Un-Billable Hour: Business Management Strategies for the Busy Lawyer

Recent Episodes

1. Seat at the Table: Success at Every Stage of the Hiring Process

   Jul 14, 2026

   A roundtable discussion on successful hiring practices for law firms, featuring HR consultant Jeff Levin, HR director Laytoom Wiggins, law firm coach Rob Leitner, and fractional advisor Lori Brown Simmons. The panel walks through the complete talent acquisition lifecycle: defining success and role requirements before posting, crafting compelling job postings with transparent compensation, conducting behaviorally-based interviews with objective scorecards, and onboarding strategies post-offer. The conversation emphasizes the substantial cost of bad hires (0.75 to 1.5x salary) and the importance of structured processes to reduce turnover and maintain firm culture.

2. Growing Isn’t Scaling. Why Law Firms Need to Know the Difference.

   Jun 23, 2026

   Lori Brown Simmons, founder of Fractional Firm Advisors, discusses the critical difference between growth and scaling in law firms. She explains how mid-sized firms (15-100 attorneys) experience a "profit squeeze"—facing the same sophisticated client demands and operational costs as big law but without the pricing power or revenue leverage. The episode explores cost levers (compensation, real estate, technology), staffing strategies including fractional executives and offshoring, and how firms can identify when growth has outpaced their infrastructure.

3. Seat At The Table: Getting an “A+” in Client Satisfaction

   Jun 9, 2026

   A roundtable discussion on achieving client satisfaction in law firms, featuring immigration lawyer Ruby Powers (Powers Law Group), family law attorney Amira Hasenbusch (All Family Legal), and legal marketing entrepreneur Guy Sakalakis (Attorney Sync). The panel explores how client satisfaction differs from competence alone, emphasizing empathy, clear communication, and expectation-setting as key drivers of an "A+" client experience. Speakers discuss the importance of first impressions, managing client expectations through transparency, leveraging technology to enhance rather than replace human connection, and building firm culture that prioritizes service.

4. Putting Profits First. Make Profits a Decision and Priority, not a Leftover.

   May 26, 2026

   Ben Hakima, CFP and founder of Illuminate Wealth Management, discusses how law firm owners can prioritize profit and personal compensation as strategic business decisions rather than afterthoughts. The episode covers the psychology of why law firm owners typically pay themselves last, introduces the Profit First methodology adapted for law firms, and explains the role of virtual CFO services in helping small firm owners achieve financial clarity and long-term profitability.

5. Seat at the Table: Maximizing the Value of Non-Attorney Salespeople

   May 12, 2026

   A roundtable discussion featuring three law firm business experts—Rob Weitner (Sunnyside Law), Elliott, and Eric Aliseia (Empirical 360)—exploring how law firms can maximize the value of non-attorney salespeople. The conversation moves beyond whether non-attorney salespeople are effective to practical strategies for hiring, training, and optimizing their performance, including addressing common attorney objections and demonstrating measurable revenue impact.

6. Your Firm’s Reputation Matters. It Starts With Who You Hire.

   Apr 28, 2026

   David W. Craig, a nationally recognized trucking accident lawyer with 41 years of experience, discusses how law firms build and maintain reputation through hiring excellence, client care systems, and educational marketing. Craig shares his journey from early mistakes in hiring to implementing rigorous screening processes (Colby scores, PRINT assessments, law clerk pipelines) and client satisfaction systems (client navigators, quarterly surveys, Dream Weaver committees). He explains how his book "It's Never Been Easier to Hire the Wrong Attorney" addresses the problem of clients struggling to identify qualified lawyers, and how providing educational content rather than aggressive marketing helps position firms as trustworthy authorities.

7. Seat At The Table: How To Avoid Wasting Money On Marketing

   Apr 14, 2026

   Christopher Ederson hosts the second episode of 'Seat at the Table,' a roundtable discussion on marketing for law firm owners. The panel—including John Reed (Rain BDM), Eric and Elliott Aliseia (Empirical 360), Kristen David, and Rob Leitner—defines marketing, distinguishes it from branding and sales, and explains how law firms can avoid wasting money on marketing by understanding their target clients, testing messaging before large investments, and focusing on high-ROI channels like referral marketing.

8. Getting Control of Your Practice (and Your Life). Beat Burnout, Live Better.

   Mar 24, 2026

   Wendy Meadows, a seasoned family law attorney and certified life coach, discusses how law firm owners and attorneys can combat burnout by shifting focus from time management to self-management and energy management. The episode explores practical strategies including daily reflection practices, understanding chronotypes (natural energy patterns), and implementing sustainable systems that align with individual productivity rhythms rather than fighting against them.

9. Seat At The Table: How To Establish My Firm’s Brand (Series Premiere)

   Mar 10, 2026

   Christopher Anderson hosts the inaugural episode of "Seat at the Table," a monthly roundtable discussion for law firm owners. The panel—Kristen David (CEO, Uplevel Your Business), Eric and Elliot Aliseia (co-founders, Empirical 360), and Rob Leitner (Chief of Staff, New Leaf Family)—explores branding strategy for law firms at two stages: startups deciding whether to invest in brand early, and more established firms ($1M–$5M revenue) ready to invest seriously in brand differentiation. Key themes include authenticity over polish, brand promise as trust, data-driven decision making, and the critical importance of alignment between stated brand values and operational reality.

10. Networking and Referrals, the Forgotten Marketing Channel

    Feb 24, 2026

    John Reed, founder and chief relationship builder at Rain BDM, discusses referral marketing as a critical yet often-overlooked client acquisition strategy for law firms. The episode covers the four-question framework for initiating referral conversations, the referral grid for identifying ideal referral sources, and strategies for maintaining top-of-mind awareness without being transactional. Reed emphasizes a 'give to give' mindset over quid pro quo relationships and the importance of storytelling in building lasting referral partnerships.