New Solo

After passing the bar, attorney Cassandra Michel knew she wanted to open her own family law practice, Aloha Divorce, focusing on amicable divorces and family law.  Adriana dives into how a new lawyer can open a successful practice as she walks through the process of establishing a brand, creating a business plan, and networking. Choosing the right tech, deciding on using a home office, shared office, or standalone brick and mortar? Marketing? Sponsorships? Referrals? Even learning to efficiently block off time and learning how to say “no” when the client isn’t the right fit. It’s all part of getting out there and going solo. Yes, you can. Plus, we have a special upcoming mailbag edition. Got a question? Want to share some insights? Contact us now at [email protected]. Topics: Get organized before you open the door. Understand your brand, your goals, and even yourself. Home office, virtual practice, shared workspace, or standalone office. What’s right for you? Choosing and using the tech you need. Learn how a new solo practitioner balanced the right tech at the right price.  Using time blocks to efficiently manage your time. New Insights, brought to you by Nota by M&T Bank Veteran attorney and mediation professional Liz McCausland answers questions from new solo Stephanie Larenas: Question 2/4: "How to pick your niche in an ever-more diversified market?"   Special thanks to our sponsors, Lawclerk, Alert Communications, Abby Connect, and Clio.  -------- Mentioned this episode: Little Miss Notary: https://littlemissnotary.com/  Clio Grow vs. Clio Manage: https://support.clio.com/hc/en-us/articles/360016373814-What-is-The-Difference-Between-Clio-Manage-Clio-Grow-And-Clio-Suite-  Lawyaw: https://www.lawyaw.com/  LawPay: https://www.lawpay.com/  Google Workspace: https://workspace.google.com/ Microsoft Office 365: https://www.office.com/   Grammarly: https://www.grammarly.com/  WordRake: https://www.wordrake.com/  PerfectIt: https://intelligentediting.com/  LawClerk.Legal: https://www.lawclerk.legal/ 

In a special episode of New Solo, legal tech whiz Adriana Linares tackles a topic that baffles many legal practitioners: the dreaded Microsoft suite of services. What do you really need and what are you missing? Many lawyers jumped into Microsoft’s 365 universe during the pandemic. Sharing files and working collaboratively from home is appealing, but there’s a lot to learn about the array of products. OneDrive? SharePoint? Secure document sharing? Learn the difference between personal and private accounts and how to juggle them. Stop paying too much and wasting time in this confusing – but often vital – suite of services (hint: none of us want the $5 monthly service). And yes, it’s OK to ask for professional help; a little instruction doesn’t have to be expensive and pays off in the long run. And we begin another New Insights series as veteran attorney Liz McCausland offers new solo Stephanie Larenas three suggestions for growing a new practice. Have insights, tips, inspiration to share? Want to be a guest on the New Solo podcast? Contact us at [email protected]. Topics: The evolution of Microsoft’s 365 suite of products. The difference between private and professional accounts and how to leverage them for efficient office management. Pricing options, security, and your practice’s needs. What’s enough? What’s too much? New Insights, brought to you by Nota by M&T Bank New series: Former therapist turned personal injury attorney Stephanie Larenas talks with veteran attorney and mediation professional Liz McCausland.  Liz offers insights for new solos building their business. Overhead? Branding? Networking?   Special thanks to our sponsors, Lawclerk, Alert Communications, Abby Connect, and Clio. 

Guest: Kimberley Felton is an immigration attorney, consultant, and supermom and the founder of virtual immigration law firm Onward Immigration and consulting firm Innovation Litigation. Shortly after law school, Kimberley Felton found herself struggling with all the things they don’t teach: How to manage time, clients, and family. She knew there had to be a better way. Unfulfilled in disorganized settings and fighting to find meaning in her new profession, she taught herself to incorporate available technologies that let her serve the clients she is passionate about while spending quality time with her husband and two children. Felton discovered she wasn’t alone and now helps other attorneys break free from “the way we’ve always done it” by embracing tech and project management platforms to build a better work/life balance and a more efficient, rewarding practice. Topics: What you need to know … that they don’t teach in law school Leveraging technology to manage clients and cases Treating each case like a project and incorporating project management techniques Resources: Above The Law, “A Better Way: How Motherhood Changed My Perspective of the Legal Field & What I’m Doing to Change It,” Kimberley Felton, May 13, 2021   Afterpattern CampLegal   Lawclerk New Insights (brought to you by Nota): Veteran practitioner Starlett Massey answers litigation associate Melanie Kalmanson’s question. Question 4 of 4: “Do you think remote proceedings will continue post-pandemic?”   Special thanks to our sponsors, Lawclerk, Alert Communications, Abby Connect, and Clio. Have insights, tips, inspiration to share? Want to be a guest on the New Solo podcast? Contact us at [email protected].

Guest Marie Stockton is an estate planning lawyer laser-focused on making sure her clients understand what they’re signing. She’s mastering document prep tools to assure they have the look and feel that encourages reading and comprehension.  Topics: Making the shift from WordPerfect to Microsoft Word Paying attention to the little things, like fonts Designing and creating styles for formatting Complex numbering for document accuracy Resources: Matthew Butterick, Typography for Lawyers Debora Savatra, Legal Office Guru Barron Henley, Affinity Consulting Mark Unger, Muse Legal YouTube Lynda/LinkedIn Learning New Insights (brought to you by Nota): Veteran practitioner Starlett Massey answers litigation associate Melanie Kalmanson’s question. Question 3 of 4: “What are three things you would like to see changed in the legal profession?” Special thanks to our sponsors, Lawclerk, Alert Communications, Abby Connect, and Clio.

Brand new solo Dean Blachford binged New Solo’s episodes before launching his practice. He offers a crash course featuring standout episodes. Special thanks to our sponsors, Lawclerk, Alert Communications, Abby Connect, and Clio.

Solo Rachel Allums earned her law practice chops running a firm before joining the bar, and her estate planning practice is all the better. Special thanks to our sponsors, Lawclerk, Alert Communications, Abby Connect, and Clio.

How new solos Taly Goody and Michelle Fonseca-Kamana create videos for social media that attract clients and referrals.

When one can practice almost anywhere, why not Puerto Rico? Sarah de Deigo leapt even before the pandemic popularized these wholesale moves.

Business consultant Peggy Gruenke explains what happens when solo and small firms don’t have their financial houses in order.

With an updated format and new segment, Adriana Linares takes listeners behind the scenes of a firm’s migration to the cloud.