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This week on Maximum Mom, your host Elise Buie joined Amber Russell. Amber founded the Law Office of Amber Russell, PLLC, to help injured Texans all over the state get justice. Her passion for the law started at an early age, and she has worked with victims her entire adult life.  While attending the University of Texas Law School, she worked with groups to serve victims of domestic and sexual violence as well as individuals alleging they were wrongfully convicted.   She’s been practicing law for 15 years.  Amber started her career working for an international defense firm, before switching sides to represent individual plaintiffs. Since then, Amber has helped hundreds of clients who have been seriously injured, including victims of trucking and auto crashes. 2:55 opened here in Austin 6:30 starting my own firm 10:06 annual feedback process 14:08 multiple spreadsheets 18:52 50/50 23:03 what is our mission statement 27:06 there is a lot to learn Watch the interview here. MaxLawCon tickets are on sale now! Grab your ticket today at www.MaxLawCon2022.com Subscribe to Maximum Mom on your favorite podcast player, so you never miss an episode!Sign up for the Maximum Mom newsletter!

This week on Maximum Mom, your host Elise Buie joined Laura Hartnett. Laura started her early career interning on Capitol Hill and working for federal agencies while completing a Master’s in Public Policy, then became a management consultant advising federal agencies (IRS, the Pentagon, SSA) on how to be cheaper, better, and faster. Her friends didn't understand what she did, so they assumed she was a spy.  While she loved her job, she was sick of developing PowerPoints and missed writing in full sentences. She then went to law school and became a litigator. She recognized that while full sentences are helpful, sometimes clients need a digest, bullet points, and even a chart to understand the legal issue better.  Her first child was born, and BigLaw was draining. She joined the in-house counsel team at a Fortune 100 insurance company. Working directly with business clients, she saw even more that full sentences (and full memos) verged on uselessness. At the same time, she trained with her clients in design thinking - how do we provide services to humans, accepting them and operating first and foremost that the recipients of our services are humans?  It's a novel and revolutionary idea in the legal field. To her, it means developing an understanding of each of our clients, deliberating about the possible ways to be their legal expert, and delivering in new and different ways that delight clients.  She set out and formed a company with the mission of making lawyering better using these skills. She does not want women, minorities, and other marginalized groups leaving the practice of law. She wants them to ascend into legal leadership positions, and she recognizes that we're not going to get ahead practicing law the way that our largely white male predecessors did 50 years ago.  That's where she is committed to getting this work out there - teaching how to better communicate and connect with clients in ways that work better for lawyers and everyone involved. 2:35 cheaper, better, faster 6:27 body-positive messages 10:32 you’re serving a person 13:12 empathy 18:10 do it in bite-size pieces 22:01 do you delight in delivering these services 27:07 experiential people connections  30:00 giftology 34:58 you need all those perspectives together 38:02 authenticity  43:49 part of the solution 47:22 I became the spy 50:23 coming out with this mindset Watch the interview here. MaxLawCon tickets are on sale now! Grab your ticket today at www.MaxLawCon2022.com Subscribe to Maximum Mom on your favorite podcast player, so you never miss an episode!Sign up for the Maximum Mom newsletter!

This week on Maximum Mom, your host Elise Buie joined Zaira Solano. Zaira earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Georgia College & State University. While earning her degree, she worked in the office of a solo practitioner in the metro Atlanta area. She gained valuable, hands-on experience in family law, criminal law, and worker’s compensation law prior to her legal education. She worked for several firms throughout the Atlanta area while earning her law degree at Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School. Zaira discovered her passion for immigration during law school. Later in her training, she clerked at an immigration firm in Atlanta, Georgia. She also worked in the Fulton County Public Defender’s Office in the Complex Case Division.  In 2011, Zaira founded Solano Law Firm with a focus on immigration law to serve the Latino community. She believes in providing honest representation and educating clients throughout the process. 3:09 founded the firm in Atlanta 8:02 I have a kickass nanny 12:48 different experience 16:38 for my moms at the firm 20:16 the single parents 24:41 we will figure it out 29:10 being flexible enough 34:28 the mom guilt kicks in 38:23 some weight off my shoulders Watch the interview here. MaxLawCon tickets are on sale now! Grab your ticket today at www.MaxLawCon2022.com Subscribe to Maximum Mom on your favorite podcast player so you never miss an episode!Sign up for the Maximum Mom newsletter!

This week on Maximum Mom, your host Elise Buie joined Victoria Collier. Victoria is a two-lawyer married couple (both women) who had twins. Her wife (ADA) stopped working to be the primary home caregiver while she (law firm owner) became the sole financial support. 19 years later, while still with minor children, Victoria sold her law firm and "started over". So many say they "can't" because of the children; she says "I must" because of the children. Credentials: attorney, entrepreneur, published author, coach, advisor, speaker, mom, veteran, and a latch key kid who's now taking care of her parents (classic sandwich generation). Victoria Collier opened her own law firm straight out of law school, building from the experience she obtained as a paralegal in the Air Force and in the private sector.  Although Victoria’s niche was in Elder Law Estate Planning, she created a niche within that niche by being the first to teach Veterans Benefits for Seniors to elder law attorneys across the nation. In addition, Victoria co-owned a multi-million dollar company coaching other estate and elder law attorneys on how to build and scale their law firms.       She owned and operated her law firm for 19 years before she sold it in 2020. Prior to the sale, Victoria maintained average gross revenues between $1 - $1.5 million dollars for five consecutive years. Victoria currently co-owns another multi-million dollar business that helps Veterans, as well as owning a consulting firm and a Hemp Farm and CBD oil business. She has previously owned an insurance firm, publishing company, and a real estate business.      Victoria has completed an extensive study on the valuation, purchase, merger, and sale of businesses, including obtaining her Certified Exit Planning Advisor designation.     While all the other business coaches are offering to help you “build and grow” your business, Victoria focuses on helping you either Love your business or Leave your business and Walk Away Happy.       Victoria loved her business and the clients she served. And then she didn’t. She knew she had a choice to either fall back in love with it or sell it to someone else.  She decided to sell it to someone else (when you get the chance, ask her why she chose that option).  Victoria spent three years positioning her law firm to sell it.  Then, when the decision was made to sell, it took less than 90 days to find the buyer, draft the legal documents, and close.    Victoria now spends a great deal of her time with her children on the farm (as well as in the city where they still live and go to school), building her CBD business, and coaching attorneys on positioning their firms to either support its owner the right way or allow the owner to sell it and feel good walking away.   3:35 emotional intelligence  6:32 elder law and estate planning 10:06 the first 30 days 14:12 if we’re truly going to walk away 18:21 Let them have their own failures 23:27 love it or leave it 27:46 find me a buyer 31:43 who you listen to 36:01 the hemp 40:38 I do the coaching for lawyers 45:10 whichever way they go Watch the interview here. MaxLawCon tickets are on sale now! Grab your ticket today at www.MaxLawCon2022.com Subscribe to Maximum Mom on your favorite podcast player so you never miss an episode!Sign up for the Maximum Mom newsletter!

This week on Maximum Mom, your host Elise Buie joined Jennifer Gore-Cuthbert. Jennifer is passionate about entrepreneurship, especially women entrepreneurs. She is passionate about growing and scaling up businesses to 7 and 8 figures. She believes in living life to your maximum potential, personally, professionally, and financially. She is passionate about intentional parenting and the raising of independent and purpose-driven children.  Jennifer believes in being a lifelong learner. She loves fitness and is very goal-driven. She has built multiple 7 figure law firms and is in the process of building an 8 figure law firm. Jennifer also coaches women entrepreneurs to step into their greatness by vision boarding, learning to delegate, hiring, becoming a greater leader, and letting go of mom or women's guilt. 3:21 more support 7:11 my boss stole my identity 12:03 being intuitive 14:58 exposed to mom guilt 20:46 I hired a parenting coach 25:32 associate it with their mom doing it 29:26 letting a little bit go of that control 35:01 why are you doing it 38:33 creating a system 43:38 self-coaching 47:08 mindset Watch the interview here. MaxLawCon tickets are on sale now! Grab your ticket today at www.MaxLawCon2022.com Subscribe to Maximum Mom on your favorite podcast player so you never miss an episode!Sign up for the Maximum Mom newsletter!

This week on Maximum Mom, your host Elise Buie joined Nicole Loughlin. Nicole has an entirely virtual law firm, Loughlin Law P.A. where she practices estate planning, probate administration, and personal injury in Florida. She is a solo attorney with four support staff members, three years in business, multiple six figures in revenue, a lot of systems and automation, and a profit first from the beginning. Nicole is a mom of 3 (one just born last month), room/PTA parent involved, Disney pass holder, and peloton enthusiast. 3:46 waitlisted at Stetson 6:59 estate planning and personal injury 11:58 managing your own firm 14:09 scheduling is everything 17:01 build out systems 22:45 enjoy the business side of practice 26:20 Star Wars and Marvel 30:29 remember when you used to wish for this 36:18 a life bucket of learning still to do 41:37 the possibility of where I’m going to take us next 45:41 scheduled the whole thing out Watch the interview here. MaxLawCon tickets are on sale now! Grab your ticket today at www.MaxLawCon2022.com Subscribe to Maximum Mom on your favorite podcast player so you never miss an episode!Sign up for the Maximum Mom newsletter!

This week on Maximum Mom, your host Elise Buie joined Geannina Burgos.  Geannina Burgos is a first-generation (born in Chile), second-career attorney (previously in the non-profit arts education sector, and a classically-trained dancer). She went to law school part-time in the evening (started when her daughter was 6 months old) while working during the day. She is a partner at a plaintiff's disability insurance & ERISA firm, adjunct law professor, and serves on local non-profit/government arts boards. 3:29 it takes a village 7:34 thought process and emotion 11:18 dynamics 14:08 collaborative culture 18:10 collaboration not competition 21:49 disability close to my family 24:45 once a dancer always a dancer 28:15 art is in my heart 33:39 understand what you’re offering 37:14 maximum mom magic Watch the interview here. Subscribe to Maximum Mom on your favorite podcast player so you never miss an episode! Sign up for the Maximum Mom newsletter!

This week on Maximum Mom, your host Elise Buie joined Angela Barker.  As a black, immigrant woman who started her law career as a single parent, Angela shares her unique perspective on how you can use your strength to find success in your personal and professional life. Angela Barker’s role is to assist clients to prepare for and transition through various life stages, including pre-nuptial agreements in anticipation of marriage, advice, and counsel to clients considering a separation or divorce, and if necessary, representing clients in divorce negotiations and court proceedings. As a family lawyer, she supports her clients in seeking a fair and equitable distribution of assets created during the course of marriage, including a fair award of alimony/maintenance and support. 3:56 moot court6:24 practicing family law 9:27 practice litigation the right way 12:06 quality of judges  15:35 mandated mediation 19:00 road to independence 25:00 the bar exam 28:52 trip to Ghana Watch the interview here. Subscribe to Maximum Mom on your favorite podcast player so you never miss an episode!Sign up for the Maximum Mom newsletter!

This week on Maximum Mom your host Elise Buie dives into different topics coming off the Maximum Lawyer Mastermind in Scottsdale, Arizona, including various resources and books. She also explains how you, as a law firm owner, can benefit from things like the Guild, where many robust conversations happen on the daily. 2:37 traction 4:34 become clear on core values 8:39 gender equity 12:08 find your unicorn space 15:13 simple numbers, big profits Watch the interview here. Subscribe to Maximum Mom on your favorite podcast player, so you never miss an episode!Sign up for the Maximum Mom newsletter!

This week on Maximum Mom, your host Elise Buie joined Laura Chipman.  Laura‌ ‌Chipman‌ ‌is‌ ‌a‌ ‌marketing‌ ‌&‌ ‌privacy‌ ‌attorney‌ ‌and‌ ‌life‌ ‌coach‌ ‌for‌ ‌lawyers.‌ ‌As‌ ‌a‌ ‌coach,‌ ‌she‌ ‌helps‌ ‌women‌ ‌lawyers‌ ‌live‌ ‌and‌ ‌practice‌ ‌intentionally.‌ ‌As‌ ‌a‌ ‌lawyer,‌ ‌she‌ ‌takes‌ ‌pride‌ ‌in‌ ‌empowering‌ ‌her‌ ‌clients‌ ‌with‌ ‌practical‌ ‌and‌ ‌creative‌ ‌solutions‌ ‌to‌ ‌legal‌ ‌challenges.‌ ‌Laura‌ ‌is‌ ‌also‌ ‌a‌ ‌mom‌ ‌to‌ ‌two‌ ‌boys‌ ‌and‌ ‌lives‌ ‌with‌ ‌her‌ ‌family‌ ‌in‌ ‌a‌ ‌200-year-old‌ ‌farmhouse‌ ‌in‌ ‌rural‌ ‌North‌ ‌Carolina.‌ ‌You‌ ‌can‌ ‌find‌ ‌more‌ ‌about‌ ‌her‌ ‌story‌ ont‌ ‌her‌ ‌website‌ ‌‌‌and‌ ‌chat‌ ‌with‌ ‌her‌ ‌on‌ ‌LinkedIn‌. 3:35 coaching9:05 leading the life you want15:04 how to do less21:05 distinct business24:21 clarity of a vision30:15 making it a successful year36:34 being grateful 42:00 space to daydream Watch the interview here. Subscribe to Maximum Mom on your favorite podcast player so you never miss an episode!Sign up for the Maximum Mom newsletter!

Being a Mom and Special Ed Attorney with Frances Shefter This week on Maximum Mom, your host Elise Buie joined Frances Shefter.  Frances started her professional career as a regular education teacher. She always had an interest in special education and decided to obtain her master's in special education. After 7 years in the classroom, she became the special education coordinator at an alternative middle and high school. After 2 years in that position, Frances realized that she was not making the difference she wanted to make. Having always been interested in law, her next natural step was law school. After a stint in Florida practicing family law, she moved back to the Maryland area. Frances was a contract attorney in DC when she learned about DC Superior Court's CCAN panel. On her second attempt, she was accepted on the panel as a special education attorney. Around the same time, she met her now husband. Shortly after she got married, they started fertility treatment and she stopped being a contract attorney and started focusing on her law firm. She had her first daughter and continued building her firm while being a new mommy. 2 years later, she got baby fever and was back at the fertility clinic getting pregnant with her second daughter. She moved her office out of the house and into an actual office. Her special education law firm is now growing to help more families have a Stress-Free IEP experience while still being present as a mommy for her daughters. 4:40 the juggle is real11:30 navigating SpEd services 10:50 Zoom school impact18:03 kids and their strengths21:53 mom guilt25:07 quality time29:36 life fulfillment Subscribe to Maximum Mom on your favorite podcast player so you never miss an episode!Sign up for the Maximum Mom newsletter!

This week on Maximum Mom your host Elise Buie joined Erin Lecocq. Erin started law school when her daughter was 7 weeks old. Her husband at the time called law school "a hobby," so she was lucky to find support in friends she met at school. She stayed home with her baby during the day and went to class at night. Three and a half years later, she graduated law school cum laude with her daughter holding her hand. During her last year in school, she took a clinic helping incarcerated parents with their child welfare cases and knew immediately that was the kind of law she wanted to practice. A friend and Erin started a firm so they could get a contract with the Office of Public Defense, and learned more and worked harder during that time than she thought possible. It was also during this time that her marriage fell apart, and because she was told she "chose her career over her child," she ended up having to leave the job she loved to follow her ex and her daughter to New Mexico so she could have 50/50 custody. After the stress of that time, she decided she needed a break from child welfare, and ended up working for the NM Office of the Attorney General doing civil litigation where she gets to practice in state and federal court, and in the courts of appeals. She loves the new challenges that come with this work, and is thrilled she gets to spend so much time with her (now 9 year-old!!) daughter. 7:33 finding time for creative outlets9:45 incarcerated parents10:50 starting a firm to get a contract18:08 inequity20:28 vicarious trauma25:30 an empty cup 28:35 injustice Watch the interview here. Subscribe to Maximum Mom on your favorite podcast player so you never miss an episode!Sign up for the Maximum Mom newsletter!

This week on Maximum Mom your host Elise Buie joined Jennifer Hargrave and talk all things grief, teens and self-reflection. Jennifer is the owner of Hargrave Family Law . She helps good people end broken marriages. When facing divorce, people need to know they have options. Divorce does not have to end in disaster. The best divorces are ones where both partners are empowered to make decisions - not where fear is the operating force. Building a business is very similar. Jennifer recently lost her mother to cancer. She died four months from the date of diagnosis. Walking through this period of tremendous personal loss has strengthened her fortitude to help people find the blessings in the midst of very dark circumstances. 3:20 the teen years10:50 having other things to fill you up16:32 opportunity for growth18:25 when your responsibilities shift Watch the interview here. Subscribe to Maximum Mom on your favorite podcast player so you never miss an episode!Sign up for the Maximum Mom newsletter!

This week on Maximum Mom your host Elise Buie joined Laura Kelley. Laura is an immigration attorney and professional certified coach. She helps attorneys prevent and recover from burnout. She helps attorneys find joy, harmony and balance in their practices and lives. 2:39 your passion6:22 radical ownership10:55 our thoughts about our circumstances16:00 truth bombs20:33 false pleasures26:54 failure is required31:35 wind down time 42:30 you don’t have to do this Watch the interview here. Subscribe to Maximum Mom on your favorite podcast player so you never miss an episode!

This week on Maximum Mom your host Elise Buie joined Stacey Brown Randall. Stacey Brown Randall is the multiple award-winning author of Generating Business Referrals Without Asking, host of the Roadmap to Grow Your Business podcast and national speaker. She has had the privilege of helping well-known corporations and franchises, but her focus is on small business owners, solopreneurs and sales professionals. Stacey’s programs are uniquely tailored to help you take control of your referrals, your client experience and crush your goals. Stacey has been featured in national publications like Entrepreneur magazine, Investor Business Daily, Forbes, CEO World, Fox News and more. She received her Master’s in Organizational Communication and is married with three kids. 7:45 ignoring the gain 8:17 referral ninja 10:42 just try 11:50 referrals without asking 19:30 tracking networking 20:30 data is a starting point Watch the interview here. Subscribe to Maximum Mom on your favorite podcast player so you never miss an episode!

This week on Maximum Mom your host Elise Buie joined Shivanii Ray. Shivanii is an International Speaker and Gamification Expert, who uses her worldly experiences to inspire others to live life outside the box and on their own terms. When she was 10, after her family was forced out of the US due to immigration issues, she spent 5 years travelling around the world. Growing up globally, Shivanii was able to learn on her own terms which led her to become a certified NLP Practitioner and a certified Scuba Diver both by the age 12. The Global Face and Community Champion of FUNancial Freedom, Shivanii now helps kids and teens become financially smart. After realising the standard education system often falls short when teaching children things like financial literacy and mindset tools, she now helps kids and teens fill in the gaps and thrive in these areas. Shivanii emceed her first event at age 8 for 2,500 people and has since spoken at numerous entrepreneurial events across 4 continents, even sharing the stage with the legendary Les Brown. For her expertise, she has been featured on Good Morning America, NBC, FOX, ABC, and several international newspapers and magazines. Watch the interview here. Subscribe to Maximum Mom on your favorite podcast player so you never miss an episode!

This week on Maximum Mom your host Elise Buie joined Alycia Kinchloe. Alycia manages a law firm and other small businesses while raising three sons with my husband. My unique business ownership experience provides a different perspective on management, goal setting, and work-life "balance." Watch the interview here. Subscribe to Maximum Mom on your favorite podcast player so you never miss an episode!

This week on Maximum Mom your host Elise Buie joined Corinne Cantwell Heggie. Corinne is a principal of Wochner Law Firm LLC in Northbrook, Illinois. Corinne safeguards individuals from taxes, legal battles, and asset loss with estate planning.  Corinne will appear in probate court if beneficiaries are not named by a decedent. Corinne is the immediate past President of the Women’s Bar Association of Illinois. Under Corinne’s leadership, WBAI forged unprecedented partnerships with state and national bar associations, the judiciary and government offices to commemorate the centennial of the 19th Amendment to the United States Constitution that provided women the right to vote.  Corinne is currently serving the North Suburban Bar Association as a member of its Board of Directors.  Corinne is a merit badge counselor for Boy Scout Troop 156 and parent board member for Glenview Junior Titans Football. Corinne and her husband and law partner John are raising three sons in the northern suburbs of Chicago where the family is active in scouting, sports and ministries that support women and children in crisis through Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish.  Watch the interview here. Subscribe to Maximum Mom on your favorite podcast player so you never miss an episode!

This week on Maximum Mom your host Elise Buie joined Amany Ragab Hacking. Amany practices immigration law full time at Hacking Immigration Law, LLC. She is the Chief Operations Officer.  From 2007 to 2016, she was an Associate Clinical Professor of Law and Supervisor of the Externship Clinic at Saint Louis University School of Law. She also taught Immigration Law and an Islamic Law Seminar. She teaches as an adjunct professor at Washington University School of Law.  She is a mom of 4. 3:53 it’s not a straight line 10:15 family dynamics22:02 you can always do the right thing25:57 law practice operations45:26 letting go47:06 be kind to yourself Watch the interview here. Subscribe to Maximum Mom on your favorite podcast player so you never miss an episode!

This week on Maximum Mom your host Elise Buie joined Sonya Sigler. Sonya is a mom of three man boys (ages 23, 21, and 19). She had a 25 year in-house career and has learned a lot in that time - about being a mother, a professional, and a better human! She wrote down the career advice into two books WELCOME to the Next Level and What's Next for My Career? She has so many ideas, that she’s not sure where to start in terms of sharing them with everyone. You can see a recent article she wrote on self-care and how it can help keep you out of burnout-land. Watch the interview here. Subscribe to Maximum Mom on your favorite podcast player so you never miss an episode!