The Free Lawyer Gary Miles

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.

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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.

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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

In this podcast episode, Gary, host of "The Free Lawyer," welcomes Jeff Kichaven, a seasoned business mediator, to discuss the transition from litigation to mediation and the challenges lawyers face in the adversarial legal system. Jeff shares his journey and the factors that influenced his shift to mediation, including the desire for a more balanced life and the emotional toll of litigation. They explore the changing dynamics of the legal profession, the misconceptions about mediation, and the importance of emotional intelligence in dispute resolution. Jeff also advises lawyers on preparing for mediation, emphasizing the need for understanding biases and the mediator's role. The conversation touches on the broader implications of mediation for the legal system and the importance of personal well-being and relationships for professional success.


Jeff Kichaven is one of America’s premier mediators.  He has been “Ranked in Chambers” on the US list of top mediators for the past five years, and “Who’s Who Legal” lists him as a ”Global Elite Thought Leader” in mediation, one of only six in the US and 28 in the world.  He is a Phi Beta Kappa Graduate of the University of California, Berkeley (Economics, 1977) and an Honors Graduate of Harvard Law School (J.D. Cum Laude, 1980).  He has been a full-time mediator in private practice since 1996.  He is an Elected Member of the American Law Institute, and has been named California Lawyer Attorney of the Year in ADR.  “Best Lawyers” has listed him as one of the Best Mediation Lawyers in Los Angeles for over 15 straight years, and honored him as the single Best Mediation Lawyer in Los Angeles in 2015.  In 2010, the Asian Pacific American Dispute Resolution Center honored him with its Special Award for Excellence in Mediation.  His views on mediation have been cited in The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal.


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 discusses the critical role of accountability in the legal profession for achieving professional and personal goals. He explores how accountability acts as a catalyst for progress, sharing his experiences with his coaching clients. He emphasizes lawyers' challenges, such as billable hours and work-life balance, and how accountability can provide structure and motivation. Gary suggests having an accountability partner for support and concludes by offering guidance to listeners seeking to reach their goals.

The importance of accountability (00:01:13) Accountability as a crucial factor in achieving professional and personal goals in the legal profession.

The power of accountability (00:02:44) Defining accountability and its role in providing structure, focus, and motivation in goal achievement.

Challenges in goal achievement (00:05:34) Identifying the challenges lawyers face in pursuing their goals and the impact of goal abandonment on personal and professional development.

The role of an accountability partner (00:10:42) The importance of having an accountability partner in staying on track, overcoming challenges, and maintaining motivation.

How accountability fosters success (00:12:50) Exploring how accountability cultivates responsibility, discipline, and commitment, leading to greater success in legal careers.

The transformative power of accountability (00:15:31) Highlighting the transformative impact of accountability in turning goal setting into actionable steps and achieving remarkable results.

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