In this special episode, Ben speaks to a room full of law students about something most law schools barely touch: the business of law—and the freedom it can create.

At nearly 68 years old and 42 years into practice, Ben shares the unfiltered truth about building a law firm, surviving the hard years, and ultimately creating a practice that funds both wealth and freedom.

This isn’t a lecture about billing hours or making partner.

It’s about:

• Why “work-life balance” is the wrong framework
• How to reject the myth that lawyers must be stressed and miserable
• The power of niche practice areas (including his ERISA disability machine)
• Why marketing is an ethical duty
• How AI is transforming the profession (for those willing to embrace it)
• Why asking better questions is the most important legal skill
• How to think like an owner—even before you become one
• And why it’s okay to say: “I want to build something big, make a lot of money, and help people.”

Ben also shares:

• The early struggles of starting his own firm
• The moment he realized legal conferences were boring (and entrepreneurs weren’t)
• How relationship-building beats big advertising budgets
• Why there’s massive opportunity buying practices from retiring boomers
• And what he’d do if he were starting over today

If you’re a law student, young lawyer, or anyone questioning whether the profession has to be stressful and small—this episode is for you.

You get one life.
 You get one law degree.
 Design accordingly.

Ben Glass is a nationally recognized personal injury and long-term disability insurance attorney in Fairfax, VA. Since 2005, Ben Glass and Great Legal Marketing have been helping solo and small firm lawyers make more money, get more clients and still get home in time for dinner. We call this TheGLMTribe.com

What Makes The GLM Tribe Special?

In short, we are the only organization within the "business builder for lawyers" space that is led by two practicing lawyers.

One thing we're sure you've noticed is that despite the variety of options within our space, no one else is mixing
the actual practice of law with business building in the way that we are.

There are no other organizations who understand the highs and lows of running a small law firm and are engaged in talking to real clients. That is what sets GLM apart from every other organization, and it is why we have had loyal members that have been with us for two-decades.

In Chapter 20 of Renegade Lawyer Marketing, Ben makes a bold claim:

Getting better at marketing isn’t optional. It’s your duty.

If you are a good lawyer…
 If you deliver quality service…
 If you genuinely care about your clients…

Then you owe it to the marketplace to make sure the right clients can find you.

In this episode, Ben challenges the myth that “good lawyers shouldn’t have to market.” He explains why average marketing produces average results—and why doing what most lawyers do guarantees you’ll get what most lawyers get.

Inside this chapter:

• Why solo and small firms can outmaneuver the 800-pound gorillas
• The danger of copying “safe” and generic lawyer marketing
• Why blind luck is not a business strategy
• How ethical marketing actually serves clients better
• The uncomfortable truth about average results

If you believe you are the right lawyer for someone out there right now… this episode will challenge you to act like it.

🎧 Listen now on Apple Podcasts or Spotify

Ben Glass is a nationally recognized personal injury and long-term disability insurance attorney in Fairfax, VA. Since 2005, Ben Glass and Great Legal Marketing have been helping solo and small firm lawyers make more money, get more clients and still get home in time for dinner. We call this TheGLMTribe.com

What Makes The GLM Tribe Special?

In short, we are the only organization within the "business builder for lawyers" space that is led by two practicing lawyers.

One thing we're sure you've noticed is that despite the variety of options within our space, no one else is mixing
the actual practice of law with business building in the way that we are.

There are no other organizations who understand the highs and lows of running a small law firm and are engaged in talking to real clients. That is what sets GLM apart from every other organization, and it is why we have had loyal members that have been with us for two-decades.

In this chapter of Renegade Lawyer Marketing, Ben pulls back the curtain on what actually happens inside Great Legal Marketing’s confidential mastermind groups.

Spoiler alert: it’s not magic funnels, viral TikToks, or shiny new marketing hacks.

It’s fundamentals. Executed relentlessly.

Inside these closed-door sessions, successful solo and small firm lawyers from across the U.S. and Canada share what’s working—and what isn’t. And despite all the changes in media (Google, AI, YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, X…), the same truth keeps surfacing:

The basics still win.

In this episode, Ben breaks down the recurring principles behind thriving firms:

• Why most income still comes from referral systems—not ads
• The surprising power of monthly print newsletters (yes, snail mail)
• Why refining what works beats chasing new shiny objects
• The real leak in the bucket (hint: it’s not your marketing budget)
• How mastermind members build marketing equity in-house
• Why “likes” don’t deposit at the bank

If you’re spending money on marketing but not obsessing over relationships, referrals, and conversion, this chapter may sting a little—in the best way.

🎧 Listen now on Apple Podcasts or Spotify

Ben Glass is a nationally recognized personal injury and long-term disability insurance attorney in Fairfax, VA. Since 2005, Ben Glass and Great Legal Marketing have been helping solo and small firm lawyers make more money, get more clients and still get home in time for dinner. We call this TheGLMTribe.com

What Makes The GLM Tribe Special?

In short, we are the only organization within the "business builder for lawyers" space that is led by two practicing lawyers.

One thing we're sure you've noticed is that despite the variety of options within our space, no one else is mixing
the actual practice of law with business building in the way that we are.

There are no other organizations who understand the highs and lows of running a small law firm and are engaged in talking to real clients. That is what sets GLM apart from every other organization, and it is why we have had loyal members that have been with us for two-decades.

From the IRS to Entrepreneur: How One Lawyer Built a National Tax Practice Focused on People First

Ben sits down with Pietro Canestrelli, a former IRS attorney turned boutique tax firm founder, to unpack how he built a thriving national practice with one clear mission: take the fear out of taxes.

With a niche focus on tax controversy and strategic tax planning, Pietro’s firm now serves clients across the U.S. and beyond—growing from two employees to 20+ in under 10 years. He’s also the author of America’s Tax Defender, a story-driven look at his years inside the IRS and why he chose to walk away.

🔍 Inside this episode:

• How Pietro turned his IRS insider experience into a competitive advantage
• The 3 tax domains every business owner should understand
• Why passion and compassion guide every client interaction in his firm
• How to market a niche practice by cultivating long-term referral partnerships
• What solo and small firm owners are getting wrong about tax planning
• His firm’s 3-stage hiring process—and how it keeps culture and client service aligned

📘 Bonus: Check out Pietro’s book, America’s Tax Defender, available on Amazon.

🎧 Listen now on Apple Podcasts or Spotify

Ben Glass is a nationally recognized personal injury and long-term disability insurance attorney in Fairfax, VA. Since 2005, Ben Glass and Great Legal Marketing have been helping solo and small firm lawyers make more money, get more clients and still get home in time for dinner. We call this TheGLMTribe.com

What Makes The GLM Tribe Special?

In short, we are the only organization within the "business builder for lawyers" space that is led by two practicing lawyers.

One thing we're sure you've noticed is that despite the variety of options within our space, no one else is mixing
the actual practice of law with business building in the way that we are.

There are no other organizations who understand the highs and lows of running a small law firm and are engaged in talking to real clients. That is what sets GLM apart from every other organization, and it is why we have had loyal members that have been with us for two-decades.

A Special Episode on Refereeing, Emotional Regulation, and Showing Up as the Sane Adult in the Room

In this special edition of the Renegade Lawyer Podcast, Ben Glass steps away from case law and legal marketing—and dives into one of his biggest passions: youth soccer refereeing.

Now in his 52nd year wearing the whistle, Ben shares a presentation he recently gave to high school soccer referees in Northern Virginia. But this talk isn’t about yellow cards or offside calls—it’s about brain science, emotional regulation, and why the real job of adults in youth sports is to protect the experience for kids.

Drawing from decades of personal experience as both a referee and a parent of nine (including four children adopted from China), Ben opens up about how raising kids with early trauma taught him how to better handle on-fire brains—on the sidelines, the field, and at home.

🧠 Highlights:

• Why descent is a cancer on the game—and what referees can do about it
• What happens to the brain in moments of emotional escalation
• How lessons from parenting trauma-impacted kids can transform your leadership on the field
• Why every youth sports adult needs to adopt the mindset of "the sane adult in the room."

📚 Bonus: Want to learn more about Ben’s adoption journey and how it reshaped his understanding of emotional regulation?

👉 https://youtu.be/ibJHocmHH-g?si=G5kGM3x8GTGyS9ud

This one’s for:

• Referees in any sport
• Parents of youth athletes
• Coaches and volunteers
• Teachers, mentors, and anyone in emotionally high-stakes environments

🎧 Listen now on Apple Podcasts or Spotify

Ben Glass is a nationally recognized personal injury and long-term disability insurance attorney in Fairfax, VA. Since 2005, Ben Glass and Great Legal Marketing have been helping solo and small firm lawyers make more money, get more clients and still get home in time for dinner. We call this TheGLMTribe.com

What Makes The GLM Tribe Special?

In short, we are the only organization within the "business builder for lawyers" space that is led by two practicing lawyers.

One thing we're sure you've noticed is that despite the variety of options within our space, no one else is mixing
the actual practice of law with business building in the way that we are.

There are no other organizations who understand the highs and lows of running a small law firm and are engaged in talking to real clients. That is what sets GLM apart from every other organization, and it is why we have had loyal members that have been with us for two-decades.

In this special recording of a guest lecture at the University of Iowa College of Law, Ben Glass gives students a rare behind-the-scenes look at how he built a national long-term disability (LTD) insurance practice—without relying on expensive digital ads.

This episode is packed with real-world insight into:

• What the ERISA long-term disability space actually is—and why it’s underserved
• How to build a multi-state legal niche that scales with systems, not billable hours
• The #1 marketing principle most lawyers ignore (but every business gets right)
• Why relationships, not algorithms, are Ben’s most profitable referral source
• The difference between transactional advertising and true “authority marketing”

💡 Highlights:

• Ben's approach to tribal leader marketing and storytelling to referral sources
• How a single $2,500 sponsored blog post led to a high-end national pipeline
• The 144-step internal process that doubles as a marketing magnet
• Why he built an entire referral stream from doctors, lawyers, and financial planners
• What to do when you’re brand new and don’t “have value” (hint: you do)

Ben closes the conversation by giving advice to future law firm owners: think like a storyteller, find a niche that needs you, and never bet your future on one marketing tactic.

Ben Glass is a nationally recognized personal injury and long-term disability insurance attorney in Fairfax, VA. Since 2005, Ben Glass and Great Legal Marketing have been helping solo and small firm lawyers make more money, get more clients and still get home in time for dinner. We call this TheGLMTribe.com

What Makes The GLM Tribe Special?

In short, we are the only organization within the "business builder for lawyers" space that is led by two practicing lawyers.

One thing we're sure you've noticed is that despite the variety of options within our space, no one else is mixing
the actual practice of law with business building in the way that we are.

There are no other organizations who understand the highs and lows of running a small law firm and are engaged in talking to real clients. That is what sets GLM apart from every other organization, and it is why we have had loyal members that have been with us for two-decades.

In this first episode of 2026, Ben sits down with attorney-turned-coach Daya Naef, founder of The Success Partner, for a future-focused conversation about what solo and small firm lawyers need to thrive in today’s landscape.

Daya helps boutique firms (think 1 to 30 people) go from overwhelmed to optimized. Whether it’s succession planning, vision alignment, or AI implementation, she helps lawyers turn practices into platforms—and jobs into businesses.

They talk:

• The trap of accidental entrepreneurship in law
• Why lawyers delay vision work—and how to fix that
• How AI is impacting real law firms right now (and where the fear still lives)
• How Ben is using internal GPTs to extract years of IP from his LTD playbook
• Retirement as a creative act—not just an exit

If you’re building a law firm that serves your life—or hoping to exit one with grace—this episode is full of energy, strategy, and practical ideas to get you moving.

Ben Glass is a nationally recognized personal injury and long-term disability insurance attorney in Fairfax, VA. Since 2005, Ben Glass and Great Legal Marketing have been helping solo and small firm lawyers make more money, get more clients and still get home in time for dinner. We call this TheGLMTribe.com

What Makes The GLM Tribe Special?

In short, we are the only organization within the "business builder for lawyers" space that is led by two practicing lawyers.

One thing we're sure you've noticed is that despite the variety of options within our space, no one else is mixing
the actual practice of law with business building in the way that we are.

There are no other organizations who understand the highs and lows of running a small law firm and are engaged in talking to real clients. That is what sets GLM apart from every other organization, and it is why we have had loyal members that have been with us for two-decades.

In this episode, Ben Glass shares a full oral argument recording from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. The case? An ERISA long-term disability appeal involving a battle over regulatory deadlines, the standard of review, and the real meaning of "special circumstances."

Ben argued on behalf of the plaintiff (appellee), after winning in the district court. Reliance Standard appealed.

🧠 Topics covered:

• How to frame ERISA deadlines and regulatory violations in federal court
• The real stakes of a standard-of-review battle
• What happens when insurers blow their timelines—but want to preserve discretion
• Why most long-term disability appeals aren’t just about medical records

This episode is a rare look behind the curtain into the actual legal battlefield that ERISA litigators operate in—and how strategy plays out when you're standing before a panel of federal judges.

If you take LTD cases—or refer them—this is essential listening.

Ben Glass is a nationally recognized personal injury and long-term disability insurance attorney in Fairfax, VA. Since 2005, Ben Glass and Great Legal Marketing have been helping solo and small firm lawyers make more money, get more clients and still get home in time for dinner. We call this TheGLMTribe.com

What Makes The GLM Tribe Special?

In short, we are the only organization within the "business builder for lawyers" space that is led by two practicing lawyers.

One thing we're sure you've noticed is that despite the variety of options within our space, no one else is mixing
the actual practice of law with business building in the way that we are.

There are no other organizations who understand the highs and lows of running a small law firm and are engaged in talking to real clients. That is what sets GLM apart from every other organization, and it is why we have had loyal members that have been with us for two-decades.

What’s really behind the Great Legal Marketing Summit?

In this special episode, Ben Glass shares the bigger purpose of the work we all do—not just as lawyers, but as entrepreneurs, leaders, and humans trying to build lives that matter.

🔑 Key Ideas Explored:

• Why “permission” is the most important word for entrepreneurs
• How legal marketing connects people with the help they actually need
• Why your job isn’t just running a law firm—it’s building a life that works
• The role our sponsors and partners play in this deeper mission
• The new definition of success: doing work you love, with people you love, for clients you love

Whether you attended the GLM Summit or not, this episode is your reminder of what it means to lead a values-driven law practice.

Ben Glass is a nationally recognized personal injury and long-term disability insurance attorney in Fairfax, VA. Since 2005, Ben Glass and Great Legal Marketing have been helping solo and small firm lawyers make more money, get more clients and still get home in time for dinner. We call this TheGLMTribe.com

What Makes The GLM Tribe Special?

In short, we are the only organization within the "business builder for lawyers" space that is led by two practicing lawyers.

One thing we're sure you've noticed is that despite the variety of options within our space, no one else is mixing
the actual practice of law with business building in the way that we are.

There are no other organizations who understand the highs and lows of running a small law firm and are engaged in talking to real clients. That is what sets GLM apart from every other organization, and it is why we have had loyal members that have been with us for two-decades.

In this special episode, we’re taking you behind the scenes at the Great Legal Marketing Summit for a candid mastermind panel discussion—and a bonus deep dive into what PI marketing looks like from north of the border.

Ben Glass is joined by a GLM member from Canada who’s practicing personal injury law inside a large firm—where every lawyer has their own marketing budget and must figure out how to attract great cases in a crowded market.

They explore:

• Why print newsletters still work—even during Canadian postal strikes
• How to build personal authority inside a big firm
• What separates good marketing from bad (hint: it’s not the budget)
• One low-effort, high-trust marketing move you can copy this week
• Plus: how the GLM newsletter system made it across the border—and is working!

You’ll also hear real talk from GLM mastermind members about what they’re testing, what’s working, and why sometimes… the simplest things (like mail!) outperform all the digital noise.

🎧 Listen now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Ben Glass is a nationally recognized personal injury and long-term disability insurance attorney in Fairfax, VA. Since 2005, Ben Glass and Great Legal Marketing have been helping solo and small firm lawyers make more money, get more clients and still get home in time for dinner. We call this TheGLMTribe.com

What Makes The GLM Tribe Special?

In short, we are the only organization within the "business builder for lawyers" space that is led by two practicing lawyers.

One thing we're sure you've noticed is that despite the variety of options within our space, no one else is mixing
the actual practice of law with business building in the way that we are.

There are no other organizations who understand the highs and lows of running a small law firm and are engaged in talking to real clients. That is what sets GLM apart from every other organization, and it is why we have had loyal members that have been with us for two-decades.