Elevate your law practice with the State Bar of Wisconsin's Practice Pulse podcast, hosted by Practice Management Advisor Brent Hoeft. This resource delivers expert insights and practical strategies from legal industry leaders to help you run a more efficient and successful firm—whether you're starting your own practice, improving operations, enhancing client relationships, implementing new technology, or designing a practice that aligns with your professional goals in today's legal landscape.
Episode 6: 10 Practical Cybersecurity Steps Law Firms can take Today
Brent Hoeft from the State Bar of Wisconsin discusses practical cybersecurity strategies for law firms, emphasizing habits, procedures, and the importance of a security-first culture. This episode provides actionable steps to improve cybersecurity without significant expense.
Key Points
Cybersecurity as a people and habits issue, not just technology
The cybersecurity triad: software, behavior, training
Importance of a security-first culture in law firms
10 actionable cybersecurity steps law firms can implement today
Risks of deepfakes and voice cloning in legal practice
The role of ethics and professional responsibility in cybersecurity
Creating a security policy and incident response plan
The importance of backups, encryption, and access control
Key Takeaways
Cybersecurity is more about habits and procedures than expensive technology.
Building a culture of security starts with routine discussions and clear reporting channels.
Multi-factor authentication significantly reduces the risk of unauthorized access.
Regularly updating software and connected devices closes known vulnerabilities.
Training staff to recognize phishing and social engineering is crucial.
Chapters
00:12 Intro
07:04 Ethical Rules
09:32 10 Steps towards improved cybersecurity
10:02 Step 1 - Build a security-first culture
12:41 Step 2 - Turn on Multifactor Authentication
15:44 Step 3 - Passwords and Password managers
18:57 Step 4 - Keep Software and Connected Devices Updated
21:43 Step 5 - Train your firm to recognize phishing and social engineering
27:15 Step 6 - Create a verification rule for money and sensitive information
32:12 Step 7 - Backups and testing restoration
34:03 Step 8 - Encryption
36:43 Step 9 - Limit Authorization and Access
38:06 Step 10 - Written Information Security Policy
41:22 Wrap up
Sponsors
8am LawPay - www.lawpay.com/member-programs/wisconsin-state-bar
Nicolet Law - nicoletlaw.com
Wisconsin Lawyers Mutual Insurance Company - wilmic.com
Links
Practice411 - www.wisbar.org/practice411
Wisconsin Solo & Small Firm Conference 2026 - https://www.wisbar.org/wssfc/2026
Music Attribution
Intro and Outro Music - Podcast Intro By Tatamusic, (Envanto)
Background music during sponsor ads
Music licensed through Soundstripe.
Code: XLUE6MV0BO3REBVP, YPQLLBNKQYRUOTXQ
29 May 2026
Episode 5: Law Firm Websites in the Age of AI
In this episode, Lindsay Marty from Above the Bar Marketing shares expert insights on optimizing law firm websites in the age of AI. Topics include essential website elements, SEO strategies, content creation, and adapting to AI-driven search and reputation management.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Law Firm Marketing
03:45 The Evolution of Law Firm Websites
05:54 Integrating Marketing Strategies
08:05 Building Authority and Trust Online
11:44 SEO
14:13 Maintaining a Strong Online Presence
16:39 Future Trends in Legal Marketing
21:46 Recommendations and tips for existing websites
26:32 ADA Compliance
28:06 Closing
Guest links:
Above the Bar Marketing https://abovethebarmarketing.com
Sponsors:
Wisconsin Lawyers Mutual Insurnace Company (WILMIC) www.wilmic.com
Nicolet Law https://www.getnicolet.com/
29 Jan 2026
Episode 4: The Power of Rethinking: Why Lawyers Resist Change Brent Hoeft
Summary
In this episode, State Bar of Wiscosnin, Practice Management Advisor, Brent Hoeft discusses the importance of rethinking law practice management and overcoming resistance to change. He identifies common mindsets that hinder improvement, such as the status quo and sunk cost fallacy, and offers strategies for continuous improvement centered around lean methodology. The episode emphasizes the need for a structured approach to implementing change, evaluating its effectiveness, and considering ethical implications of technology in law practice. Brent encourages attorneys to adopt a mindset of continuous improvement.
Takeaways
Rethinking practice management is essential for improvement.
Resistance to change often stems from fear and familiarity.
Mindsets like sunk cost fallacy hinder progress.
Continuous improvement requires a structured approach.
Breaking down changes into manageable steps fosters acceptance.
Client feedback is crucial for identifying areas of improvement.
Technology can enhance efficiency but must be implemented carefully.
Evaluate changes regularly to ensure they are effective.
Failure is a part of the learning process in improvement.
A culture of continuous improvement benefits the entire firm.
Sound bites
"This is an ongoing process. So it's not linear."
"Be open to continuous improvement."
"Make your law firm work for you."
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Rethinking Law Practice
03:11 Understanding Resistance to Change
04:42 Mindsets That Hinder Improvement
10:25 Continuous Improvement in Law Firms
15:46 Evaluating Change and Continuous Feedback
21:02 Final Thoughts and Call to Action
25:48 Outro
19 Sept 2025
Special Episode: The One About Wisconsin Solo & Small Firm Conference with Erin Ogden and Eliza Reyes
Committee members Erin Ogden and Eliza Reyes discuss the 2025 Wisconsin Solo & Small Firm Conference with host Brent Hoeft, highlighting community, networking, and continuous learning for practitioners in this interview.
30 May 2025
Episode 2: Talking Malpractice Insurance with Matt Beier of WILMIC
Matt Beier of WILMIC and host Brent Hoeft explore legal malpractice insurance, including claims-made policies and tail coverage, highlighting communication and risk management for lawyers in this interview.
26 Feb 2025
Episode 1: Legal Research and AI with vLex's Damien Riehl
In the inaugural episode of the Practice Pulse Podcast, produced by the State Bar of Wisconsin, host Brent Hoeft interviews Damien Riehl from vLex about the transformative impact of AI on legal research. They discuss the evolution of legal research tools, the integration of AI in legal practices, and the potential shift from billable hours to flat fee structures. The conversation highlights the importance of leveraging technology to enhance legal services and improve efficiency, while also addressing ethical considerations and the future of legal workflows.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Legal Tech and AI
02:49 The Evolution of Legal Research
05:53 vLex and Fastcase: Merging for Better Access
08:35 AI Integration in Legal Research
15:06 Ethics and Security in AI Usage
17:25 Enhancing Legal Services with AI
19:28 Billing Considerations
23:24 Better Legal Services through AI
27:29 AI in Legal Research: Workflows and Integration
30:21 Future of AI in Legal Research
32:37 Takeaway Tip
Who has been a guest on Practice Pulse
Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.
Erin Ogden
Eliza Reyes
Matt Beier
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
2 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
1 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 23 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
33
Social presence
0
YouTube
0
Engagement
32
Contact Practice Pulse
Guest appearances
Books guests
Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.
Questions about Practice Pulse
Who hosts Practice Pulse?
Brent Hoeft host the show. Published by Brent Hoeft.
How often do new episodes come out?
The show publishes monthly, based on its RSS feed.
Does Practice Pulse take guests?
Yes. Guests have been identified in episode analyses.
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