Grow Your Law Firm Ken Hardison

Welcome to episode 231 of the Grow Your Law Firm podcast, hosted by Ken Hardison. In this episode, Ken sits down with Seann Patrick Malloy, Managing Partner of Malloy Law Offices.
 
Seann started his personal injury law practice in 2013 and successfully grew it from a single employee to a team of 52. His firm operates in Maryland, D.C., and Virginia, with offices in all three jurisdictions. Seann enjoys exploring innovative methods to scale the law firm, experimenting with various marketing strategies, and fine-tuning operations. He is also passionate about discussing the business aspects of personal injury law. Seann resides in Bethesda, Maryland, with his wife and their twin 15-year-olds.
 
What you’ll learn about in this episode:
1. Overcoming Initial Struggles and Sparking Growth
Seann shared his early challenges were a lack of systems and marketing strategy. A pivotal moment came when he attended a PILMMA conference in 2016, revolutionizing his approach. 2. Implementing Strategic Changes Post-Conference
Seann took decisive action by hiring his first intake person, which proved pivotal. Emphasized the crucial role of effective lead handling and intake processes in driving growth. 3. Building a Robust Intake Department
Recognized the intake department's critical role in converting leads into cases. A well-structured intake team has significantly driven the firm's impressive growth. 4. Gaining Insights from Mastermind Groups
Joining Ken's mastermind group in 2020 provided Seann with valuable insights and strategies. Peer-to-peer learning and support have been instrumental in navigating challenges and achieving success. 5. Leveraging Effective Marketing Strategies
Seann's firm has invested substantially in Google Ads and in-house digital marketing. Exploring offshore talent for specialized roles has further enhanced their marketing capabilities.  
Resources: 
https://www.malloy-law.com/
https://www.facebook.com/MalloyLawOffices/
https://www.instagram.com/malloy_law/
https://twitter.com/MalloyLawLLC
https://www.linkedin.com/in/seann-malloy
 
Additional Resources: 
 
https://www.pilmma.org/aiworkshop
https://www.pilmma.org/the-mastermind-effect
https://www.pilmma.org/resources
https://www.pilmma.org/mastermind

Welcome to episode 230 of the Grow Your Law Firm podcast, hosted by Ken Hardison. In this episode, Ken sits down with Mary Ellen Murrah, the Chief Strategy & Marketing Officer at Vista Consulting Team.
 
She joined the Vista Team in 2019. Mary Ellen spent more than 16 years managing and marketing a national, legal case management software company. That position introduced her to thousands of personal injury law firms across the country. She was a familiar face at annual legal events and a frequent voice on topics ranging from legal marketing to data integrity. Over the years, she’s forged meaningful relationships with legal vendors, which has provided keen insight on almost every corner of the legal industry. She is skilled in identifying law firm business improvement opportunities and brings her extensive operations, team management, and industry knowledge to the Vista team. Mary Ellen has a true passion for tackling projects with common sense management. Her eye for detail, human resources experience, and deep operations skills are an asset to help law firms grow their businesses and help attorneys foster and maintain efficient, profitable practices.

Mary Ellen lives in Baltimore, MD, where she and her wife orchestrate the chaos of life with two teenage boys and three rescue dogs. She enjoys crafting and baking with her family. With a passion for grammar, travel, and terrible puns, she feels she’s landed at home with the Vista team.
 
What you’ll learn about in this episode:
 
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Resources: 
Guest Socials
 
Additional Resources: 
 
https://www.pilmma.org/aiworkshop
https://www.pilmma.org/the-mastermind-effect
https://www.pilmma.org/resources
https://www.pilmma.org/mastermind

Welcome to episode 229 of the Grow Your Law Firm podcast, hosted by Ken Hardison. In this episode, Ken sits down with John M. Cooper, Founding partner at Cooper Hurley Injury Lawyers and a veteran of Virginia personal injury law practice, to delve into the complexities of railroad worker injury cases governed by FELA and the challenges of dealing with railroad companies like Norfolk Southern and CSX. They highlight the importance of expert witnesses, early legal representation, and understanding the specific rules of railroad injury law to secure fair compensation for injured workers.
 
John M. Cooper is one of the founding partners at Cooper Hurley Injury Lawyers and a veteran of Virginia personal injury law practice. A native Virginian, he was raised in Norfolk and Virginia Beach by parents who practiced law. After graduating from the University of Virginia School of Law in 1988, John returned home to work for a federal judge in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, Norfolk Division, which launched his passion for and career in personal injury law.
 
What you’ll learn about in this episode:
 
1. Filings claims under the Federal Employers Liability Act (FELA):
- Railroad worker injury cases governed by the Federal Employers Liability Act (FELA) offer unique challenges due to the complex laws involved.
- FELA allows employees of major railroads like Norfolk Southern and CSX to sue for damages, requiring specialized legal expertise for fair compensation.
 
2. Expert Witnesses and Railroad Injury Law:
- Expert witnesses are crucial in proving liability and dealing with railroad companies' claims departments.
- It is essential in these cases to deal with slow responses from Amtrak and understand the specific rules and procedures of railroad injury law.
 
3. Legal Representation Crucial for Injured Workers:
- The adversarial relationship between railroad companies and injured workers necessitates early and robust legal representation.
- Amtrak's high duty of care to passengers and potential obstacles posed by mandatory arbitration clauses make legal representation crucial.
 
4. Legal Complexities and Nationwide Practices in Railroad Crossing Accidents:
- Visibility issues at railroad crossings leading to accidents often place responsibility on the driver, creating further legal complexities.
- Navigating the nationwide practice of railroad injury cases is facilitated by remote communication options and in-house investigators.
 
5. Strategic Venue Selection in Amtrak Injury Cases for Optimal Jurisdiction:
- Venue options in railroad injury cases can be creative and strategic, allowing for flexibility in choosing the most advantageous jurisdiction.
- Amtrak cases present additional complexities in venue selection, where representing clients across different states can be managed effectively for their best interests.
 
Resources: 
refertocooperhurley.com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-m-cooper-a70a3a44/
 
Additional Resources: 
 
https://www.pilmma.org/aiworkshop
https://www.pilmma.org/the-mastermind-effect
https://www.pilmma.org/resources
https://www.pilmma.org/mastermind

New boost

Welcome to episode 228 of the Grow Your Law Firm podcast, hosted by Ken Hardison. In this episode, Ken interviews Vivek Rao, co-founder and CEO of Foundation AI. They highlight how well-organized data and technology can streamline document management in law firms, increasing efficiency, reducing costs, and enhancing client satisfaction. The conversation emphasizes the value of using AI as a solution to specific business problems rather than just a standalone technology.
 
Vivek Rao is co-founder and CEO of Foundation AI, an intelligent document processing company focused on automating document intake and routing, data entry, and other tedious tasks for litigation firms.  Prior to founding Foundation AI in 2019, Vivek ran the medical lien unit at one of California’s largest workers’ compensation firms while moonlighting as counsel to numerous startups ranging from webstars to venture-backed startups.  Vivek started his AI journey over a decade ago when he served as corporate counsel of Enlightiks, a healthcare AI platform focused on the medical provider space.  After Enlightiks was acquired in 2016, Vivek recruited and convinced the technical brains behind it to apply their AI expertise to solve the document processing challenges that plague litigation firms.  Five years later, Foundation AI processes millions of documents a month for some of the nation’s top personal injury firms.  Vivek earned his B.S. in Business Administration from USC and his JD and MBA degrees from UCLA.
 
What you’ll learn about in this episode:
 
Importance of Well-Organized Data and Maximizing Efficacy with Technology:
- Well-organized data allows for better access, sharing, and utilization, giving law firms a competitive edge.
- Leveraging technology, like AI systems, can automate manual tasks, enhance efficiency, and optimize the use of other software tools.  Benefits of Document Automation:
- Document automation not only saves time and money but also ensures consistency and easy data extraction for informed decision-making.
- Automation tools, like Foundation AI Astronaut, act as a bridge to reduce manual labor and facilitate the effective use of digital platforms in law firms. Value in Problem-Oriented AI Solutions:
- AI should be viewed as a tool to solve specific business challenges rather than just a standalone technology.
Companies that offer AI solutions tailored to solve practical problems demonstrate more value than those solely focused on selling AI technology. Continuous Evaluation for Operational Efficiency in Firm Scaling:
- Proper utilization of automation tools can enhance efficiency as law firms grow, preventing cost escalation and ensuring sustainable profitability.
- Regular assessment of workflows and technologies is crucial to maintain operational efficiency and profitability as a law firm expands. Limitations of Foundational Models and Utilizing Specialized AI Models:
- Foundational models like GPT, though powerful, may lack specificity for legal tasks and exhibit overconfidence, leading to potential errors.
- Specialized AI models like Bert and Roberta offer tailored solutions for tasks like data extraction and question answering, addressing the limitations of general foundational models.  
Resources: 
https://www.linkedin.com/company/foundation-ai/
http://www.foundationai.com/legal
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61550019396552
https://www.linkedin.com/in/vivekrao-foundationai/
 
Additional Resources: 
 
https://www.pilmma.org/aiworkshop
https://www.pilmma.org/the-mastermind-effect
https://www.pilmma.org/resources
https://www.pilmma.org/mastermind

Welcome to episode 227 of the Grow Your Law Firm podcast, hosted by Ken Hardison. In this episode, Ken sits down with Brooke Lively, President of Cathedral Capital. Brooke emphasizes the importance of data-driven strategies like EOS and scaling up and highlights the crucial steps to prepare a law firm for sale, focusing on clean financials, efficient operations, and staff training. The conversation delves into hiring the right people, implementing proper procedures, and fostering a deliberate culture to ensure consistency, efficiency, and growth within a law firm.
 
Brooke discovered her passion for helping entrepreneurial lawyers build their firms by working with her father. After getting her MBA in Corporate Finance and Investments at TCU and a quick stint at a hedge fund, Brooke found herself helping her family establish a new firm, which hit the 7-figure mark within 18 months.  Soon thereafter, she started talking to other lawyers who asked, “Can you do for us what you do for your family?”. 
 
That was when she realized that most attorneys aren’t running their firms by the numbers.  They are making decisions based on their gut and that causes a lot of anxiety – not to mention a loss of profitability. With that insight, Brooke started Cathcap, a fractional CFO company designed to maximize law firm profitability.
 
Over the past decade, Brooke and her team have helped hundreds of firms make data driven decisions to drive faster growth and more predictability in their businesses. As a CFO, Brooke looks at every part of a firm that touches the money – and that’s the whole firm. This eventually led her to become an EOS® Implementer. Through EOS, Brooke helps firms get clarity on their vision, discipline and accountability to increase traction, and a healthy functional leadership team.
 
Brooke weaves the technical knowledge of her MBA with her real-world experience to create entertaining speeches that have been heard around the world for groups such as Entrepreneur’s Organization, Bar Associations, and at conferences like PILMMA, 360 Advocacy, and the Louisiana Association of Justice. She has written numerous books, including her international best-selling series From Panic to Profit and her latest, Exit On Top. Brooke has been featured in Forbes, CNBC, US News and World Report and has a monthly financial column in Attorney at Work.  She is a frequently requested podcast guest.
 
1. The Importance of Vision, People, and Data in EOS:
        - Ensuring everyone is on the same page about the firm's direction.
        - Having the right individuals in the right roles.
2. Addressing Issues and Improving Procedures:
        - Identifying and solving problems permanently.
        - Documenting processes for consistency and efficiency.
3. Achieving Traction and Alignment:
        - Getting everyone aligned and rowing together towards the vision.
        - Bringing the vision down to practical implementation.
4. Preparation for Law Firm Sale:
        - Creating a timeline for Sale Readiness for clean financials and profitability.
        - Creating characteristics of a firm that's a joy to own.
5. Transitioning from Working in the Firm to Managing the Firm:
        - Being able to manage the firm with minimal effort.
        - Reaching a stage where you're managing managers and not day-to-day operations.
 
Resources: 
cathcap.com
https://www.facebook.com/CathedralCapital
https://www.linkedin.com/in/brookelively/
 
Additional Resources: 
 
https://www.pilmma.org/aiworkshop
https://www.pilmma.org/the-mastermind-effect
https://www.pilmma.org/resources
https://www.pilmma.org/mastermind

Welcome to episode 226 of the Grow Your Law Firm podcast, hosted by Ken Hardison. In this episode, Ken sits down with Hamid Kohan, President and CEO of Legal Soft. Hamid and Ken discuss how AI and automation transform the legal industry, improving client interactions and retention. They delve into the importance of leveraging technology for client acquisition, personalized communication, and nurturing lasting relationships to boost law firm profitability and efficiency while adapting to the evolving landscape of legal practice.
 
Distinguished Serial Entrepreneur, Author, and Legal Tech Innovator Hamid Kohan is a dynamic force in the business world, celebrated for his exceptional ability to scale law firms of all sizes. His journey began in Silicon Valley, where he served as the Director of Business Development at Sun Microsystems, collaborating with prominent figures like Eric Schmidt (Google CEO) and Carol Bartz (Yahoo CEO). From there, he took on the role of President at Web Radio, orchestrating a remarkable ascent to a valuation of $1 billion and leading the company to a successful IPO on the New York Stock Exchange.

Currently, Hamid stands as the President and CEO of Legal Soft, spearheading the revolution of the legal industry and virtual legal staffing. His visionary leadership has propelled Legal Soft to the forefront of legal tech innovation, optimizing law firm operations and driving efficiency.
Moreover, Hamid is the esteemed founder of Magic Law Group, a prestigious national law firm specializing in personal injury, lemon law, employment law, and workers' compensation. His entrepreneurial prowess has established Magic Law Group as a leading force in the legal landscape.

Notably, Hamid is an award-winning author, with influential books like "How to Scale Your Stupid Law Firm," "How to Scale Your Stupid AI Law Firm," and the upcoming "How to Tune-Up Your Practice." These acclaimed works equip legal professionals with invaluable strategies, enabling them to achieve growth and success.

With an unwavering commitment to legal tech innovation, Hamid Kohan is at the forefront of AI initiatives in the industry, further solidifying his position as a thought leader and trailblazer.
 
What you’ll learn about in this episode:
 
1. How to leverage technology for client retention:
        - Establishing formal programs for client retention
        - Nurturing existing clients for referrals and repeat business
 
2. The AI Impact in Law Firms:
        - Utilizing AI for client acquisition
        - Enhancing marketing strategies with AI insights
 
3. Importance of Regulations in AI Implementation:
        - Ensuring transparency and compliance with regulations
        - Disclosing the use of AI tools to clients and audiences
 
4. Using AI in Case Management:
        - Streamlining case management processes with AI
        - Automating document collection and medical record summaries
 
5. Simplifying AI Adoption in Law Firms:
        - Providing all-in-one AI solutions tailored to specific practice areas
        - Making AI tools user-friendly and easy to navigate
 
Resources: 
https://www.tiktok.com/@legal.soft?lang=en
https://www.threads.net/@legal.soft
https://www.instagram.com/legal.soft/?hl=en
https://legalsoft.com/hamid-kohan/
 
Additional Resources: 
 
https://www.pilmma.org/aiworkshop
https://www.pilmma.org/the-mastermind-effect
https://www.pilmma.org/resources
https://www.pilmma.org/mastermind