BE THAT LAWYER
Steve Fretzin
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Top 10 BE THAT LAWYER Episodes
Goodpods has curated a list of the 10 best BE THAT LAWYER episodes, ranked by the number of listens and likes each episode have garnered from our listeners. If you are listening to BE THAT LAWYER for the first time, there's no better place to start than with one of these standout episodes. If you are a fan of the show, vote for your favorite BE THAT LAWYER episode by adding your comments to the episode page.
10/17/24 • 32 min
In this episode, Steve Fretzin and Jonathan Baum discuss:
- Transitioning from a big law firm to independent practice
- Cultivating strong client relationships for career sustainability in law
- The evolving dynamics of legal work
- Personal branding and positioning oneself in a competitive legal environment
Key Takeaways:
- Independent lawyers can effectively compete with large firms by assembling specialized teams for specific projects, which allows them to deliver high-quality services while remaining flexible and responsive to client needs.
- The financial advantages of independent practice are substantial, as independent lawyers can retain up to 99.7% of their billed income, a stark contrast to the lower take-home pay typically seen in large law firms.
- For lawyers transitioning from big firms, conducting a thorough risk assessment and leveraging existing client relationships can help establish a sustainable practice without relying on a large firm's reputation.
- The belief that clients require a big law firm's name can be countered by demonstrating that hiring based on a lawyer’s individual expertise and client relationships is far more crucial for achieving favorable outcomes.
"If you really think that leaving that firm is going to cause you to lose all those clients, I would ask you, are they really your clients in the first place?" — Jonathan Baum
Read Steve's past episodes as Blogcasts—visit now: https://www.fretzin.com/blog/
Thank you to our Sponsors!
Rankings.io: https://rankings.io/
Rainmakers Roundtable: https://www.fretzin.com/lawyer-coaching-and-training/peer-advisory-groups/
Episode References:
The Ezra Klein Show: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-ezra-klein-show/id1548604447
About Jonathan Baum: Jonathan Baum has more than 40 years of experience as a corporate, securities, and finance lawyer, including many years organizing and managing legal teams. He considers himself to be a big law and big city escapee and spends time supporting the overall well-being and success of the legal community through Avenir Guild, an online portal where legal professionals can access resources and a community that empowers their legal career at every stage.
Connect with Jonathan Baum:
Website: https://avenirguild.com/
Email: [email protected]
Personal LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jobaum/
Company LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/avenirguild/
Connect with Steve Fretzin:
LinkedIn: Steve Fretzin
Twitter: @stevefretzin
Instagram: @fretzinsteve
Facebook: Fretzin, Inc.
Website: Fretzin.com
Email: [email protected]
Book: Legal Business Development Isn't Rocket Science and more!
YouTube: Steve Fretzin
Call Steve directly at 847-602-6911
Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.
12/30/24 • 30 min
In this episode, Steve Fretzin and Julia Hensel discuss:
- The critical role of SEO in driving law firm growth
- Adapting to Google’s shifting algorithms for visibility
- Mobile optimization as a key factor for conversions
- Leveraging local search strategies for competitive legal markets
Key Takeaways:
- Law firms with strong reputations and histories are ideal candidates for SEO, but smaller-budget firms in large geographies should explore alternative marketing strategies.
- Google's recent algorithm updates focus on "helpful content" written for people rather than content optimized purely for search, impacting firms using mass-generated or AI-driven content strategies.
- Many legal websites fail to optimize for mobile, with critical features like inquiry forms often buried at the bottom of pages, significantly reducing conversions.
- Local Service Ads (LSAs) operate on a pay-per-lead model and require proper tracking and optimization to ensure ROI, particularly in competitive markets.
"Google looks for expertise, experience, authoritativeness, and trust. If you are a firm with strong results, with many different cases you can speak to on your site, you’re able to prove a lot of those elements, and SEO will be a really strong fit for you." — Julia Hensel
Got a challenge growing your law practice? Email me at [email protected] with your toughest question, and I'll answer it live on the show—anonymously, just using your first name!
Thank you to our Sponsors!
Rankings.io: https://rankings.io/
Rainmakers Roundtable: https://www.fretzin.com/lawyer-coaching-and-training/peer-advisory-groups/
Episode References:
Made to Stick: Why Some Ideas Survive and Others Die by Chip Heath and Dan Heath: https://www.amazon.com/Made-Stick-Ideas-Survive-Others/dp/1400064287
About Julia Hensel: Julia Hensel is the CEO of Lexigate, an SEO agency that services law firms. In her role at Lexigate, Julia oversees the agency’s work across website development, content creation, on-page optimization, link building, local strategies, and more. Lexigate focuses on driving measurable growth in signed cases and guarantees an increase in the first year of working together—or will work for free until targeted results are achieved.
Connect with Julia Hensel:
Website: https://lexigate.com/
Email: [email protected]
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliawittrockhensel/ & https://linkedin.com/company/lexigate
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lexigateagency
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lexigate_com/
Connect with Steve Fretzin:
LinkedIn: Steve Fretzin
Twitter: @stevefretzin
Instagram: @fretzinsteve
Facebook: Fretzin, Inc.
Website: Fretzin.com
Email: [email protected]
Book: Legal Business Development Isn't Rocket Science and more!
YouTube: Steve Fretzin
Call Steve directly at 847-602-6911
Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.
09/30/24 • 36 min
In this episode, Steve Fretzin and Chris Ruzicka discuss:
- Networking and relationship building
- The role of business development in law firms
- Why many lawyers struggle with sales and networking
- Making the most out of networking opportunities
Key Takeaways:
- Building strong relationships is key to business development by focusing on genuine connections over immediate sales and starting with familiar, comfortable contacts.
- Non-lawyers add significant value in law firms by handling networking, generating referrals, and guiding attorneys in business development strategies that drive firm growth.
- Effective networking relies on thorough preparation through researching contacts, utilizing LinkedIn, and planning conversations to establish rapport.
- Consistent follow-up strengthens professional relationships by maintaining regular communication and making strategic introductions to turn connections into business opportunities.
"[Business development people] can provide attorneys with additional ammo, additional help, and additional support to not only recruit but also retain." — Chris Ruzicka
Read Steve's past episodes as Blogcasts—visit now: https://www.fretzin.com/blog/
Thank you to our Sponsors!
Rankings.io: https://rankings.io/
Rainmakers Roundtable: https://www.fretzin.com/lawyer-coaching-and-training/peer-advisory-groups/
About Chris Ruzicka: Chris Ruzicka, Director of Business Development at the Carmody MacDonald law firm in St. Louis, Missouri, provides attorneys, clients, referral partners, and network connections with ideas and resources to improve their sales and marketing efforts. Chris’ primary objective is to market the firm and its attorneys while securing weekly referrals for the law firm.
His extensive business development and marketing experience, ranging from start-ups to large organizations such as Anheuser-Busch and Sara Lee, enables him to bring innovative ideas and best practices to the firm and his connections. Chris regularly presents to groups on the topics of effective networking for business and how to develop a simplified, sensible marketing plan.
Connect with Chris Ruzicka:
Website: https://carmodymacdonald.com/
Phone: 314-854-8603
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopherruzicka/ & https://www.linkedin.com/company/carmody-macdonald-p-c-/mycompany/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/carmodymacdonaldpc/
Connect with Steve Fretzin:
LinkedIn: Steve Fretzin
Twitter: @stevefretzin
Instagram: @fretzinsteve
Facebook: Fretzin, Inc.
Website: Fretzin.com
Email: [email protected]
Book: Legal Business Development Isn't Rocket Science and more!
YouTube: Steve Fretzin
Call Steve directly at 847-602-6911
Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.
09/19/24 • 31 min
In this episode, Steve Fretzin and Merry Neitlich discuss:
- Challenges in legal marketing
- Importance of branding in law firms
- Evolving marketing techniques
- Integration of branding with business development
Key Takeaways:
- Lawyers often misunderstand branding as a tagline, but effective branding requires a deep dive into what makes their services unique and meaningful to clients.
- Without integrating marketing and business development efforts, even the best branding will not drive results, as lawyers must raise visibility through thought leadership and client engagement.
- Short-form videos and data-driven social media strategies are increasingly important, with platforms like LinkedIn promoting interactive content that boosts engagement.
- One of the major obstacles to effective marketing and branding is lawyers' lack of time, which can be mitigated by using outsourcing and automation for content creation and promotion.
"A lot of lawyers think having a tagline like 'excellent experience wisdom' would be great, but that doesn't differentiate them from the person who cleans your pool or the plumber." — Merry Neitlich
Read Steve's past episodes as Blogcasts—visit now: https://www.fretzin.com/blog/
Thank you to our Sponsors!
Ready to go from good to GOAT? Attend PIMCOM the inaugural personal injury mastermind conference Sept 15-17, 2024. Use promo code BeThatLawyer to get $200.00 off at https://www.pimcon.org/
Rankings.io: https://rankings.io/
Rainmakers Roundtable: https://www.fretzin.com/lawyer-coaching-and-training/peer-advisory-groups/
Episode References:
The Ultimate Sales Revolution by Steve Lishansky: https://www.amazon.com/Ultimate-Sales-Revolution-Differently-Change/dp/1599325519
About Merry Neitlich: For 25 years, Merry Neitlich has been assisting law firms to drive revenue by creating unique brands with unusual and deep differentiation. She then applies this clearly branded messaging to each client's website and social media platforms. Once the brand essence is clearly created, Merry develops unique and sustainable business development opportunities for her clients.
Merry, a founding partner of EM Consulting, frequent speaker, and author, was inducted into the Legal Marketing Association Hall of Fame in 2017 and is also an accomplished figure skater with multiple national titles.
Connect with Merry Neitlich:
Website: https://emconsults.org/
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 949-260-0936
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/merryneitlich/
Connect with Steve Fretzin:
LinkedIn: Steve Fretzin
Twitter: @stevefretzin
Instagram: @fretzinsteve
Facebook: Fretzin, Inc.
Website: Fretzin.com
Email: [email protected]
Book: Legal Business Development Isn't Rocket Science and more!
YouTube: Steve Fretzin
Call Steve directly at 847-602-6911
Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.
02/10/25 • 29 min
In this episode, Steve Fretzin and Ken Hardison discuss:
- Growing a law firm that runs independently and becomes a sellable asset
- Building relationships and giving value first
- Using structured processes and key metrics to drive predictable growth
- Mentorship, collaboration, and shared expertise
Key Takeaways:
- A law firm can only be sold for real value if it operates independently, maintains a steady case pipeline, and tracks performance through key metrics, ensuring buyers see it as a sustainable business rather than a personal brand.
- Lawyers who struggle with referrals often fail to ask, lack the right approach, or don't invest time in relationship-building, but those who prioritize value, reciprocity, and consistent engagement create a steady flow of high-quality referrals.
- Most lawyers lose business due to poor follow-up, but staying top-of-mind with referral sources through personalized thank-yous, occasional gifts, and regular check-ins ensures they continue sending cases your way.
- True financial success in law comes not from chasing profits but from focusing on genuinely helping people, because when clients and colleagues trust that you care, they are far more likely to send you business.
"You get what you want out of life by helping enough other people get what they want out of life.." — Ken Hardison
Be That Lawyer is now syndicated on Above the Law! Catch all our new episodes and my monthly column there—spread the word and help us grow: https://abovethelaw.com/
Thank you to our Sponsors!
Rankings.io: https://rankings.io/
Rainmakers Roundtable: https://www.fretzin.com/lawyer-coaching-and-training/peer-advisory-groups/
Episode References:
Mastering the Rockefeller Habits by Verne Harnish: https://www.amazon.com/Mastering-Rockefeller-Habits-22nd-Anniversary-dp-B0CXCDYCHN/dp/B0CXCDYCHN/
About Ken Hardison: Kenneth L. Hardison is a lawyer, author, and founder of PILMMA, the Personal Injury Lawyers Marketing & Management Association. Known as the "Millionaire Maker," Ken has grown and sold two multi-million-dollar law firms and now helps lawyers across the U.S. grow and scale their law firms to build the practice of their dreams.
Connect with Ken Hardison:
Website: https://www.pilmma.org/
Email: [email protected]
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kenhardison/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/PILMMA
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PILMMA
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pilmma/
Connect with Steve Fretzin:
LinkedIn: Steve Fretzin
Twitter: @stevefretzin
Instagram: @fretzinsteve
Facebook: Fretzin, Inc.
Website: Fretzin.com
Email: [email protected]
Book: Legal Business Development Isn't Rocket Science and more!
YouTube: Steve Fretzin
Call Steve directly at 847-602-6911
Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.
10/07/24 • 32 min
In this episode, Steve Fretzin and David Telisman discuss:
- The role of content in business growth
- Challenges professionals face in content creation
- AI's impact on marketing strategies
- Delegating marketing efforts effectively
Key Takeaways:
- Blogging remains the second most effective form of content marketing after video, but many attorneys fail to utilize it consistently, missing out on a powerful tool for brand visibility and client engagement.
- Repurposing content, such as turning podcasts into articles or short videos, allows businesses to maximize their exposure across multiple platforms without constantly creating new material, which saves time and effort.
- AI, like ChatGPT, has revolutionized content marketing by helping professionals organize and optimize their content creation processes, but it must be carefully monitored to avoid factual errors and ensure originality.
- A common issue for small business owners is the discrepancy between their in-person presence and their online branding, which often leads to a lack of trust or missed connections with potential clients.
"As a practitioner, I could smell rubber-stamped AI that hasn't gotten through QC from a mile away. I mean, it's just used to the format, the formula of the words." — David Telisman
Read Steve's past episodes as Blogcasts—visit now: https://www.fretzin.com/blog/
Thank you to our Sponsors!
Rankings.io: https://rankings.io/
Rainmakers Roundtable: https://www.fretzin.com/lawyer-coaching-and-training/peer-advisory-groups/
Episode References:
Club Random with Bill Maher: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/club-random-with-bill-maher/id1613459129
About David Telisman: David Telisman is the founder of David Telisman Communications, LLC, a leading content writing and marketing company. With 26 years of experience in writing, marketing communications, and education, David partners with businesses across various industries to create powerful content that drives customer engagement and boosts sales. David’s strategic content creation helps brands stand out, elevate their reputation, and achieve sustained growth in competitive markets.
Connect with David Telisman:
Website: https://davidtelisman.com/
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 224-645-2748
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidtelisman/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/david.telisman & https://www.facebook.com/davidtelismancommunications/
Connect with Steve Fretzin:
LinkedIn: Steve Fretzin
Twitter: @stevefretzin
Instagram: @fretzinsteve
Facebook: Fretzin, Inc.
Website: Fretzin.com
Email: [email protected]
Book: Legal Business Development Isn't Rocket Science and more!
YouTube: Steve Fretzin
Call Steve directly at 847-602-6911
Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.
Steve Seckler: Coaching to the Next Level
BE THAT LAWYER
08/17/20 • 26 min
In this episode, Steve Fretzin and Steve Seckler discuss:
- Getting to know others as a way to sell professional services.
- Challenges and issues facing lawyers in career transitions and building a law practice.
- Ways to start building your book of business.
- Transitioning out to potential retirement or out of the law.
Key Takeaways:
- Selling legal services is not about a hard sell. It’s learning about people's concerns and getting to know them over time.
- Lawyers, as a group, tend to be more conservative, which can make it difficult for them to make lateral moves or move to an equity role.
- Coaching is a strength, not a weakness. People have succeeded in every field at every level because of a coach.
- When you are thinking about transitioning, you want to have a plan in place. You won’t want to make the decisions on the doorstep out. You want to make the decisions long before you get out.
"The best subjects for coaching are the people that have the most potential." — Steve Seckler
Connect with Steve Seckler:
Twitter: @stephenseckler
Website: CounselToCounsel.com
Show: Counsel to Counsel with Stephen Seckler, Esq.
LinkedIn: Stephen Seckler
Connect with Steve Fretzin:
LinkedIn: Steve Fretzin
Twitter: @stevefretzin
Facebook: Fretzin, Inc.
Website: Fretzin.com
Email: [email protected]
Book: The Ambitious Attorney: Your Guide to Doubling or Even Tripling Your Book of Business and more!
YouTube: Steve Fretzin
Call Steve directly at 847-602-6911
Show notes by Podcastologist Chelsea Taylor-Sturkie
Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.
08/10/20 • 22 min
In this episode, Steve Fretzin and Brad Barkin discuss:
- Reasons for having insurance and challenges that lawyers face in making those choices.
- Networking to identify new business and new strategic partners.
- Being a better provider by going beyond the transaction.
- The changing landscape of the insurance industry.
Key Takeaways:
- Always be offering. What goes around comes around.
- Embracing technology and adapting that technology to your company can be massively helpful for you and your company.
- Being selfless goes a long way. If you’re helping someone, in more ways than standard, you will be a better advocate for your client.
- Insurance is not going anywhere, but there is more technology being inserted into the space which will only benefit the consumer.
"If you can be a provider or a source of expertise on something to the industry beyond simply insurance, then you're instantly a better advocate or a better provider then the next guy." — Brad Barkin
Connect with Brad Barkin:
Website: Embroker.com
LinkedIn: Brad Barkin
Connect with Steve Fretzin:
LinkedIn: Steve Fretzin
Twitter: @stevefretzin
Facebook: Fretzin, Inc.
Website: Fretzin.com
Email: [email protected]
Book: The Ambitious Attorney: Your Guide to Doubling or Even Tripling Your Book of Business and more!
YouTube: Steve Fretzin
Call Steve directly at 847-602-6911
Show notes by Podcastologist Chelsea Taylor-Sturkie
Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.
David Fram: Giving a Great Legal Presentation
BE THAT LAWYER
08/03/20 • 45 min
In this episode, Steve Fretzin and David Fram discuss:
- The importance of good public speaking.
- Challenges lawyers typically have around speaking and how it can be helped.
- Key steps when giving a legal presentation.
- Enhancing not detracting from your presentation both in person and online with body language, visuals, and how you are laying out your presentation.
Key Takeaways:
- Any good teacher or speaker can make any topic interesting. A bad teacher or speaker can make even the most interesting topics boring.
- Content is a small part of a listeners takeaway - roughly 7% based on studies.
- You get credibility when you use the terminology that your audience knows and uses.
- People are motivated and learn through story. Be excited about what you are speaking about. Use your body to bring the audience into what you are saying.
"You’re getting tons of exposure when you do a presentation, you should be getting value back." — David Fram
Connect with David Fram:
Twitter: @FramNELI
Website: NELI.org & DavidKFram.com
Book: Raising the Bar: How to Give Outstanding Legal Presentations
YouTube: David K. Fram Speaker
LinkedIn: David Fram
Connect with Steve Fretzin:
LinkedIn: Steve Fretzin
Twitter: @stevefretzin
Facebook: Fretzin, Inc.
Website: Fretzin.com
Email: [email protected]
Book: The Ambitious Attorney: Your Guide to Doubling or Even Tripling Your Book of Business and more!
YouTube: Steve Fretzin
Call Steve directly at 847-602-6911
Show notes by Podcastologist Chelsea Taylor-Sturkie
Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.
Blake Strautins: How Lawyers Can Improve Time Management Delegation and Strategic Growth
BE THAT LAWYER
03/13/25 • 32 min
In this episode, Steve Fretzin and Blake Strautins discuss:
- The importance of business development for lawyers
- How accountability and culture shape a law firm’s success
- Time management and delegation for legal professionals
- Personal and professional growth in legal leadership
Key Takeaways:
- Building connections early with strategic partners, attorneys, and clients creates long-term opportunities, referrals, and career growth.
- A workplace culture that holds team members accountable improves productivity, reduces inefficiencies, and strengthens collaboration.
- Leaders who delegate effectively gain more time for key decisions, enhance firm efficiency, and empower their teams.
- Keeping an inbox organized by addressing, delegating, or categorizing emails prevents overwhelm, streamlines tasks, and ensures nothing important is missed.
"You can learn the law, you can write great briefs, you can research out of something, but running a business is completely different; managing people is completely different. Being a good manager, a good leader—those are skills that, sadly, [law schools] just don't teach you." — Blake Strautins
Got a challenge growing your law practice? Email me at [email protected] with your toughest question, and I'll answer it live on the show—anonymously, just using your first name!
Thank you to our Sponsors!
Rankings.io: https://rankings.io/
Rainmakers Roundtable: https://www.fretzin.com/lawyer-coaching-and-training/peer-advisory-groups/
Episode References:
Multipliers by Liz Wiseman: https://www.amazon.com/Multipliers-Best-Leaders-Everyone-Smarter/dp/0061964395
About Blake Strautins: Blake A. Strautins is a co-owner and managing partner of Kluever Law Group, LLC, where he heads the firm’s litigation department. Blake has been practicing in the field of complex litigation his entire legal career, beginning with class action litigation in 2007 and transitioning to commercial and real estate litigation in 2014, where he continues to hone his legal skills to this day. Beyond helping clients solve problems through creative solutions, both before and during formal litigation, Blake is also an accomplished appellate lawyer with numerous published decisions under his belt. Blake takes great pride in charting the firm’s path forward into continued growth and success in partnership with its diverse client base.
Connect with Blake Strautins:
Website: http://www.klueverlawgroup.com/
Email: [email protected]
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/blake-a-strautins/
Connect with Steve Fretzin:
LinkedIn: Steve Fretzin
Twitter: @stevefretzin
Instagram: @fretzinsteve
Facebook: Fretzin, Inc.
Website: Fretzin.com
Email: [email protected]
Book: Legal Business Development Isn't Rocket Science and more!
YouTube: Steve Fretzin
Call Steve directly at 847-602-6911
Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.
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FAQ
How many episodes does BE THAT LAWYER have?
BE THAT LAWYER currently has 492 episodes available.
What topics does BE THAT LAWYER cover?
The podcast is about Branding, Lawyer, Attorney, Marketing, Management, Legal, Law Firm, Podcasts, Technology, Business Development and Business.
What is the most popular episode on BE THAT LAWYER?
The episode title 'Arthur Levitan: The Tao of Law for Professional Growth and Harmony' is the most popular.
What is the average episode length on BE THAT LAWYER?
The average episode length on BE THAT LAWYER is 33 minutes.
How often are episodes of BE THAT LAWYER released?
Episodes of BE THAT LAWYER are typically released every 4 days.
When was the first episode of BE THAT LAWYER?
The first episode of BE THAT LAWYER was released on Feb 10, 2020.
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