Monday Mentors with Austin Family Lawyers Holly Davis and Chris Kirker

Holly Davis and Chris Kirker, founders and partners of the Austin family law boutique firm Kirker Davis, join us on today's show. They talk about Zoom best practices and the importance of hunger and believing in yourself.

COVID-19 update (as of the July 30th recording date)

• The March shutdown created family law issues
• Influx of people needing help
  • interpret existing orders
  • know options if they are in an abusive situation
  • issues around kids/school
• Travis County
  • going to test a Zoom jury trial that is non-binding
  • essentially a pilot program
  • doubt we'll get to binding Zoom jury trials
• Bexar County
  • Hybrid with some Zoom voir dire
• Zoom hearings here to stay
  • prove ups at the end of the divorce are a good example of the type of hearing that could continue post-COVID
  • Lots of efficiencies
  • Proud of their team in both Austin and Williamson County offices in how they have adapted to the Zoom hearings
  • hearing schedule has not reduced; it has actually increased
  • there are more emergencies due to COVID
  • Used to have to take yourself, a paralegal, your client, boxes of evidence to the courthouse and wait for your turn to be called; now you get a specific date/time, exhibits are submitted in advance so everyone gets to see a list and prepare ahead; it increases efficiency and transparency
  • Proud of how the judges have adapted as well
• Tips/Best practices
  • Be organized
  • Have the exhibit list prepared well in advance
  • Know which page number you will be looking to in your exhibits
  • Start doing Zoom all the time for practice and to get comfortable
    • firm meetings
    • client consults
  • Don't show up right when the Zoom is starting; leads to wasted time (audio; camera; lighting; etc.)
  • Get familiar with the other platforms that might get used (Williamson County is using Microsoft Teams)
  • Be sure before objecting to things like admissibility or authentication
    • judges have grace toward this right now and taking a more critical eye to those types of objections
  • Dress like you are in-person for the hearing or client meeting, etc.
    • good advice for a job interview too!

Their firm and practice

• Second iteration of a successful family law firm
• Strong vision of who the ideal client is and who the team is they want to put together to serve those clients
• Wanted to break the mold of the old way of doing things and are having success practicing in a more modern way
  • Create policies that benefit the clients and associate attorneys
  • They have more clients calling in than they can handle so they are hiring
  • Each associate/paralegal is considered in every decision that is made
  • Goal when hiring people is they would make a career here rather than a job
• High-stakes litigation firm that can also provide service to those who aren't seeking litigation/conflict
• Female owned and a majority-female firm; diversity/inclusion
  • merit-based so anyone can thrive

Advice for lawyers in practice

• You can survive and thrive in hard things
  • Learned in law school that she could survive anything, and might even thrive in it (credits Baylor Law's Practice Court program)
  • You can do way more than you probably think you can, but you have to do it and practice. Bring value!
• Adopt/model good business philosophies now while you are in the early part of your practice
  • If you don't you could fall into limiting mindsets
• Be mindful of how clients are going to search/discover you
  • Don't depend on your law firm exclusively
  • Google yourself as a client would
    • Focus on a niche practice area that you are interested in and highlights your skills
    • People want experts at the highest level

Advice for lawyers in a job search

• Same advice in niche practice for client development applies to job searching
  • Firms want to hire someone who wants to do what the firm does, specifically. So a generalist is not as attractive as someone with a niche focus (that suits the need)
  • Indecision about what you want to do can also create more risk for the firm who may have to replace you after a short time if you leave because it's not a good fit.
• At the document stage (resume/cover letter)
  • Send a cover letter; shows more commitment/interest
    • highlight how serious you are about being a family law attorney
  • Proof your resume/cover letter; so many have errors
  • Looking for people that are hungry to become the best at what they do
    • someone with experience in another practice area who wants to make a transition to family law could be very attractive if they were great in their prior practice and are hungry to learn and become the best family lawyer they can be.
      • Addressing this (or other potential resume negatives) in a cover letter also provides an opportunities to demonstrate your advocacy skills.
• Interviews
  • Candidates tend to focus too much on where they've been as opposed to where they are going. How does the position fit into your larger career goals?
  • Fit of personality and can we get along is the focus.

Final Thoughts

• Holly - You can do it! Believe in yourself. Don't limit yourself.
• Chris - You aren't stuck. Take this COVID time to consider what you want.

Rapid Fire Questions

• Trait you most want to see in an associate: Chris - hunger/drive/self-taught; Holly - hunger
• Habit has been key to your success: Chris - desire to be the best; Holly - believing in myself
• Favorite App/Tool: Holly - Zoom; Chris - Clio
• Favorite Social Distancing Activity: Holly - taking calls while walking the neighborhood; Chris - swimming
• Favorite Legal Movie - Holly - none / The Pelican Brief; Chris - A Few Good Men

Thanks again to Holly Davis and Chris Kirker for joining us on the show!