Lawyer Launcher - Behind the Bar

Law school teaches you the law. A summer or articling job also asks you to work with busy people, take usable instructions, understand a business, and keep learning before you feel confident. Kurt Schlachter has mentored students as a practicing lawyer and now leads a law firm. He shares what makes him want to invest in a new lawyer and what can affect a hireback decision.

Kurt and I get practical about approaching a lawyer who looks too busy to interrupt, getting clarity before an assignment goes sideways, taking notes without switching off your brain, and asking for feedback. We also talk about the business of law, why competence comes before confidence, and the legal careers available in smaller communities.

Takeaways for law students:

• Mentorship works best when you seek it out, listen, and show that you want to learn how to do the work.

• Before starting an assignment, confirm the deliverable, deadline, time budget, and how to ask follow up questions.

• Record your time honestly. It gives the lawyer a chance to see where you need guidance.

• Learn how the firm serves clients and runs as a business. The lawyers assigning your work are also your internal clients.

• Ask for feedback and opportunities to see a file through. You are not expected to know everything on day one.

• A hard day is part of the job. Repeatedly abusive responses to appropriate questions are a reason to seek support and examine the environment.

Lawyer Launcher links:

Instagram: https://instagram.com/lawyerlauncher/

TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@lawyerlauncher/

YouTube: https://youtube.com/@LawyerLauncher-BTB/

LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/susanpvandyke/

Chapters:

0:00 Meet Kurt and the episode focus

3:07 Why mentorship works both ways

5:37 The busy lawyer who looks grumpy

11:43 Build a working relationship with your mentor

16:17 What to do with unclear instructions

19:44 Take notes while you listen

25:51 The business side law school may miss

31:17 Time, internal clients and communication

39:40 Mistakes that can hurt a hireback

46:39 Curiosity matters more than knowing everything

50:16 Ask for feedback and opportunities

55:26 Legal careers in smaller communities

1:02:04 Why senior lawyers want to help

1:04:11 Ask for help and find your people

You earned your place in law school or at a law firm. So why does it still feel like someone might discover a mistake? Former litigator and now counsellor, Bena Stock, joins Susan Van Dyke and Johanna Mills to talk about the confidence gap, perfectionism and the habits that make anxiety louder. Bena brings 24 years of litigation experience and practical tools for the moments when your inner critic starts drafting its own factum.

What law students can take into practice:
• Treat a mistake as information. Tell the right person promptly, help fix it, and ask what you can learn.
• Catch the familiar mental route from one piece of criticism to “I do not belong here.” Check the evidence before you accept that story.
• Write down one thing you did well each day and why. Keep kind feedback in a folder you can revisit on a difficult day.
• Do not wait for a busy senior lawyer to notice every win. Share your contribution clearly.
• Before a difficult ask, name the facts, your thoughts, your feelings and what you need. Choose the right person and time, then agree when to check back.

The goal is excellent work and steady learning, not a flawless performance that keeps you from starting.

Lawyer Launcher links:
Instagram: https://instagram.com/lawyerlauncher/
TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@lawyerlauncher/
YouTube: https://youtube.com/@LawyerLauncher-BTB/
LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/susanpvandyke/

Chapters:

00:00 Bridging the confidence gap
02:43 Bena’s early career and imposter syndrome
05:01 Why success can feel like luck
05:59 The perfectionism trap
10:53 What research says about mistakes
13:38 Choosing excellence over perfection
15:51 How to own a mistake at work
18:17 Building a growth mindset
21:19 “Cow paths” and anxious thinking patterns
27:04 Countering negativity bias with visualization
28:32 Record your wins and keep a kudos folder
32:02 The tiara syndrome: making your work visible
34:14 Using positive self-talk under pressure
35:44 Asking for what you want
40:08 A framework for difficult conversations
45:46 Debrief: the cost of avoiding risks
48:53 Recovering from mistakes
51:08 Finding a human connection at work
53:47 Final takeaways

Your next professional connection could start with two minutes by the coffee machine.

Susan Van Dyke, founder of Lawyer Launcher, joins Tanya Martinez-Gallinucci, Executive Director of the Office for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging, New York City Bar Association, on Building Belonging, a podcast from the New York City Bar Association and its Office for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging, to unpack networking, mentorship, and the unspoken rules of a legal career.

Susan and Tanya explore how to build a community of mentors, colleagues, and future clients through curiosity, listening, and finding ways to be helpful. They discuss why networking can feel uncomfortable even for extroverts, how brief “micro moments” can lead to meaningful relationships, and what it looks like to take responsibility for your professional growth.

You’ll also hear how a successful litigator worked through his anxiety about small talk with a few simple, practiced questions. Whether you’re entering law school, starting at a firm, or strengthening your professional relationships, this conversation offers practical ways to find your people and keep those connections growing.

Lawyer Launcher links:
Instagram: https://instagram.com/lawyerlauncher/
TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@lawyerlauncher/
YouTube: https://youtube.com/@LawyerLauncher-BTB/
LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/susanpvandyke/

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Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Building Belonging & ALI
01:22 Meet Susan Van Dyke
04:50 Seeing the Bigger Picture Inside a Law Firm
06:08 Trust, Leadership & Belonging
07:23 The Gap Between Law School and Practice
10:02 Why Mentorship Needs Better Communication
12:01 Taking Responsibility for Your Career
14:09 Building Your Circle of Mentors
15:20 Adjusting to Life Inside a Law Firm
16:43 Introducing Lawyer Launcher
18:24 Law Firm Economics & Career Development
19:51 Making the Unspoken Rules Explicit
20:21 When Networking Feels Uncomfortable
22:55 Bringing Curiosity to New Connections
24:40 Networking Through Helpfulness & Listening
27:01 Finding Your People
29:36 Making the Most of Micro Moments
31:58 Turning Brief Conversations Into Follow-Ups
34:23 Helping a Senior Lawyer Get Comfortable With Small Talk
36:04 Connecting Legal Pipeline Programs & Resources
39:04 Learning From Different Voices in the Profession
40:08 Building Relationships Over Time
41:19 Closing Remarks

Opinions expressed are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect those of the New York City Bar Association.

Guest: Pauline Chan, called to the bar in 2010, now leading lawyer experience for a national network of 700+ Canadian lawyers.

Pauline's résumé reads like a success story: Big Law, in house, a solo practice, a fitness studio business she built with partners, and now a national leadership role. But this conversation isn't about the résumé. It's about what was happening underneath it: the 2 a.m. phone checks that spiked her heart rate before she was even fully awake, the bladder infections from refusing to leave her desk, and the afternoon she caught herself envying a colleague whose broken arm meant a month off work, thinking nothing of it.

Pauline and Susan trace the moment that "normal" stopped being normal: the outside conversation (with a husband, then two mentors) that finally named what her environment couldn't see. From there, Pauline walks through the messy, non linear path to in house to founding her own studio to a fractional practice, and what she learned at each stop about the difference between hard but meaningful work and work that's just hard because something's wrong.

This is a candid conversation about burnout culture in law, the myth of the "one right path," how to actually find (and use) a mentor, and why saying "I don't know, yet" might be the most powerful four words in a junior lawyer's vocabulary. If you're articling or interning, a few years in, or quietly wondering whether the grind is sustainable, this one's for you.

Guest links:

LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/in/paulinepochan/
Goodlawyer: https://www.goodlawyer.ca/

Lawyer Launcher links:
Instagram: https://instagram.com/lawyerlauncher/
TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@lawyerlauncher/
YouTube: https://youtube.com/@LawyerLauncher-BTB/
LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/susanpvandyke/

Want to stand out as a law student, articling student, or junior lawyer? Building a successful legal career takes more than becoming technically competent. It also means learning how to build relationships, develop your personal brand, navigate your law firm, and eventually generate business.

In this episode of Lawyer Launcher - Behind the Bar Susan Van Dyke speaks with Kimberly Rice, author of Rainmaker Roadmap, about the habits young lawyers can start developing from day one to become future law firm rainmakers.

Kimberly shares practical career advice for law students, summer students, new associates, and junior lawyers who want to accelerate their professional development and build a strong foundation for long-term success in law.

In this episode, you’ll learn how to:
    •    Understand your law firm’s governance and power structure and identify the people who influence your career
    •    Build relationships with mentors, partners, peers, and law firm staff
    •    Increase your visibility within your firm by volunteering, joining committees, attending events, and putting yourself in the room
    •    Push through self-doubt and learn to ask for opportunities instead of waiting to be invited
    •    Develop a strong personal brand as someone who is hardworking, helpful, accessible, and trustworthy
    •    Start developing a marketing and business development mindset early in your legal career
    •    Build an authentic professional network that can eventually lead to referrals and new clients
    •    Understand why relationships with assistants, receptionists, marketing teams, and other professionals can have a major impact on your career
    •    Approach client service with a “servant’s heart” by anticipating what clients need and looking for ways to genuinely help
    •    Build the habits that can turn a new lawyer into a future rainmaker

One of Kimberly’s central messages: don’t wait until you’re a senior lawyer to start thinking about networking, business development, and client relationships. The relationships and reputation you build at the beginning of your career can shape the opportunities available to you for years to come.

About Kimberly Rice

Kimberly is an author and accomplished business and client development professional with 25+ years of demonstrated passionate experience in strategic planning, marketing communications to spearhead growth initiatives.

With decades of experience working with law firms and lawyers, Kimberly has coached and trained thousands of women professionals to navigate career obstacles, build stronger professional relationships, develop their businesses, and create more prosperous and fulfilling careers.

Episode Resources
Rainmaker Roadmap: A Step-by-Step Guide to Building a Prosperous Business
https://www.amazon.ca/Rainmaker-Roadmap-Step-Step-Prosperous/dp/1942489374

If you’re a law student, articling student, intern, new associate trying to understand how law firms really work—and how to build a legal career that goes beyond simply doing good legal work—this episode is for you.

Gaining a solid understanding of law firm economics is vital for any new lawyer. Colin Cameron from Profits for Partners joins us to discuss the keys to financial literacy within the legal field, focusing on how new lawyers can navigate their careers with confidence.

Understanding the Basics of Law Firm Financials:
Colin emphasizes the importance of grasping fundamental economic concepts when entering a law firm. He references David Maister's five profitability levers: rates, leverage, utilization, realization, and margin. These are critical for any lawyer aiming to succeed in the business of law.

Rates:
Starting with rates, Colin notes that students may come in at an hourly rate of around $150. However, the effective rate—what the firm ultimately bills to clients—can be significantly lower due to write-offs. For instance, a student might bill four hours of work, but with a 50% write-off, the effective rate drops to $75 per hour. Colin advises new lawyers to focus on logging their time accurately while allowing their billing partners to handle the complexities of client invoicing.

Leverage:
Next, we discussed leverage, which refers to the ratio of associates to partners in a firm. A one-to-one leverage is common, but increasing leverage by hiring more associates can enhance profitability. For example, in fields like personal injury law, firms can leverage more support staff, thereby maximizing efficiency and profits.

Utilization:
Utilization is another critical concept, with successful associates typically aiming for 1,400 to 1,500 billable hours per year. However, many may find it challenging to reach this figure due to various factors, including the nature of the work and the learning curve for new lawyers. Colin highlights that understanding this metric is key to achieving financial success in a firm.

Realization and Margin:
Moving on to realization, Colin explains that it measures how much of the billed time is actually collected. A realization rate of 95% is considered excellent and is essential for profitability. Finally, margin represents the net income of the firm compared to its total revenue. With rising associate salaries, maintaining healthy margins is becoming increasingly difficult.

Shifting Perspectives in Law Firms:
The discussion also touches on the evolving mindset within law firms. As Colin recalls, there was a significant shift in the 90s towards viewing law firms as businesses, spurred by metrics like profit per partner and innovative billing practices. This evolution is crucial for new lawyers to understand as they embark on their careers.

Colin's insights provide a roadmap for future lawyers to navigate the complex landscape of law firm economics. By mastering these financial principles, new lawyers can position themselves for success and contribute meaningfully to their firms.

Understanding the business side of law is not just beneficial; it's essential for a thriving legal career.

Lawyer Launcher links:
Instagram: https://instagram.com/lawyerlauncher/
TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@lawyerlauncher/
YouTube: https://youtube.com/@LawyerLauncher-BTB/
LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/susanpvandyke/

In this episode:

You are allowed to ask for what you need. Even in a law firm.
In this episode of Lawyer Launcher, Susan Van Dyke breaks down the real cost of staying silent as a law student or new lawyer, and why the quiet things you're tolerating right now (an uncomfortable chair, a confusing review process, an assignment with unclear instructions) may be quietly draining your performance every single day.

Through two real client stories, Susan shows exactly how unmet needs affect focus, confidence, and career longevity, and gives you the mindset shift and word for word scripts to fix it. You'll learn how to tell the difference between reasonable self advocacy and entitlement, how to ask for what you need without sounding needy, and how one well timed question can end weeks of anxiety before a performance review.

Nearly 60% of legal professionals report poor mental wellbeing, and more than half of lawyers surveyed have considered leaving the profession because of burnout. This episode is about closing that gap, one honest, well placed question at a time.

Show details:
LawCare: https://lawcare.org.uk/
American Bar Association Well-being Resources: https://www.americanbar.org/groups/lawyer_assistance/resources/links-of-interest/

Lawyer Launcher links:
Instagram: https://instagram.com/lawyerlauncher/
TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@lawyerlauncher/
YouTube: https://youtube.com/@LawyerLauncher-BTB/
LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/susanpvandyke/

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Chapters
00:00 Introduction & Welcome to Lawyer Launcher
02:34 What If You Haven't Asked for What You Need?
03:06 Why Speaking Up Matters to Your Career
05:13 Why Law Students Stay Silent
06:45 The Hidden Cost of Unmet Needs
07:19 The Office Chair That Was Holding a Lawyer Back
09:47 When Uncertainty Creates Unnecessary Anxiety
10:43 The Power of Asking One Simple Question
12:23 The Well-Being Crisis in the Legal Profession
14:18 Common Situations Where You Need to Speak Up
15:53 The Mindset Shift: Think Like a Supervising Lawyer
17:07 Asking for What You Need Without Seeming Entitled
18:48 Three Scripts for Asking What You Need
19:33 Script #1: Asking for a Better Workspace
20:12 Script #2: Preparing for a Performance Review
20:44 Script #3: Getting Clarification on an Assignment
21:17 Four Principles for Making a Professional Ask
21:52 Your Action Step: Identify One Thing You're Tolerating
22:31 Asking Is a Sign of Self-Awareness
22:59 What Are You Waiting to Ask For?
23:28 Final Thoughts & Follow Lawyer Launcher

You went to law school. You did the work. So why does everyone still feel lost when they actually get there?

Jacob Murad did it differently. He started as a litigation lawyer, realized the partnership track wasn't the finish line he wanted, and went on to build a 150-person professional services firm with his brothers by acquiring over 10 retiring law practices across Ontario. He's also a mentor through the Law Society of Ontario and writes regularly for LexisNexis. He's seen the full arc, and he's not here to sugarcoat any of it.

In this episode, Jacob gets real about what junior lawyers and articling students are getting wrong, what AI actually means for your career, and why the billable hour model is more important to understand than anything you learned in law school. We talk about imposter syndrome (spoiler: it never goes away, even at year 12), why most legal networking events are a waste of your time, how to make yourself irreplaceable in the age of AI, and what it actually takes to build a career on your own terms.

If you've ever felt like you're waiting for someone to hand you a roadmap, this is the episode that hands you one. Jacob also previews his upcoming book, Freedom by Acquisition, a step-by-step guide to buying a business even if you have no money, no connections, and no idea where to start.

This one is for the students, the articling clerks, and the early-career lawyers who know something has to change. Pull up a chair.

Guest details:
Jacob Murad’s personal website is: https://jacobmurad.com/
Bluestar’s website is: https://bluestar-services.com/
Jacob’s LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacob-murad-a209366a/
Upcoming book (not yet published): Freedom by Acquisition

Lawyer Launcher links:
Instagram: https://instagram.com/lawyerlauncher/
TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@lawyerlauncher/
YouTube: https://youtube.com/@LawyerLauncher-BTB/
LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/susanpvandyke/

In this episode I'm speaking straight to the law student sitting alone in their office wondering if everyone else has figured out something they haven't. I name it clearly: the assimilation gap. The space between who you are when you walk into a firm and who the firm needs you to become. Every student has one. The ones who make it are the ones who close it intentionally.

I build out the full picture: what belonging in a law firm actually requires, what to do when you're struggling and the instinct is to shrink, how to find the one lawyer who can change your entire trajectory, and — critically — the three questions partners are actually asking when the hire-back conversation happens. It isn't about brilliance.

This episode is for the student who is struggling and equally for the student who is doing well but wants to accelerate. I close with a webinar invitation and a reminder that the students who reach out are exactly the ones who end up where they want to go.

Free live webinar for summer students and articling students. Come with your questions. Here’s the link: https://forms.gle/mr5iWFhZGskKNYtK8

Lawyer Launcher links:
Instagram: https://instagram.com/lawyerlauncher/
TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@lawyerlauncher/
YouTube: https://youtube.com/@LawyerLauncher-BTB/
LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/susanpvandyke/

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Chapters:
0:00 — Introduction: Why This Episode Is Different
2:00 — The Assimilation Gap: What Nobody Tells You on Day One
5:30 — There Is No Wallpaper in a Law Firm
8:00 — The Three Layers of Belonging: Relational, Reputational, Functional
10:15 — PROMO: Like and Share This Episode
10:30 — If You're Struggling Right Now: The Move Is Toward People, Not Away
14:00 — The Free Live Webinar: Ask What You Can't Ask Inside Your Firm
16:30 — How to Accelerate: Going From Satisfactory to Irreplaceable
17:30 — Finding Your Champion: The One Relationship That Changes Everything
20:00 — Making Yourself a Known Quantity Beyond Your Assigned Work
21:00 — Build Your Reputation With Everyone, Not Just the Lawyers
21:15 — PROMO: Share This Episode
21:30 — What Partners Are Actually Asking Themselves About You
24:00 — What "Easy to Work With" Really Looks Like on a Regular Tuesday
27:00 — Closing: You Have More Authorship Over This Story Than You Think
30:00 — You Belong Here. Now Go Show Them.

Welcome back to Lawyer Launcher: Behind the Bar. This week, we are doing something a little different. I recently had the lovely opportunity to be a guest on Claudio Klaus's podcast, Studying Law Around the World. We had such a wonderful conversation about the realities of the legal industry that I wanted to share the episode directly with all of you right here on the channel.

During our chat, I shared some of my experiences and observations from my 30 years in law firm management and recruitment. We talked about how law firms truly operate as businesses, some common misunderstandings students have when they first enter the field, and how we can all better navigate the generational gaps we are seeing in the office today. We also touched on the practical, everyday qualities that often help students secure a hire-back. I hope you enjoy listening to our conversation as much as I enjoyed having it! My thanks to Claudio for hosting me on his popular podcast Studying Law Around the World!

Featured Guest: Claudio Klaus, host of the Studying Law Around the World podcast

Guest Links:
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@StudyingLawAroundTheWorld/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/claudioklausjr/
Website: https://law-learn-link.base44.app/

Lawyer Launcher links:
Instagram: https://instagram.com/lawyerlauncher/
TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@lawyerlauncher/
YouTube: https://youtube.com/@LawyerLauncher-BTB/
LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/susanpvandyke/

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Chapters:

00:00 Introduction to the Podcast Collaboration
00:46 Claudio Klaus Welcomes Susan Van Dyke
02:04 Susan Van Dyke 30 Year Career Journey
06:58 What Law Students Misunderstand About Law Firms
10:28 Navigating the Generational Gap in Big Law
13:05 Hiring Secrets Who Gets Hired Back
18:46 Recruitment Secrets and Warm Networking Tips
22:30 Where to Connect with Lawyer Launcher Online
24:22 Three Rules for a Sustainable Legal Career