BE THAT LAWYER Brian LaCien: Growing Your Practice Through Relationships
In this episode, Steve Fretzin and Brian LaCien discuss:
- Building systems that create consistency
- Growing your practice through relationships
- Learning through mentorship and mistakes
- Knowing when to push and when to stop
Key Takeaways:
- Every case is different, but your process should not be. Strong systems like checklists and workflows help you stay organized and reliable, especially in long and complex litigation.
- The best cases come from trust, not volume marketing. Building genuine relationships and staying visible in the legal community drives consistent referrals and long-term growth.
- Becoming a great trial lawyer requires experience, guidance, and room to fail. The right mentors and real courtroom reps shape your skill far more than theory alone.
- One extra question can hurt your case. Great lawyers understand timing, knowing when they’ve made their point and having the discipline to stop.
"Every case is different, but how you approach it should be really similar, so that you may not remember doing something six months ago, but you know you did it because that's the way you do things." — Brian LaCien
Check out my new show, Be That Lawyer Coaches Corner, and get the strategies I use with my clients to win more business and love your career again.
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About Brian LaCien: Brian LaCien is a trial lawyer and co-founder of Smith LaCien LLP, where he represents individuals in complex personal injury and wrongful death cases. With nearly two decades of experience, he has built a reputation for handling high-stakes litigation with a disciplined, detail-oriented approach rooted in strong case strategy and preparation.
Before co-founding his firm, Brian spent 17 years at a leading plaintiff trial firm, where he developed his skills under experienced litigators and gained extensive courtroom and deposition experience. He is committed to the civil justice system as a way to hold powerful institutions accountable and advocates for his clients with both precision and persistence.
Connect with Brian LaCien:
Website: https://www.smithlacien.com/
Connect with Steve Fretzin:
LinkedIn: Steve Fretzin
Twitter: @stevefretzin
Instagram: @fretzinsteve
Facebook: Fretzin, Inc.
Website: Fretzin.com
Email: Steve@Fretzin.com
Book: Legal Business Development Isn't Rocket Science and more!
YouTube: Steve Fretzin
Call Steve directly at 847-602-6911
Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.