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 firm
- Referral pipeline
- Client referrals & reviews
- Saying no to bad cases
- Managing cash flow
- Financial mistakes
- Staying motivated
- Biggest 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:
512-246-2224
John (Jack) Zinda
Founder / CEO
Over 100 years of combined experience representing injured victims across the country.
Available 24 / 7|Free Consultation
Neil Solomon
Partner
Real results matter. We do not get paid unless we win your case.
Available 24 / 7|Free Consultation
