Your Law Firm Success

Revolutionising Legal Services: Shaun Jardine on Value-Based Pricing and the Future of Law

In this episode, Stephen Moore sits down with Shaun Jardine to discuss the decline of hourly billing in the legal profession and the rise of value-based pricing. Together, they delve into the profound implications this shift has for clients, lawyers, and law firms. Topics include the challenges of adopting new pricing models, understanding client value, and how technology is revolutionising legal services.
Shaun draws on his experience as a consultant to highlight the importance of effective communication and change management within firms, while Stephen explores how value-based pricing can transform law firms financially. He also discusses the benefits of empowering lawyers to choose their clients and establish stronger, more transparent relationships.
The conversation takes a forward-looking turn as they consider the evolving legal profession, touching on the influence of technological advancements and the changing expectations of younger lawyers entering the field. Don’t miss this insightful discussion on the future of legal services and the transformative power of pricing innovation.
00:00 – Ditching the Billable Hour: An Introduction02:49 – Value-Based Pricing: A New Paradigm05:54 – The Challenges of Change in Legal Practices09:10 – Understanding Client Value and Outcomes12:12 – The Role of Technology and AI in Legal Services15:02 – The Importance of Effective Communication with Clients17:54 – The Penguin Metaphor: Change Management in Law Firms21:13 – The Future of Legal Pricing and Client Relationships25:02 – Value-Based Pricing: A Game Changer for Law Firms30:39 – Empowering Lawyers: The Shift in Client Relationships39:39 – Financial Outcomes: The Impact of Value-Based Pricing46:54 – The Future of Law: Adapting to Change and New Generations

Danae Shell - How Valla is changing access to justice

In this episode of the Your Law Firm Success podcast, Stephen Moore interviews Danae Shell, co-founder of Valla, a disruptive employment law service that leverages technology and generative AI to improve access to justice.
Danae shares her journey from software engineering to legal tech, the evolution of Valla's business model, and how social media, particularly TikTok, has driven user engagement and awareness. The conversation explores the changing landscape of legal services, the role of generative AI, and the future of self-representation in employment law.
00:00 Introduction to Valla and Danae Shell02:48 Danae's background and the birth of Valla05:54 The evolution of Valla's business model08:48 Growth and user engagement through social media11:52 Leveraging TikTok for legal awareness15:00 The future of legal services and Valla's vision17:51 Generative AI's role in legal services21:13 The changing landscape of employment law24:03 Conclusion and future directions for Valla
Takeaways
Valla aims to provide access to justice using technology.Danae's background in software engineering influenced Valla's creation.
The initial focus was on discrimination cases in employment law.
Social media, especially TikTok, has been crucial for user engagement.
Generative AI is transforming the efficiency of legal services.
The legal industry is moving towards unbundled services for consumers.
Self-representation is becoming more common in employment law cases.
Danae emphasises the importance of addressing consumer uncertainty.
Valla's model allows users to interact directly with the legal system.
The future of legal services will involve more consumer-driven solutions.

April Bingham - The Power of Boutique Law Firms

In this episode of the Your Law Firm Success podcast, Stephen Moore interviews April Bingham, co-founder of Bellwether Green, who shares her journey of starting a law firm during the 2008 financial crisis. April discusses the advantages of running a boutique firm, the importance of building strong relationships, and the challenges of managing a growing legal practice. She emphasizes the significance of networking, the role of existing clients, and the collaborative opportunities within the legal profession. The conversation also touches on the balance between maintaining high standards and fostering a positive firm culture as the firm expands.
Takeaways
April Bingham co-founded Bellwether Green during the 2008 financial crisis.The firm aims to maintain a boutique ethos while delivering high-quality work.Building strong relationships is fundamental to success in the legal industry.The billable hour can coexist with relationship-building in legal practice.Professional advisors are key sources of referrals for business development.Existing clients can provide repeat business over time.Collaboration among lawyers can lead to mutual support and new opportunities.Succession planning is an important service for law firms.Maintaining a strong firm culture is crucial as the firm grows.Management challenges are common in law firms, requiring strategic solutions.
Chapters
00:00 Starting a Law Firm During a Crisis02:55 The Boutique Firm Advantage05:53 Building Relationships for Success08:49 Navigating the Billable Hour12:01 Strategic Business Development14:54 Leveraging Professional Networks18:01 The Importance of Existing Clients20:57 Collaborative Opportunities in Law23:54 Challenges of Growth and Management26:47 Fostering a Strong Firm Culture30:08 Looking Ahead: Future Challenges

Brian Inkster - Scepticism Towards AI: The Hype vs. Reality

In this episode of the Your Law Firm Success podcast, Stephen Moore interviews Brian Inkster, a prominent figure in the Scottish legal scene. They discuss Brian's journey in the legal profession, the innovative 'plug-and-play law' model he developed, and the importance of technology in modern legal services. Brian shares his scepticism towards AI hype and emphasises the need for law firms to focus on existing technologies that enhance efficiency. The conversation concludes with Brian's definition of success in the legal field, highlighting the importance of supporting solicitors in their practice.
 
takeaways
Brian Inkster describes his journey as an overnight success that took 25 years.
The plug-and-play law model lets solicitors focus on practising law without administrative burdens.
Early adoption of cloud technology has been crucial for Inkster's operations.
Generative AI is often misunderstood; it lacks true intelligence and understanding.
Lawyers have always used templates; AI should not replace this established practice.
The legal process engineer role is vital for implementing technology effectively in law firms.
AI can assist in summarizing documents but lacks the context needed for legal precision.
The legal industry must not get distracted by AI hype and should focus on existing technologies.
Brian's vision of success includes creating a supportive environment for solicitors.
Efficiency in legal services can lead to happier lawyers and better client service.

Callum Murray - Building one of the fastest growing (legal) tech companies in the UK

From running a painting and decorating company to establishing and growing one of the most recognised legal tech brands in the UK, Callum’s journey has not been a typical one. In this session with Stephen he talks about this and, of course, AI’s likely impact on the delivery of legal services (maybe not what you think…).

Verne Harnish – author, entrepreneur and speaker

Practical tips you can introduce every day to improve your chances of achieving business growth.

Your Law Firm Success with Peter Jackson, CEO of Hill Dickinson

On leadership, culture and practical tips on how to get your pricing right.

Joy Kingsley: growing your law firm through strategic hiring

Regarded as a legal powerhouse of the Northwest, Joy has an incredible track record as a managing partner. Under her leadership, both Pannone and latterly JMW Solicitors experienced growth of more than £100 million. In this episode of the Your Law Firm Success podcast Joy explains how she used strategic hiring and recruitment as key drivers for success. 

Attracting and retaining female talent with Ruth Croman, Managing Partner, Macnabs Solicitors

In this episode of the Your Law Firm Success podcast Ruth discusses the challenges of being a Managing Partner and a fee earner, succession planning in a small firm and the increasingly important issue of attracting and retaining female talent.

A proven methodology for law firm success with Andy Poole

Stephen talks to Andy Poole, COO and head of legal at  Armstrong Watson, about his experience of working with law firms all over the UK helping them to become more successful through the deployment of the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS)  outlined in Gino Wickman’s seminal book ‘Traction’.
 
This EOS framework is a simple, easy to follow methodology for delivering business success.