Smart Tips for Personal Injury Success

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 firmReferral pipelineClient referrals & reviews Saying no to bad casesManaging cash flowFinancial mistakesStaying motivatedBiggest 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