The Free Lawyer Gary Miles

In this podcast episode of "The Free Lawyer," host Gary interviews Keeley Blanchard, a trial attorney who has shifted her focus to teaching and jury consulting. They explore the critical role of storytelling in trial work, particularly in opening and closing statements. Keeley shares her insights on the science of storytelling, emphasizing the need to frame stories to resonate with jurors' cognitive frameworks. She introduces a unique approach that identifies a villain to elicit moral outrage and empower the jury. She uses storytelling techniques to frame the client's story. The discussion also covers the challenges of presenting complex cases succinctly and the impact of verdicts on society.



Keeley Blanchard spent two decades as a trial lawyer, trying over 70 cases to verdict during her career, all while obsessing over learning how to tell the most persuasive story. She now teaches and presents on trial skills for dozens of organizations nationwide and, in addition to LawStory, runs a grant-funded training program for public defenders. Keeley has spent years studying the brain science associated with storytelling, and has developed a signature story structure for trial stories, opening statements, and closing arguments. She uses that structure to help lawyers win more cases by telling creative and compelling trial stories. Her services include jury consulting, focus groups, client testimony preparation, and trial skills training. 

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Would you like to learn more about Breaking Free or order your copy? https://www.garymiles.net/break-free

 Would you like to schedule a complimentary discovery call? You can do so here: https://calendly.com/garymiles-successcoach/one-one-discovery-call

In this podcast episode, host Gary Miles, a lawyer with 45 years of experience, underscores the significance of mentorship for lawyers. He shares his journey, and the profound influence mentors had on his career. Addressing the everyday struggles lawyers face, such as isolation and self-doubt, Gary advocates for the pursuit of mentorship to foster confidence, clarity, and productivity. He confronts the hesitations lawyers might have about seeking guidance, reassuring them that it's a strength. Gary details the multifaceted role of mentors in providing support and fostering growth. He highlights the myriad benefits of mentorship, including enhanced well-being and professional satisfaction, and offers to assist lawyers in finding mentorship opportunities.




Challenges Faced by Lawyers (00:04:32) Gary outlines common challenges faced by lawyers, including isolation, self-doubt, lack of clarity, accountability, and productivity.

Hesitation in Seeking Mentorship (00:11:39) Gary discusses the reasons lawyers may hesitate to seek mentorship, such as fear, ego, and perceived lack of time.

How a Mentor Can Help (00:14:03) Gary explains the various ways a mentor can support lawyers, including providing confidential listening, guidance, vision creation, clarity, confidence, accountability, and productivity.

Transformation Through Mentorship (00:20:00) Gary emphasizes the transformative impact of mentorship, highlighting how it can lead to greater happiness, success, fulfillment, and work-life balance for lawyers.


Would you like an opportunity to discuss how mentorship can support your growth? You can schedule a complimentary call here: https://calendly.com/garymiles-successcoach/one-one-discovery-call

In this episode of "The Free Lawyer," host Gary interviews Sejal Thakkar, an expert in civility and workplace culture. They delve into the significance of civility in the legal profession and strategies for combating unconscious bias to create inclusive environments. Sejal recounts her transition from employment law to founding her consulting firm, TrainXtra, which aims to improve workplace cultures proactively. They discuss how biases, especially unconscious ones, affect workplace dynamics and the importance of self-awareness, open-mindedness, and ongoing education to address them. Sejal also highlights the role of leadership in promoting diversity and civility and the positive outcomes of her training programs on organizational culture.


Sejal Thakkar is on a mission to educate and empower people to create a world where everyone is treated with dignity and respect. She is an employment law attorney, a 2X TEDx speaker, and the founder and Chief Civility Officer at TrainXtra, where she helps leaders create positive, safe, and respectful workplaces through customized training and coaching. Sejal is also the Chief Culture Officer of Nobody Studios, a venture studio that aims to create 100 compelling companies. She is responsible for cultivating a people-first culture at Nobody Studios.

 Would you like to schedule a complimentary discovery call? You can do so here.

Would you like to learn more about Breaking Free or order your copy? https://www.garymiles.net/break-free

In this episode, Gary offers lawyers a lifeline in the billable hour battle. Recognizing the stress and inefficiency that can come with tracking billable hours, he shares strategies for reclaiming control over time and improving productivity and work-life balance. He delves into the detrimental effects of the billable hour system on lawyers' lives and presents a dozen tools to enhance time management and job satisfaction. These include prioritizing tasks, avoiding multitasking, and taking breaks. The host also underscores the liberating benefits of working more innovatively for a more fulfilling professional life.
Developing a New Attitude Towards Time (00:04:44) Gary discusses the importance of changing one's mindset about time and taking ownership of daily activities.

Analyzing Time Usage (00:05:54) Gary advises tracking daily activities for a week to understand time spent and identify areas for improvement.

Prioritizing and Delegating (00:07:02) Tips on preparing a list of tasks, prioritizing them, and delegating non-essential work to others.

Scheduling Daily Activities (00:08:16) The importance of planning and scheduling daily activities to improve focus and productivity.

Grouping Similar Tasks (00:10:42) The speaker suggests grouping similar tasks to avoid distractions and enhance efficiency.

Taking Breaks (00:12:47): Mini breaks are essential to recharge and enhance productivity during the workday.

Saying No and Blocking Distractions (00:14:58) Gary discusses the empowering significance of saying no to non-essential tasks and blocking distractions to sharpen focus and reclaim control over time.

Setting Time Limits to Projects (00:12:47) Advice on setting specific project time limits to enhance productivity and efficiency.

Obtaining Support from a Mentor (00:16:08) Gary underscores the crucial importance of seeking guidance and support from a mentor to manage time and priorities effectively. Mentors foster a sense of community and help in the journey towards better time management.

Would you like help in winning the billable hour battle?
You can schedule a courtesy call here.

Would you like to learn more about Breaking Free or order your copy? https://www.garymiles.net/break-free

You can watch this episode on YouTube here.

In this episode of "The Free Lawyer," host Gary interviews Jeff Sterling Hughes, founder of Sterling Lawyers, a family law firm. Jeff discusses his journey from poverty to law, the firm's rapid growth, and the shift to focusing solely on family law. He shares the challenges and failures encountered, particularly with fixed-fee pricing, intake processes, and converting consults to clients. Jeff explains the firm's innovative approach to billing, moving from court-event-based fees to time-based fees, which improved efficiency and client satisfaction. He also touches on the importance of managing compassion fatigue and maintaining personal freedom. The episode offers insights into adapting to change, embracing technology, and the future of law practices. 

Jeff Hughes is the CEO/Co-Founder of Sterling Lawyers, where he has taken his family law firm from ground zero to a powerhouse with 25 attorneys and $15 million in success. It's been a rollercoaster—9 business failures, 3 triumphs, and many lessons. He is the CEO at Sterling Lawyers, leading a dynamic team. He is not just practicing law but reshaping how family law clients are served.
Rapid growth through online marketing (00:01:48) Jeff's success in quickly growing his firm to eight lawyers through effective online marketing strategies.
Mistakes and pivoting (00:03:23) Initial mistakes in trying to serve various practice areas, leading to a pivot to focus exclusively on family law.
Transformation and growth (00:04:47) The impact of focusing on family law, rebuilding operations, and transitioning to fixed fee pricing on the firm's growth.
Fixed fee pricing strategy (00:07:24) Jeff explains the approach to fixed-fee pricing, including providing clients with three different fee quotes and managing payment plans.
Client service and empathy (00:13:03) The firm emphasizes communication, empathy, and data-driven decision-making to enhance client service.
Would you like to learn more about Breaking Free or order your copy? https://www.garymiles.net/break-free
 Would you like to schedule a complimentary discovery call? You can do so here: https://calendly.com/garymiles-successcoach/one-one-discovery-call

In today's episode, Gary discusses the drawbacks of the billable hour system in law practice, highlighting how it affects lawyers' productivity and stress levels. The episode covers the challenges of time management, client expectations, and work-life balance under the billable hour system, as well as obstacles like distractions and mental fatigue. The speaker emphasizes the need for efficiency to improve job satisfaction and client relationships, promising solutions in the following episode.

Challenges of the Billable Hour System (00:02:20) Discussion on the challenges posed by the billable hour system for lawyers.

Obstacles to Productivity (00:06:13) Exploration of the obstacles hindering productivity, such as time management and client expectations.

Problems Caused by Lack of Productivity (00:12:48) The speaker discusses the problems encountered when lawyers are not productive, including missed deadlines and reduced job satisfaction.

Benefits of Being More Productive (00:15:22) The positive outcomes of improved productivity, such as increased efficiency and improved work-life balance.



Would you like to learn more about Breaking Free or order your copy? https://www.garymiles.net/break-free

 Would you like to schedule a complimentary discovery call? You can do so here: https://calendly.com/garymiles-successcoach/one-one-discovery-call