098: Essential Search Skills

May 5, 2020

Lawyers, of all modern “knowledge workers,” should be highly adept at gathering key information. Sadly, too many of us lack the search skills we need. Mostly, it’s a problem of insufficient awareness about where to search or how to search using tools that aren’t law-specific.

In this episode, you’ll learn how to become more aware, and what exactly to focus your “search awareness” on.

• Tracers for Legal Professionals - welcome to our new podcast sponsor!
• Flash Boys: A Wall Street Revolt, by Michael Lewis (a fabulous book with 90% 4 and 5-star reviews on Amazon)
• Register for the upcoming virtual;) Small Firm Bootcamp.
• Check out Melissa Shanahan’s website: Velocity Work (she and her team can help you identify key business metrics and then build a customized tracking portal so you can plan better as you work on growing your law firm)
• Get my free Tech Resource Guide for solo and small firm lawyers, which includes recommendations about working remotely.
• Consider joining my inner sanctum (i.e. private online discussion forum) if you want ongoing guidance and support.

Tracers

Gathering information is important for lawyers, especially lawyers who do litigation. As you no doubt know, law doesn't win cases, facts do, and often one or two key facts can make or break a case.

Key facts are tied to witnesses who sometimes are elusive. Key facts can involve things about your client that they conveniently “forget” to tell you.

And for sure key facts are incriminating things about the opposing party. Key facts can be in social media or any number of public databases. So how do you find the key facts quickly and easily?

Well, you can find them but not usually quickly and easily. Even the publicly available information is strewn about in lots of different public records or online locations that you can’t find using one Google search.

So stop trying to use Google and don’t waste time, energy, or money. Use Tracers instead. That’s how you can get cost-effective access to asset records, social media posts, and detailed background information on anyone of interest to you or your client.

The cost is based on a “pay per search” pricing with a $39 monthly minimum. The searches aren’t super expensive so you might only spend $39 per month and be able to do a few searches.

But however much you use it you can expense the cost to your client matter because it’s an essential service.

I recommend that every lawyer at least sign up, learn what it can do, and get used to having an amazing resource at your fingertips. If you use the promo code Ernie100 the first $100 of your search will be free.

General Resources

• Learn to use technology to reduce friction & gain freedom with this resource: https://www.the8020lawyer.com/
• Focus on these essential tech tools for maximum traction in your practice.
• Take this short law practice assessment to identify your main strengths & weaknesses.

Thanks to The Sponsor

Smith.ai is a superior virtual receptionist service for small businesses. They specialize in working with solo and small law firms. After years of working with various receptionist services, I recently discovered Smitha.i and was blown away by their range of services, which are available at a cost any attorney -- even those of you in the smallest solo practice -- can afford. Their friendly receptionists respond to potential clients in English or Spanish, screen and schedule new leads, and even take payment for consults -- and they do this 7 days a week. The best part is they don't just handle these conversations by phone -- they also have 24/7 live agents and chatbots capturing leads on websites and via text message! They tell me this is just the beginning, with Facebook Messenger and other channels coming soon! If there's one growth hack for your practice, this is it. Smith's friendly gatekeepers can staff your front lines while you work uninterrupted. You can finally have the peace of mind that while you're working, you're not missing out on future work.

 

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Smith.ai offers a free trial, and podcast listeners get an extra $100 discount with promo code ERNIE100. Sign up and learn more at www.smith.ai. Trust me when I say, "Don't let another day go by!" Try Smith.ai.

EPISODE CREDITS:

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment.

He helps thought leaders, influencers, executives, HR professionals, recruiters, lawyers, realtors, bloggers, coaches, and authors create, launch, and produce podcasts that grow their business and impact the world.

Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com