Episodios

  • From Practice to Business: Scaling Beyond Yourself, with Andy Hays

    From Practice to Business: Scaling Beyond Yourself, with Andy Hays
    Feb 26 2026
    In episode 604 of Lawyerist Podcast, Stephanie Everett sits down with Andy Hays to explore the shift from solo practitioner to true business owner. After nearly two decades of firm ownership, Andy shares why he recently rebranded to remove his personal name from the firm, a strategic move designed to reduce dependency on him and strengthen the firm’s future. They discuss delegation, hiring before you feel fully ready, automating repetitive processes, and setting clear expectations for team performance. The conversation also dives into accountability, leadership growth, and how small operational improvements compound over time. If you are ready to move beyond founder dependence and build a firm designed for scalability, resilience, and long-term value, this episode offers practical frameworks and real-world insight to help you get there. Listen to our previous episodes on Scaling & Building a Sellable Firm. #306: Getting to Know & Love Your Numbers, with Bernadette Harris Apple | Spotify | LTN #583: From Survival to Strategy: Scaling Your Law Firm Finances, with Bernadette Harris Apple | Spotify | LTN #588: Practice Smarter, Not Harder: 411 Tips for Modern Lawyers, with Jordan Couch Apple | Spotify | LTN Have thoughts about today’s episode? Join the conversation on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and X! If today's podcast resonates with you and you haven't read The Small Firm Roadmap Revisited yet, get the first chapter right now for free! Looking for help beyond the book? See if our coaching community is right for you. Access more resources from Lawyerist at lawyerist.com. Chapters / Timestamps: 00:00 – Introduction 03:50 – Standards, KPIs & Hard Conversations 07:30 – Meet Andy 08:45 – Lessons from 18 Years in Practice 10:15 – Removing Your Name from the Firm 12:45 – Building a Firm You Can Sell 15:30 – Automation & Low Hanging Fruit 17:00 – Accountability & Team Meetings 19:25 – The “I’ll Just Do It Myself” Trap 21:15 – Hiring Strategically 23:30 – Expanding the Physical Office 25:40 – Closing Thoughts
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    27 m
  • Healing the High-Achieving Lawyer: Rethinking Sobriety and Success, with Melissa Silverstein

    Healing the High-Achieving Lawyer: Rethinking Sobriety and Success, with Melissa Silverstein
    Feb 19 2026
    In episode 604 of Lawyerist Podcast, discover how addressing alcohol and mental health can unlock greater clarity, confidence, and long-term success in your legal career. Stephanie Everett sits down with IP attorney and recovery coach Melissa Silverstein to talk about alcohol, achievement, and the hidden pressures inside the legal profession. Melissa shares her personal journey from high-achieving “functioning” lawyer to long-term sobriety, and explains why so many attorneys struggle silently while still appearing successful on the outside. Together, they explore law firm drinking culture, client expectations, stigma around asking for help, and why recovery does not have to mean labels or all-or-nothing thinking. If you’ve ever felt burned out, anxious, or not quite like your best self, this episode offers practical insight, reassurance, and a path toward building a healthier, more sustainable legal career without shame. Listen to our previous episodes on Lawyer Well Being & Recovery. 469: Lawyers in Crisis: Navigating Addiction and Mental Healthy, with Brian Cuban Apple | Spotify | LTN #477 Controlling Alcohol with Annie Grace Apple | Spotify | LTN #506: Managing Stress & Avoiding Burnout, with Emily Nagoski Apple | Spotify | LTN #533 The Alcohol Experiment, with Annie Grace Apple | Spotify | LTN #535 Lawyer Burnout: 5 Hidden Signs You’re About to Crash, with Natasha Evans Apple | Spotify | LTN Have thoughts about today’s episode? Join the conversation on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and X! If today's podcast resonates with you and you haven't read The Small Firm Roadmap Revisited yet, get the first chapter right now for free! Looking for help beyond the book? See if our coaching community is right for you. Access more resources from Lawyerist at lawyerist.com. Chapters / Timestamps: 00:00 – Intro & Conference Recap 08:30 – Melissa’s Story 10:00 – Achievement as a Mask 12:10 – Rethinking Abstinence 14:30 – Harm Reduction & Personal Choice 15:50 – Warning Signs in Law Practice 16:30 – The Role of the Bar 17:50 – Leadership & Language 20:00 – Rethinking Firm Events 23:10 – Career Growth After Recovery 26:00 – De-Stigmatizing Help 29:00 – Closing Thoughts
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    30 m
  • Turn Expertise into Clients: Building Authority That AI Recognizes, with Karin Conroy from Conroy Creative

    Turn Expertise into Clients: Building Authority That AI Recognizes, with Karin Conroy from Conroy Creative
    Feb 17 2026
    In episode 603 of Lawyerist Podcast, Zack Glaser sits down with Karin Conroy to examine how AI is changing the rules of law firm marketing and what that means for lawyers who want to stand out for the right reasons. Karin explains why expertise, not automation, is what rises to the top in an AI filtered world. As large language models reshape how potential clients search for answers, shortcuts like keyword stuffing and mass produced content are quickly losing their impact. What stands out instead is real authority built through credibility, third party validation, media appearances, and consistent messaging across platforms. The conversation also challenges the idea that your website is your first impression. In today’s landscape, visibility often starts elsewhere. Zack and Karin unpack how referral systems support a larger authority strategy and what it truly means to move from building, to stabilizing, to growing your marketing in a deliberate and sustainable way. Listen to our previous episodes with Karin: #559: The Imitation Trap: Lessons from 15 Years of Top Law Firm Websites , with Conroy Creative Counsel (Sponsored) Apple | Spotify | LTN #546: Unlock Law Firm Growth: AI marketing Secrets with Karin Conroy Apple | Spotify | LTN #584: How to Stay Human in the Age of AI-driven Law Firm Marketing, with Creative Conroy Apple | Spotify | LTN Links from the episode: https://conroycreativecounsel.com/ Have thoughts about today’s episode? Join the conversation on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and X! If today's podcast resonates with you and you haven't read The Small Firm Roadmap Revisited yet, get the first chapter right now for free! Looking for help beyond the book? See if our coaching community is right for you. Access more resources from Lawyerist at lawyerist.com. Chapters / Timestamps: 00:00 – Meet Karin Conroy02:30 – AI, Agents & The Content Explosion04:15 – The M Dash as a Trust Tell07:00 – Why Google Isn’t the Front Door Anymore09:00 – Knowledge Panels & Online Authority12:30 – You Can’t Fake Expertise15:00 – Stop Chasing SEO Tricks17:30 – Authority Through Media & PR21:00 – Who Needs a Media Kit23:00 – Referrals Are a Marketing Strategy25:00 – Build Before You Scale28:00 – AI Rewards Real Experts32:30 – Closing Thoughts
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    34 m
  • Ethics, Judgment, and Trust in a World of Legal AI, with Damien Riehl

    Ethics, Judgment, and Trust in a World of Legal AI, with Damien Riehl
    Feb 12 2026
    Lawyers have always relied on tools—but AI is different. It doesn’t just assist with tasks; it makes decisions, applies judgment, and shapes outcomes. In episode #602 of the Lawyerist Podcast, Stephanie Everett talks with Damien Riehl about what ethical responsibility looks like when AI starts doing legal work on its own. Their conversation examines how AI systems embed values, why verification matters more than transparency, and how lawyers can responsibly use tools they don’t fully understand. They also explore what legal expertise looks like in an AI-powered future—and why intuition, trust, and integrity may matter more than ever as machines take over the “widgets” of legal work. Listen to our other episodes on Ethics and Responsibility in AI. EP. 582 Deepfakes, Data, and Duty: Navigating AI Ethics in Law, with Merisa Bowers Apple | Spotify | LTN EP. 543 What Lawyers Need to Know About the Ethics of Using AI, with Hilary Gerzhoy Apple | Spotify | LTN Have thoughts about today’s episode? Join the conversation on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and X! If today's podcast resonates with you and you haven't read The Small Firm Roadmap Revisited yet, get the first chapter right now for free! Looking for help beyond the book? See if our coaching community is right for you. Access more resources from Lawyerist at lawyerist.com. Chapters / Timestamps: 00:00 – Introduction 05:55 – Meet Damien Riehl 08:10 – Why AI Is a Different Kind of Legal Tool 11:05 – When AI Starts Doing Legal Work 14:30 – Ethics, Values, and AI Judgment 18:45 – Foundation Models vs. Legal-Specific AI 21:15 – The “Duck Test” and Trusting AI Output 24:45 – Trust but Verify: Reviewing AI Work 28:40 – What Lawyers Are Underestimating About AI 31:10 – What Still Requires Human Judgment 34:30 – Intuition, Trust, and Integrity in Law 37:40 – What This Means for Billing and the Future 40:40 – Closing Thoughts
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    42 m
  • Beyond Chatbots: Using Agentic AI in Law Firm Intake, with Matt Spiegel from Lawmatics

    Beyond Chatbots: Using Agentic AI in Law Firm Intake, with Matt Spiegel from Lawmatics
    Feb 10 2026
    Lawyers are understandably cautious about AI—but the real risk may be using it the wrong way. In episode 601 of the Lawyerist Podcast, Zack Glaser sits down with Matt Spiegel of Lawmatics to explore how agentic AI is changing the way law firms handle intake and evaluate potential clients. Matt breaks down why surface-level AI tools fall short, how agentic AI can make informed recommendations instead of opaque scores, and what it takes to build trust in automated decision-making. They also discuss how better intake systems can reduce wasted time, improve lead quality, and support more intentional firm growth. Listen to our other episodes on Artificial Intelligence in Legal Practice. #497: Real Talk About Artificial Intelligence in Your Office, with Ben Apple | Spotify | LTN #543: What Lawyers Need to Know About the Ethics of Using AI, with Hilary Gerzhoy Apple | Spotify | LTN #546: Unlock Law Firm Growth: AI marketing Secrets with Karin Conroy Apple | Spotify | LTN Links from the episode: https://www.lawmatics.com/ Have thoughts about today’s episode? Join the conversation on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and X! If today's podcast resonates with you and you haven't read The Small Firm Roadmap Revisited yet, get the first chapter right now for free! Looking for help beyond the book? See if our coaching community is right for you. Access more resources from Lawyerist at lawyerist.com. Chapters / Timestamps: 00:00 – Introduction 01:28 – Meet Matt Spiegel 03:55 – From the Cloud to AI in Legal Tech 05:38 – Why Lawyers Are Cautious About AI 06:50 – Moving Beyond Surface-Level AI 08:51 – Why Lead Scoring Misses the Point 11:14 – What Makes Agentic AI Different 14:10 – Generative AI vs. Agentic AI 15:57 – Teaching Software to Make Decisions 17:17 – Automating Outcomes, Not Steps 20:10 – Why Lawmatics Was Already Agentic 21:47 – Trust, Guardrails, and Client Data 24:20 – What Qualify AI Does Differently 25:33 – Closing Thoughts
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    27 m
  • Designing a Law Firm You Actually Want to Run, with Stephanie Everett

    Designing a Law Firm You Actually Want to Run, with Stephanie Everett
    Feb 5 2026
    Starting a law firm doesn’t automatically make you a business owner—designing one does. In episode #600 of the Lawyerist Podcast, Stephanie Everett and Zack Glaser kick off a four-part series on how to design a law firm intentionally, rather than defaulting into a business you didn’t mean to build. They unpack the biggest myths lawyers believe when starting a firm, why being a good lawyer isn’t enough to create a sustainable business, and how relying on personal heroics instead of structure quietly traps firm owners over time. Stephanie breaks down the three constraints that cause most firms to struggle, the three distinct paths law firms can take, and the key questions lawyers should ask early to align their business model with the life and career they actually want. Listen to our other episodes on Law Firm Strategy & Business Design. #583 – From Survival to Strategy: Scaling Your Law Firm Finances, with Bernadette Harris Apple | Spotify | LTN #575 – From Overwhelmed Lawyer to Strategic Law Firm Owner, with Chad Fox Apple | Spotify | LTN #570 – Uncover Your Firm’s Journey with the New Small Firm Scorecard™, with Stephanie Everett Apple | Spotify | LTN #568 – How to Build a Law Firm You Can Sell, with Victoria L. Collier Apple | Spotify | LTN Have thoughts about today’s episode? Join the conversation on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and X! If today's podcast resonates with you and you haven't read The Small Firm Roadmap Revisited yet, get the first chapter right now for free! Looking for help beyond the book? See if our coaching community is right for you. Access more resources from Lawyerist at lawyerist.com. Chapters / Timestamps: 00:00 – Introduction 01:15 – Why This Isn’t About “Starting” a Law Firm 03:45 – The Biggest Myth Lawyers Believe About Firm Ownership 06:50 – Heroics vs. Structure 10:30 – The Three Constraints That Trap Law Firm Owners 12:45 – Every Firm Is Choosing a Business Model (Whether You Realize It or Not) 14:30 – The Three Paths Law Firms Take 18:55 – When Your Goals and Design Don’t Match 20:55 – How Clients Actually Buy Legal Services 23:30 – What Breaks If Demand Doubles 25:00 – Clarity Beats Certainty 29:15 – What to Do in the First 30 Days 33:40 – Where to Go Next
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    35 m
  • Why Mentorship Matters More Than Ever for New Lawyers, with Joseline Hardrick

    Why Mentorship Matters More Than Ever for New Lawyers, with Joseline Hardrick
    Jan 29 2026
    Law school prepares students to think like lawyers, but it often leaves them without a clear picture of what comes next. Zack Glaser sits down with Jocelyn Hardrick to explore how mentorship, pipeline programs, and practical guidance can help first-generation and nontraditional students bridge the gap between legal education and real-world practice. They unpack the challenges students face when they lack exposure to legal careers, the importance of writing and bar preparation support, and how community and accountability shape confidence during the transition into the profession. The episode highlights how intentional mentorship and community support can reduce uncertainty, build confidence, and create clearer pathways into the legal profession. Listen to our other episodes on mentorship, mindset, and professional development. Episode #596 — The Athlete’s Mindset for Lawyers, with Jess Sargus Apple | Spotify | LTN Episode #592 — Client Care, Culture, and Character: A Framework for Great Leaders, with William O’Neal Apple | Spotify | LTN Episode #588 — Practice Smarter, Not Harder: 411 Tips for Modern Lawyers, with Jordan Couch Apple | Spotify | LTN Episode #576 — How Sponsorship, Empathy, and Failure Shape Great Leaders, with Michael Cohen Apple | Spotify | LTN Have thoughts about today’s episode? Join the conversation on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and X! If today's podcast resonates with you and you haven't read The Small Firm Roadmap Revisited yet, get the first chapter right now for free! Looking for help beyond the book? See if our coaching community is right for you. Access more resources from Lawyerist at lawyerist.com. Links from the episode: https://www.journeytoesquire.com/ Chapters: 00:00 – Introduction 01:45 – Why the Path Into Law Isn’t Clear 06:10 – Meet Jocelyn Hardrick 08:25 – What Journey to Esquire Does 12:40 – First-Generation and Nontraditional Barriers 17:30 – Mentorship vs. Sponsorship 21:55 – Writing, Bar Prep, and Practical Skills 26:40 – Building Confidence Through Community 31:20 – Advice for New and Aspiring Lawyers 34:10 – Closing Thoughts
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    36 m
  • From Hype to Practice: Using Microsoft Copilot in Your Law Firm, with Ben Schorr

    From Hype to Practice: Using Microsoft Copilot in Your Law Firm, with Ben Schorr
    Jan 22 2026
    In episode #598 of the Lawyerist Podcast, learn how Microsoft Copilot can help lawyers work more efficiently inside Microsoft 365—without compromising accuracy, security, or client trust. Zack Glaser talks with Ben Schorr, innovation strategist at Affinity Consulting Group and former Microsoft insider, about how attorneys can move past AI hype and start using Copilot for real, everyday legal work. Zack and Ben break down how Copilot helps lawyers draft and edit documents, summarize complex files, extract key deadlines, prep for meetings, and manage inbox overload—all while keeping client data protected within Microsoft’s security framework. They clarify where Copilot delivers the most value, where caution is required, and why understanding its limitations is essential to using it effectively. For lawyers curious about AI but unsure where to begin, this episode offers a clear, realistic roadmap for adopting Copilot without compromising accuracy, ethics, or trust. Listen to our other episodes on AI, Legal Technology & Practical Innovation in Law Firms: Rethinking Law Firm Growth in the Age of AI, with Sam Harden Apple | Spotify | LTN Episode 550: Beyond Content: How AI Is Changing Law Firm Marketing, with Gyi Tsakalakis & Conrad Saam Apple | Spotify | LTN Episode 543: AI Ethics: What Lawyers Need to Know, with Hilary Gerzhoy Apple | Spotify | LTN Episode 497: Real Talk About Artificial Intelligence in Your Office, with Ben Schorr Apple | Spotify | LTN Have thoughts about today’s episode? Join the conversation on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and X! If today's podcast resonates with you and you haven't read The Small Firm Roadmap Revisited yet, get the first chapter right now for free! Looking for help beyond the book? See if our coaching community is right for you. Access more resources from Lawyerist at lawyerist.com. Chapters / Timestamps: 00:00 – Introduction 08:43 – Meet Ben Schorr 11:08 – What Copilot Is (and Why Lawyers Care) 13:27 – Security, Privacy, and Client Data 16:47 – Drafting Legal Documents With Copilot 18:36 – Schorr’s Law: Always Review AI Output 20:30 – Editing, Fact-Checking, and Improving Existing Work 23:57 – Summarizing Documents and Extracting Key Info 28:49 – Brainstorming, Personas, and Strategy Testing 34:34 – Agentic AI: What’s Possible (and What Isn’t)
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    50 m