Alright, so you’ve hung out your shingle, or you’re thinking about it, and suddenly the practice of law feels a lot lonelier than law school ever warned you it would be. The hours are long, the decisions feel heavier, and everyone else seems too busy (or too proud) to admit they’re struggling too. Welcome to The 1958 Lawyer.

In this relaunch episode, Ron Bockstahler and Clinton Ind explain why this podcast exists, who it’s for, and why the traditional way of practicing law is overdue for a serious rethink. This isn’t about case law or legal theory; it’s about the business of law, the people behind it, and how to build a practice that doesn’t burn you out.

So let’s start at the beginning: why 1958, and why now?

In this episode, we cover:

• Why the billable-hour model, born in 1958, no longer serves most modern lawyers
• Who this podcast is for, and why solo and small-firm attorneys feel especially isolated
• How community, not just competence, leads to better decisions and healthier practices
• What lawyers actually struggle with behind closed doors (and why they rarely talk about it)
• How AI, staffing models, and new office structures are reshaping firm growth
• Why lawyers who ignore these shifts risk being left behind
• What future episodes will explore, from hiring your first employee to finding a real work-life balance

That’s just the beginning. Ron and Clinton lay out what listeners can expect from The 1958 Lawyer: honest conversations, practical insights, case-study stories, expert interviews, and the occasional dad joke (they’ve got ten kids between them, it’s inevitable).

If you’re building or rebuilding a law practice and want it to be profitable, livable, and sustainable, this show is for you. Subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with a lawyer who could use a reminder that they don’t have to do this alone.

About Ron Bockstahler
Ron Bockstahler is a father to six children, husband to a loving wife, an athlete, and an entrepreneur. With a unique perspective on life, Ron started his business, Amata Holdings, LLC, more than 22 years ago with the twin goals of raising a family and attending as many home Chicago Cubs games as possible. 

Throughout his career, Ron has had a relentless focus on setting and achieving life goals. After initially dropping out of high school to make money to support a young family, Ron was able to go back and finish his high school career and graduate with his class. To pay for college and gain the discipline to thrive in college, Ron joined the Marine Corps, where he served four years as an enlisted Marine. 

After his tour in the Marines, Ron attended Northern Illinois University, where he completed his degree in less than three years. After graduating from college, he took a position as a copier salesperson, where he cut his teeth and learned what it took to succeed in business. Within a corporate career spanning fourteen years with two companies, Ron worked his way up from copier salesman to the C-Suite, always setting and working tirelessly to achieve his written goals. 

A self-proclaimed workaholic through most of his career, it took running his own business for Ron to learn to appreciate the values of a balanced life. For more than 22 years, Ron has worked to maintain a balance between running a successful company, raising six children, maintaining a healthy marriage, and actively working to be a competitive athlete (during this time, Ron has competed in seven full Ironman races and numerous triathlons and marathons). 

About Clinton Ind
Clint is a trial lawyer who has spent much of his career building law firms from the ground up. He has started his own firm twice, practiced solo for more than ten years, and worked in-house with multiple companies. He has taken numerous cases to trial and obtained multi-million-dollar judgments in both medical malpractice and commercial business cases.

Clint has a deep respect for the entrepreneurial drive of solo and small-firm attorneys and understands firsthand the challenges of creating a successful, sustainable practice.

When not working, Clint can usually be found boxing, mountain biking, or running his kids from one sports commitment to the next.
 

Connect with Ron Bockstahler:

Email: [email protected]

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ronbockstahler/

Company website: https://amatacorp.com/

“Don't Lose Your Balance” book: https://www.amazon.com/Dont-Lose-Your-Balance-Business/dp/1964046467

Show notes by Team Podcastologist

Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.