Latte With a Lawyer

Welcome back to Latte with a Lawyer—the essential podcast for attorneys seeking time-tested wisdom from the profession's veterans. In this episode, host Jonathan Brickman sits down with Bob Arrington, a seasoned litigator with nearly 50 years of experience, to explore a fundamental truth: practicing law is storytelling. Bob, now Of Counsel at Wilson Worley, reflects on a career that began in 1975, spanning everything from bankruptcy to employment law before specialization was the norm. He shares how this broad experience informs his current practice as an arbitrator and mediator, and why he believes the most credible story—not always the most likable client—ultimately wins the day.

Bob pulls back the curtain on a simple yet powerful tactic for honing that winning story: the paralegal test. He explains how running a case narrative by a paralegal can serve as a low-cost focus group, revealing critical credibility gaps before you ever face a mediator or jury. He also shares how his deep experience on the defense side gives him a unique advantage in plaintiff's work, because he knows "where all the skeletons were buried." Plus, Bob gives a glimpse into his other life as a published novelist, proving that a litigator's greatest asset is the ability to craft a compelling narrative.

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robert-arrington-85358010/
Firm Website: https://wwmgs.com/

Learn more about EmotionTrac and our AI-driven Emotional Intelligence Platform: https://legal.emotiontrac.com/

Welcome back to Latte with a Lawyer—the essential podcast for attorneys looking for a competitive edge. In this episode, Austin Kurtz, co-founder of Kurtz Riley Law Group, shares his candid journey from nearly quitting the legal profession to launching a tech-forward personal injury firm. After finding big firm commercial litigation deeply unfulfilling, Austin was pulled back from the brink by a mentor and discovered his purpose in plaintiff’s law. He explains his core philosophy of "lighting a candle" for clients in their darkest moments, a powerful metaphor for restoring value to those who have suffered catastrophic loss.

But this purpose-driven approach is backed by a formidable, tech-heavy strategy. Once an AI skeptic who famously told the founders of evenUp their idea wouldn't work, Austin now reveals how he leverages a sophisticated tech stack—including CaseText's Co-Counsel—to scale his practice and build stronger cases. He discusses his focus on high-stakes wrongful death and catastrophic injury litigation, pulling from his experience in a grueling five-year battle against the State of Arizona, and shares his frontline perspective on why the old myths about conservative juries are crumbling.

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/austin-kurtz-43055639/
FIRM Website: https://www.austinkurtzlaw.com/#about

Learn more about EmotionTrac and our AI-driven Emotional Intelligence Platform: https://legal.emotiontrac.com/

Welcome back to Latte with a Lawyer—the must-listen podcast for attorneys exploring the human side of high-stakes litigation. In this episode, Chelsea Brown of Bowles Rice LLP shares her powerful philosophy for defending healthcare providers in medical malpractice lawsuits. Inspired by her father, a small-town solo practitioner, Chelsea explains why she believes the key to success is to 'keep your heart in it,' even when navigating the complexities of wrongful death cases. She offers a masterclass in how to litigate aggressively without losing your humanity, building collegial relationships with opposing counsel while fiercely advocating for your client.

Chelsea pulls back the curtain on one of the most impactful cases of her career: a licensing board dispute where her clients' ability to practice medicine and their very immigration status were on the line, facing deportation back to a war-torn country. She also discusses the realities of practicing in West Virginia, where a culture of mediation means jury trials are increasingly rare, and how her team evaluates cases by combining a deep dive into the medicine with an honest, human perspective. Rejecting the idea that 'everything happens for a reason,' Chelsea provides a frank look at how to find meaning and achieve justice when tragedy strikes.

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chelsea-brown-54150b8/
FIRM Website: https://www.bowlesrice.com/

Learn more about EmotionTrac and our AI-driven Emotional Intelligence Platform: https://legal.emotiontrac.com/

Welcome to Latte with a Lawyer—the podcast for attorneys seeking inspiration from the front lines of litigation. In this episode, Jon Marko of Marko Law shares his incredible origin story, from being kicked out of Catholic school in ninth grade to finding his purpose at an inner-city public school. That formative experience ignited a lifelong passion for civil rights, shaping a career dedicated to giving a voice to the marginalized and fighting for those oppressed by corporations and government entities in high-stakes personal injury, civil rights, and employment law cases.

Jon pulls back the curtain on his apprenticeship under legendary Michigan trial attorney Jeffrey Feiger, detailing how as a young lawyer he was flying on private jets to disaster sites and working on nationally publicized cases, including a police shooting that made worldwide news. He also shares a truly wild case from his own practice involving seven women, a 50th high school reunion, and an Airbnb castle that turned into a real-life house of horrors when they were attacked by a swarm of bats. Jon explains how he is now suing Airbnb and the property owner in a premises liability case you have to hear to believe.

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jon-marko-62237619/
FIRM Website: https://www.markolaw.com/

Learn more about EmotionTrac and our AI-driven Emotional Intelligence Platform: https://legal.emotiontrac.com/

Welcome back to Latte with a Lawyer—a leading podcast for lawyers exploring the mindsets of the industry’s most successful practitioners. In this episode, plaintiff's trial lawyer Michael Alder shares the intense personal discipline that powers his practice, from 4 AM wake-ups and cold showers to his core belief that "how you do anything is how you do everything." Michael reveals how this philosophy, forged after his personal life was in "shambles," helped him build Alder Law from a PO box into a 12-attorney powerhouse and become the lawyer insurance companies put in the "oh s**t category."

Michael pulls back the curtain on his most significant cases, including a recent $60 million verdict in a massive groundwater contamination trial where he faced 25 opposing lawyers. He shares the story of hiring the former managing attorney for Farmers Insurance—the very firm that once dreaded his name on a case file. Michael also explains the powerful lessons he teaches as an adjunct professor at Loyola Law School, breaking down how to reframe failure as an opportunity, use focus practices to overcome stress, and why persistence beats smarts every day of the week.

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelalder/
FIRM Website: https://alderlaw.com/

Learn more about EmotionTrac and our AI-driven Emotional Intelligence Platform: https://legal.emotiontrac.com/

Welcome back to Latte with a Lawyer—a top podcast for attorneys seeking real-world strategies for building a meaningful practice. In this episode, host Jonathan Brickman sits down with Alexandria Zant, a solo personal injury attorney who balances a thriving practice with raising five children. Alexandria explains why she left the big firm world to hang her own shingle, offering candid advice for lawyers who fear they won't have enough clients to succeed on their own. She also shares how she carved out a unique and challenging niche practice: representing children hurt in daycare who are too young to articulate what happened.

Alexandria pulls back the curtain on her innovative trial tactics, including her method for using family members as proxy witnesses when a client is too nervous to testify—a strategy she says can be even more credible to a jury. She recounts the grueling four-year investigation behind a catastrophic wrongful death case, where two construction workers were killed by a drunk driver on a supposedly closed freeway, and how her team pieced together the truth. Plus, she calls out which major insurance carrier is the 'worst' to deal with and why their 'take everything to trial' approach is so hard on everyone involved.

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexandria-zant-27a95b129/
Firm Website: https://www.zantlawfirm.com/

Learn more about EmotionTrac and our AI-driven Emotional Intelligence Platform: https://legal.emotiontrac.com/

Welcome back to Latte with a Lawyer—a leading podcast for attorneys exploring the business of law. In this episode, Brett Trembly, the entrepreneurial mind behind Trembly Law Firm and the virtual staffing company Get Staffed Up, shares the counterintuitive philosophy that grew his practice: you have to fire yourself from the day-to-day grind. Brett explains why doing *less* is the secret to making *more*, how delegating the $10-an-hour tasks unlocks growth, and why he now spends only one day a week on his 35-person law firm.

Brett also pulls back the curtain on Get Staffed Up, his company that sources elite, full-time virtual assistants exclusively from Latin America. He breaks down the powerful economics of this model—hiring a skilled legal assistant for around $24,000 a year who can be billed out at over $80,000—and reveals the rigorous 'Test Flight Academy' that whittles 8,000 weekly applicants down to the top 1%. Brett offers a clear blueprint for lawyers looking to add bandwidth, escape being overworked, and leverage a global talent pool to build a more profitable and saner law office.

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bretttrembly
FIRM Website: https://tremblylaw.com/

Learn more about EmotionTrac and our AI-driven Emotional Intelligence Platform: https://legal.emotiontrac.com/

Welcome back to Latte with a Lawyer—the dynamic podcast for attorneys exploring the industry's most unique practice areas. In this episode, Jon Groth of Groth Law Firm pulls back the curtain on a little-known and lucrative niche: the federal vaccine injury program. He explains how his firm handles cases of Shoulder Injury Related to Vaccine Administration (SIRVA) and Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) within a system where clients receive 100% of their recovery. For plaintiff's lawyers who hate the billable hour, Jon reveals how this practice—with only about 1,000 attorneys nationwide—allows him to get paid by a federal fund, win or lose, for taking on cases that wouldn't work on a standard contingency.

But Jon's practice is also driven by deep purpose. He shares why his most rewarding work involves pursuing multiple-time drunk drivers, detailing the harrowing case of a child who lost an arm after being struck by a driver on cocaine. Jon maps out his unconventional path to the law, from an aspiring jazz musician to getting the “advocate’s bug” in student politics, and how that journey informs his firm's strategy. He offers a playbook for competing against a sea of billboard lawyers by using high-touch service and leveraging AI to gain an edge in case analysis, proving you can build a thriving practice by focusing on service and community impact.

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonpgroth/
FIRM Website: https://grothlawfirm.com/

Learn more about EmotionTrac and our AI-driven Emotional Intelligence Platform: https://legal.emotiontrac.com/

Welcome to Latte with a Lawyer, the essential podcast for attorneys exploring the cutting edge of legal advocacy. This episode features Margaret Truesdale, a civil rights and employment attorney at Hughes Socol Piers Resnick & Dym, who shares the inside story of a landmark victory: the abolition of money bond in Illinois. Margaret details how her firm’s initial lawsuit snowballed into a statewide movement, culminating in a constitutional battle before the Illinois Supreme Court. She reveals how her team, in partnership with the ACLU, crafted a powerful amicus brief signed by over 400 supporters that helped secure the win, fundamentally reshaping pretrial justice in the state.

But Margaret’s impact doesn't stop there. She also takes us inside her current class action lawsuit using the Trafficking Victims Protection Act to fight alleged forced labor practices against immigration detainees at a county detention center. Margaret reflects on her unconventional path to the law, from doing fairytale-based mock trials in elementary school to teaching with Teach for America and in Spain before attending Northwestern. She offers a powerful critique of the legal industry's burnout culture, making a compelling case for how a 40-hour work week can foster a healthier, more inclusive, and ultimately more effective legal profession.

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/margaret-truesdale-79a09322/
FIRM Website: https://hsplegal.com/

Learn more about EmotionTrac and our AI-driven Emotional Intelligence Platform: https://legal.emotiontrac.com/

Welcome back to Latte with a Lawyer—the podcast for attorneys exploring the intersection of law, business, and technology. In this episode, host Jonathan Brickman sits down with Karl Seelbach, who shares the incredible story of launching his firm, Doyle & Seelbach, with just one client and one case. Karl details the hustle that grew the practice from a two-man shop to a 23-person team, landing major corporate clients like Albertson's, Lowe's, and McDonald's for their personal injury defense, real estate, and commercial litigation needs.

Karl also gives a masterclass in trial advocacy, recounting his landmark $1.4 million victory in an excessive force case against police officers. He reveals how crucial evidence—a home surveillance video and incriminating body mic audio—unraveled the officers' false narrative and secured justice for his client. As an early adopter of legal tech and co-founder of Skribe.ai, Karl explains how he leverages tools like Clio and his own deposition-clipping software to drive efficiency and gain a competitive edge in a high-stakes defense practice.

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kwseelbach
FIRM Website: https://skribe.ai/

Learn more about EmotionTrac and our AI-driven Emotional Intelligence Platform: https://legal.emotiontrac.com/