Lawyerist Podcast

In this episode we talk to Erin Gerstenzang about her solo criminal defense practice and the challenges of going solo, especially for newer lawyers. We also address the importance of tech competence and the role minimalism plays in Erin's personal life and law practice. Erin Gerstenzang is a criminal defense attorney in Atlanta, Georgia. She primarily handles DUI and other drug- and alcohol-related offenses.

In this episode, Douglas Sorocco explains why his law firm built a free public event space next door, and why it wound up being a good investment. Before or after you listen, you should watch this video to see how the space gets used: https://vimeo.com/152494352 Doug is an Oklahoma intellectual property lawyer, focused on biotechnology, life sciences, chemistry, and chemical engineering.

In this episode, Josie Beets explains why military spouses who are lawyers should be able to get a license to practice law without taking the bar exam over and over again. Josie Beets is President of the Military Spouse JD Network (MSJDN), a bar association for military spouses who are lawyers.

In this episode we learn from Ansel Halliburton how technologists have come together in solidarity against data collection and surveillance, and consider what level of paranoia is appropriate (more paranoid than you are now, but probably not as paranoid as you think). We also talk about a promising, open-source document assembly tool, Common Form. Ansel Halliburton is a startup lawyer and intellectual property litigator in San Francisco. He is also involved in advancing technology for the practice of law, free access to the law, and open source software.

In this episode, MothersEsquire founder Michelle Browning Coughlin talks about how being a parent—especially a mom—can make it harder to practice law, and what firms can do do be more parent-friendly, from paid paternity leave and flexible working arrangements to breastfeeding accommodations and playing the HR long-game. Michelle Browning Coughlin is a Kentucky intellectual property lawyer.

In this episode, Curo Legal founder, Chad Burton, explains how (and why) he ditched his computer for an iPad Pro, and then ditched his iPad Pro for his iPhone. And the thing is, you might be able to do it, too. Chad Burton is a former litigator who developed one of the nation’s first “new model” law firms, leveraging cloud-based technology and modern business practices to develop a lean virtual law firm.

Lawyers aren't always willing to lighten up and be themselves in public. In this wide-ranging episode we talk to Ruth Carter, a lawyer who is undeniably herself in public and private, about what it means to be a lawyer who is known to participate in the annual No Pants Subway Ride or don a Starfleet uniform for Comic-Con. Arizona lawyer Ruth Carter is known for her daring antics and outgoing personality. With her pants on (probably?), Ruth focuses on intellectual property, social media law, business formation and contracts, and flash mob law.

In this episode, we're trying something a little different. We asked three TBD Law alumni to tell us their stories of overcoming personal challenges. First you'll hear from Inti Martínez-Alemán about leaving Honduras after dozens of lawyers were murdered, his mother among them. Then you'll hear Megan Zavieh talk about the challenges that come with building a law practice while moving frequently a nd having children. Finally, Tom Martin talks about recovering from the near-collapse of his firm and a year of family tragedies. Inti Martínez-Alemán has a one-stop-shop law firm for Latinos and Latinas in Minnesota. Megan Zavieh defends lawyers before the California State Bar. Tom Martin created LawDroid, a chat bot that drafts and files California incorporations over Facebook Messenger.

Just when Andrew Haugen was planning to leave law practice for good, an offer came along that made him reconsider. A couple of years later, he has acquired two family law practices. In today's episode he explains why, and talks about the challenges of integrating several law practices into one functioning business. Andrew practice family law in Chaska and Shakopee, MN. Andy's goal is to get his clients to the other side of their issues with a result that creates resolution and allows them to move on.

Mindy Yocum is one year into building a socially conscious law firm. In this episode Mindy explains how she envisions her role as a lawyer, what it's like for a law firm to go through a startup incubator program, and just what she means by socially conscious law firm. Plus, how she hopes to reform the entire legal system from the ground up. Mindy is the founder of Yocum Law Office, a socially conscious law firm where she provided legal education and accessible legal services to individuals and businesses.

"Weed law," it turns out, is neither as exciting nor as boring as you might think. In this episode, Matthew Buck offers a window into the world of weed law, the ethics of advising clients who are committing federal crimes, and how to market a niche practice. Matt works for Corry & Associates, and he has successfully resolved numerous marijuana cases ranging from cultivation to RICO violations, and has assisted in the formation of grows, dispensaries, and MIPs across Colorado, from the Western Slope to Pueblo, County.

In this episode, Sam starts some friendly arguments with Jonathan Tobin. They revisit the question whether lawyers should learn to develop their own software, try to agree on whether the legal industry is really capable of meaningful disruption, wonder whether lawyers can really innovate, and forecast the future of law practice. Jonathan Tobin provides legal advice to creative businesses and professionals using a subscription-based payment plan that has been popular with his clients, as well as through a traditional fee model. He started his firm, Counsel for Creators, in Los Angeles shortly after graduating from UCLA law school. Before he became a lawyer, Jon spent years as a software developer and designer.

In this episode, Dr. Heather Hackman helps us get a new perspective on diversity and the legal profession. She also explains why "doing diversity" doesn't work, and what small firms actually need to do to increase diversity in the legal profession. This may be a challenging podcast for some, but it will reward those who listen with an open mind. Heather has taught, published, and trained on social justice issues since 1992, as a professor at St. Cloud State University in St Cloud, Minnesota, and full-time as a consultant since 2005. Now, she consults nationally on issues of deep diversity, equity, and social justice, especially racism and white privilege, gender oppression, heterosexism and homophobia, and classism.

In this episode, we aren't talking about technology and online marketing, although Greg McEwen knows plenty about both. Instead, we talk with Greg about how he has built a multi-million dollar personal injury firm by taking big risks for big rewards—the "old-fashioned" way. Greg McEwen has focused his career on complex, high stakes personal injury litigation, and he has recovered in excess of $500 million for clients over the last 20 years.

In this episode, Bryan Wilson, the Texas Law Hawk, explains how he got started making outrageous viral videos, name-drops another outrageous, viral video–making Texas lawyer, Adam Reposa, and has some tips for lawyers who want to try making videos of their own. Bryan Wilson, better known as the Texas Law Hawk, opened up his law firm in 2014 and chose the loudest path he could in his ridiculous YouTube videos. His third video went viral and led to several other commercial appearances, including the 2016 Super Bowl commercials for Taco Bell. He plans on doing more commercials as long as they keep making people laugh.

Betsy Stotler and Kelly Hayes Burgeon Legal because they were two lawyer-moms who didn't like the way their firm jobs took up so much of their time. In this episode, they explain how that led them to found an innovative, distributed law firm that balances work, life, and clients. Betsy and Kelly represent health care facilities in collection and Medicaid eligibility matters, including assisting clients to avoid future problems.

In this episode, Drew Amoroso talks about starting a small fitness law firm of his own, Move Legal, after building a fitness practice at a big firm. Drew talks about meeting his clients for a workout before talking business, using Slack to communicate with clients, and the tools he uses to manage a mobile, niche practice. In the introduction, Sam and Aaron somehow crack themselves up talking about niche practices and marketing to tribes. Drew is a lifelong fitness enthusiast and lawyer who built a fitness innovation team at Reed Smith LLP before founding Move Legal to focus on representing fitness companies exclusively.

In this episode, Mary Juetten explains how to use key performance indicators (KPIs) to "start with the end in mind"—to set goals for your law firm and measure your progress (or lack of progress) towards those goals. Make goal-setting and KPIs a part of your planning for 2017 (and keep an eye on the front page for more tools from Mary to help you implement them). Just a heads up: the recording did get a bit choppy. We cleaned it up as best we could, but there are a couple of places where we just had to leave it. Mary Juetten co-founded the Evolve Law community of early legal tech adopters, and wrote Small Law Firm KPIs: How to Measure Your Way to Greater Profits. She also created Traklight business risk management software.

"Just because you're solo/small doesn't mean you have to struggle all the time." In this episode, Joe Bahgat talks about how a shitty revenue month finally got him to start working on his entertainment law firm, Hub City Law Group, with help from How to Manage a Small Law Firm. Sam and Aaron discuss the value of business coaching and what it takes to get lawyers to think strategically about their law firms. Joe Bahgat is a saxophonist-turned-entertainment lawyer. After playing with Grammy award winners like Ray Charles and the Four Tops, Joe went to law school. Now, he represents artists and businesses in New Jersey and Ohio.

In this episode, former public defender Brad Clark explains how he started his own firm, powered by a criminal expungement web app that lets him start helping people before they even contact him. He also talks about his access-to-justice efforts, from mobile legal clinics to financial aid for criminal expungements.

In this episode, Lisa Solomon explains what freelance lawyering is, how to work with a freelance lawyer, and where to find one. She also points out that because you can bill a freelance lawyer's time at more than you pay, a freelance lawyer can generate a profit for your firm. Sam and Aaron lead off with a discussion of the ethics of this practice.

In this episode, Jason Velez explains how he is using IBM's Watson to empower 1Law, the small firm and affiliation of US lawyers he founded. He also explains how he went about building 1Law's technology solutions, which prompts Sam and Aaron to address the question whether lawyers should learn to code.

In this episode, Katrina Leung talks about her "Goldilocks" approach to law practice, which eventually led her to start her own practice, Intuos Law, then move into Clio headquarters for her office space. Through the Courthouse Libraries BC, Katrina also works on access to justice (among other things), including a partnership with Thomson Rivers University Law School and its Designing Legal Expert Systems: Apps for Access to Justice class. Katrina Leung serves businesses in industries like technology, medical, sports, fashion, retail, and entertainment. She also has an unusual office arrangement; Katrina co-works with the practice-management software company, Clio, in its Vancouver, BC, office.

On this week's podcast, Sam and Aaron talk about the Lawyerist podcast joining the Legal Talk Network. Then, Sam talks with Greg Siskind about the evolution of law firm websites and online marketing.

On this week's podcast, Sam and Aaron talk about how going paperless can mean different things to different people, and that's just fine. Then, Sam talks with Noah Waisberg about Artificial Intelligence (AI) and machine learning for lawyers.

On this week's podcast, Sam and Aaron talk about just how to actually measure the access-to-justice gap. Then, Sam talks with Susan Garcia Nofi about using fotonovelas and video games to increase access to justice.

This week, Aaron and Sam discuss talk about the five reasons that your customers are leaving. Then, Sam talks with Patrick Palace of Palace Law about opening a boutique law firm and being president of the Washington State Bar Association.

During this week's podcast, Aaron and Sam talk about the recent decision by the Florida State Bar Association to require that Florida lawyers attend technological competence CLEs. Sam also talks with Gyi Tsakalakis about designing a client-centric lawyer practice.

During this week's podcast, Aaron and Sam discuss why sometimes lawyers should shorten written content, and Sam talks with Katie Floyd, co-host of the Mac Power Users podcast, about setting up her solo practice and tips for Mac and iOS users.

This week, Sam talks with Davis Senseman about her creative approach to small-business law practice.

This week, we're replaying Sam and Aaron's interview with Greg McLawsen. Greg gave a great presentation at Clio Cloud Conference in Chicago, and it inspired us to want to dig back into the tips, tools, and motivations Greg uses for building his firm.

This week, Sam talks with Kristin LaMont, lawyer and adjunct professor, about how to maintain your work-life balance when your firm goes mobile.

This week, Sam talks with Michele DeStefano, law professor and founder of LawWithoutWalls, about how to be a creative problem solver.

During this week's podcast, Sam talks with Shemia Fagan about how she juggles being a litigator, legislator, legal hacker, podcaster, and more.

For this week's podcast, Sam talked with several attendees of the inaugural edition of TBD Law, a first-of-its-kind gathering of innovation-minded lawyers sponsored by Lawyerist and Filament.

In this week's podcast episode, Sam talks with Jamie Sutton, a third-year law student who has already started his own sliding-scale nonprofit law firm.

This week, Sam talks with computer forensics expert Mark Lanterman about the dark web and the latest trends in law firm security breaches.

For this week's Lawyerist podcast, Sam talks with Will Harrelson from Curo Legal about how to overcome resistance when your firm needs to upgrade its technology, systems, or processes.

On this edition of the Lawyerist podcast, Sam talks to Nicolle Schippers about what legal insurance is and how it can help to bridge the access to justice gap.

This week, Sam talks with solo practitioner Randall Ryder about what it is like to go out on your own when you have no safety net.

For this week's podcast, Sam talks with Janine Sickmeyer, CEO and founder of NextChapter, about how she went from being frustrated with her practice management software to building her own.

On this week's podcast, Sam talks with Jamie Whitney about how to make choices about fee-setting when starting a new firm.

This week, Sam talks to Jeena Cho about her new book, The Anxious Lawyer, and how to build a mindful law practice.

In this podcast, Sam chats with Eric Cooperstein, an ethics attorney. They talk about how to approach law practice in a way that avoids ethics trouble.

This week, Sam chats with Paul Floyd, a lawyer who advises solosmall attorneys about business issues, about how an attorney can leave a small firm in a small town and do so on good terms. Aaron and Sam also discussed how everyday things like keycards and paper checks can be far less secure than you think they are.

On this week's podcast, Sam talks with Joshua Lenon, lawyer in residence at Clio, about how to assess legal technology through four lenses: price, user base, the interactivity of the company with the legal field, and responsiveness. Sam also talks about how to properly contextualize news about software security problems when that news is often poorly reported.

On this week’s podcast, Sam talks with Matt Homann, founder of Filament. Filament and Lawyerist are collaborating on TBD Law, a conference/retreat/summit/workshop about the future of law for solosmall firms.

Sam chats with Sam Harden about his solosmall firm and how to balance having a newborn at home with a burgeoning law practice. Sam Harden also explains how he taught himself to code and leveraged Florida's extensive public records law in order to develop My Court Case.

On this podcast, Sam talks with Dean Strang, the attorney who represented Steven Avery in the case that formed the basis for Netflix's Making a Murderer documentary. They discuss how Strang came to represent Avery and how an attorney makes a decision to take a case that will be all-consuming.

Sam and Adam Ziegler talk about the future of law and the challenges it faces through the lens of the Harvard Library Innovation Lab. They also explore the beginnings of Perma.cc—a tool that saves links from rotting—and other products that have also come out of the Harvard Library Innovation Lab.