From Surviving to Thriving: Growth Levers for Law Firms
Course Number
4658
CLE
Approved for 1.0 hour of General CLE Credit including 1.0 hour of Ethics and 1.0 hour of Technology.
DESCRIPTION
U.S. productivity in the second and third quarters of 2020 rose 10.6 and 4.6 percent, respectively, marking the largest six-month productivity gain since 1965. It’s no coincidence that this surge occurred during the Coronavirus pandemic. Sudden workplace shifts, when forced upon the labor market, lock the lid on the pressure cooker, and innovations that would have taken years to implement when “time allowed,” suddenly take hold — and to great effect. As it turns out, it wasn’t that hard to change, after all, was it?
Catapulted out of their offices and into their homes for remote work, attorneys have been forced to face-off with the “new normal” where marketing, intake, case management, billing, and other elements of their law practices don’t work like they once did. But for an underdog industry long seen as “behind the times,” lacking the technical prowess of other faster-moving sectors, Legal has displayed remarkable gusto and resilience.
In this session, 5 experts from leading legal technology, casework, and marketing solution providers will provide a rundown of the highest-impact changes attorneys can make in their firms right now to not just survive, but thrive. After all, resilience may be sufficient to sustain firms in the short run, but in the long run, substantial business growth — best achieved through incremental, intentional changes — is what’s truly desired.
Join us to learn how to identify and implement the most effective growth levers for your firm in 2021 and beyond. Focusing on both your profits and your productivity, we’ll cover:
- How to take advantage of legal practice management software, including key workflows and integrations
- New marketing tactics, channels, and trends to capitalize on — plus, current marketing strategies to de-emphasize
- New business models that center on non-hourly fees, leverage freelance lawyers, and expand profit margins
- Screening, scheduling, and intake systems that move better potential clients into your book of business, faster and with less of a chase
- Billing and payment solutions that help attorneys capture and retain more of their earnings, automatically
For solo and small-firm attorneys, the nimble nature of their practices allows them to move fast and light. Every solution presented will be aimed at their success, specifically, with all recommendations being affordable, expandable, and practical for no- or low-staff firms who don’t have dedicated IT, marketing, operations, or accounting support.
Learn new systems you can implement yourself or with service providers — no new hires required — and leave with a game plan for growth that’s within reach for any size firm.
RESOURCES
From Surviving to Thriving: Growth Levers for Law Firms – Slides
Smith.AI
For more educational content from Smith.AI, see: https://academy.smith.ai and https://youtube.com/smithai
To learn more about Smith.ai, a Florida Bar member benefit: https://smith.ai/member-benefits/the-florida-bar
To learn more about Clio, a Florida Bar member benefit: https://landing.clio.com/florida-bar
LawPay
To learn more about LawPay, a Florida Bar member benefit: https://www.lawpay.com/member-programs/florida-bar/
LawClerk
To learn more about LawClerk: https://www.lawclerk.legal/
SPEAKER BIO(s)
Maddy Martin
Maddy Martin is the head of growth and education at Smith.ai, which provides integrated communication services for small businesses (primarily solo and small law firms), including their virtual receptionist & intake service, live website chat, and text answering. She has spent the last decade growing tech startups from New York to California, and has expertise in digital marketing, lead conversion, email marketing, social media, SEO, affiliates, and event marketing.
Mark Homer
As founder and CEO of law firm marketing agency Get Noticed Get Found, Mark brings over twenty-five years of experience in marketing and technology to help lawyers grow their law firm business. He leads an amazing team that delivers effective results to clients with a focus on matching marketing strategies to a law firm’s business goals. Through his best-selling book, Online Law Practice Strategies, his speaking, active blog, and online videos, Mark’s goal is to help law firms of all sizes whether they are a client or not.
Kristin Tyler
Kristin Tyler is Co-Founder of LAWCLERK and leads the marketing and business development efforts, with a focus on helping busy attorneys re-think their workflows. She is also a partner at the law firm of Garman Turner Gordon where she has practiced in trusts and estates for over 15 years. She has seen firsthand how LAWCLERK can help attorneys be more productive and profitable and is committed to demonstrating that being a lawyer doesn’t have to mean working insane hours and missing out on time doing the things you enjoy with the people you love. In addition to being a lawyer and entrepreneur, she is a proud mom and firm believer that the practice of law can be rewarding despite its daily demands
Nefra MacDonald
Nefra MacDonald is a legal technology and wellness speaker who, as the team lead of Affinity Partnerships at Clio, works with bar associations and other legal organizations to help lawyers succeed in their practices. Having worked in legal for over a decade, Nefra understands the pain points that affect legal professionals, and she uses her experience to help lawyers streamline processes and run a better business. A graduate of the University of Miami, Nefra is passionate about bringing a practical lens to each one of her presentations, so each attendee leaves with a takeaway that can improve their day-to-day. She has been a speaker at the Clio Cloud Conference, ABA TECHSHOW, and at many other legal conferences across North America.
You must report your completed courses online using the course number referenced above.
Post CLE Credits
LEGALFUEL CLE PRESENTATIONS ARE INTENDED FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY AND DO NOT REPLACE PROFESSIONAL JUDGMENT. STATEMENTS OF FACT AND OPINIONS EXPRESSED ARE THOSE OF THE PRESENTERS INDIVIDUALLY AND, UNLESS EXPRESSLY STATED TO THE CONTRARY, ARE NOT THE OPINION OF THE FLORIDA BAR OR ITS COMMITTEES. THE FLORIDA BAR DOES NOT ENDORSE OR APPROVE, AND ASSUMES NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR, THE CONTENT, ACCURACY OR COMPLETENESS OF THE INFORMATION PRESENTED. ANY FEEDBACK SHOULD BE PROVIDED TO THE EVENT ORGANIZER.