Leadership In Law: Growth & Leadership for Law Firm Owners

Video is no longer optional for law firm marketing, but most attorneys still get stuck between two bad choices: rambling with no plan or reading a script until they sound like a robot. We sit down with Abby Walla and David Storch, co-founders of Crushing It on Camera and Hollywood veterans (Netflix, HBO, Amazon, ABC, NBC), to share the practical on-camera system they use to help busy professionals record fast, natural videos that actually build trust.

We talk through the biggest mistakes lawyers make with video marketing, then replace them with a simple preparation process using bullet points, light rehearsal, and a “three take rule” that keeps you from spiraling into 15 retakes. From there, we get tactical about what converts: FAQ videos based on real client questions, an intro video that focuses on benefits instead of credentials, and a content strategy that starts with “who is this for” and ends with a clear call to action. If you want better attorney branding, stronger website engagement, and more consultations, these frameworks make video feel doable again.

We also get honest about the rise of AI avatar videos and why they can trigger distrust, reduce engagement, and undercut the one reason video works: real human connection. If everyone else starts sounding the same, your advantage is showing up as yourself with clarity and confidence.

Reach Abby & David here: 
https://linktr.ee/crushingitoncamera
Abby's LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/abbywalla/
David's LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-storch1/

Season 3 Episode 146

Ready to level up your law firm marketing? Book a FREE Discovery Call with Marilyn Here: https://lawmarketingzone.com/bookacall

Leadership In Law Podcast with host, Marilyn Jenkins 
Powered by Law Marketing Zone®
https://lawmarketingzone.com
A full-service Digital Marketing Agency helping clients increase Leads, Cases, and Profit by getting their digital marketing right.

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#leadershipinlawpodcast #leadershipinlaw #lawmarketingzone #marilynjenkins

Trust is no longer a five-star number, it’s a face, a name, and a story. We sit down with marketing strategist and filmmaker Jonathan Schüßler to break down how authentic video testimonials turn strangers into confident clients, and why they now outperform written reviews for credibility, conversion, and search.

We start with the psychology: seeing and hearing a real client conveys sincerity you can’t fake. Jonathan explains how to structure a testimonial like a mini-case study, lead with the strongest line in the first five seconds, surface the common doubts, and resolve them with clear outcomes. That arc doesn’t just persuade; it mirrors the questions prospects bring to a consultation and removes objections before the first email is sent.

Then we go tactical. Discover how YouTube, Shorts, TikTok, and LinkedIn work together to expand your “review footprint,” and why pasting full transcripts into descriptions helps Google and AI overviews understand your services. We share keyword and title tips for lawyers and other service businesses, simple shooting setups that look great on a phone, and the ideal runtime that keeps viewers watching through the close. You’ll learn when to film (the last client meeting), where to place testimonials on your website (prominent, just below the hero), and how to coach clients to say your firm name and service so LLMs and search engines can index what matters.

If you’ve hesitated to start with video because it seems complex, Jonathan’s blueprint makes it simple: two or three clients, a doorframe for flattering light, 10 smart questions, and a crisp edit under two minutes. Repurpose each story across platforms to convert followers into inquiries and control more of the results page for “[Your Firm] reviews.” 

Reach Jonathan here: 
Marketing: chuzlaire.com 
Weddings jonathanschuessler.com

Season 3 Episode 145

Ready to level up your law firm marketing? Book a FREE Discovery Call with Marilyn Here: https://lawmarketingzone.com/bookacall

Leadership In Law Podcast with host, Marilyn Jenkins 
Powered by Law Marketing Zone®
https://lawmarketingzone.com
A full-service Digital Marketing Agency helping clients increase Leads, Cases, and Profit by getting their digital marketing right.

Subscribe on your favorite Podcast listening platform!

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#leadershipinlawpodcast #leadershipinlaw #lawmarketingzone #marilynjenkins

We sit down with trademark attorney and boutique firm owner Erik Pelton to unpack how he grew from true solo to a trusted team by flipping the traditional playbook: flat fees over hourly surprises, simple videos over polished silence, and bold branding over bland names.

Erik traces the pivotal lessons from his early years at the USPTO and a string of internships that taught him what not to build, then shows how he engineered the opposite. We explore why price predictability unlocks small business clients, how internal systems and homegrown software drive efficiency, and the reason referrals compound when service becomes your strongest marketing channel. Erik explains how he bet on the early internet, built his first website himself, and later doubled down on YouTube and short-form video to teach generously, shorten the trust curve, and meet clients where they search.

Branding gets a hard reset, too. Erik breaks down how to create a bold, memorable identity that travels beyond logos and partner surnames, weaving personality, niche expertise, and clear messaging across every touchpoint. We talk practical tactics, batching 20 videos in an afternoon, capturing ideas in a running list, mixing contrarian takes with simple visuals, and why consistency beats perfection every time. Along the way, you’ll hear how cross-industry learning (including lessons from Zingerman’s) sharpened his leadership and culture, and why relationships with clients, colleagues, and community remain the most durable growth engine.

Reach Erik here: 
www.erikpelton.com
Building a Bold Brand Book: https://amzn.to/4tl4kvu
https://www.linkedin.com/in/tm4smallbiz/

Season 3 Episode 144

Ready to level up your law firm marketing? Book a FREE Discovery Call with Marilyn Here: https://lawmarketingzone.com/bookacall

Leadership In Law Podcast with host, Marilyn Jenkins 
Powered by Law Marketing Zone®
https://lawmarketingzone.com
A full-service Digital Marketing Agency helping clients increase Leads, Cases, and Profit by getting their digital marketing right.

Subscribe on your favorite Podcast listening platform!

Like, Share, and Review us!

#leadershipinlawpodcast #leadershipinlaw #lawmarketingzone #marilynjenkins

We sit down with dual-licensed immigration attorney and podcaster Emilia Coto to unpack how becoming a parent transformed her leadership, clarified her values, and reshaped her entire practice for time freedom and impact. From Windsor roots to a cross-border firm, Emilia traces the choices that let her serve clients globally while staying present at home.

We dig into value-based pricing and flat fees, why they beat billable hours for both families and clients, and how to design service delivery that respects deep work and flexible schedules. Emilia shares how homeschooling plans informed her calendar, how she avoids multitasking traps, and the simple boundary systems that protect energy and attention. If you’ve ever wondered how to balance ambition with presence, this is your blueprint for sustainable growth.

Client acquisition is the fear that stops most aspiring founders, so we get tactical. Emilia breaks down a numbers-first approach: define income, price outcomes, and reverse-engineer how few clients you actually need. We walk through finding your niche, building referral engines, and using the ikigai framework to align skills, passion, and market demand. We also talk integrity when leaving a job, safeguarding your reputation, and planning a clean transition.

Community is a catalyst. Emilia credits legal entrepreneur groups and local circles for faster learning and a stronger mindset. She draws unexpected parallels between immigration journeys and entrepreneurship, both are acts of redesign, both begin with courage, and both thrive on belonging. You’ll leave with practical steps to build a freedom-filled practice: pick your audience, choose outcome-based offers, set real boundaries, and let your values lead.

Reach Emilia here: 
https://sisulegal.com 
https://littlehandsbigplans.co
https://www.linkedin.com/in/emilia-coto-sisu-legal/

Season 3 Episode 143

Ready to level up your law firm marketing? Book a FREE Discovery Call with Marilyn Here: https://lawmarketingzone.com/bookacall

Leadership In Law Podcast with host, Marilyn Jenkins 
Powered by Law Marketing Zone®
https://lawmarketingzone.com
A full-service Digital Marketing Agency helping clients increase Leads, Cases, and Profit by getting their digital marketing right.

Subscribe on your favorite Podcast listening platform!

Like, Share, and Review us!

#leadershipinlawpodcast #leadershipinlaw #lawmarketingzone #marilynjenkins

What if recovery wasn’t a single path or a sudden epiphany, but a practical system you can build step by step? We sit down with Mary Beth O’Connor, attorney, former federal administrative law judge, and author of From Junkie to Judge, to unpack how trauma, co-occurring disorders, and culture shape addiction and how personalized plans create lasting change.

Mary Beth shares how early substance use and a high ACE score fueled years of chaos, and how prioritizing five core areas, sobriety, trauma care, relationships, work, and debt, became the backbone of a sustainable rebuild. We explore multiple pathways to recovery beyond 12-step programs, including LifeRing Secular Recovery, SMART Recovery, Women for Sobriety, She Recovers, and Dharma Recovery, and why outcomes improve when people choose the peer support that actually fits. We also dig into evidence-based tools like medications for alcohol and opioid use disorders, trauma therapy, and the reality that plans should evolve as life does.

For legal professionals, Mary Beth offers a candid look at why attorneys face double the national addiction rate: relentless pace, perfection pressure, and unpredictable calendars. We connect the dots between impairment and ethics, competence, diligence, and case delays, and point to confidential help through lawyer assistance programs. On stigma, Mary Beth explains how “open recovery” changes minds, brings hope to families, and reframes addiction as a medical, mental health disorder. Families get a clear starting point with CRAFT (Community Reinforcement and Family Training) and the book Beyond Addiction, which replace ultimatums with positive reinforcement and shared problem-solving.

Reach Mary Beth here:
Website: junkietojudge.com
My memoir: https://a.co/d/0W8sMrq
X: MaryBethO_
Bluesky: marybethoconnor

Season 3 Episode 142

Ready to level up your law firm marketing? Book a FREE Discovery Call with Marilyn Here: https://lawmarketingzone.com/bookacall

Leadership In Law Podcast with host, Marilyn Jenkins 
Powered by Law Marketing Zone®
https://lawmarketingzone.com
A full-service Digital Marketing Agency helping clients increase Leads, Cases, and Profit by getting their digital marketing right.

Subscribe on your favorite Podcast listening platform!

Like, Share, and Review us!

#leadershipinlawpodcast #leadershipinlaw #lawmarketingzone #marilynjenkins

Safety should not depend on a binder no one reads. We sat down with Debbie Ausburn and Tom Rawlings, national leaders in child welfare, youth protection, and organizational safety, to map a path from good intentions to everyday practices that actually keep kids safe. Drawing on decades as a prosecutor, juvenile court judge, state child advocate, and advisors to youth organizations, they show how to build policies people will use, not ignore.

We unpack the core problem: top-down, one-size-fits-all rules look strong on paper but fail on the ground. Debbie explains why zero tolerance breeds exceptions and silence, while Tom lays out a culture-first model where staff report small mistakes without fear so teams can learn and prevent bigger harms. Together, we stress a simple aim, stop isolation, using realistic supervision like open doors, line-of-sight checks, and leaders present on the floor. We also go beyond the predator lens to address peer-to-peer risk, bullying versus conflict, and the everyday recklessness that creates openings for harm.

You’ll get a clear starting plan for the first 30 days: name a child safety coordinator, form two teams (prevention and incident response), audit your files for background checks and references, and benchmark against regulations and industry standards. Then keep the momentum with annual surveys to gauge psychological safety and whistleblowing confidence, micro-trainings that fit busy schedules, and tabletop drills that build crisis “muscle memory.” This is how policy moves from compliance to culture, and how organizations earn parents’ trust.

Reach Debbie & Tom here: 
Book on Amazon: https://amzn.to/4airvz4
Website:  http://www.DebbieAusburn.com
Website: https://www.ysoacademy.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deborahausburn/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OtherPeoplesChildrenLLC
X: @debbieausburn
Instagram: @debbieausburn

Season 3 Episode 141

Ready to level up your law firm marketing? Book a FREE Discovery Call with Marilyn Here: https://lawmarketingzone.com/bookacall

Leadership In Law Podcast with host, Marilyn Jenkins 
Powered by Law Marketing Zone®
https://lawmarketingzone.com
A full-service Digital Marketing Agency helping clients increase Leads, Cases, and Profit by getting their digital marketing right.

Subscribe on your favorite Podcast listening platform!

Like, Share, and Review us!

#leadershipinlawpodcast #leadershipinlaw #lawmarketingzone #marilynjenkins

What if your next investigation didn’t end at “who’s to blame,” but opened the door to safer work, stronger trust, and a healthier culture? We sit down with Desai Link, former lawyer, health and safety executive, and author of Beyond the Incident: Practical Tools, Legal Causation and Applied Workplace Investigation Practice, to rethink how leaders and lawyers approach evidence, accountability, and care when things go wrong.

Desai walks us through a striking case where a routine injury revealed a deeper recruitment failure, showing how courtroom-grade thinking, verifying claims, reading inconsistencies, and valuing oral evidence, can transform workplace investigations. We unpack why documents alone rarely tell the full story and how to conduct non-adversarial interviews that surface credible, testable narratives. From body language awareness to simple language choices, Desai shares practical steps that make people feel safe to speak while still meeting legal and operational standards.

We also dig into the human side of high-stakes cases like bullying and misconduct. Desai outlines a clear triage, people, property, notifications, to stabilize situations fast, protect dignity, and preserve evidence. You’ll learn how to reduce bias with assumption logs, clarify purpose and ethics before you begin, and apply legal causation to trace systemic factors rather than stop at individual error. Finally, we talk about power dynamics after the fact: how to control the narrative responsibly, indicate accountability without breaching confidentiality, and keep your team’s trust intact.

Reach Desai here:
Beyond the Incident: https://amzn.to/49O5bMt
https://dynamichse.co.nz
https://www.linkedin.com/in/desailink
https://www.circusofsafety.com
Ihttps://www.instagram.com/dreamstolenses

Season 3 Episode 140

Ready to level up your law firm marketing? Book a FREE Discovery Call with Marilyn Here: https://lawmarketingzone.com/bookacall

Leadership In Law Podcast with host, Marilyn Jenkins 
Powered by Law Marketing Zone®
https://lawmarketingzone.com
A full-service Digital Marketing Agency helping clients increase Leads, Cases, and Profit by getting their digital marketing right.

Subscribe on your favorite Podcast listening platform!

Like, Share, and Review us!

#leadershipinlawpodcast #leadershipinlaw #lawmarketingzone #marilynjenkins

Stop thinking about video as a camera problem and start treating it like a business tool. We sat down with Robert from Multivision Digital, who went from sales leader to producing 1,700+ videos, to unpack a video-first strategy that actually drives growth for law firms. The big shift: forget the “about us” reel and focus on short, useful FAQ and thought leadership clips that answer the exact questions your clients are already searching for on Google and YouTube.

We dig into the leadership mindset behind great content, delegation, trust, and staying in your lane, so subject-matter experts can shine while pros handle the technical craft. Robert shares a case study where replacing a single overview video with a batch of FAQs lifted page rankings by 20–30 percent. We map out how one recording session can fuel months of marketing: embed videos in blog posts with transcripts for SEO, drop them into nurture emails, build YouTube playlists, and arm sales with the right clip at the right moment.

You’ll hear how to scope smart budgets by starting with message, not gear; why drones and motion graphics are tools, not trophies; and how remote production with pro coaching lets attorneys record high-quality content anywhere. We also talk about the real timeline to build “video mojo.” Expect about two years to refine on-camera presence, streamline workflows, and see compounding gains, but that consistency becomes a durable edge because legal video adoption is still catching up.

Reach Robert here:
Legal Video Portfolio - https://multivisiondigital.com/portfolio/law-firm-videos/
Remote Video Production - https://multivisiondigital.com/attorneys/ 

Season 3 Episode 139

Ready to level up your law firm marketing? Book a FREE Discovery Call with Marilyn Here: https://lawmarketingzone.com/bookacall

Leadership In Law Podcast with host, Marilyn Jenkins 
Powered by Law Marketing Zone®
https://lawmarketingzone.com
A full-service Digital Marketing Agency helping clients increase Leads, Cases, and Profit by getting their digital marketing right.

Subscribe on your favorite Podcast listening platform!

Like, Share, and Review us!

#leadershipinlawpodcast #leadershipinlaw #lawmarketingzone #marilynjenkins

A prison designed to sit “beyond the law” still shapes how power understands accountability, and how advocates fight back. We sit down with Joshua Colangelo-Bryan, special counsel at Human Rights First and veteran of impact litigation around Guantánamo, to unpack a two-decade journey that blends courtroom battles, diplomacy, and storytelling into what he calls empathetic strategic lawyering. The result is a rare, unvarnished look at why trials have stalled, how detainees went home through political channels, and what it takes to stand up to governments when process becomes the battlefield.

Joshua traces the early habeas wins that opened access to clients, then explains why a bespoke military commission system broke under its own flaws. He offers a ground-level view of serving as a lifeline to people held incommunicado for years and shows how empathy sharpened strategy: engage allies, inform the public, and negotiate transfers when courts move too slowly. We dig into CIA black sites, the jurisdiction fight that reached the Supreme Court, and the quiet truth that the higher the stakes, the longer the slog, especially when states hide behind immunity and national security.

The conversation doesn’t stop at history. We confront the present: a shrunken detainee population, stalled 9/11 cases, and a troubling new twist, migrants briefly routed through Guantánamo as costly political theater. Joshua connects these choices to a broader erosion of U.S. credibility; when Washington bends international law, authoritarian regimes point and follow. Still, there is light: lower federal courts continue to enforce baseline standards, and the public can see through spectacle when the human harm is clear.

Reach Joshua here:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshcolangelo
https://www.instagram.com/joshua_colangelo/
https://humanitasmedia.org/
https://www.instagram.com/humanitas_media/
Book mentioned: https://amzn.to/3NhWgv2/

Season 3 Episode 138

Ready to level up your law firm marketing? Book a FREE Discovery Call with Marilyn Here: https://lawmarketingzone.com/bookacall

Leadership In Law Podcast with host, Marilyn Jenkins 
Powered by Law Marketing Zone®
https://lawmarketingzone.com
A full-service Digital Marketing Agency helping clients increase Leads, Cases, and Profit by getting their digital marketing right.

Subscribe on your favorite Podcast listening platform!

Like, Share, and Review us!

#leadershipinlawpodcast #leadershipinlaw #lawmarketingzone #marilynjenkins

What does it really take to win justice for ordinary people when the defendants are deep-pocketed corporations with layers of contractors and complex policies? We sit down with Tony Edwards, a four-decade plaintiff’s lawyer from Oklahoma, to unpack how small-town values, disciplined discovery, and genuine relationships carry cases across the finish line, and change lives along the way.

Tony traces his leadership journey from a large statewide PI firm to building a values-first practice in McAlester and Tulsa. He explains why oilfield and trucking cases demand patient, methodical work: untangling corporate webs, identifying true control, and proving preventable failures with clear, targeted discovery. We talk about the end of “trial by ambush,” the craft of asking the right questions, and the strategic edge that comes from truly knowing clients, their families, their routines, and the losses jurors can understand without translation.

The conversation turns personal as Tony shares a wrongful death case that still shapes his approach, illustrating why jury connection matters more than theatrics. Authentic testimony, not performance, helps jurors see the plaintiff as a neighbor worth helping. Beyond the courtroom, Tony’s firm invests in teachers through an Eastern Oklahoma Teacher of the Year award and student scholarships, a cause rooted in his father’s legacy and his partner’s family. It’s a blueprint for community engagement that’s real, not performative: pick a mission that fits your story and serve it year after year.

Reach Tony here:
https://www.edwardspattersonlaw.com/

Season 3 Episode 137

Ready to level up your law firm marketing? Book a FREE Discovery Call with Marilyn Here: https://lawmarketingzone.com/bookacall

Leadership In Law Podcast with host, Marilyn Jenkins 
Powered by Law Marketing Zone®
https://lawmarketingzone.com
A full-service Digital Marketing Agency helping clients increase Leads, Cases, and Profit by getting their digital marketing right.

Subscribe on your favorite Podcast listening platform!

Like, Share, and Review us!

#leadershipinlawpodcast #leadershipinlaw #lawmarketingzone #marilynjenkins