The Free Lawyer

Marco Brown, esteemed Utah family lawyer and owner of his own thriving firm, joins The Free Lawyer today to share his thoughts about how to practice law the right way, and to achieve financial freedom at the same time. In a very short time, Marco has overcome incredible hurdles and built a profitable law firm of 11 attorneys and more coming. We discuss:

-How to handle family law cases in a respectful way, seeking solutions through mediation and putting the children first

-The importance of treating other attorneys the right way, and showing courtesies with other counsel

-The benefits of living life in a way that seeks to make others better

-The keys to building a successful firm, including rainmaking, selling and closing

Are you interested in learning the keys to building your own firm? Have a listen!

Marco grew up in a small village in Alaska called Cold Bay (population 85). He never did manage to graduate from high school, getting his GED before moving on to college, and eventually graduating with honors from law school.

In 2010, Marco and his wife, Demaree, moved to Utah and Marco started Brown Family Law, with no clients and no network, on the floor of their condo. They were $160,000 in student loan debt at the time.

Since then, Marco has been awarded Utah family law attorney of the year, as voted on by his peers in the Utah Bar Association. Brown Family Law has grown and helped over 4000 through divorce and family law situations in Utah, and its expanding beyond Utah to help people in other states.

In his free time, Marco spends most of his time with his wife and three kids. He also loves to cook and travel, usually to Italy. For exercise, he does what he enjoys: walking and lifting heavy things and puts them down.

Susanne Mariga, CPA, Fractional CFO, author and entrepreneur, joins The Free Lawyer today to show us how to best maximize profit in our law practice.

Doesn't it often seem like we work so hard, trying to produce fees and generate new files, and yet have a hard time creating profit?

Susanne shows us how to create that income we deserve by putting our profit first. She shares her wisdom on:

-The Profit First system and how it can work in your law practice

-How to keep your expenses in line with industry targets

-How to intentionally create the profit we want and eliminate unnecessary expenses

-Important tax tips for lawyers and entrepreneurs

-Key tips for maximizing profits in your law practice

-Crucial cash management tips

Don't we all want to make more profit? Susanne shows us how! You will enjoy listening to her. Susanne Mariga is a CPA and Fractional CFO specializing in high net worth strategies for 7 and 8 figure entrepreneurs using the Profit First System.

Susanne is the CEO of The Mariga Group which is a Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Business, the 2021 Profit First Professional Firm Of The Year, and a recipient of the 2011 Houston Minority Supplier Development E-10 Award. Susanne has been featured in the Houston Business Journal, MBE Magazine, and in a variety of other media outlets. She is the author of Kirkus reviewed and Publisher’s Weekly’s Editor’s Pick, Profit First For Minority Business Enterprises which was written in collaboration with Mike Michalowicz, under the Profit First brand. She is the host of the Profit Talk Podcast.

Before founding her own firm, Susanne worked at Arthur Andersen LLP, as well as one of the Big 4 firms, KPMG. Combining her industry knowledge with her own experience of growing a small business has allowed Susanne to help her clients design unique, profit-first based business plans that ensure success and long-term financial stability.

What a powerful episode! Winter Wheeler, a dynamic mediator and formerly a very talented litigator, joins the Free Lawyer today to discuss her journey as a civil defense trial attorney and her transformation into being a very highly regarded mediator. 

She shares her exprience and insights about:

-The biggest problems lawyers face today- a lack of time and the pressures it creates

-The need to slow down in our practices

-The importance of empathy in our practices

-The underutilized gift of active listening and how it can benefit us

-The Four Cornerstones of Mediation

-How to most effectively mediate your case

Winter is a former top civil litigator who has made her niche as an expert mediator. She is sought out for her unique, compassionate, and successful style of handling complex matters that involve a diverse range of cultures, including Spanish-speaking clients. 

Winter is the creator of The Four Cornerstones of Mediation™, which she introduced to the world in her first TEDx talk in March 2021. She has turned that methodology into a 14-hour mediation and certification course. Winter’s second TEDx talk titled, “Confessions of a Mom Who Has It All,” was given in June 2021. She is the co-author of the bestselling book #Networked and 
the creator and host of The Mediate Now® podcast.

Are any of you suffering from burnout and difficulty in setting boundaries? If so, obtain my free tips on how to set boundaries and avoid burnout here: https://www.garymiles.net/burnout

So many of us have been affected by the disease of addiction. Its impact on family members and loved ones can be overwhelming. How can we best show up through that crisis and still function effectively? How can we best support our loved one who is struggling with addiction?

Today's guest is Nancy Espuche. For the last decade, Nancy has been an experienced sales professional who has been an active participant in the recovery community as she faced the daunting challenge of her son’s substance use disorder. In addition, she is a speaker and author. Unfortunately, on December 19th, 2016, her beloved son Lucas lost his battle. Her mission, through KardBoard House, is to address the impact of addiction on loved ones, family members, and, ultimately, the workforce. With business leaders, executives, educators, and mental health/treatment professionals, Nancy works with organizations to guide and support those whose professional and personal lives have been disrupted by someone’s substance use disorder.

She shares her powerful insights on so many important topics:

-The importance of doing it out of unconditional love, not to achieve the desired result

-The powerful gift of acceptance as a tool for building freedom in an overwhelming situation

-The need to understand we are truly powerless over everyone else's journey. We cannot chart the course of another's life.

-The need for self-care to help manage the trauma of another's addiction

-The benefit of the community and the gift of sharing with others what we are going through, so we know we are not alone, and we receive the support of others.

-The need for forgiveness of ourselves and the addict

-The benefits of speaking our truth about the situation

-How law firms and employers can best support their staff as they work through the addiction process of a loved one

This is a deeply human, intensely personal, and very moving episode not to be missed!

Nancy has frequently spoken on this topic, including with Newsweek, the St. Paul Press, the New York Bar Association, and the Lawyers Assistance Professional Conference. Her website is kardboardhouse.com. Her powerful book Kardboard House; My Life-Altering Journey Through Lucas's Addiction is available on Amazon. You may reach her by email @Nancy18@KardboardHouse.com. 

Are any of you suffering from burnout and difficulty in setting boundaries? If so, obtain my free tips on how to set boundaries and avoid burnout here: https://www.garymiles.net/burnout

Erin Gerner joins the Free Lawyer today to discuss how women lawyers can find joy and fulfillment in their practice. Erin is a lawyer turned life coach who helps female attorneys break out of the toxic legal narrative, redefine success, and build a life and career they love. Key takeaways:

-How we can learn to manage the overwhelm

-The importance of enjoying the unpredictable journey

-How we find more peace by showing grace and compassion to ourselves

-The four key questions to ask ourselves when we are feeling stuck: 1. Who am I really? 2. How do I feel? 3. What do I need? 4. What is the one think I can do to remove the friction?

- How to start taking action when we are feeling overwhelmed

-How our brain can keep us in a safe comfort zone, where we do not grow, and how to break free, step out, and take on new challenges.

-Achieving personal freedom by finding peace, joy, happiness and fulfillment in our life

This a blockbuster episode. You will love what Erin has to share. After 7 years of practicing law, Erin decided to leave the legal profession, and is now one of the top coaches in the Dallas area. She’s been featured in podcasts and publications like Goss Magazine, Voyage Dallas, and Influence Digest. She’s a wife and a mom of 2 and currently lives outside of Dallas with her family.

Are any of you suffering from burnout and difficulty in setting boundaries? If so, obtain my free tips on how to set boundaries and avoid burnout here: https://www.garymiles.net/burnout

Have you ever invited someone else for an evening, and they said no without an explanation, and you began to wonder why? Have you done something wrong? Really upset you about something? You began to assume that they no longer liked you or  wanted to have a relationship with you, and you keep telling yourself that story.

Or, have you ever called someone or texted and they did not return your message? And called again, and still no return calls. What did you do wrong? Why were they avoiding you? Are they agitated at you about something?

We frequently cause ourselves pain by making assumptions about other people, their feelings, emotions, and actions. We do not know if those assumptions are true, and they are often very negative. We place ourselves in a negative mindset by assuming the worst.

Does that ever happen to you? If so, you are not alone. In this episode, we will examine we the third of Don Miguel Ruiz’s four agreements, “don’t make assumptions.” We will discuss the problem with making such assumptions, why we make assumptions, and how we benefit from not making assumptions. I review in detail these six tools to help us not make assumptions:

1. Practice self-awareness. 

2. Ask for clarification.

3. Speak our truth.

4. Practice self-compassion.

5. Focus on the truth.

6. Choose positive thoughts

Want to learn more? Have a listen!

Are any of you suffering from burnout and difficulty in setting boundaries? If so, obtain my free tips on how to set boundaries and avoid burnout here: https://www.garymiles.net/burnout

Have you ever had someone say something nasty about you, and your feelings get hurt? They may say something behind your back to another person, criticize you or make fun of you. How often do we allow the opinions of others to affect our happiness? Why?

I have certainly had that experience. Almost all of us have. So today, we will examine the 2nd of Don Miguel Ruiz’s four agreements, “don’t take anything personally.” We will discuss what we do when taking things too personally, what is going on when things are said about us that bother us, and give tangible tools to help overcome this problem. It is not easy to stop taking things so personally, but it is critical to building a life of freedom. It is our journey, not theirs.

Are any of you suffering from burnout and difficulty in setting boundaries? If so, obtain my free tips on how to set boundaries and avoid burnout here: https://www.garymiles.net/burnout

Do you ever feel stuck? Need help knowing where you want to be? Our life often takes unexpected twists and turns. Today, Lisa Lang explains how important it is to be open to learning from different roles in our lives and choosing the life you want for yourself. Lisa discusses:

-It is our choice to determine what we want our life to be3

-If you want to change, be the change and change yourself

-How to achieve work/life integration  

-The importance of knowing what we can control and what we cannot

-How to transition to a general counsel role

-Finding personal freedom by integrating your work and personal life in a way that makes you happy

Lisa Lang serves as Vice President and General Counsel for Ohio Northern University (ONU). Before coming to ONU, Lisa first worked in private practice specializing in insurance defense for a law firm in Louisville, Kentucky. In 2008, Lisa transitioned into the public sector to work for the Commonwealth of Kentucky in the Office of the Attorney General as an Assistant Attorney General and then for the Kentucky Department of Education, serving in various in-house roles beginning in 2011 until 2017 when she was hired as to serve as the General Counsel for Kentucky State University (KSU). Lisa served as KSU's General Counsel until accepting her current role at ONU in November 2022. In addition, she volunteers with Miss JD, helping women transition into the career in law they find fulfilling.

Are any of you suffering from burnout and difficulty in setting boundaries? If so, obtain my free tips on how to set boundaries and avoid burnout here: https://www.garymiles.net/burnout

Have you ever had the misfortune of saying completely the wrong thing at the wrong time and regretting what you did? I know I have. Or, sharing something important and personal, and the other person responds with some dismissive comment?

We of course all know that we should be impeccable with our words and most of us feel we do a great job at that. But do we really? It is not as easy as it sounds.

Last week we began our review of Don Miguel Ruiz's Four Agreements.  In today's we explore the first of the four, be truly impeccable with our word. I will examine exactly what it means to be impeccable with our words, the challenges in doing so, the benefits of using our words carefully, and 10 tools for improving in this arena.

We receive so many powerful gifts when we listen attentively, are thoughtful about what we say, and say what we mean and mean what we say. Have a listen!

Are any of you suffering from burnout and difficulty in setting boundaries? If so, obtain my free tips on how to set boundaries and avoid burnout here: https://www.garymiles.net/burnout

What a blockbuster episode! Wendy Witt, a consultant to over 8,000 lawyers and small firms, shares her insights about how to find the career of your dreams by learning how to find joy and create impact in your profession. Wendy shares her insightful wisdom on these topics:

-Taking advantage of unexpected opportunities when they present themselves to you

-Finding the courage to take the next step forward when you do know where it is going

-The importance of determining the life values that are most important to you

-How to accept being uncomfortable by stepping out of our comfort zone; that is where real growth occurs

-Managing our terror barriers

-Design your life and know that you can build it

-You can do the work you love, make more, and work less

-Our mindset can propel us forward or hold us back; the choice is ours

-Create personal freedom by developing choices in your life, what we do, who we work with, etc.

Wendy Witt is the founder of the private consulting firm, Million Dollar Attorney, where she serves as a Law Firm Business Strategist. Over the past 23 years, she has helped more than 8,000 solo and small law firm owners build their law firms so that they can have the life they love. Wendy is also a co-founder of Purely Estates Law Group; her guidance has been seen on ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox, Huffington Post, Forbes, and the like.

Are any of you suffering from burnout and difficulty in setting boundaries? If so, obtain my free tips on how to set boundaries and avoid burnout here: https://www.garymiles.net/burnout

We lawyers are so often involved in situations of conflict. Disputes arise from many directions. Sometimes we do not respond correctly, and it all goes downhill. But instead, we can navigate through differences with others in ways that produce positive, healthy, and peaceful outcomes.

Dr. Debra Dupree joins The Free Lawyer today. She is a high-conflict expert, dispute-resolution specialist,  instructor, and author. She shows us today how to transform challenges into learning opportunities. In addition, she shares powerful insights about:

-Conflicts arise from a difference of perspective, not right and wrong

-The importance of mindfulness and self-awareness

-In a challenging situation, how to pause before responding, reflecting, and asking insightful questions to obtain more understanding

- How critical it is not to take things personally and to understand the other party's unpleasant approach is more often a reflection of what their issues

-Using deep breathing techniques to relieve stress 

Dr. Debra Dupree is a Dispute Resolution Specialist, Conflict Coach, Mindset Doc, International Trainer, and Keynote Speaker. Dr. D is the host of the bi-weekly podcast ‘Decoding the Conflict Mindset’ bringing ‘thought leaders’ from various disciplines to gain insight on engaging themselves and others in difficult conversations, high emotions, and tough negotiations. In addition, Debra delivers training throughout North America, Australia, India, and the Pacific Rim in workplace mediation strategies and advanced mediation strategies for leaders and dispute resolution professionals for today’s hybrid work world.

Have you ever heard all the lawyer jokes made? Mocking the legal profession for a lack of honesty? We are often perceived as lacking in integrity. Why is that? Is that justifiable? And what can be done about it?

In this episode, I will discuss what integrity is; its hallmarks, the perception of the legal profession for integrity, what are the gifts of integrity, and how to be more successful in practicing integrity as an attorney. We can together improve our own future and the reputation of the legal profession. 

Are any of you suffering from burnout and a difficulty in setting boundaries? If so, obtain my free tips on how to set boundaries and avoid burnout here: https://www.garymiles.net/burnout

Do you ever find you spend too much energy wondering what others are thinking about you? Do you worry that others might be judging you or thinking less of you because of something you are doing or some project you are undertaking? Are you concerned that if you fail at some task they will think less of you? Are you ever afraid to take on a new challenge because you wonder what others will think of you? And how does that make you feel?

I know I have. I have frequently let  myself be controlled worrying about what others think of me, and what opinions they hold of me. This is a very common problem for many of us, but not healthy. And we do have it within our power to escape from this prison.

In this episode of The Free Lawyer, I will talk about why we worry so much about what others think of us; discuss some of the problems that causes for us, explain why other people’s opinions of us really do not matter; and give you tangible tools to start living your life free of the opinions of others.

Owen McGrann reinvented his legal career after overcoming a life-threatening health scare. Today he has built the law practice of his dreams, practicing law the way he chooses, creating synergy with his clients, and finding the balance he has always craved. In this dynamite episode, he explains how we can build the law practice we are excited to work in. Key takeaways:

-Hourly billing creates enormous stress on the attorneys and conflict with the clients

-The importance of keeping our priorities in order, remembering that our health and happiness are foremost

-The many benefits of value based pricing, having the client agree to the fee up front, creating a sense of team with the client, relieving the client of the burden of worrying about the charge for each call, building more profitability and finding greater fulfillment

-The challenges of maintaining our mental health in today's legal market; 

-Finding ways to do each day what we really love

Are you ever in a mindset where you think negative thoughts, expect poor results, and that’s what happens?

Or, alternatively, have you ever envisioned success, the good result, victory, and that has occurred?

In this week's Episode, we will examine the Law of Attraction, discuss what it is, its pitfalls, how it can affect your life, and give you tangible steps to make it work for you.

Are any of you suffering from burnout and a difficulty in setting boundaries? If so, obtain my free tips on how to set boundaries and avoid burnout here: https://www.garymiles.net/burnout

Kimberly Rice has a passion for helping women professionals be as successful and fulfilled as they can. Speaker, author, marketing expert, and professional coach, Kimberly explains some of the most important issues facing the female lawyer today and how to overcome them. Some key takeaways:

-Competency as a lawyer is just the price of admission; given the surplus of attorneys today, the attorney must also know how to build a book of business and develop a personal brand

-The 3 keys to being a successful business owner and lawyer is to build the essential relationships, to enhance our reputation, and to build those connections over time

-Women lawyers, although well-represented by percentages in the private practice are very underutilized in the key management roles in firms

-How important it is to have a supportive community lifting the female attorney

-How to build our prosperity and find fulfillment

-How to overcome the conflict between the logical, linear legal mind, and the creative forward thinking entrepreneurial role

-The importance of mental health and wellness and how to support it in our career. 

This is a can't miss episode!

A recent Washington Post article was entitled “Want to be happy? Then don’t be a lawyer.” Is it possible to be truly happy as an attorney? Are you fulfilled, and do you find enjoyment in your work? If not, how can we change that?

In this newsletter, I will briefly discuss the Washington Post Article; review some of the major stresses we face as attorneys, and share thoughts about how we can find joy and fulfillment in our legal practice. You, too can be happy as a lawyer!

Daya Naef, lawyer and executive coach, joins us today to share her expertise about how to enjoy the practice of law despite the pressures we all face. Key takeaways:

-Stress and burnout are becoming very common in the legal profession

-Consistently good sleep and keeping well hydrated help to fuel our performance

-The virtual world has additional pressures, making it harder to set boundaries between our office and home life and limiting genuine connection

-It is critical to take breaks during the day to help keep us fresh and alert

-Time blocking, planning our schedule, and eliminating multitasking help us to be more productive

-We create personal freedom when we have the flexibility to choose how we want to live our life

You will love the nuggets in this episode!

Have you, or anyone you know or care about, ever felt hopeless or that you had lost control? That there was some power running your life that was stronger than you? Or that you were controlled by some force that was holding you back?

Many of us have struggled with losing power to some negative force, such as addiction or depression. For example, I have suffered from alcoholism. Unfortunately, we also often suffer silently, feeling like we are alone and that our life is hopeless.

The legal profession confronts incredible struggles with addiction, substance abuse, depression, and other mental health challenges. But, unfortunately, many who face such obstacles do so alone and secretly.

It does not have to be that way. In this episode, I will discuss what our legal profession faces, share my personal story with addiction and recovery, and give five critical principles for us to focus on as we try to free ourselves or someone we care about from this prison. We can all transform our world from a dying caterpillar into a beautiful butterfly.

Are you ever afraid to assert yourself, particularly when you feel the other party has more power than you? Ever wonder how to effectively ask for what you truly want?

Lucia Kanter St. Amour answers these questions and more today! Effective negotiation can be your everyday superpower in your profession, office, and home. Lucia is an incredible attorney, mediator, law professor, and best-selling author of For the Forces of Good: The Superpower of Everyday Negotiation. You will want to hear Lucia's insights about:

-The importance of building genuine rapport

-The need to set boundaries in our life

-How to manage bullies in the workplace

-The stress of hourly billing requirements

-The keys of listening and asking questions

-Building freedom in resolving our own problems by tapping into our autonomy and speaking up without fear of reprisal

Lucia Kanter St. Amour is a VP for UN women USA, practicing attorney, and law professor turned everyday negotiation superhero.

She’s the author of "For the Forces of Good: The Superpower of Everyday Negotiation" and is here to help you harness your everyday negotiation superpowers, so you can rock it in your job, get your kids to eat their peas, and be the most powerful person in the room!

"If you don’t design your life plan, chances are you’ll fall into someone else’s plan. And guess what they have planned for you? Not much."

– Jim Rohn

Are you happy with where you are? Are you making the kind of income that you want? Are you finding fulfillment and doing the area of practice you enjoy? Are you working with people you like and respect? Do you find joy in your life? Do you find enough time to be with your family and pursue hobbies that please you?

Sometimes we get stuck in the grind and need to reflect on what we want. Now, in the New Year, we have the essential time to reflect and choose what we want our future to be. We have the power to create the future of our dreams. We deserve it.

In this episode, I will explain some of the most important considerations to evaluate in determining our future and lay out a ten-step process for you to choose precisely who you want to be and how to create that future.

Do you ever feel that there is so much competition and it is hard to stand out from the crowd as an attorney? Scott Aaron, LinkedIn Coach and business expert for personal branding and business growth, joins The Free Lawyer today. He explains how we can best use LinkedIn to brand ourselves as professionals and grow our practices. Scott shares his expertise on these critical topics-

-Why LinkedIn is the best professional social media platform for business growth

-The Seven Advantages of LinkedIn

-How to best utilize LinkedIn to show your expertise

-The three best posts to do each week

-How our journey creates our own unique experiences and skills

-How to create meaningful content to show your zone of genius

-Creating personal freedom by living life with intention and creating space to enjoy the journey

Scott is truly a brilliant expert not only on LinkedIn but also on personal branding and business growth. You want to make sure to catch this episode!

Internationally acclaimed and award-winning online marketer, 3x best-selling author, top podcaster, and speaker, Scott Aaron, is

the go-to specialist when it comes to converting traffic, establishing connections, generating leads, creating sales, and

building personal brands, all using LinkedIn.

 Fully immersing himself in learning LinkedIn and social media strategies, Scott quickly gained traction as a leader in generating

significant results for other entrepreneurs, online business owners, and business coaches.

Scott is passionate about helping fellow entrepreneurs succeed while building their network organically and without

complicated and costly marketing tactics. His program has helped thousands experience explosive growth

following his proven system and strategies.

People-focused and result-driven, Scott's strategic approach to teaching others how to create wealth online and organic traffic is

the game changer when it comes to competing in a saturated digital world.

True personal freedom can only be created by mindfully living in the present. Last week, we reviewed the problems with living in the past (regret, resentment, shame) or the future (worry, stress, fear).

Today in part 2, we present the ten unique gifts of being present: peace, joy, freedom, gratitude, acceptance, success, productivity, better relationships, and happiness. Who would not want all that?? But how do we get there?

I give you ten practical steps for you to follow to begin creating the personal freedom you deserve by living in the present. Have a listen and start changing your life today!

Helen Pamely, a lawyer, psychotherapist, speaker, and career coach for lawyers from the UK, explains in this episode of The Free Lawyer how we can enhance our confidence, resilience, performance, and well-being. These are some key takeaways:

-How to overcome exhaustion and burnout and achieve a healthy work-life balance

-The importance of rewriting your narrative to realize you are enough just as you are

-The power of affirmations

-Finding balance by creating spaces in your day

-Building freedom by living your life intelligently with boundaries

Helen started her career at the Magic Circle law firm Linklaters. At just six years qualified, she was promoted to Partner in Dispute Resolution at the London City law firm Rosling King. With a passion for mental health and well-being, and a desire to understand how we can optimize these to reach our potential and perform at our best, a few years into her career, Helen retrained as a Psychotherapist and an Executive Coach. Helen now coaches lawyers to excel, thrive in their careers, and become the best and happiest versions of themselves.                                 

Do you ever find you are distracted, worrying about the future and how things will turn out? Do you worry about what other people might be thinking of you? Do you ever resent what people have done to you in the past? How often do you find yourself thinking about what happened yesterday or what might happen tomorrow? How does that make you feel?

So often, we waste our precious energy thinking about what has happened in the past, what has been done to us, or even what we might have done wrong. Sometimes we may obsess about the future, imagining bad results and poor outcomes.

One of the biggest challenges in creating personal fulfillment is living in the present and avoiding being stuck in the past or the future. Unfortunately, both of those create obstacles to our attaining personal freedom.

This is a two-part episode about creating personal freedom by living in the present. Today, I discuss the problems of living in the past and, even worse, in the future; I will give you tools to escape the past and avoid the future. Next week I will describe ten gifts of being present in the moment and give you tangible tools to achieve that.

Stay present and be free!!

Suzanne Shams joins us today to share her wisdom about how we as attorneys can find true happiness as attorneys. We chat about these important topics:

-How to overcome physical and  mental health challenges

-The importance of accepting ourselves and managing the temptation to always doubt ourselves

-Stopping the energy leaks so we can be more productive

-Finding fulfillment through service

-Remembering we are not alone

-The gift of self-compassion

-Finding our true place in our profession that is in alignment with our values

Suzanne has been an attorney, a professor and now is The Counsel's Coach. She helps stressed and exhausted attorneys become more productive happy and fulfilled. You can connect with her on LinkedIn or at suzanne.shams@gmail.com.

Have you ever had someone really hurt you in your life? Someone who treated you very badly, unjustifiably, for no good reason? And you feel, quite justifiably, resentful of how that person treated you? Who hasn’t been hurt by the actions or words of another? Those wounds can create a reservoir of anger and bitterness, sometimes even vengeance.

The key to freeing you from that prison of bitterness is forgiveness. Today I explain what is forgiveness; what is not forgiveness, why we should forgive; hurdles to forgiveness; what are the gifts of forgiveness; and what are the steps to take in forgiving someone who has unjustifiably harmed you. It is time to create that freedom you deserve!

Have a listen!

Elaine Godley joins The Free Lawyer today to share her expertise on how to build a life of health and well-being as a lawyer in today's challenging and stressful legal profession. Elaine is a Health and Wellbeing Mentor in the UK who supports lawyers in their journey to have a healthy and fulfilling life. 

She shares her tools on these topics:

-How to determine your profile so you can be in alignment with your true self

-How to manage stress and burnout as a lawyer

-The importance of self-awareness and mindfulness

-How to improve your nutrition to fuel your wellbeing

-How to find personal freedom in your profession

Elaine has an extensive background in the legal industry, having been the CEO of several large law firms in the UK. Having overcome numerous personal and health struggles, she now helps transform professional service firms to increase profits and health; she coaches lawyers and other professionals individually to build their well-being and fulfillment. You can connect with Elaine on LinkedIn or by email at elaine@elainegodley.com. 

Lawyers often have a reputation of being smart, confident, in control, and intensely logical. But sometimes, we have the unfavorable reputation of being arrogant, insensitive, and poor listeners.

One of the traits not focused on very much in the legal practice arena is compassion. Why is it so critical to be a compassionate lawyer? While it is so important to convey a professional image, we also should still be authentically human in our practice.

Today I will talk about what compassion is, how it is different from sympathy and empathy, how to be a more compassionate lawyer, and why it is in our personal best interest and the best interest of our profession to strive for being a more compassionate counselor. You will love this episode!

Christi Disparte, a dynamic in-house counsel, joins The Free Lawyer today to share her journey from a litigator in a law firm to an in-house counsel where she has found true fulfillment. Christi offers some powerful thoughts about how to find fulfillment and a healthy balance in the practice of law. She shares her insights on some of these topics:

-How to effectively manage the stress of being a practicing litigator in a law firm

-The gift of acceptance in handling those persons and situations that challenge us

-Take daily breaks to relieve the stress (listen to learn Christi's special break activity!)

-How our obstacles help us to grow and find our true calling

-The importance of professionalism and being kind in our practice

-Finding freedom by focusing on working to live instead of living to work

-Important wellness practices to help us stay balanced, healthy, and happy. 

Christi is in-house counsel at AuditBoard. Before joining the in-house ranks, Christi was a litigation associate, where she worked on complex civil litigation matters. Christi loves collaborating with others and enjoys being part of her company's success. Christi supports others by sharing self-care tips and her journey through the legal profession. You can connect with her on LinkedIn or by email at cdisparte@gmail.com.

We all know the importance of tolerance, don’t we? We all believe it’s a great value. Is your workplace genuinely tolerant? Can we make it better? And if so, how?

Today I will chat about what tolerance is and isn’t, the benefits of having a genuinely tolerant workplace, and how we can improve our office setting to make it more inclusive and accepting. Here are some essential steps:

1. Lead by example.

2. Encourage open communication.

3. Be respectful to all.

4. Create an atmosphere where staff is listened to.

5. Hold everyone accountable, even the most powerful. 

6. Set clear expectations.

7. Encourage all staff to seek help safely. 

Please listen as I dive into each of these in more detail!

Have you ever felt overwhelmed at work? That you simply cannot handle anymore? Although you loved your profession, now you are tired of it and getting frustrated? Have you ever felt burned out?

This is, unfortunately, not at all unusual. So many lawyers are overwhelmed, overworked, stressed out, and unhappy. We need to set boundaries between our professional and personal lives. How can we change this?

In this episode, I explain why we feel this way, some warning signs, the consequences, and, most importantly, eight tips for successfully navigating these situations. We all have a right to be professionally fulfilled and have a satisfying personal life. Let's see how we can do that together.

Emily Logan Stedman joins us for this blockbuster episode! Practicing for six years in two large firms, Emily shares her powerful tips with young lawyers, including:

-Her hot tips for the lawyer who is feeling overwhelmed- remember you are not alone, seek the fulfillment you crave, connect with your tribe, and know you always have choices!!

-The importance of mentorship for young attorneys

-How to set appropriate boundaries and find time for yourself

-Be aware of the stress you feel and share it with your associates

-Find fulfillment by focusing on finding solutions for your clients

Born and raised outside Atlanta, Georgia, Emily Logan Stedman has called Milwaukee home since June 2013. She obtained her B.A. (Spanish and History) in 2008 from Wake Forest University. In 2010, she enrolled at the University of Mississippi School of Law, graduating in 2013 and serving as Editor-in-Chief of the Mississippi Law Journal.

From 2013-2016, Emily clerked for Judge Pamela Pepper, now Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin. In 2016, she joined Midwest Big Law as an associate at Quarles & Brady. Since November 2020, she has worked as a Senior Associate at Husch Blackwell, where she practices commercial litigation.

It was joining Big Law that brought on an increase in anxiety and low mood in Emily. After seeking solace with colleagues, therapy, and meditation, she began talking more openly about the need to improve well-being in the law. This started with programming while president of the Young Lawyers Division of the State Bar of Wisconsin, then as a committee chair for the Wisconsin Taskforce on Lawyer Well-Being. Most recently, she has built a platform on LinkedIn where she posts regularly on the realities of being a Big Law associate and the need to destigmatize lawyer well-being.

Have you ever felt that you were not as good as other people think you are? Have you ever doubted your ability to achieve what you already have? Do you see yourself as unworthy or not good at what you do, even though others think you are? Have you ever felt you didn't belong? Or even, "what am I doing here?" I know I have struggled with some of those thoughts. 

This is often labeled as "imposter syndrome." But trust me, if you have ever felt that way, you are not alone. It affects so many of us and causes us significant problems. 

In this episode of The Free Lawyer, I will discuss the reality of imposter syndrome, what it is, its causes, how it affects us, and tangible tools to overcome it. Check it out!!

Want to learn more about how you can break out of the prisons holding you back? Reach out to me at gary@garymiles.net, and check out my website garymiles.net.

“When we get too caught up in the busyness of the world, we lose connection with one another – and ourselves.” -Jack Kornfield

Do you have days where everything gets under your skin and distracts you? Do you ever get stuck in your head thinking about issues other than the project you're working on? Or, do you have days where you are laser-focused, not easily rattled, and calmly go about productively solving your clients’ problems?

The difference is mindfulness. In this episode of  The Free Lawyer, I will discuss what mindfulness is, how it makes a difference, the gifts of practicing law mindfully, and how to become more mindful in your law practice. Check it out!

Codi Shewan joins The Free Lawyer today. Codi is a speaker, trainer,  consultant, and, most importantly, author of the best-selling book, Everyday Legacy. For me and many others, Everyday Legacy was truly transformational. It encourages us through Codi's stories to treasure every moment, be grateful, be present with who matters to us, and begin today, creating our living legacy of how we wish to be known. Codi shares what inspired the book and how it has already started to change the lives of many who have read it. 

Everyday Legacy shows us what it means to be deeply human, undeniably mortal - and how to choose a life that matters. This is a compelling episode!!

Last week we talked about how hard it is to be an authentic attorney, and how we suffer stress and burnout as a result. We also reviewed the powerful gifts of being a more authentic attorney. 

Is it hard to be a truly authentic attorney? It is, but it is so worth it! Today I share 7 tangible tips where you can become a more authentic, more fulfilled attorney. And who does not want that?

Are any of you suffering from burnout and a difficulty in setting boundaries? If so, obtain my free tips on how to set boundaries and avoid burnout here: https://www.garymiles.net/burnout

Can we be truly authentic as attorneys? We spend so much of our time creating arguments, posturing, being in charge, always in control. Sometimes we have been indoctrinated to working too hard, never complaining, and not setting real boundaries. Do you ever feel as if you are wearing a mask? Perhaps feeling you have to act a certain way around the partner, or say certain things to others in the firm, so that you will be accepted? How does that affect us and how can we change it?

In this episode of The Free Lawyer, I will discuss the problem of authenticity in the legal profession; what true authenticity is; some of the historical problems with being authentic as an attorney; and the incredible gifts from being authentic as an attorney. Next week, I will share helpful tools to develop a an authentic professional life where we will be real, genuine, and fulfilled.

Are any of you suffering from burnout and a difficulty in setting boundaries? If so, obtain my free tips on how to set boundaries and avoid burnout here: https://www.garymiles.net/burnout

Have you ever had a crisis at work, someone made a mistake, and the boss gets very angry, perhaps screaming, reacts rashly, and blames the person who was at fault? Never seeing his part in it?

Or in the same scenario, have you ever seen the leader respond thoughtfully, is empathetic with the person who made the mistake, and incorporates the team in finding a solution to achieve better results in the future?

What is the difference between these two scenarios? It is what is frequently called “emotional intelligence.” In this episode of The Free Lawyer, I will explain what emotional intelligence is, what its characteristics are, how someone behaves when they are acting with low emotional intelligence, how emotional intelligence benefits us, and how to develop our skills of emotional intelligence.

Let me know what you think!

Do your clients ever get frustrated with the size of their bill, which was unexpected? Do you have prospective clients who want a reasonable projection of what their matter will cost, and you are unable to give them a very predictable cost? Are you tired of time keeping and trying to meet seemingly arbitrary hourly billing requirements? As a firm owner or manager, are you tired of chasing clients for payment of outstanding balances on their bills?

We attorneys have always used an hourly billing process. However, it creates a lot of issues, for the client, for the attorneys, and for the law firm. But there is an alternative which answers many of these concerns. That is the value based pricing system.

In this episode, I will discuss some of the problems with the hourly billing system, explain what a value based system is and how it works, review the primary obstacles to it, and explain the many benefits it can bring to your law firm.

Are any of you suffering from burnout and a difficulty in setting boundaries? If so, obtain my free tips on how to set boundaries and avoid burnout here: https://www.garymiles.net/burnout

Viveca Hess is an expert in using LinkedIn to help lawyers grow their book of business. She shares her expertise on these important topics:

-The best practices in using LinkedIn

-The power of LinkedIn and how it can grow your brand

-The best business building approaches

-How to overcome the fear of competition

-The importance of determining what sets you apart as an attorney

- The benefits of being an authentic and effective listener

-The incredible stress of the billable hour requirements

Studying people, human nature and how we communicate to build meaningful relationships is Viveca's passion, always has been. But, it wasn’t until several years after graduating from law school that she owned up to her passion for blending creative story-crafting with the design and psychology of communication and content.

She initiated, created and directed the marketing and communication efforts at the law firm where she had worked for nearly a decade and realized she was smitten with a practice having little to do with the law. After nearly a decade she left this firm to launch her own online marketing company in 2009.

Though she has never looked back, her legal background lends itself well for insight to what lawyers, law firms, and a few other regulated or politically sensitive industries require to be protected while successfully promoted in an ever-evolving online sphere. This is part of her unique, odd, sometimes uncomfortable, and very happy character-building story.

Much like the passion triggers of her business, Viveca is easily impassioned by all things under, in, or on our oceans. Whether surfing the internet or waves, diving deep into content psychology or along underwater parks, the salt from both sweat and ocean has always done her good.

Fortunately, her family feels similarly, mostly harmoniously. Husband even works on complicated water projections (that quite honestly make her eyes glaze over sometimes). Her teen daughter (going on twenty) applies an uncanny discipline, humor and design eye for online artistry when they are not making a splash offline somehow. She admits she has a thing (or more) to learn from her, like understanding that peace and crazy can co-exist.

You can find Viveca on LinkedIn where she is ever present, and can connect by email at viveca@hessconnect.com.

Have you ever wanted to share something important with someone, and you knew they were not really listening? Or, they interrupted you to tell you what they wanted to tell you? And didn’t that make you feel disrespected and disconnected from that person?

One of the keys to effective relationship building and true human connection is being a mindful and effective listener. In this episode of The Free Lawyer, I will discuss some typical barriers to effective listening, the consequences of poor listening habits, a process for effective listening, and the gifts that we enjoy when we truly listen to and hear the other party to the conversation.

Are any of you suffering from burnout and a difficulty in setting boundaries? If so, obtain my free tips on how to set boundaries and avoid burnout here: https://www.garymiles.net/burnout

Do you ever feel trapped and overwhelmed in your law career? As if you have no choice or power?

Talar Herculian Coursey is a lawyer by day, a Life Coach and published author. She joins The Free Lawyer to share her powerful journey and great insights on

-The gift of a community to support us in our legal career

-How to find fulfillment through service

-How to manage mental health challenges in our legal profession

-The importance of mentorship

-How we each have the freedom to choose our own path in law

-Understanding that we all have the power to free ourselves and select our own journey

Talar has served as General Counsel for Vista Ford Lincoln in Woodland Hills, California since 2011. Before that, she was a file clerk, associate and partner

at the national labor and employment law firm, Fisher Phillips LLP. 

Talar is a co-author of #Networked and Women In Law and the author of her first children’s book, Ralphy’s Rules for Living the Good Life, all of which are

available on Amazon (all profits going to charities).

Talar has served as the president of the Salt Lake City Chapter for the Society for Orphaned Armenian Relief (“SOAR”) since 2015. SOAR, founded in 2005,

supports orphanages in Syria, Lebanon and Armenia. To date, Talar has raised over $100,000 for the orphanages in Lebanon in memory of her father, Mardig

Herculian.

Talar wrote Ralphy’s Rules for Living the Good Life to raise money for SOAR. In addition to being a mother, wife, lawyer, life coach and philanthropist, Talar

is also a runner, yogi and Jesus, Ekhart Tolle, Peloton and Brandon Flowers groupie.

You can find Talar on LinkedIn @TalarEsq or on her website

www.TalarEsq.com.

Have you ever felt that you are working so hard, so busy, too many things on your desk, keeping all the balls in the air?  And when the day is done, do you feel like you got nothing accomplished? I know I have. See, busyness is often harmful to our business as well as to us personally.

We all know it is no fun to be stuck in the busyness quagmire, nor is it good for our professional success. In Episode 47 ot the Free Lawyer, I will explain why we get stuck in busyness, discuss some of the problems with it, and give you 8 tangible tools to escape  the prison of busyness.

Are any of you suffering from burnout and a difficulty in setting boundaries? If so, obtain my free tips on how to set boundaries and avoid burnout here: https://www.garymiles.net/burnout

Do you want to be both successful and happy as a lawyer? This is an episode not to be missed. Lara Quie (pronounced Queen - without the “n”) is a connector of people and has been a business development and marketing professional in the legal industry in Singapore for the past eight years. Lara shares some amazing insights about:

-The importance of connecting with clients and prospects on a personal level

-How to build our personal brand

-How to grow your book of business to be truly successful

-The benefits of choosing your own path in the legal profession that satisfies you

-How to set boundaries, maintain your own scheduling freedom and prevent burnout

-The need to practice self-care, have a hobby, sleep well and take care of yourself

A graduate of Oxford University, Lara was originally a BigLaw antitrust attorney in London before became a Montessori teacher, entrepreneur, head of sales and executive coach.

She has lived in Asia for ten years and is currently the Head of Business Development, Asia Pacific at Twenty Essex, a leading international barristers’ chambers.

In her spare time, Lara is an executive coach for lawyers and is the host of the popular Legal Genie Podcast. Lara is a wife and mother of three wonderful daughters and two unruly sausage dogs.

Are any of you suffering from burnout and a difficulty in setting boundaries? If so, obtain my free tips on how to set boundaries and avoid burnout here: https://www.garymiles.net/burnout

Are you someone who would prefer to stick to your habits and well known routines? Or, do you have a passion for learning new things?

Are you someone who believes you were given certain traits and talents that are fundamentally unchangeable? That you have the skills you have, and can use them, but are not able to develop new ones? Or, do you believe you can grow, change, learn and develop?

That is the difference between a growth mindset and a fixed mindset. For us to succeed as we really want, it is important that we develop a growth mindset.

In Episode 45 of The Free Lawyer, I will describe what is a fixed mindset; what is a growth mindset; and 8 steps we can take to develop the growth mindset that we need to be as successful and fulfilled as we deserve.

Are any of you suffering from burnout and a difficulty in setting boundaries? If so, obtain my free tips on how to set boundaries and avoid burnout here: https://www.garymiles.net/burnout

Today's guest on The Free Lawyer is Ravit Rose. Ravit is passionate about making the divorce process more effective and less stressful. She shares:

-What she learned from her personal journey through the divorce process

-How to best manage the emotions while divorcing

-What makes a family lawyer truly exceptional

-The importance of being a compassionate problem solver as an attorney handling divorce cases

-The benefits of being self-aware, mindful and not reactive

Ravit Rose has survived and thrived her decade long nasty divorce. After having spent over $100k in legal fees, she finally understood the "divorce game".
She summarizes the root cause of this problem in one sentence: "We don't know how to marry and we certainly don't know how to divorce either."
Since Ravit saw the bright light at the end of this tunnel, her life purpose shifted towards helping parents avoid ending up broke & broken. She wants parents to learn how to stop their emotions from sabotaging the family.
As the founder of Divorce by Rose, she's replacing the outdated status quo with a fresh, balanced system. When parents join this community app anonymously, they access 24/7 instant support & solutions from specialized coaches. The various types of coaches are trained to assist parents in making the logical & methodical decision to either stay married or get divorced and then, help them figure out their next steps with coping strategies and realistic solutions.
Ravit shines when she sees families from far and wide moving FORWARD in life.

She can be reached at info@ravitrose.com and through her website, www.divorcebyrose.com.

 Are any of you suffering from burnout and a difficulty in setting boundaries? If so, obtain my free tips on how to set boundaries and avoid burnout here: https://www.garymiles.net/burnout

Did you ever consider trying something new, and tell yourself that you were not smart enough or good enough? Did you ever have an opportunity to speak, or present, or try a new opportunity, but tell yourself you would not succeed?

So often we struggle with limiting beliefs. We tell ourselves a story to make an excuse as to why we should not try something new. We are afraid of failing, so we use our limiting beliefs as a protection. The trouble is that our limiting beliefs prevent us from accomplishing our goals and dreams. They also stop us from being as fulfilled and happy as we want. They can be overcome.

In Episode 43 of The Free Lawyer, I will describe what a limiting belief is, give examples of some of the frequent ones, discuss their causes, and most importantly give you tangible tools to overcome your own limiting beliefs.

Are any of you suffering from burnout and a difficulty in setting boundaries? If so, obtain my free tips on how to set boundaries and avoid burnout here: https://www.garymiles.net/burnout

Have you ever said something that in hindsight you absolutely wish you had not,and each day it bothers you that you said it? Or, have you ever made a decision not to pursue something, and then deeply regretted that you did not give it an opportunity?

Regret is a powerful emotion that, if not resolved, can  destroy our happiness and limit our success.

In this episode, I will explain what regret is, how it affects us, and how we can overcome it.

Are any of you suffering from burnout and a difficulty in setting boundaries? If so, obtain my free tips on how to set boundaries and avoid burnout here: https://www.garymiles.net/burnout

Do you ever find that you expect a certain result, like winning your next trial, and when it does not happen you are crushed and disappointed? Or, alternatively, when you win that case you expected to win, do you not feel less gratitude for the successful result because you expected it?

See, that is the problem with expectations. They can remove the  joy out of our life and create disappointment and frustration.

In this episode, I explain what the problem is with unhealthy expectations, the types of expectations, and 7 tips on how to free ourselves from those unhealthy expectations. Let me know what you think!

Are any of you suffering from burnout and a difficulty in setting boundaries? If so, obtain my free tips on how to set boundaries and avoid burnout here: https://www.garymiles.net/burnout

In Episode 38 of The Free Lawyer, we are joined by Terrell Turner, a dynamite CPA who provides specialized financial advice to law firms. Today Terrell shares his insights about:

You won't want to miss this episode!!

Terrell Turner is the managing partner of a NYTimes recognized accounting firm, 40 Under 40 Black CPA and 40 under 40 NACVA that focuses on making accounting and finance less complicated for business owners and business leaders. He has spent 13+ years in various finance leadership roles with multiple Fortune 500 companies and also served ast he finance leader for a private equity-backed tech company.

After years of helping large businesses grow and attracts millions of dollars year after year, Terrell decided to use all of his experience and insight to help small-medium sized businesses. Along with being a managing partner of his own firm, Terrell also leads an internationally trademarked media company called Business Talk Library. The media company creates and produces multiple podcasts, web-based business shows and on-demand training for entrepreneurs and business leaders.

You can reach Terrell on LinkedIn @Terrell A Turner CPA and through is website, TLTurnergroup.com.

Are any of you suffering from burnout and a difficulty in setting boundaries? If so, obtain my free tips on how to set boundaries and avoid burnout here: https://www.garymiles.net/burnout

Do you ever find that you fret over your past mistakes? Or, are very worried about making new mistakes? Are you ever extremely concerned about high expectations of your family or your colleagues?

If so, you may be struggling with perfectionism. Perfectionism can create real problems for us, everything from procrastination to severe anxiety and stress.

In this episode, I will explain what perfectionism is; talk about how it has affected me; discuss the signs and causes of perfectionism, explain the problems it creates, and give detailed steps on how to overcome it. Check it out!

Are any of you suffering from burnout and a difficulty in setting boundaries? If so, obtain my free tips on how to set boundaries and avoid burnout here: https://www.garymiles.net/burnout

Robert Hanna based in the UK, is the Founder & Managing Director of KC Partners, an innovative and world leading legal talent solutions and content creation firm focused on community. He specializes in helping aspiring and qualified legal professionals with their careers and to secure dream jobs with law firms & corporations across the UK, Europe, Middle East, Far East & US. 

He brings his amazing insights to The Free Lawyer today, discussing:

-The importance of placing just the right attorney with the perfect law firm

-How to build lasting relationships in the legal profession

-The challenges of stress and burnout and how to defeat them

-The benefits of community in the new legal arena

-How to maintain balance in today's world, to be successful, fulfilled and happy

-The importance of wellness and mental health in our challenging profession

Rob has been featured in numerous publications including the CIO TIMES as a Most Inspiring Leader and a Multi Award nominated Community-Maker. Through his entrepreneurial journey he has built and scaled multi-million-pound revenue generating sales teams and sits as a strategic advisor & investor to Recruitment & Legal Tech startups. 

Rob is a super networker & active content creator. He the most followed legal recruiter and talent solutions expert across social media. Rob has advised LinkedIn on various new product roll outs and been ranked as a Top 100 Rising Star & Influencer. He regularly features in LinkedIn News & Hosts the LinkedIn Creators Audio Townhall. He is a Mentor, Speaker and Host of the world renowned Legally Speaking Podcast. 

He is passionate about normalizing the conversation around mental health and promoting more diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace. Rob’s mission is to emulate the success of his grandfather who ran one of the most prominent law firms of his generation in the 1950s. He is actively disrupting the global recruitment industry, through embracing the digital and content fueled world we live in today to do good for the legal profession building a worldwide collaborative kind community! 

Aside from all of that, Rob is proud first-time father to his daughter & parent to his miniature dachshund, Otto! 

Contact Information: Mobile: +44 (0) 7843 233 525 Email: rhanna@kcpartners.co.uk Join Legally Speaking Discord

Are any of you suffering from burnout and a difficulty in setting boundaries? If so, obtain my free tips on how to set boundaries and avoid burnout here: https://www.garymiles.net/burnout

Do you ever do this? You see someone who is really proficient, better than you, at something you want to achieve; and you begin comparing yourself to them. We want to be better in our profession, so it makes sense to compare ourselves to those who are the best, doesn’t it? How does that work out for you?

In Episode 35 of The Free Lawyer, I will describe in detail the trouble with comparison and make tangible suggestions about how to avoid playing the comparison game. When we look inside of ourselves, understand our strengths and weaknesses, and plan for the future, we can achieve the success and personal freedom we want.

Are any of you suffering from burnout and a difficulty in setting boundaries? If so, obtain my free tips on how to set boundaries and avoid burnout here: https://www.garymiles.net/burnout

Our guest today is the incredible Jennifer Aternino, a family mediator and divorce coach. If you are a family law attorney, a person encountering a family separation or custody matter, or a professional involved in the field, you will not want to miss this episode. Jennifer shares her insights about:

-The biggest hurdles in the divorce process and how to manage them

-Tools for helping clients manage the emotional roller-coaster

-How to make the divorce process less contentious and more child-focused

-How she can help lawyers with their client's emotional needs.

 Jennifer is passionate about helping couples (with children) who are separating do so in an amicable and respectful way. She has obtained her Certification as a Professional Mediator. She is extremely child focused through all negotiations.

Being a Divorce Coach, she is empathetic and determined to help her clients through this difficult process. She specializes in emotional support and putting things into perspective. She guides her clients through the difficulties. She helps manage the emotions and focuses her clients  on the practical issues of divorce - reducing the negative impact on you and your family.

As a Parent Coach, and a divorced mother of two, she has worked very hard to research and establish the tools to help maintain and create a strong bond for single parents and their children. She has also received her Certification as a Youth Self Esteem Coach and as a Positive Discipline Parent and Teacher Educator.

You can contact Jennifer through her website: http://www.mychildrenandme.com/

Are any of you suffering from burnout and a difficulty in setting boundaries? If so, obtain my free tips on how to set boundaries and avoid burnout here: https://www.garymiles.net/burnout

Do you ever feel that your fear of failing at something professionally hampers your success? Or causes you stress?

Despite our confidence, many of us struggle with internal fears. Overwhelmingly, the most challenging and frequent fear is that of failure. We are so talented, so accomplished, yet often we have a mental thought that we will fail. That hampers our success. How do we manage that fear of failure?

In Episode 33 of The Free Lawyer, I discuss four tangible tools for overcoming your fear of failure and achieving the success you deserve. Let me know what you think!

Are any of you suffering from burnout and a difficulty in setting boundaries? If so, obtain my free tips on how to set boundaries and avoid burnout here: https://www.garymiles.net/burnout

Last week we chatted about people pleasing, the signs of it, and how it can cause resentment, stress, anxiety, and the loss of authenticity. 

Would you like to break free of that tendency to people please? If so, in Episode 31, I give you 10 tangible tips to overcome people pleasing. Let me know what you think!

Are any of you suffering from burnout and a difficulty in setting boundaries? If so, obtain my free tips on how to set boundaries and avoid burnout here: https://www.garymiles.net/burnout

Have you ever been asked to do something for someone, said yes, and then resented that you had to do it? Has someone ever complained to you about something, and you said "I'm sorry," when you did not actually think you did anything wrong? If so, you may encounter what is commonly called "people pleasing." In itself, it is not a bad thing, but it can lead to frustration, resentment, and losing connection with who we really are. Many of us have suffered from people-pleasing. I know I have.

In episode 29 of The Free Lawyer, I will explain what people pleasing is, describe 9 symptoms of people pleasing, and discuss the 9 negative effects of it, Next week, we will chat about how to break out of the prison of people pleasing. 

Are any of you suffering from burnout and a difficulty in setting boundaries? If so, obtain my free tips on how to set boundaries and avoid burnout here: https://www.garymiles.net/burnout

Do any of you encounter someone who is always blaming, has to win at all costs, has to get his way?  And if crossed, lashes out, or gives the silent treatment? Do any of you work in a toxic workplace? Ever have problem clients who are never happy and always attacking? If so you may be encountering someone with narcissistic personality disorder or who exhibits low emotional intelligence, and you will greatly benefit from this episode. 

We are joined today by Lynn Catalano who literally has written the book on this topic, Wrecking Ball Relationships, which is incredibly helpful to any of us who encounter narcissism. Lynn discusses in depth:

-What is narcissism and how does it present itself

-What are the primary characteristics of narcissism

-How the narcissist responds when he does not get his way

-How to respond to the narcissist best

-How to identify and manage the narcissists we encounter in the legal profession

-What is a toxic workplace and how to survive in it

Lynn is an author, speaker, coach, attorney and survivor of narcissistic abuse, who helps

people reframe their thinking in every aspect of their lives; from the workplace to their

personal life, becoming an agent of change.

One of the greatest skills a person can develop is the ability to navigate difficult people.

Lynn helps people learn to identify toxic relationships and gives them the tools to

overcome these relationships. Your emotional intelligence is the key to building better,

healthier relationships. Lynn will explore how to make emotional intelligence part of

your everyday practice and learn how it benefits all of our relationships, teamwork, and

collaboration. Lynn also teaches groups how to read the room, how to build rapport and

acclimate quickly in any situation.

Lynn is the author of the book “Wrecking Ball Relationships: How to Identify, Live With

or Leave the Narcissist in Your Life,” available now on Amazon.

Lynn lives in Western New York along the Canadian border with her husband, 2

daughters, 3 dogs, 2 cats, and a 16-year-old turtle. Lynn loves to travel, hunt for

antiques, watch movies and play word games.

Are any of you suffering from burnout and a difficulty in setting boundaries? If so, obtain my free tips on how to set boundaries and avoid burnout here: https://www.garymiles.net/burnout

Jeffrey Cunningham joins the podcast today to share some critical thoughts about how to protect yourself and your law firm from potential malpractice claims and grievances. Jeff is a partner in the firm of Goldberg Segalla and a true expert in the field of risk protection for law firms. Jeff provides important advice on;

- The key items to have in your retainer agreements

- The biggest risk factors for law firms

- The benefits of having outside general counsel to your law firm

- The importance of getting expert advice on how to protect yourself from claims and grievances

- How to maintain the important attorney-client privilege when discussing potential claims with your counsel

This is an episode to be listened to by every attorney!

Jeff is originally from Albany, NY and currently lives in Stamford, CT with his wife and two sons. He graduated from Fordham Law School and obtained his undergrad degree from The Citadel.

He serves as 'turn-key' outside General Counsel for law firms. His mission is to provide the same protection big law firms use to solo, small and mid-sized firms, all protected by the attorney-client privilege. For over a decade he has defended lawyers sued for legal malpractice or facing ethics issues. His approach is based on simple risk management, education and response planning. In addition to attorneys, Jeff defends accountants, brokers, and other professionals in a wide range of professional liability matters in New York and Connecticut State and Federal Courts.

Are any of you suffering from burnout and a difficulty in setting boundaries? If so, obtain my free tips on how to set boundaries and avoid burnout here: https://www.garymiles.net/burnout

Have you ever felt angry at someone for something they did to you and feel powerless to stop it or change it? And that feeling keeps coming back, and festering? Resentments are one of the most insidious and harmful negative emotions we feel. But many, even most of us, experience them, and often without knowing or understanding it.

In this episode of The Free Lawyer, I will be explaining what a resentment is, how it affects us, and give you seven tangible tips to overcome your resentments and free yourself from the pain we cause ourselves.

Are any of you suffering from burnout and a difficulty in setting boundaries? If so, obtain my free tips on how to set boundaries and avoid burnout here: https://www.garymiles.net/burnout

On  this week's episode of The Free Lawyer, we are joined by the incredible Scott Simmons. Scott is a toolbox for turning lawyers into rainmakers. After a successful career in law where he faced similar situations to the lawyers of today, he discovered a love of coaching and training that has seen him coaching young professionals on how to build their own careers, as well as more senior executives to become rainmakers.  

Scott shares some helpful advice on how to grow your law practice including:

-Avoiding burnout and the importance of talking about it

-The difference between marketing and business development

-How to focus on the needs of the client, helping them to find solutions to their problems

-The benefits of value based billing

-How to stop billing at the end and then chasing clients for payment

- How to best market our services

--Managing changes in the legal landscape

-The Importance of PRECISION selling

Scott is the Director of Legal Balance. He offers bespoke training, coaching and leadership courses to professionals at all stages of their career and developed The BD Breakthrough Blueprint©, a two-day training course, to facilitate this. Scott has spent the last 10 years coaching and training lawyers and regularly writes and speaks on the subject of professional services business development. Scott is a husband and father and also an avid film lover, so do not be surprised when he includes a BD analogy relating to ‘Jaws’ or ‘When Harry Met Sally’ into any training or coaching session. 

Want to get in touch with Scott? Contact Details

scott.simmons@legalbalance.co.uk

www.legalbalance.co.uk

https://www.linkedin.com/in/scottsimmonsbdm/

Are any of you suffering from burnout and a difficulty in setting boundaries? If so, obtain my free tips on how to set boundaries and avoid burnout here: https://www.garymiles.net/burnout

How serious are you about achieving your dreams? Are you willing to do what is necessary to earn the promotion, go for the raise, or seek a new and better job? What is your biggest professional goal? Why haven't you accomplished it yet?

For most of us, the answer is fear. Fear limits us from achieving what we really want. If we do not strive for a professional goal because we are "afraid," we will never accomplish it. So why not try?

The problem is that our fear can often be unknown and very powerful. We sometimes succumb to it without even knowing. How you respond to fear is precisely what differentiates you from all the others, and sets you on your path to success. 

In this edition of The Free Lawyer newsletter, I disucss what fear is, and how it affects us; and give you 12 tangible steps to overcome your fear and move closer to the dreams of your life.

Are any of you suffering from burnout and a difficulty in setting boundaries? If so, obtain my free tips on how to set boundaries and avoid burnout here: https://www.garymiles.net/burnout

Steve Fretzin, four time author, podcaster, and legal development coach, joins The Free Lawyer to talk about:

-How to be a confident, authentic and skilled rainmaker

-Building your own book of portable clients

-The importance of effective consulting relationships with your clients

- How to do what you love to do for others

-Creating your own personal and financial freedom

This is a can't miss episode!

Driven, focused and passionate about helping attorneys to reach their full potential, Steve is regarded as the premier coach, skills trainer and keynote speaker on business development for attorneys.

Over the past 17 years, Steve  has devoted his career to helping lawyers master the art of business development to achieve their business goals and the peace of mind that comes with developing a successful law practice.

In addition to writing four books on legal marketing and business development, Steve has a highly-rated podcast BE THAT LAWYER, and has been featured in the Chicago Tribune, Crain’s, and Entrepreneur.com. He has appeared on NBC News, WGN Radio and has written articles for Attorney at Law Magazine, the National Law Review, the American Bar Association, and the Illinois State Bar Association. You can also find his monthly column in the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin.

Are any of you suffering from burnout and a difficulty in setting boundaries? If so, obtain my free tips on how to set boundaries and avoid burnout here: https://www.garymiles.net/burnout

Seems like a contradiction, doesn't it? Get uncomfortable and be free? When I was young, I always wanted to have a comfortable life. To be safe, to have a relaxed, easy life. That's what some people call our "comfort zone." But is it really enough? Are we really satisfied in our comfort zone?

In this Episode, I will explain the comfort zone, what it is, and why it works for many of us. But some people find it boring and incomplete. Some of us want something better, where we can grow, have a more exciting and fulfilling life, pursue our dreams.  I will share some tangible tips for you to follow in becoming free and accepting the fact that being uncomfortable is a good thing.

I am now coaching attorneys, entrepreneurs and professionals how to enjoy personal freedom and be more successful. Would you like to learn more? Please visit www.garymiles.net and sign up for a free discovery call.

Be well, be safe and be free!

So many of us struggle with this problem. Our partner keeps giving us more work to do. The court schedules unexpected hearings. Our clients call, asking us to help resolve a crisis. We have so much work to do, and seemingly so little time, that we feel overwhelmed and stressed. What to do?

In Episode 20 of The Free Lawyer podcast,  I will give you 12 tips to help efficiently manage your work in so much less time, creating more freedom for you to enjoy your life and to be fulfilled. Which tool is most helpful to you?

I am now coaching attorneys, entrepreneurs and professionals how to enjoy personal freedom and be more successful. Would you like to learn more? Please visit www.garymiles.net and sign up for a free discovery call.

Be well, be safe and be free!!

We face so many stresses in our professions. We encounter demands of clients; stresses about money and paying bills; too much work and too little time; and the pressures of the court, other attorneys, and our full calendar. The pressure builds. We work harder. But, we just feel more overwhelmed. We eliminate any time for ourselves. We just do not have any time for self-care. And, so the stress worsens. We get more distracted, and our focus weakens. It is a challenging downward cycle. How do we change that? How can we be successful in our profession handling our workload, but still find fulfillment and peace?

In this episode of The Free Lawyer, I will explain why self-care is so important, detail the five most important benefits of self-care, and give you eight tangible tips for building healthy self-care habits. Let me know what you think!

I am now coaching attorneys, entrepreneurs and professionals how to enjoy personal freedom and be more successful. Would you like to learn more? Please visit www.garymiles.net and sign up for a free discovery call.

Be well, be safe and be free

Our practices can be so stressful, overwhelming at times. But, there is one way to find greater fulfillment in our profession.

Do you want to learn and grow as a person? Feel happier? Be more optimistic? Help your practice to become more successful? Manage your stress and feel more fulfilled? Changing our focus from just the grind of the work we do, to consciously trying to serve our clients and help them solve their problems is the answer. In this episode of The Free Lawyer, I will share a recent war story, and then explain six powerful gifts of service.

I am now coaching attorneys, entrepreneurs and professionals how to enjoy personal freedom and be more successful. Would you like to learn more? Please visit www.garymiles.net and sign up for a free discovery call. 

Be well, be safe and be free

We joined the legal profession for many reasons, with great excitement and enthusiasm. But many of us some time later are stressed, burned out and overwhelmed. There is a huge issue of wellness in the legal profession. In Episode 17 of The Free Lawyer Podcast, I discuss some very concerning statistics from some studies that were done about wellness of the legal profession; I explain 4 hallmarks of wellness for lawyers; and I provide 10 tangible tips that we can all utilize to achieve a healthier way of life. We are in a wonderful profession and together we can make it a more satisfying and healthy arena for all of us. 

Which of these tips resonated with you?

I am now coaching attorneys, entrepreneurs and professionals how to enjoy personal freedom and be more successful. Would you like to learn more? Please visit www.garymiles.net and sign up for a free discovery call.

Be well, be safe and be free!

So many lawyers are stressed and burned out, sadly so. And part of the reason is they are tired of the unnecessary conflict that often occurs between lawyers. We are hired to solve problems for our clients, to find solutions; but sometimes the "fighting" gets in the way. 

Part of the stress we feel as lawyers comes from unprofessional and discourteous behaviors by opposing counsel, and our response to them. Together we can make our profession a more fulfilling career. In Episode 16 of The Free Lawyer podcast, I discuss the good, the bad and the ugly of our profession. I describe 12 practical tools we can all follow for making our profession a better place. Which of these were most helpful to you?

I am now coaching attorneys, entrepreneurs and professionals how to enjoy personal freedom and be more successful. Would you like to learn more? Please visit www.garymiles.net and sign up for a free discovery call.

Be well, be safe and be free

Do you ever feel fearful? Worry that something will not work out right? Concerned about what might happen in the future? 

Fear can be overwhelming, controlling and powerful. It can hold us back from accomplishing our dreams. Many of us suffer from it, some more frequently and more powerfully than others. But there are solutions. In this episode of The Free Lawyer Podcast,  I will explain some of the most common fears, what effect fear has on us both physically and emotionally, and give you 7 concrete tools for freeing yourself from the prison of fear.

I am now coaching attorneys, entrepreneurs and professionals how to enjoy personal freedom and be more successful. Would you like to learn more? Please visit www.garymiles.net and sign up for a free discovery call.

Be well, be safe and be free!

So many of us struggle with getting enough sleep, don't we? We do not realize how critical it is to our overall wellness and success to have a healthy sleep pattern; and we do not know some of the consequences of sleep deprivation.  In this podcast, I will explain the causes of our poor sleep habits, the terrible consequences of sleep deprivation, and some tangible tools to remedy this problem.

I am now coaching attorneys, entrepreneurs and professionals how to enjoy personal freedom and be more successful. Would you like to learn more? Please visit www.garymiles.net and sign up for a free discovery call.

Be well, be safe and be free!

Do you ever feel stressed at work? And not sure how to best manage it so you can enjoy fulfillment in your professional life? 

Here, I address the biggest obstacle the legal profession and others face, the stress of our work. I discuss how it impacts us and  provide twelve tangible tips for you to effectively manage stress in your professional workplace.

I am now coaching attorneys, entrepreneurs and professionals how to enjoy personal freedom and be more successful. Would you like to learn more? Please visit www.garymiles.net and sign up for a free discovery call.

Be well, be safe and be free!

Have you ever felt confused or lost about your direction? Or not sure how to get there? Or, have you ever felt frustrated, and not sure why? Have you felt stressed but are not sure what to do about it? Did you feel that it would be good to ask for support, but are not sure who to ask or how to ask?

Those feelings are not at all unusual. In fact, most all of us have felt that way at times. We know we need some help, some guidance, but are afraid to ask for it.

I have learned during my life the benefits of receiving the right coaching from the right person at the right time. Yet, it is often hard to ask for help. Here, I explain the reasons why we do not ask for support as frequently as needed; the wrong and right ways to ask for help, and six tangible gifts from obtaining the coaching that we need.

I am now coaching attorneys, entrepreneurs and professionals how to enjoy personal freedom and be more successful. Would you like to learn more? Please visit www.garymiles.net and sign up for a free discovery call.

Be well, be safe and be free!

One of the biggest challenges in creating personal fulfillment is making it a habit to live in the present, and to avoid being stuck in the past or in the future. Both of those create obstacles to our attaining personal freedom. In this Episode of the Free Lawyer Podcast, I describe the problems and negative emotions we feel when we drift off the past or the future. I explain 10 real gifts of being truly mindful and present. Listen and enjoy~

I am now coaching attorneys, entrepreneurs and professionals how to enjoy personal freedom and be more successful. Would you like to learn more? Please visit www.garymiles.net and sign up for a free discovery call.

Be well, be safe and be free!

Have you ever felt overwhelmed at work? That you simply cannot handle any more? That although you had loved your profession, now you are feeling tired of it and are getting frustrated? Have your felt burned out?

This is unfortunately not at all unusual. The problem often is that we have not set appropriate boundaries between our professional life and our personal life, and we are beginning to suffer burnout as a result.

In Episode 10 of The Free Lawyer podcast, I will explain some of the reasons we feel this way, some warning signs to us, the consequences, and most importantly, 8 tips for you to successfully navigate these situations. We all have a right to be professionally fulfilled and have a satisfying personal life as well. Let's see how we can do that, together.

I am now coaching attorneys, entrepreneurs and professionals how to enjoy personal freedom and be more successful. Would you like to learn more? Please visit www.garymiles.net and sign up for a free discovery call.

Be well, be safe and be free!

So many of us feel trapped by having too much work to do, not enough time to do it, and an inability to separate work from family and other personal activities. 

 How can we free ourselves from the time trap? How can we take ownership of our time and not feel so much a victim to the paucity of time to do the work we feel we need to do?

In this episode of The Free Lawyer,  I will explain how a new attitude towards our time can free us emotionally, allowing us to create our own time. I will then provide tangible steps to use our time more effectively and free ourselves from the time trap. This is a prison we can all escape from.

I am now coaching attorneys, entrepreneurs and professionals how to enjoy personal freedom and be more successful. Would you like to learn more? Please visit www.garymiles.net and sign up for a free discovery call.

Be well, be safe and be free!

Do you ever feel overwhelmed and don't know how to achieve a sense of peace among the chaos?? Often we feel incredibly stressed in our profession. It can all be so much. So much beyond our control. It seems that we are powerless and so little we can do about it. And that only increases our stress. How do we find serenity in the midst of all of this anxiety and pressure? One very helpful solution is to practice acceptance. In Episode 8 of The Free Lawyer, I explain how to enjoy greater serenity in your life by practicing acceptance.  Are you willing to start trying the practice of acceptance? Trust me, you will enjoy amazing benefits.

I am now coaching attorneys, entrepreneurs and professionals how to enjoy personal freedom and be more successful. Would you like to learn more? Please visit www.garymiles.net and sign up for a free discovery call.

Be well, be safe and be free!

Have you ever felt overwhelmed by stress? Do you have days you feel that simply nothing goes right? Do you see other people who appear so happy and wish you felt like that? I know I have. One critical tool in overcoming those feelings is having a practice of gratitude. In this episode of the Free Lawyer,  I explain nine different gifts of living a grateful life, and four easy steps to achieving a better attitude of gratitude.

I am now coaching attorneys, entrepreneurs and professionals how to enjoy personal freedom and be more successful. Would you like to learn more? Please visit www.garymiles.net and sign up for a free discovery call.

Be well, be safe and be free!

We all want to be happy, content, fulfilled. But yet, sometimes that peace appears very difficult to achieve. We place ourselves in a negative mindset. We worry too much. Think too much. Resent or blame others. We let ourselves get distracted and stressed.

How can we change that? Here are ten tips, plus a bonus, for daily action. If you apply these every day, you will naturally be more serene and content.

I am now coaching attorneys, entrepreneurs and professionals how to enjoy personal freedom and be more successful. Would you like to learn more? Please visit www.garymiles.net and sign up for a free discovery call.

Be well, be safe and be free!

In my four decades as a litigator and family law attorney, I have seen the good, the bad and the ugly. We all benefit when we raise the standards for professionalism. Our clients get their problems solved faster. We experience more satisfaction and fulfillment.  In this podcast, I share two war stories, one the right way to practice law and the other the wrong way. I also provide seven concrete tips for having a more professional practice. Which of these strike a chord with you? Let me know what you think!

I am now coaching attorneys, entrepreneurs and professionals how to enjoy personal freedom and be more successful. Would you like to learn more? Please visit www.garymiles.net and sign up for a free discovery call.

Be well, be safe and be free!

All too often we are under incredible pressure and stress in our professional lives. We work very hard, often long hours. We eat whatever is handy, quick, and convenient. Often, those are the least healthy option. We can develop less than ideal eating patterns, that limit our performance and put us in our own nutritional prison. 

This is one area of our life we have some power over. There are amazing benefits to enjoying a cleaner nutritional lifestyle. In this podcast, I explain 10 of those benefits, and 6 easy step to get started on a healthy nutritional program. Are you willing to try for 30 days? 

I am now coaching attorneys, entrepreneurs and professionals how to enjoy personal freedom and be more successful. Would you like to learn more? Please visit www.garymiles.net and sign up for a free discovery call. 

Be well, be safe and be free!

Have you ever felt that you were not as good as other people think you are? Do you ever doubt your ability to succeed despite a track record of accomplishment?

If so you are not the only one. Many successful professionals struggle with these feelings. In this podcast, I will discuss the reality of these feelings of self-doubt; explain how they affect us; and give you six tangible tips to overcome them. 

I am now enjoying helping other lawyers and professionals be as successful as they want and deserve to be. If you would like to know more, please visit my website at www.garymiles.net and you can set up a free discovery call with me. 

Do you ever have negative reactions to something in your life and not really understand where that came from? Would you like to be free of those feelings? One of the most powerful facets of our personality is impact from the lessons we have learned and the feelings we’ve developed from our past experiences. Some of these are helpful, many are not. Often we are blind to them. Our past affects us in ways we are not aware of and do not understand.

For us to really grow and become a different person and the person we never thought we could be, it is important to understand our past and how it has affected us, and make a choice of what we want to continue to believe in and be controlled by and what we want to discard.

In this podcast, I will explain the 5 primary gifts of freeing yourself from your past; detail exactly how to uncover your past; and provide tangible tools to free yourself from the negative feelings that do not serve you. 

Interested in learning more? Please visit www.garymiles.net! Comments and suggestions are always welcome! If there are any particular topics you would like to see addressed, please let me know!

Welcome to the inaugural episode of the Free Lawyer Podcast! In this episode, we will discuss exactly who benefits from the insights in this podcast; some of the very important topics to be discussed; and the background that I bring that allows me to help you in identifying the blocks that hold you back from achieving true personal freedom. Interested in learning more? Please visit www.garymiles.net! Comments and suggestions are always welcome! If there are any particular topics you would like to see addressed, please let me know!