Customer Reviews

The E-Myth Attorney: Why Most Legal Practices Don't Work and What to Do About It

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

There are few self-help books targeted to the solo and small firm lawyer. E Myth Attorney is the answer to the need. I read "E-myth" about 6 years ago, it changed my practice. As a solo attorney, I remember thinking how great it would be if there was an E-myth book devoted just to lawyers. My prayer was answered. The book itself is set up to meet the needs of the busy lawyer. It's an engrossing read and each concise chapter deals with a separate topic. From the people you employ to the way you set fees - Its all covered.

Here is the important thing; it's co-authored by Robert Armstrong and Sandy Fisch. In my opinion these two law practice pioneers are the leading practice management and marketing thinkers in the nation. Learn from these great minds and you will be far ahead of your competition.

Mike B- Newtown PA

The best part about this book was that it did not cost me anything. It was and maybe still is given away for free in .pdf format on the web site of an estate planning lawyers organization. As a few others pointed out, the book is too basic to be of any real use as well as generic to the point of resembling a cut & paste version of past E-Myth books. This one was whipped up just for attorneys. Problem is, again as someone pointed out, ethical considerations regarding client confidentiality make the 'family business' model problematic than for say, a vacuum cleaner repair shop.

The book is not unlike much of what passes for business/marketing books these days, usually offered first as a thin, hard cover book for almost twenty five bucks, the content is often more than a blog posting masquerading as a book. This is true here. Moreover, the text is not just written to the level of a child, but presented in something called "hypnotic prose." Hypnotic prose is a method of writing taught as part of an overall marketing approach to get you one step closer to going to the related web site and signing up for a product or service therein.

Any lawyer with a modicum of training or experience in trial advocacy should be able to smell a pitch like this a mile away, just like the closing argument of an opposing counsel. Many books about e-commerce and web marketing promote this tiresome fad, but if there's one thing lawyers hate is being talked to like a jury full of idiots! Continuing to read while knowing I was just being tossed an obvious sales pitch left me cold.

If you're still interested, have a look around on the web and grab a free copy. You shouldn't have to pay for brochure-ware.

If you've read any of the other E-Myth books, then you have an idea of Gerber's philosophy. But what makes this edition so interesting is that the authors have found a way to apply Gerber's "new-thinking" to an age-old practice. The legal field has always been one that's steeped in traditions - so much so that the concepts of business management and law firm marketing are often pushed aside to focus on the more technical aspects of practicing law.

But in The E-Myth Attorney, Gerber partners with legal entrepreneurs Robert Armstrong and Sanford M. Fisch to demonstrate how important these concepts truly are to the success of your firm.

Using clear examples and insightful storytelling, the authors show you the difference between "working on the business" and "working in the business", making a solid case for re-thinking the way you practice law.

Forget working more hours, taking more cases and billing more time - if you've ever thought you'd like your law practice to be "more" than what it is now, this is the book for you.

In my 23 years as an attorney, I've been through many practice models. I've worked in a prestigious firm, worked for the Federal Government, worked in a small firm, operated in a partnership and ultimately opened my own firm. During the first half of my career, I was diligently searching for the model which would make me happy and allow me to honorably serve my clients and still have a balanced family life.

I've worked closely with the two gentlemen who helped write this book and I attribute my success and happiness as a lawyer and layperson to their coaching.

This book is the perfect primer for new law school graduates and seasoned attorneys seeking the answers which have alluded them in striking the right balance between life and law.

Unfortunately, while law school teaches you how to think like a lawyer, it does a poor job of teaching you how to operate in a law firm or run a legal business.

I've read all of Michael Gerber's books and heard him speak numerous times. I think he's right on point.

This book is a supplement to his other books and specifically addresses the challenging issues which cause attorney dissatisfaction and law firm failure. If you are a satisfied attorney you shouldn't read this book. It's not for you. If you are not happy, this is the place to start.

Legal practices are changing at a rapid speed. The old models are being replaced like yesterday's garbage. Successful, happy lawyers understand the skills involved in operating their practices as businesses. In my experience, this creates happy, satisfied clients. It's a win-win situation.

Two of my children are now in college, both wishing to pursue different passions. I've encouraged both of them to get business degrees and learn accounting, computer skills, social networking, human resources, entrepreneurship and the myriad of other components mentioned in this book which will allow them, as Michael Gerber has stated numerous times, "to work on their businesses, not in them". For those of us well past our college and law school days, it's absolutely imperative that we get these skills. Michael Gerber's books are great outlines to help us accomplish this very difficult task.

I read this book cover to cover and must say there are insights and thought provoking strategies on every page. Highly recommend the book to any attorney!

Between Michael Gerber's wisdom of 'systems' and Robert and Sandy's keen insight gained from coaching law firms around the country, this terrific book is transformational reading for anyone who wants to improve their law practice--and their life!

As a young briefing attorney, a U.S. District Court judge once told me that there is more to the practice of law than being a good attorney. An abundance of knowledge and ability mean little if an attorney lacks the ability to lead his clients, associates, and staff. The attorney's knowledge also means little if the attorney lacks the ability to manage the equalizer that favors none, which is time. Therefore, in light of those challenges, if you seek an enlightened way to transform your law practice into a successful business that delivers quality legal services, and which is then transformed further into a successful enterprise that functions smoothly in your occasional absence, then you should read and heed the wisdom contained in The E-Myth Attorney. If you care not, then you risk repeating the failures of so many who came before you.

The day to day work life of an attorney is often chaotic and unpredictable. Market forces have created fierce competition within the industry. Profits are often elusive. Attorneys wonder what would happen to their business in their absence. There is virtually no law school training that teaches attorneys how to build or operate the business of the law firm. Most of us join a firm and follow the operating practices of those who came before us, only because, "This is the way we've always done it here." Perhaps we set up a practice of our own and follow the same practice habits learned from others. I wanted a different outcome. I was interested in learning principles that would help me operate my practice according to sound business principles. Gerber, Armstrong, and Fisch have hit the mark by detailing how to apply proven, five star E-Myth principles to your law firm. That's why this book is such an important resource. It is a road map for creating systems that make a business out of a practice, one that works for you, not you for it. I have enjoyed a lengthy association with Robert Armstrong and Sandy Fisch. In the services they offer through the American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys they help other attorneys implement the business practices outlined in this book. It helped create a breakthrough experience in my practice, my family, and my life. I recommend you read the book; then apply the principles to your firm. Watch what happens to your practice and your life.

Seems logical that every attorney firm would want and need this guidance from sucessful people who have already proven that it works.

I don't think this book added a lot to the original E-Myth. I was hoping the book would have specific suggestions for processes, etc for a broad base of law firms that might build on the original E-Myth. I didn't really find that here. The book also suggested several times to look on Michael Gerber's website for specific items/pieces of information, but the information wasn't contained on the website. It's probably worth the $20 and the time invested to read it, but for most lawyers looking for firm management advice, you can probably do better looking elsewhere. The one big exception is if you're an estate planning attorney. The attorney authors are estate planning attorneys and have done well to establish systems for other lawyers that they share through their organization. The book and the information contained on their organization's website could be very helpful to estate planning lawyers.