New Solo

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So, you’re a new lawyer or you’re new to practicing solo. You’ve got your game plan. Now what? First, know that you’re not ‘alone. It’s the fastest growing segment of the legal profession. Welcome to New Solo here on the Legal Talk Network, where you’ll learn a lot about practicing law. SOLO!

30/06

“An AI-Enabled World.” Why You Can’t Avoid Building AI Into Your Practice

Still on the fence about AI? You might not have a choice if you want your firm to succeed. Guest Craig Ball is a lawyer, law professor, special master, author, and above all a tireless student of all things electronic. AI, he says, may be the most transformative legal tool to hit the profession ever. Bigger than word processing, online research, even the internet. Ball explains how AI is emerging from hype and headlines to real world applications such as drafting documents and sifting through gigabytes of e-discovery. Learning the art of AI prompting and developing the skepticism to evaluate AI powered product isn’t an option. This is the future of the practice of law, Ball says. But AI isn’t a free pass and it’s not magic. If you want quality legal work through AI, it’s going to cost you. “Free” AI platforms probably won’t cut it. Be prepared to spend not just the time, but also the money to incorporate your own voice and the particular expertise of your firm into pay-to-play AI programs. If you’ve been reading the headlines and wondering how AI applies to your practice, this episode will fill in a lot of the gaps. And here’s the thing, you’re not “too old” to dive in and resistance can hurt you. As Ball says, “It’s an AI enabled world.” Questions or ideas about solo and small practices? Drop us a line at NewSolo@legaltalknetwork.com Topics: If you thought you could ignore AI, continue your practice without it, and scoff at lawyers who use it, you may be wrong. AI is here to stay and it’s transforming the legal profession. Guest Craig Ball – a lawyer and law professor – shares how AI is already performing real tasks and making real, experienced lawyers better. You’re not “too old” or too set in your ways to plug AI into your practice (and to understand how opposing counsel is already using it). Mastering AI isn’t free and it won’t come without effort. But if you invest the time and money, it can return exponential rewards in productivity and efficiency. Get excited about AI today. Resources: Microsoft Copilot AI Claude AI Harvey AI Microsoft Word ABA Techshow 2026 CraigBall.com “Leery Lawyer’s Guide to AI,” by Craig Ball Ball in Your Court blog “Forensic Tells: The Litigator’s Guide to Detecting Deep Fakes,” by Craig Ball
1/06

Chill With Jill: How a Law Degree Can Lead to Careers in Organizational Leadership

What’s it like to manage diverse organizations and bring together different personalities and achieve goals? Guest Jill Epstein is a lawyer by training but has spent more than two decades managing organizations and associations. She is currently the CEO of the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of California and has served as executive director of the San Diego County Bar Association, among other leadership positions. Epstein found her own path, bringing people together, during her internships while attending law school. That opened a new horizon. For her, managing teams and developing innovative solutions was a more appealing career than the traditional law firm or government litigator route. Working for a variety of associations, she has carved her way by leading associations as they navigate shifting priorities, evolving technologies, and demands. For lawyers, there’s more than practicing law in the traditional sense. Epstein built on her education to develop skills in budget management, human resources, bringing diverse parties together, solving problems, organizing, managing meetings, and driving initiatives. Did you graduate from law school only to find that practicing law isn’t for you? Your law degree and the critical thinking skills you’ve developed are still the springboard to a variety of careers in leadership. Questions or ideas about solo and small practices? Drop us a line at NewSolo@legaltalknetwork.com Topics: A law degree doesn’t limit you to a career practicing law. The critical thinking and negotiating skills you learn in law school open a path to a variety of leadership fields. Guest Jill Epstein was inspired by her law school internships with membership organizations and has enjoyed decades of challenging roles leading a range of membership organizations. Leadership skills apply no matter an organization’s membership and specialty. Understanding how to navigate boards and members with different perspectives apply across fields. Resources: Toastmasters International: https://www.toastmasters.org/ ChatGPT: https://chatgpt.com/ Claude AI: https://claude.com San Diego County Bar Association: https://www.sdcba.org/ ABA Techshow 2026: https://www.techshow.com/
30/04

Money Matters! Breaking Down Law Firm Finances

Let’s talk about finances; specifically, your law practice’s finances, everything from billing (even flat fee pricing) and bookkeeping to taxes and support staff salary negotiations. Guest Terrell Turner is not a lawyer, he’s a CPA and co-founder of the TLTurner Group, an accounting practice that helps lawyers and law firms understand and maximize their finances. In addition, Turner hosts the American Bar Association Law Practice Group’s podcast, called “The Law Practice Podcast,” that covers money and running a practice. Finance is the foundation of any firm, otherwise, why are you working? And it’s a team issue, everyone in your firm drives the firm’s finances. Every function should help feed the bottom line. Turner helps firms break down the value of every part of your practice. It’s vital to understand the impact every member of the team has on your firm’s function – even non-billing members such as a virtual assistant (and the TLTurner Group website is adding a free calculator you can use to break it all down). Not only are you responsible for managing the firm’s output and efficiency, but you should also know what you need from your accountant and bookkeeper (they aren’t the same) and what you should expect to pay for and get from those services. Real talk, real answers. Because money matters. Questions or ideas about solo and small practices? Drop us a line at NewSolo@legaltalknetwork.com Topics: Your firm exists to generate revenue and profit. That’s where a professional financial service can help you strategically understand and maximize your returns. Every part of your firm should contribute to your bottom line, whether that’s attorneys billing clients or support staff and AI creating efficiencies. And don’t forget, accountants and bookkeepers are not one and the same, you need to know the difference (and how much you should pay). Are you actively managing your practice with a goal in mind? A practice management program and a professional review of your practice can unlock hidden potential. Resources: American Bar Association Law Practice Division QuickBooks Canva ABA Techshow 2026 Clio Cloud Conference 2026 Podcast, “American Bar Association Law Practice Podcast” Podcast, “Stuff Your Accountant Isn’t Telling You”
26/03

Ready Player One: The Life Of A Video Game Lawyer

Drop a quarter in the slot and dig into the nontraditional career of Chrissie Scelsi who specializes in the law of video gaming. Scelsi forged her own way, untangling the intersection of entertainment, marketing, technology, and law. Games aren’t all fun and games. Scelsi deals with licensing, advertising, intellectual property, transactions, e-sports, content clearance, privacy law, and even influencer relations. “I lean something new every day, and that’s great,” she says. Throughout her career, she’s become a self-described legal Swiss army knife (and she’s a master at Pokémon Go). Among the topics she encounters both in her practice and as the first woman president of the Video Game Bar Association is the impact of AI, from game development to game play. Working independently, hear how Scelsi has found her community, networks with others, and keeps current on the latest issues affecting not only legal aspects but also trends across the video gaming industry, an industry expected to approach $200 billion in annual revenue this year. Questions or ideas about solo and small practices? Drop us a line at NewSolo@legaltalknetwork.com. Topics: Have a passion? There’s a legal field for that! Hear how guest Chrissie Scelsi turned her love for entertainment and video gaming into a full-time practice. Video gaming is big business not just in the U.S. but around the world, and that means a web of legal needs to help game developers and marketers navigate copyright, legal protections, liability, and intellectual property issues. In a rapidly evolving field, it’s important for solo practitioners and consultants to build a community through associations, conferences, and networking to share ideas and understand ever-changing legal issues and challenges.
26/02

Getting Up and Running With the Help of a Coach and Today’s Tech

Meet Alyssa Vachon Daigneault, a new Massachusetts attorney who benefitted from a chat with lawyer and law coach Kellam Parks, an amazing guest from our previous podcast. Hear how Daigneault launched her law firm as a second career after years teaching high school chemistry and hear what she learned from Parks as she beefed up her technology. Daigneault launched her own firm less than two years ago in the busy Boston area, specializing in real estate, land use, and property matters, all fields she was already well versed in. A session with a coach helped Daigneault fully frame the vision and direction of her practice, craft policies, and understand onboarding new hires. Starting a new solo firm is hard, do you need help cutting through some of the steps and learning from those who went before you? Daigneault is an advocate for learning about and investing and experimenting in tech, AI, and other tools before worrying about office space. As a new solo, tech can save time, build efficiencies, and let lawyers do what they do best. Questions or ideas about solo and small practices? Drop us a line at NewSolo@legaltalknetwork.com Topics: A new solo, embarking on a second career as an attorney, took some tips from one of New Solo’s earlier guests, attorney and legal practice coach Kellam Parks. Not all tech and AI are the same, it takes time and research to understand what works for you. Lining up the right tools makes a difference. In today’s legal environment, tech is becoming king. But if you can manage it, the right support staff and office space can push you forward and keep you growing. Resources: Previously on New Solo, “Six To-Dos Every Firm Can Embrace in 2026,” with Kellam Parks The Real Estate Bar Association for Massachusetts QuickBooks Gusto Adobe ChatGPT Perplexity Spellbook Lexis Protégé Clio ABA Techshow 2026 Clio Cloud Conference 2026
3/02

Six To-Dos Every Firm Can Embrace in 2026

Where do you want your firm to go in the new year? Do you have a plan to get there? Intentional firm design and strategy trumps reactive growth every time. Don’t let your firm run you; take charge today! Guest Kellam Parks is a partner with the metrics- and technology-driven family and cybersecurity law firm Parks Zeigler PLLC, and he runs the coaching program “The Motivated Lawyer,” helping firms craft a path to a successful future. Hear how he recently took on one new client pro bono to demonstrate how his coaching helps lawyers visualize and achieve their goals. Parks began his own Virginia Beach firm as a “paperless” entity nearly 15 years ago, incorporating emerging tech to maximize efficiencies. As the firm developed, tech tools have helped his team automate the routine and focus on the most important and demanding tasks. He is a regular speaker and provider of CLE programs for attorneys and firms and produces educational videos and a popular newsletter packed with tips. Do you need help building out your technological capacities and marketing? As Parks points out, “Nobody knows everything.” Always be learning and open to new ideas. Questions or ideas about solo and small practices? Drop us a line at NewSolo@legaltalknetwork.com Topics: Too many solos start out with no intentional plan, opting instead to gather as many clients as they can then scrambling to keep up. A recipe for stress and inefficiency. In 2026, think about what you actually want from your firm. Then create an intentional plan to get there, step by step. Technology is not an option. Use the tools available to you. But remember “technology does not fix chaos.” It all starts with your plan, your established systems, and understanding what you’re doing (and why). Mentioned in This Episode: Previous appearance on New Solo, “Tech, Automation, and Cybersecurity: A Pioneering Attorney’s Perspective” Previous appearance on Legal Talk Network’s Digital Detectives, “Cybersecurity: Getting to Good for the Small Law Firm” Ben Glass, Great Legal Marketing Gino Wickman, “Traction” Allie K. Miller, understanding AI “Buy Back Your Time: Get Unstuck, Reclaim Your Freedom, and Build Your Empire,” by Dan Martell Clio ABA Techshow 2026 Clio Cloud Conference 2026
8/01

Creating a Referral Network That Actually Works with Lee Rosen | First Flight #12

When family lawyer and podcaster Lee Rosen talks about referrals, he doesn’t call them a network. He calls them friends. He explains why you only need about 20 trusted relationships to sustain a thriving practice, how genuine curiosity and consistency outperform traditional “networking,” and why lawyers make some of the most powerful referral partners across practice areas. Lee also shares how thoughtful gestures, not referral fees, build long-term goodwill and how social media can strengthen real-world connections when used with intention. Then, ALPS Insurance’s Rio Laine joins host Adriana Linares to cover the risk-management side of referrals, including documentation best practices, appropriate thank-you gifts, when to decline referrals, and why every solo should have a backup attorney and succession plan in place. Hear the original episode with Lee Rosen Learn more about ALPS Insurance. Receive email notifications every time we release a new episode.
26/12/2025

Have JD, Will Work Remotely. Contract Attorneys Fill Gaps When Firms Have Short-Term Needs.

Let the record show, records were meant to be corrected. In this episode, we revisit something we mentioned that might not have been the full story, the role of the remote attorney and the freelance attorneys provided by LAWCLERK. Guest Kristin Tyler is a lawyer and co-founder and chief brand officer at LAWCLERK, which supplies contract attorneys for growing, busy law firms under an arrangement where freelance attorneys work under the supervision of a client’s in-house attorneys. From discovery to document review to deposition management, contract attorneys can manage routine tasks at rates designed to be affordable for growing firms. Why hire a part-time paralegal when you can hire an actual attorney at a comparable rate? Whether you’re a growing firm or an attorney looking for part-time work, hear why this could be the solution you’ve been looking for. Questions or ideas about solo and small practices? Drop us a line at NewSolo@legaltalknetwork.com. Topics: Contract and part-time remote attorneys can help busy, growing firms find affordable legal assistance when things get hectic. Why hire a remote paralegal when you can hire an actual, licensed attorney at a comparable cost? Do your best and outsource the rest! Special for our listeners, for your first hire from LAWCLERK, use the promo code NewSolo25 for a $100 rebate. Hear how the arrangement works, including ethical and licensing policies, confidentiality, state-specific availability, and even hiring attorneys who are experts in the exact area of law you need. Resources: Previous appearance on Legal Talk Network, “Clio Cloud 2022: Hire for Success – Best Practices for Growing Your Team” Previously on New Solo, “Checking In! Four Years Later, Solo Practice Aloha Divorce Is Thriving” Clio ABA Techshow 2026 Clio Cloud Conference 2026

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Excerto

Coming Soon: New Solo’s First Flight Series

Welcome aboard New Solo: First Flight! In this special series, hosts Adriana Linares and Rio Laine of ALPS Insurance are your captains, guiding you through the ups and downs of launching your own law firm. Before takeoff, leave your emotional baggage from law school and big law behind—this journey is all about charting your own course as a solo practitioner. Buckle up as we cover essential topics like choosing the right tech, working with a practice management advisor, and finding networking opportunities. Our first episode lands on February 13th. Subscribe now so you don’t miss a moment of the ride! ✈️ Subscribe on Spotify Subscribe on Apple Podcasts Sign Up for Email Notifications Learn More About ALPS Insurance

Loved It!

11/03

So pleasant!

Loved the episode with Kellam Parks. I especially liked it when you guys compared using tech to fix a broken process to having a baby to save a marriage. It made me realize I should probably organize my messy desk before I try downloading another productivity app. Thank you so much, Adriana!