After three years behind the mic, host Montana Funk is moving on to the next exciting adventure in her career.  But, before going, Montana sits down with Judge Jessica Fehr, a district court judge in Billings, Montana, who presides over a full caseload of civil and criminal matters.

Judge Fehr offers an exclusive look at the legal profession from the bench, sharing her journey from a young attorney to her current role. She provides invaluable advice on topics like:

• The Power of Preparation: Why being prepared and knowing your local rules are the two most important factors for success in the courtroom and in your written motions.
• Credibility is Everything: How to build and maintain credibility with judges and juries.
• Beyond the Courtroom: The significance of professionalism, from how you communicate with court staff to dressing appropriately, and how this affects your reputation.
• The Value of Mentorship: The importance of seeking guidance from senior attorneys and judges to improve your practice.

Montana is joined by legal business development expert Jared Correia to demystify business development for young lawyers and equip them with strategies to thrive in a rapidly evolving legal landscape. Jared clarifies the nuances between client and business development, emphasizing the importance of setting aggressive "stretch goals" for both referral networking and web-based marketing.

Key takeaways from this episode:

• Proactive Development: Learn why young lawyers are essentially "intrapreneurs" and must proactively build their client base to secure a successful career, even when working within an established firm.
• Building Your Brand: Explore how brand-building activities, from podcasts and social media to CLEs, contribute to ultimately attracting clients. Jared also shares invaluable insights on what potential clients look for in young lawyers, highlighting the importance of thoroughness and a proactive approach, even without a lengthy track record.
• Solo Firm Success: For those brave enough to launch their own firms, Jared discusses the unique advantages of authenticity, direct communication, and flexible pricing models to stand out.
• Navigating Clients: Understand how to identify and avoid "bad clients" by recognizing crucial red flags, such as payment issues or a history of strained attorney relationships. Jared also offers practical advice on vetting potential clients, including leveraging online research and open-ended conversations.
• Bouncing Back: Learn to embrace "failure" as a learning opportunity and develop resilience in networking situations. Discover why showing your human side can actually be an asset.
• Authenticity Online: Jared shares critical advice on leveraging content creation and why having a memorable "shtick" is essential for standing out in a crowded field. He emphasizes being authentic in your online presence, as "nobody's looking for a carefully curated internet personality".

Subscribe to Jared’s podcast on:

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/legal-late-night/id1809201251

Spotify:  https://open.spotify.com/show/0Rkik0LLMaU6u0e7AKfK9h

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZO71dMbPZJWAKWw_-qrRRQ 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaredcorreia/

Website: https://www.redcavelegal.com

Additional Resources:

• How to Master Client Development in the Legal Profession
• Advice for New Attorneys on How to Build a Client Base and Develop Strong Client Relationships
• How New Attorneys Can Fuel Business Growth with Personal Branding
• How New Lawyers Can Build Their Brand on Social Media
• The Transformative Power of Content Creation in the Legal Profession
• How Do Young Lawyers Know When to Go Solo?
• How the Legal Client Intake and Conflict Check Process Works
• When Should an Attorney Decline the Representation of a New Client?
• Reacting to Mistakes: Be Your Own Humble and Honest Advocate

Are you a young lawyer wondering how to snag that dream role?

Host Montana Funk welcomes Gianne Falvo Mangiro, a top legal recruiter at LHH and a former practicing attorney, to demystify the world of legal recruitment.

Gianne pulls back the curtain on how recruiters work, why they're not just for senior lawyers, and how they can seriously fast-track your job search. We'll cover everything from accessing hidden opportunities to nailing your salary negotiation and understanding the full compensation package (beyond just the zeros!).

If you're ready to make a strategic leap in your legal career, then it’s time to leverage the power of a professional who's got your back!

Additional Resources:

Insider Tips and Best Practices for Legal Job Offer Negotiations

We Can Help You Find Your Dream Job in the Legal Profession

Finding Your Dream Job in a Down Market

A New Attorney’s Guide to Navigating Law Firm Employment Benefits

Using Coaching to Explore Your Career Options

How New Attorneys Can Identify a Good Work Environment During Their Job Search

American Bar Association Career Center

Tristian Shannon took an unexpected route to the legal profession, trading the world of real estate for the courtroom. He joins us to discuss that journey, revealing the challenges that propelled him toward law and the entrepreneurial spirit that led him to build his own firm. Beyond the traditional legal landscape, Tristian is a proponent of modern connection, explaining how social media can humanize lawyers and build trust with clients in a way that outdated models often miss. He also touches on the importance of carving your own path with a law degree, the pressures of the bar exam and the critical need to prioritize mental well-being, as well as the essential support and mentorship for women navigating the legal field.

Additional Resources:

Uncertain about Whether to Start Your Own Practice? Legal Incubators Can Help

What I Wish I Knew Before Going Solo

Navigating the Waters of a Solo Practice

Seven Funding Strategies for Solos

Using Social Media to Build Your Practice

How New Lawyers Can Build Their Brand on Social Media

American Bar Association Young Lawyers Division

American Bar Association Solo, Small Firm and General Practice Division

• (00:00) - Intro
• (00:23) - Meet Tristian Shannon
• (02:02) - Decision To Pursue Law
• (06:24) - Bringing Authentic Personality to the Law
• (07:00) - Opening A Firm Right Out of Law School
• (10:50) - Taking Risk in the Face of Judgment
• (14:47) - Cultivating the Right Team To Find Success
• (17:41) - Challenges and Surprises When Starting A Firm
• (22:11) - Why Social Media Is a Must For Success
• (28:12) - Advice For The Social Media Averse
• (29:10) - The Power of a JD
• (32:50) - How to Deal With The Stress of Getting Started

Bill Bay, President of the American Bar Association, joins Montana to discuss the role the ABA plays in supporting lawyers, promoting justice, and advocating for the rule of law.  Regardless of where you are in your career, the ABA offers not only a wealth of material for you to improve your practice and serve your clients better, but also an opportunity to get involved, get inspired, and effectuate a broader impact as part of something bigger than yourself. Discover the ways the ABA can help you advance your career, serve your community, and take a leading role in making a meaningful difference.

Additional Resources:

How New Lawyers Can Use the ABA to Further Their Career Goals

How to Make Your Law Firm See the Benefits of Bar Involvement

How to Be Admitted to the Supreme Court Bar and Why You Should

Today’s Law Students Are the Future Guardians of Justice

ABA Student Loans Resources

ABA Career Center

ABA Law Student Division

Disaster Legal Services

About the Rule of Law Initiative

americanbarsocial Linktree 

Bill Bay on LinkedIn

Associate Producer: Montana Funk

• (00:00) - Introduction: Bill Bay
• (01:29) - Bill Bay’s Career
• (03:24) - Bill’s Path to the ABA Presidency
• (04:45) - Defining the American Bar Association
• (11:07) - How Best to Get Involved in the ABA
• (13:31) - How Young Lawyers Can Get Their Ideas Heard
• (18:47) - Addressing Declining Confidence in the Judiciary
• (21:05) - Resources for Young Lawyers from the ABA
• (27:13) - Bill’s Advice to Young Lawyers

As young lawyers, you’re motivated to impress, to seem like the smartest person on the team.  But no one person can know enough to succeed entirely on their own.  We rely on the assistance and expertise of those around us, building a community of trusted allies who can help ensure we’re capable of fully serving our clients’ interests.  Expert witnesses are one such invaluable resource in many avenues of legal practice.

In this episode, host Montana Funk sits down with Dr. Chris Spaeth, an expert focusing on neuroscience, toxicology, and pharmacology.  Together, they discuss the role of an expert witness and how lawyers can foster better working relationships with experts and be more effective lawyers in the process.

Additional Resources:

Expert Witnesses: Demystifying Science in and out of the Courtroom, By Chris Spaeth
Pretrial Gatekeeping: How to Handle Junk Science and Unqualified Experts

Best Practices for Working with Expert Witnesses

Qualifying an Expert Witness

American Bar Association Young Lawyers Division

American Bar Association Litigation Section

Associate Producer: Montana Funk

• (00:00) - Opening
• (00:25) - Introducing our guest, Dr. Chris Spaeth
• (01:13) - Becoming a toxicologist
• (03:21) - What is toxicology?
• (03:56) - Applying the science of toxicology to the law
• (05:21) - Toxicology in the civil litigation arena
• (07:53) - When to consult a toxicologist
• (09:38) - How lawyers can work well with experts
• (12:22) - The value of objectivity vs the desired answer
• (14:10) - The lesser known ways experts can help lawyers
• (18:20) - Warning signs when hiring an expert
• (20:41) - The process of retaining an expert
• (26:35) - Closing thoughts

Financial expert Melissa Cecchine joins host Montana Funk to discuss the essentials of conscious financial management. Melissa shares insights into overcoming financial fears and building smart wealth strategies. Whether you're a young lawyer just starting your financial journey or you’re just looking to improve your approach to your finances, Melissa's practical advice on managing money, understanding your financial personality, and creating a conscious spending plan will help you achieve lasting financial stability and freedom. Tune in to learn how to take control of your finances and make informed, conscious choices that align with your goals.

Visit Melissa's website where you'll find the Money Mindset Quiz.
Follow Melissa on Instagram and LinkedIn.
 

Associate Producer: Kimberly Russell

Creators & Guests

• Montana Funk - Host
• Melissa Cecchine - Guest

• (00:00) - Our guest: Melissa Cecchine
• (01:17) - Melissa’s background
• (05:27) - Getting over the fear of managing your money
• (11:21) - Overcoming stereotypes in managing your money
• (13:30) - Top tips to help you improve your financial situation
• (20:25) - Getting out of a personal financial crisis
• (24:46) - The most common money mistakes
• (29:20) - The best resources to manage your money

Being a lawyer is a tough job. We’ve all heard the term “burnout”, maybe we even see it as just “something that happens occasionally” given our jobs, but most of us aren’t familiar with what all this stress is really doing to our bodies.  Montana is joined by Dr. Skattum to discuss the impacts of adrenal fatigue, burnout, and stress on the body, particularly for high-performing individuals like attorneys. They discuss practical strategies for managing stress, recognizing the signs of burnout, and making health a priority, whether you're a busy professional or managing a demanding home life. Tune in to learn how small changes can make a big difference in your overall well-being and productivity.

Additional Resources:
A Physician’s Guide for How Attorneys Can Avoid Burnout and Optimize Their Lifestyles

How Lawyers Can Implement a High-Quality Diet for Optimal Health

Directory of Lawyer Assistance Programs

Associate Producer: Julie Merow

• (00:00) - Introduction
• (01:04) - How high stress jobs affect your body
• (02:59) - How to identify hidden stress signals
• (07:00) - What is Adrenal Fatigue
• (10:13) - Early warning signs of adrenal fatigue
• (14:03) - Practical Tips to manage your stress
• (17:15) - Little changes we can implement to help ourselves
• (23:53) - How our employers can work to help us be healthy
• (27:01) - Clearing up misconceptions and finding a long-term solution
• (30:47) - How to recover from burnout
• (34:05) - Finding your balance and managing your stress
• (37:53) - Resources available to help you

Stacey Scrivani discusses the concept of mentorship in the legal profession, exploring what it means to be a mentor or mentee, and how these relationships can be mutually beneficial with Montana Funk. Stacey shares her insights on the various forms mentorship can take, from formal programs to informal peer support, and emphasizes the importance of a give-and-take dynamic. Whether you're seeking a mentor, aspiring to be one, or just eager to make the most of your mentor-mentee relationships, Stacey shares invaluable practical advice and personal anecdotes.

Additional Resources:

Fantastic Legal Mentors and Where You Can Find Them

How to Make the Most of Partner Mentors Within Your Law Firm

Learning from Other Lawyers

How to Be a Good Mentee in the Legal Profession

We Were All Young Lawyers Once: Here Are Some Survivor Tips

Earning a Sponsor Can Pave the Way to Career Success

Lift as You Climb: Accepting the Call to Mentorship

5 Tips for Mentoring and Managing Legal Interns

Associate Producer: Trevor Cooper

• (00:00) - Introducing Stacey Scrivani
• (01:30) - What is mentorship?
• (02:51) - How mentorship is mutually beneficial
• (04:27) - Overcoming your anxieties
• (08:24) - How to find the right mentor
• (09:48) - Appropriate subjects to discuss with a mentor
• (12:32) - Dealing with problematic mentors
• (15:46) - Informal relationships vs formal ones
• (18:00) - Making the most of the mentorship relationship
• (20:57) - Becoming a mentor
• (23:46) - Building trust as a mentor

Stefania Lessen joins host Montana Funk to share her journey from law school to a successful legal career, emphasizing the importance of networking at every stage. From leveraging local bar associations to utilizing social media platforms like LinkedIn, Stefania offers practical advice and personal anecdotes to help law students and new attorneys build and maintain a strong professional network.

Additional Resources:

Authentic Networking Is the Key to a Successful Legal Career

How New Lawyers Can Use the ABA to Further Their Career Goals

The Geometry of Networking

Networking for State and Local Government Legal Jobs

Associate Producer: Carneil Wilson

• (00:00) - Introduction
• (00:57) - Networking in Law School During the Pandemic
• (03:57) - Networking Strategies for Remote and Hybrid Environments
• (06:18) - How Early Networking Can Pay Off
• (10:00) - Networking As A Young Professional
• (14:09) - Make Use of Your Local Bar Association
• (22:08) - Don’t Stop Networking Once You Have That Job
• (24:29) - Networking Etiquette and Common Mistakes
• (28:11) - Balancing of Professional and Personal Life
• (31:12) - Final Thoughts

Learn how to exceed expectations and thrive as a new lawyer from a panel of seasoned attorneys who are open and honest about what it takes to make partner, navigate your career, and excel in the legal field. Special thanks to our friends over at Litigation Radio, ABA's Section of Litigation and Podcast Host Dave Scriven-Young for sharing this special episode with us. For more conversations with top litigators, judges, and experts, subscribe to Litigation Radio on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

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Newly admitted lawyers can feel overwhelmed and intimidated. Law schools can’t teach everything, and there’s a lot of on-the-job learning. Some of the work is difficult and complicated. Some of what’s required is as simple as showing up on time and doing work that looks perfect and is free of typos (yes, that matters, even for internal communications).

With each task, the best new lawyers progress from competence to excellence. Start with the goal of being a “superstar associate” by being the best lawyer you can be. When new lawyers take on tasks and do good work, others will notice and will mentor you. What any new lawyer makes of their earliest experience in any firm will drive them to the next level, no matter their career path.

This episode shares tips for standing out and learning how to be a lawyer from two attorneys who have excelled in their careers and have made partner at their respective firms.

Resources:

What New Lawyers Must Know on Their First Day on the Job

Early Career Success for Attorneys Can Come from Developing Your "Ownership Mindset"

Great Lawyers Don't Only Point Out Problems—They Offer Solutions

Success in the Legal Profession Is Not Achieved Through Participation Trophies

Building a Career you Love as a Young Lawyer

Some Advice to the New or Soon-to-be Lawyer

Top Tips for Young Lawyers: How to Survive and Thrive in Your Legal Career

American Bar Association

American Bar Association Litigation Section

American Bar Association Young Lawyers Division