After the Gavel: Key Takeaways from the Take Charge! Solo and Small Firm Conference

The dust has settled after the insightful Take Charge! Solo and Small Firm Conference hosted by the State Bar of Georgia in Atlanta. For two days, over 100 attendees and 40 speakers dove deep into the challenges and opportunities facing modern solo and small firm lawyers. The atmosphere was electric, buzzing with conversations about innovation, efficiency, and the future of legal tech.

It was clear from our discussions that legal professionals are juggling a lot—from firm organization and effective client outreach to managing a robust online presence. Staying ahead in the evolving landscape of SEO and AEO (Answer Engine Optimization) is top-of-mind for many.

Levitate was proud to be a sponsor and exhibitor, connecting with so many dedicated attorneys and industry leaders. Here are our biggest takeaways from the event.

The Innovating Lawyer: Mastering Your Digital Storefront

The conference theme, "The Innovating Lawyer," perfectly framed the need for firms to embrace new strategies. Our team heard from countless attendees struggling to maintain all facets of their practice.

A central point of discussion was the digital storefront—how a firm shows up online. This was the focus of our own CLE-credit lecture:

Professionalism in the Digital Age: Sam Molloy's CLE Session

The well-attended session led by Levitate's Sam Molloy was both stimulating and eye-opening, immediately sparking great conversation and delivering tangible strategies attendees could use to take agency over their firm’s online reputation. The session, "Professionalism in the Digital Age: How to Manage Your Online Presence and Build Trust Across Digital Channels," emphasized that a lawyer’s digital presence must be managed with the same professionalism and care as an in-person consultation.

Key Takeaways for Solo and Small Firm Lawyers:

• Online Presence is Your Business Card: The session provided guidance on leveraging your firm website and overall online presence to optimize for SEO (Search Engine Optimization) and AEO (Answer Engine Optimization). Your digital assets must be structured to attract the right clients searching for legal services.
• The Power of Social Media: We discussed how attorneys can ethically and effectively utilize social media to build credibility, share valuable insights, and foster connections with their community, transforming platforms from simple feeds into professional tools.
• Online Reviews as Gold: The session highlighted Levitate’s effective strategies for not only asking for but also utilizing online reviews as powerful word-of-mouth referrals. The right system can turn a satisfied client into a public testimonial, dramatically boosting credibility and visibility. Levitate helps lawyers generate reviews and leverage them to strengthen their client relationship management.

Connections That Matter: Partners, Peers, and Professional Assets

The true magic of the conference was the opportunity to reconnect with friends, partners, and other innovators in the legal industry.

Meeting Our Partners and Fellow Exhibitors

We always value time spent with our integration partners, including the teams from Clio, MyCase, and PracticePanther. The seamless, two-way integrations Levitate has with these leading legal practice management software platforms are essential for helping lawyers automate communication and focus on their client relationship management.

Professional Assets & Directories: Building Credibility

In networking with peers, many conversations turned to the foundation of professional visibility. We learned that two large parts of successful networking for lawyers include:

• Professional Quality Photos: Securing professional quality photos is essential. These assets are critical for all digital profiles, lending instant credibility whether on a website, social media, or a directory. At the conference, Zaytor Media offered complimentary media packages to TakeCharge! attendees.  A generous contribution to help kickstart anyone’s professional online presence.
• Listing in Premier Directories: We highlighted the importance of being listed in professional directories, such as Find a Lawyer, which is the premier lawyer directory in GA and other states. Directories provide an important validation point for potential clients and other professional legal referrals. 

We were also pleased to connect with the team from NOMOs Marketing. This reunion was particularly significant as NOMOs Co-founder, Tyler Roberts, and Levitate's Sam Molloy share a history, having attended high school together. This connection underscores the powerful networking benefits of in-person events and the synergy that exists among industry peers who champion innovation. It was a great opportunity to recognize their successful business growth and collaborative spirit within the legal marketing space.

Shout-Out to the Take Charge! Team 👋

A huge thank you goes out to Nkoyo Effiong, Sheila Baldwin, and Kim Henry—the incredible Take Charge! Team, along with the iCLE team. Their flawless communication and engaging organization ensured a smooth and highly productive conference for everyone.

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Elevate Your Firm’s Client Strategy

The Take Charge! Conference underscored a critical truth: Success for solo and small firm lawyers hinges on strong client relationships and a credible digital brand.

If you missed the chance to stop by our booth, remember that Levitate is an all-in-one marketing platform designed to help attorneys stay top-of-mind with their clients, generate more referrals, and streamline their communications. We focus on providing authentic, personalized outreach that scales.

We're already looking forward to next year's event!