Counsel to Counsel - Career Advice for Lawyers

Self-awareness is an important and often overlooked skill in a lawyer's toolkit. Personality and behavioral assessments like DISC can be used in a practical, grounded way to help lawyers better understand their strengths, spot blind spots, improve communication, and show up more effectively with clients, colleagues, and prospects.

To unpack how these tools can be used well (and where they can be misused), Steve is joined in this episode by John Kormanik, a Professional Certified Coach who works with lawyers around the world and the author of Break the Law: A Story of a Reimagined Career and a Reclaimed Life. Before launching his coaching practice, John spent more than 20 years as a practicing attorney, including serving as a Deputy Attorney General, working in private practice, and owning and leading his own law firm for 16 years. This experience informs his practical approach to helping lawyers lead with intention.

Key Takeaways:

• Self-awareness is crucial for lawyers to enhance leadership and client relationships.
• DISC assessments help improve communication within legal teams.
• Understanding natural vs. adapted states can help overcome fixed mindsets.
• Cultural experiences can significantly influence communication styles.
• Networking and continuous personal evolution are vital for career success.
• Introverts and extroverts can expand their influence by being authentic.
• Assessments are tools for awareness, not fixed definitions of personality.

Timestamps:

00:00 - Introduction to self-awareness in legal coaching

01:02 - John Kormanik's career path from attorney to coach

03:16 - How John works with lawyer clients and addressing leadership challenges

05:58 - Embracing international practice and client acquisition

09:11 - Building international networks through events, workshops, and online platforms

13:23 - How legal experience shapes coaching approach and pushing clients

18:39 - Deep dive into DISC components and their application

23:38 - Clarifying DISC components: D, I, S, C

28:56 - Effective moments and applications of assessments in legal practice

35:01 - Continuous growth and the importance of not defining oneself by assessments

In this episode, Steve Seckler speaks with Amy Mariani, a Boston-based mediator and former litigator. She shares her deeply personal journey navigating her professional life alongside caring for her mother with dementia. Her story offers valuable guidance for professionals facing similar challenges, emphasizing resilience, resources, and the importance of community.

This episode underscores the importance of early planning, community support, and embracing the skills caregiving can foster, all while balancing a demanding career. Whether you're in the midst of caregiving or preparing for it ahead of time, Amy's insights and resources offer valuable guidance.

Note: Amy appeared on Counsel to Counsel in 2021 when she was in the midst of her family crisis. At that time, she only spoke about her transition to mediation; but clearly a lot was going on then in her personal life. You can listen here or wherever you get your podcasts. Episode 75-Shifting Your Litigation Practice to Mediation

Main Topics:

• The emotional and logistical complexities of caring for an aging parent with dementia
• How caregiving impacts professional life and work-life balance
• The benefits of family communication, mediating sibling relationships, and utilizing caregiver resources

Key Insights:

• Amy's early recognition of her mother's dementia symptoms and the timeline of care
• The role of senior care managers in easing decision-making and reducing familial conflict
• Strategies for professionals to continue working effectively while caregiving
• The importance of establishing plans early, including involving future generations and professionals
• How caregiving enhances skills like patience, active listening, and emotional resilience—valuable assets for mediators and others
• Creating support networks, such as groups for children of aging parents, to share experiences and resources
• The societal need for more open discussion about aging and eldercare support

Timestamps:

00:00 - Introduction: Focus of the episode and guest background 02:23 - Amy's experience caring for her parents during the pandemic 05:26 - Explanation of the "sandwich generation" and caregiving responsibilities 06:32 - How Amy's caregiving journey began and evolving challenges 09:07 - Recognizing early symptoms and family dynamics in caregiving 21:12 - How caregiving improved Amy's skills as a mediator

In this episode, Gary Miles delves into the pervasive issue of burnout in the legal profession and offers practical strategies for establishing healthy boundaries. Drawing from his extensive experience, Gary discusses the role of perfectionism and fear in contributing to lawyer stress and burnout. He emphasizes the importance of shifting from external validation to internal authority, which can significantly impact mental well-being and career satisfaction.

The conversation also explores the concept of sustainable excellence, encouraging lawyers to redefine success and create practices that align with their personal values. Gary shares personal transformation stories and provides actionable steps for lawyers feeling trapped by their success or struggling with career transitions. This episode is a must-listen for legal professionals seeking to build a fulfilling and sustainable career.

Takeaways:

• Understanding how perfectionism and fear contribute to burnout
• Implementing effective boundary-setting techniques
• Shifting from external to internal authority for better mental health
• Redefining success through sustainable excellence
• Practical advice for lawyers facing career transitions
• The importance of delegation and team-building to reduce stress
• Debunking the myth of immediate responsiveness

Timestamps:

00:00 - Introduction: Addressing lawyer burnout and the importance of boundaries 01:33 - Exploring dissatisfaction despite career success 06:42 - Setting healthy boundaries in legal practice 13:50 - How internal versus external authority influences self-worth and stress 20:46 - Achieving sustainable excellence through delegation and building teams 25:15 - The four pillars for evaluating a fulfilling legal career 30:46 - One simple, actionable step for setting boundaries this week

Resources & Links:

• Gary Miles - Website
• Gary Miles - LinkedIn
• Lawyers Concerned for Lawyers (Massachusetts)
• Lawyers Assistance Program - National Association of State Legal Assistance Programs

Connect with Gary Miles:

• LinkedIn
• Email

If you found this episode helpful, please share it with colleagues and leave a review on your favorite podcast platform. For a personalized coaching session, visit secler.com for a free 30-minute consultation.

Legal operations has evolved from a back-office function into a strategic discipline that is reshaping how legal services are delivered. In this conversation, Stephen Seckler speaks with legal operations consultant Jeff Kruse about how technology, process improvement, and artificial intelligence are transforming the way law firms and legal departments work.

Jeff shares insights from his career path, from product liability defense lawyer to in-house chief litigation officer and eventually a legal operations consultant. The discussion explores how legal operations helps organizations improve efficiency, manage risk, and adapt to rapid technological change.

They also discuss how lawyers considering career transitions can leverage their transferable skills in new roles such as legal operations, consulting, or mediation. The episode concludes with a look at the future of legal operations and why the field is becoming increasingly strategic in law firms and corporate legal departments.

Key Takeaways

• Legal operations has evolved from a back-office function into a strategic discipline
• AI is accelerating change in legal departments and law firms
• Process improvements often start with the people doing the day-to-day work
• "Trickle-up improvementnomics" can improve efficiency across an organization
• Change management is often the biggest obstacle to operational improvements
• Lawyers possess transferable skills that apply beyond practicing law
• Redundancy and backup systems are essential for managing technological risk
• Legal operations is becoming increasingly strategic within law firms and corporate legal departments

Timestamps

00:00 Introduction and why legal operations is now critical 01:03 Jeff Kruse's background and career path 02:20 From law firm partner to in-house litigation leadership 06:16 Jeff's work as a mediator and what it taught him 08:18 Remote and hybrid work in legal teams before the pandemic 10:11 How remote work influences legal operations thinking 11:12 What legal operations actually includes 14:07 AI and the accelerating pace of change in the legal industry 15:44 Can small firms and legal departments keep up with AI? 19:23 Technology consolidation and evaluating legal tech vendors 21:10 What a legal hold is and why it matters 23:00 "Trickle-Up Improvementnomics" and operational efficiency 27:01 Why change management is difficult in legal organizations 34:01 Lessons from the Amazon Web Services outage 37:45 The future of legal operations 40:37 Closing remarks and coaching resources

In this episode, Steve talks with Shauna Bryce of Bryce Legal about finding the right balance between AI tools and old-fashioned relationship-building in today's legal job market. Shauna shares concrete examples of how AI can speed up research, clarify goals, and help lawyers target the right employers.

They also dig into the common missteps lawyers make, especially relying on AI to write résumés or to generate content without verifying accuracy. Shauna explains how strategic positioning still requires human insight and an understanding of what hiring managers actually care about.

Ultimately, the conversation reinforces that networking, trust, and genuine human interaction remain central to career advancement. For lawyers exploring new opportunities, this episode offers a grounded perspective on using AI thoughtfully without losing sight of what matters most.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to AI in Job Search

02:38 Shauna Bryce's Career Journey

05:34 Transitioning to Coaching

08:25 Role as Chief Talent Officer

10:55 Current Coaching Business Overview

14:01 Long-term Client Engagements

16:45 Impact on Diverse Lawyers

19:33 Using AI Effectively in Job Searches

22:16 Common Missteps with AI in Job Searches

23:31 The Role of AI in Resume Writing

28:39 The Importance of Networking in Job Searches

35:41 Building and Expanding Your Network

37:48 Using AI for Interview Preparation

40:47 Balancing AI and Human Relationships in Job Searches

In this episode, Stephen Seckler interviews Anthonia Berry, a legal marketing and business development strategist, about her new program, Building Your Own Practice Blueprint. The program is designed to help lawyers transition from traditional employment to running their own practices. They discuss the challenges lawyers face in launching a practice, the importance of mindset, and the necessity of building a support network. Anthonia emphasizes the need for financial preparedness and the value of seeking expert advice to navigate the complexities of starting a law practice.

Takeaways

• Strategy Academy helps attorneys generate new revenue streams.
• The Building Your Own Practice Blueprint is designed for lawyers transitioning to solo practice.
• Many lawyers feel overwhelmed when starting their own practice.
• The program provides a self-guided step-by-step roadmap to avoid common mistakes.
• Mindset shift from attorney to business owner is crucial.
• Attorneys should have at least six months of savings before launching a practice.
• Building a support network is essential for success.
• Investing in the right resources is key to maintaining a practice.
• Understanding financials is critical for sustainability.
• Cultural experiences shape perspectives on law and business.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Strategy Academy

01:34 Understanding the Building Your Own Practice Blueprint

08:25 Navigating the Transition from Employee to Entrepreneur

14:39 Common Challenges in Starting a Practice

17:28 Building a Support Network for Success

20:43 Balancing Expenses and Investments in Your Law Practice

24:35 Financial Preparedness for Launching a Law Practice

27:09 Philosophy of Seeking Help and Embracing Change

29:56 Cultural Perspectives on Law and Business

32:45 Final Advice for Lawyers Aspiring to Start Their Own Law Practice

34:03 Recommended Reading for Growth

In this episode, Stephen Seckler interviews Matt Selig, the Executive Director of Health Law Advocates (HLA), a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving healthcare access for vulnerable populations in Massachusetts. They discuss HLA's mission, various advocacy programs, the evolution of healthcare policies, and the challenges faced in public interest law. Matt shares insights from his career journey, the skills needed for success in this field, and the importance of pro bono work. The conversation also touches on funding sources for HLA, the rewards and challenges of public interest law, and the organization's approach to addressing secondary trauma among its staff.

Takeaways

• Health Law Advocates provides free legal services to vulnerable populations.
• The organization focuses on improving healthcare access for those at risk.
• Advocacy programs include mental health, immigrant healthcare, and disability rights.
• Public interest law requires passion for the mission and hard work.
• Experience in legal aid is highly valued in hiring at HLA.
• Pro bono work is a great way to transition into public interest law.
• Funding for HLA comes from state budgets, grants, and individual contributions.
• The work in public interest law can be rewarding despite challenges.
• Leadership roles in nonprofits can be achieved through growth within the organization

00:00 Introduction to Health Law Advocates

01:21 Mission and Activities of HLA

04:52 Legal Issues and Advocacy Programs

10:10 Evolution of HLA's Mission

12:39 Matt Selig's Career Journey

14:26 Skills for Success in Public Interest Law

16:23 Hiring Practices at HLA

17:56 Transitioning from Private Practice to Public Interest

19:17 Funding Sources for HLA

20:24 Pro Bono Opportunities at HLA

22:08 Rewards and Challenges of Public Interest Work

24:15 Addressing Secondary Trauma

26:58 Transitioning to Executive Director Role

32:34 Advice for Aspiring Public Interest Lawyers

In this episode, Stephen Seckler speaks with Oran Kaufman, a mediator with an extensive background in family law. They discuss Oran's journey from litigation to mediation, the skills required to be a mediator, and how mediation has changed over the last 30 years. Oran shares insights on the differences between mediation and litigation, the importance of listening, and the challenges of building a mediation practice. The conversation also touches on collaborative law, alternative legal careers, and the impact of technology on mediation.

Takeaways

• Mediation requires a different skill set than litigation.
• Listening is a crucial skill for both mediators and lawyers.
• Transitioning from litigation to mediation can lower work related stress.
• Collaborative law offers an alternative to traditional litigation.
• Silence can be a powerful tool in mediation.
• There are several challenges in building a mediation practice that differ from building a law practice.
• Technology has expanded the reach of mediation services.

Timeline

00:00 Introduction and Background

03:17 Oran Kaufman's Journey into Family Mediation

05:45 Transitioning from Litigation to Mediation

08:47 The Nature of Family Mediation

11:38 Skills and Challenges of Mediation

13:58 Building a Mediation Practice

16:21 Collaborative Law and Mediation

18:50 Qualities of a Good Mediator

21:44 Exploring Alternative Legal Careers

24:29 The Evolution of Mediation

We are taking a pause until mid-late January 2026 for some upgrades. We are adding a YouTube feed to our mix for listeners who prefer video and we are lining up some great guests to talk to you about your legal career.

We are grateful to our listeners and guests who have made Counsel to Counsel a labor of love.

Until then, best wishes for a happy and healthy New Year!

In this episode, Steve speaks with Saja Raoof, an immigration lawyer based in the Bay Area, about how introverted lawyers can build thriving practices without pretending to be extroverts.

A self-proclaimed introvert and creative marketer, Saja shares how she transformed networking anxiety into authentic relationship-building through her "Wallflower Power" approach and how coaching and ProVisors played key roles in her success.

Topics Discussed

• How hiring a coach in 2018 helped shifted her mindset from isolation to confident business owner.

• The role of ProVisors and the pandemic's move to Zoom in helping her find her voice and visibility.

• Her creative use of video testimonials to highlight other professionals and build genuine connections.

• Practical strategies for introverted lawyers: energy management, structured networking, and measuring success by impact rather than comfort.

• Why vulnerability, generosity, and storytelling have become her most effective marketing tools.