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  • David Craig: 50 Employees, 10 Lawyers, and Almost Nobody Leaves. Here's Why.
    Sep 21 2026

    Welcome to episode 60 of The Earley Show, hosted by personal injury attorney Christopher Earley! For this conversation, Chris is joined by David Craig, managing partner of Craig, Kelley & Faultless LLC and host of the After the Crash podcast.

    David has been a trial lawyer for nearly four decades and a marketer for just as long. He tells Chris how he started a firm in 1999 with three lawyers, no cases and no money; how wrapping every phone book in southeastern Indiana in a vinyl cover got him the back cover for free; and why he flipped his firm from 80% attorney referrals to 80% consumer marketing and ended up with more referrals than ever. He also breaks down how he squeezes a dozen assets out of a single podcast interview, why he writes books for consumers instead of lawyers, and the Monday-morning bacon that keeps 50 employees from leaving.

    00:00 Sponsored by Answering Legal
    00:52 Meet David Craig, Indiana truck accident lawyer
    02:04 Growing up in Indiana: a psychologist dad who was a Marine
    03:27 From politics to law: the drive to make a difference
    04:31 Law school strategy: one A and a clerking plan
    05:45 Learning from the best trial lawyers he could find
    07:45 Stacking experience — and hanging a shingle in 1999
    09:09 Leaving with zero cases and starting from nothing
    11:27 The slow burn: competing when you can actually try cases
    12:04 The phone book cover idea that beat the back cover
    13:24 “I don’t know how to build a business” — why that’s a choice
    14:03 Laundromat cards, bike helmets, and standing out
    14:41 Being a high-level trial lawyer and a high-level marketer
    16:12 Masterminds, Crisp, and maximizing every asset
    17:04 After the Crash: niching a podcast down to trucking
    18:21 Batching content and spinning one asset into many
    18:56 Keywords, comments, and asking “why am I doing this?”
    20:29 Flipping from B2B referrals to B2C consumer marketing
    22:33 Stacking authority: books, speaking, Google and AI rankings
    24:27 Turning down speaking gigs and protecting your time
    25:52 Refer a case to Chris Earley
    26:34 The 80/20: start with “is this helpful to anybody else?”
    28:11 Why David still gets on planes to speak
    29:16 Marketing two books written for consumers, not lawyers
    30:45 The client interview that flipped the script
    32:40 Becoming a category of one — and never pressing the client
    34:13 Retention: hiring law clerks and good human beings
    35:54 Equal partners and a buy-in formula from John Morgan’s book
    37:11 Giving associates 50% of every case they bring in
    38:01 Accountability, seasons of life, and kids in the firm
    39:46 People don’t leave jobs, they leave bosses
    40:36 Monday bacon and Thursday lunch: culture that costs little
    42:08 A day in the life at 66
    43:36 Why trial lawyers are the future in an AI world
    44:55 Bring on the competition: challenges as fuel
    46:33 The moat — and how to reach David Craig

    About our guest
    David Craig is the managing partner of Craig, Kelley & Faultless LLC in Indianapolis, which he founded in 1999 with Scott Faultless and B.J. Kelley. He is board certified in truck accident law and has tried catastrophic injury and wrongful death cases for nearly four decades. He hosts the After the Crash podcast and wrote Semi-Truck Wrecks: A Guide for Victims and Their Families and It’s Never Been Easier to Hire the Wrong Attorney. He speaks nationally for the Academy of Truck Accident Attorneys and hosts an annual trucking seminar for the Indiana Trial Lawyers Association.

    Connect with David
    Website: ckflaw.com
    After the Crash podcast: https://www.ckflaw.com/after-the-crash-podcast/

    People and resources mentioned
    Scott Faultless and B.J. Kelley — David’s founding partners
    Semi-Truck Wrecks: A Guide for Victims and Their Families
    It’s Never Been Easier to Hire the Wrong Attorney
    Tanner Jones — Consultwebs
    PIMCon — Personal Injury Mastermind Conference
    Crisp — David’s coaching and mastermind group
    Academy of Truck Accident Attorneys (ATAA)
    Indiana Trial Lawyers Association
    John Morgan — his book shaped David’s partner buy-in formula
    practicetipoftheday.com — Chris Earley’s free weekly email list for lawyers

    Learn more about Chris' practice, the Earley Law Group, here: https://www.chrisearley.com/

    Check out Chris' book "Scaling The Wall" here: https://tinyurl.com/mrxxyv5n

    The Earley Show is a part of the Answering Legal Podcast Network. Learn more about our podcast network here: https://tinyurl.com/yk7t3nms

    Interested in learning more about Answering Legal? Book an appointment to speak with us here: https://tinyurl.com/ufnvb2a3

    You can also give us a call at 631-866-0801.

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    48 Min.
  • Jenn Gore: She Sold Her Law Firm, Ran Intake For 500 People, Then Walked Away
    Sep 8 2026
    Welcome to episode 59 of The Earley Show, hosted by personal injury attorney Christopher Earley! For this conversation, Chris is joined for the second time by Jenn Gore, founder of Evergreen Business Coaching.Jenn and Chris go deep on the intake system she installs in firms around the country: the dedicated new client line, why manual lead entry both loses cases and invites outright fraud, the audit process that catches misclassified leads, and the 30-day chase sequence most firms never build. She also explains Greg Crabtree’s “black hole” between $2 million and $5 million, why the most broken department in most firms is production rather than intake, and why she would not sign a long-term CRM contract right now.00:00 Welcome back — a return guest, two and a half years later01:24 Selling her firm, joining Sweet James, and walking awa07:13 Running national intake: what she found and fixed08:10 Why you need a dedicated new client line09:13 Manual lead entry is a hole in the bucket10:24 Intake fraud: leads sold out the back door for $10,00010:44 Auditing every single call that comes in12:29 The 30-day chase sequence15:11 Chris: I meet with intake more than my COO17:52 The most broken department in every firm (it isn’t intake)20:39 Evergreen Business Coaching: who it’s built for24:29 Labor ratio and the lag built into contingency30:58 Coaching outside of law — and COO services33:06 Where this is all going: AI, and CRMs under threat37:31 Do not sign long-term software deals right now38:11 How to reach Jenn40:02 Chris’s why: being the father he didn’t have44:29 Vision boards, big checks, and writing the future down45:33 “One day you will sell your law firm”About our guestJenn Gore is the founder of Evergreen Business Coaching, where she works with personal injury firm owners around the country on intake, operations and scale. She founded Atlanta Personal Injury Law Group, which was named to the Inc. 5000 list of fastest-growing U.S. companies for three consecutive years, and later sold equity in the firm to create Sweet James Georgia — serving as a partner and running intake nationally for Sweet James before completing a full sale and exiting. She practiced personal injury law for 14 years, focusing on wrongful death, trucking and motorcycle cases. She hosts an annual business plan workshop in Atlanta where firm owners pitch their plans for live, Shark Tank-style feedback.Connect with JennLinkedIn: Jennifer Gore — Evergreen Business CoachingInstagram: @jenngorelawyerWebsite: evergreenbizcoaching.comEmail: jennifer@evergreenbizcoaching.comTopics coveredSelling a firm into a national platform — and what the transition actually feels likeWhy revenue predictability in a contingency practice requires intake, marketing and production to all be predictableThe dedicated new client line, and why attribution falls apart without oneAPI integration between call tracking and intake software vs. manual entryIntake fraud: leads sold to competitors, and leads misclassified as unqualified to protect conversion numbersDaily call auditing, and using AI call summaries to trigger deeper reviewThe 30-day chase sequence and why two days is not enoughThe fundamentals that put a firm in the top 5% of intake operationsGreg Crabtree’s “black hole”: why profit disappears between $2M and $5MLabor as the number one expense — and the lag between paying for work and collecting on itWhy production, not intake, is the most broken department in most firmsCRMs vs. AI platforms, and why long-term software contracts are risky right nowCoaching second-in-commands and building a world-class COOStaying open to career change, and writing your future downPeople and resources mentionedSweet James Accident Attorneys — sweetjames.comAtlanta Personal Injury Law GroupGreg Crabtree — Simple Numbers, Big ProfitsJames Clear — Atomic HabitsChad Dudley — on never taking your eyes off intakeRyan McKeen — Best Era, LLC; the Best Era Slack communityRevolutionary Era — Best Era’s Boston event, Suffolk University Law SchoolAI Era — Best Era’s AI conference in Charleston, SC (2026 edition: AI Era 2.o, November 5–6)Lunch Hour Legal Marketing — Tennessee, AugustPILMMA — where Chris saw Greg Crabtree speakTLU (Trial Lawyers University)Mike Morse — on how a couple of ideas can change your trajectoryMickey Love — previous Earley Show guest, on constantly curious peopleLead Docket, Law Ruler, CallRail, RingCentral, EveLearn more about Chris' practice, the Earley Law Group, here: https://www.chrisearley.com/Check out Chris' book "Scaling The Wall" here: https://tinyurl.com/mrxxyv5n The Earley Show is a part of the Answering Legal Podcast Network. Learn more about our podcast network here: https://tinyurl.com/yk7t3nms Interested in learning more about Answering Legal? Book an appointment to speak with us here: https://tinyurl.com/ufnvb2a3You can also give us a call at 631-866-0801.
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    50 Min.
  • David Vicknair On Building A Law Firm People Love Working For And Clients Love Reviewing
    Aug 10 2026

    Welcome to episode 58 of The Earley Show podcast, hosted by personal injury attorney Christopher Earley! For this conversation, Chris is joined by David Vicknair, Partner at Scott Vicknair Injury Lawyers.

    David has built a thriving personal injury practice in one of the country’s most competitive legal markets by leading with love, demanding accountability and making exceptional client service part of his firm’s culture. In this conversation, he shares how his Louisiana upbringing and passion for football shaped his coaching-style approach to leadership, explains why systematizing hospitality helped Scott Vicknair earn more than 2,000 Google reviews and discusses how community involvement, mentorship and a commitment to personal growth have fueled the firm’s success.

    Guest Info:

    David Vicknair - Co-Founder of Scott Vicknair Law

    Visit David's firm website: https://www.scottvicknair.com

    Follow David's writing on LinkedIn: https://tinyurl.com/zxwkf4j9

    Learn more about Chris' practice, the Earley Law Group, here: https://www.chrisearley.com/

    Check out Chris' book "Scaling The Wall" here: https://tinyurl.com/mrxxyv5n

    The Earley Show is a part of the Answering Legal Podcast Network. Learn more about our podcast network here: https://tinyurl.com/2t4pa53m

    Interested in learning more about Answering Legal? Book an appointment to speak with us here: https://tinyurl.com/3yujbs8z

    You can also give us a call at 631-866-0801.

    This podcast is produced and edited by Joe Galotti. You can reach Joe via email at joe@answeringlegal.com.

    Music by https://www.free-stock-music.com

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    45 Min.
  • Steve Mehr on Betting the Farm — Twice — to Build Sweet James Accident Attorneys
    Jul 16 2026

    Welcome to episode 57 of The Earley Show podcast, hosted by personal injury attorney Christopher Earley! For this conversation, Chris is joined by Steve Mehr, Founding Partner of Sweet James Accident Attorneys.

    Steve has built one of the country's fastest-growing law firms by making bold bets, embracing technology and refusing to think like a traditional lawyer. In this conversation, he shares how his entrepreneurial background shaped the way he built Sweet James Accident Attorneys into a firm with nearly 80 attorneys and 500 legal professionals across five states. He also reflects on growing up as the son of Iranian immigrants, explains why he believes client obsession always beats competitor obsession and shares how taking calculated risks at pivotal moments helped transform his firm into an industry powerhouse.

    Guest Info:

    Steve Mehr — Co-Founder, Sweet James Accident Attorneys

    Email: steve@sweetjames.com

    Instagram: @stevemehr

    Learn more about Chris' practice, the Earley Law Group, here: https://www.chrisearley.com/

    Check out Chris' book "Scaling The Wall" here: https://tinyurl.com/mrxxyv5n

    The Earley Show is a part of the Answering Legal Podcast Network. Learn more about our podcast network here: https://tinyurl.com/8xs85xez

    Interested in learning more about Answering Legal? Book an appointment to speak with us here: https://tinyurl.com/2c3h7rat

    You can also give us a call at 631-866-0801.

    This podcast is produced and edited by Joe Galotti. You can reach Joe via email at joe@answeringlegal.com.

    Music by https://www.free-stock-music.com

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    50 Min.
  • Three PI Attorneys Share Their Stories, From Challenging Childhoods To Thriving Law Firms
    Jul 7 2026

    Welcome to episode 56 of The Earley Show podcast, hosted by personal injury attorney Christopher Earley! For this conversation, both Neal Goldstein (Co-Founder of Goldstein & Bashner, P.C.) and Steven Eichenblatt (Founding Partner of Page and Eichenblatt) make their return to the show.

    In this candid and deeply personal episode, Chris, Neal and Steven discuss childhood trauma, resilience, fatherhood and the unexpected power of writing a memoir. All three are personal injury attorneys who have not only built thriving practices but also published books about their most difficult life experiences. They discuss what drove them to write, how they got their books into the world, and why vulnerability might just be the most powerful marketing tool a lawyer has.

    Guest Info:

    Neal Goldstein — Co-Founder, Goldstein & Bashner, P.C.Featured Book: Who's In The Waiting Room?: Create the Life You Want through the Power of Authentic RelationshipsPodcast: That One Lawyer™ Podcast with Neal Goldstein

    Steven Eichenblatt — Founding Partner, Page and Eichenblatt Featured Book: Pretend They Are Dead: A Father's Search for the TruthWebsite: https://www.stevenscotteichenblatt.com

    Topics Covered:

    -Writing as therapy — uncovering anger you didn't know you still had-How childhood trauma and absent fathers shaped them as lawyers and as men-The concept of "grit" (referencing Angela Duckworth's book Grit) and why PI lawyers often have it in spades-Anger as a force multiplier — giving lawyers instant street cred and emotional connection with clients-What to leave in (and out) of a memoir when it comes to kids, divorces, and parents-Book launch strategies: publicists, Amazon reviews, social media, beta readers, book launch parties-Tips for aspiring memoir writers: get a coach, just get it down, do it yourself, don't use AI-How to weave your book into your law practice — giving it to clients, using it as a business card

    People & Resources Mentioned:

    -Angela Duckworth — Author of Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance-John Fischer — Mastermind class organizer; encouraged Neal to write his own book rather than hire a ghostwriter-Bill Umansky — Podcast host; Chris appeared on his show to discuss his memoir-Greg Paige — Neal's law partner; facilitating the JCC author event-Neal Goldstein's second book — "Who's in the Waiting Room? 68 Power Moves to Build a Law Firm Clients Can't Ignore for Personal Injury Lawyers That Refuse to Blend In"

    Learn more about Chris' practice, the Earley Law Group, here: https://www.chrisearley.com/

    Check out Chris' book "Scaling The Wall" here: https://tinyurl.com/mrxxyv5n

    The Earley Show is a part of the Answering Legal Podcast Network. Learn more about our podcast network here: https://tinyurl.com/3u4xdfyy

    Interested in learning more about Answering Legal? Book an appointment to speak with us here: https://tinyurl.com/3a4t52nr

    You can also give us a call at 631-866-0801.

    This podcast is produced and edited by Joe Galotti. You can reach Joe via email at joe@answeringlegal.com.

    Music by https://www.free-stock-music.com

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    50 Min.
  • The Real Story Of The Lawman: How Bill Umansky Built A 40+ Person Firm Without Losing Himself
    Jun 25 2026

    Welcome to episode 55 of The Earley Show podcast, hosted by personal injury attorney Christopher Earley! For this conversation, Chris is joined by Bill Umansky, Owner of The Umansky Law Firm.

    Bill Umansky — known as "The Lawman" — is the founder of Umansky Law Firm in Orlando, Florida, one of Central Florida's premier criminal defense and personal injury firms. He's also the host of Law Man's Lounge, a podcast now six years running that's earned a reputation for laid-back, unfiltered conversation with some of the biggest names in plaintiff law and legal marketing.

    In this episode, Bill shares how learning to embrace the last name he once hated helped shape "The Lawman" brand, why he's actively capping growth at 50 people and what it means to lead with authenticity. Bill and Chris also get into daily health habits, the real cost of scaling, why vulnerability beats bragging on social media, and how podcasting has quietly become one of the most powerful networking tools in the legal industry.

    This one moves fast. Don't miss it.

    Guest Info: Bill Umansky — Founder, Umansky Law Firm (Orlando, FL)Website: thelawman.netInstagram: @billisthelawmanCell: 407-399-7999Podcast: The Lawman’s Lounge

    Topics Covered:-University of South Florida, Dewey Valentine big law, and the University of Florida law school path100+ jury trials in 2.5 years as a prosecutor and what that taught him-Motivation at 59: from ego-driven wins to legacy and team building-Why he's capping his firm at 50 people and the EOS conversation that changed his thinking-The concept of "signal" — how much of your bandwidth is truly devoted to your business-The firm's 80/20 criminal-to-PI split — and the "Rear End Guys" rebrand-The Lawman's Lounge: six years, no sponsors, and lessons from Jason Hennessey on asking better questions-The Atlanta mastermind speech: stop performing "I'm fine" and talk about your real struggles-How "The Lawman" was born from a hatred of the name Umansky-Strategic networking: double-booking with intention, the 42-minute dinner, and why poker is a business development tool-The mastermind with John Fischer, Seth Price, and Craig Goldenfarb-Tiger Tactics, Second Chances, and plans for an AI-assisted memoir-How podcasting connected Billy, Steve Eichenblatt, Tom Tona, and Neil Goldstein

    People & Resources Mentioned:Jason Hennessey — Hennessey DigitalSeth Price — BluShark Digital / Price BenowitzJohn Fischer — mastermind host and trial attorneyCraig Goldenfarb — trial attorneyTyson Mutrux — Law Man's Lounge guestSteve Eichenblatt — Florida trial attorney, authorThomas Tona — mutual friend, trial attorneyNeil Goldstein — trial attorney, author (spelling unconfirmed — please verify)Market by Market — Billy's former in-house SEO teamPIMCON — legal marketing conferenceFilevine — legal practice management softwareEOS — Entrepreneurial Operating SystemLawman's Lounge — Billy's podcastTiger Tactics — legal book/symposium Billy contributed tothelawman.net — Billy's firm websitepracticetipoftheweek.com — Chris Earley's free attorney email list

    Learn more about Chris' practice, the Earley Law Group, here: https://www.chrisearley.com/

    Check out Chris' book "Scaling The Wall" here: https://tinyurl.com/mrxxyv5n

    The Earley Show is a part of the Answering Legal Podcast Network. Learn more about our podcast network here: https://tinyurl.com/4avtua2c

    Interested in learning more about Answering Legal? Book an appointment to speak with us here: https://tinyurl.com/yraxtv4k

    You can also give us a call at 631-866-0801.

    This podcast is produced and edited by Joe Galotti. You can reach Joe via email at joe@answeringlegal.com.

    Music by https://www.free-stock-music.com

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    53 Min.
  • "A Tree With Strong Roots Does Not Fear the Storm" – Paul Faust on the Future of Law
    Jun 2 2026

    Welcome to episode 54 of The Earley Show podcast, hosted by personal injury attorney Christopher Earley! For this conversation, Chris is joined by Paul Faust, President/Co-Founder at RingBoost.com.

    In this episode, Paul and Chris discuss why authentic relationships and generosity continue to create lasting success in the legal industry, how conferences and networking can open unexpected opportunities and why many of the top-performing attorneys consistently invest in coaching and mentorship. Paul also share thoughts on overcoming anxiety, the value of gratitude and positive self-talk, and how focusing on personal growth can help lawyers build more fulfilling careers.

    Chapters:2:48 - Paul's Early Years & Growing Up With A Family Full Of Lawyers8:49 - Lessons For Dealing With Anxiety11:54 - What High-Achieving Attorneys Have In Common16:53 - Paul's Life-Changing Realization22:15 - It's Okay To Be Broken25:28 - How RingBoost Drives More Voice Interaction29:13 - Tips For Getting Better At Networking34:52 - Working With Jesse Itzler37:01 - Paul's Top Legal Conference Picks40:46 - How To Get More Out Of Legal Conferences44:52 - What's Next For The Industry?52:40 - How To Get In Touch With Paul

    About our guest:

    As President, Paul Faust sets the vision for RingBoost and steers the company toward new growth opportunities. A nationally recognized expert in the use of local and toll-free numbers in marketing, Paul was inducted into the PILMMA Hall of Fame in 2017, and has contributed to and been featured in media outlets including the Wall Street Journal, NPR’s Marketplace, Entrepreneurs on Fire, Inside Business and The Startup Growth. On a mission to teach the world about the importance of voice communication to grow a business, Paul can always be found pushing the team to think creatively, stretch farther, and connect better with customers and partners.

    Learn more about RingBoost here: https://www.ringboost.com/Reach Paul via email at paul@ringboost.com

    Learn more about Chris' practice, the Earley Law Group, here: https://www.chrisearley.com/

    Check out Chris' book "Scaling The Wall" here: https://tinyurl.com/mrxxyv5n

    The Earley Show is a part of the Answering Legal Podcast Network. Learn more about our podcast network here: https://tinyurl.com/4sjamney

    Interested in learning more about Answering Legal? Book an appointment to speak with us here: https://tinyurl.com/mrn7k2s4

    You can also give us a call at 631-866-0801.

    This podcast is produced and edited by Joe Galotti. You can reach Joe via email at joe@answeringlegal.com.

    Music by https://www.free-stock-music.com

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    54 Min.
  • Gyi Tsakalakis Warns Law Firms Not To Be Overly Reliant On Google
    May 13 2026

    Welcome to episode 53 of The Earley Show podcast, hosted by personal injury attorney Christopher Earley! For this conversation, Chris is joined by Gyi Tsakalakis, Founder of AttorneySync.

    In this episode, Gyi and Chris discuss why trust and authenticity continue to drive successful law firm marketing, how lawyers can strengthen their visibility through community involvement and why firms should avoid becoming overly dependent on any single marketing channel. The conversation also explores the growing impact of AI on search, the importance of client experience and how building a recognizable brand can help law firms compete in an increasingly crowded digital landscape.

    About our guest:

    For over 15 years, Gyi Tsakalakis has been helping attorneys understand how people really find and hire lawyers online without the jargon, gimmicks, or empty promises that too often define the SEO and digital marketing industry.

    As co-founder of AttorneySync, Gyi works at the intersection of legal marketing, technology, and trust. His focus is on empowering lawyers to take ownership of their online presence, build authentic authority, and attract clients the right way.

    Learn more about AttorneySync here: https://www.attorneysync.com/

    Get full details on the Lunch Hour Legal Marketing Summit here: https://lunchhourlegalmarketing.com/

    Learn more about Chris' practice, the Earley Law Group, here: https://www.chrisearley.com/

    Check out Chris' book "Scaling The Wall" here: https://tinyurl.com/mrxxyv5n

    The Earley Show is a part of the Answering Legal Podcast Network. Learn more about our podcast network here: https://tinyurl.com/4mrrffc2

    Interested in learning more about Answering Legal? Book an appointment to speak with us here: https://tinyurl.com/384h4jn9

    You can also give us a call at 631-866-0801.

    This podcast is produced and edited by Joe Galotti. You can reach Joe via email at joe@answeringlegal.com.

    Music by https://www.free-stock-music.com

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    57 Min.