How do you practice law without burning out, losing your empathy, or becoming someone you do not recognize anymore?

In this episode of That One Lawyer™ Podcast, Neal Goldstein sits down with Professor Heather Cucolo to talk about the emotional weight of practicing law, representing the unpopular, and how lawyers can build real trust without sacrificing their values.

Heather's work sits at the intersection of criminal law, professional responsibility, and mental disability law. She has spent years representing people facing civil commitment, teaching future lawyers, and training judges and law enforcement. Her perspective is rare, grounded, and deeply human.

Watch the full episode HERE

This conversation is about:

• How lawyers build trust with clients in difficult cases

• The emotional reality of representing stigmatized populations

• Burnout in the legal profession and how to avoid losing yourself

• Why ethics is not just a rulebook but a mindset

• What law school gets right and what it misses entirely

• Finding purpose as a lawyer beyond titles and income

If you are a young lawyer, solo practitioner, or law student trying to figure out how to build a sustainable career without burning out, this episode will hit home.

This is not about flashy marketing.
This is about integrity, empathy, and practicing law in a way that actually lasts.

Subscribe for meaningful conversations with lawyers who are building real careers, real relationships, and real impact.

What does it really take to build a successful law practice without losing yourself in the process?

In this episode of That One Lawyer™ Podcast, Neal Goldstein sits down with attorney and author Steve Eichenblatt to talk about law firm growth, empathy-driven advocacy, and how personal adversity can become a force multiplier rather than a liability.

Steve shares how growing up without stability shaped his approach to law, why empathy is a competitive advantage, and how lawyers can build trust, referrals, and long-term success without relying on paid ads or performative marketing.

Watch the full episode HERE

This conversation is about:
• Law firm growth strategies rooted in trust
• Relationship marketing for lawyers
• Client retention through empathy and integrity
• Overcoming lawyer burnout and frustration
• Finding purpose as a lawyer beyond billables

If you are a solo attorney, young lawyer, or firm owner looking to grow organically while staying grounded, this episode is for you.

👉 Subscribe for meaningful conversations with lawyers who care about people, not just outcomes.

The truth is… law school never taught lawyers how to build real client relationships in high-volume practices.

In this episode of That One Lawyer™ Podcast, attorney and law firm leader Brian Mittman joins Neal Goldstein for an honest conversation about what it actually takes to build trust, loyalty, and long-term success as a lawyer.

Brian is the managing partner of Markoff and Mittman, widely known as The Disability Guys, and has spent decades representing injured workers and disabled individuals across New York. But what sets Brian apart is not just the volume of cases he handles. It is how intentionally he builds human connection inside a system that often prioritizes speed over people.

Watch the full episode HERE

In this episode, Brian and Neal discuss:

• How to build client trust in workers' compensation and disability cases

• Why high-volume law practices do not have to feel transactional

• Relationship-first strategies for lawyers and law firm owners

• How to create referral relationships that actually last

• Why listening matters more than talking in client communication

• The role of leadership, values, and culture in law firm growth

This conversation is essential for:

• Workers' compensation lawyers

• Disability lawyers

• Personal injury attorneys

• Solo practitioners and small firm owners

• Lawyers who want sustainable growth without burnout

If you are trying to grow your law practice while staying authentic, this episode will change how you think about clients, referrals, and leadership.

New episodes of That One Lawyer™ Podcast drop weekly and focus on relationship-driven success in the legal profession.

Law school teaches you how to analyze cases.
It rarely teaches you how to build trust, lead with empathy, or stay authentic in a profession that often rewards toughness over humanity.

In this episode of That One Lawyer™ Podcast, host Neal Goldstein sits down with corporate attorney Lani Medina to talk about what it really means to succeed in law without losing yourself along the way.

Lani's path into the legal profession was anything but traditional. Raised in the Bronx, she served in the U.S. Air Force, worked in higher education, and attended Fordham Law School as a non-traditional evening student before building a career in corporate law. Along the way, she was often told she was "too nice" for the profession.

Rather than changing who she was, Lani leaned into it.

In this conversation, Neal and Lani discuss:

• Why being "too nice" can actually make you a better lawyer

• What law school does not teach about client relationships

• How empathy and professionalism coexist in corporate law

• The impact of military service on leadership and perspective

• Representation, identity, and navigating imposter syndrome

• Why authenticity builds stronger client trust than toughness

• Mental health, mindfulness, and sustainability in legal careers

• How AI is changing law and why human connection still matters

This episode is especially relevant for:

• Corporate lawyers and transactional attorneys

• Young lawyers and first-generation attorneys

• Lawyers who feel pressure to fit a mold that doesn't reflect who they are

• Professionals building relationship-driven practices

Whether you are early in your career or decades in, this episode is a reminder that the most effective lawyers are often the most genuine ones.

New episodes of That One Lawyer™ Podcast drop weekly.

Learn more at TruthInSuccess.com

In this episode, Neal Goldstein sits down with trial lawyer and author Chris Earley for an honest conversation about what it means to be real in the legal profession. Chris talks openly about authenticity, vulnerability, and why lawyers do better when they stop performing and start connecting.

Chris shares how he built a practice rooted in clarity, communication, and trust. He talks about the parts of law school that do not prepare lawyers for the real world and the practical skills he had to learn on his own. Neal and Chris explore why clients respond to real conversations and how authenticity creates stronger relationships, better results, and more referrals.

This episode is a reminder that being human is one of the most important skills a lawyer can have. Chris's perspective is grounded in experience, humility, and the belief that law is a people centered profession. If you are a young lawyer, first gen lawyer, or anyone who wants to grow in a meaningful way, this conversation will resonate.

Watch full video episode HERE

Quotes from Chris:
"Clients do not need you to be perfect. They need you to be honest."
"Authenticity builds trust faster than any script ever will."
"When you show people who you are, they feel safer telling you who they are."

This episode is different. No guest and no script. Just Neal speaking honestly about the last few weeks and the moments that forced him to slow down and look at his life with clarity.

He talks about the people who shaped him when he was drifting, the social worker who helped redirect his path, the professors who believed in him, and the clients who gave him a career he never imagined. He reflects on losing family, finding strength through struggle, and the quiet lessons that build the kind of perspective lawyers rarely slow down to acknowledge.

This is not a holiday message, although gratitude naturally shows up here. It is a conversation about resilience, grounding yourself when life hits hard, and remembering why you do this work in the first place. If you are a young lawyer or a lawyer feeling the weight of your career, this episode will remind you that you are not alone and that the relationships around you matter more than anything else.

As Neal says, we are remembered for how we make people feel. Everything else falls away.

"I didn't feel like I had a purpose. I didn't feel rooted. But once I asked myself, 'What do you actually want to do?' everything changed."
– Felicia Williams

On this episode of That One Lawyer™ Podcast, Neal Goldstein sits down with Felicia Williams, attorney, advocate, and first-generation law graduate, for a raw and powerful conversation about identity, confidence, and finding your purpose as a lawyer.

If you're a young lawyer, a first-gen law student, or someone who never saw yourself represented in this profession, this conversation is going to hit you right in the chest.

Felicia opens up about the reality of being a Black woman in law — the pressure, the expectations, the isolation, and the quiet moments where confidence is tested. But she also shares how she found her footing, how she built her voice, and why she believes representation isn't a burden… it's an honor.

Neal and Felicia dive into the topics that law school never taught you, including:

• What it really feels like entering the profession with no blueprint or family roadmap
• How Black women experience pressure to "get everything right" just to be seen as equal
• Why confidence is built through purpose, not perfection
• How to develop a personal identity as a lawyer instead of fitting someone else's mold
• Why representation matters more than ever — and how it shapes client trust
• How Felicia found her voice in a profession that wasn't built with her in mind
• Why younger lawyers struggle with belonging, and how to find community
• The mindset shift that helped her turn self-doubt into real clarity and confidence

This is not another legal résumé conversation. It's a human conversation about what it takes to become a lawyer when you're the first in your family, when you didn't grow up around attorneys, and when you're navigating identity in a system that wasn't designed for you.

Felicia reminds us that:

• You don't need to know everything to succeed
• You don't have to sound like everyone else
• You can create impact simply by being who you are
• And you can build a career that serves people who look like you, come from your community, and trust you because you understand them at a deeper level

For young lawyers, diverse lawyers, or anyone trying to build confidence in this field, Felicia's story is the roadmap you wish you had on day one.

Why this episode matters
Most podcasts talk about law like it's all tactics and business. This one talks about being human. Felicia shows that you can build a successful career not by being the loudest voice, but by being the most grounded and authentic one.

If you've ever felt like you didn't belong in law, this episode proves you do.

Creators need real lawyers who understand brand deals, disclosures, usage rights, and likeness. In this episode of That One Lawyer™ Podcast, Neal Goldstein sits down with Frank Poe of POE LAW PLLC to break down the creator economy from a lawyer's perspective. We cover influencer contracts, FTC endorsement disclosures, usage rights and licensing, right of publicity, NIL deals, UGC and whitelisting, and how AI deepfakes change risk for lawyers and creators.

If you advise creators, negotiate brand deals, or run a PI or small firm and want practical ways to protect clients, this conversation is your roadmap. Learn how to negotiate creator licensing, define paid usage, avoid hidden buyouts, comply with FTC disclosure rules on video, secure likeness permissions for AI and synthetic media, and structure NIL endorsements that pass compliance checks.

Watch the full video HERE

What you will learn
• How to read and fix influencer agreements so creators keep IP and usage under control
• The difference between usage rights, paid media, and whitelisting, and why clear licensing terms matter
• FTC disclosure best practices for YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok, including on-screen and audio disclosures in video
• Right of publicity fundamentals across states and how AI and deepfakes raise new consent issues
• NIL realities after House v. NCAA and how social posts, appearances, and "valid business purpose" affect contracts
• Practical red flags in creator contracts and how to push back without killing the deal

Why this matters for PI and small firms
Client acquisition now lives on social. Creators, athletes, and professionals monetize name, image, and content daily. Lawyers who understand creator licensing, disclosures, and likeness rights will win higher value clients and prevent disputes over ownership, consent, and distribution.

About our guest
Frank Poe is a lawyer for creators, athletes, and agencies. He negotiates influencer contracts, brand deals, and licensing, and helps clients navigate disputes, IP, and platform issues. Learn more at poelaw.co

Chapters
• Creator economy law basics for lawyers
• Influencer contracts that protect creators and brands
• Usage rights, buyouts, and whitelisting explained
• FTC endorsement disclosures on video and in captions
• Right of publicity and AI deepfakes
• NIL deals for social media endorsements
• UGC, indemnity, and avoiding hidden risks
• Building a creator-savvy legal practice

Subscribe to That One Lawyer™ Podcast for weekly episodes, mid-form highlights, and Shorts focused on creator law, law firm growth, client communication, and real practice building.