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Fatima Silva is a Bay Area criminal defense attorney who focuses exclusively on representing people accused of crimes. She runs her own practice and also collaborates with other defense attorneys in the region. She has spent over a decade working primarily in criminal law, after earlier experience handling a wider range of cases. She also reached a national audience as a featured attorney on the HBO series Reasonable Doubt, which examined claims of wrongful convictions. In this episode, she talks about the realities of criminal defense work, including the emotional toll of working with clients and their families. She also shares what it was like traveling across the country for Reasonable Doubt and seeing how differently the justice system operates from state to state. Fatima also offers insight into the justice system, the challenges of running a legal practice, and the resilience needed to stay in the work long term. Tune in for a clear and honest look at life as a criminal defense lawyer, both inside and outside the courtroom. 

Silva Law
https://www.silvalawsf.com/

Louis Goodman
www.louisgoodman.com
https://www.lovethylawyer.com/
510.582.9090
Music: Joel Katz, Seaside Recording, Maui
Tech: Bryan Matheson, Skyline Studios, Oakland
Audiograms: Paul Robert

[email protected]

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Scott Kriens is a technology entrepreneur and investor best known for co-founding Juniper Networks, a company that builds the core systems that move data safely and quickly across the internet. Today, his work focuses on investing, philanthropy, and supporting projects that help people improve how they relate to themselves and others. He helped grow Juniper from an early startup into a major global company with billions in revenue and played a key role in shaping how large-scale internet traffic is handled. After stepping away from day-to-day executive roles, he shifted his time toward board work, long-term investing, and co-founding the 1440 Foundation, which supports mindfulness, presence, and relationship-focused initiatives. In the episode, he talks about building trust inside companies, the role of relationships in long-term success, and how technology, leadership, and artificial intelligence are changing what skills really matter. He also shares personal reflections on gratitude, listening, and being fully present in daily life. Tune in to hear a grounded take on success that goes beyond money and titles, and to learn why deep listening and strong relationships may matter more than technical skill alone. 

1440 Multiversity
https://www.1440.org/

Louis Goodman
www.louisgoodman.com
https://www.lovethylawyer.com/
510.582.9090
Music: Joel Katz, Seaside Recording, Maui
Tech: Bryan Matheson, Skyline Studios, Oakland
Audiograms: Paul Robert

[email protected]

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Elizabeth Larrick is a trial lawyer who works as a plaintiff personal injury attorney and also helps other lawyers prepare cases for court, mediations, and depositions. She focuses on understanding how juries think and helping lawyers communicate more clearly and effectively. Over the course of her career, she has handled personal injury cases, gone to trial regularly, and built her own practice. She later expanded her work into consulting, teaching lawyers through focus groups, speaking events, and hands-on preparation for real courtroom situations. In this episode, she talks about how lawyers can use focus groups, witness prep, and visual tools to test ideas and strengthen cases before trial. She also shares honest insights about running a law practice, building a book of business, and learning skills that law school does not teach. Tune in to hear practical advice about trial strategy, communication, the business side of practicing law, and how to prepare cases and connect with juries and clients.

Elizabeth Larrick
 https://larricklawfirm.com/

Louis Goodman
www.louisgoodman.com
https://www.lovethylawyer.com/
510.582.9090
Music: Joel Katz, Seaside Recording, Maui
Tech: Bryan Matheson, Skyline Studios, Oakland
Audiograms: Paul Robert

[email protected]

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Henry Cox is a longtime legal professional who now works mainly as a neutral mediator, arbitrator, and hearing officer, while also writing fiction. Over the years, his work has shifted from active litigation to helping parties resolve disputes outside the courtroom. Over his career, Henry Cox practiced law in dozens of states, handled complex civil and civil rights cases, and represented everyone from local governments to major companies. He also argued appeals in higher courts and later played a key role in early training and adoption of mediation and arbitration programs. Along the way, he moved through government work, in-house corporate roles, large firms, and solo practice before focusing fully on neutral work. In this episode, he talks about how the legal profession has changed, the difference between practicing law and running the business side of it, and why most lawyers never become trial lawyers. He also shares how his interest in research and storytelling led him to write novels alongside his legal work. Listeners should tune in to hear a clear, honest look at what a long legal career can really look like, including its tradeoffs and surprises. The conversation offers practical perspective on career paths in law, problem-solving skills, and how those skills can carry into completely different creative work.

Henry Cox
https://www.henry-cox.com/

Louis Goodman
www.louisgoodman.com
https://www.lovethylawyer.com/
510.582.9090
Music: Joel Katz, Seaside Recording, Maui
Tech: Bryan Matheson, Skyline Studios, Oakland
Audiograms: Paul Robert

[email protected]

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Gordon Firemark is an entertainment and media attorney who works with creators, producers, and businesses in television, film, publishing, and digital media. He focuses on helping creative professionals share their work while protecting their interests. Over his long career, he has built a solo practice that serves clients across the entertainment world and has become a well-known presence online through his teaching, writing, and podcasting. He was one of the earliest lawyers to market through internet content, starting with newsletters, websites, and later podcasts. He has also developed courses and speaks at events to guide creators and new lawyers in the media space. In this conversation he talks about building a lifestyle driven law practice, the realities of starting out on your own, and the business lessons lawyers rarely learn in school. He also shares insights about creativity, content production, professional growth, and the challenges of the legal system. In this episode Gordon gives honest advice about finding clients, staying motivated when work is difficult, and shaping a legal career around personal values. Tune in to learn how he built a long-lasting practice, why creative industries matter to him, and what he believes lawyers should focus on to thrive.

Gordon Firemark
https://gordonfiremark.com/

 Law Offices of Gordon P. Firemark
https://firemark.com/

Louis Goodman
www.louisgoodman.com
https://www.lovethylawyer.com/
510.582.9090
Music: Joel Katz, Seaside Recording, Maui
Tech: Bryan Matheson, Skyline Studios, Oakland
Audiograms: Paul Robert

[email protected]

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In collaboration with theAlameda County Bar Association, Love Thy Lawyer presents an interview with:

Helen Hoeffel

Helen Hoeffel is a staff attorney who works with Legal Assistance for Seniors, helping older adults in Alameda County with housing, consumer issues, conservatorships, guardianships, benefits, and elder abuse cases. She also serves on the Alameda County Bar Association board and chairs its business section. Her career includes civil litigation work at a small San Francisco firm, years handling personal injury cases as outside counsel for an insurance company, extensive real estate title litigation, and published appellate cases in both civil and criminal matters. She later moved into criminal appeals for indigent clients before joining LAS, where her work combines litigation, advocacy, and direct service. The episode covers her hands-on work with seniors facing housing and consumer problems, her perspective from serving as a pro tem judge, the emotional challenges of clients in crisis, and the rewards of meaningful wins. She also talks about the role of community, outdoor life, and learning new skills like horseback riding. Listeners will hear a candid look at what it is like to practice law in high-pressure fields while still staying grounded, curious, and connected to the community. Tune in to learn how legal services, appellate work, and real-world problem solving come together in her career and what younger lawyers can learn from her approach.

Legal Assistance for Seniors
https://www.lashicap.org/

Louis Goodman
www.louisgoodman.com
https://www.lovethylawyer.com/
510.582.9090
Music: Joel Katz, Seaside Recording, Maui
Tech: Bryan Matheson, Skyline Studios, Oakland
Audiograms: Paul Robert

[email protected]

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Ted DeBettencourt is the founder of Juvo Leads, a company that provides real-person chat services to help law firms convert website visitors into clients. He specializes in legal marketing and client intake systems, combining his background in law and business to improve how firms attract and manage leads. He began his career in marketing after experimenting with SEO and content creation for law firms, eventually growing his own small agency before launching Juvo Leads in 2016. Today, the company serves more than a thousand law firms nationwide and employs nearly a hundred human chat agents. Ted has built his business from scratch, scaling it through persistence and a deep understanding of law firm operations and marketing performance metrics. In the conversation, he discusses how law firms can grow by measuring and improving their intake process, why empathy and speed matter in client communication, and how marketing channels like SEO, pay-per-click, and local service ads work together. He also shares insights on running a 24/7 business, balancing family life on his North Carolina farm, and the lessons learned from years of entrepreneurial trial and error. Tune in to hear Ted’s honest take on building a business from the ground up, how lawyers can get 50% more leads by fixing their intake process, and why success in any field starts with working harder than you thought you could.

Juvo Leads
https://juvoleads.com/

Louis Goodman
www.louisgoodman.com
https://www.lovethylawyer.com/
510.582.9090
Music: Joel Katz, Seaside Recording, Maui
Tech: Bryan Matheson, Skyline Studios, Oakland
Audiograms: Paul Robert

[email protected]

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Rita Goodroe is a former attorney who built a thriving career as a business coach and professional speaker. She helps people and organizations lead, connect, and sell more effectively by focusing on authenticity and relationship-building. Before launching her coaching and speaking career, Rita practiced law for 13 years, specializing in business and real estate. After leaving law, she became a dating coach, quickly surpassing her legal income, and eventually shifted into business strategy and sales coaching. She’s been featured in major media outlets and spoken for well-known brands like Kellogg’s and Volvo. In this interview, Rita shares how she transitioned from law to entrepreneurship, what lawyers can learn from relationship-based communication, and how to avoid common business mistakes. She also talks about mindset, self-care, and why loving the process is more important than chasing the destination. Tune in to hear Rita’s refreshing take on success, personal growth, and what it really means to build a business and a life that aligns with who you are.

Rita Goodroe
https://www.ritagoodroe.com/

Louis Goodman
www.louisgoodman.com
https://www.lovethylawyer.com/
510.582.9090
Music: Joel Katz, Seaside Recording, Maui
Tech: Bryan Matheson, Skyline Studios, Oakland
Audiograms: Paul Robert

[email protected]

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Mark Bassingthwaighte is an attorney and the national risk manager at ALPS Insurance, where he helps lawyers prevent malpractice claims and manage professional risk. He’s spent nearly three decades working with law firms across the country, consulting, writing, and speaking on ethics, risk management, and cybersecurity in the legal field. Throughout his career, Mark has conducted more than 1,200 law firm risk assessments and become a trusted voice on issues like burnout, addiction, and mental health in the profession. He also works to raise awareness about the growing threat of cybercrime and how small and solo law firms can protect themselves. In this episode, he talks about the habits that lead lawyers into trouble, the importance of self-care, and why documentation can make or break a malpractice case. He also shares thoughtful views on civility, personal responsibility, and how lawyers can better take care of themselves and their clients. Tune in to hear how Mark blends decades of legal insight with practical advice on staying ethical, avoiding burnout, and navigating a rapidly changing legal landscape.

Mark Bassingthwaighte
[email protected]

Louis Goodman
www.louisgoodman.com
https://www.lovethylawyer.com/
510.582.9090
Music: Joel Katz, Seaside Recording, Maui
Tech: Bryan Matheson, Skyline Studios, Oakland
Audiograms: Paul Robert

[email protected]

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Ken Crutchfield works with Wolters Kluwer, where he focuses on legal research products that help professionals find and understand laws and regulations. He has spent more than four decades in and around the legal, tax, and accounting industries. Over the years, he has held senior roles at Bloomberg Tax Technology, Thomson Reuters, and LexisNexis. He began his career listening to lawyer support calls in the early days of legal research services and went on to bridge the gap between technical teams and the business side of legal and tax solutions. In this conversation, Ken shares how technology has transformed the legal profession, from early word processing machines to today’s AI tools. He also talks about the challenges of access to justice, the importance of balancing legal risk with practical advice, and how lawyers can adapt to new ways of working. Tune in to hear how decades of experience in legal technology shape Ken’s views on the future of law, and learn why he believes AI will bring new opportunities for lawyers to deliver better and more efficient service to their clients.

Wolters Kluwer
https://www.wolterskluwer.com

Ken Crutchfield
https://www.kencrutchfield.com/

Louis Goodman
www.louisgoodman.com
https://www.lovethylawyer.com/
510.582.9090
Music: Joel Katz, Seaside Recording, Maui
Tech: Bryan Matheson, Skyline Studios, Oakland
Audiograms: Paul Robert

[email protected]