Lawyerist Podcast

Your firm has AI tools. Your team has questions. In episode 640 of the Lawyerist Podcast, Zack Glaser talks with Ben Schorr about helping lawyers and staff get comfortable using AI through practical, collaborative workshops called prompt-a-thons. 

Ben shares what happens when people have time to work through common office tasks with AI, including prioritizing email, preparing reports, and gathering client contact information. As participants improve their prompts and compare ideas, they begin connecting what they are learning to problems they already face at work. 

They explore how to organize a prompt-a-thon, why gathering people in the same room can make a difference, and how to keep the experience useful without making it a competition. The conversation also examines how colleagues can become an ongoing source of support as teams discover new ways to use AI. 

If your team understands the possibilities but hesitates to try the tools, this episode offers a manageable way to move from watching demonstrations to building practical skills. 

Listen to the previous episodes on AI Adoption and Team Confidence. 

Have thoughts about today’s episode? Join the conversation on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and X!  

If today's podcast resonates with you and you haven't read The Small Firm Roadmap Revisited yet, get the first chapter right now for free! Looking for help beyond the book? See if our coaching community is right for you.  

Access more resources from Lawyerist at lawyerist.com.  

Chapters / Timestamps 

00:00 – Introduction 

00:32 – How Practice Builds AI Confidence 

04:11 – Meet Ben Schorr
05:56 – What a Prompt-a-thon Actually Is
07:30 – Choosing Everyday Tasks for AI Practice
09:36 – Why AI Training Needs a Practice Session
12:37 – Building a Community Around AI Use
14:13 – Getting Your Inbox Under Control with Copilot
15:25 – Refining Prompts for More Useful Results
18:18 – Moving from Prompts to Scheduled Tasks and Agents
19:44 – Connecting AI to Your Firm’s Information
22:00 – Why Documented Procedures Make AI More Useful
25:55 – Using AI to Simplify Monthly Reporting
27:59 – Extracting Client Contact Information from Email
31:35 – In Person, Hybrid, or RemotPrompt-a-thonons
37:56 – Measuring Success Through Learning and Confidence
39:56 – How to RuPrompt-a-thonthon in Your Firm
41:52 – Closing Thoughts 

AI can create a law firm website in minutes. Building a useful marketing strategy takes more thought. In episode 639 of the Lawyerist Podcast, Zack Glaser talks with legal marketing consultant Karin Conroy about why easier content creation is leaving so many lawyers overwhelmed and what to do before asking AI for another post. 

Karin shares a five-step approach to putting your marketing in order: evaluate your current state, set your strategy, repair the foundation, map your channels, and build a content engine. She explains how understanding your ideal clients and the ways they already find you can help you decide where AI belongs. 

Together, they explore why viral posts can generate attention without advancing your business goals, how a polished website can still miss the mark, and why your website, intake process, and referral systems need to support whatever you publish. They also discuss how online marketing and personal relationships can work together to make your firm more memorable. 

If every new AI tool makes you feel further behind, this episode offers a practical way to identify what needs attention first and move forward with a clearer plan. 

Listen to the previous episodes of our AI, Branding & Law Firm Marketing. 

Links from the episode: 

https://conroycreativecounsel.com/ 

Have thoughts about today’s episode? Join the conversation on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and X!  

If today's podcast resonates with you and you haven't read The Small Firm Roadmap Revisited yet, get the first chapter right now for free! Looking for help beyond the book? See if our coaching community is right for you.  

Access more resources from Lawyerist at lawyerist.com.  

Chapters / Timestamps 

00:00 – Introduction 

01:06 – Meet Karin Conroy and the AI Website Question 

04:39 – Why Law Firms Skip the Marketing Fundamentals 

06:28 – Why AI Creates More Marketing Overwhelm 

11:33 – Putting Strategy Before Marketing Tactics 

13:56 – Defining Your Strategy and Ideal Client 

14:52 – Why Going Viral Doesn’t Mean Getting Clients 

16:34 – Why Copying Competitors’ Marketing Doesn’t Work 

18:32 – Making Sure Your Website Can Support Your Marketing 

21:02 – Choosing Channels Based on How Clients Find You 

22:40 – Repairing Your Marketing Foundation Before Adding AI 

24:25 – When Your Law Firm Website Needs a Refresh 

29:42 – How Website Design Shapes Client Trust 

32:58 – Standing Out When Everyone Uses AI 

35:22 – Five Steps to Get Your Marketing on Track 

36:32 – Connecting Your Online and Offline Marketing 

38:09 – Why Human Relationships Still Drive Growth 

39:44 – Closing Thoughts 

Running two practice areas can feel like running two law firms under one roof. In episode 638 of the Lawyerist Podcast, Stephanie Everett talks with Megan Burns, managing partner at Mirador Law, about the firm’s decision to focus entirely on plaintiff personal injury after years of also handling criminal defense. 

After 20 years as a criminal defense lawyer, Megan knew her trial skills could carry over. The business side required its own transition. She explains how different fee structures, marketing needs, and staffing demands led her and her partner to rethink how the firm operated. They started with a partner retreat to agree on a long term vision, then mapped out the steps needed to make it real. 

Together, they discuss how to narrow a practice, support the people affected by the change, and build a firm around a shared direction. If your firm handles several practice areas and you are wondering where to focus, this episode offers a practical place to start. 

Listen to the previous episodes of our Law Firm Strategy & Leading Change. 

Have thoughts about today’s episode? Join the conversation on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and X!  

If today's podcast resonates with you and you haven't read The Small Firm Roadmap Revisited yet, get the first chapter right now for free! Looking for help beyond the book? See if our coaching community is right for you.  

Access more resources from Lawyerist at lawyerist.com.  

Chapters / Timestamps 

00:00 – Introduction
00:47 – Why Law Firm Growth Takes a Process
03:19 – Meet Megan Burns
03:53 – From Public Defender to Personal Injury Lawyer
05:41 – How Trial Skills Transfer Between Practice Areas
07:49 – Changing Practice Areas Changes the Business Model
09:11 – Flat Fees, Contingency Fees, and Financial Risk
11:03 – When Two Practice Areas Became Too Much
11:45 – Setting a New Vision at a Partner Retreat
13:13 – Why Two Practice Areas Can Feel Like Two Firms
15:27 – Getting Law Partners on the Same Page
18:00 – Turning the Vision Into a Plan for the Team
20:01 – How Leaders Set the Tone for Change
22:27 – Building on a 50 Year Firm Legacy
24:20 – Competing as a Small Personal Injury Firm
26:11 – Closing Thoughts 

Most lawyers know relationships lead to referrals. The challenge is keeping those relationships alive when everything else gets busy. In this episode of the Lawyerist Podcast, Stephanie Everett talks with Jay Ruane about analog marketing and the simple systems that make staying connected part of running a firm. 

Jay explains why offline marketing often falls apart after the first month and how a repeatable approach can help lawyers follow through. They explore using AI to identify forgotten connections in your inbox, making time for short coffee meetings, and becoming the person others trust to make a useful introduction. 

The conversation also covers networking as an introvert, asking about someone else’s ideal client, and choosing thoughtful gifts that people actually want to keep. Jay shares why his firm sends clients blankets without its logo and why a manageable network of 50 referral partners can support a successful practice. 

If your marketing plan depends on remembering to reach out when things slow down, this episode offers a more practical way to build relationships, generate referrals, and keep showing up. 

Listen to the previous episodes of our Referral Marketing, Relationship Building & Law Firm Growth. 

Have thoughts about today’s episode? Join the conversation on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and X!  

If today's podcast resonates with you and you haven't read The Small Firm Roadmap Revisited yet, get the first chapter right now for free! Looking for help beyond the book? See if our coaching community is right for you.  

Access more resources from Lawyerist at lawyerist.com.  

Chapters / Timestamps 

00:00 – Introduction 

00:59 – Stephanie’s Blog and the Lawyerist Community 

03:02 – Meet Jay Ruane 

03:57 – Why Relationship Marketing Needs a System 

07:17 – Keeping Your Systems Simple 

08:46 – Why Analog Marketing Still Works 

11:01 – Using AI to Rediscover Referral Connections 

12:07 – Building a Network by Connecting Others 

14:13 – Networking as an Introvert 

17:19 – Preparing for Better Conversations 

19:31 – Talking Business Without Forcing a Pitch 

20:32 – Asking for Introductions 

21:43 – Moving Beyond a Scarcity Mindset 

22:41 – Thoughtful Gifts vs. Branded Merchandise 

26:16 – Conference Giveaways People Actually Want 

27:11 – Making a Book a Personal Gift 

28:31 – Building a Repeatable Marketing Routine 

29:49 – Why 50 Referral Partners Can Be Enough 

30:46 – Closing Thoughts 

Law firms spend enormous amounts of time and money winning new clients, then often overlook the relationships they have already built. In episode 636 of the Lawyerist Podcast, Stephanie Everett talks with EJ Stern and Katherine Wilson about how intentional client nurturing can lead to stronger relationships, repeat business, and more referrals. 

EJ and Katherine explain why clients can quietly disappear when firms stop staying connected, why asking for feedback can strengthen rather than threaten a relationship, and how lawyers can move beyond being the person clients call with one legal problem to becoming a trusted advisor they call about everything else. 

They also share practical ways to stay top of mind, from LinkedIn and personal check-ins to thoughtful gifts, memorable experiences, and small gestures that show you actually know the person behind the matter. As AI-generated communication becomes easier to produce, authentic human connection may become even more valuable. 

If your firm is constantly focused on finding the next client, this conversation is a reminder that some of your best growth opportunities may already know, like, and trust you. 

Listen to the previous episodes of our Client Retention, Referral Growth & Relationship Building. 

Links from the episode: 

https://smith.ai/ 

8am Kaleidoscope: https://www.8am.com/events/kaleidoscope/ 

Fractional Law Firm CMO 

Fractional Law Firm CMO on LinkedIn 

EJ Stern on LinkedIn 

Katherine Wilson on LinkedIn 

Have thoughts about today’s episode? Join the conversation on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and X!  

If today's podcast resonates with you and you haven't read The Small Firm Roadmap Revisited yet, get the first chapter right now for free! Looking for help beyond the book? See if our coaching community is right for you.  

Access more resources from Lawyerist at lawyerist.com.  

Chapters / Timestamps 

 00:00 – Introduction 

01:16 – Getting More From Conferences 

03:02 – AI in Law Firms 

06:39 – AI for Client Intake 

08:15 – Intake Is a Sales Funnel 

11:19 – Fixing Intake Leaks 

13:22 – AI for Sales and Intake 

14:53 – Meet EJ Stern & Katherine Wilson 

15:36 – Why Client Retention Gets Overlooked 

16:19 – Turning Clients Into Referrals 

17:47 – Why Lawyers Avoid Feedback 

21:01 – Why Client Experience Matters 

21:54 – Becoming a Trusted Advisor 

22:54 – How to Ask for Client Feedback 

24:33 – Staying Top of Mind 

25:27 – Building Client Loyalty 

26:50 – Past Clients and Referral Sources 

28:41 – Creative Client Gifts 

32:22 – Human Connection in the Age of AI 

34:50 – Invest in Existing Clients 

35:21 – Building Long-Term Client Relationships 

36:11 – Marketing Is Like the Gym 

37:13 – LinkedIn and Staying Top of Mind 

38:00 – Keep Repeating Your Message 

38:21 – Closing Thoughts 

Law firms know change is coming. Knowing what to do about it is harder. In this episode of the Lawyerist Podcast, Stephanie Everett talks with Debbie Foster about leading a law firm forward as technology, client expectations, and the business of law evolve. 

Debbie explains why strategy often gets pushed aside for urgent client work and day-to-day demands. Together, they explore why firms struggle to move beyond “we’ve always done it this way,” how consensus can stall progress, and why great ideas mean little without execution and team buy-in. 

They also examine how AI is raising the stakes for law firm leaders. Waiting for certainty is not a strategy. Stephanie and Debbie share practical ways to protect time for strategic thinking, challenge assumptions, build buy-in, and help teams adapt to change. 

If your firm keeps talking about what needs to change but struggles to make it happen, this episode will help you move from ideas to action. 

Listen to the previous episodes of our Law Firm Leadership Series. 

Links from the episode: 

https://posh.com/lawyerist/ 

https://lawyerist.com/scorecard/ 

https://beanextlevelleader.com/ 

Have thoughts about today’s episode? Join the conversation on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and X!  

If today's podcast resonates with you and you haven't read Be a Next Level Leader yet, get the first chapter right now for free! Looking for help beyond the book? See if our coaching community is right for you.  

Access more resources from Lawyerist at lawyerist.com.  

Chapters / Timestamps 

00:00 – Introduction 

01:47 – The New Small Firm Scorecard™ 

03:23 – Making Law Firm Progress Easier to Measure 

06:38 – AI & Virtual Receptionists 

08:08 – AI vs. Automation: What’s the Difference? 

09:03 – Using AI to Enhance the Client Experience 

12:03 – AI for Sentiment Analysis & Quality Assurance 

13:04 – Keeping Humans in Control of AI 

14:56 – Leading Your Law Firm Forward 

15:24 – Why Law Firm Strategy Gets Pushed Aside 

16:54 – AI Is Changing the Game for Law Firms 

18:35 – Law Firms Are Playing 3D Chess 

19:30 – Why Strategic Thinking Needs Protected Time 

20:40 – Looking Beyond the Day-to-Day 

22:47 – Moving Past “We’ve Always Done It This Way” 

24:02 – Why Leading Through Change Is So Hard 

24:34 – Great Ideas Aren’t the Problem. Execution Is. 

26:58 – The Business Case for Law Firm Strategy 

28:39 – Creating Believers Inside Your Law Firm 

31:09 – Building a Culture That Thinks Ahead 

32:28 – Why Leaders Will Build the Next Era of Law Firms 

Law firm leaders are often so busy putting out fires that they never get the chance to prevent the next one. In episode 634 of the Lawyerist Podcast, Stephanie Everett talks with Debbie Foster about leading operations, the third cornerstone from their book, Be a Next Level Leader (beanextlevelleader.com). 

Debbie and Stephanie explore what it means to shift from being the “hero” who solves every problem to the architect who builds systems that help the firm run better. They break down how leaders can help teams prioritize urgent versus important work, clarify decision-making authority, and develop the judgment to make better decisions without constantly escalating them. 

They also explain why healthy firms surface problems early instead of hiding mistakes, how solving root causes can prevent recurring operational headaches, and why some law firm meetings cost far more than the decisions being made inside them. 

If your days feel like an endless cycle of interruptions, emergencies, and meetings about the same problems, this episode offers practical ways to build systems that create more clarity, accountability, and consistency across your firm. 

This week's homework: head to beanextlevelleader.com/resources for a free meeting audit calculator to see what your recurring meetings are really costing your firm. 

Listen to our previous episodes on Law Firm Leadership, Systems & Stronger Teams 

Links from the episode: 
Kaleidoscope Conference, September 22-24 in Las Vegas: https://www.8am.com/events/kaleidoscope/ use code “Lawyerist26”  
 

Have thoughts about today’s episode? Join the conversation on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram!  

For more on leading operations, check out Be a Next Level Leader at beanextlevelleader.com. Looking for help beyond the book? 

Access more resources from Lawyerist at lawyerist.com.  

Chapters / Timestamps 

00:00 – Introduction 

00:37 – Lawyerist Heads to Kaleidoscope in Las Vegas 

03:23 – What Law Firms Can Learn from the Savannah Bananas 

05:01 – Why Ridiculous Ideas Can Lead to Better Solutions 

07:20 – The Third Cornerstone of Law Firm Leadership 

07:44 – Leading Operations: Turning Ideas into Systems 

09:29 – Stop Being the Hero and Start Being the Architect 

11:01 – Why Nonbillable Work Can Be Your Most Valuable Work 

11:35 – Building Better Systems One Problem at a Time 

12:32 – Urgent vs. Important: Helping Your Team Prioritize 

13:13 – Why Urgent Work Keeps Taking Over 

15:07 – Teach Your Team to Think Without Rescuing Them 

15:54 – Priorities, Trade-Offs & Better Judgment 

16:45 – Who Actually Gets to Make the Decision? 

19:18 – Why Law Firms Struggle with the Fear of Being Wrong 

21:02 – Create a Culture Where Problems Surface Early 

23:24 – Stop Fixing Symptoms and Find the Root Cause 

25:10 – Audit Your Law Firm Meetings 

25:50 – The $7,000 Meeting Problem 

27:02 – Death by Meeting vs. Not Meeting Enough 

28:17 – How to Run Meetings That Actually Accomplish Something 

29:27 – Stop the Law Firm Rumor Mill 

30:25 – This Week’s Leadership Homework 

Most lawyers are taught how to practice law, not how to lead people. Then one day, they are handed a team and expected to figure it out. In episode 633 of the Lawyerist Podcast, Stephanie Everett talks with Debbie Foster about leading people, the second cornerstone from their book, Be a Next Level Leader. 

Debbie and Stephanie break people's leadership into four essential responsibilities: building trust, developing others, communicating clearly, and holding standards. They explain why trust grows through small, human interactions, why leaders often overload their most dependable employees, and how delegation can become a tool for development instead of a way to clear your own plate. 

They also explore why teams cannot meet expectations that were never clearly communicated, how positive and constructive feedback help people grow, and why “no news is good news” is not a leadership strategy. 

If you want to build a team that can take greater ownership, perform at a higher level, and succeed without relying on one overburdened A player, this episode offers a practical place to start. 

Listen to our previous episodes on Law Firm Leadership, Delegation, and Building Stronger Teams. 

Have thoughts about today’s episode? Join the conversation on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and X!  

If today's podcast resonates with you and you haven't read The Small Firm Roadmap Revisited yet, get the first chapter right now for free! Looking for help beyond the book? See if our coaching community is right for you.  

Access more resources from Lawyerist at lawyerist.com.  

Chapters / Timestamps 

00:00 – Introduction 

00:21 – Track Your Firm’s Progress with the Small Firm Scorecard 

03:17 – Leading People: The Second Leadership Cornerstone 

04:25 – Trust, Development, Communication, and Standards 

05:59 – Why Law Firms Do Not Teach People Management 

07:42 – Building Trust Through Real Relationships 

08:58 – Small Conversations That Strengthen Trust 

10:54 – Delegating to Develop, Not Just to Offload Work 

11:26 – The Overburdened A Player Problem 

12:48 – Becoming a Multiplier for Your Team 

13:31 – Match Delegation to Skill and Readiness 

14:52 – Set Clear Expectations Before Asking for More 

16:38 – Why Feedback Is a Leadership Skill 

18:33 – “No News Is Good News” Does Not Work 

19:08 – Learn How Your People Want to Be Recognized 

19:53 – A Simple Framework for Better Feedback 

21:14 – Holding Standards Without Being Harsh 

22:15 – Closing Thoughts and What Comes Next 

Leaders do not simply enter a room. They change it. In episode 632 of the Lawyerist Podcast, Stephanie Everett talks with Debbie Foster about leading self, the first cornerstone from their new book, Be a Next Level Leader. 

Debbie explains why “leaders bring the weather” and how a leader’s emotions, attention, and energy can shape an entire meeting. Together, they explore what happens when leaders make promises they cannot realistically keep, become bottlenecks for their teams, or undermine decisions by delivering them as someone else’s instructions. 

They also discuss why honoring commitments is essential to building trust, how to renegotiate a deadline without hiding behind busyness, and what it means to speak as a leader even when you disagree with a decision. Debbie and Stephanie share practical scripts, exercises, and shared language law firm teams can use to make better leadership habits part of everyday work. 

If you want your team to trust your word, follow your direction, and feel secure when pressure rises, better leadership starts with understanding how you show up. 

Listen to our previous episodes on Law Firm Leadership, Self-Awareness & Building Stronger Teams. 

Links from the episode: 

https://beanextlevelleader.com/ 

Have thoughts about today’s episode? Join the conversation on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and X!  

If today's podcast resonates with you and you haven't read The Small Firm Roadmap Revisited yet, get the first chapter right now for free! Looking for help beyond the book? See if our coaching community is right for you.  

Access more resources from Lawyerist at lawyerist.com.  

Chapters / Timestamps 

00:00 – Introduction 

01:19 – Why Leadership Teams Need Shared Language 

03:16 – Meet Debbie Foster 

03:45 – Why Leadership Starts with Leading Self 

04:13 – Leaders Bring the Weather 

05:27 – Showing Up Fully Present 

06:17 – How Broken Commitments Erode Trust 

08:15 – When the Leader Becomes the Bottleneck 

09:29 – Speak as a Leader, Not a Messenger 

10:11 – Disagree, Commit & Support the Decision 

12:02 – How Leaders Undermine Their Own Credibility 

12:57 – Turning Leadership Theory into Practical Tools 

14:31 – Scripts for Renegotiating Commitments & Receiving Feedback 

16:10 – How the Book and Workbook Took Shape 

17:21 – Shared Language Creates Stronger Leaders 

19:26 – Leading When Responsibility Exceeds Authority 

21:21 – How Do You Show Up Under Stress? 

22:34 – Closing Thoughts 

When everything feels urgent, meaningful work rarely gets the attention it deserves. In episode 631 of the Lawyerist Podcast, Zack Glaser talks with leadership researcher and author Shawn Vanderhoven about how law firm leaders can create the clarity their teams need to focus and perform at their best. 

Drawing from his book, Pause: How to Lead Brilliant Work in a Busy World, Shawn explains why effective leadership sometimes requires slowing down before moving forward. He shares what his research revealed about the behaviors that improve focus, the leadership habits that amplify distraction, and why teams struggle when every project is treated like a top priority. 

Together, they explore how to make realistic tradeoffs, involve your team in prioritization, delegate without derailing someone’s entire day, and create systems that make difficult conversations easier. Shawn also explains why asking, “What will it take to do this well?” can lead to better decisions than simply asking whether the work can get done. 

If your law firm is juggling too many priorities, this episode offers practical ways to reduce distraction, lead with greater clarity, and create space for work your team can be proud of. 

Listen to our previous episodes on Law Firm Leadership & Building Stronger Teams. 

Links from the episode: 

https://www.pausebook.co/ 

Have thoughts about today’s episode? Join the conversation on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and X!  

If today's podcast resonates with you and you haven't read The Small Firm Roadmap Revisited yet, get the first chapter right now for free! Looking for help beyond the book? See if our coaching community is right for you.  

Access more resources from Lawyerist at lawyerist.com.  

Chapters / Timestamps 

00:00 – Introduction 

00:25 – A Different Kind of Law Firm Conference 

03:10 – LabCon for Law Firm Leaders 

07:05 – What Is Broken About Law Firm Intake 

11:30 – How to Secret Shop Your Firm 

15:15 – The Role of AI in Client Intake 

20:45 – Why Clients Still Want Access to Humans 

26:30 – Meet Shawn Vanderhoven 

29:15 – Why Leaders Need to Pause 

30:25 – How Leadership Can Improve Focus 

33:25 – When Everything Feels Important 

37:15 – Making Prioritization a Team Sport 

40:20 – Choosing Your Majors and Minors 

42:45 – A Better Way to Delegate Work 

46:10 – Navigating Competing Priorities 

49:10 – Making Difficult Conversations Easier 

54:45 – Creating Clarity Around What Matters 

56:10 – Pausing to Help Your Team Move Faster 

59:05 – Closing Thoughts