Small Business and Solo Law Practice Blog

Quick Pitch for My New Blog

Hey folks,

I'm fixing to post the latest episode of MILO Chat Weekly (it is AWESOME). But before I do, I wanted to let everyone know that I've launched a new blog at AnotherThingToDo or subscribe for the awesomeness by clicking here.

It's what I've been talking about here, but with a better design, more attention to creating efficiencies in your life, etc.

I would appreciate it if you could all add my new feed to your daily reading. Posting here, except for MILO Chats (for the benefit of those who have already subscribed from here) will be sparse.

Thanks -

Victor

August 05, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0)

MILO Chat Weekly - Ep. 11 - "Bringin' the Funny Today"

MILO Chat Weekly - Episode 11 - "Bringin' the Funny Today"

Regular crew: Ben Stevens, Finis Price, Victor Medina

We ran a little long on this one, but we think it's entertaining. As usual, let us know what you think by clicking email link below and sending us your comments.

Comments? Send them to milochat@miloweekly.com

Subscribe to this podcast using iTunes!

Embedded player here:

Download the podcast directly by right-clicking and saving this link

April 29, 2009 in Apple in the Office, Law Practice Management, Tech for Lawyers | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

MILO Chat Weekly - Ep. 10 - "I'm the Mac Lawyer, lowercase 't'"

MILO Chat Weekly - Episode 10 - "I'm the Mac Lawyer, lowercase 't'"

Regular crew: Ben Stevens, Finis Price, Victor Medina

The show is shorter in length, easier to digest. Let us know what you think by clicking email link below and sending us your comments.

Comments? Send them to milochat@miloweekly.com

Subscribe to this podcast using iTunes!

Embedded player here:

Download the podcast directly by right-clicking and saving this link

March 24, 2009 | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBack (0)

Learn to be a Blawging Lawyer From Two of The Top Names

Blawging Lawyers is about to open its doors and begin accepting enrollments:

http://blawginglawyers.com

Grant Griffiths (the "Blawgfather") and Michael Martine have been hard at work behind the scenes putting the finishing touches on Blawging Lawyers, the Web's only law practice blog marketing education course. They're editing course topics, finalizing audio, and recording screencasts in order to provide you with the information and tools you need to create a thriving legal practice—and ultimately live the life you've always wanted—through blogging.

You've read the complimentary Blawging Lawyers report, in which they outlined how solos and small firms can clobber the big guys in the upcoming economic turmoil. You learned how now is really the best time to go solo, and how successful lawyers everywhere are getting a steady flow of new clients from blogging. (If you haven't read the Report, I suggest you grab it real quick and go over it. It's only about 12 minutes of reading. Get it at http://blawginglawyers.com.)

You now know that blogging can do much more for your practice than you may ever have realized. When Grant interviewed blawging lawyer Leanna Hamill, she flat-out told him that 50% of her clients come from her blog! And her story is not unique: many lawyers are discovering that blogging gets clients like turning on the tap. Not only that, but it gets media attention, too, so you can enhance your reputation even further and demand higher rates.

You learned how blogs—if done right—are search engine magnets for highly-qualified traffic. Traffic which converts into paying clients.

You learned how so few lawyers are blogging right now that anyone who does it has an instant edge over their competition.

You know that the economic and technological picture now being painted is one of opportunity for solos and firms that blog.

But the thing about opportunity is… you have to answer the door when it comes knocking.

Blawging Lawyers opens its doors on Monday, Feb. 16, at 8:30 am Eastern, 7:30 am Central, 6:30 am Mountain, and 5:30 am Pacific. You can register and claim your spot then.

Blawging Lawyers shows you step by step how to successfully market your practice through blogging and internet marketing over a six-month program timeline. At the end of the program, you graduate as a Blawger, ready to turn on that tap and start attracting clients! There is nothing else anywhere like it on the Web.

Blawging Lawyers has a host of features you will really appreciate once you're on the inside:

* Complete written topics (in Plain English, not too short and not too long)
* Audio "teleclass" discussions between Michael and Grant
* Success Interviews with attorneys who are reaping the benefits of blogging
* Live teleseminars with Grant, Michael, and experts
* Written and video walk-throughs of WordPress blog software
* Video critiques of law blogs
* Live Blawging Lawyers member community forums
* And More

Because Michael and Grant want to provide as much attention and help as they can in the forums and throughout the 6 month program, Blawging Lawyers can only accept a total of 250 members at a time. This way Grant and Michael can be sure you will get plenty of personal attention.

The Blawging Lawyers program is the perfect length at 6 months. It's not too short, where you'd be missing entire topics, and it's not too long, either (it's about accelerating your learning curve and getting you going… not draining your time away endlessly). You will have everything you need after 6 months to take your practice to the next level of success.

If it's after 8:30 am Eastern by the time you read this, you'd better head on over to to enroll now, before all 250 spots are gone.

http://blawginglawyers.com

Posted by Victor Medina
Medina, Martinez & Castroll

PS - The challenging thing about going solo is wearing different hats for roles you're used to or not good at. When you think about it, that's true for any small business. And what is by far the weakest area for most solos? Marketing. And yet marketing is the MOST important activity for the growth of your practice's business. Marketing can be taught and you can learn it. As a Blawging Lawyers member you can learn it 6 months and have more clients rolling in than you ever thought possible.

http://blawginglawyers.com

PPS - It is expected that the 250 available spots will go fast, so be at the ready! The doors open at 8:30 am Eastern!

February 16, 2009 | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0)

Hey - Check Me OUT! - I'm a Faculty Member at Solo Practice University

The Solo Practice University just announced their newest member of the faculty and it turns out....it's me!

Yup, here's the substantive copy:

Victor Medina is the managing partner of a small law firm run entirely on Mac computers and Apple products. He will teach a course entitled “Macs In the Law Office” at Solo Practice University™.
Victor focuses his practice on representing public school districts and families in crisis. He serves as general counsel for many families, handling the gamut of special education, estate planning and closely-held company matters. He is also assists many young families with protecting their kids and their family’s wealth.

Victor has professional training in psychology and law. He served as a full law clerk with The Hon. Alvin W. Thompson of the United States District Court in Hartford, CT. Prior to starting his own firm, he worked with two multi-national law firms in Boston and Princeton, handling business transactions.

A self-described technophile, Victor serves as the host and moderator of MILO Chat Weekly, a semi-regular podcast for Mac-using lawyers and other folks interested in the business application of Macs and Apple products.

Victor also maintains several blogs, substantive and not. His personal blog is Another Thing To Do. He maintains legal-related blogs at New Jersey Estate Planning, New Jersey Divorce & Family Law and New Jersey Education Law.

So, it turns out that I will be the Mac Guru for all of the newly minted students at the Solo Practice University. If I knew who my Windows counterpart was, I'd probably start goading them into some childish bet, but I'm above that.

In all seriousness, I'm going to be teaching a phenomenal course that will be instructive for new and old Mac-users alike. If you're an attorney who has been toying with getting a computer system in that works, well now's the time. Enroll in the Solo Practice University just for the Mac portion because I promise to get you rolling in your practice without any hiccups.

I'm excited about my association with SPU and encourage anyone interested to learn more at Solo Practice University.

December 18, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0)

Marketing in a Down Economy

I work as an attorney to pay the bills. (I blog for my soul...have some tabbouleh.) If you want to rile up some attorneys, ask them about marketing.

The dyed-in-the-wool ilk will tell you that marketing your services as an attorney is akin to wearing a short-sleeve dress shirt & tie and hawking used cars. I can say that here because most of them don't use the Internet or even know to turn on the infernal machine.

The more practical (read: younger) attorneys are hip to the idea of marketing and how important it is to sustain a viable practice. If you're reading this, you're likely one of the converted already, but I wanted to talk to you about marketing in a down economy.

When times are bad, instinct says that you should hoard what you have and save nuts for the winter. Unfortunately, that's completely the wrong approach. Now is the time to work harder on marketing yourself. And the reason is precisely because there are less of those attorney-marked dollars to go around. So, if there are less of those dollars to go around, you need to do more to put yourself in position to receive those matters.

I know that it may seem counterintuitive, but this is also the time to start planning for growth. While I don't endorse spending haphazardly or taking on overhead unnecessarily, you should be planning for time when business will pick back up. Plant the seeds now that will bear fruit in the future. (Also, try to mix a few metaphors while you're at it.)

So, enough reading of blogs - go do something.

VJM

December 17, 2008 in Marketing for Businesses, Marketing for Solos | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0)

MILO Chat Weekly - Ep. 8 - "We Just Took A Turn Towards Geeksville"

Hey folks - delayed post on this. Part of the problem of maintain this podcast on two blogs. Things will be better shortly.

To be sure you get updates in the meantime, visit and subscribe over at Another Thing To Do.

MILO Chat Weekly - Episode 8 - "We Just Took A Turn Towards Geeksville"

Regular crew: Ben Stevens, Finis Price, Grant Griffiths, Victor Medina

The show is shorter in length, easier to digest. Let us know what you think by clicking email link below and sending us your comments.

Comments? Send them to milochat@macsinthelawoffice.com

Subscribe to this podcast using iTunes!

Embedded player here:

Download the podcast directly by right-clicking and saving this link

December 10, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

MILO Chat Weekly - Ep. 6b - I'm All Air All The Time - Part II

MILO Chat Weekly - Episode 6b - "I'm All Air All The Time" - Part II

Regular crew: Ben Steven, Finis Price, Grant Griffiths, Victor Medina

Comments? Send them to milochat@macsinthelawoffice.com

Subscribe to this podcast using iTunes!

Embedded player here:

Download the podcast directly by right-clicking and saving this link

August 27, 2008 in Apple in the Office, Marketing for Businesses, Marketing for Solos, Web/Tech | Permalink | Comments (736) | TrackBack (0)

Build Your Law Business - Become a Personal Family Lawyer

A few months ago, I followed the advice of my good friend, Grant Griffiths, and learned more about a lawyer revolutionizing the practice of estate planning. Her name is Alexis Martin Neely and she's created the Personal Family Lawyer network of estate planning attorneys. I wrote a little about my involvement with the PFL program soon after I joined, including a little about the whys
Her name is Alexis Martin Neely and her program is called the Personal Family Lawyer program.

If you want to learn more about the program, from an actual participant, drop me a note. I'm happy to talk about it - learn what you need to know before you make a decision. Email me at vjm @t medinamartinez d0t com. But, first, register for the call here and learn more about the program firsthand from Alexis. I can tell you personally how involved and committed Alexis is to your success. At every opportunity, where should could have shrunk back, Alexis has extended herself to me help. She'll do the same thing for you.

Here's a message I received from Alexis about the call-

Last Chance PFL Teleseminar - Register Now...

If you want to be the lawyer you went to law school to be, make a great living, work 3-4 days per week and love your business again then read this email carefully because...

This Is Your Last Chance To Become a Personal Family Lawyer For The Low Charter Member Investment Pricing.

Why would you want to become a Personal Family Lawyer? Just ask Robert Galliano from California:

"I ignored Alexis’ emails for months. Quite frankly, I was very skeptical about her claims. After 25 years practicing law, I thought she wouldn’t be able to teach me anything. I was wrong. Within a few months of working with Alexis, I’ve increased my fees 1000% (that is not a typo - one thousand percent) and I recently engaged 7 out of 7 new prospects at $4,000 each. The best part is I’m energized and love my business again. I sure wish I would have opened her emails sooner. She’s the real deal."

-- Robert Galliano, Certified Specialist Estate Planning and Probate, Temecula, CA

My name is Alexis Martin Neely. I’m an Estate Planning Attorney in Redondo Beach, CA.
Join me on Tuesday, August 26, 2008, at 12pm PT/3pm ET for this last chance opportunity to join my elite Personal Family Lawyer program at current below market pricing.

Only the next 10 lawyers we invite into the program will get my personal mentorship at our substantial CHARTER MEMBER DISCOUNT to:

# Get All Your Marketing Done For You So You Are Never Scrambling to Fill the Pipeline Again

# Never Worry Again Whether Prospects Will Keep Their Appointments or Even Whether They'll Say No At the Initial Client Meeting

# Command Fees That Reflect Your True Worth

# Turn Your Clients Into Raving Fans Who Refer ALL Their Friends and Family

# Build a Real Relationship With Your Clients and Develop a Constant Stream of Recurring Revenue, a Key Driver of the Value of Your Business

# Have A System For Virtually Locking-in Extremely Lucrative Trust Administrations.

# Make Your Practice Profits Explode Like A Fireworks Display On The Fourth of July!

# Finally Get Control of Your Time and Take Back Your Life!

# Let the World Know Once and For All That You Are Not a Commodity ... and Never Again Search For the Right Words to Answer How You Are Different

# Be The Exclusive Personal Family Lawyer In Your Neighborhood And Get Everything You Need To Succeed

This the last opportunity you’ll have the to join the Personal Family Lawyer program at the special charter member discount. The investment to be part of this program is going up substantially to reflect it’s true worth and value.

So if you’ve been considering applying to secure your neighborhood, now is the time to jump off the fence. If you haven’t been aware of this program, then there is no better time for you to learn all about it.

In either case, August 26th at 12pm PT/3pm ET is your final chance to have the opportunity to join this elite program at charter membership pricing.

Building Law Business That Make a Difference,

Alexis Martin Neely

P.S. Participation in this teleseminar does not guarantee acceptance into the Personal Family Lawyer Program. Only ten new lawyers will be accepted at this time.

August 21, 2008 in Apple in the Office, Client Relations/Client Service, Financing, Increasing Efficiency, Insurance, Law Practice Management, Long-Term Planning, Marketing for Businesses, Marketing for Solos, Questions & Advice, Resources for Small-Firm Lawyers, Starting Your Own Practice, Tech for Lawyers, Working Out Of Your Home | Permalink | Comments (9) | TrackBack (0)