Most law firms are bleeding talent — especially women — because Big Law is still obsessed with 80-hour weeks. In this episode, Sasha Berson chats with Leslee Cohen, who built a powerhouse Chicago firm by hiring top lawyers with one shared deal-breaker: they refused to sacrifice life for their career. Big Law said no. Leslee said yes — and it changed everything. She reveals how her team delivers elite work, maintains sky-high retention, and has a culture people genuinely love.

📰 About Leslee Cohen:

Leslee Cohen is a brilliant corporate and M&A attorney with 30+ years of deal-making experience, including 20 years in Big Law on Wall Street. Today, she runs AllRise Legal Counsel — a fast-growing firm that pairs top-tier legal talent with a flexible culture that Big Law can’t compete with. Her mission: help founders raise capital, scale fast, and land life-changing exits, without the burnout.

👉 Sasha and Leslee explore:

— The main reason women leave Big Law, and how your firm can be the solution

— A zero-turnover hiring model that any firm can copy

— Why flexibility is now a competitive advantage in the legal world

— How to attract elite lawyers without paying Big Law salaries

— The culture shift that makes teams “go the extra mile” automatically

👉 Main Takeaways from the Episode:

— Audit your team’s flexibility needs (confidential 1:1 convos — ask what they actually need)

— Fix recognition gaps by implementing weekly shout-outs or wins

— Stop résumé-gap bias by recruiting on experience and alignment, not perfect timelines

— Measure retention like a profit metric (track tenure, replacement costs, lost productivity)

— Allow ownership to let your team suggest improvements, and implement the good ones immediately

If you enjoyed today’s show, please leave a review and subscribe so you never miss an episode. For more information and links to all of the resources mentioned in today’s episode, visit https://growlaw.co/

📞 Connect with Leslee Cohen:

• Website: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leslee-cohen/

• LinkedIn: https://www.allriselawyers.com/

📞 Connect with Sasha Berson:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grow-law/

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/grow_law/

• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@growlaw

• Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/growlaw

• Email: [email protected]

• Phone: (312) 854-7724

#LegalMarketing #LawFirmGrowth #BusinessGrowth #LegalIndustryInsights

Imagine signing 1,200 clients a month, without burning out OR hiring like crazy. In this episode, Sasha Berson sits down with Sam Mollaei, a 37-year-old attorney who runs 6 law firms (yes, 6)! Together, they break down the formula that lets Sam land as many as 1,200 clients every month — fueled by social media ads, airtight systems, and a team empowered by AI. Don’t let the market eat you alive. Tune in now.

📰 About Sam Mollaei:

Sam Mollaei is a serial law firm entrepreneur and CEO of 6 AI-powered law firms. After helping 1,400+ firms scale and automate — and signing up 70,000+ clients himself — he now builds and invests in high-growth legal brands at Tov Law Group. His focus: autonomous law firms that use marketing, automation, and AI to deliver lean teams and real profitability.

👉 Sasha and Sam explore:

— Why social media ads are the *best* client acquisition tool 

— Survival Rate: The new KPI that exposes revenue leaks most lawyers never notice

— How top firms confidently spend up to 33% on case acquisition — and stay wildly profitable

— The blueprint behind 1,200+ clients/month (with systems any firm can copy)

— Why AI will run 80–90% of law firm operations sooner than you think

👉 Main Takeaways from the Episode:

— Every week, audit where every lead, qualified lead, and signed client comes from

— Fix responsiveness and doc collection to instantly boost revenue from clients you already signed

— Use AI to shrink overhead and eliminate the bottlenecks slowing you down

— Confidently invest up to 1/3 of a case’s value when cases prove profitable

If you enjoyed today’s show, please leave a review and subscribe so you never miss an episode. For more information and links to all of the resources mentioned in today’s episode, visit https://growlaw.co/

📞 Connect with Sam Mollaei:

• Website: https://mollaeilaw.com/

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sammollaei/

📞 Connect with Sasha Berson:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grow-law/

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/grow_law/

• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@growlaw

• Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/growlaw

• Email: [email protected]

• Phone: (312) 854-7724

#LegalMarketing #LawFirmGrowth #BusinessGrowth #LegalIndustryInsights

Think you know SEO? Think again! In this episode, Sasha Berson sits down with Chris Dreyer, CEO of Rankings.io, to uncover how AI search tools like ChatGPT — that now own 27% of search traffic — are shaking up the legal marketing world! From E-E-A-T to Justia and Yelp, Chris reveals the new rules of visibility today. Discover how to compete and win in the age of AI.

📰 About Chris Dreyer:

Chris Dreyer is the CEO and Founder of Rankings.io, an award-winning SEO agency helping elite personal injury law firms dominate Google’s first page. As a leading voice in legal marketing, Chris is also the host of the Personal Injury Mastermind podcast. He has dedicated his career to helping attorneys break through the noise and build the kind of firms that change lives — including their own.

👉 Sasha and Chris explore:

— How ChatGPT and AI search are reshaping law firm SEO.

— Why 27% of all legal search traffic has shifted away from Google (and what’s next).

— The new ranking factors: E-E-A-T, case results, and third-party credibility.

— Why directories like Yelp and Justia are skyrocketing and how to use them.

— The future of visibility: mastering Search Everywhere Optimization before your competitors do.

👉 Main Takeaways from the Episode:

— Audit your website today: make sure your case results page is updated and syndicated to trusted third-party sites.

— Strengthen your E-E-A-T — add author bios, showcase credentials, and highlight experience on every major page.

— Claim and optimize your profiles on Justia, Yelp, and Avvo.

— Meet with your marketing team this week to discuss an AI search readiness plan. Don’t wait until competitors outrank you.

If you enjoyed today’s show, please leave a review and subscribe so you never miss an episode. For more information and links to all of the resources mentioned in today’s episode, visit https://growlaw.co/

📞 Connect with Chris Dreyer:

• Website: https://chrisdreyer.co/

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrisdreyerco

📞 Connect with Sasha Berson:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grow-law/

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/grow_law/

• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@growlaw

• Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/growlaw

• Email: [email protected]

• Phone: (312) 854-7724

#LegalMarketing #LawFirmGrowth #BusinessGrowth #LegalIndustryInsights

Stop telling your associates to “just get out there.” In this episode, Sasha Berson sits down with Steve Fretzin to pinpoint what it takes to get your team to bring in business nonstop. Steve breaks down why most firms fail at business development (hint: it’s not because they’re lazy), and how a quietly toxic culture is killing your firm. Bonus: Get a few hard-hitting numbers (like how much every $10K case should cost to acquire).

📰 About Steve Fretzin:

Steve Fretzin is one of the world’s top business development coaches for attorneys — and a man who knows how to use second chances. After surviving a plane crash, Steve dedicated his life to helping lawyers take control of their careers, master client acquisition, and become the trusted advisor clients can’t live without. He’s the host of the BE THAT LAWYER podcast, hitting 500+ episodes and reaching listeners in 50+ countries.

👉 Sasha and Steve explore:

— Don’t wing business development — study the game first.

— Culture, transparency, and leadership beat bonuses every time.

— Pay fairly for case acquisition (15% is your magic number).

— Every year, remove a hat — don’t keep adding them.

— The fastest path to growth: Get a coach who’s already done it.

👉 Main Takeaways from the Episode:

— Audit your team’s comp plan, and add clear origination credit for new business.

— Pick one role to delegate this year and commit to removing that hat for good.

— Choose one area of your firm to improve and hire a specialized coach to fast-track it.

— Create transparency: publish how bonuses, promotions, and goals are measured.

If you enjoyed today’s show, please leave a review and subscribe so you never miss an episode. For more information and links to all of the resources mentioned in today’s episode, visit https://growlaw.co/

📞 Connect with Steve Fretzin:

• Website: https://fretzin.com/

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevefretzin

• Podcast: https://fretzin.com/podcast/

📞 Connect with Sasha Berson:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grow-law/

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/grow_law/

• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@growlaw

• Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/growlaw

• Email: [email protected]

• Phone: (312) 854-7724

#LegalMarketing #LawFirmGrowth #BusinessGrowth #LegalIndustryInsights

Profit. Taxes. Exit. Your future hangs in the balance. In this episode, Sasha Berson sits down with Emil Abedian, a 20-year accounting veteran, to talk profit, taxes, and the tough reality of scaling. From his early days in Sweden to advising multimillion-dollar firms in Los Angeles, Emil has seen it all. Today, he shares how law firm owners can borrow smart, hire faster, and plan their exit — while making tax planning more profitable!

📰 About Emil Abedian:

Emil Abedian knows what keeps law firm owners up at night — taxes, cash flow, and growth. As the founder and CEO of Counsel CPAs, this 20-year accounting pro helps law firm owners keep more of what they earn and exit richer. Emil also serves as CFO and board member of the Swedish American Chamber of Commerce of Greater Los Angeles and of the Mentor Foundation USA.

👉 Sasha and Emil explore:

— How to break free from the “high-paying job” trap 

— How to budget, borrow smart, and scale from $2M to $5M 

— How to make taxes (i.e., your #1 expense) actually profitable with strategic planning

— How a $10M firm used tax strategy to save $800K 

— The three-year roadmap to exit your firm without getting crushed by a 40% tax hit

👉 Main Takeaways from the Episode:

— Fire yourself from daily tasks; your firm should run without you.

— Budget your growth: every $1M in revenue usually needs about $150K in marketing fuel.

— Meet your CPA quarterly, not yearly — tax planning only works before April.

— Start exit planning 3 years in advance to avoid handing 40% of your sale to the IRS.

If you enjoyed today’s show, please leave a review and subscribe so you never miss an episode. For more information and links to all of the resources mentioned in today’s episode, visit https://growlaw.co/

📞 Connect with Emil Abedian:

• Website: https://www.counselcpas.com/

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emilabedian

📞 Connect with Sasha Berson:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grow-law/

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/grow_law/

• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@growlaw

• Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/growlaw

• Email: [email protected]

• Phone: (312) 854-7724

#LegalMarketing #LawFirmGrowth #BusinessGrowth #LegalIndustryInsights

Imagine your time is worth $400,000 a minute. Now, start acting like it. In this episode, Sasha Berson welcomes John Kormanik, a former criminal defense attorney turned certified coach, to unpack the “billionaire mindset”. John shares how overworked attorneys can break free from burnout — and overcome the five biggest myths holding them back!

📰 About John Kormanik:

John Kormanik is a former criminal defense attorney turned certified coach, keynote speaker, and author of Break the Law: A Story of a Reimagined Legal Career and a Reclaimed Life. After 24 years in law and 16 years managing his own firm, John now helps accomplished attorneys master focus, banish burnout, and build firms that fuel their lives.

👉 Sasha and John explore:

— How to switch to the $400,000-minute mindset and stop losing billable time.

— The 5 biggest lies lawyers tell themselves (and how to break free from each one).

— How to escape the “always on” trap and finally take control of your focus.

— Why intentional leadership will transform both your business and your life.

👉 Main Takeaways from the Episode:

— Audit your time like it’s money — cut anything that isn’t worth your hourly rate.

— Set firm boundaries: no 24/7 availability.

— Schedule “thinking time” weekly; real CEOs don’t just work, they think.

— Define what freedom actually looks like for you, and start designing your firm around it today.

If you enjoyed today’s show, please leave a review and subscribe so you never miss an episode. For more information and links to all of the resources mentioned in today’s episode, visit https://growlaw.co/

📞 Connect with John Kormanik:

• Website: https://www.johnrkormanik.com/

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnrkormanik/

• Book: https://www.amazon.com/Break-Law-Reimagined-Career-Reclaimed/dp/B0DHJK1XG1

📞 Connect with Sasha Berson:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grow-law/

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/grow_law/

• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@growlaw

• Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/growlaw

• Email: [email protected]

• Phone: (312) 854-7724

#LegalMarketing #LawFirmGrowth #BusinessGrowth #LegalIndustryInsights

Chicago is a brutally competitive market, and yet… Jonathan Merel survived the odds and built a colossal family law practice with 23 attorneys spanning three offices. In today’s episode of the GLF podcast, Sasha Berson and Jonathan explore how the latter went from maxing out credit cards in 2009 to leading a multimillion-dollar firm powered by the right culture and relentless marketing.

📰 About Jonathan Merel:

Jonathan Merel is the founder and managing partner of Merel Family Law, ranked among Chicago’s top 5 family law firms. What began in 2009 as a two-person operation has grown into a powerhouse with 23 attorneys, 40+ team members, and three offices across the city. He is living proof of what happens when you build a reputation on culture, client service, and relentless marketing.

👉 Sasha and Jonathan explore:

— Why culture and hiring the right people are the backbone of your growth.

— The client-generating tactics that still work: community events, sponsorships, and grassroots visibility.

— Why reputation and reviews matter more than any ad campaign.

— How shifting from lawyer to CEO will transform the way you run your firm.

👉 Main Takeaways from the Episode:

— Audit your firm’s culture: question if your current team reflects the values you want to scale.

— Start building visibility today: sponsor one local event or attend a networking group.

— Treat marketing as a non-negotiable investment. Even a small budget compounds.

— Shift into CEO mode by delegating one task this week so you can work on the business, not just in it.

If you enjoyed today’s show, please leave a review and subscribe so you never miss an episode. For more information and links to all of the resources mentioned in today’s episode, visit https://growlaw.co/

📞 Connect with Jonathan Merel:

• Website: https://merelfamilylaw.com/

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathanmerel

📞 Connect with Sasha Berson:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grow-law/

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/grow_law/

• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@growlaw

• Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/growlaw

• Email: [email protected]

• Phone: (312) 854-7724

#LegalMarketing #LawFirmGrowth #BusinessGrowth #LegalIndustryInsights

Imagine being so well-connected that you’re one handshake away from knowing everyone in your city. That’s not a fantasy… that’s what Morris Lilienthal built in Huntsville, Alabama! In this episode, Sasha Berson explores how Morris took his law firm from old-school “grin and grip” networking to a modern marketing machine that doubled revenue, and captured 4% of their entire market.

📰 About Morris Lilienthal:

Morris is a partner at Martinson & Beason, a Huntsville-based firm founded in 1937. Over the last 17 years, he’s spearheaded the firm’s marketing evolution — building a database of 10,000+ clients, racking up 500+ Google reviews, hosting his own podcast, The Mo Show Live, while mastering both grassroots and digital strategies.

👉 Sasha and Morris explore:

— Why staying “top-of-mind” beats top-of-Google

— How 10,000 football magnets turned into endless referrals

— The #1 rule that freed Morris from perfectionism with video marketing

— Why lawyers can’t rely on one channel (and what to do instead)

👉 Main Takeaways from the Episode:

— Don’t wait for perfect: 80% done > 0% published

— Build systems early, from client lists to repurposing content

— Stay visible everywhere: social media, community events, email, and even physical mailers

— Diversify your marketing: if one channel dries up, you’re sunk

If you enjoyed today’s show, please leave a review and subscribe so you never miss an episode. For more information and links to all of the resources mentioned in today’s episode, visit https://growlaw.co/

📞 Connect with Morris Lilienthal:

• Website: https://www.martinsonandbeason.com/attorneys/morris-h-lilienthal/

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alabamacaraccidentattorney/

📞 Connect with Sasha Berson:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grow-law/

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/grow_law/

• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@growlaw

• Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/growlaw

• Email: [email protected]

• Phone: (312) 854-7724

#LegalMarketing #LawFirmGrowth #BusinessGrowth #LegalIndustryInsights

Forget the Yellow Pages. Law firm marketing is now a digital jungle! In this episode, Sasha Berson welcomes Ron Latz, a 15-year legal marketing veteran and the founder of LegalFenix. Ron has worn every hat in the industry, and today, he unpacks how your firm can outsmart big-budget competitors, while prepping for the AI-first future of client acquisition.

📰 About Ron Latz:

Ron Latz is a legal marketing industry veteran with over 15 years of experience. As founder of LegalFenix, he helps law firms scale from $3M to $10M+ in revenue by acting as their vendor-neutral CMO. Unlike most consultants, Ron doesn’t “sell” SEO, PPC, or websites — instead, he gives firms the clarity they need to invest wisely and grow consistently.

👉 Sasha and Ron explore:

— Why today’s client journey is more complex than ever

— How to avoid “shiny object syndrome” in your marketing

— The comeback of newsletters (and why they beat algorithms)

— How small firms can beat big-budget “Goliaths” locally

— What GEO and AI search mean for the future of leads

👉 Main Takeaways from the Episode:

— Audit your marketing spend: cut one channel that isn’t producing ROI.

— Build your referral circle: add 3 local pros (therapist, realtor, CPA) to your network this month.

— Launch or revive a newsletter (email or print) to stay top of mind without fighting algorithms.

— Test your AI visibility: see if ChatGPT or Gemini recommends your firm

If you enjoyed today’s show, please leave a review and subscribe so you never miss an episode. For more information and links to all of the resources mentioned in today’s episode, visit https://growlaw.co/

📞 Connect with Ron Latz:

• Website: https://legalfenix.com/

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ronlatz

📞 Connect with Sasha Berson:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grow-law/

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/grow_law/

• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@growlaw

• Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/growlaw

• Email: [email protected]

• Phone: (312) 854-7724

#LegalMarketing #LawFirmGrowth #BusinessGrowth #LegalIndustryInsights

Most law firms never crack $10M. Tim Semelroth did. In this episode, Sasha Berson unpacks how Tim went from college mock trial student to managing partner of a 17-lawyer, multi-office PI firm. Along the way, Tim ran his own PPC and TV ads before making a game-changing hire that scaled RSH Legal into one of Iowa’s top firms.

📰 About Tim Semelroth:

Tim Semelroth is the trail–blazing managing partner of RSH Legal, Iowa’s largest PI firm with 17 attorneys across three offices. A board-certified truck accident lawyer and lifelong trial advocate, Tim turned three “lucky strikes” into game-changing opportunities — streamlining his marketing, building systems, and scaling through acquisitions.

👉 Sasha and Tim explore:

— The three “lucky strikes” that shaped Tim’s career and firm growth

— How hiring a full-time marketing director became a major turning point 

— The acquisitions and systems that helped RSH Legal scale past $10M

— How trial lawyers can balance case work with building a business

👉 Main Takeaways from the Episode:

— Stop doing all your own marketing. Identify one task that you can delegate this week.

— Audit your caseload: if trial work is putting marketing on the back burner, it’s time to hire or outsource.

— Build systems that run without you (from intake to marketing) so your firm isn’t capped by your personal bandwidth.

If you enjoyed today’s show, please leave a review and subscribe so you never miss an episode. For more information and links to all of the resources mentioned in today’s episode, visit https://growlaw.co/

📞 Connect with Tim Semelroth:

• Website: https://www.fightingforfairness.com/

• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/timsemelroth

📞 Connect with Sasha Berson:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grow-law/

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/grow_law/

• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@growlaw

• Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/growlaw

• Email: [email protected]

• Phone: (312) 854-7724

#LegalMarketing #LawFirmGrowth #BusinessGrowth #LegalIndustryInsights