Why Building a Law Practice Makes You a Better Lawyer: Eye-Opening Perspectives from Scott C. Pappas

What if building a practice can teach you more about law than practicing law? That’s what happened in Scott C. Pappas’ case and we’re exploring! In the latest episode of Between the Briefs by Steno, Adrian Cea and Joe Stephens sit down with Scott, Managing Partner at Omnus Law to unpack the ins and outs of building an innovative firm that is revolutionizing the legal industry through their metaverse-based workplace, transparent billing structure, and commitment to attorney well-being. Tune in for invaluable insights on fostering a culture of grace and kindness in law practice, leveraging AI responsibly, and creating a sustainable work-life balance for legal professionals. If you’re interested in being a lawyer of the future, this episode offers a compelling vision of how technology and human-centered practices are reshaping the future of law.

In the latest episode of Between the Briefs by Steno, Adrian Cea and Joe Stephens sit down with Scott C. Pappas, Managing Partner at Omnus Law to unpack the ins and outs of building an innovative firm that is revolutionizing the legal industry through their metaverse-based workplace, transparent billing structure, and commitment to attorney well-being.

What You’ll Learn:

How to build a successful remote-first law firm using metaverse technology for lawyer collaboration
Why the traditional billable hour model is being challenged by client demands for transparency and value-based billing
How ‘grace’ and ‘kindness’ are key to building a sustainable law firm culture in a virtual environment
How to leverage AI responsibly in legal practice while maintaining high-quality client service
Why law firm innovation requires both technological advancement and cultural transformation
The importance of work-life balance in attorney retention and how to structure a firm that prioritizes well-being
How to transition from traditional practice models to more flexible, technology-driven approaches without sacrificing quality
The future of legal practice management and why big law firms may need to adapt or risk shrinking

If you’re interested in being a lawyer of the future, this episode offers a compelling vision of how technology and human-centered practices are reshaping the future of law.

Highlights:

00:00 Introduction & Omnus Law's Innovation

02:00 From Financial Motivation to Finding Purpose in Legal Practice

05:48 Founding Autism Behavioral Wellness: Legal Impact Beyond Practice

10:25 Why Lawyers Should Dedicate Themselves to Their Purpose

14:20 Revolutionizing Remote Work Through the Metaverse Platform

19:50 Building a Culture of Grace and Kindness in Virtual Law Practice

22:35 Transforming Legal Billing & Solving the $3000/Hour Problem

26:26 Practical Steps for Law Firms to Embrace Innovation

31:02 Prioritizing Attorney Wellbeing in Modern Legal Practice

34:12 Future Growth and International Expansion Plans

39:30 Scott’s Hot Take: The Future of Big Law and Client Expectations

Quotes:

"If you live like a lawyer when you're a student, you're going to live like a student when you're a lawyer. I will tell you, the novelty of the money wears off when you're miserable at your desk."
"I'm not positioning lawyers for success at Omnus. I'm positioning them for fulfillment in the practice of law. So what does that mean? It's practicing great law, but being able to enjoy a great life outside of the law."
"A lot of people feel that in order to be a great lawyer, it has to involve great personal sacrifice. And you could be committed to the practice, but at what point did it require us to give up everything else around us to thrive as a lawyer?"
"Law firms traditionally don't bill well - they may bill a lot, but we've institutionalized practices that allow us to communicate in real time any changes in scope of the engagement, any changes in budget, any changes in personnel handling the matter. The billable hour incentivizes the wrong behavior. Our process is really designed to minimize the friction between attorneys and clients."
"A lot of law firms talk about change, but are really reluctant. When we think about innovation, innovation isn't an act - innovation is a mindset. I would encourage those law firms to start their own innovation lab, looking at every operational process that's manual in their law firm and seeing what can be automated."