Humanising Your Law Firm Using Videos with Jimmy Singh (Episode 2)

Chris Schwager

Give us a wave, Jimmy. This is Jimmy. Wherever you are in the world. Thank you for joining us on this Monday, our show we're going to take you behind the scenes of the legal profession today and discuss news trends and insights and show you ways you can get your business visible to the world.

Today we're joined with video legend, legal expert Jimmy Singh from Criminal Defence Lawyers Australia and we're going to interview him on his perspective with creating more humanised videos for his legal and law practice and how he is leading the way with video marketing and let's not forget my favourite video marketing expert and co-host Brendan Southall. Say HI Brendan. Brendan, we'll connect you on the show and weed you out to take the leap of faith and actually ask your question live in video form.

Hi, I'm Chris Schwager, and welcome to Video legend in the making on LinkedIn, YouTube and your favourite podcast. I believe one of the most valuable mediums in business is video videos that lead your audience and inspire them. Your journey to be a more purposeful and connected video legend starts now.

Jimmy Signh is principal lawyer at Criminal Defence Lawyers Australia or CDLA for short, we're going to throw up some slides of Jimmy's business. He's appeared in popular television radio talkback shows and newspaper articles for his opinion on the law. CDLA is a leading law firm based in Sydney with over two decades of success in criminal and traffic cases. Jimmy, welcome to the show.

Jimmy Singh 1:52

Thank you, Chris.

Chris Schwager 1:56

Tell me Jimmy what is a criminal lawyer?

Jimmy Singh 2:01

A criminal lawyer is basically a person who represents people that are accused of criminal or traffic offences.

Chris Schwager 2:10

You've been operating for over three years now what challenges are you faced with in business and with all the different marketing options as a start up new young business, why video?

Jimmy Singh 2:23

Well, it's very different because I've been doing this for over 10 years. But in business I've only been in for about three years for over three years now. But it's very different moving from being just a practising solicitor or lawyer to also being a practising lawyer and also running a business at the same time. And video marketing I found is a huge opportunity for people to be able to tap into if they do it the right way to really build yourself a strong brand and trust and get a message across in the most efficient and quickest way to people.

Chris Schwager 3:01

Jimmy let's watch the video can give us a little intro first. Or not. Up to you. Yes. Yeah, give us a little intro to the video that we're about to shot which is a company profile video by the way. Give us a little intro.

Jimmy Singh 3:25

Okay, the video Well, we're gonna just basically outlines what we do as a team of criminal defence lawyers that represent people from all walks of life in New South Wales and abroad. And we provide advice. We provide legal representation ]throughout the court proceedings in court as well. And we try to help people get through that really tough time that they're going through. And that's basically what the video summarises, and it tries to put that message across to people that we are a trusted law firm. We have experience and we can provide that advice on the spot to help people.

Chris Schwager 4:12

And if you want to see the full video go to criminaldefencelawyers.com.au Brendan, you can just pop that little banner up now for us. Thanks for joining us. We're here with Jimmy Singh Criminal Defence Lawyers Australia talking about his experience using video in his firm. Jimmy you're not knew to the screen. But what was it like presenting your business on camera for the first time?

Jimmy Singh 5:08

Ah, well, it's very different to appearing before magistrates and judges, I can tell you that I learned a lot throughout the way. And Chris, you taught me a lot throughout that whole process. So and I've taken that on board to try to do it on my own as well, to provide that kind of provide that kind of information, free information to people in the most efficient way, which is video. And that's something I've learned how to do a lot of from you, Chris.

Chris Schwager 5:38

Stop it, stop it. Let's go to a quick question from our video audience. This is a first for the show. Let's get that stream yard logo off there. We're joined here with Steffel. Let's see if this works. He might not have any video, but we might be able to hear him Steffel what is your question? And that was it for Stefan, thank you so much. steffel.

Sorry to interrupt with this very important message. But as you know, LinkedIn live is meant to help you develop authentic connections with your network. And what better way to do that than through video. So listen up, we've included a link in this post. If you want to be on the live show right now asking your question in video form. Then click the link, follow the instructions. Have your question ready. And we'll do our best to include you in show live on the air for right now.

Your audience is worried about what will happen to them. Jimmy, they're emotional, they're looking for someone to help. They have a very clear need, and you can solve their problem, right? Why is showing empathy in video in a human way so important to you?

Jimmy Singh 7:05 Will when when someone's charged with a crime and alleged crime, it's probably the most difficult time in their life.

Chris Schwager 7:27

Jimmy has gone he's out of here. We're gonna have to fill this gap. Now Brendan talked to me about the as Jimmy comes back, talk to me about the project you're involved in starting up the Criminal Defence Lawyers project right from the start. It's an interesting one, isn't it? And there's not a lot of lawyers that are producing video content. There is a bit of apprehension there in terms of humanising Oh, lawyers look at each other and decide for recognition, see what each other are doing. Tell me your version of of how it was setting up that project for for Jimmy?

Brendan Southall 8:05 Yes, definitely. Jimmy is definitely a pioneer in the space, there's only a handful of others that are kind of exploring how video can work through their business, and both from a young lead generation point of view or nurturing existing or new buyers through providing that social proof of how it all works.

Hello, Jimmy, we were talking about earlier about what your audience is obviously worried about what's going to happen to them. They're emotional, they're charged with the thoughts of the unknown. Why is showing empathy and video in a human way so important to business?

Jimmy Singh 9:06

Essentially you need to be able to build trust. Without building a trust that yes, we have the experience, we have the human emotion to give you that attention to detail. And we are here to listen to what you have to say is very, very important to be able to build that trust. And in that process, you build a brand as well, that people trust. So video is probably the I think the most efficient way of doing that. So that's why I think video is very important. And it's the next it's something that all businesses should be tapping into, but tapping into in the right way.

Chris Schwager 9:45

Yeah, and it's interesting talking more about I guess the problem that is that the video solves for your, for your audience and you know, potential potential people that are going to come into the world of the unknown what Do you believe that the videos sold feet for your business in terms of in terms of giving that that audience that first positive impression that you're not someone that's scary, you're not someone that is is going to bamboozle them? You are there in their best interest? What what what do you think that video does for that for your business in terms of, you know, better connectivity?

Jimmy Singh 10:27

I think it builds that emotional connection, that people that were approachable with professional, were confidential. I think those are really important things to put across, to let people know that you can trust us with your case. And effectively, what we're saying is you can trust us with your life, and to be able to portray that in the right way for people to trust you, you need to be effective in your video to build that emotional connection with someone.

Chris Schwager 11:00

Thank you so much, Jimmy. Let's see if there's any questions, Brendan, this could this could work. Or we could be like last week's show, and my wife might dial in dial in and whatever. Any questions.

Brendan Southall 11:17

Exactly. Just check the feed. It is going off. There is now one little response. But unfortunately, it's not a question. Hopefully, we'll get one soon.

Chris Schwager 11:31

Thank you, Brendan. And look, let's move on then. Jimmy, I'm interested to understand from you what what are people say about the video, you know, it's all great having metrics and data in the back end. And but what's the vibe?

Jimmy Singh 11:46

The vibe of the video? Correct. It's, it's everything we wanted it to be. So it comes it shows. It builds the trust, approachability. It allows people to feel like they can contact us and speak to a lawyer pick up the phone and say, hey, look, I want to speak to someone, I need some I want some I'd like to get some advice. And we're able to provide that advice by providing a criminal lawyer to speak to them straight away immediately.

Chris Schwager 12:19

And Jimmy, just before we've got another video caller coming on Rucha. Hello, Rucha. You'll just give us a minute we'll get to you. But I'm interested to know the what lawyers say. I mean, it seems like the legal profession is quite quite unique in that regard. As you do a lot of cross referring you do know, others in industry. There's plenty of work to go around, so to speak, but I'm interested in knowing what other lawyers have said about the video.

Jimmy Singh 12:51

However, everyone, everyone that I've spoken to, or that has approached me on it, I've said it's, it's brilliant. It's excellent. It's really professional.

Chris Schwager 13:00

Thank you so much, Jimmy look Rucha. I'm gonna add you in. I'm interested to know, where are you from? And what's your question?

Rucha 13:08

So hey, I am from Sydney Parramatta. And I have actually met Chris and just popped on to having seen a lawyer on a live video. That's that's a very rare form. Yeah. And I was just wondering that, Joe, but you think that lawyers are like, more prone to go for? Not more prone to go on videos? Like, why don't we see more lawyers on going on the videos.

Chris Schwager 13:42

Brendan, if you want to go ahead and knock that up as a text question. So we can everybody can see it on screen. Jimmy, I hope you got that clear.

Jimmy Singh 13:49

I think the question is, why does why would lawyers want to go on onto video? Is that right?

Chris Schwager 13:56

Why wouldn't more than want to go on video? Well, that's

Jimmy Singh 14:06

What I don't understand. I think they should. It's It's It's like I said, it's a market that hasn't been tapped into properly yet. And it's it's a great opportunity to be able to tap into. And if you do it the right way. There's no telling how far your business can go in, you know, your professional career can go to.

Chris Schwager 14:26

And it's not the only marketing activity. Jimmy is definitely a cut above the the average lawyer as far as we can tell, just perusing his website, a number of different blog articles. He's designed his website very carefully and to make sure that the engagement and the understanding about what it is that he does and how he's able to help his audiences very clear. And he has this ongoing digital strategy to produce more DIY style video across YouTube and answer those questions that that his audiences wanting to know and You know, reaping the SEO benefits of leads coming back into his business. So very cutting edge to a certain degree and hopefully the innovation that you've shown Jimmy transpires to others in your profession. Richard, you're still hanging on? And I'm interested in if you have any more questions.

Rucha 15:19

Oh, yeah, just another question was like, so as the first thing was why lawyers are prone to go on videos. And the second thing is, do you think that that going on videos as it's helping other businesses, but for lawyers, the trust is the number one issue for criminal law, Family Law, any law, and that's why they are more targeting to referral marketing than going online on video, is that one of the cases that you think about?

Jimmy Singh 15:53

The point of going onto video, for me is to build a brand and communicate something for free. So provide legal information for free to people that's relevant to those people seeking it and, and if those people get that information, and if it's done effectively, they're going to want to stick around, for example, on your website, they're going to want to stick around on that page that they're seeing, or they want to, if they see it on YouTube, or if they see it on social media, it's going to build a brand. It's going to build a standard of professionalism. And I think that really goes a long way in helping furthering that career in your profession, whether it's being a lawyer, or whether it's being, whatever profession you want to you're into, I think it helps significantly, but if you do it the right way. It can really improve. And I think that's the benefit you get from it. And time on page. For example, if it's on a website, you've got a good video that explains things to you to people. Time on page really helps you from an SEO point of view as well. So people stick around longer on the page. And they will only stick around longer on a page, if what you're saying in there is relevant to them. So Google rewards people, or people that do that, to provide that information. And that's a relevant factor as well.

Chris Schwager 17:21

Jimmy you are absolutely a video legend. Just coming on this show and representing yourself in the way that you've done so far, I think is absolutely commendable. I'm sure there'll be plenty of other lawyers that will be looking at you today thinking, How do I do that? Thank you so much for joining us today.

To learn more about Jimmy head over to criminaldefencelawyers.com.au. Check out his video on his home page, you will not be disappointed.

And next week we're going to hear about video in the restaurant game, from lawyers to restaurants. And if you've already been to our workshop, you would have heard Simon Chan story which has had a significant transition into the way that he attracts new customers. So have you question ready for next Monday and tune in video legend is making it available. It's available on YouTube and your favourite podcast please take time to rate and review the show and share your thoughts.

Thank you so much for watching. Have an amazing Monday. Thank you so much again for watching. If you're a decision maker or marketer of a small to medium sized business with little to no knowledge of video and would like your questions answered in person, then join me at the next video marketing workshop it would mean the world to me to have you register, go to ridgefilms.com.au/events and I look forward to seeing you Thanks for watching.