Lawyerist Podcast

In episode 590 of Lawyerist Podcast, learn how practical, everyday AI can help lawyers work smarter—not harder. Zack Glaser sits down with Graydon Trusler, a practical AI specialist and longtime law-firm operations pro, to explore how attorneys can use “productive laziness” to eliminate repetitive tasks, streamline case management, and reclaim valuable time. Graydon shares real examples from his family law firm, including how custom AI assistants help review discovery, prep hearings, analyze documents, and even support lawyers in the courtroom. Together, they break down privacy concerns, adoption hurdles, and simple ways to start using AI without getting overwhelmed.

Discover why AI isn’t a distant future—it’s a powerful tool lawyers can start using today to improve workflows, reduce stress, and deliver better results for clients. 

 Links from the episode:  

LexpertAI 

 Listen to our previous episodes about Practical AI & Law Firm Efficiency:  

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 

08:45 – Meet Graydon 

11:10 – Practical AI in Law Firms 

16:40 – Myths, Fears & Privacy 

19:00 – Real AI Workflows 

23:00 – Productive Laziness 

31:00 – AI in the Courtroom 

34:45 – Faster Discovery & SOPs 

38:50 – Flat Fees & the Future 

45:13 – Closing Thoughts 

In episode 589 of Lawyerist Podcast, Stephanie sits down with Barron Henley of Affinity Consulting to talk about the practical, real-world ways law firms can use Excel to save time, reduce errors, and streamline everyday work. 

Barron breaks down why Excel is one of the most underused tools in law firms and shares examples like expense tracking, probate calculations, medical bill summaries, date calculators, amortization tables, document automation, and even embedding live spreadsheets inside Word. 

If Excel feels intimidating, Barron explains how even simple functions can dramatically improve workflows across litigation, estate planning, family law, real estate, and firm operations. 

Listen to our previous episodes on legal tech tools and smarter workflows: 

Listen to our previous episodes on Finances: 

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: 

0:00 – Why lawyers should look at their numbers
4:17 – AI updates from 8AM (MyCase/Docketwise)
13:46 – Why Excel is the most underused tool in law
17:35 – What Excel can do that lawyers don’t expect
23:25 – Templates, formulas & real practice examples
31:27 – Using Excel for automation & mail merges
37:32 – Everyday lawyer workflows made easier with Excel
41:23 – Final takeaways 

In episode 588 of the Lawyerist Podcast, discover how small shifts in mindset and management can make law practice less chaotic and more rewarding. Zack Glaser sits down with Jordan Couch of Palace Law to explore lessons from his book, 411 Tips for Solo and Small Firm Lawyers. They cover everything from client service and writing habits to creativity and innovation, offering real-world advice to help lawyers build stronger, happier firms. 

Listen to our previous episodes about Law Firm Innovation & Sustainable 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 with Stephanie & Zack 

05:52 – Meet Jordan Couch 

07:12 – 411 Tips for Lawyers 

09:48 – Pick Your Lane 

13:51 – Client Service Matters 

16:26 – Handling Client Frustration 

21:12 – The Trial Is Always Happening 

24:35 – Write Like a Human 

34:20 – Practice Creativity 

37:38 – The Future of Law 

46:00 – Closing Thoughts 

In episode 587 of Lawyerist Podcast, discover how your firm can stay competitive, efficient, and future-ready by embracing artificial intelligence. Stephanie Everett talks with Jack Newton, CEO and founder of Clio, about how small firms can leverage AI to streamline workflows, make smarter decisions, and outpace slower-moving competitors. 

Jack explains how Clio’s new AI-powered platform, Clio Work, is transforming the way lawyers practice—by integrating intelligent automation directly into everyday tasks. Together, they explore what it means to become an “AI-native” law firm, how to balance innovation with ethics, and why small firms are uniquely positioned to lead the legal industry’s next big shift. 

Learn how to use AI as a force multiplier in your practice—and why adaptability, not size, will define tomorrow’s most successful law firms. 

Listen to our previous episodes about AI & 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:  

0:00 – Introduction & ClioCon Recap 

2:00 – Growth Stages of Small Firms 

5:10 – Clio for Enterprise Explained 

7:45 – Why Small Firms Have the Advantage 

10:30 – How AI Is Changing Legal Work 

13:15 – Making AI Adoption Effortless 

16:00 – Trust, Data & the Hallucination Problem 

20:00 – Building the AI-Native Law Firm 

22:30 – Staying Competitive in the Age of Change 

24:40 – Closing Thoughts 

In episode 586 of Lawyerist Podcast, learn how lawyers can help safeguard democracy by defending the rule of law and protecting judicial independence. In this episode, Stephanie Everett talks with Bill Bay, Immediate Past President of the American Bar Association, about why these issues transcend politics and define the integrity of the legal profession. Together, they discuss how every lawyer can lead with grace, model civil discourse, and stand up for fairness, equality, and due process. 

 Learn how you can join the ABA’s fight for the rule of law here: https://www.americanbar.org/groups/public_education/resources/rule-of-law/ 

Listen to our previous episodes about Leadership & Advocacy in Law:  

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:  

0:00 – Introduction 

1:00 – Law as Political, Not Partisan 

4:40 – Sponsor Break: Tabs3 

11:13 – Meet Bill Bay 

12:20 – What the Rule of Law Means 

14:40 – Threats to Justice & the Profession 

21:55 – How Lawyers Can Take Action 

23:40 – Grace & Civility in Practice 

29:05 – Hope for the Next Generation 

34:20 – Call to Action & Closing Thoughts 

In episode 585 of Lawyerist Podcast, Soumya Palreddy and Jill Kluesner explain how Mental Health First Aid equips lawyers to recognize signs of burnout, stress, and crisis—before they escalate. Learn practical tools for building healthier teams, reducing stigma, and improving communication in high-pressure firms. 

Discover why legal leaders are embracing mental health training as a core business skill, and how a few key mindset shifts can protect both your well-being and your practice. 

Links from the episode: 

http://www.jillkluesnerconsulting.com 

https://www.soumyapalreddyconsulting.com/ 

Listen to our previous episodes about Legal Professional Wellness.  

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 & ClioCon Recap
03:45 – What Is Mental Health First Aid?
06:10 – Training for the Legal Mind
08:45 – Breaking the Stigma: Talking About Mental Health at Work
11:32 – Signs, Symptoms & What to Notice
15:55 – The First Aid Framework: How to Help
19:20 – Leadership, Culture & Modeling Wellness
22:58 – From Self-Care to Community Care
26:40 – Practical Steps for Teams
29:10 – Final Takeaways & How to Get Trained
30:45 – Closing Thoughts & Resources 

In episode 584 of Lawyerist Podcast, Zack Glaser sits down with longtime legal marketing expert Karin Conroy of Conroy Creative Counsel to talk about the evolution of law firm marketing in the age of artificial intelligence. 

Karin explains why lawyers shouldn’t fear AI, but should learn to use it strategically. From the “Iron Man vs. Terminator” analogy to practical steps for improving your firm’s marketing funnel, she shares how attorneys can blend technology and human insight to build trust, attract the right clients, and stay ahead of the curve. 

They also dig into how AI is reshaping SEO, the importance of authenticity, and why marketing fundamentals still matter more than ever. 

Links from this episode: 

Conroy Creative Counsel 

The AI Marketing Cookbook for Lawyers 

Listen to our previous episodes with Karin: 

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: 

0:00 – The evolution of law firm marketing
3:50 – AI’s rise and the Iron Man vs. Terminator analogy
9:50 – Understanding your marketing funnel
12:00 – Why referrals are marketing
17:00 – Finding weak points in your strategy
21:00 – Adding AI without losing the human touch
25:30 – How AI is changing SEO and “Search Everywhere Optimization”
37:40 – The value of authenticity and human connection 

In episode 583 of the Lawyerist Podcast, Zack Glaser talks with Bernadette Harris, business strategist and finance coach at Lawyerist, about how to move beyond “survival mode” and into strategic, scalable growth. 

Bernadette breaks down the financial metrics that define a mature, transferable law firm, what she calls the difference between working in your business and having your business work for you. Together, they explore the KPIs that show when your team, not just you, is generating revenue, how to measure leverage across roles, and how to build systems that make your firm valuable enough to sell or pass on. 

Bernadette also shares what succession planning really looks like for small firms, why client origination should be team-wide, and how to start laying the groundwork, no matter your current stage of growth. 

Listen to our previous episodes with Bernadette: 

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: 

0:00 – Introduction: Running and Community at LabCon
2:40 – The Power of Accountability and Growth Communities
5:40 – Advanced Firm Finances: Stage 3 & 4 Growth
8:45 – Shifting from Survival to Strategy
11:35 – Measuring Leverage: Who’s Doing the Work?
14:45 – Tracking Revenue by Role, Not Hours
19:15 – When Owners Should Stop Doing Casework
23:00 – Building Transferable Value
25:40 – Succession Planning and Client Origination
29:10 – Systems, SOPs, and True Scalability
33:20 – How to Reach the Next Stage
35:10 – Closing Thoughts & Resources 

In episode 582 of Lawyerist Podcast, Zack Glaser talks with Merisa Bowers, Loss Prevention and Outreach Counsel at the Ohio Bar Liability Insurance Company, about how artificial intelligence is reshaping lawyers’ ethical duties. 

Merisa explains how deepfakes and realistic scams are creating new challenges for diligence and verification, why unregulated chatbots can accidentally create attorney-client relationships, and what disclosures lawyers should make when using AI tools. She also shares practical steps to maintain confidentiality, protect client data, and apply long-standing ethics rules to fast-changing technologies. 

Links from the episode:  

ABA Formal Opinion 512 - Generative AI 

ABA Formal Opinion 510 - Prospective Clients & Rule 1.18 

Listen to our previous episodes about non-lawyer ownership: 

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:  

0:00 – ClioCon
4:45 – Meet Merisa Bowers
6:50 – Tech Shifts & New Ethics Risks
9:10 – Deepfakes & Diligence
13:40 – AI Scams & Fake Clients
18:30 – Chatbots Creating Clients 

23:40 – Ethical Chatbot Models
26:45 – Should Lawyers Disclose AI?
29:40 – Don’t Let AI Think for You
34:20 – Protecting Client Data
36:10 – Staying Ethical with AI
37:40 – Wrap-Up & Final Thoughts 

In episode 581 of Lawyerist Podcast, Zack Glaser talks with Drew Bloom of Affinity Consulting Group about how artificial intelligence is evolving from assistants into agents that can act on a lawyer’s behalf. Instead of just suggesting edits or answers, agentic AI can redline contracts, search multiple documents, and connect across platforms to finish tasks before asking for approval.  

Drew explains what this shift means for law firms, what tools are likely to appear in the next 12–24 months, and why preparing your data—through structure, metadata, and integrations—matters more than ever. He also shares practical ways to start experimenting with AI connectors in tools you already use, so you’re ready when agentic features become standard in everyday legal work. 

Listen to our other episodes on AI in Law: 

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: 

0:00 – Introduction & Conferences Recap 

2:48 – From SEO to AEO: The New Search Frontier 

6:34 – Meet Drew Bloom: AI for Law Firms 

8:48 – What Makes AI “Agentic”? 

13:47 – Assistants vs. Agents: How They Differ 

16:00 – Redlining & Real-World Use Cases 

20:41 – MCPs and Custom AI Connections 

27:30 – The Future: Multi-Tool AI & Mobility 

29:48 – Preparing Your Firm: Data & Metadata 

34:38 – Where Lawyers Can Experiment Safely