Episodios

  • How Sponsorship, Empathy, and Failure Shape Great Leaders, with Michael Cohen

    How Sponsorship, Empathy, and Failure Shape Great Leaders, with Michael Cohen
    Sep 4 2025
    In episode 576, learn how to lead with empathy, build trust, and create space for growth by embracing both mentorship and sponsorship. Stephanie Everett talks with Michael Cohen, partner at Duane Morris and leadership coach, about what it really takes to inspire and support a team. Mike shares his journey from employment litigator to building a training and coaching practice focused on culture, mental health, and leadership. He explains why sponsorship goes further than mentorship, how to adapt your style to truly know your people, and why allowing room for failure is essential to innovation. Drawing on stories from coaching his daughters’ softball team and lessons inspired by The West Wing, Mike highlights how intentional check-ins, vulnerability, and empathy can transform leaders into authentic allies. You’ll leave with practical strategies to foster stronger workplace cultures, empower people to advocate for themselves, and lead with greater humanity in challenging times. Listen to our other episodes on leadership & growth. #572 – Practical Courage Skills Every Lawyer Needs, with Jim Detert Apple | Spotify | LTN #527 – Casting Your Vision and Leading Your Firm, with Kevin DeShazo Apple | Spotify | LTN #499 – Conquering Self-Doubt, with Tim Atler Apple | Spotify | LTN #491 – Crafting Your Purpose-Driven Leadership Vision, with Leticia DeSuze Apple | Spotify | LTN 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 – Growth, AI & Leadership at Lawyerist 06:01 – Small Team vs. Large Team Leadership 08:10 – Meet Michael Cohen 12:05 – From Litigator to Leadership Coach 22:02 – Lessons from Coaching & Embracing Failure 34:46 – West Wing Parable & Final Takeaways
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    39 m
  • From Overwhelmed Lawyer to Strategic Law Firm Owner, with Chad Fox

    From Overwhelmed Lawyer to Strategic Law Firm Owner, with Chad Fox
    Aug 28 2025
    In episode #575 of Lawyerist Podcast, learn how to move beyond daily overwhelm and lead your firm with clarity, confidence, and vision as Stephanie Everett talks with Lawyerist Lab business strategist Chad Fox. Chad explains why so many lawyers get stuck in the weeds of $20/hour tasks instead of focusing on high-value CEO work, and how a mindset shift can create immediate clarity and hope. Together they explore the journey from business operator to business owner, the importance of dreaming bigger than what feels “realistic,” and how to delegate effectively without guilt. Real-life success stories highlight attorneys who have built thriving teams, scaled their practices, and reclaimed freedom, offering both inspiration and actionable strategies for sustainable law firm growth. Listen to our other episodes on Law Firm Leadership: #569 Your Head Is a Crappy Office, and Other GTD Principles for Attorneys, with David Allen Apple | Spotify | LTN #564 The Gift in the Struggle: Leveraging Emotional Intelligence for Growth, with Sara Muender Apple | Spotify | LTN #560: Stop Doing Everything Yourself! Unlock Your Law Firm’s True Potential, with Leticia DeSuze Apple | Spotify | LTN 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: Creating Space to Think Differently 06:16 – Meet Chad Fox 07:12 – The Overwhelm Stage 08:33 – Finding Hope Through Clarity 11:24 – Dreaming Big Beyond ‘What’s Realistic’ 15:00 – From Operator to Owner 17:09 – Building Teams & Managing Perceptions 20:16 – The $20 Task Trap 23:44 – What Being a CEO Lawyer Looks Like 25:50 – Success Story: From Chaos to Growth 26:50 – Final Takeaway: It Doesn’t Have to Be So Hard
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    29 m
  • Community-Based Legal Solutions for Everyday Problems, with Rebecca Sandefur & Matthew Burnett

    Community-Based Legal Solutions for Everyday Problems, with Rebecca Sandefur & Matthew Burnett
    Aug 21 2025
    Most people facing legal problems don’t see them as legal at all—they see them as life problems with landlords, employers, or benefits agencies. That disconnect leaves millions without meaningful help, even when lawyers or courts are available. In this episode, Zack Glaser talks with Professor Rebecca Sandefur (Arizona State University, American Bar Foundation) and Matthew Burnett (Georgetown Law, ABF) about their research on community justice workers and why people-centered solutions may be the key to closing the justice gap. They explore how community justice workers operate in Alaska and beyond, why legal help doesn’t always have to come from lawyers, and how rules around unauthorized practice of law are evolving. You’ll hear evidence that trained non-lawyers can be just as effective—sometimes more so—than attorneys in resolving critical issues like housing or benefits. Rebecca and Matthew also discuss what “success” really means: scalable, sustainable programs that meet people where they are, in their own communities, in their own language. And they argue that broadening access to justice isn’t just about legal services—it’s about strengthening democracy itself. This episode is for lawyers, policymakers, and innovators who want to reimagine how legal help is delivered—and build a justice system that actually works for the people it’s meant to serve. Additionally, Zack and Stephanie talk about the upcoming ClioCon 2025 in Boston, MA. Check out the conference and get your tickets at cliocon.com. Use the code “LawyeristxClioCon” for a $300 discount on your ticket. Listen to our other episodes on Access To Justice: #129: The Business of Public Access to Law, with Tim Stanley Apple | Spotify | LTN #228: The Real Access-to-Justice Problem and How We Might Solve It, with Rebecca Sandefur Apple | Spotify | LTN #423: Bridging the Access to Justice Gap with Technology, with Sateesh Nori Apple | Spotify | LTN #440: A Path to Meaningful Regulations, with Rebecca Sandefur Apple | Spotify | LTN 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 – Fall & ClioCon in Boston05:24 – Meet Rebecca Sandefur & Matthew Burnett06:50 – A People-Centered Justice Approach11:08 – Community Justice Workers Explained15:55 – Legal Help Without Lawyers20:31 – What Success Really Looks Like25:23 – State Models & Next Steps34:30 – Scaling Justice & Strengthening Democracy38:49 – Final Takeaways
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    39 m
  • #573: From Courtroom to Community: Strengthening Your Support Network, with Kat Vellos

    #573: From Courtroom to Community: Strengthening Your Support Network, with Kat Vellos
    Aug 14 2025
    Learn how to overcome busyness, start meaningful conversations, and build lasting adult friendships that enrich both your personal and professional life. In this episode, Stephanie Everett talks with Kat Vellos, author of We Should Get Together: The Secret to Cultivating Better Friendships, about practical ways to form new connections, deepen existing relationships, and create a sense of community. You’ll discover strategies for moving beyond small talk, making the most of your time, and using Kat’s four “seeds of connection” framework to help relationships thrive. Kat shares research-backed insights on why friendships matter for well-being, how to integrate connection into your daily life without adding more to your to-do list, and ways to authentically connect with neighbors, colleagues, and acquaintances. Whether you’re looking to expand your circle, reconnect with old friends, or foster deeper ties in your professional network, this conversation offers actionable ideas you can start using today. Listen to our other episodes on Careers & Professional Development. Episode #572 – Practical Courage Skills Every Lawyer Needs, with Jim Detert (leadership and professional growth) Apple | Spotify | LTN Episode #567 – From Quiet to Confident: Redefining Success as an Introverted Lawyer, with Heidi Brown (confidence-building for career success) Apple | Spotify | LTN Episode #564 – The Gift in the Struggle: Leveraging Emotional Intelligence for Growth Apple | Spotify | LTN Episode #520 – The Truth About Lawyer Self‑Care: Prioritize or Suffer (personal well-being integral to professional longevity) Apple | Spotify | LTN 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:  Learn More about LabCon We Should Get Together: The Secret to Cultivating Better Friendships Chapters: 00:56 – Lab Con: Hands-On Business Building for Lawyers 04:43 – Meet Kat Vellos: Author & Friendship Expert 08:47 – Why Adults Have Fewer Close Friends Today 13:44 – Finding Time for Friends & the “Seeds of Connection” 16:20 – How to Meet Neighbors and Build Local Ties 18:53 – Moving Beyond Small Talk with Meaningful Questions 22:49 – Using Conversation Prompts to Connect at Work 26:30 – Committing to Local Friendships & Staying Connected
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    28 m
  • #572: Practical Courage Skills Every Lawyer Needs, with Jim Detert

    #572: Practical Courage Skills Every Lawyer Needs, with Jim Detert
    Aug 7 2025
    Learn how to navigate difficult conversations, manage risk, and lead with integrity in legal settings by building courage as a practical skill. In this conversation, Stephanie Everett is joined by Jim Detert, professor at UVA’s Darden School of Business and author of Choosing Courage: The Everyday Guide to Being Brave at Work. Together, they explore why speaking up at work is so hard, how fear and stress shape behavior, and what lawyers can do to build confidence over time. Jim introduces tools like the “courage ladder” to help professionals take small, strategic steps toward more effective and values-aligned leadership. Legal professionals will gain: Skills to manage fear and prepare for high-stakes conversations A framework for building everyday workplace courage Insight into the cost of silence in legal practice Guidance on how to align personal values with professional conduct Ideal for lawyers, firm leaders, and legal professionals who want to take more intentional action in their work and leadership. Listen to our other episodes on personal leadership: Episode 491: Crafting Your Purpose-Driven Leadership Vision, with Leticia DeSuze Apple | Spotify | LTN Episode 494: How to Stop Procrastination and Conquer Your To-Do List, with Paul Unger Apple | Spotify | LTN Episode 499: Conquering Self‑Doubt, with Tim Atler Apple | Spotify | LTN Episode 508: From Retreat to Rebrand, with Patricia Mancabelli Apple | Spotify | LTN 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: 0:00 – Contranyms & Clarity in Legal Language 2:39 – Meet Jim Detert: Leadership Professor & Author of Choosing Courage 3:18 – Why Speaking Up at Work Feels So Hard 4:56 – Courage Is Not a Personality Trait: Debunking the Myths 6:28 – Practicing Bravery Like a Skill: The Importance of Reps 7:30 – Fear, Physiology, and Mindset: What’s Really Holding You Back 10:40 – From Performance to Growth: Reframing Stress and Risk 13:18 – How to Start Tough Conversations Without Fluff 16:39 – When Courage Gets Risky: Speaking Up in Politicized Professions 20:20 – Values vs. Aspirations: What Do You Really Stand For? 26:51 – The Long-Term Costs of Staying Silent 28:49 – Building a Courage Ladder: Start Small, Scale Up 32:34 – First Steps to Practicing Everyday Courage 33:34 – Final Reflections: Leading with Bravery at Work
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    34 m
  • #571: What DEI Really Means for Small Law Firms, with Tanya Hernandez

    #571: What DEI Really Means for Small Law Firms, with Tanya Hernandez
    Jul 31 2025
    Many law firm owners want to foster inclusive workplaces—but aren’t sure how to do it without missteps or performative gestures. Professor Tanya Hernandez of Fordham Law School joins Stephanie Everett to unpack what DEI really means, where it comes from legally, and how small firms can approach it with clarity and intention. The conversation explores how unconscious bias shows up in hiring and evaluation, why culture fit can be a red flag, and how to implement practical guardrails that promote fairness without needing a big HR department. Tanya also clears up legal misconceptions about DEI post–Supreme Court ruling and offers smart, research-backed tips for making firms more equitable—without making a scene. This episode is a thoughtful guide for law firm leaders who want to build stronger, fairer teams—one intentional decision at a time. Listen to our other episodes on DEI & Belonging: #450: The Power of Building Belonging, with Dr. Terrell Strayhorn Apple | Spotify | Lawyerist #105: How Small Firms Can Promote Diversity, with Dr. Heather Hackman Apple | Lawyerist #242: Brave, Not Perfect, with Reshma Saujani Apple | Lawyerist 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: 2:09 – Meet Professor Tanya Hernandez: DEI Legal Scholar 2:44 – What DEI Really Means: The Civil Rights Foundation 6:41 – Why Small Firms Should Care: The High Stakes of Small Teams 9:46 – Culture Fit or Bias? Rethinking How We Hire 17:04 – Guardrails: Tools to Catch Your Own Bias 22:07 – Is Your Culture Inclusive? Rethinking Team Bonding 24:04 – Where to Start: Learning from the Next Generation 26:14 – Asking the Right Questions: Curiosity Without Burden 28:27 – DEI Is Not Illegal: Clarifying Misconceptions 30:54 – Skip the Slogans: Doing the Real Work Without Performative DEI
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    34 m
  • #570: Uncover Your Firm’s Journey with the New Small Firm Scorecard™, with Stephanie Everett

    #570: Uncover Your Firm’s Journey with the New Small Firm Scorecard™, with Stephanie Everett
    Jul 24 2025
    Your law firm isn’t just a business—it’s an evolving system. And what works in one stage of growth can sink you in another. In this episode, Zack Glaser and Stephanie Everett introduce the new Lawyerist Small Firm Scorecard™, a tool that helps lawyers identify which stage their firm is in—and what to focus on next. Stephanie breaks down the four key stages of firm development, shares the reasoning behind the Scorecard’s redesign, and explains how understanding your stage changes everything: from hiring to marketing to long-term planning. Lawyerist Lab is evolving alongside the new scorecard, offering coaching clients a more personalized, stage-specific growth path. If you’re building a law firm with long-term goals, this episode will help you step back, recalibrate, and take the right action for where you are now. Listen to our other episodes on Law Firm Growth : #568: How to Build a Law Firm You Can Sell, with Victoria L. Collier Apple | Spotify | Lawyerist #560: Stop Doing Everything Yourself! Unlock Your Law Firm's True Potential with Leticia Desuze Apple | Spotify | Lawyerist #527: Casting Your Vision and Leading Your Firm, with Kevin DeShazo Apple | Spotify | Lawyerist #522: The EOS Secret to Mastering Law Firm Challenges, with Mike Paton Apple | Spotify | Lawyerist 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: 0:00 – Episode Introduction and the Power of Unplugged Vacations 4:49 – Tabs3 Spotlight: Practice Management That Adapts to You 14:48 – Why the Small Firm Scorecard™ Got a Makeover 16:50 – Inside the New Scorecard: Defined Benchmarks, Real Clarity 19:10 – The Healthy Firm Model: The Six Pillars of Sustainable Growth 21:00 – Mapping Your Firm’s Stage: Launch, Build, Grow, or Exit 27:26 – Coaching Evolved: How the Scorecard Shapes Lawyerist Lab 30:58 – From Overwhelm to Focus: Coaching Like a Personal Trainer 34:38 – What to Do Next: Take the Scorecard, Get a Plan
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    36 m
  • #569: Your Head is a Crappy Office, and Other GTD Principles for Attorneys, with David Allen

    #569: Your Head is a Crappy Office, and Other GTD Principles for Attorneys, with David Allen
    Jul 17 2025
    Many lawyers feel overwhelmed by never-ending to-do lists, constant context-switching, and the mental clutter of trying to keep it all straight. In this episode, Zack Glaser talks with productivity pioneer David Allen, author of Getting Things Done (GTD), about how lawyers can break free from chaos and reclaim control—both personally and as a team. David shares the five key steps of the GTD framework and explains why a “clear mind” isn’t a luxury —it’s a leadership necessity. You’ll learn how to stop relying on your brain as a filing cabinet, how to set up simple systems that actually stick, and how to build a law firm culture where everyone knows what to do next. We also explore concepts from his new book, Team: Getting Things Done with Others, including how to reduce bottlenecks, clarify roles, and avoid burnout by working smarter not just harder. Whether you’re a solo lawyer juggling everything or a leader scaling a team, this episode will help you create space to think, lead, and grow. Listen to our other episodes on systems & productivity: #419: Free Yourself from Productivity, with Oliver Burkeman Apple | Spotify | Lawyerist #514: The Hidden Value of Doing Less, with Leidy Klotz Apple | Spotify | Lawyerist #485: Unleash Your Law Firm’s Potential with an Internal Coach, with Robin Carberry Apple | Spotify | Lawyerist #516: Flexing Your Discipline Muscle to Stay Motivated, with Sara Muender Apple | Spotify | Lawyerist 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: What Is GTD and Why Lawyers Need It 00:46 – Staying Ahead of the Wave: Zack’s GTD Takeaway 02:18 – Brain Dumping for Clarity: A Lawyer Coaching Example 05:34 – Introducing the Small Firm Scorecard 09:54 – Meet David Allen: Creator of Getting Things Done (GTD) 13:47 – Mind Like Water: The Mental State of True Productivity 15:59 – Your Brain Is a Terrible Office: The 5 Steps of GTD 24:52 – From Inbox to Action: Making Systems Stick 27:06 – Avoiding Burnout with Weekly Reviews 31:25 – From High Performer to Dysfunctional Team 34:46 – The Soccer Analogy: Great Players Still Need Teamwork 39:28 – The Power of Saying No: GTD’s Boldest Lesson 42:32 – First Steps: Start by Capturing What’s on Your Mind
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    43 m