New Solo

Let’s talk AI. Guests Nina Steinbrecker Jack and Ed Walters worked from the start to build Fastcase, now merged with international legal research firm vLex, striving to make legal research faster, better, and cheaper. Digging through law books is so 2010. Under the merger, incorporating generative Artificial Intelligence (AI), lawyers today have fingertip access to not only U.S. case law but also international law. We’re witnessing a revolution in the use of generative AI, often producing results so good that it’s hard to determine what was written by a human and what was generated by the program. This is becoming the bedrock of legal research, saving attorneys time and money, allowing them work on strategy and building cases instead of hunting for case law. But regular, layman’s, AI is still experiencing some hiccups, “hallucinating” incorrect information as it struggles to learn. Breaking news only on New Solo: Coming soon to vLex and Fastcase, an AI Lab is developing a new class of AI built just for law, globally, called (for now) “Research Assistant.” This new level of AI will be so up to date it will include cases decided in as little as 12 hours prior to each request, fully vetted and referenced. Got questions or ideas about solo and small practices? Drop us a line at NewSolo@legaltalknetwork.com Topics: Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a great tool, but it’s also prone to errors. One popular tool, ChatGPT, is fun, but it’s not for legal research. Can lawyers trust an AI program to create bullet-proof results? Breaking news on New Solo: Coming soon, vLex and Fastcase legal research together have built an AI Lab developing a new class of AI honed just for law, globally, tentatively called “Research Assistant.” AI results you can trust. AI is not going away. If you’re not keeping up, you’re falling behind. Get involved and stay current. The world of computer assisted legal research is blowing up.

You know the legal writing classes you took in law school? There’s a lot more to learn, and with a few steps, you can get better – and get better results. Guest Chris Schandevel is the “Brief-Writing Ninja” and passionate writing clear, simple, concise legal briefs that win over courts. Courthouses are busy places. Judges and clerks deal with a lot of distractions and competing demands. Make your briefs stand out boy making them easier to read and follow. Any jargon, excessive footnotes, parentheticals, and asides just add to the chaos and detract from your argument. Good writing, formatting, and attention to detail matter. Schandevel has created an easy-to-use, three-page style guide for legal writing and clear formatting. You don’t need to use fancy words to sell your case. Clear, simple language and a clean story help the court understand your argument and see your point. Take a deep dive into the art and artistry of writing and presenting a legal brief at the highest levels, and get some tips you can start using today. (Plus, do you know the official preferred font of the U.S. Supreme Court?) Got questions or ideas about solo and small practices? Drop us a line at NewSolo@legaltalknetwork.com Topics: Judges aren’t impressed with fancy words and jargon. A clear, easy-to-read legal brief is easier to follow to the conclusion you want your reader to reach. Learn to remove barriers to the reader such as excessive footnotes, lengthy sentences and changes in “voice.” And do use the Oxford comma! What is the “cleaned up parenthetical?” (And how is it being adopted at the highest levels of the law?) Find out. Mentioned in this Episode: BriefCatch software “Think Commas Don't Matter? Omitting One Cost A Maine Dairy Company $5 Million” “Cleaning Up Quotations” by Jack Metzler in The Journal of Appellate Law Practice and Process “Legal Writing: Font Matters,” Thomson Reuters Legal Office Guru Legal Office Guru’s Deborah Savadra on New Solo, “Word Up 2: Creating Tables of Authority with Ease”

The episode you’ve been waiting for. An all-Mac special with real Mac experts. More and more lawyers are using Apple Mac tech, including iPones, iPads, and laptops. In the past, there were challenges shifting between Mac and Microsoft, but today’s practice management programs can work on both systems. You like Macs? Then go for it, there is less and less to hold you back. Why Mac over PC? Cost, battery life, integrations between iPhones, the Apple watch, and iPads, as well as security are considerations. Only 15% to 20% of lawyers use Macs, so you do need to think things through and ensure you can share information with your Microsoft colleagues and opposing counsel. There are advantages and disadvantages. Make sure you understand every aspect. There are some basics to getting started. Maybe most important is to not “cheap out” when you’re getting your computer system set up. Our guests explain what you need, including processor speed and memory. It all matters. Law is your business, your computer is your tool. If you’re investing anywhere, it’s here. RAM? ROM? Gigs? Ports? What do you need? Got questions or ideas about solo and small practices? Drop us a line at NewSolo@legaltalknetwork.com Topics: Lawyers use Macs. Yes, it happens, and it can go well. Know what kind of needs you have and learn how to use your Mac to your advantage. Speed, cross-platform exchanges, and even weight matter. Programs abound for Mac lawyers. It’s not like the olden days when Microsoft programs only worked on Microsoft platforms. Adobe, Word, Excel all can work smoothly on a Mac. Mentioned in this Episode: Macs In Law Offices Jeff Richardson’s prior appearances on Legal Talk Network Brett Burney’s prior appearances on Legal Talk Network Mac Codeweavers Parallels USB hubs on Amazon Adobe subscriptions Textexpander Textexpanders for Lawyers Setapp for Mac Ulysses app for Mac Quick Look for Apple

Guest Andrew Schierberg retired from his first career after 20 years as a police officer, investigator, and chief in Northern Kentucky. Then he asked, “What next?” With a law degree and a lifetime of working in tense situations with people during their most stressful moments, Schierberg started a law practice with a focus on helping families by specializing in elder law and estate planning. He wrote his own business plan, shadowed established attorneys, sought educational and business development support, found shared office space with other lawyers, and developed a holistic approach that lets him to build relationships with his clients and work not only as an attorney but also as a trusted advisor. Learn how he set up his practice, selected case management software, established a flat-fee subscription plan for his clients rather than hourly rates, and developed an understanding of the needs of both elder clients and their families as they navigate a new stage of life. If you’re well into a first career, you might be surprised at how much your “real world experience” can translate to a solo law practice. Got questions or ideas about solo and small practices? Drop us a line at NewSolo@legaltalknetwork.com Topics: Starting a solo practice as a second career and putting your “old job” skills to work in your new venture. The importance of selecting the right practice management and office equipment tools, learning about marketing, and asking for help when you don’t know. The value of finding a niche that lets you focus your energy on the kind of law that matches your passion. Mentioned in this Episode: Fearless Paranoia podcast Life Care Planning Law Firms Association Actionstep MyCase ElderCounsel DecisionVault Calendly Textexpander Maximum Lawyer podcast The 80/20 Principle podcast The Law Entrepreneur podcast Lunch Hour Legal Marketing podcast Peggy Gruenke on Legal Talk Network podcasts

Take a deep dive into eDiscovery for small and midsized firms with an old friend and frequent New Solo contributor, guest Brett Burney, a lawyer and longtime consultant who’s passionate about legal tech. Facing a mountain of electronic documents from PDFs to spreadsheets to emails to texts in discovery? You don’t need to be an expert, but you do need to understand the basics, the traps, and the available tools. Start by accepting that electronic files aren’t paper files. They are inherently different and aren’t meant to be printed out. Embrace the format and treat electronic documents as what they are. If you print electronic documentation out, or you accept a printed version, you’re not getting the full picture, and you’re letting potentially valuable information slip through your fingers. It's a digital world, and litigation is more likely than ever to include emails, smartphones, voice mails, social media posts and comments, and texts. If you’ve been wondering if you’re doing the best job possible with eDiscovery, this is the episode for you. Got questions or ideas about solo and small practices? Drop us a line at NewSolo@legaltalknetwork.com Topics: Electronic discovery (eDiscovery) involves electronic files that are inherently different than paper discovery. What you need to know and mistakes you may be making. Metadata included in electronic documents can offer valuable clues that help you prepare your case, but it’s easy to contaminate that data. Understand the available tools that organize, preserve, and prepare digital evidence, including extracting text messages, voice memos, and emails from smartphones and tablets. Mentioned in This Episode: Previously on New Solo, with guest Brett Burney LegalWeek New York iMazing “Forensic Image,” Science Direct Synctech Synctech SMS Backup and Restore X1 Search Page Vault Pagefreezer WebPreserver vs. Pagefreezer Relativity Relativity One Everlaw NextPoint Logicull Disco Lexbe GoldFynch Acrobat Digital WarRoom NextPoint blog, “eDiscovery with Outlook: 3 Reasons Why Outlook is NOT a Document Review Tool,”

Quite a few bar associations have practice management advisors (or perhaps someone in a similar role), but a whole lot of lawyers aren’t aware of how this free member service could help them change their practice for the better. Adriana Linares chats with fellow practice management professional Catherine Sanders Reach about the services they provide to attorneys — from consulting on technology and ethics to starting a new business and so much more. Later, the term “legal operations” might seem like it only applies to the “Big Law” end of the spectrum, but a solo or small firm should be just as keen on having well-planned operating procedures for their business from the get-go. Adriana and Catherine talk through easy-to-use tools that help law firms big and small operate with efficiency. And, last, Microsoft 365 is rolling out Copilot, and Adriana and Catherine are watching its progress with great anticipation. Tune in for their thoughts on how this and similar tech could impact your legal practice. Catherine Sanders Reach is director at the Center for Practice Management at the North Carolina Bar Association. Topics: Tapping into the knowledge your bar association’s practice management advisor has to offer. Legal operations for solo and small law firms. Microsoft 365 Copilot’s potential for lawyers. Mentioned in this episode: Catherine’s From the Center Blog NCBA Center for Practice Management ABA Legal Technology Resource Center Lisa Crosbie - YouTube Introducing Microsoft 365 Copilot

For solos sharing office space with other attorneys, there are advantages, but also potential headaches. How do you navigate this arrangement? Guest Jared Correia is a podcaster, lawyer, and full-time business management consultant, sort of the lawyer you know who knows how to run a business. For clients, he digs into law firm management from the very high-level strategy to the nuts and bolts of tech and daily operations. Shared offices create issues with malpractice insurance, shared practice management software, and clearly communicating your solo status while working in what to a client may appear to be a firm. Plus, the important distinctions between website chat capability, automated chatbots, and the emergence of true artificial intelligence such as ChatGPT. Learn where each product can fill gaps in your practice and turn leads into clients. Tech that may make your solo practice work like a larger firm. Got questions or ideas about solo and small practices? Drop us a line at NewSolo@legaltalknetwork.com Topics: Practice management problems attorneys in a shared office space encounter. Incorporating online chat and chatbots on your website, capture more leads. And where does the latest – ChatGPT artificial intelligence – fit? Resources from This Episode: Nebraska Bar Florida Bar San Diego Bar Book, “The Of Counsel Agreement” by Harold Wren ABA, Of Counsel defined ABA Techshow ABA Legal Technology Resource Center Formilla Apex remote assistants Smith remote assistants Ruby Abby Connect Back Office Betties ChatGPT OpenAI Google A.I., “Bard”

Hanging up a shingle takes more than a law degree. Today’s legal tech and software helps solo and small practices be more productive and organized than ever. “Good enough” isn’t good enough. Know what you need, and get it! Adriana runs through the tech foundation of a successful firm: from the computers to the office software to the case management software and add-ons that can streamline your practice and better serve your clients. Adriana names names, provides recommendations, and answers the questions she hears from clients regularly. This is the personal consultation you have wanted … for free! Got questions or ideas about solo and small practices? Drop us a line at NewSolo@legaltalknetwork.com Topics: PC or Mac? Does it matter? Office management tools? Make sure everything integrates, from your accounting software (hint, most accountants use QuickBooks) to your PDF creation tools. Don’t be cheap! Case management tools and “add-ons” save time and organize your practice. And when it comes to labeling files, don’t be clever, be clear and concise. You have 256 characters to name a document, use them all so you can share work. Mentioned in This Episode: Microsoft Office 365 Google Workspace Adobe Acrobat Pro QuickBooks Clio Clio Integrations ABA Legal Technology Resource Center Mycase Rocket Matter CosmoLex Zolasuite Actionstep Centerbase Microsoft OneDrive Dropbox Loom.com Law Firm Autopilot Netdocuments Fastcase Casetext Textexpander.com TextexpanderforLawyers Vonage Nextiva Dialpad RingCentral Ruby Abby Connect Smith.ai Back Office Betties New Solo Back Episode Library A Listener’s Guide to the New Solo Back Catalog

What’s this about Google My Business? Well, for starters it connects your business to the Bible: The real Google Maps page. If you’re in business, you need to understand this. It’s not hard, but it takes a bit of work, and it’s a must. Create a system, understand the process, and don’t be shy about asking for Google reviews, they matter. (BTW, you can’t cheat or lie about a physical location. Google sends a postcard to verify. Who knew? So, you need to figure it out. Here’s how, even if you work out of a co-working facility. Do you need a sign? Yes, you do. Google has a lot of weird rules.) And for Heaven’s sake, if you tell Google you’ll accept messaging through Google, you need to answer your messages or risk bad reviews and cranky customers. Do or do not. There is no try. NAP? It’s got to be consistent across the web. If you don’t know it, you need to listen to this episode. This is everything you need to know about Google mapping and why it’s so important. Plus, ranking factors, keywords, call answer rate, and profile info. Google 101. Got questions or ideas about solo and small practices? Drop us a line at NewSolo@legaltalknetwork.com Topics: Google Maps: Why they are so important to your business. Everything you need to know about Google’s weird ways and specific language. Give up on trying to trick Google. Play fair, play hard, play to win.

Is the secret to your law firm’s success a triangle? Guest Christopher T. Anderson is a law practice management consultant (and host of the Legal Talk Network’s Un-Billable Hour). Anderson shares the “triangle” of a successful law firm: Acquiring clients; Producing the results you promised; and Achieving and Measuring the impact and success of your firm. Anderson’s unique take on law firm management is built on thinking of law as a real business first. Why are you doing what you do? Acquiring new clients means building on referrals, creating relationships, and paid marketing. Know and tell your story. Producing results translates to setting client expectations (and meeting them), and doing your best work. Establish a “North Star” for every case. And then there’s achieving and measuring the results for your business stakeholders. Where do you want to be? What separates good law firms from great ones? A law firm is a business, it’s OK to admit that. Got questions or ideas about solo and small practices? Drop us a line at NewSolo@legaltalknetwork.com Topics: Building a law firm is building a business. Don’t forget that! There are three “sides” to building a firm: attracting clients, satisfying clients, and achieving business success. Every part of your legal career is intentional, it’s not luck. Know what you are trying to achieve.

The ABA Techshow isn’t just for tech wizards; rather, it should be a vital part of every solo lawyer’s networking plan! Guests Jeannine Abukhater Lambert and Gyi Tsakalakis are co-chairs of the upcoming ABA Techshow, the home of all things tech and your opportunity to see what’s new, and what you’re missing. Both guests serve unique corners of the legal world and found their paths through different methods. Lambert covers large policy areas through academia, and Tsakalakis is a leader in employing tech into legal marketing, making the most out of any firm. No matter what area of the legal world your career leads you to, knowing how to network and market effectively is vital to your success. What’s frightening is how many lawyers, across the field, say “tech competence” isn’t relevant. Not only is it relevant, it’s table stakes. If you aren’t confident of your firm’s – or your own – tech know-how, the ABA Techshow can open your eyes, open new pathways, and help you better serve your clients. Got questions or ideas about solo and small practices? Drop us a line at NewSolo@legaltalknetwork.com Topics: Not everyone who graduates from law school ends up practicing law. There are many little corners of the legal world. The upcoming ABA Techshow is your gateway to catching up and latching on to the latest in legal tech AND building your network. Gyi offers listeners some advice on how to start thinking about marketing, even from a young point in one’s career.

Guest Joanne Martin is an inspiration to anyone considering a career change later in life. She’s a family law attorney in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. While she vigorously represents her clients, she strives to create a respectful and collaborative environment when settling family law issues, including divorce and separation, especially when children are involved. Martin had a successful career in film and television, as well as a husband and four children, when she returned to school to earn her law degree. It can be done. Second careers do happen. After law school and working with a firm, Martin launched her solo practice, Align Family Law. Hear how she built a firm based on her values and understanding of the family dynamic, striving to help divorcing clients work toward respectful solutions. She also offers valuable insights into how she set up her office, built a website, developed written content, selected practice management software, developed a transparent pricing model, and learned to establish virtual video client consultations that work. As a bonus, even established solo practitioners may pick up some tips from Martin’s innovative approach to initial consultations, client intake, retainers, and avoiding potential conflicts. Got questions or ideas about solo and small practices? Drop us a line at NewSolo@legaltalknetwork.com Topics: Later-in-life career changes can and do happen. Hear from an attorney who went to law school and established a solo practice after building a family and a successful career. A thorough, honest intake process not only keeps potential clients from wasting time, but also helps you weed out clients who may not appreciate your values and approach. Plus, learn why you should NOT buy Microsoft 365 through a third party, such as GoDaddy (you may need a pro to undo that misstep). Mentioned in This Episode: New Solo, “A Short Primer on Microsoft Accounts, OneDrive, and SharePoint”

Still think your small or solo practice can go it alone without a client relationship platform (CRM)? Maybe you don’t have all the facts. From intake to holiday cards to referrals and repeat business, learn how a CRM propels your practice. Guest Matt Siegel is a serial entrepreneur, attorney, and the CEO of Lawmatics. He believes that a good CRM should free information from “data prisons,” integrate client onboarding, track client data, build relationships, and even manage holiday greetings and follow-ups. It’s all about automation and flexibility, freeing attorneys to do what they do best: practice law. Stop thinking about being a law firm and start thinking about being a business. You do law, a CRM does client management. Don’t miss this episode. Got questions or ideas about solo and small practices? Hit us up at NewSolo@legaltalknetwork.com Topics: A CRM isn’t just for big firms. Solo and small firms can get a big boost from an affordable platform. Even after the case is closed, relationships matter. From repeat business to referrals, it’s about staying in touch. The smallest details, like sending holiday cards, gobble up valuable, billable hours. Why not have a management system simplify and speed up those tasks?

Guest Ana "Ani" P. Rodriguez-Newbern is a “do-gooder,” a Florida lawyer dedicated to service both to the state of Florida and to the public good. She serves on multiple legal committees while her small family firm, Tangel-Rodriguez & Associates, represents the Florida Department of Revenue in child support matters. She shares how working with both her mother and brother blends every aspect of professional and family life. (Not to mention, her father is a retired judge). Rodriguez-Newbern’s firm has only one client, the State of Florida, through a contract for the past 30 years. The firm specializes in child support cases in Orange County, Florida, working for the state on behalf of residents receiving public assistance. The state contract makes up the firm’s entire book of business. Interested in a government contract? Both city and state websites are a good place to look, as well as networking to learn when contracts may be coming up. Got questions or ideas about solo and small practices? Hit us up at NewSolo@legaltalknetwork.com Topics: Learn about how a small, family, firm has prospered for 30 years with just one client: the State of Florida. Working in a firm with family members can be a challenge, but it can be rewarding as well. Family and professional life blend into one. Small, niche firms can always find ways to integrate technology, even if that’s at a careful, slow pace.

Guest Levi Barlavi is a “niche practice” solo attorney, focusing on the needs of medical providers. He started his own practice just three years after law school, and, yes, it can be done. But being a solo, no matter how good you are, requires insights into the available legal tech tools, and it’s OK to ask for help. They don’t teach you this stuff in law school. So how did Barlavi grow a solo practice, learn to plan, create a vision, and incorporate tech and marketing? Hear how networking, curiosity, conferences, public speaking, and following his passion helped Barlavi develop a practice that excites him and grows by the year. As Barlavi says, get personal, go outside your comfort zone, dive into social media, and “exercise your boldness.” Got questions or ideas? Don’t forget to hit us up at NewSolo@legaltalknetwork.com Topics: Guest Levi Barlavi shares how he followed his passion as a solo practitioner and found a unique niche in healthcare services. Get outside your comfort zone and express your personality through public speaking, networking, and social media. Hear how sharing information and being open to conversations builds your reputation, your brand, and your practice. Mentioned in This Episode: Clio Legal Tech Toastmasters Allison Shields and Dennis Kennedy, “Make LinkedIn Work For You,”

Clio, the legal tech services giant, provides options that can help firms comply with federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) compliance. As many lawyers know – or come to learn – healthcare information can be a third rail. HIPAA regulations create unique knots to untangle when you get anywhere near sensitive healthcare information. What’s a HIPAA “covered entity,” and how does it affect responsibilities for health records, data protection, and sharing? What level of security and encryption are required? And how do new HITECH act vendor data handling regulations affect you? If you’re representing doctors buying or selling a practice, or representing a nursing home or health provider, it can get messy in a minute. Attorneys can struggle to comply with all the regulations. But incorporating a comprehensive, firm-wide compliance tech solution can help. (Plus, learn how to stop misspelling HIPAA, because we’ve all done it). Got questions or ideas? Don’t forget to hit us up at NewSolo@legaltalknetwork.com Topics: Guest Joshua Lenon, lawyer and data protection officer at Clio, explains how tech solutions can help lawyers meet HIPAA healthcare data requirements. HIPAA regs can sneak into all sorts of legal work, including the buying and selling of medical practices or a medical malpractice case. …and HIPAA regs are constantly evolving. Are you keeping up? Additional Resources: HIPAA HITECH Act What is PHI Clio Clio and HIPAA Clio HIPAA add-on cost Standard Fusion Clio Cloud Conference Clio Twitter

Longtime friend of Legal Talk Network Carolyn Elefant – author, mentor, blogger, and solo practitioner – joins host Adriana Linares with a huge update to her hit book “Solo by Choice.” Get a one-stop-shop overview for any new solo practitioner. The pandemic, social media, online content, and business generation trends are shaking the legal practice bedrock. The online conferencing and virtual offices of the pandemic are challenging the need for a formal office. Billing practices and options are shifting. Virtual assistants and freelancers are the norm. Clients are looking to new sources for attorneys. Of course, you still need paying clients. Hear ideas on how to fully commit to your practice, find your niche, and build business from day one. Plus, business practice requirements, customer relationship programs, insurance, licensing, cybersecurity, and legal tech software. There’s no better time for new solo practitioners to ask for what they want – and get it. What’s ahead for the legal profession? Got questions or ideas? Don’t forget to hit us up at NewSolo@legaltalknetwork.com Topics: Guest, lawyer and author Carolyn Elefant shares tips for the modern era from her newly revised book, “Solo By Choice.” All you need to know about starting a solo or small practices, from software to cybersecurity. What’s new for the legal profession in a post-pandemic world? New Insights Veteran attorney Jennifer Smith Thomas answers questions from new attorney Jennifer Townsend about the challenges of working with her father in a small, family-owned firm. Question 4: “How do I get my dad to be open to change when his favorite phrase is ‘We do it that way because that’s the way we’ve always done it’” Special thanks to our sponsors, Lawclerk, Alert Communications, Abby Connect, and Clio.

At last! The anticipated Windows and Windows 365 tech episode with Adam Alexander, IT solutions guru and president of InterNetwork IT. Together, they answer all those questions you’ve messaged and tweeted in the past months. We’re getting into the nitty gritty. Learn what’s available and find solutions to problems that seem unsolvable. Don’t settle for “good enough!” Topics: Adriana and Adam dive deep into all things Microsoft 365, OneDrive, and more. Make access to your data more organized, safer, and easier for your employees or coworkers to share. Plus, your questions about all things Microsoft. You asked, we answered. New Insights In our series New Insights, veteran attorney Jennifer Smith Thomas answers questions from Birmingham, Alabama, new attorney Jennifer Townsend about the challenges of working with her father in a small, family-owned firm. Question 3: “My Dad keeps saying ‘I’m a dinosaur, I don’t need to learn anything new.’ How do I convince him that he’s not too old or too settled to learn new skills that will improve the way we work together?” Special thanks to our sponsors, Lawclerk, Alert Communications, Abby Connect, and Clio.

Guest Tom L. Drew is a longtime attorney in Des Moines, Iowa. He reached out to New Solo and host Adriana Linares for help modernizing his practice and getting the most out of today’s tech. Drew is comfortable with computers, but he’s always looking for newer, better, more efficient methods. As a long-time paperless operation, Drew’s office was in a good place when it went remote during the COVID-19 pandemic. As his office went to a work-from-home environment, Drew was quick to incorporate training sessions and provide the necessary tools to help his team set up comfortable, efficient home offices. He found that money spent on tech is money well spent, and speed and efficiency matters more than cost. Hear how Drew upgraded software and replaced an on-site server with the cloud for a faster, on-the-go setup. Still unsure about cloud technology, OneDrive, Office 365, remote access, and document sharing? Learn how and where these pieces fit in a modern office. Plus, we have a special upcoming mailbag edition on Office 365 and all things Microsoft. Got a question? Contact us at newsolo@legaltalknetwork.com. Topics: Guest Tom Drew, longtime solo practitioner, talks about his recent tech makeover and moving from a server to the cloud. It’s not about cost, it’s about productivity and efficiency. In today’s work-from-home environment, being able to collaborate, schedule, and share information is more important than ever. Tech isn’t only for new solos, it’s for established firms too. New Insights In our series New Insights, veteran attorney Jennifer Smith Thomas answers questions from new attorney Jennifer Townsend about the challenges of working with her father in a small, family-owned firm. Question 2: “I work on cases with my Dad. In the South, it is uncommon to address your parents by their first name. How should I introduce myself and explain our relationship to new clients while being respectful of my Dad and not undermining myself as a new attorney?" Special thanks to our sponsors, Lawclerk, Alert Communications, Abby Connect, and Clio.

Guest attorney Ruth Carter is nothing if not transparent. A client’s failure to plan should not be a cause for crisis to an attorney! Carter talks openly and honestly with host Adriana Linares about being clear with clients. Tell them your rates up front, even put them on your website. And set “rush rates” for any work that suddenly pops up, it sets expectations and encourages clients to think ahead and plan accordingly. Is your firm incorporating “rush rates” into client contracts? Plus, we have a special upcoming mailbag edition on Office 365 and all things Microsoft. Got a question? Contact us at newsolo@legaltalknetwork.com. Topics: Using simple, plain language to help clients understand what they are signing and what they are accomplishing. It’s OK to be transparent about your rates and that those rates increase when a matter is suddenly urgent! Being honest about what you do and what clients should expect. New Insights In a brand-new series of New Insights, veteran attorney Jennifer Smith Thomas answers questions from new attorney Jennifer Townsend about the challenges of working with her father in her small family-owned firm. Question 1: “My dad has given me a lot of freedom to redesign all the firm’s systems. How do I present my ideas without having him reject all of my plans?” Got a question or suggestion? newsolo@legaltalknetwork.com Special thanks to our sponsors, Lawclerk, Alert Communications, Abby Connect, and Clio.