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

• Community Table: The Difference Between a Manager and a PLA

  In this episode’s discussions around the Community Table: PLA? Professional law firm administrators. What you need to know and what they do. It’s not an office manager and it’s not an administrative assistant. Hear why you might need a PLA. As your firm grows, are you spending more time “running the business” than attracting clients and winning cases? Maybe you need a PLA.  While we’re at it, how about a non-attorney salesperson. Someone who is passionate will build your firm beyond simply sales. Propelling your brand is as important as getting a signature on the dotted line. Compensation, goals, motivation, there are so many factors. Understanding the difference between “wealth” and “money” is critical to your business. Money spent builds client lists (SEO, advertising, Google ranking), but building a referral network through a solid reputation builds wealth that never stops. One takes cash, one takes time, effort, and commitment. Mentioned in This Episode: Ask us anything for the Community Table. Leave us a question online. Join the next Community Table live. What’s on your mind?  Association of Legal Administrators Clio Legal Trends Report Clio Cliocon 2025

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• Embrace The Metrics. What’s Working (And Who’s Paying The Bills?)

  We all try, but who really measures? Who’s paying you on time? If you don’t know, it’s hard to know if the business is working. It comes down to cash flow. And, frankly, lawyering is a business.  Guest Karl Maier is a CFO and a business advisor at Abunden. He specializes in helping growing business manage systems and cash flow and putting it all into measurable terms. As you grow, you must know if the cash flow is growing. Maier helps businesses spot problems they aren’t facing today but may need to confront six months down the road.    A growing business can appear profitable in the short term and still face a cash flow problem down the road. Paying staff and keeping the lights on as you grow requires cash and timely client payments. It’s a delicate game. You need to be sure clients are paying, and sometimes that’s elusive.  If you’re a growing firm, or you want to be a growing firm, this episode will get you thinking. And it should. Nobody gets excited about spreadsheets – especially lawyers – but if you’re intent on growing your business, you must do this.  Mentioned in This Episode: The Un-Billable hour podcast website Join the next Community Table live. What’s on your mind?

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• Community Table: Work the Room! Actually Networking at a Networking Event

  In this episode’s discussions around the Community Table: Getting the most out of your next networking event means actually networking with new people, not simply socializing with the people you already know. It’s OK if you don’t love networking events, but you do need to go to them. Your next networking event starts before you get to the door. Do some research, get in touch with the leaders of the program prior to the day. Introduce yourself in an email and let them know how eager you are to meet them and others. Consider making your own name tag, something that clearly communicates who you are. Maybe even wear a distinctive article of clothing, something that makes it easy for others to remember you. “She always wears yellow,” or “He has the red pocket square.” (And please, carry business cards!) Knowing how to network isn’t a given. If you’re in a leadership position at your firm, take a moment to teach younger associates how to work the room and develop connections. They don’t teach this in law school.  Mentioned in This Episode: USA 500 Ms. Esquire Ask us anything for the Community Table. Leave us a question online Join the next Community Table live. What’s on your mind?  Clio Legal Trends Report Clio

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• Becoming “Future You.” Tools To Get YOU Moving In 2025

  Don’t think of December as the end of the year. Think of it as a chance to plan ahead for an exciting, purposeful, and opportunity-filled new year. Guest Andrea Liebross is the founder of her own firm, Andrea Liebross Coaching. She believes setting and achieving big audacious goals are best tackled through the implementation of solid systems, real goals, and the right (and ambitious) mindset.  Are you getting where you want to go? Too often, we set our own limits. We stay safe and we stay small. We do things the way we’ve always done them because it’s safe. Hear how setting “big” goals and stretching your thinking helps you become “future you.” Give yourself permission to find out what you really want and where you want to be. And then make a plan to get there.  Learn about Liebross’ “Think Big Toolkit” and the five components that can help you become “future you.” Don’t wait for things to happen to you, make the things you want happen. Mentioned in This Episode: “She Thinks Big” by Andrea Liebross Podcast “She Thinks Big” Join the next Community Table live. What’s on your mind?

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• Community Table: Off On The Right Foot In 2025

  In this episode’s discussions around the Community Table: New year, new plan. And that’s the key: plan. Don’t stumble blind into 2025, instead hear what the experts say about reviewing the previous year and setting goals for the new one. Don’t keep doing the same thing and expecting different results. Sometimes your ship needs a rudder. If you need a COO, an “executive officer,” to manage the practice, part-time help is available. Experienced administrators take a load off your shoulders and teach others how to set a course and get where you want to go. What to do when an associate can’t manage retainers and payments? Being a good lawyer is only part of the job, making sure the firm gets paid is the other part. Sometimes an associate isn’t good at communicating financial information with a client. But if you’re a business owner, you have a responsibility to make sure the firm makes money. Mentioned in This Episode: Association of Legal Administrators Ask us anything for the Community Table. Leave us a question online Join the next Community Table live. What’s on your mind?  Clio Legal Trends Report Clio Cliocon 2025

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