Are you a law firm owner grappling with your firm’s financial planning and cash flow management? If so, this episode of The Lawyer Millionaire Podcast is tailor-made for you! In our latest episode, Darren Wurz sits down with Rachel Blackburn, an experienced CFO consultant, to discuss critical accounting practices that can transform your firm’s financial health.
Rachel discusses:
The significance of starting the year with strong financial processes and goal alignment
How consistent and accurate bookkeeping can prevent costly mistakes and ensure timely financial reporting.
How to streamline billing processes and reduce clerical errors with tools like Quickbooks.
The importance of proactive communication with CPAs for better tax planning and financial management.
The benefits of a fractional CFO for law firm owners.
Why you must do today’s work today when it comes to accounting?
Rachel Blackburn is a proven business leader with over 15 years of experience in developing and leading executive-level engagements, as well as building and managing high-functioning teams and practices.
Rachel possesses a deeply rooted passion for understanding the needs of business owners and identifying optimal strategies to support their goals in an ever-changing marketplace. Before joining TP4 Advisors, Rachel held senior management positions at Cincinnati-based companies, including TRAK Group and Titan Chair.
As the Business Development Executive, Rachel leads the organization in engaging with potential clients to understand how TP4 Advisors can best support their needs and develop financial foundations for sustainable business growth.
Outside of work, Rachel enjoys outdoor activities, reading, biking, traveling, bonfires, and spending time with her husband and daughter.
If you are a solo or small firm attorney aiming to strategically expand your practice and enhance your revenue streams, this episode of The Lawyer Millionaire Podcast offers an in-depth look at optimizing your referral fee income.
In Episode 58, hosts Darren Wurz and guest Arya Firoozmand explore the sophisticated mechanisms behind maximizing referral fee revenue.
Arya, the CEO and co-founder of Overture Law, outlines how their meticulously designed platform facilitates seamless and profitable legal referrals.
Overture Law stands out by fostering trust and efficiency in the referral process. The platform bridges the gap in knowledge and trust through detailed peer reviews and client feedback, ensuring that referrals are handled with the utmost care and professionalism.
It also addresses significant industry challenges by managing the intricacies of billing and fee-sharing, thus allowing attorneys to focus on their core legal duties while benefiting financially from referrals.
Arya discusses:
How his company Overture law streamlines the referral process.
How to unlock new income via attorney referrals.
The importance of staying in touch with referral partners and positioning yourself as a general counsel for all your clients’ legal needs.
Overcoming common objections to giving referrals.
The future of attorney referrals and community building.
Arya Firoozmand is the CEO and co-founder of Overture Law, the first attorney-to-attorney platform designed for members to refer matters and ethically share in fees.
Are you a law firm owner looking to elevate your client engagement and marketing strategy? Discover the untapped potential of podcasting in this riveting episode of The Lawyer Millionaire Podcast
Host Darren Wurz delves deep with podcasting expert Robert Ingalls who shares his transformational journey from a litigating attorney to a podcasting pro.
Robert recounts his transition from an unfulfilling career in litigation to a thriving business in podcast production. Inspired by a book and a podcast, Robert shares how he started his own podcast and eventually began producing content for others. Both Darren and Robert emphasize the importance of delivering quick, valuable content that respects the listener’s time and tackles their pain points directly. They also explore the benefits of evergreen content, high-quality audio, and the incredible value of consistency in podcasting.
Robert discusses:
How his journey from litigation to podcasting can inspire you to pursue your own passions.
Affordable and effective microphone options to ensure top-notch audio quality.
How to turn listeners into clients and referrals.
How law firm owners can stand out with a podcast.
The importance of creating valuable content before making an ask.
How to create high quality content consistently to keep your audience engaged and build credibility.
Robert Ingalls is a recovering attorney, professional speaker, and the founder of LawPods, one of the first podcast production agencies for law firms. At LawPods, Robert and his team help some of the premier law firms in the world launch and grow branded podcasts that build relationships and drive revenue.
Robert’s path to Podcast Producer to the Am Law 100 was anything but direct. For years he battled anxiety from the pressure, long hours, and constant conflict of a litigation career. When he was finally ready to throw in the towel, he had no idea what to do next. With no business/marketing background and only a love for podcasts he discovered while creating a podcast for his law firm, Robert decided to see if lawyers would pay him to help them launch podcasts. With very few takers in the early days, Robert spent two years in a corporate banking gig, grinding nights and weekends to finally bring LawPods to life.
As a speaker, Robert frequently speaks on topics including Positioning Your Firm Podcast for Success, Prioritizing Mental Health, Entrepreneurship, and Law Office Technology. In his spare time, he enjoys teaching podcasting at community events, spending time with his wife and daughters, and skateboarding/snowboarding.
Have you ever walked into a room full of professionals and felt lost in the sea of suits and briefcases? You’re not alone. Networking can be daunting, but it’s a goldmine of opportunities when done right. This week on The Lawyer Millionaire Podcast, we dive deep into the art of networking with expert Deb Feder. If your goal is to turn every handshake into a meaningful business relationship, this episode is your roadmap.
Deb shatters common networking myths and shares practical strategies that are immediately actionable and incredibly effective. From clumsy mishaps to strategic mastery, her insights demystify and simplify networking in a way that any law firm owner can appreciate and apply.
Deb discusses:
How to engage meaningfully in group conversations.
How to turn networking mistakes to opportunities.
The hidden value in small talk.
How busy lawyers can manage tasks efficiently.
Effective virtual networking techniques.
How to overcome the fear of putting yourself out there and communicating at networking events.
Deb Feder is a business development coach, strategist, owner and CEO of Feder Development LLC, a consulting firm focused on helping lawyers bring in consistent clients through curious, confident conversations and changing the way we view productivity for professionals.
Deb believes in dropping excuses and simple productivity solutions. Using LinkedIn as a platform to validate and share ideas, Deb helps professionals engage in meaningful content and connections. For the last decade, Deb has committed herself to changing the way we think about work-life balance and tackle high stakes work, allowing for big careers and enjoying our free time. Deb leads the community in dropping excuses, getting productive, and bringing in business through the monthly membership program, Focus30.
Prior to founding Feder Development, Deb practiced corporate law for 15 years and holds a history degree from the University of Michigan and her JD/MBA from the University of Iowa. Deb completed her coach training and certification through New Ventures West and completed the training in The Daring Way™, which is based on the research of Dr. Brené Brown.
In the fiercely competitive legal landscape, achieving breakthrough success requires more than just legal expertise—it demands astute business acumen and strategic foresight.
Join us in this insightful episode of The Lawyer Millionaire Podcast, where Ross Pitcoff, a seasoned attorney and law firm owner, unveils the core strategies that helped catapult his practice to the forefront of the industry.
Ross delves into the significance of precisely identifying and understanding your client base, the intricacies of financial management within a law firm, and the transformative impact of targeted digital marketing strategies.
Ross discusses:
How to identify and target your ideal clients.
How he uses Linkedin to build brand awareness and attract clients.
Practical steps to boost your firm’s finances.
The key reason most lawyers lack business acumen.
The evolution of legal professionals in the digital age.
How to hire the right team members to support law firm operations.
Ross Pitcoff is the Managing Partner & Founder of Pitcoff Law Group, PC (formally known as: Ross Pitcoff Law), a New York City business law firm with a principal office located on Park Avenue.
Mr. Pitcoff is a highly skilled commercial & business litigator, specializing in cases involving business divorce, partnership disputes, contractual breaches, fraud, and alternative dispute resolution. Known for his fierce oral advocacy skills and unique ability to simplify factually complex legal scenarios, Mr. Pitcoff is a powerful advocate for his clients both inside and outside the courtroom.
Having been admitted to practice in the Southern and Eastern districts of New York, Mr. Pitcoff demonstrates his versatile legal skills and ability to effectively navigate complex legal landscapes. He obtained his law degree from the prestigious Fordham University School of Law in 2010, further enhancing his deep knowledge and understanding of the law.
As the Managing Partner of Pitcoff Law Group, Mr. Pitcoff has spearheaded the Firm’s recent tremendous growth, earning the Firm the prestigious “Law Firm 500” award in 2023 while officially ranking as the 11th fastest-growing small law firm in the country. This notable achievement is a testament to Mr. Pitcoff’s exceptional leadership, commitment to excellence, and passion for delivering exceptional legal services to his clients.
In addition to his legal practice, Mr. Pitcoff is a highly sought-after speaker, sharing his insights and expertise on topics related to commercial business practices and alternative dispute resolution. His ability to provide strategic guidance and navigate complex legal challenges has earned him the trust and respect of his clients and peers alike.
Mr. Pitcoff’s areas of expertise extend beyond litigation. He and the Firm also act as trusted General Counsel to business owners, providing strategic guidance to businesses in matters such as entity structuring, operating and shareholder agreements, contractual negotiation and review, internal investigations, and overseeing acquisitions via asset sales or stock purchases. His comprehensive approach ensures his clients receive exemplary legal support and guidance tailored to their specific needs.
Are you tired of feeling like the legal mastermind but the business novice?
Do you find yourself mired in the daily grind at your law firm, unable to make the leap from lawyer to business mogul?
On this episode of The Lawyer Millionaire Podcast, host Darren Wurz sits down with legal entrepreneur Alexis Austin, a maverick who transformed her career from a frustrated attorney to an entrepreneurial powerhouse.
Alexis shares her journey and the hard-earned wisdom she gained while scaling her practice into a seven-figure criminal law firm. Through her narrative, Austin unearths the secrets of approaching business with a strategic mindset, the significance of delegation, and the savvy integration of technology in today’s competitive legal landscape.
Alexis discusses:
How she applies the Pareto principle in her daily operations to magnify results and streamline workflow.
How to turn mistakes into growth opportunities.
The importance of continuous personal and professional development.
How to navigate the delicate balance between trusting your team and maintaining control, a critical aspect for any leader looking to expand their firm.
Her journey of recognizing areas of personal weakness and how turning to the right support staff — including her husband — helped bolster the firm’s robust foundations
Alexis Austin is the CEO and Managing Partner of Right Law Group, a Colorado Springs criminal defense law firm she founded in June of 2018.
Before founding Right Law Group, Ms. Austin was a Deputy District Attorney in Pueblo and Colorado Springs. She left the D.A.’s office to become a partner in a well-respected criminal defense firm in Colorado Springs. During her time there, she learned what it takes to run a successful law practice. Armed with that knowledge and a desire to start a firm wired for the 21st century, she set out on her own and founded the Right Law Group. Right Law Group has since become one of the top criminal defense firms in Colorado Springs by specializing in enhancing the client’s experience through leveraging technology.
Ms. Austin has a passion for helping people get back on the right path and work towards bettering their lives. She also believes that clients should be treated as more than case files. They should be able to build a strong relationship and trust with their law firm as they go through the most difficult times in their lives. Ms. Austin has made that philosophy the cornerstone of Right Law Group. Based on her background in cognitive psychology and domestic violence research, Ms. Austin particularly enjoys working with people who are charged with domestic violence charges or who suffer from PTSD. Her knowledgeable and compassionate approach to helping clients see the light at the end of the tunnel is one of the things people love best about working with her.
Not only is Ms. Austin passionate about zealously representing her clients, she is also a dedicated businesswoman. Her leadership and vision have led the Right Law Group to consecutive years of increased growth and success, including during the Covid-19 pandemic. Since June of 2018, she has grown the business from a single employee (herself) to four full-time attorneys, and a staff of ten. She has also mentored local entrepreneurial attorneys who have used Ms. Austin’s example and advice to open and grow their own legal enterprises.
Alexis Austin’s expertise goes beyond her role as a lawyer; she’s also the founder of 360 Strategic Success, a consulting business focused on coaching and advising criminal defense law firm owners to effectively build and manage their practices. With personalized coaching and strategic guidance, Alexis empowers fellow attorneys worldwide to achieve their business objectives while maintaining the highest standards of legal representation for their clients.
Are you a law firm owner tirelessly chiseling away at the bedrock of your practice, feeling the weight of financial complexity bearing down on you?
On this episode of The Lawyer Millionaire Podcast, host Darren Wurz explores the rugged terrain of wealth management and business expansion, Darren breaks down how meticulous financial planning is not just a service, but a transformative experience for your practice and personal prosperity.
Darren exposes the reality that many law firm owners face – a landscape riddled with financial convolutions and missed opportunities.
Darren provides a powerful in-depth analysis of how his role as a Chief Wealth Counsel can provide clarity and growth to both your personal finances and business endeavors.
Darren discusses:
The importance of demystifying your financial positions, both personal and business, to make informed decisions for your future.
How to utilize passive income streams that allow you to earn you while you sleep and diversify your earnings beyond billable hours.
Proactive tax planning and cash flow optimization to ensure every dollar is working its hardest for you.
How to transcend the traditional plateau of law practice growth, and build a roadmap toward selling your firm as a significant wealth asset.
The distinctive financial planning model Wurz financial services adopts, which contrasts sharply with generic advisors and offers a flat, transparent fee structure.
Are you tired of the traditional law firm model holding you back from true financial liberation?
In this eye-opening episode of The Lawyer Millionaire Podcast, we dive deep with Allen Rodriguez, a visionary legal product development strategist, who shares groundbreaking strategies to transform your law firm into a well-oiled machine, generating wealth while increasing access to justice. Discover Allen’s insider insights on marrying cutting-edge technology with savvy business practices to catapult your firm’s efficiency and profitability.
Allen discusses:
How a subscription-based legal service can transform your firm’s revenue stream, ensuring predictable cash flow and deepened client relationships
Discover the power of treating legal services as products and how to employ AI and software tools for commoditized legal tasks to optimize your firm’s efficiency.
Be inspired by Allen’s mission to solve the ‘4 billion people’s access to justice problem’ and how innovations in the legal sector can contribute to a more just world.
How to offer additional services to divorced clients.
Learn the importance of providing strategic value over administrative tasks and how to shift towards lucrative pricing models that reward high-impact work.
Allen Rodriguez is a national speaker, product development strategist and legal innovator who has been serving the legal industry for 19 years. Over the course of his career, Allen has built a reputation for creating innovative legal services products as well as developing highly effective law firm business models and marketing strategies. Allen is a valued speaker on the topics of legal services product development, design thinking in law and future of law issues. He has provided consulting and engineering services for such companies as McKinsey & Co., Fastcase, Gavelytics, LexisNexis, and Littler.
Prior to founding ONE400, Allen was the Director of Attorney Services at LegalZoom. While there, his work contributed to a substantial portion of overall revenue at the company and helped LegalZoom move from a provider of “do-it-yourself” legal services to a comprehensive legal solutions provider, incorporating attorney-fulfilled work across all U.S. jurisdictions. Allen’s immersion in the legal industry began running operations at the Los Angeles County Bar Association’s Lawyer Referral Service. While there, his marketing knowledge, operational developments, and leadership helped generate millions of dollars in revenue for the association.
In the competitive world of law, success is not solely measured by case wins, but also by the financial strength and stability of your practice. The latest episode of The Lawyer Millionaire Podcast offers a rigorous exploration of the tenets of financial acumen in the legal profession.
Host Darren Wurz engages with esteemed guest RJon Robins in a deep dive into the critical application of the “profit first” approach and the moral obligations law firm owners face in maintaining financial probity. With a focus on stability, sustainability, and ethical practice, this episode presents an analysis of financial strategies that align with the core values of justice and service inherent to the legal profession. Listeners will gain a wider understanding of the fiscal prudence required to navigate the future of law with confidence and clarity.
RJon discusses:
How the “profit first” system can revolutionize the financial health of your law firm.
Strategies for dealing with resistance from staff when implementing new financial systems.
The psychological and ethical implications of running a profitable practice for both clients and law firm teams.
How to stop the money leaks and transform your law firm finances today
The important truths most broke lawyers don’t like to hear
The essential financial tools included in his bonus package — bookkeeper assessment template, financial quiz, and more
RJon Robins is the one common denominator behind more multi-million-dollar law firms than anyone else on the planet. RJon believes in profit, and he detests loss.
Since he first reported for duty as a Small Law Firm Management Advisor with The Florida Bar’s Law Office Management Assistance Service (LOMAS) under the legendary J.R. Phelps (1999) and since founding How To Manage A Small Law Firm (2009) RJon and his team of wildly qualified law firm business management advisors have coached, counseled, advised, and kicked the butts of thousands of wildly successful small law firm owners. Yes, we know we used the word “wildly” twice in that sentence – what How to Manage a Small Law Firm does is that good.
The only three things that piss RJon off are:
The Doctrine of Sacrifice
People who would have you embrace The Doctrine of Sacrifice
The BS those people often spew to try and convince you, as an entrepreneur that you should somehow take pride in how much you suffer but apologize for how much value you create for yourself and others.
Oh, and in case you’re impressed by this sort of thing RJon is a Member of The Florida Bar, he’s authorized to appear before The Southern District Federal Court, he’s a Member of The Association of Certified Fraud Examiners, his company How To Manage A Small Law Firm has been named by Inc Magazine as one of the 5000 Fastest Growing Privately Held Companies in the United States every year since 2015 and after 15 years of marriage his wife still thinks he’s funny.
Why Did RJon Write Profit First for Lawyers?
After working with thousands of law firm entrepreneurs for many years, RJon wanted to write a book dedicated to business owners who are committed to growing their law firm and living a better life. RJon has seen first-hand how “conventional wisdom” has led many entrepreneurs astray and wanted to share what he knows will help them turn their businesses around.
If entrepreneurs implement what’s explained in the book, their law firms WILL become more profitable and they WILL feel more satisfied.
But this book will probably piss them off too.
Why? Because when they discover the culprits who have been keeping them separated from their profits… It will probably piss them off. One day they will wake up and be pretty pissed about all the bad advice they’ve been given.
Ready to Take the Next Step?
If you are ready to take the next step and experience even MORE personal and professional growth, then you may be ready to become a member of How to Manage a Small Law Firm.
If you already know an HTM Member, GOOD. Now you need the courage to begin your journey “through the looking glass.”
Don’t know an HTM Member?
Several of our Members volunteer each quarter to “pay it forward” and have a conversation with potential new members about what it’s really like to work with How To Manage. Based on that conversation, they’ll send you a referral to have a formal consultation with someone from our New Member Engagement group.
If our team believes we can help you achieve your goals they’ll recommend the next-best step for you. Fill out the “I’m Interested in Joining HTM” form and you’ll be introduced to one of our members.
From Mom to Legal Mogul: Vanessa Vasquez’s Journey (Ep. 49)
Are you a law firm owner grappling with the nuances of managing your business’s financial health? In Episode 49 of The Lawyer Millionaire Podcast, Host Darren Wurz sits down with Vanessa Vasquez, a legal entrepreneur who has built her family law firm from ground up as she articulates the transformative steps her firm took in revising their financial strategies.
Throughout the episode, Vanessa elucidates the intricacies of liquidity, cost management, and leveraging credit, painting a vivid picture of resilience and proactive planning.
As she dives into the significant issue of delineating personal from business finances, Vanessa not only recounts her own experiences but also provides vital counsel to budding law firm owners. Her mission to advocate for families through legal practice, while pursuing goals influenced by personal devotion and philanthropy, adds a layer of depth to the discussion on legal entrepreneurship.
Vanessa discusses:
Strategies for maintaining liquidity, managing labor costs, and leveraging credit to buffer against unexpected business scenarios.
Tips for hiring and outsourcing effectively as a means to increase productivity within your law firm.
The importance of cultivating a positive work culture and the unique benefits your firm can offer to support associates in achieving work-life balance.
The critical transition from reactive financial decisions based on bank balances to proactive cash flow and budget-driven management.
Methods for leveraging international talent to expand your firm’s expertise and services in the wake of a global, pandemic-induced talent pool shift.
Vanessa Vasquez de Lara, Esq. is one of the most sought after family law attorneys in Miami. As the founder and owner of the Vasquez de Lara Law Group, she has dedicated her life to helping families navigate the intricacies of the law by ensuring their rights are honored and upheld in family court.
During one of the most stressful times in a family’s life, Mrs. Vasquez de Lara is there to provide strength, understanding and unwavering support for her clients.
Mrs. Vasquez de Lara graduated cum laude from the University of Miami School of Law in 2002. Shortly after starting her own law practice, she was named to the Super Lawyers’ Rising Stars in 2015.
Through hard work and determination, Mrs. Vasquez de Lara has been recognized as one of the elite family law attorneys in Miami being named to the “Super Lawyers List” starting in 2016 every year through present. This not only shows her level of commitment and consistency to the legal profession but also shows the esteem she is held in by her fellow attorneys in Florida.
Mrs. Vasquez de Lara is accomplished in the legal community as well as the business community.
As the current President of the Coral Gables Bar Association, she is able to help facilitate networking within the association and connect like-minded attorneys to one another. As a change agent and leader in the community, she has a knack for bringing people together to make a positive impact on the community.
As an elected member of the Board of the Miami Dade County Bar Association, she supports key initiatives to promote and highlight all the great work the association does in the community as well as assist attorneys with programming and continuing education.
Her extensive networking and prominence in the legal field allows connections to other attorneys and legal professionals which enhance the firm’s ability to operate more than effectively when helping clients move their cases forward.
As an entrepreneur and businesswoman, Mrs. Vasquez de Lara is committed to helping other businesses in her local community. As a former board member of the Pinecrest Business Association, she has helped sponsor charitable events through the organization, has volunteered her time and has participated in community events to bring recognition and goodwill to the businesses in the community.
Mrs. Vasquez de Lara is also involved in charity work in her community. She started a non-profit organization called the Supreme Scholars Foundation in honor of her younger brother Ricardo “Ricky Supreme” de Lara, who was tragically lost to gun violence in 2020. The foundation regularly offers scholarships to deserving and hard-working high school or college students who are moving on in their studies into college, graduate school or vocational school.
The foundation has also partnered with the Big Brothers and Big Sisters organizations of Miami to award high school seniors full 2-year scholarships to a Florida school with a Two-year Florida Prepaid College Plan.
Mrs. Vasquez de Lara has been featured multiple times on Univision’s Despierta America, the No. 1 national morning show on Spanish language television that’s been running for more than two decades. Mrs. Vasquez de Lara has demonstrated her legal expertise on the show numerous times, and her passion for family law shines through in every appearance. Her ability to break down complex legal concepts in a way that is both simple to understand and accessible makes her the perfect “guest” family law expert on the show.
And despite the growth of the Vasquez de Lara Law Group and the many accolades that Mrs. Vasquez de Lara continues to receive, she has been able to maintain a family atmosphere in her law practice that one would be hard-pressed to find at any other law firm.
This is due to the fact that she personally reviews every case that her law firm handles, and credits her incredible staff, who are as friendly and down to earth as they are knowledgeable and professional.
