Insight Briefs: An Attorney Discussion

Social media has been part of our daily lives for nearly a decade. At first, many lawyers were skeptical, believing that social media offered little value to their practices, but over the years, we can all admit that it has become a part of everyday culture. Many attorneys have delegated social media management to a “Digital Native,” trusting their brand image and voice to individuals who might be unqualified and hurt their public image. In this legal podcast, Debbie Williams, the Chief Content Officer and Co-founder of a content marketing agency, and host Patrick Carlson, JD, LLM, discuss best practices and common mistakes when marketing on social media, who you should trust to control the channels, and a few tips to improve your professional social media presence.

We all face the difficulty of filling in the gap between what attorneys learn in law school and what they need to know in the real world of running a law firm. Specifically, running a law firm like a business. New and transitioning attorneys want to learn the foundations of building a successful estate planning practice but just need the guidance and know-how to get there. In this legal podcast, Henna Shah, JD, LLM, and host Patrick Carlson, JD, LLM, discuss best practices and common mistakes made when starting a law firm, easy legal marketing strategies you can implement now and the best legal resources and attorney softwares that will grow with you and your practice.

Today’s law firms are not immune to the constant changes in modern day technology. Clients have more options, more resources, more knowledge, and to be blunt-- they have the Internet. If they do not like the way they were greeted, the kind of services you offer, or the way your documents look, clients can (and most likely will) move onto the next attorney who meets their standards. To ensure your firm’s success, position yourself with proven legal marketing strategies, secure law office software, and sophisticated, client-friendly closing techniques to turn your consultation into a long-term client. In this legal podcast, Michael Chasin, CEO of Lexicata, and host Patrick Carlson, JD, LLM, discuss why law firms need to ditch the Rolodex and go digital. They discuss the most common mistakes made in law firms, best attorney software to incorporate into your practice, how to decipher and optimize the unique legal sales cycle, and how to engage with your target audience from the moment they need you.

During Estate Planning Awareness Week 2017, Insight Briefs takes a look at a niche market opportunity that every estate planning attorney should know about. Elder law presents an invaluable opportunity to meet the needs of aging clients and puts meaningful plans in place to serve this growing and underserved market. This practice area can be both personally rewarding in its ability to positively impact families and professionally rewarding in growing your client base. Listen as Valerie Peterson, JD and Chief Executive Officer of ElderCounsel, and host Patrick Carlson, JD, LLM, discuss the unknowns of and misconceptions about elder law and how you can incorporate elder law into your practice.

Discussing the Unified Framework for Fixing Our Broken Tax Code by WealthCounsel

Given the recent Equifax security breach and devastating natural disasters, cybersecurity is a crucial concern for attorneys now more than ever. More than a technology issue or a misspelled word in a clause, it’s one of the biggest risks that law firms face in this digital age. Key areas of concern are loss of work materials, access to client documents, and confidentiality of client data. Listen as Brett Pinegar, CEO of WealthCounsel, Stewart Shelline, Director of Enterprise Architecture, and Patrick Carlson, JD, LLM, discuss the critical importance of security in your law firm, ethical standards, online tools you can use to mitigate your risk, and how to effectively implement and manage your firm’s security.

Your Passport to International Planning & Practice Growth by WealthCounsel

In an ideal world, your practice would experience substantial growth without risking the firm’s quality, investment, or image. Fortunately, with internet platforms that can be a benefit to any business, the risks of practice growth can be greatly mitigated. Advanced platforms, such as automated document drafting software, are allowing attorneys to expand their practices while providing high-quality, innovative services. That’s not to say that building your services on these platforms is without its own set of potential hazards. Listen as Sarah Ostahowski, JD, discusses the benefits of automated document drafting systems, how to mitigate risks, and some best practices that might also work for you.