New Solo

Chrissie Scelsi, a video game and entertainment lawyer who served as Wargaming’s U.S. General Counsel and led the Video Game Bar Association, talks about carving a niche in gaming law. She covers licensing, IP, advertising, privacy, e-sports, influencer relations, and the rising role of AI. Short, lively conversations about building community, in-house practice, and nontraditional legal careers.

Meet Alyssa Vachon Daigneault, a new Massachusetts attorney who benefitted from a chat with lawyer and law coach Kellam Parks, an amazing guest from our previous podcast. Hear how Daigneault launched her law firm as a second career after years teaching high school chemistry and hear what she learned from Parks as she beefed up her technology. Daigneault launched her own firm less than two years ago in the busy Boston area, specializing in real estate, land use, and property matters, all fields she was already well versed in. A session with a coach helped Daigneault fully frame the vision and direction of her practice, craft policies, and understand onboarding new hires. Starting a new solo firm is hard, do you need help cutting through some of the steps and learning from those who went before you?   Daigneault is an advocate for learning about and investing and experimenting in tech, AI, and other tools before worrying about office space. As a new solo, tech can save time, build efficiencies, and let lawyers do what they do best.  Questions or ideas about solo and small practices? Drop us a line at NewSolo@legaltalknetwork.com     Topics: A new solo, embarking on a second career as an attorney, took some tips from one of New Solo’s earlier guests, attorney and legal practice coach Kellam Parks.  Not all tech and AI are the same, it takes time and research to understand what works for you. Lining up the right tools makes a difference. In today’s legal environment, tech is becoming king. But if you can manage it, the right support staff and office space can push you forward and keep you growing. Resources: Previously on New Solo, “Six To-Dos Every Firm Can Embrace in 2026,” with Kellam Parks The Real Estate Bar Association for Massachusetts QuickBooks Gusto Adobe ChatGPT Perplexity Spellbook Lexis Protégé Clio ABA Techshow 2026 Clio Cloud Conference 2026

Kellam Parks, partner at Parks Ziegler PLLC and founder of The Motivated Lawyer coaching program, builds tech- and metrics-driven law practices. He discusses intentional firm design, setting multi-year goals broken into quarterly rocks, KPIs across finance/intake/ops/marketing/satisfaction, delegation to stop being indispensable, and practical tech and AI adoption starting from systems not tools.

When family lawyer and podcaster Lee Rosen talks about referrals, he doesn’t call them a network. He calls them friends. He explains why you only need about 20 trusted relationships to sustain a thriving practice, how genuine curiosity and consistency outperform traditional “networking,” and why lawyers make some of the most powerful referral partners across practice areas. Lee also shares how thoughtful gestures, not referral fees, build long-term goodwill and how social media can strengthen real-world connections when used with intention. Then, ALPS Insurance’s Rio Laine joins host Adriana Linares to cover the risk-management side of referrals, including documentation best practices, appropriate thank-you gifts, when to decline referrals, and why every solo should have a backup attorney and succession plan in place. Hear the original episode with Lee Rosen Learn more about ALPS Insurance.  Receive email notifications every time we release a new episode.

Let the record show, records were meant to be corrected. In this episode, we revisit something we mentioned that might not have been the full story, the role of the remote attorney and the freelance attorneys provided by LAWCLERK.  Guest Kristin Tyler is a lawyer and co-founder and chief brand officer at LAWCLERK, which supplies contract attorneys for growing, busy law firms under an arrangement where freelance attorneys work under the supervision of a client’s in-house attorneys.  From discovery to document review to deposition management, contract attorneys can manage routine tasks at rates designed to be affordable for growing firms. Why hire a part-time paralegal when you can hire an actual attorney at a comparable rate?  Whether you’re a growing firm or an attorney looking for part-time work, hear why this could be the solution you’ve been looking for.  Questions or ideas about solo and small practices? Drop us a line at NewSolo@legaltalknetwork.com.  Topics: Contract and part-time remote attorneys can help busy, growing firms find affordable legal assistance when things get hectic. Why hire a remote paralegal when you can hire an actual, licensed attorney at a comparable cost? Do your best and outsource the rest! Special for our listeners, for your first hire from LAWCLERK, use the promo code NewSolo25 for a $100 rebate. Hear how the arrangement works, including ethical and licensing policies, confidentiality, state-specific availability, and even hiring attorneys who are experts in the exact area of law you need. Resources: Previous appearance on Legal Talk Network, “Clio Cloud 2022: Hire for Success – Best Practices for Growing Your Team” Previously on New Solo, “Checking In! Four Years Later, Solo Practice Aloha Divorce Is Thriving”  Clio ABA Techshow 2026 Clio Cloud Conference 2026 

When Milwaukee attorney Nate Cade left big law, he wasn’t just starting a firm — he was rebuilding his entire work life around flexibility, technology, and intention. He shares how shedding committees and tradition helped him design a virtual, modern practice from day one, why an iPad and curiosity turned him into a tech-first lawyer years before it was common, and how testing every tool himself led to a streamlined firm that serves clients better from anywhere. Then, ALPS Insurance’s Rio Laine joins host Adriana Linares to explore what remote-first solos must plan for, how discipline and smart systems act as your “secret” backup plan, and why supervision, cybersecurity, and dedicated hardware matter even more when your whole team works from home.   Hear the original episode with Nate Cade Learn more about ALPS Insurance.  Receive email notifications every time we release a new episode.

Security, security, security. In your law firm’s tech package, there is probably no more important word than security. Your clients depend on it. Your business depends on it.  You and your firm can get hacked. It happens. Bad people want to get into your firm. They can dig through your email. They can get into your Microsoft 365 One Drive or Google accounts. Guest Adam Alexander, president of the Orlando-based IT firm Internetwork IT, explains two recent breaches, how they happened and how much damage hackers can do.  Once inside, hackers can hold your business – and your reputation – for ransom. The scary part? While evil doers are worming through your data, you may not even know it.    In this important episode, even if you think you know all about security, take a moment to get your head around the latest threats and safeguards. What’s an admin account? What’s two-factor authentication? Who holds the key to your kingdom? If you haven’t thought about this for a while, today’s the day.  Questions or ideas about solo and small practices? Drop us a line at NewSolo@legaltalknetwork.com,  Topics: Cyber security should be your firm’s top priority. If you think your firm is “too small” for hackers to target, you could be in for a nasty surprise. Authentications, password management, and encrypted emails are the rule, not the exception. Security is everybody’s business. The tools you probably use today, including Microsoft and Google, include advanced security options. How to take advantage of them. Mentioned in This Episode: Previous appearance on New Solo, “AI And The Evolving Security Threats (And Protections)”  Previous appearance on New Solo, “The Microsoft 365 Special: Your Questions, Expert Answers” Microsoft 365 Microsoft 365 Premium Microsoft Defender Threat Intelligence “Set up multifactor authentication for Microsoft 365” Google OAuth 1Password RoboForm American Bar Association, “Insurance Strategies to Mitigate AI and Cyber Risks” Clio ABA Techshow 2026 Clio Cloud Conference 2026

Matthew Moeller, a savvy litigator who launched his own firm in New Orleans, shares insights on blending law with business strategies. He reveals how past retail experiences shaped his entrepreneurial mindset and led him to adopt a paperless, cloud-based practice. Joining him is Rio Lane from ALPS Insurance, emphasizing the importance of business training and specialization for solo lawyers. They discuss how specialized practices reduce malpractice risks and enhance operational efficiency while stressing proactive client communication during transitions.

Starting your solo firm means building good habits from day one and that begins with your intake process. In this episode of New Solo: First Flight, host Adriana Linares revisits her conversation with Chad Burton, co-founder of Modern Law Practice and CEO of CuroLegal, about how thoughtful workflows create better client relationships and fewer headaches. From conflict checks and engagement letters to managing matters in Clio and working with virtual assistants, Chad shares how documenting your processes can help your firm grow smoothly and ethically. Plus, Adriana Linares and Rio Laine from ALPS Insurance break down why consistent intake procedures and clear engagement letters are key to avoiding malpractice claims and protecting your peace of mind. Hear the original episode with Chad Burton Learn more about ALPS Insurance.  Receive email notifications every time we release a new episode.

How are you doing? No, really, how are you doing? Guest Chris Newbold is not only the COO of ALPS Insurance – a leader in malpractice insurance for solo and small legal practices – he’s also a recognized driver in the nationwide movement to ensure well-being in the legal profession.  Over the past decade, there’s been a focus on mental health, stress, and substance abuse in the profession. Meeting deadlines, satisfying clients, and the sometimes-confrontational nature of the job can take a toll, especially on lawyers in small practices or rural area where support can be lacking.  Newbold shares insights from ALPS’ recent report, “The State of the Solo: Positive Trends in Solo Attorney Well-Being,” which he helped deliver. The study made a special effort to include small and rural practices. A healthy lawyer is a good lawyer, Newbold says. Taking care of yourself helps you better serve your clients.  Questions or ideas about solo and small practices? Drop us a line at NewSolo@legaltalknetwork.com   Topics: Attorneys in solo or small firms are uniquely susceptible to the effects of stress. It’s a hard job. But the right tech, paired with a mindful approach and managed workload, can reduce that stress. Taking care of yourself ultimately benefits your clients. Practicing in a solo or small firm or in rural areas can have its benefits, and surveys show those attorneys are finding job satisfaction and taking time off when needed. But there are also unique stresses and the potential to feel alone or overburdened. Workload and cash flow are among the biggest stressors facing attorneys. Stress can lead to mistakes (and malpractice), so be mindful of where you are and how much you can handle. If you own your own practice, don’t let your practice own you.   Resources: “The State of the Solo: Positive Trends in Solo Attorney Well-Being,” ALPS Insurance “The Path to Lawyer Well-Being: Practical Recommendations for Positive Change”  Previous appearance on the Legal Talk Network, The Digital Age podcast, “The Insurance Industry Studies the Future of Law Practice”  Mental Health Resources, American Bar Association Law Student Mental Health Day, Oct. 10, ABA ABA Techshow 2026 Clio Cloud Conference 2025