Some #30kview moments from my flights surrounding #LawyerForward.

Great Austin memories from the year’s #LawyerForward, weirdly wrapped in friendship and food. Like having breakfast tacos with @LawPay’s CEO or racing to the bottom of a bowl of chili con queso with @JessBirken.

Learning about law firms that used to lose clients that requested help with cases outside the firm’s focus. They’ve brought @lawclerklegal contractors on to serve their clients instead now. #lawyerforward

#lawyerforward sponsors, @casetext, @gngfound, and @lawclerklegal getting love from @mikewhelanjr. (@goclio got some too, but this tweet isn’t about us.)

All this #lawyerforward came from @kimpackwilson. You should be reaching out to her to learn more. twitter.com/JoshuaLenon/status/10885...

@layyourroots @DonivanFlowers Having a succession plan in place is crucial for solo and small law firms. I speak from personal experience, not having one is painful for clients, loved ones, and the legal when something tragic happens. #lawyerforward

.@DonivanFlowers talking about his near-death car accident and how it’s reshaped the way he organized his law practice. If you don’t make a succession plan now, who will do so if you pass? #lawyerforward

Conflict checks become a primary skill in small towns. Dig deep because there are connections everywhere. #lawyerforward

One of the secrets of small town law is that there’s never a lack of demand. People will seek you out for legal advice. They may not be able to pay as much, but you’ll never lack a case. #lawyerforward

One of the biggest differences big city with which lawyers struggle in small towns is the lack of support infrastructure. You will have to find and arrange support services that are handled centrally in more populace areas. #lawyerforward

How do you find a locale lawyer to help guide you in small town procedures? There’s no one method, but many lawyers want to help. Reach out. #lawyerforward

There’s no place to meet clients in a small town if you don’t have your own office. There’s no Starbucks or rentable conference rooms. Get a place. #lawyerforward

True story: a judge once sent her husband to pick up my child from daycare when a hearing ran long. That’s small town practice. - C. Vickers at #lawyerforward

Making an appearance in a small town jurisdiction? 1. Never assume it functions like your home jurisdiction. 2. Ask the locals for advice. 3. Plan to be there all day. It won’t move on your schedule. - C. Vickers at #lawyerforward

In small towns, being old school is the way to get business. Join the chamber of commerce. Within 5 counties, I’m the only lawyer I know that has a website. We all still get business. - C. Vickers at #lawyerforward

Small town lawyers are general problem solvers within fixed geographic boundaries. #lawyerforward

Next up, “Small Town Practice on a Shoestring” by C. Vickers at #lawyerforward

Flat fee billing does involve some trial and error, but it always improves over time. - K. Wilson at #lawyerforward

Family law lawyers have the best-worst client stories. “Get off meth and reconcile with your spouse.” ...and the client did. #lawyerforward

As much as clients can love paying legal bills, flat fee billing is easily my clients’ preferred method of payment. - K. Wilson at #lawyerforward

If you find yourself happy with the amount you got paid for the work you did, then you know your law firm billing is working. Bill what you’re worth. - K. Wilson at #lawyerforward

The flat fee plus quoted prices for additional services works best for case types we handle all the time, but we’re trying this same approach across multiple practice areas. - K. Wilson at #lawyerforward

A client comes in with a more complex matter? The flat fee goes up. That’s ethical as it requires more time and expertise, both recognized as components for billing analysis - K. Wilson at #lawyerforward

We distilled our retainer agreement to one page, because clients won’t read more than that anyway. - K. Wilson at #lawyerforward

Your pro bono work should be intentional and purposeful, not because a client refuses to their bill. #lawyerforward

If you ask your client for a $3k retainer because you know that will cover the average client’s bill? Why not just charge that as a flat fee? - Kimberly Wilson at #lawyerforward

Attending ‘Measure Less Time; Make More Money’ at #lawyerforward. Kimberly Wilson’s opening? If you find yourself writing down your hours as ‘too high,’ you’re already value-billing your clients. You’re adding busywork with tracking hours on top of value-billing. Stop it.

Okay, @layyourroots just quoted Vonnegut. My full admiration. #LawyerForward

.@layyourroots describing how lawyers should be picking their clients too, not just the other way around. #lawyerforward

#lawyerforward has such a great vibe. Solo lawyers looking, not to the future of law, but the futures of their law practices. As @mikewhelanjr puts it, “Cow experts helping people with cow problems.”