Synopsis
Lawyers can't bill for every activity. Unfortunately with the focus on billable time, young lawyers are missing out on a huge area in legal practice - the non-billable aspect. Non-billable is a quick hit of advice in short segments, delivered frequently, to focus your attention on a specific issue, address a question, or just have a bit of a rant about an issue facing the legal profession. Covering topics ranging from legal marketing, rainmaking, networking, career advice, professional development and legal practice generally - non-billable is foundational for young lawyers who know you can't charge the client for everything. Lawyers and attorneys everywhere will benefit from taking a few minutes out of their day to listen to Non-billable.
Episodes
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So you Want a Better Pay Rise?
23/07/2015 Duration: 02minHave you ever received a pay rise that you weren’t happy with? What did you do about it? Complain? Whine? Drink heavily? Well let’s stop just whining about it, and do something about it! Happy lawyering! Have you ever received a pay rise that you weren’t happy with? What did you do about it? Complain? […]
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Under Promise – Over Deliver
08/07/2015 Duration: 03minAre you implementing this crucial element of legal practice in your day to day operations? I hope so. Let’s see how it works in practice, with an example of how clients are going to view two different scenarios. Happy lawyering! Are you implementing this crucial element of legal practice in your day to day operations? […]
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Is Being an Introvert a Disadvantage in law?
10/06/2015 Duration: 03minLots of lawyers are introverted. We like quiet, solitary tasks where we can focus, analyse and distill answers. And yet, the noise of the community, the pressure of networking, and the need to market our services sometimes tells us that we are at a disadvantage. Is it true? Lots of lawyers are introverted. We like […]
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How to Get Noticed in a Big Firm
03/06/2015 Duration: 03minI hear a lot of people asking how to get noticed in a big, noisy, and highly competitive firm. And I can’t help but wonder – what are you doing now to get noticed? Are you actually willing to try anything, or are you cowering, terrified of the risks that come with sticking your neck […]
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Is it Worth Doing a Masters Degree?
27/05/2015 Duration: 03minI get this question fairly often – should young lawyers (or law students) do a masters degree, and is it worthwhile? Well – as is often the case, the answer is either yes with a but, or no with an unless. Enjoy! I get this question fairly often – should young lawyers (or law students) […]
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How to Get Anything you Want Done, Ever (sort of)
20/05/2015 Duration: 03minI hear a lot of complaints about lack of time. Can’t get this done, had to put that to one side. And it could all be true, but the reality is that if you want something enough you can get it done. You just need to shift your priorities. That’s what today’s episode of NonBillable […]
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Focus on your Strengths, or Work on your Weaknesses?
06/05/2015 Duration: 02minIt does come up, and the full podcast on it is here. But still, it’s worth considering how we should approach our daily life. Should we be capitalising on our strengths, or working to smooth out our weaknesses? That’s what we have today in NonBillable. Transcript – The Strengths and Weaknesses of Lawyers It’s an […]
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Work Hard, or Work Smart?
29/04/2015 Duration: 02minIt comes up a lot – should you work hard, or smart? I know the easy answer is “work smart” but that’s not what I’ve got for you today. You know what it takes? Find out in today’s episode of nonbillable. Transcript – Should Lawyers Work Hard or Work Smart? Hey there, this is another […]
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Young Lawyers Need to Train Themselves?
22/04/2015 Duration: 02minYou might have heard the long version, but here’s the snapshot – some clever people decided to announce that young lawyers should get their skills (somehow) BEFORE they got a job. Apparently clients don’t want to pay for that. Which is fine. After all – not training young lawyers isn’t at all a short term […]
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Legal Writing is About Being Human
15/04/2015 Duration: 01minListen folks, if you can’t sound like a human being then you’re in the wrong business. Get rid of redundant words that only lawyers use, start sounding like a person, and be a legal writer that brings humanity into the profession, not one that distances us. Transcript – Legal Writing Tips Hey there, it’s Chris […]
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What’s the Most Appropriate Way to Decorate your Office
08/04/2015 Duration: 02minOK so I had to laugh a little when I got this question, but since it was put to me in all seriousness, I took a punt at answering it. For those who don’t know me, however, I’m not exactly the world’s highest authority on office decoration – so in a sense this one you […]
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Where will Lawyers be in Tech in 5 Years?
01/04/2015 Duration: 03minWhere are lawyers going to be in 5 years compared to now in terms of technology? Are we going to embrace technology and creatively find ways to use it, or lag behind? It’s a good question, and one that I address in today’s episode of nonbillable. Transcript – Where will Legal Tech Be in 5 […]
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Should Law Students be Connecting with Lawyers?
25/03/2015 Duration: 02minWhen you go to functions as a law student and meet lawyers, is it appropriate for you to then follow them up or connect with them? I say yes, but you’ve got to do it right. Transcript – Lawyers on LinkedIn – Connecting with Law Students Hey there guys, it’s Chris Hargreaves from tipsforlawyers.com with […]
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Help – I can’t find a mentor!
20/03/2015 Duration: 02minFinding a mentor isn’t always easy. In smaller towns in particular, it can be a real challenge. Here are a few thoughts on how you might be able to hook up with a mentor who can help guide you through your career. Transcript – How Young Lawyers can Find Mentors Hey there guys this is […]
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Gen Y Isn’t Lazy
18/03/2015 Duration: 02minI’m sick and tired of people telling me how lazy, self-entitled and privileged generation Y is. Here are the facts – we work harder, longer and faster than any generation before us. So get off our backs. Transcript – Generation Y Isn’t Lazy Hey there. This is Chris. This is another episode NonBillable, where I […]
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Start Connecting on LinkedIn
15/03/2015 Duration: 03minLots of young lawyers have a LinkedIn profile (most, in fact). But do you know what to do with it? LinkedIn is for making connections, but are you only connecting with your own colleagues? Well don’t just sit idle – in this episode of Non-Billable you will start making connections and expanding your network today. […]