What if personal tragedy didn’t end your career, but redefined your purpose as a lawyer?

In this episode of Hot Docket, we sit down with Daniel Marco, Arizona personal injury attorney and author, to explore how loss, legacy, and empathy shape meaningful legal practice. Raised in a multigenerational family of lawyers, Dan began his career in criminal defense before a devastating turning point–the murder of his son–redirected his mission toward building a personal injury practice centered on compassion and individualized client care.

Dan shares how Arizona’s personal injury market has become dominated by billboard advertising and high-volume firms, and why he’s chosen a reputation- and referral-driven approach instead. The conversation also dives into ethical legal marketing, the responsible use of AI in law, and why service quality (not price) is the true differentiator for clients.

This episode shines light on how grief can fuel purpose, how empathy builds stronger law firms, and what the future of PI law demands from attorneys who want to make a real impact.

• How personal loss reshaped Dan’s approach to personal injury law
• Why empathy and client experience beat billboard marketing in Arizona’s PI market
• How trust and service drive referrals more than price
• Where AI fits in modern legal work (and where it doesn’t)
• What purpose-driven law firms must do to stand out today

Important Links and Resources:

• Buy “Everywhere Nowhere” by Daniel Marco: https://everywherenowherebook.com
• Website: https://marcoinjurylaw.com
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniel-marco-048b0612

If you have guest ideas or questions you would like our hosts to cover, please email info@hotdocketpodcast.com.

Tune in to hear from more the Hot Docket podcast hosted by Bobby Steinbach and Andrew Nasrinpay on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, Audible, Radio Public and more!

What really happens in a criminal defense case and why does “winning” look very different than TV makes it seem?

In this episode of Hot Docket, we’re getting a behind-the-scenes look at modern criminal defense from attorney Shane McKeen of McKeen Law in Atlanta, Georgia. With experience on both sides of the courtroom as a former prosecutor and now a defense attorney, Shane breaks down how criminal cases are actually resolved, why most never reach trial, and what really wins cases in the courtroom.

Our conversation busts common myths about trials, jury selection, police procedure, and legal tech, shining light on how high-volume criminal defense practices really operate.

• Why nearly 99% of criminal cases settle instead of going to trial
• The biggest misconceptions clients have about “winning” a criminal case
• How traffic stop mistakes and procedural errors can decide DUI outcomes
• The truth about Miranda rights and why they rarely make or break a case
• Why “the cop didn’t show up” is almost never a winning defense
• What effective jury selection actually looks like (and which jurors lawyers avoid)
• Shane’s transition from prosecutor to defense attorney and how it changed his mindset
• How to manage difficult client expectations when strategy and emotions collide
• Real-world tech stacks for criminal defense firms (and why simple tools still dominate)

Important Links and Resources:

• Website: https://mckeenlawatlanta.com
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shane-mckeen-46b56931

If you have guest ideas or questions you would like our hosts to cover, please email info@hotdocketpodcast.com.

Tune in to hear from more the Hot Docket podcast hosted by Bobby Steinbach and Andrew Nasrinpay on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, Audible, Radio Public and more!

What makes someone leave the Marines, move to Alaska, and become a lawyer? On this episode of Hot Docket, we sit down with Carson Honeycutt, Founder of Honeycutt Law, to explore how his military discipline and sense of duty shaped his path from the Marine Corps to becoming one of Alaska’s go-to attorneys for workers’ compensation and Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR).

Carson reveals why he believes most cases shouldn’t go to court, how Alaska’s legal landscape is unlike anywhere else in America, and why empathy, adaptability, and technology are now the defining traits of the next generation of lawyers.

Tune in to learn:

• How Marine Corps values translate into modern law practice
• Why Carson chose Alaska—and what it taught him about clients and resilience
• How AI and ADR are transforming the future of legal work
• What every lawyer can do to stay relevant in a tech-driven, client-first world
• The surprising state of Alaska’s workers’ comp system

Important Links and Resources:

• Website: https://alaskaworkerscomp.com
• Upcoming website: www.honeycuttlaw.com
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carhoney

If you have guest ideas or questions you would like our hosts to cover, please email info@hotdocketpodcast.com.

Tune in to hear from more the Hot Docket podcast hosted by Bobby Steinbach and Andrew Nasrinpay on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, Audible, Radio Public and more!