsoft Office 365 applications into a matter-centric environment. With powerful add on features and Microsoft 365 applications, Matter365 is one of the most comprehensive solutions on the market today. For more information and resources on choosing the right case management system for your firm, visit our legal case management center.
In this special series focused on legal case management software, host Dan Lear explores various case management companies to help firms make informed decisions. In this episode, Jonathon Fishman, CEO of LeanLaw, shares insights about their financial operating system designed for small to medium-sized law firms.
In the latest installment of Entrepreneurial Attorney Nation, Richard James is joined by Dan Lear, lawyer and legal technology industry innovator. He is a co-founder and head of marketing and partnerships at Gravity Legal. Together, they reveal how your firm can capture a bunch more money by simply implementing some modern, yet basic, technology and business practices.Time Codes: 0:00 - Introduction from Richard James03:10 - Dan Lear introduces himself06:12 - Know your lifetime client value07:20 - The importance of profitability of the very first transaction08:16 - Legal Payments Evolution10:26 - 3 Modern Tech/Business Practices to Improve Your Firm's Financial Health11:35 - Keeping Payment Methods on File14:14 - The two states with specific rules on payments21:49 - Get the 50 state guide on storing payment methods24:01 - Shifting Processing Fees24:33 - Applicable Rules24:36 - 3 Things You Can Always Do26:04 - Applicable Rule #1: Payments Class Action27:06 - Applicable Rule #2: State Laws27:19 - Applicable Rule #3: RPCs28:28 - Applicable Rule #4: Card Brand Rules29:17 - Final Thoughts on Shifting Fees35:24 - Is there an option to switch from credit card to ACH?37:45 - Optimizing Collections37:59 - 3 Key Collections Strategies38:38 - Implement a "Collect Early" Billing Model (Subscription Legal Services)39:36 - Gravity Legal Subscription Legal Services Resources41:47 - Integration of Gravity Legal and other products49:45 - The importance of knowing your current and future cash flow52:28 - Offer Payment Flexibility (Client Financing) 55:37 - Access information to Guides and Resources57:45 - Contact information for Dan Lear and Gravity Legal58:48 - Episode conclusion1:00:41 - Episode endsConnect with Richard James:The Success NetworkFacebookYouTubeWebsite
Dan heads up marketing and partnerships at Gravity Legal. He is also the host of the “Financially Legal Podcast”. Dan sees the problem that entrepreneurial law firms have and decided that he would launch his own podcast to help them understand how to accept and manage money. Dan joins host Molly McGrath to share his tips on how to run an entrepreneurial law firm. Takeaways: You shouldn't have to go to your practice management system to manage your clients and practice and then have a separate one for payment. You want to get paid in as few systems as possible. There's technology out there that allows you to transfer money from your operating account to another account without having to write a papercheck. Writing out a papercheck and going to the bank to make a deposit is a waste of energy and time for you. There is a pushback on the cost of payment processing because it takes up to 3% of revenue, but attorneys often fail to collect on 20 - 40% of what they bill out. Consumers are increasingly used to using apps and not using cards or checks to pay, so you need to be able to take all forms of payment. It's harder to scale your company if you are having a person send out invoices rather than having a link to the invoice so someone can pay online. To reduce barriers and make it easier for clients, try to have their payment information mesmerized in a system so they don't have to type out the card information all the time. Quote of the Show: 10:27 “At a high level firm, one of the pieces of pushback that I often get is the cost of payment processing. I get that 3% of revenue feels like a lot, but what's crazy is lawyers often fail to collect anywhere from 20 to 40 to 50% of what they bill out. So they're super worried about that 3%, but more than happy to let half of their revenue walk out the door.” Links: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danlear/ Website: https://www.gravity-legal.com/financiallylegal Ways to Tune In: Amazon Music - https://www.amazon.com/Hiring-and-Empowering-Solutions/dp/B08JJSLJ7N Apple Podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hiring-and-empowering-solutions/id1460184599 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/3oIfsDDnEDDkcumTCygHDH Google Podcast - https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cDovL2ZlZWRzLmxpYnN5bi5jb20vMTc4MTM2L3Jzcw Stitcher - https://www.stitcher.com/show/hiring-and-empowering-solutions
>> Get the newest LFG episodes delivered to your inbox when you Sign Up for our Newsletter.Resource Links:Accept and manage money easily for your law firm with Gravity LegalDownload Gravity Legal's Payment Processing guideGet access to our Estate Planning Masterclass when you join our Law Firm Growth Secrets Facebook groupEstate planning attorney? Supercharge your firm growth online with Seminar 3.0 Growth SystemHiring an attorney is an expensive process. Yet, only maybe 2 or 3 out of every 10 firms accept credit cards as a payment option. As a whole, the legal industry has been resistant to technological changes. And while attorneys have to think about a lot of things on the job, many firms drop the ball when it comes to thinking about how to effectively collect and process payments.But what if you could implement a financial infrastructure that allows your firm to deliver legal services better - without worrying about getting paid?In this week's podcast, Dan Lear of Gravity Legal joins us to talk about how firms can get a fresh take on payment processing to make their services more accessible and increase revenue.Dan discusses his thoughts on why the legal industry is slow to innovate, the state of payment processing for legal and how law firms can implement a better way to get paid.There's much more to learn in this episode about scaling your firm, so tune in now!In this episode: 01:00 - Dan's background05:20 - Thoughts on why the legal industry is resistant to change10:24 - Exciting trends in legal13:51 - The state of payment processing for law firms20:19 - Shifting credit card processing fees30:58 - Payment processing and your practice management system33:40 - Customer success examplesAbout Dan Lear:Dan Lear is a lawyer and legal industry gadfly and the Chief Instigator of Right Brain Law. As a practicing attorney he advised technology companies from startups to the Fortune 100. Since his transition from tech lawyer to legal technologist Dan's been mentioned, featured, or published widely in the legal industry press and spoken to legal and non-legal audiences in a number of settings including at SXSW Interactive, Ignite Seattle, Georgetown University, Stanford University, ReInvent Law, and the National Conference of Bar Presidents. Most recently, Dan was the Director of Industry Relations for Avvo.If you liked this episode, please don't forget to subscribe, tune in, and share this podcast. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Dan highlights the importance of managing your firm's money to help accelerate your firm's growth!
This week we turn the tables and share an episode of the Financially Legal podcast with Dan Lear where Jim and Tyson were the guests!Financially Legal is a twice-monthly podcast with accompanying articles on the financial aspects of the business of law. Host, Dan Lear, talks with law firm leaders, academics, business professionals and thought leaders to provide compelling and provocative insights at the intersection of finance, economics, and law. 12:30 finding a supportive space14:01 can anyone be a small business owner17:00 take the action 18:41 Infusionsoft23:41 filling the need law school leaves open 24:29 The Morning Meeting Show27:13 Maximum Lawyer, Minimum Time 38:29 Maximum Lawyer ConferenceListen to the podcast here.MaxLawCon tickets are on sale now! Join us Tuesday October 12th and Wednesday October 13th in St. Charles, MO at the Ameristar Casino, Resort + Spa.Subscribe to our YouTube channel so you never miss an interview, presentation or training!
You might think the billable hour is your only option. You might think that legal subscriptions will be an easy ticket to free, passive income. You might think your practice isn't even suited to subscriptions. Dan Lear of Gravity Legal joins us to challenge all those assumptions about subscriptions, and give you tips on how you can make them a reality in your practice. We discuss: - Why you're really not locked into the billable hour - How subscriptions work with different law practices and focuses - How subscriptions can change your entire client-attorney dynamic - How to start approaching and actually building a subscription system in your own firm - Tons of great inspiration for re-thinking your billing and work structures Find Dan's subscription white paper here: https://www.gravity-legal.com/financiallylegal/the-gravity-legal-subscription-legal-services-white-paper And follow Dan online at https://www.gravity-legal.com/financiallylegal/ or @rightbrainlaw on Twitter FiveStarCounsel.com Get our FREE client service whitepaper! Join the Five Star Counsellors FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1575616019297055
What if I told you there was a tool that could automatically increase your firm revenue by 1%? What about 2%? What about 3%? What about even half a percent? (if you’re not great at doing math on the fly, for a firm that grosses $1,000,000/year, one half a percent is $5000). Law firms that accept electronic payments and implement a cost-shifting technology have an opportunity to dramatically lower their costs and increase revenues. Shifting the costs of payment processing in a consumer-friendly, ethically compliant way or even, simply, strategically deploying lower-cost payment processing methods can result in significant savings for a law firm. The story of shifting processing fees both in the legal sector and for small businesses, in general, is surprisingly long and tenuous. It wasn’t always the case that businesses could shift processing fees and some places in the country still force small businesses - like law firms - to pay the cost of customers’ airline miles, cashback rewards, and hotel points. In this episode of Financially Legal host Dan Lear dives into the background on shifting processing fees, how it works and the different ways firms can implement it, and how you can decide whether or not it’s right for your firm. Gravity Legal state-by-state surcharging guide here: https://www.gravity-legal.com/financiallylegal/state-rules-on-charging-clients-a-fee-for-paying-with-credit-cards Surcharging Best Practices: https://www.gravity-legal.com/financiallylegal/feeshiftingbestpractices
Many of us struggle with whether or not to use credit cards in our business. We say, why pay the processing fee? I can just wait a couple of extra days and get the check. But as I love to say, and I said during this podcast episode, a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush. So, how do we use it effectively? And how do we consider having as many options as possible for our clients in a way that is profitable as well as in a way that improves our relationships with our clients relative to money? Dan Lear is the head of marketing and partnerships at Gravity Legal, an electronic payments and money management firm built specifically for lawyers and law firms. He has a unique approach to make getting paid easier and faster for you. I love that he's a new player in this space, is making waves and getting some serious traction.Tune in to this week’s episode for this valuable resource. In this episode we discuss: Why spending money to collect money makes financial sense. The culture you create regarding money and your communication about payment methods you accept. Determining how to incorporate processing fee costs into your fee structure within legal guidelines. Researching different payment product costs to strategically determine what payment options you offer to your clients. How subscriptions can help even out your revenue stream creating predictability. Resources to determine what is allowable in your state. Guest Bio: Dan Lear is head of marketing and partnerships at Gravity Legal, an electronic payments and money management firm built specifically for lawyers and law firms. Prior to Gravity Legal, Dan worked as director of industry relations for the legal market place Avvo and, before that , as a technology attorney with both Fortune 500 and startup clients. He has a JD and an MBA from Seattle University. He is based in Seattle, Washington. Website: https://www.gravity-legal.com/ Financially Legal Blog & Podcast: https://www.gravity-legal.com/financiallylegal Email: dlear@gravity-legal.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GravityLegal/ Twitter: @rightbrainlaw LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danlear/ YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEravxZKM7M4irjk8ZCYojg/featured Allison Bio: Allison C. Williams, Esq., is Founder and Owner of the Williams Law Group, LLC, with offices in Short Hills and Freehold, New Jersey. She is a Fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, is Certified by the Supreme Court of New Jersey as a Matrimonial Law Attorney and is the first attorney in New Jersey to become Board-Certified by the National Board of Trial Advocacy in the field of Family Law. Ms. Williams is an accomplished businesswoman. In 2017, the Williams Law Group won the LawFirm500 award, ranking 14th of the fastest growing law firms in the nation, as Ms. Williams grew the firm 581% in three years. Ms. Williams won the Silver Stevie Award for Female Entrepreneur of the Year in 2017. In 2018, Ms. Williams was voted as NJBIZ’s Top 50 Women in Business and was designated one of the Top 25 Leading Women Entrepreneurs and Business Owners. In 2019, Ms. Williams won the Seminole 100 Award for founding one of the fastest growing companies among graduates of Florida State University. In 2018, Ms. Williams created Law Firm Mentor, a business coaching service for lawyers. She helps solo and small law firm attorneys grow their business revenues, crush chaos in business and make more money. Through multi-day intensive business retreats, group and one-to-one coaching, and strategic planning sessions, Ms. Williams advises lawyers on all aspects of creating, sustaining and scaling a law firm business – and specifically, she teaches them the core foundational principles of marketing, sales, personnel management, communications and money management in law firms. Contact Info: Contact Law Firm Mentor: Scheduler: https://meetme.so/LawFirmMentor Snippets 00:37:01 Dan Lear (36 Seconds) I think that firms can be strategic about how they deploy these types of methods in order to bolster the economic and kind of financial health of their firms. 00:37:15 Allison Williams Yeah, and I think it's all about having flexibility, like you said, because there may be some firms that are used to having a per transaction amount of somewhere between five and ten thousand dollars. And maybe they have that one big fish that walks in and it's like, OK, this is a fifty thousand dollar case and I'm taking it up front, putting the money in trust and and the client, you know, you don't want to have that kind of payment on a credit card,
If you’ve ever wondered how to tie together different systems in your law practice, you need to know about Zapier. Like the machine that makes Pee-Wee Herman’s breakfast in Pee Wee’s Big Adventure or the idea of the Rube Goldberg machine (a reference that dates me even MORE than Pee-Wee Herman) Zapier uses “if this, then that” logic to connect otherwise disparate systems and - more importantly - often automate mundane, repetitive tasks that can be efficiency time sucks for every law firm, but particularly smaller ones. This episode will help you understand how you can leverage the power of Zapier, the power of “if this, then that” automation in your law firm.
Lawyers are no strangers to tools - even technology tools - but few choose to build their own. In this Financially Legal episode, host Dan Lear explores why six firms chose to pursue a DIY path for practice management, how they went about building what they built, whether they’d recommend that other firms do the same, and what the future of practice management looks like for firms who might want to build or, at least, customize their own system. Featured firms: Asset Transaction Legal Services, Gulick Law, Law Office of Mark Metzger, Block and Leviton, Tate Law, and All In Business Law
Here are links resources mentioned during the episode : Financially Legal Podcast (Dan Lear’s podcast) How do you “show up” for your clients? (Dan Lear podcast episode with Kim Bennett) Can you sell legal services by subscription? (Dan Lear podcast episode with Jon Tobin) Can you do that with your law practice? (Dan Lear podcast episode with Megan Zavieh) Could you be an outsourced general counsel? (Dan Lear podcast episode with Beth Lebowitz) Remember...whenever you’re ready to start making your practice easier to manage, you can download the Solo & Small Firm Lawyers’ Guide to Working Smarter (and start taking concrete action steps to make your practice more automated, more virtual —and less dependent on you doing all the work and making all the decisions). Oh, and if you want ongoing guidance with improving your practice check out the Co-Pilot Mastermind program. Thanks to Our Sponsors SweetProcess is a great way to document your important workflows. Doing so will help make your practice run more smoothly, and require less involvement on your part to keep things running smoothly. The best way to understand how SweetProcess will help streamline your firm is to start using it. The company offers a 14-day free trial, but as a loyal listener of this podcast, you can try it for 28-days free of charge. And you don’t even have to enter a credit card to get started. Just navigate to SweetProcess.com/ernie to start your 28-day free trial today. And thanks to the other sponsor of this podcast… Smith.ai is an amazing virtual receptionist service that specializes in working with solo and small law firms. When you hire Smith.ai you’re actually hiring well-trained, friendly receptionists who can respond to callers in English or Spanish. If there’s one great outsourcing opportunity for your practice, this is it. Let Smith.ai have your back while you stay focused on your work, knowing that your clients and prospects are being taken care of. Plans start at just $140 a month for calls or chats. And they have a special offer for podcast listeners where you can get an extra $100 discount with promo code ERNIE100. Sign up for a free trial now (and learn more) at www.smith.ai. EPISODE CREDITS: If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment. He helps thought leaders, influencers, executives, HR professionals, recruiters, lawyers, realtors, bloggers, coaches, and authors create, launch, and produce podcasts that grow their business and impact the world. Find out more at EmeraldCity Pro.
Seth Bloom is the Sr Director of Attorney Services at Levelset. If you’re not familiar with Levalset, it’s a company that helps all kinds of contractors, but particularly those in the construction space get paid and focus on what they like to do. It’s most relevant for legal professionals because those contractors often file, manage, and – when things go south – litigate liens. Enter Seth and the network of attorneys he’s building to help those construction professionals sort all of that out. But Seth's story doesn’t start there. Before Levelset he founded a startup in the legal plan space called Contractor Counsel that was designed to help contractors find and access legal help. He started his legal journey as a criminal defense lawyer in New Orleans, and he’s still the managing partner – with his name on the door – of Bloom Legal in New Orleans. He also took a turn in politics, which was something host Dan Lear didn’t know and dug into on the podcast. Join Dan for a great conversation with an entrepreneurial lawyer who has a keen eye for business opportunities in the legal sector.
In Episode 6, attorney, blogger, and legal technology expert Dan Lear joins Clio CEO and Co-founder Jack Newton on the Daily Matters podcast. As the Chief Instigator at Right Brain Law, Dan speaks with Jack about the biggest challenges and opportunities for law firms during this pandemic, the chaos of working from home with kids, as well as some of the permanent shifts Dan expects to see in the future of legal.
Welcome to the very first episode of Financially Legal, with your host, Dan Lear, head of partnerships and marketing at Gravity Legal. There's a growing recognition today, that to grow, build, or scale anything meaningful, it's not enough to simply understand the law. Modern, small business owners really need to have a wide variety of disciplines at their fingertips, and they need to understand them fully, to grow and build their businesses. There's a distinct gap in the conversation today, around the economics and financing of the modern legal sector. The latest technology and modern business practices are remaking the legal landscape, so many questions are surrounding the way that law firms operate, how they acquire customers, the way they think about growing and building, and who is allowed to participate in the legal sector and deliver legal services. And there are some very important, and fascinating financial and economic implications to these questions. Tune in today, to find out more. Show Highlights: Subject matter experts cannot thrive or survive in our modern economy. Modern small business owners with bigger aspirations need to understand and be able to use, a wide variety of disciplines to grow. It's not enough to simply understand the law if you want to build anything meaningful today. There's a huge gap in conversations about finance and economics in law. Dan gives two key reasons why we need a podcast about finance and economics in legal. Dan explains what they will be talking about in Financially Legal. Financially Legal wants to bring a smart, compelling, and interesting level of dialogue to the topics of economics and finance, both in law firms and in the legal sector. Links and resources: Dan on Twitter @RightBrainLaw Gravity Payments
Dan Lear, a speaker and facilitator for September's C4: The Legal Industry Conference, discusses the event, design thinking and the legal industry challenges attendees will tackle.The conference will occur September 18-20 in Boston, Massachusetts. The registration deadline for the early bird rate is August 5. Sign up now! Speaker BioDan Lear is a lawyer, blogger and legal industry gadfly. As a technology-focused business lawyer, Lear advised companies from start-ups to the Fortune 100. He has spoken at marquee legal technology events including ILTACON, LegalTech, ReInvent Law New York, ABA TechShow, CodeX FutureLaw at Stanford Law School, and many others. From 2014 to 2018, Lear worked as the Director of Industry Relations at the online legal marketplace, Avvo, where he spoke frequently to lawyers, bar associations and other legal groups. Find him at rightbrainlaw.co or @rightbrainlaw on Twitter.
Dan Lear, a speaker and facilitator for September's C4: The Legal Industry Conference, discusses the event, design thinking and the legal industry challenges attendees will tackle. The conference will occur September 18-20 in Boston, Massachusetts. The registration deadline for the early bird rate is August 5. Sign up now! Speaker Bio Dan Lear is a lawyer, blogger and legal industry gadfly. As a technology-focused business lawyer, Lear advised companies from start-ups to the Fortune 100. He has spoken at marquee legal technology events including ILTACON, LegalTech, ReInvent Law New York, ABA TechShow, CodeX FutureLaw at Stanford Law School, and many others. From 2014 to 2018, Lear worked as the Director of Industry Relations at the online legal marketplace, Avvo, where he spoke frequently to lawyers, bar associations and other legal groups. Find him at rightbrainlaw.co or @rightbrainlaw on Twitter.
Live from the San Diego County Bar Association, tune in to hear the latest about what lawyers should know about legal technology today. In this On The Road, host Adriana Linares welcomes guest speaker, Dan Lear, to talk about five important trends that solo and small law firms should pay attention to in the legal technology world. He discusses how to spot or solve problems of irrelevance, using net promoter scores by asking for feedback and customer centricity. At the end of this episode, they open up the discussion to the audience to ask Dan and Adriana personal questions about technology. Dan Lear is the legal innovator, facilitator, and blogger of Right Brain Law, and co-founder of the Seattle Legal Technology MeetUp. Special thanks to CourtFiling.net for sponsoring this episode.
We talk about fear and entrepreneurs as we review an article from the Harvard Business Review, and we interview lawyer and legal tech gadfly, Dan Lear from Right Brain Law, about embracing change, and the future of legal tech. NEWS - https://hbr.org/2018/04/how-fear-helps-and-hurts-entrepreneurs GUEST - http://rightbrainlaw.co/ © 2018 Consultwebs
Host Ian Connett (@QuantumJurist) and co-host Dan Lear of Right Brain Law talk to Kim Bennett in this very special episode. K Bennett Law LLC helps serial entrepreneurs, start-ups and small businesses address their labor, employment, HR, intellectual property and general business strategy needs. For the latest topics, trends and tech in the legal industry, subscribe to the Evolve the Law Podcast: A Catalyst for Legal Innovation. Listen as legal experts and leaders share insights about the legal industry. For more information, questions, or suggestions about our podcast feel free to email us at evolve@abovethelaw.com Links and Resources from this Episode For additional information go to https://abovethelaw.com/legal-innovation-center https://www.kbennettlaw.com/ Show Notes Kimberly's initial aversion to law practice. Transitioning from the medical school path to law school. Working for juvenile justice in Georgia with PHD/JDs. How natural curiosity helps your legal career. Taking a cross-disciplinary approach. Lessons learned from psychology researching, including the importance of understanding empathy and the client’s journey. The power of helping others get what they want. On going “heads down” during times of challenge. Getting it done. Dissecting internal vs. external motivations. Working through the Great Recession. Joining a family practice and being a legal entrepreneur. The power of taking things into your own hands. Working at Google'. Kimberly's passion for moving the industry forward. Utilizing technology to offer subscription and virtual legal services. How Kimberly built her practice and model helping businesses and lawyers evolve their practice. The results of Kimberly's Myers Briggs Test. How Kimberly's sees The Future of Law – getting back to being a true advisor. Being a “creative thinker” vs. a “document drafter.” How to connect with Kim and learn more about her practice. Review and Subscribe If you like what you hear please leave a review by clicking here Subscribe to the podcast on your favorite player to get the latest episodes. Subscribe with Apple Podcasts Follow on Spotify Subscribe with Stitcher
Bernadette Bulacan Starin is a pioneer in legal tech and in this episode, host Ian Connett (@QuantumJurist) and co-host Dan Lear of Right Brain Law talk about the why being customer centric the key to innovation. For the latest topics, trends and tech in the legal industry, subscribe to the Evolve the Law Podcast: A Catalyst for Legal Innovation. Listen as legal experts and leaders share insights about the legal industry. For more information, questions, or suggestions about our podcast feel free to email us at evolve@abovethelaw.com Links and Resources from this Episode For additional information go to https://abovethelaw.com/legal-innovation-center https://www.linkedin.com/in/bernadette-bulacan-starin-76a18 Show Notes Bernadette recounts the pioneers days of legal tech before the first dot com crash in Silicon Valley Why innovation in legal technology actually begins with people Bernadette on the overlooked skill of listening – the power of the “open ended question” and those willing to fill the space Unstructured vs. Structured listening Developing a customer centric approach during her time as an attorney Bernadette on helping to found “Serengeti Law” and entrepreneurship How to overcome fear on the entrepreneurial journey – fear as an internal perception On getting your team to rally – the 4 types of leadership. The power of stories – Bernadette’s secret to presenting Bernadette’s new role at Quant AI and how to connect and learn more! Review and Subscribe If you like what you hear please leave a review by clicking here Subscribe to the podcast on your favorite player to get the latest episodes. Subscribe with Apple Podcasts Follow on Spotify Subscribe with Stitcher
Gyles Uhlenhopp, VP of Marketing at Black Hills IP sits down and talks with Ian Connett and Dan Lear at the Evolve Law Summit 2018 Podcast Series Series! This is one of a series of live shows recorded at this year’s Evolve Law Summit in Chicago with Contributing Editor Ian Connett (@QuantumJurist) and Dan Lear of Right Brain Law. For the latest topics, trends and tech in the legal industry, subscribe to the Evolve the Law Podcast: A Catalyst for Legal Innovation. Listen as legal experts and leaders share insights about the legal industry. For more information, questions, or suggestions about our podcast feel free to email us at evolve@abovethelaw.com Links and Resources from this Episode For additional information go to https://abovethelaw.com/legal-innovation-center http://www.blackhillsip.com Show Notes How they are affecting the docketing process. Why intellectual property is ripe for legal tech innovation. A mantra they follow: Taking the robot out of the human. Their team is a mix of IP attorneys, docketing specialists and tech. Review and Subscribe If you like what you hear please leave a review by clicking here Subscribe to the podcast on your favorite player to get the latest episodes. Subscribe with Apple Podcasts Follow on Spotify Subscribe with Stitcher
Will Norton, Founder and CEO of SimplyAgree sits down and talks with Ian Connett and Dan Lear at the Evolve Law Summit 2018 Podcast Series Series! This is one of a series of live shows recorded at this year’s Evolve Law Summit in Chicago with Contributing Editor Ian Connett (@QuantumJurist) and Dan Lear of Right Brain Law. For the latest topics, trends and tech in the legal industry, subscribe to the Evolve the Law Podcast: A Catalyst for Legal Innovation. Listen as legal experts and leaders share insights about the legal industry. For more information, questions, or suggestions about our podcast feel free to email us at evolve@abovethelaw.com Links and Resources from this Episode For additional information go to https://abovethelaw.com/legal-innovation-center https://www.simplyagree.com Show Notes How SimplyAgree speeds up closings Pain points of the closing process Getting firms to understand the need for a new product Sales tactics for law firms Transitioning from law firm to legal tech founder How different teams use SimplyAgree How Will sees e-signatures evolving E-Signature impediments across the globe Potential for Blockchain in the transactional process Will’s advice to legal tech entrepreneurs– build what the customer wants! Review and Subscribe If you like what you hear please leave a review by clicking here Subscribe to the podcast on your favorite player to get the latest episodes. Subscribe with Apple Podcasts Follow on Spotify Subscribe with Stitcher
Brian Morgan, Founder of Anva sits down and talks with Ian Connett and Dan Lear at the Evolve Law Summit 2018 Podcast Series Series! This is one of a series of live shows recorded at this year’s Evolve Law Summit in Chicago with Contributing Editor Ian Connett (@QuantumJurist) and Dan Lear of Right Brain Law. For the latest topics, trends and tech in the legal industry, subscribe to the Evolve Law Podcast: A Catalyst for Legal Innovation. Listen as legal experts and leaders share insights about the legal industry. For more information, questions, or suggestions about our podcast feel free to tweet Ian Connett at https://twitter.com/QuantumJurist Links and Resources from this Episode For additional information go to https://abovethelaw.com/legal-innovation-center http://anva.com Show Notes Niche market of HOA law and how ANVA software helps Types of issues that arise in HOA law How ANVA tackles “form driven” tasks in HOA law What “ANVA” stands for – moving forward! Brian Morgan’s first experience with software Any state bar challenges to practicing law and “tech”? Impact of the software on Brian’s traditional law practice Brian’s process in developing ANVA software for law firms working with HOAs Review and Subscribe If you like what you hear please leave a review by clicking here Subscribe to the podcast on your favorite player to get the latest episodes. Click here to subscribe with iTunes Click here to subscribe with Stitcher Click here to subscribe with RSS
Jeff Eschbach, CEO of Page Vault speaks with Ian Connett and Dan Lear at the EL Summit in Chicago as a part of the Evolve Law Summit 2018 Podcast Series Series! This is one of a series of live shows recorded at this year’s Evolve Law Summit in Chicago with Contributing Editor Ian Connett (@QuantumJurist) and Dan Lear of Right Brain Law. For the latest topics, trends and tech in the legal industry, subscribe to the Evolve Law Podcast: A Catalyst for Legal Innovation. Listen as legal experts and leaders share insights about the legal industry. For more information, questions, or suggestions about our podcast feel free to tweet Ian Connett at https://twitter.com/QuantumJurist Links and Resources from this Episode For additional information go to https://abovethelaw.com/legal-innovation-center Jeff Eschbach, CEO of Page Vault https://www.page-vault.com Show Notes How Page Vault collects web content for lawyers The problem of “Fact Management Platforms” How customers are using Page Vault The impact of new privacy law legislation The new “privacy mindset” on Social Media Integrating Page Vault with eDiscovery Issues involved in collection and admissibility Why lawyers do not want to be in the “chain of custody” Frauds vs. Facts How Page Vault “brings truth to the internet” Review and Subscribe If you like what you hear please leave a review by clicking here Subscribe to the podcast on your favorite player to get the latest episodes. Click here to subscribe with iTunes Click here to subscribe with Stitcher Click here to subscribe with RSS
Welcome to the Evolve Law Summit 2018 Podcast Series Series! This is one of a series of live shows recorded at this year’s Evolve Law Summit in Chicago with Contributing Editor Ian Connett (@QuantumJurist) and Dan Lear of Right Brain Law. For the latest topics, trends, and tech in the legal industry, subscribe to the Evolve Law Podcast: A Catalyst for Legal Innovation. Listen as legal experts and leaders share insights about the legal industry. Read the blog post at https://abovethelaw.com/legal-innovation-center/2018/05/17/evolve-law-summit-2018-strategics-panel-podcast/ EL Summit Strategic Panelists: Deb Tesser, Director of Special Projects, Above The Law Alma Asay, Chief Innovation Officer, Integreon Katie DeBord, Chief Innovation Office, Bryan Cave Carlos Gamez, Senior Director of Innovation, Thomson Reuters Podcast Show Notes: Panelist’s takeaway thoughts from the Strategics Panel. On “having your cake and eating it too” and when to say NO! How law firms are now fostering innovation in legal services. Thomson Reuter’s Incubation Hub. Focusing on “LegalOps” solutions and improving the client experience. Why it’s not always about “the tech.” Creating a 360 “vision” and value propositioning. Developing technology that helps law firms look better to their clients. Preparing for “change management” during the partnership. Operating with multiple gears (scale vs. startup). Why everything is a sales process until the JV is formed. Review and Subscribe: If you like what you hear, please leave a review by clicking here. Subscribe to the podcast on your favorite player to get the latest episodes. Click here to subscribe with iTunes Click here to subscribe with Stitcher Click here to subscribe with RSS
Welcome to the Evolve Law Summit 2018 Podcast Series Series! This is one of a series of live shows recorded at this year’s Evolve Law Summit in Chicago with Contributing Editor Ian Connett (@QuantumJurist) and Dan Lear of Right Brain Law. For the latest topics, trends, and tech in the legal industry, subscribe to the Evolve Law Podcast: A Catalyst for Legal Innovation. Listen as legal experts and leaders share insights about the legal industry. Read the blog post at https://abovethelaw.com/legal-innovation-center/2018/05/17/evolve-law-summit-2018-investors-panel-podcast/ EL Summit Investor Panelists: Haley Altman, CEO, Doxly Jeroen Plink, Founder, Economy of One Mike Suchsland, Principal, Joplin Consulting Thornton McEnery, Executive Editor, Dealbreaker Podcast Show Notes: What is needed for true disruption of the legal services industry. Advice to legal tech founders seeking capital infusion. On underestimating “chemistry” with your investor community. Having a business vs. having a “hobby.” How complicated legal workflows prohibit investment opportunities. Successful product development in legal tech. Finding and attracting talent to legal tech projects. Communicating the unique “nobility” of legal tech ventures. Panelist’s thoughts on IPOs. Compliance burdens and the volatility of the IPO market. Thornton’s takeaway thoughts from the Investors Panel. Legal tech as a legitimate B2B community. Review and Subscribe: If you like what you hear, please leave a review by clicking here. Subscribe to the podcast on your favorite player to get the latest episodes. Click here to subscribe with iTunes Click here to subscribe with Stitcher Click here to subscribe with RSS
There are a lot of opinions about access to justice and Twitter happens to be the perfect place for these opinions to come to light. Recently, a discussion about access to justice solutions cropped up among lawyers on the platform and our executive producer, Laurence Colletti, decided it was worth recreating the conversation in podcast form. In this special edition report from On The Road, host Laurence Colletti gathers together some of the most vocal #A2J ranters on Twitter so they can share their ideas in real life. The ranters include Billie Tarascio, Catherine Sanders Reach, Dan Lear, Chad Burton, Chas Rampenthal, Mary Juetten, Joshua Lenon, Patrick Palace, and Janet Welch, who talk about regulation, data, LLLTs, and the other aspects that make up the complex problem of access to justice. Billie Tarascio is the founder of Access Legal and owner of the Modern Law. Catherine Sanders Reach is the director of law practice management technology for the Chicago Bar Association. Dan Lear is currently the director of industry relations for Avvo. He is a technology lawyer, facilitator, and blogger. Chad Burton is the CEO of Curolegal and is a former litigator who developed one of the nation’s first “new model” law firms. Chas Rampenthal has served as general counsel for LegalZoom since 2003 and as corporate secretary since 2007. Mary Juetten is the founder and CEO of Traklight and the co-conspirator behind Evolve Law. Joshua Lenon is an attorney who serves as lawyer-in-residence for Clio. Patrick Palace is a plaintiff’s trial lawyer with an emphasis on workers’ compensation, personal injury, civil rights, and social security matters. Janet Welch is the executive director of the State Bar of Michigan.
In this episode, you will learn: We are very excited to have Dan Lear on today's show! Dan is a lawyer, blogger and currently the Director of Industry Relations for Avvo, where he frequently speaks to lawyers and bar associations. As a...
In this episode, you will learn: We are very excited to have Dan Lear on today’s show! Dan is a lawyer, blogger and currently the Director of Industry Relations for Avvo, where he frequently speaks to lawyers and bar associations. As a technology-focused business lawyer, Dan advised companies from startups to the Fortune 100, helping to develop agreements and terms for early cloud services offerings well before "the cloud” was an everyday norm. Dan has been mentioned, featured, or published in The ABA Journal, Law Practice Today, Law Technology News, NWLawyer, Above the Law and other legal industry press. In 2015 he was named to the FastCase 50 – a group of entrepreneurs, innovators, and trailblazers in the legal profession – and in 2014 Dan was honored with the Washington State Bar Association President's Award for his participation in and and advocacy of legal technology projects locally and nationally. Find him on Twitter at @rightbrainlaw. In today’s show, we talk with Dan about - Trends on the legal market and legal tech in particular - How we attorneys can build a brand, and grow people's awareness about us - How to determine our respective “ideal clients” - Which legal technologies out there are best for us to use in optimizing our legal practices - And advice, tips, and tricks for us to use in being happy as an attorney Get this podcast delivered directly to your inbox or for more information visit us at: www.loveorleavepodcast.com Did you get some value from this content? Then let you friends know and leave us a review on Itunes! Contact Info and questions: contact@loveorleavepodcast.com Casey Berman founder – Leave Law Behind www.leavelawbehind.com Adam J. Ouellette, Esquire www.esquireacademy.com www.idealclientformula.com www.esquiremastermind.com www.whythelawsucks.com www.RaisingTheBarBook.com
So you have a law degree. Now what? Well, lawyering is not your only option. In this report from On The Road, host Laurence Colletti talks to Stacy Stern, Nicole Bradick, and Dan Lear about alternate ways to use your law degree. They discuss what skills you need and the important role of passion in pursuing an alternative career. Stacy Stern is President of Justia. She oversees all revenue and client operations, as well as marketing and partnerships. Nicole Bradick is Chief Strategy Officer at CuroLegal, a company that works with lawyers to grow efficient, profitable, and scalable firms through its consulting services, operations support, and flexible staffing solutions. Dan Lear is currently the Director of Industry Relations for Avvo. He is a technology lawyer, facilitator, and blogger.
Summary: Guest host Dan Lear shares a turning point question for the legal industry which is: Do you want to spend the rest of your lives making the technological equivalent of sugar water, or do you want to come with me and change the legal system and change the world? For the latest topics, trends and tech in the legal industry, subscribe to Evolve Law Podcast: A Catalyst for Legal Innovation. Listen as legal experts and leaders share insights about the legal industry. For more information, questions, or suggestions about our podcast feel free to email us at info@evolvelawnow.com Show Notes: 00:00 Intro 00:56 Can’t we take on bigger problems? 01:46 Lawyers are supposed to be superheros, the stewards of this legal system. 03:29 Let’s put the legal consumer back in the center of the legal experience. 04:19 The change that our society is undergoing is akin to the industrial revolution. 05:05 Do you want to spend the rest of your lives making the technological equivalent of sugar water, or do you want to come with me and change the legal system and change the world? 05:18 Outro
Even with the acceptance of legal technology by many lawyers and law firms, some attorneys are still skeptical about the benefits that emergent technology can bring to their law practice. In this report from On The Road, host Joe Patrice speaks with Avvo Director of Industry Relations Dan Lear, Rocket Matter founder and CEO Larry Port, and CuroLegal CEO Chad Burton about the importance of leveraging legal technology and the dangers to your business if you don’t. Dan Lear is a lawyer, blogger and legal industry expert and is currently the Director of Industry Relations for Avvo. Larry Port, Rocket Matter founder and CEO, is a speaker and award winning writer at the crossroads of the legal profession, cutting edge technology, and law firm marketing. Chad Burton is a litigator and a pioneer in the legal industry, currently serving as CEO of CuroLegal.
As attorneys graduate and head into the legal marketplace, or leave a law firm to start a solo practice, it can be hard to know where to find resources with tips on starting your new career. What are the most important things that a newly solo practitioner should know? What are some best practices for lawyers just starting out in the field? In this episode of The New Solo, host Adriana Linares talks with the ABA TECHSHOW 2017 Planning Board to provide need to know advice for newly solo attorneys. This year’s TECHSHOW board consists of Barbara Leach Law PL. Managing Attorney Barbara Leach, Avvo Director of Industry Relations Dan Lear, O’Melveny & Myers Senior Manager of Technology and Development Ivan Hemmans, and Downey Law Group LLC. Founder Michael Downey. Michael emphasizes that small firms and solo attorneys should focus heavily on their cash flow. Dan states that legal professionals can view their businesses through three different mediums, the balance sheet, income statements, or cash flow. The amount of money coming in each month (and how you pay your expenses) is very relevant to the survival of a new business. Barbara encourages solo lawyers to establish their brand immediately and really determine what type of lawyer they’d like to be and what type of clients they’d like to attract. Michael accentuates the amount of credibility strong branding provides to a new attorney and gives insights into the steps he took to create his own brand. Ivan discusses the necessity of thoroughly learning Microsoft Word and the benefits of document organization. The group then closes the interview with an analysis of basic tech competencies, like email management, that all attorneys should master. Ivan Hemmans is the Manager of Technology Development and Communications at O’Melveny & Myers LLP where he uses his extensive experience with information technology to help people find ways to solve everyday problems with the many available tools at their disposal. Ivan often speaks about legal technology at law firms and conferences. He writes a blog and occasionally for legal technology publications like Peer to Peer Magazine. Barbara Leach is the managing attorney of Barbara Leach Law, PL. She is a member of the American Bar Association, The Florida Bar Association, the Central Florida Bankruptcy Law Association, the Orange County Bar Association, and the Central Florida Association for Women Lawyers. Barbara received her BA from the Hamilton Holt School at Rollins College and obtained her juris doctorate from the Florida State University College of Law. Michael Downey is a legal ethics lawyer and a founding member of the Downey Law Group LLC. He has tried civil and lawyer discipline cases and argued appeals before the Missouri Supreme Court, U.S. Court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit, and Illinois ARDC Review Board. Michael received his B.A. from Georgetown University and his juris doctorate from Washington University in St. Louis School of Law. Dan Lear is a technology lawyer and the Avvo Director of Industry Relations. He is the co-founder of the Seattle Legal Technology and Innovation MeetUp and founder of the Right Brain Law blog. Dan received his BA in international studies from Brigham Young University and his juris doctorate and MBA from Seattle University.
An application programming interface (API) is a system that connects software applications to each other, providing more functionality for users. For example, a password manager might talk to a LinkedIn App, allowing for easy sign-in. So what does this technology mean for lawyers? At the 2015 Clio Cloud conference, Adriana Linares interviews panelists Dan Lear, Debbie Mignola, and Sam Redlich about their session titled ‘Clio as a Platform: Leveraging Clio’s API.’ Together, they discuss employing the API in your daily practice, using automation to improve client experience, and how long it will take lawyers to learn to use and implement the tools.
Lawyer 2 Lawyer host Bob Ambrogi interviews Above the Law Converge panelists Dan Lear, Tasha Cooper, Mike Schmidt, Ryan Lytle, and Joe Patrice about Emerging Technical Trends and Best Practices. Together they discuss lawyers blogging and what it means to be “part of the social media conversation.” Additionally, the panelists address the issues of oversharing, setting goals and calculating marketing success, and why every lawyer should be on LinkedIn.
Legal Talk Network Host Jason Marsh interviews Dan Lear from Avvo at the 2015 ABA Midyear Meeting. Lear explains that Avvo is an online legal marketplace where lawyers can improve their client visibility. Many lawyers can greatly benefit from claiming and improving their Avvo listing. This includes lawyers doing client-facing legal work like consumer practices, bankruptcy, divorce lawyer, criminal defense, business law, and estate planning. As the director of industry relations at Avvo, Dan Lear reaches out to bar associations, industry groups, lawyers, and law schools to discuss the intersection between technology and legal work.