It’s a new year, and for the Lawyer Life Podcast, that means it’s time to set some goals for 2026. Longtime listeners know that this is a beloved annual tradition for Mike and Darlene. This year we're keeping it light, and focusing on small areas for constant and never-ending improvement in our lives in the office and in our personal lives. And of course we have our goods and gripes! Join us for this chat.

No matter how much you love your job, there will always be things about it that you wish you could change. It's no different for contract lawyers. On this episode of the Lawyer Life, Mike and Darlene get into the weeds and start pulling up the peskiest side quests that come up in contract negotiation, including befuddling signature blocks, unsuitable templates, and the risks of in-document commenting practices.

If every buzz, badge, and Wordle streak has you checking your phone like it’s your job—well, you’re not alone. And if you are a lawyer, it kind of IS your job. Between clients, courts, and colleagues, being “always on” can feel like the only option. But what if you could make a few simple tweaks to reclaim your attention (and maybe your sanity)?

In this episode, we talk with Steve Pratt—author, entrepreneur, and podcast expert—about his personal mission to break up (a little) with his phone. We wanted to hear from him about the real-life experiment he has been running as part of his "Midlife Field Guide" project, to see how small, intentional changes can free up more time and make those hours actually feel good.

In our conversation, we dive into how technology messes with our brains, what’s at stake when we never unplug, and why it’s surprisingly hard to scroll less. And yes, we laugh—a lot—because if you can’t laugh about your screen addiction, what can you laugh about?

Full credit to Steve for the title of this episode, which came from his excellent Midlife Field Guide experiment and Substack posts recording the journey: https://www.midlifefieldguide.com/.

Is it really true that you have to do everything with excellence to succeed in life?

In this episode of the Lawyer Life Podcast, we unpack the pressure to be exceptional at all times—and how that mindset can actually hold you back. From perfectionism to burnout, we explore the hidden costs of chasing excellence in every corner of your life, and why it's okay (and often smarter) to focus your energy more strategically.

Tune in for our conversation about redefining what excellence really means—and how to set the bar for yourself at a reasonable level.

Listen now and subscribe to the Lawyer Life Podcast for more conversations like this.

In this episode, we sit with the discomfort and frustration that followed the acquittal in the Hockey Canada case — a decision many lawyers saw coming, given the high bar for criminal convictions in sexual assault cases. It feels like there has to be a better way for society to reckon with harm, responsibility, and repair in the wake of these very public criminal trials.

To help us explore that possibility, we’re joined again by Pam Hrick, who is the former Executive Director and General Counsel, Women’s Legal Education and Action Fund (LEAF). We discuss restorative justice as an alternative model — one that doesn’t replace the legal system, but offers a different path when the law can’t or won’t address the full complexity of harm.

This is a conversation about accountability without a criminal conviction, and what it might mean to build systems that actually meet the needs of survivors and communities outside the criminal justice system.

🛑 Content note: This episode includes discussion of sexual violence. Please listen with care.

Pam has written about this subject for the Globe and Mail:

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/article-the-criminal-justice-system-keeps-failing-sexual-assault-survivors/

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/article-survivors-of-sexual-violence-should-have-greater-access-to-restorative/

Heading back to the office this fall? Whether you're a fresh-faced law student or a new associate, this episode is for you.

Mike and Darlene crack open the memory vault to share the best advice they received as junior lawyers — the kind that helped them survive (and thrive) in both in-house roles and private practice. They also tap into the wisdom of the wider Inter Alia crew and a few in-house friends to round out the insights.

If you're looking for real talk, practical tips, and a few laughs along the way, hit play. This episode is all about helping you build a career in law that works for you — not the other way around.

Mike and Darlene interview Adam Dodek, author and professor in the Faculty of Law at the University of Ottawa, about his recent book "Heenan Blaikie: The Making and Unmaking of a Great Canadian Law Firm". It's a great chat full of lessons for lawyers setting out to improve on the business model in law. Professor Dodek interviewed over 180 former Heenan Blaikie lawyers to write the book, and it is a real page turner from start to finish.

Join us for this chat!

You can find the book here:

US: https://www.amazon.com/Heenan-Blaikie-Making-Unmaking-Canadian/dp/0774870737

Canada:

Indigo https://www.indigo.ca/en-ca/heenan-blaikie-the-making-and-unmaking-of-a-great-canadian-law-firm/9780774870733.html

Amazon https://www.amazon.ca/Heenan-Blaikie-Making-Unmaking-Canadian/dp/0774870737

UBC Press https://www.ubcpress.ca/heenan-blaikie

Is justice just revenge with better PR? In this episode, we dig into the idea that lawyers might be chasing more than fairness — maybe it’s payback too. Could the same fire that fuels equity also fuel a thirst for retribution? And is that… a bad thing? Join us as we unpack the messier motivations behind why some of us went to law school in the first place. This episode is an "Aftershow" - our discussion after listening to the Armchair Expert podcast interview with James Kimmel Jr. about his book: "The Science of Revenge: Understanding the World's Deadliest Addiction."

This week, in a twist, Darlene is in the interviewer's seat, asking Mike (!) about his time management skills (which are impressive, even by lawyer standards).

One of Mike's special superpowers is his ability to set and meet deadlines, regardless of his workload. How does he do it?? Darlene aims to find out, in this episode, and Mike shares his top tips, grouped into four easy and memorable "buckets".

In addition: a quick chat about the Midjourney/Disney AI image generator lawsuit, and as always, our goods and gripes. Mike is DONE with music biopics, but promotes and supports a great local live music show where the band's performance is on point. Darlene is self aware (at least), about her soccer mom cheering issue. And we tease our next episode, in which we will interview Adam Dodek about his book "Heenan Blaikie: The Making and Unmaking of a Great Canadian Law Firm".

As lawyers who have both practiced in law firms and in-house, Mike and Darlene are often asked "which is a better way to practice law: in a law firm, or in-house in a corporation?".

In this episode, we aim to answer this question based on our own experience and all that we have observed in our careers to date. We focus on the pros and cons in each of: culture; workload; and lifestyle. If you are trying to figure out which is a better fit for you, we hope this episode will be helpful!