Hard Lessons and Smart Strategies for Personal Injury Attorneys

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