Several weeks ago, I was listening to an episode of Freakonomics Radio about specialization, and particularly about the long snappers in professional and collegiate football. Pennsylvania lawyer and NFL agent for long snappers Kevin Gold was interviewed as a part of that episode, and I knew that I had to have him as a guest on Lawyerpreneur. On Episode 57 of Lawyerpreneur, Kevin Gold and I continue the recent trend on this show of discussing niche markets by talking about how he became an NFL agent for long snappers and how he has developed that alongside his law practice. We...
In Episode 56 of Lawyerpreneur, M.C. Sungaila and I interview Todd Smith and Jody Sanders of the Texas Appellate Law Podcast. We talk about the launch of their podcast, the Connector (to borrow Malcolm Gladwell’s term) who brought them together, and the perseverance required to record and publish more than 100 episodes over the last two years. As much as I enjoy the What (What are you doing?) and How (How did it start and how it is going now?) of these interviews, the Why is far more meaningful to me. Todd Smith and Jody Sanders discuss why they started...
If you’re a lawyer and a parent (or not yet a parent, but hope to be some day), there is someone advocating for you. And that’s nice to hear because sometimes, it feels like working parents are on an island. Lori Mihalich-Levin has written the book on returning to work after parental leave (literally — Back to Work after Baby). Her company Mindful Return consults with other businesses for developing and implementing their parental rights strategies. Among these topics, we also talk with Lori about turning her writing and speaking platform focused on on topics of work-life integration, the transition...
When I think of Maya Markovich, I can’t help but think of the song from Hamilton, “The World Turned Upside Down,” because she’s exactly the kind of person with the vision and audacity necessary to effect those kinds of changes. In Episode 54 of Lawyerpreneur, we talk with Maya Markovich about doing really hard things, how behavioral economics can apply to lawyers and law practice, and how lawyers can effectively use change management within their firms. We also discuss the non-linear trajectory of Maya’s career and the roles she has taken on. The episode is co-hosted by M.C. Sungaila, who...
Joel Oster is our guest in Episode 53 of Lawyerpreneur. Joel Oster practices constitutional law and runs Comedian of Law, a CLE company that uses humor to liven up its materials. He also hosts a podcast called Debriefing the Law. He is also the author of UnDue Process: Exposing the Good, the Bad, and the Funny of the Law. Among other things, we talk about how he gave himself a bridge between his law practice and his other projects to chase his creative pursuits. Using Humor and Storytelling in Law with Joel Oster You can listen here or on your...
For going on two years, Michael Young has been my go-to example of the benefits of using unconventional marketing methods to establish your brand and build trust equity with others in your profession. Because of that, his appearance on Lawyerpreneur is long overdue. Michael Young is a regular contributor on LinkedIn discussing insurance coverage and bad faith topics. Since December 2019, he’s hosted Michael’s Insurance Podcast, talking about topics like business interruption coverage, well before a pandemic caused thousands of people to be suddenly interested in it. And more recently, he has been an early adopter and avid use of...
For Episode 51, we talk with Tripp Watson of the Watson Law Firm in Birmingham, Alabama. Tripp started his own firm right out of law school and began marketing his firm as the Entrepreneur’s Law Firm. Tripp talks about Birmingham’s entrepreneurial roots and how the city’s business foundations have evolved over the last 150 years. He answers questions about whether having niche law practice focused on business owners made it more difficult to get started and get a foothold. Watson also talks about managing client relationships and why his firm website has a page that lays out in great detail...
Our guest for Episode 50 is Brian Gibbons, who is a partner in the civil defense litigation firm Wade Clark Mulcahy in New York. He hosts the interview-based podcast, Call Your Next Witness, and is an active member of DRI. He has used his involvement in DRI and other industry organizations as a platform to help build and grow his law practice. Gibbons has also used his podcast and other out-of-the-box marketing to expand his professional network. Check out Brian Gibbon’s interview of me on Call Your Next Witness. Using Industry Organizations to Help Build Your Law Practice with Brian...
In the past 18 months, we keep hearing that “everyone has a podcast now.” It’s become a running joke as hundreds, possibly thousands, of podcasts have been born out of a global pandemic. Most have since gone comatose, but others has continued on. Robert Ingalls, founder of LawPods, is encouraged by the continued prevalence and popularity of podcasts. He sees podcasts as a way for lawyers and firms to give clients and potential clients a look behind the curtain. It enables clients to get to know their lawyers on a personal level and establishes a platform for lawyers to exhibit...
While Beth George hasn’t entirely left the practice of law behind, she spends most of her time consulting with bagel shop owners for her business BYOB Bagels. When Beth’s son had dietary sensitivities that required a lot of experimenting, she found herself on a path that would lead to her being a bagel-based business consultant. Because she was raised in a home with a family-run business, Beth George was prepared for both the joys and struggles of being her own boss. Episode 47 of Lawyerpreneur starts off a little differently than most. Beth starts off asking me about my work,...
