Great Practice. Great Life. by Atticus – Details, episodes & analysis

On this episode of Great Practice, Great Life, Sue Ann Van Dermyden, a trailblazer in employment law, shares her remarkable journey from a defense attorney to the founder of a firm dedicated to workplace investigations.

Sue Ann’s insights reveal shifts in the field, such as the recognition of sexual harassment as discrimination and the influence of the Me Too movement. She illustrates the art of seizing opportunities, niching, and marketing in a constantly evolving legal landscape. Her story encourages legal professionals to learn from the best, study cultural and legal currents, and innovate ahead of the curve.

Steve and Sue Ann’s conversation explores the intricacies of workplace investigations, from defining scopes and gathering evidence to presenting findings. Sue Ann candidly discusses the challenges and successes of scaling a business within this niche, emphasizing the importance of succession planning and sustainability. With strategic support from leaders like Atticus, her firm has mapped out a future-focused growth strategy, underscoring the power of planning and adaptability in business development.

As we venture into the integration of AI in legal practice, Sue Ann champions moving past traditional billable hours and embracing a forward-thinking mindset. Her pioneering efforts include founding the Association of Workplace Investigators and launching T9 Mastered for Title IX training, showcasing how passion and innovation lead to new professional pathways. By sharing personal anecdotes and experiences, she highlights the importance of community, collaboration, and aligning work with personal passions, inspiring lawyers to forge fulfilling careers beyond conventional limits.

In this episode, you will hear:

• Sue Ann Van Dermyden's journey from defense attorney to founder of a workplace investigations firm
• Impact of the Me Too movement and shifts in recognizing sexual harassment as discrimination
• Challenges and strategies in scaling a niche legal business
• Integration of AI in legal practice and moving beyond traditional billable hours
• Founding the Association of Workplace Investigators and launching T9 Mastered for Title IX training
• Importance of succession planning, sustainability, and strategic growth
• Emphasis on community, collaboration, and aligning work with personal passions

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If there’s a topic you would like us to cover on an upcoming episode, please email us at steve.riley@atticusadvantage.com.

Supporting Resources:

• Sue Ann Van Dermyden: www.vmlawcorp.com/sue-ann-van-dermyden-senior-partner

• Van Dermyden Makus Law Corporation: www.vmlawcorp.com

• Association of Workplace Investigators: www.awi.org

• T9 Mastered: t9mastered.com

• Law Firm Coaching: atticusadvantage.com/coaching/ 

• Glenn Gutek, Practice Advisor: atticusadvantage.com/team/glenn-gutek/ 

• The Summit: nsslfc.com

• Grow Your Law Practice with AI: atticusadvantage.com/workshops/grow-your-law-practice-with-ai/ 

Episode Credits

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you.

Can you transform your legal practice into a thriving success story while staying true to your values?

On this episode of Great Practice, Great Life, join us as we uncover the secrets of effective marketing with Steve’s partners, Mark Powers and Shawn McNalis. We navigate the intricate marketing landscape for small and solo law firms, emphasizing the crucial blend of traditional and digital strategies. With our “pyramid of marketing effectiveness,” discover how to harness the power of personal interactions to build trust and complement them with digital tools to amplify your reach. We offer a blueprint for attorneys eager to balance professional success with personal fulfillment by aligning their marketing efforts with their core values.

Referral marketing holds a timeless charm, yet many professionals shy away from it. We explore why face-to-face interactions can be more lucrative than relying solely on digital strategies and why combining both is key to cultivating lasting client relationships. Learn to step into marketing comfortably, choosing familiar settings and crafting scripts that ease you into these essential conversations. We share practical tips to overcome the fear of self-promotion, turning networking into an enjoyable and rewarding experience. Build confidence and make impactful connections, focusing on integrating old-school techniques with modern approaches.

We dissect the evolution from static brochures to dynamic lead-generation platforms and the influence of online reviews on a firm’s reputation. As we delve into making effective referral requests, our conversation highlights how even a simple request can dramatically boost your business. By fostering a culture of genuine interaction and understanding your target audience, you can move from being a good attorney to a great rainmaker.

This episode is a comprehensive guide, bridging traditional wisdom with modern tactics to empower ethical lawyers to safeguard clients and thrive in their practices.

In this episode, you will hear:

• Integration of traditional and digital marketing strategies for law firms

• Emphasis on the importance and effectiveness of referral-based marketing

• Exploration of creating comfortable and strategic environments for marketing

• Guidance on utilizing online marketing tools and platforms effectively

• Discussion on the significance of online reviews and managing client feedback

• Insights into crafting effective referral requests in a professional setting

• Advice on establishing marketing habits to enhance business growth

Follow and Review:

We’d love for you to follow us if you haven’t yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast.

If there’s a topic you would like us to cover on an upcoming episode, please email us at steve.riley@atticusadvantage.com.

Supporting Resources:

• How Good Attorneys Become Great Rainmakers: A Breakthrough Referral Marketing Process by Mark Powers and Shawn McNalis: atticusadvantage.com/books

• Episode 095: Building a Dream: A Trial Lawyer’s Success with Social Media and Referral Marketing with Eric Rosen: atticusadvantage.com/podcast/build-a-solo-practice-with-social-media-and-referrals/ 

• DISC Assessment: atticusadvantage.com/disc-assessment

• Groundhog Day – Ned Ryerson Scene: www.youtube.com/watch?v=XqSYC_vwhDg

• The Path to a Great Practice & Great Life: atticusadvantage.com/workshops/the-path-to-a-great-practice-great-life/ 

Episode Credits

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you.

What if shifting from a constant state of doing to one of being could transform your loneliness into deeper connections?

On this episode of Great Practice, Great Life, Steve welcomes Brother Curtis to challenge the notion that leaders in helping professions have it all figured out and dive into the necessity of seeking help. We share Brother Curtis’s profound insights on embracing joy and gratitude, moving beyond marketing’s empty promises, and finding genuine fulfillment by reconciling internal rules of love and belonging ingrained since childhood.

Steve and Brother Curtis also explore the shadow side of connectivity, questioning how well marketing messages deliver on their promises of fulfillment. Through Brother Curtis's wisdom, we discuss the importance of self-reflection, authenticity, and understanding one’s internal rules of love and belonging. Learn how embracing self-love, starting each day with self-appreciation, and being your own best friend can lead to personal peace and authentic connections. Brother Curtis’s teachings remind us that the journey to connection begins with nurturing self-worth and gratitude.

Finally, discover how humility, resilience, and humor can balance the seriousness of life, drawing inspiration from Viktor Frankl’s ability to find humor even in dire circumstances. Brother Curtis shares how gratitude and resilience are vital in crafting a fulfilling life.

This episode offers a masterclass in gratitude with Brother Curtis. We leave you with practical tools to foster authentic connections and live joyously. Let Brother Curtis’s messages of wisdom and humility guide you toward a more meaningful existence.

In this episode, you will hear:

• Exploring the power of shifting from constant doing to simply being to foster deeper connections and personal joy
• Understanding the shadow side of connectivity
• How marketing promises often fail to deliver authentic fulfillment
• Embracing self-love and gratitude as essential practices for personal growth and meaningful connections
• Encouraging self-reflection and humility to connect with your true self and reconcile societal norms of love and belonging
• Incorporating humor and gratitude into daily life, inspired by Viktor Frankl's resilience and finding laughter in adversity
• The importance of living in the present moment and clarifying your vocation as a path to authenticity and fulfillment

Follow and Review:

We’d love for you to follow us if you haven’t yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast.

If there’s a topic you would like us to cover on an upcoming episode, please email us at steve.riley@atticusadvantage.com.

Supporting Resources:

• Brother Curtis Almquist, SSJE: www.ssje.org/br-curtis-almquist

• Society of Saint John the Evangelist, Massachusetts: www.ssje.org

• Our Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation The U.S. Surgeon General’s Advisory on the Healing Effects of Social Connection and Community: www.hhs.gov/about/news/2023/05/03/new-surgeon-general-advisory-raises-alarm-about-devastating-impact-epidemic-loneliness-isolation-united-states.html

• Kindness: An Intervention for our Disquieted World: www.kolbetimes.com/kindness

• Life Together: Surviving and Thriving With Others: www.kolbetimes.com/life-together

• Wonder: Living Life in Utter Amazement: www.kolbetimes.com/wonder

• The Summit: nsslfc.com

Episode Credits

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you.

Young attorneys face big decisions when they leave law school. Should I start my own practice? Should I join a firm? What will I specialize in?

Even if they’re just starting out, young lawyers can have a big impact in the legal field. Their fresh ideas and willingness to try new things can give them a distinct advantage over their more seasoned colleagues.

Danny Mazza and Bri Niro, partners in the firm Mazza + Niro, are experiencing rapid growth. Danny and Bri officially became partners just in the past year, but they have a fantastic rapport--each having unique, complementary skills.

In this episode of Great Practice, Great Life, you’ll hear Danny and Bri share how they met, why Bri decided to join Danny in a partnership, and how they’ve used what they’ve learned from Atticus to propel their practice forward.

In this episode, you will hear:

• Danny Mazza’s background and how he decided to specialize in probate law after losing his parents 43 days apart
• How Bri Niro met Danny and why they decided to become law partners
• Why Bri decided from a young age what kind of career she wanted and how practicing law became her goal
• How Bri and Danny grew their practice before they joined the Atticus community
• Why Danny went into practice for himself instead of joining a firm and how he leveraged his outgoing personality to build a referral business
• Bri’s approach to getting business in the door using referrals to other professionals
• How they became involved with Atticus and how it helped them experience tremendous growth with calendar blocking
• What Bri and Danny have learned about owning their own business

Subscribe and Review

Have you subscribed to our podcast? We’d love for you to subscribe if you haven’t yet. 
We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast.

Supporting Resources:

• Practice Growth Diagnostic 
• Mazza and Niro Law Firm

Episode Credits

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com.  Let them know we sent you.

It can be hard to let go of control--especially as an attorney running your own law firm. One advantage of relinquishing it can be increased profitability and taking back your time to accomplish more important tasks.

Can non-lawyers successfully implement the initial meeting process with prospective clients? Steve believes they can. Attorneys often become bogged down in the details--especially in initial meetings--and spend valuable time responding to emails and offering free legal advice.

Steve’s guest on this episode of Great Practice, Great Life is Patti Paz. Patti is an adjunct practice advisor, paralegal, and team leader. She also co-leads Practice Growth Programs and is Steve’s co-instructor for a program teaching non-lawyers to do initial meetings.

You’ll hear the three common objections attorneys have to non-lawyers conducting initial client meetings, the five Ps of an initial meeting for non-lawyers, and why a process map is crucial to teach non-lawyers how to navigate these intake meetings.

In this episode, you will hear:

• The three common objections attorneys have to non-lawyers conducting initial client meetings
• Why emotional needs are about the attorney and not the client
• How positivity and actively listening to your team member can help make the transition to non-lawyer initial consults smoother
• The five Ps of an initial meeting for non-lawyers and how a process map can help
• Why it’s crucial to understand what appeals to the prospect during the intake process
• Why the intake process is part of an ongoing improvement process inside the firm
• How having a non-lawyer conducting the intake process can save you time and revenue

Subscribe and Review

Have you subscribed to our podcast? We’d love for you to subscribe if you haven’t yet.

We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast.

Supporting Resources:

• Patti Paz: Practice Advisor & Attorney
• DISC Assessment
• Build My Great Team: Law Firm Staffing with Atticus
• Law Firm Team Leader Certifications

Episode Credits

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com. Let them know we sent you.

In a booming economy, running a successful law practice can feel effortless. The engine chugs along--often with only minor supervision. But when the economy changes and inflation comes into play, the practice model must also evolve.

This episode of Great Practice, Great Life explores how to maintain a well-oiled machine when attorneys and practice employees alike are struggling to overcome increasing expenses and stagnant wages amidst inflation.

Glenn Finch is a longtime friend of Steve’s and a partner at Atticus. Married for 20 years with four children and five grandchildren, Glenn is also a Colonel in the Florida National Guard, has a black belt in martial arts, is a master scuba diver, and served for 12 years as a Senior Pastor for three multi-staffed churches in Florida.

From their perspectives as experienced Practice Advisors, Steve and Glenn explore different and unique ways to continue marketing a law practice when clients tighten their budgets in the face of increasing necessary expenses.

In this episode, you will hear:

• Why Glenn is passionate about creating resilient practices while facing inflation.
• Why competing with increasing wages is a zero-sum game.
• How satisfaction helps retain employees.
• What “sharpening the client mix” means and why it’s a key strategy.
• The difference between marketing and advertising and how time in marketing building relationships can overcome money spent in advertising.
• Why protecting your well-being is vital to being able to help others.

Subscribe and Review

Have you subscribed to our podcast? We’d love for you to subscribe if you haven’t yet.

We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast.

Supporting Resources:

• Law Firm Coaching Programs
• Glenn Finch 

Episode Credits

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com.  Let them know we sent you.

Denise Gamez is the Director of Member Services at Atticus. She started with our company as a salesperson. However, she showed such tremendous talent and understanding of our customers’ challenges that she began doing the Practice Growth Diagnostic which is the first step of the client journey inside of Atticus. She also started speaking on behalf of Atticus at various engagements.

I’m bringing Denise onto the podcast today to talk about our Double Your Revenue™ Workshop and why so many attorneys find it so scary. If you’re unfamiliar, the Double Your Revenue™ Workshop is a one-day workshop designed to help lawyers do just that: double their firm's revenue.

Throughout our conversation, Denise and I discuss the various reasons why attorneys say they’re afraid of taking part in this workshop. We’re explaining what scares them and stops them cold as they go through this day of reframing their mindset and up-leveling their firm.

In this episode, you will hear:

• Why doubling your revenue itself can feel scary.
• Why changing your mindset is scary.
• Why attorneys get stuck.
• The importance of knowing your why.
• Why this workshop will work for any type of firm.
• How hiring more team members can increase your revenue.
• How the workshop will teach you how to start taking more time off.

Subscribe and Review

Have you subscribed to our podcast? We’d love for you to subscribe if you haven’t yet.

We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast.

Supporting Resources:

• Law Firm Coaching Programs
• Denise Cullen

Episode Credits

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com.  Let them know we sent you.

Carla Johnson is an author, speaker, innovative thinker, and engaging personality. She recently spoke at our summit and did an amazing job. Today, she is joining us to talk about innovation.

The truth is, many of us lawyers have trouble with innovation. There are a variety of challenges and traps that come with innovating in the legal field. Additionally, whether someone is a lawyer or not, innovation doesn’t come naturally as adults.

On top of all of this, there’s also the question of why it matters. You might wonder if innovation brings any benefit to attorneys. Should you care about it at all?

In this episode, Carla is going to cover all of this and more. She’s going to teach us how to consistently come up with great ideas that have an actual impact on our business and work. Join us for a great conversation.

In this episode, you will hear:

• How Carla got into innovation.
• Why innovation needs to be taught and practiced.
• Innovation and efficiency don’t coexist.
• How to think about innovation like a business tool.
• Why simplicity rules the day.
• How to become more innovative.

Subscribe and Review

Have you subscribed to our podcast? We’d love for you to subscribe if you haven’t yet.

We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast.

Supporting Resources:

https://www.carlajohnson.co/ 

https://www.carlajohnson.co/rethinkbook/ 

https://www.carlajohnson.co/experiences-the-7th-era-of-marketing/

Episode Credits

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com.  Let them know we sent you.

You’ve got to slow down to speed up.

That’s what I like to tell my fellow attorneys. Most of the time, we're so rushed and so time-pressed that we don't have the opportunity to stop and think about things. In other words, we jump to conclusions. What we should do instead is slow down, examine how certain things occur in our practices, absorb those things, and ask good questions about them.

Because I’m so passionate about this, I wanted to bring Dan Markovitz onto the podcast today. His book, The Conclusion Trap, puts a hard stop on jumping to conclusions. Dan has done a tremendous job of simplifying something called lean thinking for all people.

In this episode, we’ll talk more about Dan’s work, including his book. We’ll also discuss the conclusion trap in great detail and Dan will teach us how to prevent ourselves from falling into it as we’re building a great practice and a great life.

In this episode, you will hear:

• Dan’s background.
• What he means when he talks about waste.
• His inspiration for The Conclusion Trap.
• How we should be doing discovery processes as lawyers.
• What to do when an issue pops up in your firm.
• Why the answer to a problem is never that you don’t have enough of something.
• Generality vs. specificity.
• The five why’s.
• How Dan applied these practices with a real-life client.

Subscribe and Review

Have you subscribed to our podcast? We’d love for you to subscribe if you haven’t yet.

We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast.

Supporting Resources:

Markovitz Consulting

The Conclusion Trap

Episode Credits

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com.  Let them know we sent you.

What’s your first instinct when you fail? Do you speak it over yourself by labeling yourself as a failure? Or, do you give yourself grace?

The key to having not only a great practice but also a great life is to give yourself grace. Remember, all you have to do is simply start again. This is what will propel you forward and lead to progress.

In this episode, my dear friend Victor Medina is joining us to talk more about this and other key strategies for running a successful law practice. Victor is a fantastic attorney who has built an amazing practice himself. What makes his story so unique is that not only has he walked the path of growth obstacles, but he also leads the practice growth program as an adjunct practice advisor.

Tune in to hear our conversation on giving yourself grace, beginning again, and overcoming common obstacles when starting your own practice.

In this episode, you will hear:

• Victor’s career history.
• Why he chose to go to law school.
• The story of how he started his own practice.
• How he began thinking about his practice from the perspective of a business owner and not just a lawyer.
• What to do if you see hiring as an obstacle.
• One of the biggest obstacles Victor faced early on and how he overcame it.
• Why you need to give yourself grace.

Subscribe and Review

Have you subscribed to our podcast? We’d love for you to subscribe if you haven’t yet.

We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast.

Supporting Resources:

• Victor Medina 
• Law Firm Coaching Programs

Episode Credits

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com.  Let them know we sent you.