Maximum Mom

Hosted by Elise Buie

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Feb 2024

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We’re here to share tips, resources, wins, losses and encouragement for moms who are raising a family while building a lawfirm, so you feel less alone in your journey toward a fulfilling career and being the best mom you can be.

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February 19, 2024Episode 8452 min

Maximizing Your Legal Practice and Personal Development with Brita Long

Watch the YouTube version of this episode HEREThis week on Maximum Mom, your host Elise Buie is joined by Brita Long. Brita is an attorney and attorney coach who teaches flat fees to other attorneys and more importantly mind set. One of the workshops Brita provides is on our relationship with money. "It ain't about the money" isn't about the knowledge of personal finance or small practice finance, but about our thoughts, beliefs and feelings about money and how those affect our behavior. Including: charging flat fees. When Brita began working with attorneys she quickly discovered that nearly all of them had money mindset/belief issues that were causing them to self sabotage in regard to money. Take a listen! 04:20 Brita’s mission to maximize attorneys by teaching flat fees and emphasizing personal development and mindset in the legal profession13:44 Every problem in the office is a leadership problem19:25 The importance of emotional intelligence in the legal profession21:59 The impact of money mindset on legal practice26:26 The financial challenges and self-sabotage tendencies observed in small law firm owners28:29 Advocating for the adoption of flat feesLearning and Ego in Legal Practice 32:50 The role of ego in legal practice41:11 Energy management49:02 The lack of safety in expressing vulnerability in the legal profession and the potential for limitless reform in the professionConnect with Brita:WebsiteYouTubeFacebookInstagramResources:Join the Guild MembershipSubscribe to the Maximum Lawyer Youtube ChannelFollow us on InstagramJoin the Facebook GroupFollow the Facebook PageFollow us on LinkedIn

January 29, 2024Episode 8346 min

Breaking Free: Women's Journey to Financial Independence with Sarah Walton

Watch the YouTube version of this episode HEREThis week on Maximum Mom, your host Elise Buie is joined by Sarah Walton. Sarah Walton is a business coach and sales expert who’s been featured on The Today Show, speaks at women’s conferences all over the world and has helped hundreds of women start and grow businesses they LOVE. From growing up in a low-income household with a single mom to helping moms turn their passion into a business they love that can support their families, Sarah’s lived experience shows how women can powerfully change their lives and the lives of their families and communities. Sarah’s transitioned from being “just another coach” to being a change-maker. It’s time to put more money in the hands of more women, and Sarah is all in.Take a listen! 06:04 Reframing sales conversations and identifying problems to solve for clients09:15 The concept of high functioning codependence among women and its impact on financial decisions14:03 Sarah recommends books, including "Boundary Boss," and emphasizes the importance of doing unsexy tasks for financial success15:52 Recognizing and addressing high functioning codependence and the physical manifestations of unhappiness16:05 Encouraging children to do their own chores and the importance of teaching independence from a young age17:18 Parenting challenges related to children's responsibilities and social media influence19:12 How high functioning codependency affects physical and mental health, particularly in women20:08 Strategies for self-awareness, including recognizing internal signals and making different decisions22:05 Offload tasks and the impact of holding onto tasks for self-image31:10 Recreating life to move through it with peace, calmness, and hope, and the impact on professional practice31:27 Shifting mindset to find joy in daily tasks and the impact of a positive mindset on success.32:18 Exploration of the positive impact women can have with money34:18 The importance of empowering women with money to bring about positive change and the intertwining of power and money35:37 Shifting mindset from saving to expanding opportunities and the impact of mindset on financial growthConnect with Sarah:WebsitePodcast YouTube InstagramTikTok Resources:Join the Guild MembershipSubscribe to the Maximum Lawyer Youtube ChannelFollow us on InstagramJoin the Facebook GroupFollow the Facebook PageFollow us on LinkedIn

September 25, 2023Episode 8243 min

Navigating Parenthood and a Rural Law Practice with Bridget O'Toole

This week on Maximum Mom, your host Elise Buie is joined by Bridget O'Toole. Bridget is a millennial environmental, land use, municipal and energy lawyer and mom to a 4-year-old son. She opened her own law firm on April 1, 2023 (April Fools Day) in one of New York's most rural counties after leaving a bougie downtown boutique law firm.She’s been practicing since 2011 and represents clients all over New York State in her practice areas. Take a listen!01:11 Meet Bridget04:58 Bridget’s practice in environmental, land use, municipal, and renewable energy law09:37 The challenges of working from home10:35 The persistent issue of schools contacting mothers first16:42 Bridget's work in renewable energy and her experience working with commercial fishing associations in New York State22:44 The benefits of meditation for stress management and the importance of unplugging from technology29:18 Bridget’s fear of what others would think if she opened an office in a rural county and how she overcame it31:26 The value of giving trusted referrals 34:56 The lack of access to justice and technology in rural communities and how it affects her practice39:53 The different types of insurance that are necessary as a law practice grows41:19 The significance of joining a mastermind group and connecting with other women who have similar experiences as working moms📹 Watch the interview hereResources:Join the Guild MembershipSubscribe to the Maximum Lawyer Youtube ChannelFollow us on InstagramJoin the Facebook GroupFollow the Facebook PageFollow us on LinkedIn

September 4, 2023Episode 8146 min

Avoiding Common Mistakes When Buying or Selling Law Firms with Victoria Collier

This week on Maximum Mom, your host Elise Buie is joined by Victoria Collier. Victoria Collier, Founder and CEO of Quid Pro Quo: Victoria is a seasoned entrepreneur with over 20 years of experience in the legal industry. In addition to building and selling her own 7-figure law firm, she has been coaching lawyers since 2008 on how to add value to their law firms.Take a listen! 08:15 Victoria Collier discusses how having children has influenced her entrepreneurial journey and the motivation it provides to show her children they can pursue their dreams11:50 Introduction to Victoria Collier's business, Quid Pro Quo, which assists law firm owners in selling or buying law firms, focusing on finding a perfect match between buyers and sellers18:51 The importance of being true to yourself and finding fulfillment in your work and personal life19:56 The dangers of pursuing growth without considering personal values and alignment with clients24:12 The importance of preserving the culture and legacy of a law firm when buying or selling, and the need for realistic expectations and a successful transition process29:11 Discussion on the transition timeline when buying or selling a law firm, including the importance of respecting the seller's decisions and allowing them to stay as long as they want30:50 Exploring the importance of going beyond surface-level conversations and understanding the fears and concerns that drive people's decisions34:31 Steps involved in working with the speaker to evaluate and position a law firm for sale, including assessing the current state of the firm, determining the desired outcome, conducting a valuation, and creating a marketing package.37:44 Discusses the rules of thumb for valuing law firms based on the services provided and the multiple of earnings before taxes and depreciation and amortization (EBITDA).38:45 Explains the concept of sellers discretionary earnings and how it involves recasting personal expenses back into the net income of the law firm.42:18 Emphasizes the significance of financial forecasting for law firms, including the ability to analyze trends, make strategic decisions, and understand the impact on the numbers.Connect with Victoria Collier:WebsiteResources:Join the Guild MembershipSubscribe to the Maximum Lawyer Youtube ChannelFollow us on InstagramJoin the Facebook GroupFollow the Facebook PageFollow us on LinkedIn

August 21, 2023Episode 8053 min

Revolutionizing Education: Innovations for the Future with Amy Cote

This week on Maximum Mom, your host Elise Buie is joined by Amy Cote. Amy started Think Out because for most organizations prevention is an afterthought. With communication, consistency and execution, employees will perform well as teams that are prepared for the expected and unexpected. Thanks to Amy’s training and experience, she has strong skills in leadership, communication, change management, operations, labor relations, policy development and best practices. Thanks to Amy’s genes, she has an obsessive curiosity, keen ability to think out, problem solve and counsel. If you have questions or just want to think out loud together, Amy would love you to take action and advocate for yourself, your people, your business, your future! Take a listen!11:34 How curiosity and innovative thinking play a role in Amy’s business19:29 The need to question traditional ways of doing things and the benefits of thinking outside the box20:38 A businesses to plan for the future 32:08 Amy starting her own business, including the initial uncertainty and the importance of perseverance44:08 Personal growth and self-discovery that comes with owning a businessConnect with Amy Cote:Website Resources:Join the Guild MembershipSubscribe to the Maximum Lawyer Youtube ChannelFollow us on InstagramJoin the Facebook GroupFollow the Facebook PageFollow us on LinkedIn

August 7, 2023Episode 7949 min

Building Authentic Connections with Rachel Clar

This week on Maximum Mom, your host Elise Buie is joined by Rachel Clar. Rachel is a divorced lawyer mom, and in deciding to launch a business. She had to first move through a tremendous inner journey of self-discovery and personal growth to develop the courage to take a big chance. As lawyers, we often live our lives based on the model we learned in school, the lie that conflict is a binary only resolved with someone prevailing. As women, in general, we were raised to elevate ourselves through collaborative leadership instead. Rachel believes in reconciliation work, humility, and collaboration. She wants women lawyers to find their sisterhood where they can speak freely, ask their toughest career questions, and level up to get the pay and the influence that they rightly deserve. Rachel creates spaces where real conversations happen and women both deeply bond & craft brilliant career strategies. She is a woman, a lawyer, and entrepreneur, professionally. Rachel is a mom to two amazing teenage boys. She is an empath, an artist, and a student of non-violence. 02:48 Meet Rachel and Interconnected Us06:40 The struggles and unhappiness experienced by women lawyers10:32 Combating the pressure to always appear strong.16:57 The value of time, the importance of setting boundaries, and the ongoing journey of learning to manage time effectively23:27 The importance of celebrating personal wins and prioritizing self-care27:34 Using exercise to shut the brain off 33:05 The joy of making connections41:26 The lack of emphasis on emotional intelligence and communication skills in law school and the legal professionConnect with Rachel:Website LinkedIn Resources:Join the Guild MembershipSubscribe to the Maximum Lawyer Youtube ChannelFollow us on InstagramJoin the Facebook GroupFollow the Facebook PageFollow us on LinkedIn

July 17, 2023Episode 7839 min

Empowering Women Through Education with Flora Garcia-Sepulveda

This week on Maximum Mom, your host Elise Buie is joined by Flora Garcia-Sepulveda. Flora Garcia-Sepulveda, a founding partner of Woodman & Garcia-Sepulveda and a Certified Family Law Specialist, is an experienced trial lawyer who practices family law exclusively, focusing on diverse financial issues including business valuation, property division and child and spousal support. Flora is fluent in Spanish. Flora also represents clients in difficult custody disputes and move-away cases. Before she opened her practice, she worked at Bay Area Legal Aid a non-profit Agency representing victims of domestic violence in their restraining orders, divorce and immigration matters. Flora began to practice family law exclusively in 2005, and has focused in this area of law since that time. Flora previous work at the San Mateo Court and her domestic violence litigation background results in the smooth management of her family law cases as they progress to trial. Her attention to detail and knowledge of the intricacies of family law procedure enable her to strategically plan her cases and prepare for settlement or trial in a way that ensures that clients are receiving the best and most comprehensive representation available. Since 2012 Flora expanded her practice to include probate matters such as wills, trusts, guardianships, conservatorships and step-parent adoptions.05:34 The importance of education in building resilience07:53 Teaching her daughters to be self-sufficient 11:00 Discussion on the need to educate people about the long-term ramifications of staying at home 19:08 The value of teaching children self-sufficiency and the importance of not doing everything for them30:58 The need to let go of bitterness and victim mentality 34:14 The importance of educating and empowering women37:30 The benefits of remote work and flexibility, particularly for working mothers, and how it can lead to increased productivity and work-life balanceConnect with Flora Garcia-Sepulveda:Website Avvo LinkedInTwitter FacebookResources:Join the Guild MembershipSubscribe to the Maximum Lawyer Youtube ChannelFollow us on InstagramJoin the Facebook GroupFollow the Facebook PageFollow us on LinkedIn

July 3, 2023Episode 7728 min

Understanding Your Finances to Help Your Firm Thrive with Leah Miller

This week on Maximum Mom, your host Elise Buie is joined by Leah Miller. Leah was a litigation paralegal for 13 years, 10 of those years she was a Florida Registered Paralegal. Leah has her MBA from Florida Gulf Coast University in Estero, Florida. Until just recently Leah was the firm administrator and CFO for a personal injury law firm in SW Florida. She has started her own business LNM Financial Services to broaden her reach and use her knowledge to help other law firms understand their financials. Leah’s ultimate goal is to educate law firm owners on how they can make financial choices to grow their firms in the future. Using tools like budgets, KPIs and cash flow projections, firm owners can make financial choices that work for them.02:10 Meet Leah and her story of becoming an entrepreneur06:20 How working for herself has allowed Leah to be more present for her children11:56 The importance of understanding finances for law firm owners and the services provided to help them manage their finances effectively21:17 Regularly reviewing expenses and ensuring that they are necessary and utilized efficiently22:19 Cutting expenses without compromising efficiencyConnect with Leah:Website Services 🎧Listen to the podcast here.🎧Subscribe to our channel so you never miss an interview, presentation or training here! 🎧 Sign up for the Maximum Mom newsletter here. Resources:Join the Guild MembershipSubscribe to the Maximum Lawyer Youtube ChannelFollow us on InstagramJoin the Facebook GroupFollow the Facebook PageFollow us on LinkedIn

May 8, 2023Episode 761 hr 1 min

The Power of Resilience with Christine Diorio

This week on Maximum Mom, your host Elise Buie is joined by Christine Diorio. Christine is a survivor! After losing her brother to a drug overdose when she was 23, she married her first husband less than a year later. They were both alcoholics, and yet somehow she managed to go to law school and have 2 kids while they were there. After she started work as prosecutor, Christine and her husband went through a very nasty divorce which culminated in her own (and very public!) arrest for DUI and she was forced to resign. Fast forward 13 years later - Christine is sober, in her second marriage with a beautiful blended family, and despite spending the first 5 years after her divorce in and out of court with her ex-husband, today he is also sober and they have a solid and friendly co-parenting relationship. After Christine’s DUI, she became a public defender. As she worked on her own sobriety - advocating for other addicts in jail was deeply fulfilling but also left her burnt out, so when she became pregnant with her youngest daughter, she went on maternity leave and took a much needed break from the law. When Christine’s daughter entered kindergarten, she knew it was time to return to work but she still wanted the flexibility to be home with her 3 kids. So, the Law Office of Christine Diorio was born smack dab in the middle of the pandemic! I practice primarily family law (mostly divorce) and some criminal defense (mostly DUI's). She truly feels called to help others through the things she has had to overcome, to hopefully inspire them and provide some light and hope. Christine’s tagline is "where justice has a heart" because she believes the justice system needs more compassion. She just celebrated 2 years since opening her firms doors in Tampa, Florida. She has 3 staff members and they are totally virtual. They are growing by leaps and bounds and Chirstine believes it is because of the compassion she brings along with the focus to help her clients stay out of court wherever possible. She believes nothing about the divorce process should become so nasty, that you are unable to be co-parents when it is over, and too many attorneys contribute to this dynamic! By being open with her clients about her own journey, Christine is able to meet them where they are. 02:14 Christine’s story of resilience and grit, sharing her personal and professional journey. Including her struggles with substance abuse, divorce, and career changes.11:31 Starting a virtual law firm16:41 Importance of peace in divorce, for the sake of the children and one's own well-being21:48 Collaborative law and the challenges of its high cost27:36 Hiring and empowering a team and the importance of prioritizing family36:18 Resilience in challenges of law practice and overcoming them49:14 Parental alienation and family law system54:05 Substance abuse in law schoolConnect with Christine:WebsiteBlog Client 📹 Watch the interview here.Resources:Join the Guild MembershipSubscribe to the Maximum Lawyer Youtube ChannelFollow us on InstagramJoin the Facebook GroupFollow the Facebook PageFollow us on LinkedIn

April 17, 2023Episode 7547 min

Leaving a Legacy with Carmen Rosas

This week on Maximum Mom, your host Elise Buie is joined by Carmen Rosas. Award-winning attorney Carmen, is on a mission to help women get control of their lives beyond the grave. She enlightens them with not only how to protect their legacies but also teaches what, how, and when to protect their assets and legacy. Carmen Rosas, was born and raised in the bay area. A proud mix of Mexican, French, and Italian, she grew up fascinated by her grandmother’s stories of living in Mexico, arriving in America, and settling in California.Even at a young age, Carmen was fascinated by other cultures and the development of languages and communal systems, which led her to study anthropology at Santa Clara University. Carmen’s comparison studies of the U.S. legal system and tribal systems in New Zealand, as well as her interest in policy change, led her to law school.She has been featured in Forbes, Huff Post, and has been a recognized Super Lawyer for three years in a row.02:40 Meet Carmen! 12:48 Writing a book about creating a legacy plan21:06 Balancing the masculine and feminine energy of being an attorney24:27 Good enough for now 29:39 The power to change your mind31:48 Catching yourself saying “No”Connect with Carmen:Website PodcastInstagramFacebook🎧Listen to the podcast here. 📹 Watch the interview here.Resources:Join the Guild MembershipSubscribe to the Maximum Lawyer Youtube ChannelFollow us on InstagramJoin the Facebook GroupFollow the Facebook PageFollow us on LinkedIn