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How One Lawyer Ditched Tradition to Build a Future-Ready, Client-Focused Firm 

When the Old Way No Longer Works, You Build a New One 

The legal world loves tradition—but what if tradition is holding you back? 

That was the question weighing on attorney Dan Sapienza. 

For years, Dan built his career in a respected, well-established law firm—one that had served its clients well. But as the legal industry evolved, he felt a growing pull toward something different. The firm’s traditional processes had worked for decades, yet Dan saw opportunities for greater efficiency, innovation, and a more intentional approach to serving clients. 

Then came a pivotal moment: his partners announced their plans to retire. Suddenly, Dan had a choice—continue within an existing framework or create something entirely new. He realized that simply modernizing a firm rooted in tradition wouldn’t be enough. To build the kind of law practice he envisioned—one centered on technology, efficiency, and flexibility—he needed a fresh start. 

It was an exciting yet daunting leap. But he didn’t have to do it alone. That’s when he turned to Lawyerist Lab, where he found the strategy, support, and roadmap to bring his vision to life. 

A Law Firm Designed for the Future 

Based in Fort Collins, Colorado, Poudre Legal Advisors isn’t just another law firm—it’s a strategic partner for businesses and municipalities navigating complex legal landscapes. Specializing in municipal and business law, the firm is committed to turning challenges into opportunities, providing forward-thinking legal solutions that empower clients to grow, adapt, and succeed. 

A New Path: Finding the Right Support 

Walking away from a traditional firm was a leap into the unknown. Dan knew he wanted something different—but what did that actually look like beyond a fresh start?  

Through one-on-one coaching in Lawyerist Lab, he found more than just business advice—he found a guide who challenged him to think differently. With the guidance of his coach, Supriya, he was rethinking his entire approach to running a law firm. She pushed him beyond his comfort zone, helping him uncover blind spots and embrace innovative business strategies. 

The more he leaned into the process, the more his vision took shape. He wasn’t just leaving an old firm; he was creating a modern, tech-savvy practice built on efficiency, intentionality, and freedom. And with the support of the Lawyerist Lab community, he wasn’t doing it alone. 

Building a Firm—and a Life—on His Own Terms 

Since founding Poudre Legal Advisors, Dan has experienced significant positive changes: 

  • Freedom & Flexibility: Dan no longer works to fit someone else’s mold. He sets his own hours, chooses clients who align with his values, and enjoys a career that finally feels like his own. 
  • A Tech-Driven Practice: No more inefficiencies, no more outdated processes. With complete autonomy, Dan built a firm designed for the modern world—leveraging modern technology to streamline operations and enhance client service, exactly the way he always imagined. 
  • Success on His Own Terms: Steady revenue. Fewer hours. Less stress. More time for what truly matters. The biggest win? A law practice that fuels his happiness instead of draining it. 

When he took the leap, Dan didn’t just start a law firm—he designed a business that supports his life, not the other way around. 

“Moving to my own firm with the confidence to do that came from working with Lab. I work less, choose the clients I want, and that all leads to happiness. I’m just enjoying what I’m doing.” 

Your Law Firm. Your Rules. Your Future. 

 You didn’t start your own practice to feel stuck in someone else’s outdated system. You don’t have to settle. Lawyerist Lab gives you the strategy, systems, and support to build a law firm that works for you. 

Whether you’re looking to streamline operations, embrace technology, or finally build a business that gives you more freedom, Lawyerist Lab has the roadmap to get you there.  

It’s time to stop guessing and start building, just like Dan. 

Take the first step today—join Lawyerist Lab and create the firm (and life) you want. 

 

Call for Nominations: 2025 Best Law Firm Websites

Nominations are now open for the 2025 Lawyerist Best Law Firm Website Contest!

This annual contest showcases small and solo law firms that demonstrate excellence in legal website design. Past winners have gone above and beyond with their websites, creating an exceptional user experience and attracting new clients. They also serve as a valuable platform to educate and inspire, communicate with current clients, and grow their brand.

So, how does it work?

We encourage our community to nominate eye-catching, innovative legal websites that stand out amongst the crowd. Multiple submissions from the same person are welcome. We just ask that you nominate your website only once. Nominations will close on Friday, April 25, 2025.

Nominate Your Favorite Website

Websites are assessed based on four main categories:

  • Functionality – Easy navigation, search feature, mobile-friendly.
  • Accessibility – Alt text, headers, keyboard interaction, media alternatives.
  • Marketing – Aesthetics, content marketing, images/video.
  • Technical – SEO, page load time, scroll time.

Judges will use these categories as they fill out the grading rubric. Websites with the highest average score win.

Contest Rules

Read these rules before submitting your nominations:

  1. The website must reflect a small or solo law firm (firms of 15 lawyers or fewer).
  2. Past Lawyerist Best Law Firm Website winners are ineligible to win.
  3. Websites that don’t align with the above grading categories will be omitted.
  4. If you submit your website multiple times, we have the right to omit your submission.
  5. If the website has a low GTmetrix score, it will automatically be omitted from the competition.

Are you looking to spruce up your website?

Are you looking to spruce up your website? Take a look at the 2024 Best Law Firm Website winners to find inspiration. Or, check out our Guide to Law Firm Website Design to learn how to enhance your website and drive traffic to your page.

 

5 Legal Tech Solutions Your Senior Partners Will Love

Around Valentine’s Day, we walked you through 5 legal tech solutions your clients will love. These tools offer wonderful features to tech-wise firms looking to boost efficiency and improve client service.

Six weeks later, we think it’s time for a follow-up. This time we pondered, “What legal tech do senior law firm partners value and why?” Unsurprisingly, they favor products with proven track records that you know are working; like face time in the office, but for computers.

Fax Me Back Baby!

Senior partners love fax machines. Why? Because nothing says “cutting-edge technology” like a device that screeches and beeps while transmitting your documents at the speed of a snail. The noises tell partners it’s working (just like the muffled sobbing coming from junior associates’ offices). Plus, the thrill of waiting for that confirmation page is unmatched; you don’t get that with email. Fax machines offer the nostalgic charm of real paper [jams] and blurry text. So, dust off those ancient relics and show your firm’s powers-that-be that you too value tradition over efficiency.

Stick to the Facts

Once that vital fax comes through, someone has to review and comment on it. Adobe Acrobat is expensive, and Apple Pencils are fragile. The first is too complicated and the second snaps in half in anger even easier than a regular #2 pencil. What to do? That’s where senior partners reach for the stack of sticky notes. Nothing says “organized chaos” like a rainbow of sticky squares plastered all over your desk (the original diversity of white-shoe law firms).

Sticky notes offer the tactile satisfaction of peeling and pasting, plus the thrill of finding that crucial note buried under a pile of paperwork. Embrace the charm of handwritten messages that can be indecipherable, easily lost, and accidentally thrown away.

Partners know that these colorful gems show the world that your firm values creativity. And there’s an added benefit. Senior partner Whitacker T. F. Bluster put it best: “With sticky notes, I don’t even really have to interact with associates. It’s the original ghosting! That’s what the kids say, ghosting, right?”

Bates Numbering the Old-Fashioned Way

Are you old enough to remember the Smith Barney commercials starring The Paper Chase’s John Houseman? Your senior partners are! And they prefer their Bates numbering the same way Smith Barney made money: the old-fashioned way. Bring a smile to their face by dusting off the Bates numbering machine.

Sure, manually stamping each page with a unique number hardly screams “efficiency.” But efficiency isn’t always the goal. Like the ringing of a cash register, the satisfying clunk of the Bates machine is music to your partners’ ears. Plus, it doubles as a fantastic arm workout!

Embrace the nostalgia of ink smudges and misaligned numbers. Don’t think blemishes; think organic and handmade. Caught on his daily 1/10th of an hour bathroom break, junior associate Mortimer J. Crabtree agreed: “I think the ink stains and paper cuts really show my managing partner and my clients that I’m hands-on with my cases.”

Potent Redaction without the Power Plug

You’re probably familiar with the importance of proper redaction. Hopefully, you’ve read horror stories about confidential information being exposed by lawyers attempting PDF-based redactions improperly. Your senior partners may not. But that’s okay, because the trusty black Sharpie never fails them.

To people who remember the Pentagon Papers, “confidentiality” means a thick, black, permanent line across sensitive information. The Sharpie offers the tactile satisfaction of manually crossing out text, plus the thrill of accidentally revealing a word or two. Nothing gives you the high of helping a client like the unmistakable scent of a fresh marker. Partners appreciate that, even in a high-tech world, sometimes you have to get your hands dirty.

Thumbs Up for USB Drives

While you may joke about partners’ distrust of technology or love of Dictaphones, sometimes they’re on the cutting edge…of an earlier generation. That’s how they know that, while cloud storage can be hacked, a USB thumb drive is forever. Why would you want client files in a faraway cloud when “secure data storage” can live in the depths of your briefcase (no backpacks for senior partners)? USB thumb drives replace the anger of short-term Internet outages with the thrilling search for a lost thumb drive filled with unencrypted confidential documents.

As Reginald P. Thistleton, III, Esq., explained, over lunch at the club, naturally, “While the cloud is unsafe, I’ll risk losing files in my car, the dry cleaners, the 19th hole, or elsewhere. Besides, I like being hands-on with the computers. Can’t do that with the cloud. Some of the USB drives don’t fit my new laptop, but my Dremel tool solved that problem.”

Wrap-Up

Don’t always focus on the new shiny tech. Sometimes people do things the old way for a reason. But make sure their reason is reasonable. If you recognize a bit much of yourself above, take a look at our Legal Tech Field Guide to start reevaluating your tech stack.

 

Top Features of the Best Law Firm Websites of 2025: Engaging Client Focused Content

Engaging, client-focused content means your law firm website goes beyond being an impressive business card. Prospective clients don’t visit your site merely to find a phone number or calendar scheduling link.

Characteristics of Client-Focused Content

Great content amplifies a professional design and strong branding to give would-be clients a sense of the attorney or firm’s mission and feel like they are a fit for your needs.

Such sites give you information in an understandable and digestible way. They explain what you should be doing and what may happen as part of the process. The best sites are worth going to as resources in themselves.

Think, for example, of the Mayo Clinic. You might visit them for information unrelated to finding a doctor or scheduling an appointment. It’s a resource, in and of itself.

Perhaps that’s the highest compliment one might pay to a law firm website. There’s something there worth seeing even if the user wasn’t in immediate need of their services.

Let’s Look at an Example

After Service LLC, a Colorado firm run by military veteran Greg Rada, exemplifies engaging, client-focused content.

It’s Professional

At first glance, you can tell that After Service works exclusively with veterans on their legal issues. Everything from the header tag line (“a veteran for veterans”), to the color scheme (muted red, white, and blue), to the practice area titles, speaks one design language.

Site navigation and calls to action are prominent, including a large “Start Here” button on the homepage. Additionally, After Service’s site displays a phone number at the top right of every page. They also offer a chatbot at the bottom right.

It’s Engaging

After Service’s site is far more than a “pretty face.” Upon your initial visit, the homepage pops up a video at the bottom left of the screen, featuring Greg walking you through his biography and the services his firm offers. Such a video proves more inviting, more personable, and thus more likely to be seen than rafts of printed materials or website text. It’s also quality content for mobile devices, so it’s a great way to engage clients.

After Service’s site also includes many client testimonials, several as video clips. Not only can you hear from Greg about Greg, but you can hear from clients about having worked with Greg and his firm.

Examining the practice area, Agent Orange Exposure, for example, visitors see layout choices that make these pages engaging, understandable, and useful. It starts with a description of Agent Orange, the symptoms of exposure, and then potential sources. Only after this educational portion does one read why After Service is uniquely suited to help you, as well as an explanation of the legal process and potential fees.

Other practice areas follow a similar structure, with some including client testimonials and FAQs. Recalling the Mayo Clinic example, After Service built a resource you might read even if you’re curious and not a potential client.

Finally, let’s mention After Service’s blog. Too often, law firm blogs seldom see updates, making that part of the website look neglected. Firms would benefit instead by viewing blogs as opportunities to draw visitors’ attention regularly. After Service sure does!

They have at least a weekly blog update. And, like their practice area pages, the blogs are good educational materials, irrespective of whether the user faces this issue now. Most entries begin with a table of contents, making the blog easy to navigate, and then cover their topic succinctly, making use of bullet points and numbered lists for faster reading, where appropriate.

Client Focused Content Drives Law Firm Engagement

Professional design and strong branding help get visitors to your firm’s site. Client-focused materials perform the heavy lifting of keeping them there, engaged, and interested. Review our guide on law firm website design to learn more about incorporating compelling video, stories, and more into your site.

 

Top Features of the Best Law Firm Websites of 2025: Strong Branding

Far too many law firm websites emphasize the default commonalities of legal work rather than focusing on what makes their practice unique and attractive to clients. What do I mean by default commonalities? If I say, “law firm website,” what do you imagine? Perhaps law books, scales of justice, gavels, Greek columns, and serious-looking people in suits.

When it comes to creating a strong brand for your firm’s website, avoid these traditional, staid, and often dull representations. Instead, think of your client, their situation, and what speaks to them. You want to convey to them that they’ve come to the right place.

A Sense of Belonging

We each have an instinctive understanding of a strong brand; how an image, font, or color scheme evokes emotions. You naturally make assumptions about products bearing the Apple logo or the Nike swoosh. You could tell me “that’s from Coca-Cola” or “that’s from Disney” just by the font I chose, irrespective of the words written.

Similarly, use your site’s layout, colors, and images to send a consistent message designed to attract your ideal client. If you practice appellate law, maybe dark colors, traditional, heavy typefaces, and Greek columns fit. But if you run an ADR practice, you’d choose a different design palette; perhaps muted colors, lighter fonts, and images that speak to reconciliation.

Design in Action

Output Law, one of our Best Law Firm Websites of 2024, offers a prime example of using branding to speak to a prospective client population. Output Law’s website is a testament to how a law firm effectively reflects its creative clientele through modern and engaging design elements.

Unlike typical law firm webpages, Output Law’s site is vibrant and visually appealing. It uses bright colors and interesting shapes, almost resembling a modern art gallery more than a conventional law firm site. Their design choice immediately sets them apart and aligns with their target audience in creative fields such as music, arts, film, and audiovisual industries.

Minimal verbiage ensures that visitors get the necessary information without feeling overwhelmed. For instance, the “Clients and Industries” section provides detailed insights into the firm’s areas of expertise, showcasing their work with various creative sectors. This approach highlights their versatility and reinforces their understanding of the creative industry’s unique needs.

Design that Directs the Visitor

A standout feature of Output Law’s website is its user-friendly interface. The prominent “Book a Consultation” button at the top right corner makes it easy for potential clients to engage with the firm. This clear call-to-action ensures that visitors know how to reach out when they’re ready.

Moreover, Output Law’s social media strategy is refreshingly different from most law firms. Instead of a LinkedIn account that lists credentials and case histories, they link to their Instagram page. This platform, often the choice for creative professionals, extends their branding seamlessly, with the same colors and design elements carried over from the website. Furthermore, their Instagram posts focus on providing valuable information for creatives, such as tips on contract negotiations and protecting intellectual property. Output Law’s strategy both builds their brand and positions them as a knowledgeable and approachable resource for creative professionals.

Wrap-up

Output Law’s website serves as an excellent example of strong branding for a targeted law firm. Its clean, sharp, and engaging appearance communicates to prospective clients that this firm understands and caters to their needs.

When thinking about your website, break away from traditional law firm aesthetics and embrace a design that resonates with your audience. Review our guide on law firm website design to learn more about incorporating clear and professional elements into your site.

 

AI and Beyond: Key Trends at ABA TECHSHOW 2025

Having reached 40 years old, firmly into middle age, ABA TECHSHOW shows it still has some tricks up its sleeves. For 2025, attendees get to experience a new venue, dig deeper into AI tools, and hear from keynote speaker Cory Doctorow.

A New Venue

In years past, TECHSHOW lived in the heart of Chicago’s Loop. For 2025, the show moves south, literally. The conference takes place in the historic South Loop neighborhood, at the Hyatt Regency McCormick Place. In your free time, explore new parts of the Windy City, like the Museum Campus, the Prairie Avenue District, and the Lakefront area.

With TECHSHOW moving to April this year, outdoor touring and exploration are more practical than past shows held in the winter months.

AI for Lawyers? Oh, Yes.

Naturally, AI will be a hot topic of conversation, both in the educational sessions and the expo hall.

On Stage

TECHSHOW 2025 features nearly 30 sessions on the topic. Learn everything from AI basics (e.g., A Brief History of Legal AI: A Look Back and a Preview of What’s Next), to the nuts and bolts (e.g., 60 Generative AI Use Cases in 60 Minutes), to ethical considerations (e.g., Evaluating AI for Law Practice: Benefits, Risks, and Practical Ethics), and AI’s broader impact on the law (e.g., Digital Justice: Two Generations of Judges Explore AI’s Impact on the Legal System).

In the Expo Hall

TECHSHOW’s expo hall features dozens of AI-related products to help your law practice, from traditional vendors and startups.

Traditional Players

Law practice management software (LPMS) is well-represented with AI features. Visit the expo hall to experiment with the LPMS-based AI options. Test drive tools like Clio Duo and MyCase IQ, AIs that help you access information quickly; everything from simple case facts to matter summaries and document analyses. Other leading LPMS products, like CosmoLex and PracticePanther, incorporate AI processing “behind the scenes,” to bolster your workflows.

Additional TECHSHOW exhibitors embracing the AI revolution include payment processors, CRM applications, and document management products. AffiniPay, LawPay’s parent, is building out an AffiniPay IQ initiative to integrate generative AI into tools that lawyers already use. Lawmatics continues to refine and enhance its LM[AI] feature set to help law firms manage leads and attract clients. NetDocuments’ ndMAX suite of AI skills, including PatternBuilder MAX, help firms collect and review information, as well as prepare documents mixing the new data with existing documents and templates.

Start-ups

TECHSHOW doesn’t limit AI excitement to established players. Arrive at the conference by 5:00 p.m. on April 2nd to enjoy the ninth annual “Start-Up Pitch Competition,” where new companies with innovative ideas compete for the love of TECHSHOW attendees. This year, 15 companies battle for the title of most innovative startup of 2025. Would you be surprised to learn that 10 of the 15 explicitly mention incorporating AI into their products? Me neither.

If you can’t attend the competition, visit the participants in the expo hall’s Startup Alley section.

Keynote

For 2025, TECHSHOW’s keynote combines literature, journalism, and technology, with the selection of Cory Doctorow as the speaker.

Doctorow writes for magazines, websites, and newspapers. He serves as a special consultant to the Electronic Freedom Foundation, is a visiting professor at two universities, and has published over 25 books, most recently, Picks and Shovels, a novel set in 1980s Silicon Valley. In 2020, Doctorow was inducted into the Canadian Science Fiction and Fantasy Hall of Fame.

With that breadth of experience, his keynote will no doubt be engaging and wide-ranging.

Meet the Experts at Lawyerist and Affinity

Of course, Lawyerist and Affinity will have a strong presence at the conference. TECHSHOW stalwarts Steve Best, Stephanie Everett, Debbie Foster, and Barron Henley all lead multiple sessions touching on many topics, including AI. Zack Glaser and I will be running around the conference and expo hall. Come say hello, and we’ll give you a Lawyerist tchotcke. We look forward to seeing you there!

Nervous About Navigating the Expo Hall? Check out our Field Guide on Buying Legal Tech.

 

How Howard and Carr Gained Financial Clarity and Sustainable Growth with Lawyerist Lab 

The Challenge: Growth Without Structure 

Howard & Carr, PLLC had no trouble attracting clients, but behind the scenes, inefficiencies and financial uncertainty left managing partner Alison Carr feeling overwhelmed. 

Without structured systems, daily operations were chaotic, and the firm’s finances felt like an unsolvable puzzle. Alison often described herself as an “ostrich with her head in the sand” when it came to financial management—avoiding the numbers because they felt overwhelming. Without a clear financial picture, long-term planning was impossible, and sustainable growth remained out of reach. 

The burden of running the firm was taking a toll, both professionally and personally. Alison needed a way to regain control and build a law firm that could thrive without consuming her life. 

About Howard & Carr, PLLC 

Based in Clinton, NC, Howard & Carr, PLLC has been a trusted legal ally for clients in Sampson and surrounding counties. Specializing in estate planning, real estate transactions, and business law, the firm delivers personalized, results-driven legal solutions. Founded by Alison Carr—who boldly launched her practice straight out of law school—the firm grew even stronger in 2009 when her mentor joined as a partner. With nearly two decades of experience, Alison and her team are committed to guiding clients through life’s most important legal decisions with expertise and care. 

Finding the Right Solution 

For years, Alison followed the Lawyerist podcast, drawn to its fresh perspective on running a modern law firm. She even worked with a legal coach, who helped her gain control over her time and reduce the overwhelming burden of managing her practice.  

While this was a transformational period for Alison personally, she knew she needed more structured systems to support her firm’s long-term growth.  

That’s when she turned to Lawyerist Lab.  

Through expert guidance, structured workshops, and one-on-one coaching, Alison gained the insight, tools, and accountability she needed to take control of her firm. 

Instead of feeling buried by financial uncertainty and operational chaos, she tackled challenges head-on:   

  • Financial Clarity: Alison created a budget for the first time in 18 years, transforming financial anxiety into confidence. 
  • Operational Efficiency: She streamlined internal processes, eliminating inefficiencies that had bogged down daily operations. 
  • Leadership Development: By prioritizing her own health and well-being, she became a stronger, more effective leader. 

Most importantly, Alison recognized that she was the firm’s greatest asset. By prioritizing her own health and well-being, she not only became a stronger leader but also built a firm that thrived without consuming her life.  

With a clear plan and newfound confidence, Alison wasn’t just running her firm anymore—she was leading it toward sustainable, measurable growth. 

A Firm Transformed from the Inside Out 

After implementing the strategies and insights learned in Lawyerist Lab, Alison saw a dramatic transformation—not just in her firm, but in her personal well-being: 

  • Financial Stability: The firm successfully set aside $33,000 into a money market account, creating a solid financial buffer and increasing profit margins. 
  • Structured Compensation: Alison now receives a consistent paycheck, replacing the unpredictable, ad-hoc approach she had before. 
  • Strategic Marketing: The firm expanded their estate planning practice through social media marketing, local promotions, and branded merchandise. 
  • Improved Work-Life Balance: By prioritizing her own well-being, Alison reduced stress, y improved her health, and reclaimed control over her business. 

“The biggest change for me has been realizing that I’m the firm’s biggest asset. If I’m not healthy, the firm can’t grow. My coach, Leticia, has helped me understand that by focusing on my own health and happiness, I’m able to show up better for my practice, my staff, and my clients. It’s not just about the firm’s systems; it’s about me being the leader I need to be.” 

Ready to Take Your Firm to the Next Level? 

If you’re feeling overwhelmed and looking for a way to build a more profitable, organized, and sustainable firm, Lawyerist Lab can help.  Get the tools, coaching, and community you need to create better systems, master your finances, and grow with confidence.  

Don’t wait for change to happen—make it happen. Join Lawyerist Lab today and unlock your firm’s true potential! 

 

Top Features of the Best Law Firm Websites of 2025: Clear and Professional Design

The best law firm websites possess a clear and professional design. But what exactly does that entail? Your website should offer visitors a modern, clean layout that they can easily navigate on the device of their choice.

A Modern, Clean Layout

Your website’s polished appearance not only creates a strong first impression but also ensures that prospective clients can easily find the information they need—the information you want them to find.

Your website should project the values and feeling you want guests to associate with your firm. Create a site that gives visitors the confidence that you understand where they are in their legal journey and are ready to help them reach their goals.

Easy Navigation

Clear and professional websites make it easy and inviting for visitors to the “next step.” You achieve this with intuitive menus and clear calls to action. These tools help readers quickly find what they need and guide them towards connecting with your firm. Whether it’s a phone call, filling out a contact form, or scheduling a consultation, the site navigation should steer leads in the desired direction. The best law firm websites are ones that users can easily navigate, gather information from, and act whenever they’re ready.

Mobile Responsiveness

You don’t know when a would-be client might reach out for help, so your site must be accessible on smartphones, tablets, laptops, and other devices. A responsive design ensures that your site looks and functions well on any screen size, making it easier for prospects to connect with you at the moment they need your help.

An Example of These Principles in Action

Let’s look at an example of a well-designed law firm website: Filippatos PLLC. Lawyerist recognized Filippatos’ site as one of the top 10 law firm websites of 2024. It features a modern, clean layout without the clichéd imagery of dusty bookshelves or scales of justice. Instead, it focuses on the individual and that visitor’s needs.

The site provides information on practice areas while emphasizing the firm’s focus on workplace discrimination. Additionally, the call-to-action is unmistakable. The homepage prominently displays a call to action contact the firm at 888-9-JOBLAW. If you’re not a “phone person” or calling is inconvenient Filippatos offers a chat window. This clear direction is maintained across different pages, whether the visitor is dealing with workplace discrimination or litigation issues. The consistent and clear calls to action make it easy for prospective clients to know what steps to take next.

Wrap-up

A clear and professional law firm website should have a modern, clean design, intuitive navigation, and be mobile responsive. By focusing on these elements, you can create a site that looks great and effectively guides the right potential clients towards connecting with your firm.

Review our guide on law firm website design to learn more about incorporating clear and professional elements into your site.

 

Order in the Court: How Kanban Boards Streamline Your Workflow

Using a visual representation of tasks and their progress, kanban boards help lawyers keep track of their caseload and stay on top of client work. Let’s explore how kanban boards streamline legal workflows, identify bottlenecks, manage deadlines, and facilitate teamwork.

What is a Kanban Board

A kanban board is a visual tool that tracks task progression through different stages. A simple kanban board might have columns labeled “To Do,” “Doing,” and “Done.” Tasks are represented by “cards” that move from one column to the next as they progress. This straightforward setup creates an overview of each task’s status and helps ensure that all tasks are accounted for.

The idea of “straightforward” is key. Indeed, before we “talk tech,” know that kanban boards long predate computers, smartphones, and the web. Your first kanban board need not have an app or monthly subscription. A whiteboard, dry erase markers, and Post-it notes could be your starting point. It’ll have fewer features, but the fundamentals work the same.

Kanban boards can be customized to fit the needs of a practice, or practice areas within a firm. A basic board might include columns for “Intake,” “Information Gathering,” “Drafting,” “Review,” and “Completed.” By moving tasks through these columns, lawyers can track the progress of each matter.

Part of the beauty of kanban’s simplicity is that tasks could move either left or right across the columns. For example, a document may cycle through “drafting” and “review,” or even “information gathering,” “drafting,” and “review” several times before being “completed.”

Practical Applications

Kanban boards also highlight workflow bottlenecks. If tasks pile up in a particular column, it may indicate an issue worth addressing. For instance, if tasks languish in the “review” column, perhaps you need more resources for reviewing documents or need to reexamine the review process itself. By identifying bottlenecks, you take the first steps towards resolving them.

Kanban boards also manage deadlines and priorities. You can assign tasks due dates and color-coding to indicate their priority. For example, high-priority tasks might be marked in red, medium-priority tasks in yellow, and low-priority tasks in green. Similarly, some systems support color coding for aging, meaning how long a task “resides” in one column. Such visual cues help lawyers stay atop their workload and not overlook commitments.

Collaboration and Customization

Kanban boards also aid teamwork and collaboration. A shared kanban board allows everyone to see the status of tasks and who is responsible for each one. For example, one team member might be assigned a task in the “Drafting” column, while another is responsible for a task in the “Review” column. By clearly defining responsibilities and tracking progress on the board, teams work together more effectively.

Moreover, you can customize kanban boards to fit your unique law practice. Create separate boards for different types of cases or projects, with columns and tasks tailored to match your workflows. For instance, an estate planning board might include columns for “Initial Consultation,” “Document Drafting,” “Client Review,” and “Execution,” while a litigation board might have columns for “Initial Pleadings,” “Discovery,” “Motions,” and “Trial Preparation.” Flexibility allows you to make a system that works well for your practice.

Choosing the Right Tool

Kanban software vendors range from “kanban first” programs (e.g., Trello) to traditional task management software within “kanban views” (e.g., Todoist). It’s a competitive market and each program offers unique features and integrations. Popular options include Asana, Microsoft Planner, Monday, Todoist, Teamwork, and Trello. Many of these tools provide free trials, for you to test them before committing. Choose a tool that integrates with your existing tech stack.

For those testing the waters, options like Todoist’s free tier or Microsoft Planner, included with many Microsoft 365 plans, serve as good starting points. They provide basic functionality for creating and managing kanban boards. As you become more comfortable with the system, explore their advanced features and integrations with other tools. Or realize they lack a desired “must have” feature, which narrows the which programs to try next.

Conclusion

With their visual representation of tasks, managing deadlines, and facilitating teamwork kanban boards improve your law firm’s efficiency and organization. Incorporating kanban boards into your practice can help ensure that nothing falls through the cracks. Visit our Healthy System page to learn more about how great firms are built on great processes.

Beyond black boxes: data security with AI-powered redaction

Ever found yourself spending hours drawing black boxes over sensitive information in legal documents, only to discover later that the data wasn’t actually removed? Or perhaps you’ve experienced that sinking feeling when realizing a redacted court filing still contained sensitive client information in the file metadata? You’re not alone.

With the explosion of digital court filings and public access to legal documents, the stakes for proper redaction have never been higher. Jurisdictional redaction requirements continue to tighten, yet the tools most law firms rely on remain frustratingly inadequate. Every practice area faces these challenges daily—whether handling pleadings, medical records, client data, or financial information.

Sure, some practice management software might include basic redaction functionality. But let’s be honest: manually processing each document is a time-consuming band-aid for a problem that demands a more sophisticated solution. The risks of improper redaction aren’t just theoretical—they’re resulting in sanctions, malpractice claims, and damaged client relationships across the legal industry.

This is where Redactable enters the picture. As a leading web-based automated redaction platform, Redactable is transforming how law firms handle sensitive information in their documents.

What is Redactable?

Redactable is an AI-powered document redaction platform that makes permanently removing sensitive information from documents truly effortless. While traditional redaction methods rely on expensive desktop software and error-prone manual processes, Redactable takes a fundamentally different approach. The platform leverages advanced AI technology to automatically identify and permanently remove confidential data—not just hide it behind black boxes that can be recovered later.

Law firms using Redactable are experiencing up to 98% time savings while gaining the confidence that redacted information is genuinely gone for good. No metadata leaks. No recoverable information. Just properly secured documents ready for filing or sharing.

Key features

  • AI-powered automated workflows: Redactable streamlines document security through intelligent automation. The system can fully scan your document, instantly identifying sensitive information from client details to financial data for quick review and approval. Alternatively, you can select specific categories like SSNs or addresses and let the AI locate all matching instances throughout. These automated approaches eliminate tedious manual searching while making thorough redaction accessible to everyone on your team. The system activates automatically when documents are opened, transforming a once-laborious process into a straightforward task.
  • Permanent redaction & metadata removal: Unlike traditional redaction methods that simply place black boxes over text but leave the underlying data intact, Redactable ensures complete and permanent removal of sensitive information. The software also automatically strips all hidden sensitive data, and metadata from documents—eliminating a common security vulnerability where confidential information is covered by objects, or remains embedded in properties, comments, and revision history that standard redaction tools often miss.
  • Collaboration tools: Redactable transforms document redaction from isolated work to streamlined teamwork through its cloud-based platform. No more email chains with multiple file versions—team members access the same document simultaneously from any browser, with defined reviewer and editor roles. The platform includes in-document comments, version history tracking, and the ability to document redaction reasons. This coordinated approach eliminates file handoffs and significantly speeds up complex redaction projects that previously required multiple review rounds.

The Redaction Wizard: a closer look

At the heart of Redactable lies the intuitive Redaction Wizard—a feature that transforms the traditionally complex redaction process into a straightforward, guided experience. The Wizard automatically appears whenever you open a document, offering four powerful modes to match your specific needs:

Auto: The most popular option uses advanced natural language processing to instantly analyze your document and identify potentially sensitive information. The Wizard intelligently highlights client names, financial details, medical information, and other confidential data for your review. You simply select which items to redact from the suggested list—perfect for quickly processing unfamiliar documents.

Categories: This frequently-used approach lets you select specific types of sensitive information to find throughout your document. With a few clicks, you can locate and redact all instances of emails, phone numbers, SSNs, addresses, credit card numbers, and more—ideal for documents where you know exactly what types of information need protection.

Manual: For situations requiring precision, manual mode lets you highlight specific text for redaction. This gives you complete control over exactly what gets redacted, especially useful for unique or context-specific information that automated systems might not recognize.

Search: When you need to find and redact specific terms throughout a document, the search function lets you enter exact words or phrases and redact all matching instances in one operation.

After selecting your preferred method, the Wizard guides you through reviewing the identified information, confirming your choices, and permanently removing the selected content.

Why choose Redactable?

Redactable offers several advantages over traditional redaction methods and software:

  • Time savings: Redactable’s automated workflows can slash redaction time by up to 98% compared to manual methods. Your firm can thus handle larger volumes of documents quickly and efficiently.
  • Accuracy: Redactable’s AI-powered detection identifies sensitive information with superhuman accuracy, reducing the risk of accidental exposure.
  • Security: Redactable ensures that information is permanently removed and cannot be recovered, providing peace of mind for users handling sensitive data.
  • Ease of use: Redactable’s intuitive interface and Redaction Wizard make this vital function accessible to users of all skill levels, ensuring that everyone can perform redactions accurately and efficiently.

Try it today

Redactable offers the professional-grade security that modern document handling demands, with capabilities beyond traditional PDF tools. Rather than just masking sensitive content, it fully removes confidential information—including the hidden metadata and non-visible elements that often get overlooked.

For organizations navigating today’s privacy requirements, proper redaction has become a necessity, not a luxury. See how a purpose-built solution streamlines this critical workflow while providing greater protection. Try it for free today and discover a more efficient approach to document security.

 

How Greg Rada Saved 20 Hours a Week and Built a Stronger Firm 

For over a decade, Gregory Rada ran a successful solo VA benefits practice. But as his caseload grew, so did his challenges—particularly around managing potential client inquiries and making the leap from a solo practitioner to a firm with employees.  

Greg knew he needed help but wasn’t sure how to transition from a solo practice to a firm with employees. He joined Lawyerist Lab, seeking guidance on hiring, systems, and optimizing his operations. 

After joining Lab, Greg worked closely with his Lawyerist Lab coach to implement strategic changes, including hiring a dedicated intake coordinator. The result? He saved over 20 hours every week, improved client onboarding, and built a firm with a stronger foundation for future growth.  

The Challenge

Greg’s firm, After Service LLC, is a fully remote, nationwide law firm specializing in VA benefits law. After starting his own firm in 2014, Greg was used to doing everything himself.  

But as the firm grew, he found himself drowning in administrative work—particularly handling 30-50 potential client calls per week. This consumed over 20 hours of his time and prevented him from focusing on higher-value legal work. 

The Solution 

Through bi-weekly coaching calls with his dedicated Lab coach Supriya Venkatesan, Greg gained clarity on his biggest bottlenecks and actionable steps to solve them. Together, they: 

  • Identified intake as the biggest time drain and hired a veteran spouse as a client coordinator through a contracting agency. 
  • Created a structured intake process with standard operating procedures (SOPs) for screening potential clients. 
  • Implemented Clio Grow automations to streamline the onboarding process. 
  • Combined steps like the fee agreement and power of attorney signature process to reduce friction for clients. 
  • Developed a strategic hiring approach, including navigating a counteroffer situation for a key team member. 

The Results

  • 20+ hours saved per week, allowing Greg to focus on case strategy and firm growth. 
  • A smoother, more efficient intake process, improving client experience and reducing administrative hassle. 
  • A shift in mindset, helping Greg systematically address pain points and implement solutions. 
  • Increased confidence in hiring and managing a team, positioning the firm for long-term success. 

“The bi-weekly coaching calls with Supriya have been the most impactful part of Lawyerist Lab for me. She helped me identify the biggest time sucks in my firm and put real solutions in place. Now, I have a team, a structured intake process, and 20 extra hours a week to focus on what matters.” – Gregory Rada, After Service LLC 

Running a law firm doesn’t have to mean doing everything yourself. If you’re ready to save time, build efficient systems, and grow your firm with confidence, join Lawyerist Lab today and start building the practice you’ve always envisioned. 

 

Clio Duo Brings AI to Lawyers Doorstep

Clio Duo, an advanced AI-powered tool built into Clio’s law practice management software, offers features designed to streamline your workflow and enhance productivity. Let’s explore four feature categories: accessing matter details, retrieving client information, finding documents within a matter, and getting caught up on case details.

Accessing Matter Details

Clio Duo makes it incredibly easy to access matter details. Upon opening Clio, you’re greeted with a personal dashboard. Open Duo by clicking the blue “D” to the right of the search box. Duo’s interface works like a “traditional” AI chatbot. You can ask Duo to catch you up on a specific matter. Duo will search and return relevant information, including both open and closed matters. By clicking on a matter, Duo takes you directly to the details you need.

For more complex queries, such as listing all open matters where you are the responsible attorney, Duo provides a comprehensive list. This feature is particularly useful for ensuring you stay current with client billing. Additionally, Duo can identify the matter with the highest unbilled amount, helping you prioritize your tasks effectively.

Retrieving Client Information

Clio Duo also excels at retrieving information, making it simple to look up details about your clients and their matters. For instance, you could ask Duo if there are any open matters with a specific contact. Duo will provide a list of open matters, including details about recent communications and contact information. This allows you to quickly follow up with clients and stay informed about their cases.

Moreover, Duo can summarize recent emails and provide phone numbers, enabling you to make calls directly from the platform. This feature helps when catching up on cases, ensuring you have the necessary facts at your fingertips.

Finding Documents Within a Matter

Locating specific documents within a matter is a breeze with Clio Duo. Whether you need the latest version of a settlement agreement, or all emails related to a particular case, Duo can find and provide links to these documents. This functionality saves time and improves search efficiency.

Duo also supports more specific searches, such as finding all motions or briefs related to a matter. Additionally, if you can’t remember the exact name of a document, Duo can list the most recent documents you accessed, making it easy to locate what you need.

Getting Caught Up on Case Details

When returning from a vacation or an extended absence, Clio Duo helps you get caught up on case details quickly. By asking Duo to provide an overview of a matter, you receive comprehensive information, including practice area, work in progress, outstanding bills, and recent documents uploaded.

Duo can provide additional details, such as the status of the case and any outstanding balances. You could also ask Duo to summarize specific documents, like injury reports or depositions, ensuring you have a clear understanding of the case’s progress.

Furthermore, Duo can inform you about upcoming court appearances and client meetings, helping you manage your schedule effectively. This feature helps you be aware of and prepared for your commitments.

Conclusion

Are you curious about learning more about legal tech? Check out the Field Guide for Buying Products and Service, or pop into our artificial intelligence portal to discover more about legal-focused AI.

 

5 Legal Tech Solutions Your Clients Will Love

You can easily lose yourself in the costly jungle of “add-on” legal tech promising a mirage of efficiency gains. Rather than reading another AI-written listicle, let’s walk through five categories and provide real-world examples. 

AI-Driven Personalized Video

Imagine President Kennedy reviewing the latest Taylor Swift album – sounds surreal, right? Well, products like HeyGen can bring this level of performance and personalization to your legal practice at a budget-friendly price. 

HeyGen allows you to create video avatars that capture your likeness and voice. By simply writing and uploading a script, you can produce videos that offer a more personal experience for your clients. This tool is particularly beneficial for law firms with multilingual practices, as it can translate videos into various languages, enhancing client engagement across different demographics. 

Start by providing HeyGen with photos and videos of yourself and a script to “read.” The program then generates a video of “digital you” speaking the script (with your voice!), complete with moving lips, gestures, and more. Download the video as an MP4 file and use it anywhere. 

Engaging Client Engagement Forms

While many law practice management software platforms offer basic forms, and are a good place to start, Typeform takes client engagement to a new level. 

Typeform helps you create dynamic and interactive questionnaires that you can customize to match your firm’s needs. By leveraging artificial intelligence, Typeform can generate questions based on the description you provide. Given a practice area and description, Typeform’s AI can create relevant questions, which you can edit, to gather necessary information. 

A standout feature is Typeform’s ability to integrate videos into the forms. For example, you could include a video explanation of complex topics, such as the difference between standard estate plans and personalized plans, making the form more engaging and understandable. Additionally, Typeform’s automatically creates mobile-friendly questionnaires, ensuring seamless experiences for clients using smartphones. 

Online Scheduling Services 

Scheduling links save time by reducing back-and-forth email exchanges. Calendly allows you to create different event types, such as one-on-one meetings, “round robin” assignments, and group sessions. Calendly also provides options for sending links to specific events, such as initial consultations or document reviews. And, of course, Calendly automatically syncs with your existing calendar(s) to show available times. 

Competitors like Clio Grow, Lawmatics, and Fantastical provide similar functionality and are worth a look if you already use them. 

AI-Driven Meeting Recorders 

Products like Fathom, Microsoft Teams, and Sonix offer AI-driven solutions to record, transcribe, and summarize web meetings. They automatically capture meeting notes, action items, and key discussion points. 

For example, with Fathom’s platform, you review meeting transcripts alongside the video, making it easy to navigate through the discussion. You can also query its AI for specific information, such as action items. Teams, with its Copilot functionality, and Sonix, a newer player, offer similar capabilities. All are valuable tools that maintain client confidentiality while ensuring accurate meeting records. 

Truly Portable Document Scanners 

Don’t ignore the convenience of your smartphone’s camera for scanning documents. Many document management and storage vendors have integrated scanning capabilities into their mobile apps. For example, Dropbox’s mobile app includes a scanner that detects the document’s edges, captures the image, and allows for multi-page scanning. Similarly, Apple Notes offers a built-in scanner for iPhone users, providing a seamless way to create PDFs. 

Clio users can also benefit from the Clio for Clients app, which allows clients to scan and send documents directly to their attorney through the client portal. This feature ensures that important documents are quickly and securely transmitted, enhancing efficient communication. 

Wow Your Clients with the Best Service Possible

All of the technology above can definitely make your clients love your firm. Often, however, the best way to truly wow your client is simply to ask them what they want. Ask your current clients how you’re doing (or better yet, how they’re doing). Survey your previous clients to see what you did well–or even what you didn’t do well. And do some research to determine what it is your future clients (or leads), want from your firm. We’re in the service industry, whether we like it or not.

If you want to learn more about how to enhance your client experience, check out our free download, the Complete Guide on Law Firm Clients.

Everything in One Place with CosmoLex’s New Document Generation and Management

Firms must invest in a law practice management system (LPMS) with robust document creation and management tools to move from their current chaos to a future of fluid workflows. 

CosmoLex Knows Documents are a Lawyer’s Lifeblood 

Nearly everything we do as lawyers and legal professionals gets memorialized in a document. An estate plan results in powers of attorney, wills, healthcare directives, and perhaps trusts. Family law could produce many documents related to separation or custody. Mediators memorialize their resolutions in settlement agreements. Business attorneys draft everything from routine corporate filings to merger agreements to new entity formation paperwork. And those are just a few examples! 

CosmoLex provides powerful features, built into its industry-leading LPMS, to help lawyers store, create, and modify documents, from wherever they work. Find client documents quickly with intuitive folder structures. With mobile cloud-based access, retrieve and work on files from anywhere, using iPhone or Android devices, providing 24/7 accessibility. 

Streamlined Storage that Works Your Way 

CosmoLex offers firms two documents storage approaches. 

Built-in Storage 

CosmoLex gives each firm unlimited storage as part of its subscription. You access this native storage easily from a matter’s dashboard, by clicking on the Documents tab, or via the lefthand navigation panel by clicking on Documents. Users can add documents to CosmoLex or download them to their computers via the web browser, including drag-and-drop functionality. While storage is unlimited, individual files are limited to 100MB per file. 

Integration Partner Storage 

CosmoLex supports connections to several document storage solutions from third party companies, including Box, Dropbox, Google, LexShare, Microsoft, and NetDocuments. Benefits of this approach include: 

  • desktop file access (usually) instead of browser-based uploading and downloading; and 
  • a higher file size limit (typically well above 100MB), making it a better solution for videos or other large files. 

Limitations of this approach include: 

  • the cost of external storage; and 
  • the need to manage document sharing and permissions separately from CosmoLex. 

Regardless of which option your firm prefers, CosmoLex gives you a first-rate document management experience in-app. 

Speedily Create Documents from Your Templates 

CosmoLex works to speed up document creation by streamlining your document assembly workflows. Create original templates, such as letterhead, cover letters, as well as full documents, both simple and complex. Design each document once in Microsoft Word. Then download the matter’s merged fields from your database, add the relevant feels to your document template and upload it to CosmoLex. Creating a matter- or contact-specific document becomes a simple point-and-click affair with CosmoLex templates. 

Securely Share and Send Documents for eSignature 

Robust security measures, including matter-level permissions and privilege settings, ensure that only authorized team members access sensitive case files. 

Quickly and simply share documents via the CosmoLex client portal, irrespective of your storage choice, by clicking on the three dots to the right of a document’s name. 

Relax, knowing that privacy and security are core to CosmoLex. Clients can only access documents that belong to them, and they don’t have editing permissions. If necessary, you can revoke access to a single item, a group of items, or even the entire portal. 

In addition to smoothing document exchange, CosmoLex eases document execution. Effortlessly share documents and collect electronic signatures using LexShare and LexSign, fully integrated with Outlook for smooth client interactions. 

Get Started Speedily Serving Clients Today 

Take advantage of the speed, convenience, and efficiency that CosmoLex brings to your document creation, review, and storage. From storage options to quick-use templates, document sharing, and more, CosmoLex helps your firm manage documents effortlessly, to say nothing of its many other excellent LPMS features. Visit the CosmoLex website to learn more and schedule a demo today. 

Tabs3 Cloud Integrates PracticeMaster with Billing and Accounting

As an established, successful, and well-regarded desktop-server product, Tabs3 understands that legal professionals are more mobile than ever and need convenient “everywhere access” to their matter information. For this growing audience, they created Tabs3 Cloud, a complete cloud billing, accounting, and practice management solution. And, understandably, the heart of their message speaks to the betterment of existing strengths: “100% Tabs3 Software in the cloud.”

A Complete Solution in the Cloud

With Tabs3 Cloud, you can access your firm’s Tabs3 data from any internet connection, on any device, at any time. You enjoy Tabs3’s full functionality without worrying about VPN connections, servers, do-it-yourself backups, or finding a vendor to host and maintain it for you. Tabs3 Cloud takes care of it all. Enjoy the freedom to securely work from home, the office, or elsewhere, with all the tools you’d expect from Tabs3 Billing, Financials, and PracticeMaster.

Tabs3 Billing

This tool sets the standard for legal time and billing software. It’s packed with robust features, including comprehensive reporting and email statements.

Tabs3 Financials

This module handles your firm’s accounting needs, such as trust accounting, accounts payable, and even general ledger. And, of course, it integrates with Tabs3 Billing to eliminate duplicative entry and similar manual work.

PracticeMaster

There’s obviously more to a case or matter than time entries and accounting. That’s where the optional PracticeMaster module comes in. PracticeMaster serves as the firm’s one-stop-shop for matter facts, like client intake, conflict checking, document management, and more.

Tabs3 CRM

Law firms are quickly learning the value of thorough referral and lead tracking with customer relationship management (CRM) software. Tabs3 Cloud rounds out its suite of tools with this optional add-on to PracticeMaster to help your firm stay organized with tools and customizable templates.

A Secure Cloud with your Familiar Applications

Tabs3 Cloud works with any modern web browser, including Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Opera, and Safari. To access the program, users navigate to secure.tabs3.cloud and login. That’s it!

Tabs3 Cloud hosts your data in its own private cloud environment. You don’t have to experiment with unfamiliar applications, migrate years or decades of data to a new tool, or even retrain staff on how to perform their duties. Rather than that upheaval, the folks at Tabs3 Cloud take care of the transfer and setup. You and your staff get the applications you’re accustomed to with the modern benefits of cloud accessibility and maintenance by professionals who know Tabs3 better than anyone. Experienced engineers handle data backups, software updates, and any other required service.

Screenshot of Tabs3 Cloud, showing the dashboard of a matter

Unparalleled Support for Your Tabs3 Software

Should any questions arise, rest easy with access to knowledgeable, U.S.-based support personnel. Tabs3 Cloud’s help desk boasts a 98% satisfaction rating. And what about training for new hires or refreshers for current staff? Your Tabs3 Cloud support includes technical assistance, training resources, and a dedicated team to address your needs.

Get Started with a Demo Today

Tabs3 is a time-tested, powerful law practice management software, now securely cloud-enabled for modern mobility. Tabs3 Cloud provides a comprehensive, cloud-based solution, enabling anywhere, anytime access to comprehensive time tracking, billing, accounting, and practice management features. Visit Tabs3 Cloud’s website to learn more and schedule a demo today.

 

LabCon 2024: The Power of Community and Collaboration for Law Firm Owners

Every year, a group of forward-thinking law firm owners come together for something a little different: LabCon, our annual “unconference” for members in our Lawyerist Lab Community. It’s more than just another business event—it’s a time for small firm lawyers to step away from their day-to-day responsibilities and fully immerse themselves in working on their businesses, alongside a community of like-minded peers.

For many of the attendees—whom we affectionately call “Labsters”—LabCon is the most anticipated event on their calendar. Why? Because it’s not just about learning; it’s about doing. They come ready to tackle the challenges that have been hanging over their heads and leave with actual results, plans, and momentum.

LabCon is built around our Healthy Firm Model, which emphasizes the six key areas crucial to running a thriving practice: Healthy Strategy, Healthy Teams, Healthy Clients, Healthy Systems/Tech, Healthy Profits, and Healthy Owners. This year, Labsters took full advantage of the opportunity to elevate their businesses in ways that are both meaningful and sustainable.

Kicking Off with Connection and Wins

LabCon started with an interactive session highlighting recent business wins for attendees and helping them identify the goals they wanted to achieve next. These conversations weren’t just feel-good moments—they fueled the next two days of hard work and set the stage for a weekend of focused work.

At LabCon, we create an environment where people stop the chaos of their day-to-day life and get intentional about their next steps. That energy is contagious! We love seeing lawyers realize they achieved the thing they once didn’t think was possible.

The Innovation Challenge: Fun with Purpose

Of course, what’s a gathering of brilliant minds without a little friendly competition? Our Labsters kicked off the evening with an Innovation Challenge to get their creative juices flowing. After a night of fun and collaboration, teams walked away with some silly, but solid ideas, they could apply to their own practices—and with even tighter bonds as a community.

Digging into the Work that Matters

The heart of LabCon is the work and Labsters rolled up their sleeves to tackle some of the most pressing aspects of their firms.

  • Succession and Emergency Plans: Labsters created their succession and emergency plans, critical yet often-overlooked parts of a firm’s long-term strategy.
  • Hiring and Delegation: Attendees honed their hiring processes and worked through best practices for delegating tasks—some even crafted job descriptions on the spot and mapped out their next hire. Delegation was a huge theme this year. Many Labsters explored how to better leverage virtual assistants (VAs) to free up their time and focus on higher-level work.
  • Marketing Mastery: In true LabCon fashion, marketing wasn’t just discussed—it was created. Many participants wrote new website copy and recorded videos to use for future campaigns. A few even launched entire content plans that will guide their firms’ messaging for months to come.
  • Systematizing for Growth: The Ops Manual Sprint was a game-changer. Attendees documented processes that had been lingering on to-do lists for far too long.
  • Reimagining Business Models: For those looking to move away from the billable hour, LabCon was pivotal. Labsters dug into their numbers, re-evaluated how they could collect more revenue, and explored alternative pricing models that could create more stability and profitability in their firms.

Labster Rikin Mozaria shared, “LabCon changed the way I look at my firm and gave me more clarity on what I need to do to get it from where it is to where I want it to be.”

Wellness: Because a Healthy Owner Makes a Healthy Firm

LabCon isn’t just about business, it’s about nurturing the whole person. Throughout the event, we carved out time for wellness. Labsters joined in on river walks, morning exercises, and quiet moments of meditation, allowing them to recharge and refocus. Creativity flourished during fun activities that gave them a chance to relax and express their artistic side.

And, of course, the food. You could barely turn around without being met with a snack or meal—including a self-serve ice cream machine that quickly became the weekend’s MVP.

Why You Should Be at the Next LabCon

LabCon is more than just a conference; it’s a transformative experience that redefines what it means to lead and grow a small law firm. Labster Kim Memmesheimer put it best: “Being with lots of other really innovative people, who are speedboats against the big barges of big law, was invaluable.”

When you join us at LabCon, you’re not just attending another event. You’re stepping into a room full of people who are ready to support your growth, challenge your ideas, and work alongside you to create a firm that doesn’t just survive but thrives.

Interested in joining us for Virtual LabCon? Sign up for a Lab discovery call using the form below. We’d love to talk to you about how we can help you guide your firm.

Avoid Lockup with Professional Invoices Through TimeSolv

Getting paid as attorneys means that we keep track of the work we do, that we send appropriate invoices in a timely manner, and that we promptly follow up on overdue invoices. It’s as simple as that.

Fortunately, today’s web-based software makes those tasks faster and simpler than ever. Using TimeSolv, you can quickly record billable events, add them to a professional-looking invoice, arrange billing and payment details, and send the client a bill with easy ePayment options.

Quickly Record Billable Events

While hourly-billing attorneys see the direct relationship of “time = money,” flat fee and contingency firms also benefit from at least occasional time tracking to know whether flat fees are correctly priced and how effectively firm processes work.

TimeSolv has the time tracking features all firms need:

  • Track Time Anywhere: In this era of an increasingly mobile workforce, having the right tools at your fingertips makes doing the right thing in the moment a no-brainer. Getting paid for your work starts with capturing all the work you do. With TimeSolv, you can record time from any device, at any time of day, from wherever you are, even without an internet connection.
  • Speedy, Consistent Entries: Much of the work we do daily follows similar patterns: meetings, court appearances, phone calls, researching, reviewing, and writing. TimeSolv offers Custom Abbreviations to speed up “repetitive” entries and ensure that all users describe events consistently. For example, rather have phone conversations described variously as “called X,” “phoned Y,” or “talked to Z,” set a custom abbreviation of “tfcw” that expands to “telephone call with.” You save a few seconds, and firm users create uniform time entries.
  • Account for Task Switching: For most attorneys, it’s a rare day when they can work uninterrupted. More often, you’re switching between emails, phone calls, meetings, etc. TimeSolv lets you track several tasks simultaneously by running multiple timers. When you start a new timer, any then-running timer pauses itself. Restart the paused timer later or turn it into a time entry.

Create Professional Invoices

Saying that an invoice looks professional means that it contains a few key traits:

  • it’s visually appealing;
  • it’s easy to understand; and
  • its payment instructions are clear.

TimeSolv makes creating professional invoices meeting these criteria a simple, point and click task.

Let’s look at the TimeSolv’s features that help you make better bills quickly:

  • Billing Templates: As with custom abbreviations, consistency matters. But what one wants consistently on a bill may vary by practice area or client. TimeSolv’s flexible billing templates meet that need. Create individual bill and estimate templates catering to each client’s requirements.
  • Split Billing: If you have matters with multiple clients, for example a mediation where each party pays half of the invoice, split billing support is essential. With TimeSolv, you can not only divide an invoice between parties, but also customize how that invoice is divided. For the mediation example, the division need not be 50/50 or an even split between all payors. You control the split percentages.
  • Easy Billing and Payment Options: Several TimeSolv tools ensure that you promptly distribute invoices and that clients can receive and pay bills in a way that works for them.
    • Batch Invoices: TimeSolv helps you create and send invoices to similar types of clients with one click, such as where you offer services with the same line items, shaving hours off monthly billing tasks. Use tools like recurring invoices and TimeSolvPay for billing saved credit card and/or bank account information for ongoing retainer fees.
    • Scheduled Invoices: Create date/time reminders of when invoices need to be delivered. Billing and invoicing on a schedule, or via recurring invoices, means bills go out timely, improving the likelihood of timely payments.
    • Electronic Billing: Skip overhead fees and wasted time from paper billing and use TimeSolv to bill electronically. Help your business master critical codes, including ABA task codes, UTBMS, LEDES 1998b, LEDES 1998BI, Chubbs, and Litigation Advisor.
    • Accept Electronic Payments: Clients can pay online through the client portal via credit cards and ACH. Schedule recurring invoices to bill clients on retainer automatically to their credit cards or bank account, lowering your accounts receivable.
    • Easier Mailing When Necessary: Some clients may hesitate to switch to electronic invoicing and billing. Meet their needs with TimeSolv, which gives you the ability to have TimeSolv physically mail invoices for you, making it easier to streamline your billing process.

Get Started Sending Great Invoicing

TimeSolv has the tools you need to easily and timely create, send, and collect on your firm’s invoices. Visit TimeSolv’s website to learn how it helps you bill faster with confidence.

 

Get Off My Cloud: Just How Secure is Apple’s Private Cloud Compute? 

This week, Apple announced its plan to bring artificial intelligence capabilities to iPhones and other Apple devices. This means photos, text messages, Notes, and other content will be able to capitalize on certain AI functionality. Imagine removing the background of a photo on your phone with Apple Intelligence. Cool, right?

AI processing and Apple security, however, don’t inherently go together. The privacy we have come to expect from products like iMessage derives from Apple’s mentality of processing everything on the device, rather than in the Cloud, or elsewhere. This limits potential points of weakness and allows Apple to say that even they don’t have access to a user’s iPhone and iMessage content. 

Yet even the iPhone 16, with Apple’s most advanced proprietary processors, doesn’t have the capacity to manage the large artificial intelligence tasks we’ve come to expect from generative AI. Apple must, inevitably, process this information elsewhere. If you want to remove the background from a photo on your phone, the photo must leave your device.

Leaving your device means going out into the scary world of the internet at-large. And it means storing your data on a server somewhere—even if it’s just temporary. Do you trust this server? Does Apple trust this server? Does the company who owns the server even trust the server?

Ideally, we wouldn’t have to answer these questions. In fact, Apple has taken pains to avoid these issues with its AI products so far. OCR and subject recognition in your photos still happen on your device. As does predictive text in iMessage. Alas, this is not possible with the new expectations of the capabilities of AI.

In response to this, Apple has brought its particular brand of security into off-device processing with its Private Cloud Compute (PCC) product. With PCC, Apple will process as much of the data as possible on-device and will send the remaining data to its specific servers. These servers have hardened security that is intended to be able to be guaranteed and independently verified. Interested readers can dig further into specifics in the Apple security blog article, Private Cloud Compute: A new frontier for AI privacy in the cloud.

For our purposes, Apple’s PCC means that third parties (including Apple itself) don’t have administrative, emergency, or backdoor access to the data that is processed on Apple’s servers. This cuts off one of the largest points of exploitation that exist on any computer. It also makes Apple Intelligence different from the vast majority of products on the market. 

Additionally, Apple has multiple levels of deleting (and verifying the deletion of) data that was processed on its servers. So, not only is it not training its AI models on your information, it isn’t even keeping logs of your prompts for debugging purposes.  

As with all artificial intelligence products out there, users will want to be wary of hallucinations, bad source data, and copyright issues that transcend AI models. And as always, we suggest that users should read the terms of service, and only give access to data they have vetted. But at first glance, it appears that Apple Intelligence has avoided some of the major pitfalls of other AI products on the market.  

Master Your Billing with Rocket Matter and QuickBooks 

We know that law school doesn’t teach attorneys how to run a business. Even so, law firms face greater financial complexity than other professions because we hold money as custodians on behalf of other people in special accounts specifically created for that purpose. Managing trust accounts (also known as IOLTA accounts), their recordkeeping, and reporting, or failing to do so, are among the most common ways lawyers face disciplinary action. 

Fortunately, we’ve come a long way from the days of ledger books and even spreadsheets. In the same way that Microsoft Word is the sine qua non of business writing, and Adobe Photoshop fulfills the same role for digital artists, QuickBooks plays that part for business accounting, especially small business accounting. And just as Word and Photoshop offer growing web-based versions, so too does QuickBooks with QuickBooks Online. 

Rocket Matter, an innovative, feature-rich law practice management system (LPMS), and one of the earliest online LPMS tools, offers a robust integration with QuickBooks Online. The combination of these best-of-breed products ensures easy, stress-free, and precise trust account management. 

Easy to Activate 

It takes only a few clicks to connect Rocket Matter with QuickBooks: 

  1. Click on the Accounting module on the left navigation panel in Rocket Matter; 
  1. Select QuickBooks, then toggle the integration on; 
  1. Sign in to QuickBooks when prompted; and 
  1. Select your company from within QuickBooks. 

That’s it. With those four simple steps, you’ve connected the two programs. 

On the QuickBooks Online side, there are some additional configuration steps. Of course, Rocket Matter is here to help. Their experts have prepared a help article and PDF guide to ensure you get the best interoperability available, maximizing the strengths of each program. 

Easy to Use 

Once connected and configured, Rocket Matter and QuickBooks work together to support your practice, making routine tasks simpler while providing a complete view of your financial picture. 

Think of the financial activities you perform in Rocket Matter. A list likely includes: 

  • Creating invoices and recording their payment; 
  • Altering invoices, including discounts and write-offs; 
  • Tracking matter “hard costs,” like filing fees; and 
  • Monitoring client trust accounts. 

Rocket Matter’s QuickBooks integration helps with all of these.  

Conveniences of the integration include: 

  • The ability to sync entire deposit slips between Rocket Matter and QuickBooks, rather than having to touch individual transactions, improving accuracy and speed for batch deposits; 
  • Simplifying reconciliation to eliminate the need for manual adjustments; 
  • The capability to customize your firm’s invoice payment syncing between Rocket Matter and QuickBooks; and 
  • Greater visibility into transaction details with comprehensive syncing logs. 

Easy to Appreciate 

A strong accounting system makes the day-to-day tasks of tracking bills, expenses, and payments as simple and straightforward as possible. It puts the right tools and information where you want it in the form you need it. Rocket Matter’s integration with QuickBooks passes these tests with flying colors. 

The combined power of Rocket Matter’s industry-leading LPMS and QuickBooks’ financial tools are supported and complemented by Rocket Matter’s relentless focus on helping attorneys. Rocket Matter works with you on the customization of general ledger accounts and services, so you can focus on practicing law while their experienced personnel handle the financial setup. And, of course, it’s all backed by the Rocket Matter team, with customer support available 24/7. 

The Rocket Matter-QuickBooks integration is a game-changer for streamlining financial management and ensuring accuracy. Learn more about it by visiting Rocket Matter’s website. 

Effortless, Specialized Trust Accounting with CosmoLex

Most attorneys worry about properly handling client money. Not only is mishandling of trust account funds among the leading sources of bar disciplinary action, but the concern is most acute among solo and small firm attorneys. Often, smaller firms lack the accounting staffing, structure, and software of larger competitors, and  are often less able to withstand a financial accident.

The best way for a small firm to overcome these hurdles is to embrace a user-friendly, integrated solution where matter information and accounting data coexist in a single software product.

CosmoLex Helps You Follow the Rules

Attorneys often joke that they attended law school instead of business school because they hate math. Unfortunately, every business involves math, and the joke may have the last laugh. Law firms confront two types of accounting: general business accounting and client trust accounting (also called IOLTA). And the rules and regulations for the two are completely different. Many accountants and bookkeepers themselves don’t know the IOLTA-specific concepts and compliance requirements.

Good trust accounting software prevents you from making errors. In the same way that law practice management software (LPMS) understands the concept of a “matter” (i.e., contacts plus appointments plus documents, time entries, expenses, notes, etc.) in a way that Outlook and Gmail do not, legal-specific accounting tools understand IOLTA requirements in a way that general business accounting packages do not.

Those respective understandings reinforce one another in CosmoLex, which combines matter management and accounting in one product. A single source of truth makes it easier to avoid trust accounting pitfalls like comingled funds, IOLTA overdrafts, duplicate check numbers, and other common errors.

CosmoLex Helps Make Trust Accounting Painlessly Paperless

Manual accounting is both time consuming and error prone. No matter whether you’re using a siloed piece of software, a series of Excel spreadsheets, or even paper ledger books, CosmoLex represents a tremendous step forward for accuracy, efficiency, and security.

A matter could have many moving parts involving a trust account. A single activity could impact client billing, trust, and operating accounts. For example, the firm invoices the client (client billing), then disburses trust funds to pay the invoice (trust account), and transfers those earned funds for its use (operating account). Recording this series of events correctly in multiple disconnected paper or electronic systems not only consumes time better spent elsewhere, but it also risks bookkeeping inaccuracies that become harder to find and correct the longer they linger.

With CosmoLex, you can:

  • Effortlessly manage single client ledgers or multiple trust accounts with separate ledgers for trust and operating accounts;
  • Apply trust funds to individual or bulk invoices with ease, including automatic transfers from trust to general accounts, and generate disbursement checks directly from the system; and
  • Efficiently manage and disburse third-party lien claims, import electronic bank statements, and auto-reconcile your books to save time and reduce errors.

CosmoLex’s integrated solution ties together matter activity and time tracking, invoicing, and accounts receivable. All pertinent data is always at your fingertips. This linkage reduces the risk of mistakes and omissions. It also saves time that might otherwise be spent tracking down and fixing discrepancies between an LPMS and a synced accounting program, to say nothing of spreadsheet files or ledger books.

CosmoLex Helps Reconcile You to Good Trust Accounting

Your jurisdiction’s governing body likely has rules regarding trust account reporting requirements. The more manual, disjointed, and infrequent your trust account bookkeeping and oversight, the more time consuming and painful any required reporting will be.

In many jurisdictions, your bookkeeping ledgers and bank statements must match to the penny on a daily basis. As attorneys, we have a fiduciary responsibility to handle client funds responsibly, and that includes the ability to comply timely with IOLTA tracking and reporting regulations.

CosmoLex performs three-way reconciliation reporting with just one click and provides a full set of trust record-keeping and financial reports to ensure compliance and transparency.

By using CosmoLex, a purpose-built, integrated solution, you stay continually informed on the status of your IOLTA account, eliminating the uncertainty, stress, and lost time that could otherwise result from weeks or months of lax trust account reconciliations.

Get Started with CosmoLex and Make Good Bookkeeping Easier

CosmoLex’s LPMS solution with integrated accounting offers three core, interconnected features to keep you compliant:

  • Built-in safeguards to prevent errors and missteps within the firm;
  • Automated bank account reconciliation to ensure that the firm and the bank match; and
  • Comprehensive reporting to know the health of the business and meet compliance needs.

Trust accounting with CosmoLex is seamlessly integrated into the legal software, operating alongside law practice management, billing, and general accounting functions.

CosmoLex ensures that your law firm’s trust bookkeeping is managed automatically, in real-time, and in the background. With CosmoLex, trust accounting becomes a streamlined, reliable process, allowing your firm to focus more on legal practice and less on financial administration. Learn about CosmoLex’s trust accounting tools, and its other powerful LPMS features, by visiting their website.

Get Started with ZillaMetrics Chat: Website Chat for Law Firm Intake

Prompt communication is a hallmark of a good law practice. Often clients aren’t able to judge the quality of your lawyering or possess a great sense of precisely where their outcome ranks on a scale from okay to exceptional. But they know if you’re available when they need you and how long you took to respond. This fact is truest when they’re first looking for an attorney’s help.

Web technologies, remote virtual assistance, and even AI have altered how clients find and interact with law firms, and when they expect to be able to do so. From the law firm’s perspective, this variability adds cost and stress, trying to attract prospective clients when they’re searching for an attorney, providing useful information at the right time.

Reaching Prospects When and Where They’re Ready

ZillaMetrics aims to eliminate the common pitfalls of law firm marketing, producing high-quality leads within a reasonable budget. They give customers a clear picture of what ZillaMetrics is doing on their behalf. All without requiring a contract.

While ZillaMetrics can assist with many parts of legal marketing, including SEO, Google Ads, and website design, their Intake Chat tool is a gamechanger. It offers firms a simple and affordable way to engage potential clients when that prospect reaches out. And, as a chatbot, it’s fully customizable and available 24/7 at a reasonable price.

ZillaMetrics’ Intake Chat Boosts Engagement without Breaking the Bank

ZillaMetrics gives firms of all sizes the ability to engage prospective clients with an affordable, customizable chat experience with risk-free trial and no hidden fees.

Unlimited Chats for One Low Price

Traditional chatbot tools can become costly quickly. Vendors often charge $20-$35 per chat, irrespective of lead quality. ZillaMetrics discards this outmoded model. They charge a flat $29/month no matter how many chat interactions your website generates. ZillaMetrics also allows you to create and maintain an unlimited number of chatbots, meaning you could customize chatbots, presenting one on a webpage about personal injury and different one on a page about medical malpractice. All for one charge of $29/month.

Based on the traditional chat pricing model, if you received only two leads per month, you’d still be money ahead with ZillaMetrics compared to the competition.

Chat Experiences Worth Talking About

Law firms create ZillaMetrics’ chatbots within a simple drag-and-drop interface; no programming or coding experience required. ZillaMetrics promises that you’ll be able to “get started in minutes” and, once built, chatbots “launch in seconds.”

Create different chatbots for different webpages, targeting different lead types. Beyond designing the flow of questions, firms can customize individual chatbots’ video chat bubbles and video introductions, among other options.

Intake Chat features include:

  • Automated booking with Google Calendar and Microsoft 365;
  • Payment support through Stripe;
  • Custom branding to match the law firms website;
  • Embedded images and videos;
  • Support for file and picture upload (e.g., accident photos or traffic tickets);
  • Customizable promptings to transition from the chatbot to a phone call or text message conversation; and
  • Integration for reviews and feedback with Google and Facebook.

Additionally, ZillaMetrics’ chatbots support mobile websites via a Mobile Toolkit to help firms boost lead conversions among smartphone-centric visitors.

Risk-Free Trial

In addition to a simple flat rate, ZillaMetrics dispenses with other stereotypical digital marketing costs. They charge no setup fee, require no contract, and offer a 100% money-back guarantee.

ZillaMetrics and CallRail Offer Unparalleled Intake Insights

ZillaMetrics helps firms know the source of those potential clients, which informs future marketing engagement. To do so, ZillaMetrics partnered with CallRail, creating the first direct integration between CallRail and a chat product.

According to ZillaMetrics CEO Matt Burke, “Not a single chat provider on the market has the ability to track the marketing source of each chat lead—it’s a big blackhole.” Finding the existing market wanting, ZillaMetrics built their own solution: “We needed a website chat that automatically tracked the source of every lead, giving our clients the ability to understand where their best leads were coming from—nothing was out there, so we built it ourselves.”

Connecting ZillaMetrics’ Intake Chat with CallRail gives you visibility into the source of every chat lead, whether it comes from Google Ads, Google Business, SEO, or any other marketing source.

Besides CallRail, ZillaMetrics integrates with other industry-leading legal software products, including Clio, Lawmatics, and MyCase, as well as the workflow tool Zapier.

Get Started with Timely, Trackable, and Engaging Client Outreach

With their flat-fee, risk-free, feature-rich offering, ZillaMetrics leads the way in helping law firms deploy an affordable and customizable chatbot solution. Visit ZillaMetrics website to learn about adding Intake Chat to your website.