In this episode of The Effective Lawyer, Zinda Law Group CEO and founder, Jack Zinda, answers your listener questions. 

Discussed in this Episode:

• Self-managing law firm
• Referral pipeline
• Client referrals & reviews 
• Saying no to bad cases
• Managing cash flow
• Financial mistakes
• Staying motivated
• Biggest regret

Self-Managing Law Firm: How do you create a self-managing law firm when you feel like you have to be involved in everything?

• Break down your tasks: What do you like doing vs. what you don't?
• Hand off the stuff you hate: Slowly delegate to employees, part-timers, or contractors.
• Start small: Hire an admin if you hate e-filing and paying bills.
• Figure out your worth: Put a dollar value on your time to see if you're doing tasks someone else should.

Referral Pipeline: How do you get more referrals from other attorneys?

• Set goals: How many referrals do you want? Where do they currently come from?
• Go where the people are: Social media, email, speaking gigs, networking events.
• Have a plan: Measure your success before the actual referral.
• Networking is key: Go to events, introduce yourself, and get cards.
• Follow up: Email people you meet, invite them for lunch, and keep their info.
• Be consistent: Do this regularly to build a network.

Client Referrals & Reviews: How do you get past clients to refer and leave positive reviews?

• Do good work: Seriously, be a good lawyer.
• Care about clients: It makes a huge difference.
• Get personal: Learn about their life and bring it up in conversations.
• First-name basis: Makes things feel friendly.
• Appointments only: Focus on their case without distractions.
• Sell your work: Tell them everything you've done on their case.
• Consistent contact: One-business-day rule for responses, 30-day updates.
• Remind them you exist: Social media, emails, cards.
• Ask for referrals: Don't be shy!

Saying No to Bad Cases: How to avoid cases that drain resources?

• Set your standards: What's a "good" vs "bad" case for your firm?
• Value threshold: Have a minimum value for cases you take.
• Client behavior: Don't tolerate violent or abusive clients.
• Be upfront: Explain your process and investigation stage from the start.
• Refer out or reject: If a case isn't worth it, refer it to another firm or decline.
• Please don't blame the client: Frame it as the circumstances, not them.

Managing Cash Flow: How do you handle cash flow when waiting for big settlements?

• Plan for delays: Build cash reserves (at least 2 months of expenses).
• Case volume: Have enough cases so you're not relying on one big one.
• Don't count your chickens: Don't spend money until it's in hand.
• Be aggressive in getting funds: Track and follow up on settlements.

Financial Mistakes: What are the biggest money mistakes made by personal injury law firms?

• Shady marketing: Be careful of expensive companies that don't deliver.
• Expensive rent: Don't overspend on office space too soon.
• Hiring issues: Don't hire/fire too quickly, and don't underpay/overpay.
• No budget: Have a budget and understand your finances.

Staying Motivated: How do you stay motivated with stressful cases/clients?

• Exercise: It helps clear your head!
• Take breaks: Get out of the office, do something fun.
• Take care of yourself: Don't absorb too much stress.
• Client management: Have strategies for demanding clients (homework, associates).

Biggest Regret: What would Jack Zinda change about building his law firm?

• Focus on bigger cases sooner.
• Better vetting of hires (he had some crazy stories about bad hires!).

You can reach Jack at:

jack@zindalaw.com

512-246-2224