Solo Practice University®: Recent Episodes

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The 'Practice of Law' School

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The AI learning journey continues. You can also listen to Part 1 linked in the post.


Written by Susan Cartier Liebel

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Yes. You think you know it all. Guess what. You don't. This is a very important topic and one many solos fail to grasp. They do not get all that flows from this agreement and how it can impact your practice. Listen and learn.


Written by Susan Cartier Liebel

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What's better than a quick down and dirty list of 60 productivity apps for solos! And it's even better because Jared Correia is presenting it in his special way. Listen and learn.


Written by Susan Cartier Liebel

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Referrals are the gold standard of business. However, there are many more ways to grow your business outside of referrals especially in today's world. You really need to change your thinking and look under rocks you never thought to life. Listen and learn.


Written by Susan Cartier Liebel

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There is an ugly side to personal injury law. There can be a huge emotional toll when things go wrong with your clients after you've worked so hard to help the recover from a devastating event. Attorney Adrianos Facchetti shares memorable (albeit, sad) experiences and how he has learned to cope. You may benefit from he has to say.


Written by Adrianos Facchetti

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New Year's means making all kinds of resolutions that fail within 10 minutes. Well, solos make resolutions for their practices, too. In today's podcast Jared Correia discusses the most common business 'New Year's' resolutions solos make and action steps to help them keep those resolutions. As always it is fun and filled with great info. Join us!


Written by Susan Cartier Liebel

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Let's say you are working in an area of law that involves multiple languages, international banking or real estate transactions, depositions of foreign nationals, criminal work with non-English speaking defendants, etc. and you require translation. Do you use AI to do the initial interpretation because it is more cost-effective? Do you hire an interpreter to just do edits? Does this change the nature of what has been actually said and then carried forward as fact impacting the outcome of your legal defense or contractual obligations?


Written by Susan Cartier Liebel

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Client reviews are a fact of life. In today's online world of forever reviews you must learn how to deal with them. Today, Jared and I discuss the ins and outs of negotiating this ongoing issue. Listen and learn.


Written by Susan Cartier Liebel

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Jared and I take you through all that happened over the summer with legal ethics and AI as determined by various jurisdictions. There was a lot to discuss so listen and learn!! It's a fun podcast, too.


Written by Susan Cartier Liebel

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In Part 2 of this podcast, Jared and I continue our wild ride through the ethics of using Artificial (or Alternative) Intelligence in your law practice as we encounter AI hallucinations, pitfalls and legal traps. (We cover such a wide swath it takes up two podcasts). And, like is our tradition, we wander into some fantastical tangents on the future of AI, too. Join us and learn what you definitely need to know as you incorporate this powerful tool into your legal practice.


Written by Susan Cartier Liebel

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In this podcast, Jared and I take you on a wild ride through the ethics of using Artificial (or Alternative) Intelligence in your law practice as we encounter AI hallucinations, pitfalls and legal traps. We cover such a wide swath it takes up two podcasts. And, like is our tradition, we wander into some fantastical tangents on the future of AI, too. Join us and learn what you definitely need to know as you incorporate this powerful tool into your legal practice.future of AI, too. Join us and learn what you definitely need to know as you incorporate this powerful tool into your legal practice.


Written by Susan Cartier Liebel

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Solo Practice University® is celebrating 15 years…15 years of education, support and never-ending contribution to helping lawyers go out on their own as they discover that, with a little hard work and guidance, they can be their own boss. And we have a gift for you!


Written by Susan Cartier Liebel

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How do you launch a new law firm? What is your 'go to market plan' for your solo practice? Or, if you are relaunching how do you tackle marketing in an effective way? Jared shares an abundance of information to help you meet your goals. Listen and learn.


Written by Susan Cartier Liebel

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You are not having problems with getting the work. But you ARE having problems getting the talent to help you produce that work, service these clients. It's not an uncommon dilemma. Post-pandemic it's become an employee-centric market meaning those who are out looking for the jobs have all the power. How do you hire in this environment? How do you get the quality talent? What do you have to offer to get the good people to help your practice grow. Listen and learn.


Written by Susan Cartier Liebel

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Do lawyers needs to cold call? Seriously? Yes. In today's environment lawyers need to have a robust program for cold calling and how you can do it effectively and efficiently and without violating the rules against solicitation. Yes...listen to this. You will be glad you did.


Written by Susan Cartier Liebel

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We are concluding this incredible series of Days of Future Passed – Law Practice in 2025 discussing meeting clients’ new demands of you and your practice including implementing: Efficiences Data Security KPIs Analytics Collaboration Sharing Embedding Outside Counsel If you are looking to build your presence with a serious marketing effort that is progressive, you’ll […]


Written by Susan Cartier Liebel

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In part 1 we discovered the magic of KPIs, basically analytics for Attorneys. Sounds dry (even I thought so when Jared presented the topic) but I soon learned it isn't. It's quite fascinating because at the end of the day it is measuring whether what you are doing is working and it's not cookie cutter. You can create measurements for anything you are doing so it is also quite creative. So, let's get to it and learn more!


Written by Susan Cartier Liebel

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The acronym KPI (Key Performance Indicators) often strikes terror in the uninitiated lawyer. However, they are not only nothing to fear but a simple documentable measure you should embrace. KPIs are simply measurements of performance and they can measure anything you are doing; how many clients you close from leads, your collection rate, the number of cases you handle per month, etc. Once you understand you have all these measurable activities already available to you through the tools you use in your practice today (like your case management software) and actually start using them, your practice will only become more efficient and be more profitable. Put your fear aside, listen and learn.


Written by Susan Cartier Liebel

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Are you doing what it takes to cultivate a loyal, happy customer base?

75% of businesses believe they go the extra mile for the people they serve—but only 30% of consumers agree. That divide can hurt your reputation, alienate your customers, and most importantly, have a very real impact on your bottom line.

Level up your service with these quick tips from Ruby!


Written by Susan Cartier Liebel

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It's that time of year...or any time of year you want and need to get away to regroup and refresh, spend time with family. After all, isn't this one of the perks of solo/small firm practice? Owning your own time? Listen as Jared gives his expert advice on how to take that well needed vacation.


Written by Susan Cartier Liebel

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This story is TRUE. Names are changed.

In my first year of practice, an Egyptian man named Abdel hired me to represent him in the sale of his bodega. When I asked why he was selling, he told me his religion forbade him from selling beer, and this made it difficult to run a successful Brooklyn bodega. Read on...


Written by Barry Seidel

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In Part 5 of this great series, we will discuss what legal marketing will look like in the not too distant future. This will include:

Paid Verification Video & Audio Content Short Form Content Virtual Reality Meta Verse(s) Community-Focused Networking

Join us!


Written by Susan Cartier Liebel

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This is a MUST LISTEN podcast. Artificial Intelligence (AI) and now Generative AI has hit the world like a meteor and the consequences are and will continue to be profound. You may be more familiar with the term ChatGPT because it is spreading like a contagion. Today we are going to talk about how you can either take advantage of Generative AI, or be left behind. And you don't want to be left behind because when used properly, Generative AI can save you and your solo/small firm immeasurable amounts of time and money while making you more profitable. Listen and learn.


Written by Susan Cartier Liebel

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It’s no secret that lawyers are busy people. Writing briefs, communicating with clients, generating leads, conducting research, preparing for deposition, marketing services—an attorney’s list of tasks goes on and on. It’s no wonder 74% of US law firms feel as though they’re spending too much time on administrative tasks, as opposed to practicing law.That’s where legal outsourcing comes in. What is legal outsourcing, and why should you consider it? Learn more!


Written by Susan Cartier Liebel

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Learn what you can do today to secure sustainable growth tomorrow. Great no cost download jam-packed with information!


Written by Susan Cartier Liebel

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Back in the 1980’s, for a few years I was an Administrative Law Judge at the NYC Parking Violations Bureau (ALJ at the PVB). The Law Journal ad said all you needed was five years in practice and the job paid $89 per 3 hour session. So, at age 31 I became a "Judge". Read on for another Barry Seidel law story.


Written by Barry Seidel

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In part four we are going to look at trends in law firm ‘employees’ and we use the term very broadly. Why broadly? Because we need to look at the role of non-lawyers, AI (Artificial Intelligence) as an ‘employee’, Technology as an ‘employee’. Yes, we have to expand the term ‘employee’ because the world is changing rapidly. So, join us. It will be informative as always.


Written by Susan Cartier Liebel

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Early in my solo career, I had a part-time gig working for the NYC taxi driver’s union. My friend's wife's Dad was the founder and President of the union. They represented drivers in contract negotiations with the City, provided health insurance to taxi drivers, and also offered the members a "legal plan." The main benefit of the legal plan was a free lawyer for traffic court.A big “labor law” firm represented the union. Part of their representation required them to provide lawyers for traffic court. However, very often there were more traffic court appearances than the firm could handle. When that happened, yours truly got the call from union headquarters. Read on....


Written by Barry Seidel

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George Washington had wooden teeth.Humans only use 10% of our brains.The customer is always right.Myths and misconceptions are a part of life. And while some are harmless or easily debunked—no mother will mind if you step on that crack—others can get in the way of running your business.Nowhere is this truer than in customer service.Countless organizations let assumptions and falsehoods guide how they communicate with the people they serve. Why? Because myths have power. They’re emotionally charged. They’re convenient. And, more often than not, someone has something to gain when you believe them.So, let’s shine a light on the truth, shall we?Get your customer service facts straight—with a little help from Ruby.


Written by Susan Cartier Liebel

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We are coming to the end of the 2nd Wave of Legal Tech. Yes, I know. You've only just started embracing the first wave of legal tech! But it is happening fast and you need to catch up. We will be discussing what is and will be happening in front office technology, consolidation of software, 'behavior' automation and so much. Join us!


Written by Susan Cartier Liebel

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Life is all about perspective. Expectations, I have found, do more harm then good. If our expectations are too high we will always be disappointed because we don't allow for unplanned opportunities. If our expectations are too low, we may never strive for greater things. What perspective do you have?


Written by Susan Cartier Liebel

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In today’s omnichannel world, you might think inbound phone calls are a thing of the past. We’ve all heard about how millennials and members of Generation Z hate picking up their phones. Or how the ongoing robocall epidemic has damaged trust in business telecommunications overall. Surely, by now, most customers would prefer to send an email, fill out an online form, or contact a company via social media—right?Wrong. In fact, calls today are more important and valuable than ever. Read on!


Written by Susan Cartier Liebel

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In Part 2 of our series, Days of Future Passed - Law Practice in 2025, we will discuss two critical topics; what will it mean to actually be a lawyer in 2025 and how will we price our services and collect on those fees. What are the clients' expectations of who we are and how they should value our services? It's a truly provocative and informative conversation. Join us!


Written by Susan Cartier Liebel

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When Herb retained me, eviction warrants had already issued on both of his apartments. He had been representing himself and gotten some serious delays, but the moment of truth was closing in..... Read on!


Written by Barry Seidel

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Enjoy our New Series - Days of Future Passed - What Will Law Firms Look Like in 2025, Part 1In this first installment we will discuss the law firm business structure in all its incarnations, how this impacts your employees, vendors and much more. Will we see the Amazon model of law firms? It is more in-depth and surprising than you might imagine including sales people, referral fees. Will we see the demise of the solo practitioner? This is info you will need which ever direction you may go. Listen and learn.


Written by Susan Cartier Liebel

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We are starting a fun and informative series with Attorney Barry Seidel. He is a prolific writer and wanted to share some of his 'law stories' - snippets of wisdom, a humorous take on lawyer life, client interactions and court proceedings. We hope you enjoy The Cone of Silence!


Written by Barry Seidel

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I have to admit it. I'm a worrier. I worry about my family, my mother, my husband and son. I worry about the economy, people and animals, the future of our politically divided country, the food supply and climate change. I worry about income and inflation and retirement and health. I worry. I worry about many things, some within my control and some not.Ironically, worry has proven to be quite the motivator for me when combined with an insatiable curiosity about people and life. I don't think I'm particularly unique when it comes to worrying. Most people I know say they don't worry at all (liars) or they say they worry all the time. But at the end of the day most of us have some level of worry which keeps us up at night. (And the irony is most people over 65 say their biggest regret is spending too much of their lives worrying!).....Read on!


Written by Susan Cartier Liebel

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It’s happened: you’ve launched your law firm, you’ve started getting cases, and your star is on the rise. You’re getting more cases and earning more money. However, you’ve started noticing that you’re missing out on cases, or the quality of your work is starting to slip.You’re ready to grow your firm, but knowing who to hire, and why, is an important next step before you start recruiting.Here are 3 employees to consider when scaling your law firm...Read on.


Written by Jared Staver

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Despite the COVID-19 Pandemic becoming less severe, remote work only seems to be trending upwards. The reality is that the Pandemic might simply have been a catalyst for greater interest and trend among workers. Here are some insights our research uncovered.....


Written by Susan Cartier Liebel

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Lawyers fundamentally know the importance of networking. Newer lawyers growing in their practices these past few years know it in theory but haven't experienced the value of in-person events for making connections. In this pandemic/post-pandemic world are we losing something of value we don't realize in exchange for rationalizing the convenience (and some would argue safety) of connecting on line? This is an important discussion for lawyers, conference organizers, educators and more. Listen and learn.


Written by Susan Cartier Liebel

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Gaining clientele is as essential for law firms as any other business. To establish a successful firm and keep it growing, lawyers must develop reliable methods to generate leads and understand how to maximize them.This starts by learning to follow leads effectively and knowing which resources can help you decide what potential cases to pursue. Read on....


Written by Jared Staver

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While I am thankful for many things in my life, this Thanksgiving I wanted to give thanks for all those who have overcome those brilliant and highly decorated minds who were so sure that what you wanted to do simply could not be done. If people who innovated constantly backed down in the face of an ‘authority’ who said their idea was ridiculous, not worthy, not needed, implausible and a waste of time, where would we be? Read on.....


Written by Susan Cartier Liebel

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Ruby’s 2022 call trends report is filled with valuable information gathered from over 25 million calls—providing you with the insights you need to streamline client communication and become more profitable. Take a look!


Written by Susan Cartier Liebel

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Small firms and solo practitioners have a lot on their plates and can quickly spread themselves too thin, trying to stay on top of everything in-house. Fortunately, all kinds of third-party managed services help attorneys provide better service to clients and keep their businesses operating smoothly. Read on....


Written by Jared Staver

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How can you create and grow your solo practice while still delivering quality legal services to those who have an income that is either stagnating or in decline due to unprecedented inflation? 10 Tips you don't want to miss. Read on....


Written by Susan Cartier Liebel

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The legal industry is constantly changing. And the best ways to attract new clients while retaining the ones you already have? Those are changing too. Stay up-to-date with strategies designed to grow your business in Ruby’s “Practice perfect” ebook!


Written by Susan Cartier Liebel

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It's very exciting to embrace technology. It's new, it's shiny, it's fast. Every law practice management consultant tells you you will fall behind if you don't. Myself included. However, as I have written before, you must embrace the technology gap from the perspective of your client. Not every client wants this. Not every client is capable of embracing it. Not every client will feel comfortable. And just as some embrace the latest technology, the goal post for 'latest' moves. And lest we forget, every consultant tells you to build a client-centric practice in order to succeed.

So, how do we build a client-centered practice which remains technologically progressive but understands not all customers are technologically progressive? how do we stay efficient and friendly and not alienate our clients, or worse, they fail to hire to us?


Written by Susan Cartier Liebel

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Many in the legal profession have already made their 2022 predictions almost a year ago (and 2023 will be coming soon). They will showcase trends in technology, staffing, management as they see it and much more, particularly as it relates to the actual practice of law. I applaud the vision and guidance they bring to our profession. I’ve made them along with my podcast buddy, Jared Correia. However, as many of you know, I tend to go for the much, much bigger picture, the economic trends facing your clients as money (or lack thereof) drives the realities of your day-to-day practice from your marketing efforts, your choice of practice areas, your office set up, your fee structure, how you package your services, and even your personal life style. Read on....


Written by Susan Cartier Liebel

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This is a very 'sexy' topic, or we at least think so. How do you get great Search Engine Optimization (SEO) without paying for it. Let's face it, if you are just starting out you just can't afford it. It's cost prohibitive for your desired search terms or queries. We talk about some great workarounds to help you get there. Listen and learn.


Written by Susan Cartier Liebel

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Like any business, it’s critical for a law firm to deliver reliable results while providing exemplary customer service. You can’t expect to have return business if you treat customers poorly, or to build a sustainable customer base if you can’t be consistently approachable.

Understanding what clients like about your business, or what you might need to improve, can help you build a bigger customer base, increase standing in your legal community, and ensure return business in the future. You can look at how to improve your customer service after you understand why excellent customer service matters to your bottom line. Read on.


Written by Jared Staver

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The truth is lawyers tend to be rather impressed with how much they know because non-lawyers are generally impressed with what they believe attorneys know. And this can really box lawyers in when they don't have answers. One of the most profound ways to transform yourself and transform your relationship with clients and others in your life is to share that you don't have all the answers. So, what do you do instead?


Written by Susan Cartier Liebel

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Need to fire a pro bono client but afraid to do so? Here are some thoughts on why you should and how you should go about firing a pro bono client and feeling okay about it.


Written by Susan Cartier Liebel

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What a business offers is just as important as how it’s delivered. And it’s not just about satisfaction or sales. Exceptional customer service has amazing rebound effects, ranging from referrals, to repeat business. This makes customer service one of the most important factors for business growth. Because customer service is so important, it’s equally important to do it right. Here are 5 tips that small business owners can implement today to ensure they’re maximizing their customer service.


Written by Susan Cartier Liebel

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As lawyers, we encounter a variety of clients, and lawyers must conduct themselves professionally toward their clients. Understanding the fundamentals of the typical clientele can be beneficial. You will come across demanding clients no matter what area of law you practice. Working with different types of clients is a necessary skill. Every client is unique, but lawyers can avoid headaches by recognizing patterns in client types. Read on.


Written by Lyle Solomon

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I was talking to a relative not too long ago. She's an amazing local attorney practicing more than 30 years, the last 10 years as a solo practitioner. Her 20 year old son was talking to her about career paths and he said, 'but your just a small time local lawyer'. Rather than be offended, she invited him to spend the day with her as she did her 'small time local law'. Read on....


Written by Susan Cartier Liebel

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Should professionalism be defined by others...or by you? Jared and I dig into this important question and we come at it from our typical unplugged perspective. We believe you'll find it both enlightening and liberating. Listen and learn.


Written by Susan Cartier Liebel

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With over 87% of law firms having a website, it’s safe to assume you might know about the common methods to market your firm — but what about the less explored options?

Hopefully, these seven ways to market your firm will have you thinking beyond standard tactics like paid ads and SEO. Although these common methods are vital to your marketing strategy, having a holistic approach to how you market your firm will help you create a brand that’s here to stay.


Written by Jared Staver

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We all think we are so busy all the time. We have no time for anything. We are exhausted.We abandon self-care, projects that need attending, And as busy as we are, we accomplish less and less. How does this impact your solo practice, your growth both personal and professional, your income? Is it classic avoidance? Lack of structure? Listen and learn how to avoid busy-ness and tackle the important tasks and feel accomplished in your solo practice..and your life.


Written by Susan Cartier Liebel

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You’ve likely been told time and again (and again) that effective content marketing is essential to building your online presence. That’s genuinely helpful advice—until you consider that many people don’t know what content marketing is exactly.

Or how you define “effective” content.

The good news is that if you’ve ever looked up a recipe, followed a social media account, or watched a how-to video on getting toothpaste out of your hair (don’t ask), then you’ve interacted with successful content. All you need now is the right know-how to start creating lead-winning content for your own business.

What makes content “king?” Read and learn....


Written by Susan Cartier Liebel

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Today's employee is not your father's employee. The hiring market is hot but do you know what employees want today? I'm guessing no. It's a whole new world out there and you had best understand the post-Covid hiring requirements for today's employees. Listen and learn.


Written by Susan Cartier Liebel

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What is your ultimate goal? To retain more of your earnings, right? Today Jared and I talk about six different strategies, not complex, which need to be consistently applied. Learn about these simple options you can execute on to make your financial goals a reality. Listen and learn.


Written by Susan Cartier Liebel

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Just a snippet: If your website is the digital equivalent of a physical storefront, live chat is comparable to a friendly representative at the front desk.

Did you know?

Live chat is 4.6 times more likely than other channels to convert website visitors into customers. Approximately 42% of all customers prefer chat over other communication channels. Of customers who use chat, 82% report satisfaction with their experiences —the highest level of all customer service channels.

Get the links to the studies and download your free guide....


Written by Susan Cartier Liebel

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This is such a forward-thinking podcast. We're talking professional law firm management, bringing in non-lawyers to do those business-growth tasks to take you to the next level in the 21st century. As always, we wander into the stratosphere and you will enjoy the ride. I promise.


Written by Susan Cartier Liebel

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13 Years. We simply cannot believe that Solo Practice University® has been educating and teaching lawyers how to create and grow their solo/small firm practices for 13 years. On March 21, 2009, on the first day of spring, just two months after Bloody Thursday when New York City streets were littered with young associates laid off in the greatest legal industry shake out in recent memory, we opened our virtual doors and said to the world ‘it’s time to work for yourself’. Today, we’re now (hopefully) navigating our way through the tail end of a historic pandemic and most are coming out of it on the other end intact and even more committed to their solo/small firm practices. Read on....


Written by Susan Cartier Liebel

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(Update: This article was originally written in 2014. However, how has the pandemic these past two years impacted your clients’ ability to pay your fees? Here is an updated link, post pandemic, on household income changes. This is a very lengthy post filled with a lot of information and a lot of very worthwhile links to […]


Written by Susan Cartier Liebel

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Is creating a virtual workforce the future of law practice? Why is creating a virtual workforce not getting the attention it deserves in the legal community? Is it the lawyer's personality? The incessant need to micromanage employees? Is it not knowing how to manage a virtual workforce? But what do you do in a crisis, a hurricane, a wildfire, a pandemic? Does your practice just come to a halt? We discuss at length and in depth the pros and cons and then how to overcome the cons. Listen and learn.


Written by Susan Cartier Liebel

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When you decide to start your own law practice, you want reliable, scalable methods of getting clients. These five proven ways worked for me at the start of my career and continue to be effective at attracting cases. Read on.....


Written by Jared Staver

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Are you one who tries to see that all work-related servers, computers, mobile devices, and cloud-based apps are properly secured, but don’t always put the same effort into all your personal devices and accounts? If so, you’re not alone; and my guess is if you’re reading this post you have given little thought to securing one very important personal device, which is the wireless router in your home. Read on....


Written by Mark Bassingthwaighte

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If a global pandemic isn't enough to get you to reimagine your law firm, including your billing model, what are you waiting for? An asteroid strike? Clearly, now is the time to rethink your billing model and start creating a sustainable client-friendly billing model which will give you both profitability and client satisfaction. The models are out there and being reimagined on the daily. The time to revisit and change your model is now. Listen and learn.


Written by Susan Cartier Liebel

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Jared and I discuss one of our favorite topics - the Initial Consultation. While the goal is to get a new client, what you are trying to accomplish is multi-layered and it changes over the course of your legal career. This is a podcast to bookmark and keep referring to over and over, again. Listen and learn.


Written by Susan Cartier Liebel

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In the movie Dangerous Minds, the character Callie Roberts has a gun pointed to her head and the gunman tells her she is going to die. She has no choice. She responds, 'I do have a choice. I can scream or not."

I haven't written a blog post in a very long time. Probably not since before the pandemic began because, like everyone else, there were so many hard choices to make, ones we never thought we'd have to make. But they were still choices even if a choice between two seemingly less than desirable outcomes. Read on....


Written by Susan Cartier Liebel

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What happens in a world of unexpected business interruptions, prolonged business interruptions, life-altering business interruptions and life interruptions. This podcast was recorded earlier during the pandemic but our conversation is timeless because it discusses how to make your practice hyper-efficient all the time. Even those who have worked from home previously, this has changed, too, in a major way. Jared and I discuss the changes and how to make your practice hyper-efficient. And then ask yourself, will you keep these new changes going forward regardless. Listen and learn.


Written by Susan Cartier Liebel

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Every one you meet will have a differing opinion on how to market your law firm. It can be exhausting and confusing. But more importantly, it can make or break your solo/small firm practice. Truly. How do you differentiate yourself? And will you? Listen and learn.


Written by Susan Cartier Liebel

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We've all heard about Alternative Business Structures (ABS) and how they have been kept at bay, for the most part, from changing the legal profession. Well, guess what? We predict the fortress walls will be crumbling and we even hint at who the players will be who will be allowed entry. And maybe sooner than we think. Listen and learn.


Written by Susan Cartier Liebel

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Most new attorneys choose to join an established firm after law school. Others explore the idea of starting a solo firm. How do you decide which is a better fit for you?

Here are some considerations .....


Written by Jared Staver

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None of us saw it coming. Yet today we see the impact of COVID-19 in everything we do. 75% of companies are reporting supply chain disruption. And for the more than 30 million small businesses that make up 99.9 percent of our nation’s commerce, the path ahead is unclear.

The good news? In creating a plan now (even if reactively) to keep your business functioning in times of crisis, you’re not only better able to handle what’s happening at present, you’re also more prepared for the future.

Enter the business continuity plan. Read on....


Written by Susan Cartier Liebel

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How has the pandemic and the fallout from the pandemic changed your feelings about your solo/small firm practice? How has it changed how you will practice going forward? This is a very important discussion because, guess what? Your clients were changed, too. Listen and learn.


Written by Susan Cartier Liebel

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If you were kicking yourself for missing any previous Cyber Monday event.…the wait is over. Cyber Monday 2020 was such an unparalleled success we decided to not just rinse and repeat but get even crazier because, after all, 2021 has been one tumultuous year no matter how you look at it and we could all use a break, right?

If you were kicking yourself for missing any previous Cyber Monday event.…the wait is over. Cyber Monday 2020 was such an unparalleled success we decided to not just rinse and repeat but get even crazier because, after all, 2021 has been one tumultuous year no matter how you look at it and we could all use a break, right?

For 7 days, Cyber Monday, November 29th through Monday, December 6th, when you enroll as semi-annual student at Solo Practice University® your semi-annual tuition will be....click to find out!


Written by Susan Cartier Liebel

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Gartner predicted that 89% of companies would compete mostly on customer experience this year. The customer journey starts with their first introduction to your brand, which will most likely be your website.

Even the most successful brands are in a process of figuring out how to improve customer communication. Bain & Company found that while 80% of companies believe that they deliver superior customer experiences, only 8% of customers agree.

Here are some ways that we’ve found effective.


Written by Susan Cartier Liebel

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How do you create a turn-key law practice from the day you start practicing law? In this day and age of disruptions to society, from pandemics to snow storms to wildfires, how do you create a seamless practice which can handle these disruptions, change of personnel and more, and then be saleable by just 'handing over the key' to the practice? This is the million dollar question and the future of law practice for solo/small firms. Listen and learn.


Written by Susan Cartier Liebel

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If the phrase “self-care” makes you roll your eyes, I get it.

Many small business owners feel like they don’t have the luxury of making time for themselves. Settling in with a book and a cup of tea? Not this afternoon. Soaking away in a bubble bath? Not any time this week. Taking a day trip with the spouse and kids? Maybe next month… Maybe.

The disconnect goes further than that. The very idea of work-life balance doesn’t match up with reality when you’re working in excess of 60, 80, 100 hours per week building your company, managing your team, and meeting customer demands—and there’s still more to do at the end of the day.

But here’s the thing:

You need to practice self-care. You need to make time for that bubble bath, that cup of tea, that day with the family.

When you are your business, you don’t have a choice. Read on and learn why.


Written by Susan Cartier Liebel