Counsel to Counsel - Career Advice for Lawyers – Détails, épisodes et analyse

In this episode, I’m taking a break from interviewing guests to share some exciting news—my new book, Think Like a Lawyer, Act Like an Entrepreneur, is being published by the American Bar Association in late March!

If you’ve ever struggled with marketing yourself or felt uncomfortable with business development, this book is for you. As lawyers, we’re trained to be analytical and risk-averse—great for legal work, but not always helpful when it comes to growing a practice. In the book, I share practical strategies to help you shift your mindset, build relationships, and integrate marketing into your professional life in a way that feels natural.

Tune in to hear about my own journey with business development, why I wrote this book, and how it can help you market yourself without feeling like a salesperson.

To order, click here.

In this episode, business coach Dominic Grew returns to discuss how solo and small firm lawyers can strategically grow their practices without overextending themselves. Dominic shares practical insights on leveraging time, outsourcing non-billable tasks, and using fractional resources before committing to full-time hires.

Key Topics:

• When to consider hiring support staff or associates
• The benefits of fractional hires and outsourcing tasks like bookkeeping and IT
• Avoiding common mistakes when expanding a law practice
• How to balance delegation while maintaining quality
• Real-world scenarios: Hiring a first employee, sharing an associate, and weighing contract help vs. joining a larger firm

Why You Should Listen:
If you’ve ever wondered how to scale your law firm while maintaining efficiency and profitability, this episode provides actionable strategies to help you make informed decisions about growth.

Additional Resources:

• Episode 110: Getting to No – Turning Leads into Business with Dominic Grew

In this episode of Counsel to Counsel, I am joined by Jeffrey Soilson, Esq. and Ashleigh Louis, Ph.D., founders of Quantum ADR, an innovative co-mediation practice. Quantum ADR takes an interdisciplinary approach to conflict resolution by combining Jeff's 25 years of family law expertise with Ashleigh's deep understanding of psychology.

Together, they offer a unique "two-coach" model that addresses both the legal and emotional aspects of disputes, creating a more holistic process for their clients. In this episode, Jeff and Ashleigh share their insights into how their combined expertise helps clients navigate complex situations like divorce, co-parenting, and even workplace conflicts while also fostering skills for conflict prevention.

The conversation highlights the distinct advantages of having both legal and psychological perspectives in mediation, such as the ability to understand emotional blockages that often hinder resolution and the importance of aligning clients’ actions with their core values. Jeff and Ashleigh describe how their model aims to prevent future conflicts by helping clients resolve their inner struggles, ultimately leading to more effective and lasting agreements. They also discuss how their co-mediation practice is structured to be more cost-efficient compared to traditional litigation, allowing clients to save both time and money while receiving comprehensive support through the mediation process.

Tune in to learn how this innovative approach to mediation could redefine how we think about dispute resolution.

In this episode of Counsel to Counsel, host Steve Seckler interviews Naïs Mouret, a global leadership advisor and certified emotional intelligence consultant. Naïs shares insights on the critical role of emotional intelligence (EI) and physical well-being in the legal profession. Drawing on her experience working at the United Nations and her extensive background in leadership consulting, she highlights how empathy, resilience, and mindfulness are essential tools for both professional success and personal satisfaction. Naïs emphasizes the importance of developing EI to better connect with clients and colleagues, particularly in high-pressure environments like law firms.

Naïs also discusses the profound impact of physical well-being on professional performance, advocating for small, practical steps that lawyers can integrate into their daily routines to enhance both mental and physical health. From mindfulness exercises to movement breaks, she shares tips on how busy legal professionals can foster resilience and maintain balance. This episode provides valuable advice for young lawyers on building long-term success by prioritizing both emotional intelligence and personal well-being.

Related Episodes and Resources

• Episode 139-Conquering Perfectionism in the Practice of Law with Jordana Confino
• Episode 135-Tackling Mental Health Issues in the Law with Amy Levine and LCL
• Episode 130-Emotional Intelligence and EQ i-2.0 With Susan Schwartz
• How Developing Emotional Intelligence Will Lead to Long-term Success for Lawyers
•  The Power of Physical Wellbeing - Beyond Self-help and Mental Health Practices

[Reach out to Stephen Seckler for PDF versions of articles]

In this episode of the Counsel to Counsel podcast, host Stephen Seckler is joined by Jordana Confino, a certified professional coach and founder of JC Coaching & Consulting. Together, they explore the pervasive issue of perfectionism within the legal profession, discussing how it often leads to anxiety, burnout, and career stagnation. Jordana shares her personal journey from practicing law while grappling with perfectionism to discovering the transformative power of positive psychology, which helped her redefine success and well-being in her career and life.

Jordana delves into the cultural and psychological roots of perfectionism in law, explaining how it can hinder career growth and creativity despite being viewed as a badge of honor in the profession. She outlines effective strategies for overcoming perfectionist tendencies, including self-compassion, distanced self-talk, and setting healthy boundaries. Through science-backed techniques and her own experiences, Jordana provides valuable insights for lawyers looking to achieve sustainable success and fulfillment without sacrificing their mental health.

 Additional Resources 

• Self-Compassion Guide — Jordana Confino
• Episode 135-Tackling Mental Health Issues in the Law with Amy Levine and LCL
• Episode 70-Shailini George on Doing Well and Being Well in the Law

In this episode Stephen Seckler speaks with Lana Manganiello, author of the new book Careers in Business Law: Forging Your Path to Success (American Bar Association 2024).

Lana shares insights from her extensive experience working with AmLaw 200 firms on business strategy, attorney development, and implementing innovative growth initiatives. They discuss the evolving landscape of business law, the importance of aligning career choices with personal values, and how thought leadership can be a powerful tool for lawyers.

Whether you're a law student, early-career lawyer, or seasoned professional, this episode offers valuable advice on navigating and succeeding in the legal profession. Tune in to learn more about Lana's career journey, her motivations for writing the book, and the key lessons she hopes readers will take away.

Additional Episodes

• Episode 68-Are there Gender Differences in Legal Marketing?—What Men and Women Can Learn From Each Other About Building a Law Practice
• Episode 118-Paths to Partnership in 2023 and Beyond-With Laura Terrell

In this episode of Counsel to Counsel, I'm taking a summer pause from interviewing to catch up on some projects.  I share with you my thoughts on using time blocking as a way to get to the things that are important but not urgent.

Related Episodes

• Episode 123-Setting Your 2024 Goals and Creating Your “To Don't" List with Jennifer Forester and Wendy Merrill
• Episode 57- Billable Work v. Investment Hours (Dr. Sarah Reiff-Hekking on Time Management)

Law is a conservative profession where change happens slowly. Law firms generally lag far behind accounting firms in creating new models. But since the explosion of the internet in the late 1990s, that rate of change has begun to accelerate. And with the rapid proliferation of ChatGPT and other AI tools, law will surely undergo a lot more change in the next five years.

In this episode, we dive into the innovative legal model of Aliant with Managing Partner Jacob Stein. Aliant is a global network of independent mid-sized law firms that combines the credibility of a large firm with the flexibility and profitability of a boutique practice.

Jacob discusses how Aliant LLP operates as a distributed/remote law firm in the US, offering back-office support while allowing lawyers to maintain high profit margins and operate independently. We explore the benefits for lawyers, including increased control over workload, high profit margins, and reduced stress, as well as the advantages for clients, such as personalized service and access to a global network. Tune in to learn more about how Aliant is revolutionizing the legal industry and providing a new model for legal practice.

Attorney well-being continues to be a hot topic in the legal community.  While the most severe effects of the pandemic are now behind us, mental health continues to be a significant issue in our profession. But there is a lot being done to address these challenges.

To provide some context, several years ago, the Report of the Task Force on Lawyer Well-Being, issued by the American Bar Association, Conference of Chief Judges, and other legal organizations, called well-being an essential element of a lawyer’s duty of competence. In Massachusetts, Lawyers Concerned for Lawyers plays a vital role in supporting attorneys, and the Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts has established a Standing Committee on Lawyer Well-Being to enhance the well-being of lawyers, judges, and law students in the Commonwealth.

In this episode, my former colleague, Amy Levine discusses the many initiatives going on in Massachusetts and around the country.  Amy is the Director of Programs and Volunteers at Lawyers Concerned for Lawyers (LCL) of Massachusetts. Amy has over 20 years of experience in the legal industry.  She has worked in in marketing, human resources, and legal recruiting and has a background in social work.   In 2018, Amy was one of the first guests on this podcast where she talked about interviewing.

At LCL, Amy creates programs for the Massachusetts legal community and provides customized educational programming for various legal organizations. She also recruits and manages LCL’s volunteers, who assist in running recovery groups, provide peer monitoring services, and act as ambassadors for the organization.

We discuss the critical role of Lawyers Assistance Programs around the country, the extensive range of services offered by LCL, and the impact these programs have on lawyer well-being.

As the baby boomer generation of lawyers approaches retirement, many firms are facing the looming challenge of ensuring a seamless transition for their clients. This process is not just about maintaining business continuity but also about safeguarding the firm's legacy and client relationships. Unfortunately, many firms are not adequately addressing these issues, which can lead to significant disruptions.

In this episode, I speak with a consultant who is working with law firms to change this.

David Wood is a former senior partner with an AmLaw 100 firm, who planned and executed the succession of his entire $6 million practice to talented younger partners before he retired.  Recognizing that many law firms struggle to achieve this outcome, he now advises firms and practice groups on retirement succession issues and strategies.

Key Takeaways

• Many law firms struggle with effective succession planning when senior partners retire
• Transitioning client relationships and revenue streams to younger partners is crucial
• Open communication about retirement plans and identifying successors is key
• Retiring partners need a vision for their post-law life to ease the transition