https://simplecast.com Welcome to Sidebars presented by Access Legal - a podcast for attorneys who want to grow their practice, elevate their thinking, and discover a new way of practicing law. Hosted by James Bogatay, a licensed attorney, media-featured legal expert, and Co-Director of Education at Access Legal. Each episode explores the business side of running a modern law practice. From improving client relationships, and increasing profitability, to work-life balance: this channel is your go-to for thoughtful conversations and strategies. Whether you’re a solo practitioner, managing partner, or associate looking to think differently about law, James brings clarity, curiosity, and firsthand experience to help you grow your practice. Subscribe for new episodes every week. 2026 Empowered Legal LLC en Fri, 23 Oct 2026 19:00:00 +0000 Fri, 23 Oct 2026 19:00:15 +0000 https://sidebars.simplecast.com https://image.simplecastcdn.com/images/c7ae92ab-ebc7-4cb2-ab0b-3db836985d9e/3a76fac6-27bc-4947-b451-48103e324751/3000x3000/alsbshowart_stack_bold3000x3000v04rmf.jpg?aid=rss_feed https://sidebars.simplecast.com episodic Welcome to Sidebars presented by Access Legal - a podcast for attorneys who want to grow their practice, elevate their thinking, and discover a new way of practicing law. Hosted by James Bogatay, a licensed attorney, media-featured legal expert, and Co-Director of Education at Access Legal. Each episode explores the business side of running a modern law practice. From improving client relationships, and increasing profitability, to work-life balance: this channel is your go-to for thoughtful conversations and strategies. Whether you’re a solo practitioner, managing partner, or associate looking to think differently about law, James brings clarity, curiosity, and firsthand experience to help you grow your practice. Subscribe for new episodes every week. Access Legal false https://feeds.simplecast.com/b7P13v_V Empowered Legal, LLC internet@empoweredlegal.com d10e917f-72a9-4978-9a11-e4676355258a Fri, 23 Oct 2026 19:00:00 +0000 internet@empoweredlegal.com (Empowered Legal, LLC) https://sidebars.simplecast.com/episodes/90-of-divorces-settle-so-why-arent-we-doing-this-instead-FHuKnH15 90% of Divorces Settle... So Why Aren’t We Doing THIS Instead? Empowered Legal, LLC 00:19:35 Jen Johnson, former president of the Mississippi Bar, walks James through collaborative law, the contractual process where both sides agree up front to settle without the threat of court. She covers how the contract works, which cases should never go near it, and the withdrawal provision that forces everyone to take it seriously: if collaboration fails, both attorneys step aside and the clients start over with new counsel. Jen Johnson, former president of the Mississippi Bar, walks James through collaborative law, the contractual process where both sides agree up front to settle without the threat of court. She covers how the contract works, which cases should never go near it, and the withdrawal provision that forces everyone to take it seriously: if collaboration fails, both attorneys step aside and the clients start over with new counsel. false full 6 749626ae-0a46-4e02-b51f-561bdee65568 Fri, 16 Oct 2026 19:00:00 +0000 internet@empoweredlegal.com (Empowered Legal, LLC) https://sidebars.simplecast.com/episodes/how-top-law-firms-win-clients-before-the-first-call-dLBBjU13 How Top Law Firms Win Clients Before the First Call Empowered Legal, LLC 00:10:07 James Bogatay runs the full client enrollment sequence in one pass, from the first missed call through the signed fee agreement and automated payment plan. The center of it is the offer itself: where every other attorney asks 50% down or $5,000 up front, you ask for less and tie the balance to the client’s payday, at the same rate rather than a discounted one. James Bogatay runs the full client enrollment sequence in one pass, from the first missed call through the signed fee agreement and automated payment plan. The center of it is the offer itself: where every other attorney asks 50% down or $5,000 up front, you ask for less and tie the balance to the client’s payday, at the same rate rather than a discounted one. false full 5 db866669-8b94-4e88-9d1b-a9a1da27fea1 Fri, 9 Oct 2026 19:00:00 +0000 internet@empoweredlegal.com (Empowered Legal, LLC) https://sidebars.simplecast.com/episodes/the-simple-contact-strategy-that-gets-lawyers-more-clients-SfvzdPG9 The Simple Contact Strategy That Gets Lawyers More Clients Empowered Legal, LLC 00:05:51 James Bogatay lays out the multi-touch contact sequence attorneys should run on new inquiries, and makes the case for texting, which is the part most attorneys resist. His argument is about who is actually on the other end, like a single mom on her second shift or someone on a bus who cannot say a word about their custody case out loud. James Bogatay lays out the multi-touch contact sequence attorneys should run on new inquiries, and makes the case for texting, which is the part most attorneys resist. His argument is about who is actually on the other end, like a single mom on her second shift or someone on a bus who cannot say a word about their custody case out loud. false full 4 9a756d2a-57d0-4648-bb2c-122d90a198c8 Fri, 2 Oct 2026 19:00:00 +0000 internet@empoweredlegal.com (Empowered Legal, LLC) https://sidebars.simplecast.com/episodes/why-the-retainer-model-is-failing-and-heres-how-to-fix-it-iQfpPGQX Why the Retainer Model is Failing (And Here's How to Fix It) Empowered Legal, LLC 00:14:06 Only 23% of people who need a lawyer actually get one, and James argues the cause is how attorneys bill, not what clients can afford. He breaks down why large retainers shut out the middle class and shows how a smaller deposit plus automated biweekly payments can double or triple your client base without discounting your fees. Only 23% of people who need a lawyer actually get one, and James argues the cause is how attorneys bill, not what clients can afford. He breaks down why large retainers shut out the middle class and shows how a smaller deposit plus automated biweekly payments can double or triple your client base without discounting your fees. false full 3 2f921c03-ee70-4556-9aa0-a67290c69c09 Fri, 25 Sep 2026 19:00:00 +0000 internet@empoweredlegal.com (Empowered Legal, LLC) https://sidebars.simplecast.com/episodes/the-30-billion-opportunity-most-lawyers-are-ignoring-QMTrE_aM The $30 Billion Opportunity Most Lawyers Are Ignoring Empowered Legal, LLC 00:05:03 Only 23% of people with filed legal matters have an attorney, which leaves roughly 6 million cases a year without representation and a $30 billion market sitting untapped. James breaks down the math and explains why the problem is not that clients lack money but how attorneys are billing them. Only 23% of people with filed legal matters have an attorney, which leaves roughly 6 million cases a year without representation and a $30 billion market sitting untapped. James breaks down the math and explains why the problem is not that clients lack money but how attorneys are billing them. false full 2 36405dd2-2c23-45f8-b677-607e2d9fc4e2 Fri, 18 Sep 2026 19:00:00 +0000 internet@empoweredlegal.com (Empowered Legal, LLC) https://sidebars.simplecast.com/episodes/why-justice-is-unaffordable-for-most-americans-Qxjr9FRq Why Justice is Unaffordable for Most Americans Empowered Legal, LLC 00:10:23 In the 1970s, 99% of people with active legal matters had a lawyer. Today it's 23%, and James Bogatay argues the traditional retainer model is to blame, walking through what the Model Rules of Professional Conduct actually demand of attorneys and why states like Arizona are already handing the work to paraprofessionals. In the 1970s, 99% of people with active legal matters had a lawyer. Today it's 23%, and James Bogatay argues the traditional retainer model is to blame, walking through what the Model Rules of Professional Conduct actually demand of attorneys and why states like Arizona are already handing the work to paraprofessionals. false full 1