379 episodes

BE THAT LAWYER is for attorneys who want more freedom, enjoyment and most importantly, control in their career. Topics will include business development, marketing, branding, technology, and law firm growth. The goal is to educate, entertain and share best practices related to these topics, so that you, the listener can get real value. This is primarily an interview show with great guests (attorneys and legal marketing professionals), sharing stories and analogies, as well as engaging in personal discussions that will keep you entertained and coming back week after week.

BE THAT LAWYER Steve Fretzin

    • Business
    • 4.9 • 37 Ratings

BE THAT LAWYER is for attorneys who want more freedom, enjoyment and most importantly, control in their career. Topics will include business development, marketing, branding, technology, and law firm growth. The goal is to educate, entertain and share best practices related to these topics, so that you, the listener can get real value. This is primarily an interview show with great guests (attorneys and legal marketing professionals), sharing stories and analogies, as well as engaging in personal discussions that will keep you entertained and coming back week after week.

    Nermin Jasani: Planning for Success in Your Law Firm

    Nermin Jasani: Planning for Success in Your Law Firm

    In this episode, Steve Fretzin and Nermin Jasani discuss:
    Setting and implementing the plan to achieve your goals.
    Understanding what is realistic for a quarterly goal.
    Listing out the micro steps and adding them to your calendar for achievable goals.
    Monitoring your metrics that move the needle forward.
    Utilizing time and calendars to make your day work for you.

    Key Takeaways:
    Give yourself milestones along the way to keep you on track to achieving your goals.
    The goal with planning is to make sure you aren’t burning yourself out while still making forward progress.
    Leverage the tools and resources at your fingertips that you’re already using to help make your goals come to fruition.
    You won’t know where you are unless you track the data. The data gives you accountability and allows you to gamify your goals.

    "Give 100% of yourself to that one thing. Then when you achieve that, you’re going to feel the motivation, the fuel, the confidence to go to the next big project you want to tackle." — Nermin Jasani

    Find out more about the Bootstrap Your Marketing to Build Your Personal Brand Event at: https://fretzin.com/events

    Thank you to our Sponsors!
    Lawmatics: https://www.lawmatics.com/bethatlawyer/
    Get Staffed Up: https://getstaffedup.com/bethatlawyer/
    Green Cardigan Marketing: https://greencardiganmarketing.com/

    Episode References:
    The 80/20 Principle: The Secret to Achieving More with Less by Richard Koch - https://www.amazon.com/80-20-Principle-Secret-Achieving/dp/0385491743

    About Nermin Jasani: Nermin Jasani is a law firm advisor for solo and small law firms who want to grow their law firm by focusing on their profitability, their team, and their time spent doing those tedious (and sometimes hated) admin tasks.

    Nermin was a former law firm owner working with hedge funds on Wall Street and is now a full-time law firm growth consultant.

    Connect with Nermin Jasani:
    Website: https://ws-lawyers.com/
    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nerminjasani/
    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/wildlysuccessfullawfirm/

    Connect with Steve Fretzin:
    LinkedIn: Steve Fretzin
    Twitter: @stevefretzin
    Instagram: @fretzinsteve
    Facebook: Fretzin, Inc.
    Website: Fretzin.com
    Email: Steve@Fretzin.com
    Book: Legal Business Development Isn't Rocket Science and more!
    YouTube: Steve Fretzin
    Call Steve directly at 847-602-6911


    Show notes by Podcastologist Chelsea Taylor-Sturkie

    Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.

    • 34 min
    John Scott: Improving Your Law Firm’s Financial Metrics

    John Scott: Improving Your Law Firm’s Financial Metrics

    In this episode, Steve Fretzin and John Scott discuss:
    Storytelling with the numbers that leads to a logical conclusion.
    Why spending time in the numbers is key.
    Dynamic forecasting and cash flow.
    Four categories of important financial metrics lawyers need to look at to grow their firm.
    Improving poor billing hygiene.

    Key Takeaways:
    If you pay attention to the numbers regularly, you can make necessary course adjustments along the way rather than scramble at the end of the year to make sure everything is fine.
    Your goals need to be realistic based on your capacity. Set up your goals, even challenge goals, but then you need to look at them and work through how they can be achieved.
    If you want more rainmakers, you have to train them to be better at what they do.
    Bring in a non-lawyer finance team to focus on your firm’s finances. Delegate those things that are not your superpower. Let them focus on the numbers and keep you appraised of where they are at now, not just what they used to be.

    "The biggest part of running your business’s dynamic forecasting is taking the data points that we have within the practice management system and within our accounting system to determine cashflow, 3-6-9-12 months out so that we know where we're going." — John Scott

    Find out more about the Bootstrap Your Marketing to Build Your Personal Brand Event at: https://fretzin.com/events

    Thank you to our Sponsors!
    Lawmatics: https://www.lawmatics.com/bethatlawyer/
    Get Staffed Up: https://getstaffedup.com/bethatlawyer/
    Green Cardigan Marketing: https://greencardiganmarketing.com/

    Episode References:
    The E-Myth by Michael E. Gerber: https://www.amazon.com/Myth-Most-Businesses-Dont-About/dp/0887303625

    About John Scott: John Scott is Partner in Tax at Anders CPAs + Advisors. With over thirty years of experience, he brings a breadth of financial knowledge and a deep expertise in advising law firms. With a long track record of success that includes firms of all sizes and specialties, John helps maximize profits via cash flow management and KPIs, while minimizing taxes with his extensive understanding of the tax code.

    Leading the legal industry division of his firm’s Virtual CFO services, John offers strategic advising to mid-sized law firms, using a customizable, industry-leading tech stack that allows firms to make data-driven decisions. He advises on strategies around: staff utilization, cash flow planning, when to hire, creating clear career paths, trust accounting, accounting controls, and partner distributions. He is the author of a forthcoming book on creating a roadmap to success for law firms.

    Connect with John Scott:
    Website: https://anderscpa.com/virtual-cfo-legal/
    Email: jscott@anderscpa.com
    Book: Judicial Dollars and Cents: https://home.virtualcfo.cpa/johnscott
    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-c-scott-cpa/
    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/vcfobyanders/

    Connect with Steve Fretzin:
    LinkedIn: Steve Fretzin
    Twitter: @stevefretzin
    Instagram: @fretzinsteve
    Facebook: Fretzin, Inc.
    Website: Fretzin.com
    Email: Steve@Fretzin.com
    Book: Legal Business Development Isn't Rocket Science and more!
    YouTube: Steve Fretzin
    Call Steve directly at 847-602-6911


    Show notes by Podcastologist Chelsea Taylor-Sturkie

    Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.

    • 29 min
    Marc Halpert: Building Your LinkedIn Profile to Maximize You

    Marc Halpert: Building Your LinkedIn Profile to Maximize You

    In this episode, Steve Fretzin and Marc Halpert discuss:
    How Marc became the LinkedIn expert that he is today.
    Spending the time to show the world you’re amazinger.
    The recent and upcoming changes to LinkedIn.
    Working within the rules of the system you are bound to.

    Key Takeaways:
    LinkedIn is always changing, even as we speak. But there are ways to make LinkedIn work for you, even with the changes.
    Using only your bio on your firm’s website is not enough. Put your personality into your LinkedIn profile and branding. People won’t know how to connect with you if they can’t figure out who you are.
    People want to read narrative, they don’t want to read your laundry list of skills or dense paragraphs of text. Tell people why, not what.
    Write all of your profile in first person and present, active tense. People want to be able to relate to you as a peer.
    Share on LinkedIn when you have something important to say and always end your posts with a call to action.

    "If I'm looking to engage a lawyer, I want to find somebody who's going to reflect the personality I'm looking for. I don't want somebody who's bland, dull, and boring. And everybody who went through law school missed the opportunity to learn how to market themselves." — Marc Halpert

    Find out more about the Bootstrap Your Marketing to Build Your Personal Brand Event at: https://fretzin.com/events

    Thank you to our Sponsors!
    Lawmatics: https://www.lawmatics.com/bethatlawyer/
    Get Staffed Up: https://getstaffedup.com/bethatlawyer/
    Green Cardigan Marketing: https://greencardiganmarketing.com/

    Episode References:
    The Startup of You by Reid Hoffman

    About Marc Halpert: Marc W. Halpert is a self-described “multi-preneur.” In 2010 he started his third concurrent company, connect2collaborate, to spread his LinkedIn and networking evangelism to train and coach others and offer professionals the opportunity to better explain their perceived mission and positioning on their LinkedIn profile pages: why they do what they do, not what.

    As a personal LinkedIn coach, he advises and mentors professionals in all walks of life to renovate their LinkedIn personal and company profiles. He advises job seekers of all generations to differentiate themselves and extend their transferrable skills.

    Marc is also recognized as a high-energy LinkedIn speaker at conferences and as an instructor to sales/marketing, HR/training departments at large and small professional service firms and companies including HUB International and GE Capital. He has taught at bar associations, professional practitioner groups, and law schools on these topics.

    His book LinkedIn Marketing Strategies for Law and Professional Practices(2021 second edition, American Bar Association), helps all types of professionals learn to better market themselves using the tools in LinkedIn and be “amazing-er” than the competition.

    His book You, Us, Them: LinkedIn Marketing Concepts for Nonprofit Professionals Who Really Want to Make a Difference, (2018, self-published) is the only book of its kind aimed at the nonprofit/NGO/association/foundation/membership organization industries and its employees to prosper in such a fast-changing industry.

    Marc is a frequent podcast guest, author of articles, LinkedIn advisor to networking groups, and blogger every business day with a LinkedIn Nugget.

    Connect with Marc Halpert:
    Website: https://connect2collaborate.com/
    Email: marchalpert@connect2collaborate.com
    Mobile: 203-218-8288
    LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/marchalpert

    Connect with Steve Fretzin:
    LinkedIn: Steve Fretzin
    Twitter: @stevefretzin
    Instagram: @fretzinsteve
    Facebook: Fretzin, Inc.
    Website: Fretzin.com
    Email: Steve@Fretzin.com
    Book: Legal Business Development Isn't Rocket Science and more!
    YouTube: Steve Fretzin
    Call Steve directly at 847-602-6911

    Show notes by Podcastologist Chelsea Taylor-Sturkie

    Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast w

    • 33 min
    Larry Smith: Becoming an Empathetic Lawyer

    Larry Smith: Becoming an Empathetic Lawyer

    In this episode, Steve Fretzin and Larry Smith discuss:
    Why lawyers are challenged to deal with stressors in an empathetic way.
    Listening and diagnosing the problem before trying to solve the client’s problem.
    Building trust and relationships with clients.
    How to handle a client on the ledge and setting expectations.

    Key Takeaways:
    Be kind, you never know what other people are going through.
    Don’t just let clients walk out the door. Set up another appointment and get the last word. Set up the next step and make it easy.
    Make certain promises that you know you can fulfill. Don’t promise things that are uncertain or outright false. It will destroy trust within the relationship.
    You have to get your mind right before you can empathetically communicate with a client or team member. Everyone has bad conversations and bad days, but you need to get your mind right.

    "What I like to do is make certain promises that I absolutely know I can fulfill. You’ve got to know what you’re going to be able to do for sure, don’t shoot over." — Larry Smith

    Find out more about the Bootstrap Your Marketing to Build Your Personal Brand Event at: https://fretzin.com/events

    Thank you to our Sponsors!
    Lawmatics: https://www.lawmatics.com/bethatlawyer/
    Get Staffed Up: https://getstaffedup.com/bethatlawyer/
    Green Cardigan Marketing: https://greencardiganmarketing.com/

    Episode References:
    This American Life Podcast: https://www.thisamericanlife.org/

    About Larry Smith: Larry Smith has been practicing law for 30 years, spending the last 25 focused on consumer rights, and primarily in consumer financial issues. SmithMarco, P.C. represents consumers who have been victims of cybercrimes and identity theft. With offices in the Chicago area and in Sarasota, Florida, Larry Smith has represented consumers all throughout the country on both the trial and appellate level and in both state and federal courts. Mr. Smith has provided lectures to members of the National Association of Consumer Advocates and the National Consumer Law Center on issues pertaining to fraudulent electronic transactions and consumer credit reporting issues.

    Connect with Larry Smith:
    Website: https://www.protectingconsumerrights.com/
    Website: https://smithmarco.com/
    Phone: 888-822-1777
    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/larrypsmithlaw/

    Connect with Steve Fretzin:
    LinkedIn: Steve Fretzin
    Twitter: @stevefretzin
    Instagram: @fretzinsteve
    Facebook: Fretzin, Inc.
    Website: Fretzin.com
    Email: Steve@Fretzin.com
    Book: Legal Business Development Isn't Rocket Science and more!
    YouTube: Steve Fretzin
    Call Steve directly at 847-602-6911


    Show notes by Podcastologist Chelsea Taylor-Sturkie

    Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.

    • 35 min
    Doug Bradley: Marketing Your Law Firm the Right Way

    Doug Bradley: Marketing Your Law Firm the Right Way

    In this episode, Steve Fretzin and Doug Bradley discuss:
    Understanding the numbers around marketing.
    Bootstrap marketing on a limited budget.
    Laying the groundwork for solid website optimization.
    Setting expectations and calls to action.

    Key Takeaways:
    Having your own book of business gives you power and freedom.
    Be willing to try and test out options. There is data out there for search terms but you need to know what you’re trying to accomplish.
    What might not be the right marketing fit for you right now, could be good later down the line. Don’t discount something permanently just because it’s not right now.
    When working with a marketing professional, make sure they have experience working with others in the area of practice that you are in.

    "I would not dismiss completely the option of creating a very basic website and linking to it from your social media channels and your directory profiles. That really gets your website up and running and visible to Google and you really want that." — Doug Bradley

    Find out more about the Bootstrap Your Marketing to Build Your Personal Brand Event at: https://fretzin.com/events

    Thank you to our Sponsors!
    Lawmatics: https://www.lawmatics.com/bethatlawyer/
    Get Staffed Up: https://getstaffedup.com/bethatlawyer/
    Green Cardigan Marketing: https://greencardiganmarketing.com/

    Episode References:
    Justia: https://lawyers.justia.com/new-profile
    Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson: https://www.amazon.com/Steve-Jobs-Walter-Isaacson/dp/1451648537

    About Doug Bradley: Doug Bradley is the owner of Everest Legal Marketing and a highly experienced SEO professional. He's different than many agency owners because he actually understands technical Search Engine Optimization and diagnoses website visibility issues for law firms.

    Connect with Doug Bradley:
    Website: https://www.everestlegalmarketing.com/
    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/douglas-j-bradley/
    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/everest-legal-marketing/
    Twitter: https://twitter.com/EverestLawMktg
    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/everestlegalmarketing

    Connect with Steve Fretzin:
    LinkedIn: Steve Fretzin
    Twitter: @stevefretzin
    Instagram: @fretzinsteve
    Facebook: Fretzin, Inc.
    Website: Fretzin.com
    Email: Steve@Fretzin.com
    Book: Legal Business Development Isn't Rocket Science and more!
    YouTube: Steve Fretzin
    Call Steve directly at 847-602-6911


    Show notes by Podcastologist Chelsea Taylor-Sturkie

    Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.

    • 33 min
    Paul Angelle: Living Your Dynamic Business Plan

    Paul Angelle: Living Your Dynamic Business Plan

    In this episode, Steve Fretzin and Paul Angelle discuss:
    Working through the lens of ownership.
    The biggest opportunity for growth…and the biggest obstacle for growth.
    Advice to law firm owners to create their business plans.
    Repetitive problems law firms have with executing their business plan.

    Key Takeaways:
    Your goal must be consistent with your why.
    Share your business goals with your team you will have more consistency with an accountability partner.
    Spreading the ownership of the business plan will improve your company culture.
    Make sure the people in your law firm are in the right spot - it may mean moving people around or changing tasks to fit strengths and zones of genius.

    "Businesses that grow, especially businesses that grow fast and in big numbers, have a plan. They never don’t have a plan." — Paul Angelle

    Find out more about the Mastering the Legal Clock and Thriving Event at: https://fretzin.com/events

    Thank you to our Sponsors!
    Lawmatics: https://www.lawmatics.com/bethatlawyer/
    Get Staffed Up: https://getstaffedup.com/bethatlawyer/
    Green Cardigan Marketing: https://greencardiganmarketing.com/

    Episode References:
    The Greatest Salesman in the World by Og Mandino

    About Paul Angelle: Paul Angelle never really had a choice; he was born into entrepreneurship. Working full-time in his father’s Cajun restaurant in south Louisiana from an early age, he learned the value of work through the lens of ownership. He never thought of himself as an employee as he proudly worked in the family business through college. That mindset would never change.

    After graduating from the University of Louisiana with multiple degrees, he applied that same passion to sales. He was a natural salesman, a gifted networker, and very successful across multiple industries for over 20 years. In addition to starting his own successful media company, he earned a law degree from Loyola University in New Orleans which landed him a role as the first COO of a statewide, rapidly growing estate planning law firm. In that role, he managed a team of 20, and was instrumental in tripling revenue, increasing services, growing margins, and raising salaries during his 5+ years there.

    During the lockdown in early 2020, Paul wrote a personal growth book. He had it published in 2021 and experienced the process of a launch that landed him numerous interviews, multiple book signings, and more coaching and consulting requests than he could have ever predicted. He realized that his lifetime goal of helping as many people as possible was finally in reach.

    After more than 5 years of success growing a law firm, nearly 2 decades of achievement in regional and territory sales, and a record of entrepreneurial accomplishment in publishing, Paul seized the opportunity to use his varied experiences to help others. His track record of success, his infectious enthusiasm, his specific skillset, and his varied experiences made him a perfect fit for HTM.

    A former “undefeated” little league coach for his sons’ baseball teams, Paul enjoys cooking, fishing and writing. He’s a huge fan of his alma mater and enjoys watching and supporting the Ragin’ Cajuns whenever he can. He’s a father of four who lives on a small farm in tiny Sunset, LA with his beautiful wife Dawn and their horses, goats, chickens, dogs, and cats.

    Connect with Paul Angelle:
    Website: https://lawfamilia.net/
    Website: https://paulangelle.com/
    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulangelle/

    Connect with Steve Fretzin:
    LinkedIn: Steve Fretzin
    Twitter: @stevefretzin
    Instagram: @fretzinsteve
    Facebook: Fretzin, Inc.
    Website: Fretzin.com
    Email: Steve@Fretzin.com
    Book: Legal Business Development Isn't Rocket Science and more!
    YouTube: Steve Fretzin
    Call Steve directly at 847-602-6911

    Show notes by Podcastologist Chelsea Taylor-Sturkie

    Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.

    • 35 min

Customer Reviews

4.9 out of 5
37 Ratings

37 Ratings

Logshogs ,

Sage Advice For Lawyers

@fretzinsteve offers a wonderful variety of topics and guests to help attorneys - new and old - to the top.

JoanButler ,

Focuing Beyond The Problem on BE THAT LAWYER podcast

@fretzinsteve, it is a JOY to be interviewed by you!! Your passion for what you do is so professional and heartfelt. I know anyone who works with you will be successful because that is your INTENTION to serve your audience. Thanks you for having me on your podcast!! Joan

MarciaWW ,

BE THAT LAWYER with FRETZIN

Thank you @fretzinsteve for inviting me to participate with you on your podcast. You are masterful at putting your guests at ease. I enjoyed sharing my thoughts on law firm leaders, leadership, management, changes in the legal profession and managing partners roundtables with you.

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