Heels In The Courtroom

In this episode, first-time host Sydney Marino marks her upcoming one-year anniversary as a licensed attorney by leading a candid roundtable with colleagues Liz Lenivy, Elizabeth McNulty, Katie St. John, and Mary Simon. The conversation unpacks the gap between what law school teaches and what the actual practice of law demands. The group agrees law school builds legal theory and a basic "muscle" f...

What did it really take for Florence Allen to stay steady while being underestimated, mislabeled, and passed over? Professor and author Tracy Thomas shares the first woman judge’s own advice to younger women attorneys: work harder, let it roll off your back, prove yourself through the work and the toll that strategy took over a lifetime. The conversation also unpacks Allen's heartbreak after comin...

Long before "first woman" headlines became familiar, Florence Allen was breaking barriers no one had broken before her. She was the first woman on a state Supreme Court. The first woman on a federal appellate court. And a 12-time U.S. Supreme Court shortlist finalist across four presidential administrations who never got the nod. In this episode, Professor Tracy Thomas, Director of the Center for...

She’s an employment attorney, founder of Sparks Legal and one of the most recognizable online legal creators. And, in this episode of Heels in the Courtroom, Paige Sparks goes past the highlight reel and into what it actually costs to build a public legal brand. Paige gets real about the trolls, the death threats, and the strangers who feel entitled to an opinion on her face and how therapy, bound...

She's been watched by 30 million people making her morning coffee and explaining wrongful termination in the same breath. In this episode of Heels in the Courtroom, Elizabeth McNulty, Sydney Marino, and Mary Simon sit down with Paige Sparks, employment attorney, founder of Sparks Legal, and one of the most recognizable legal creators online to talk about what it actually takes to build a personal...

Part two of the ego discussion turns to when confidence curdles into a problem. Mary Simon opens with a story about two rival attorneys sniping at each other in a pretrial conference until the judge shut it down, refusing to referee an "ego measuring contest." Liz Lenivy points out that judges punish cockiness the way juries punish a lack of confidence and shares a case where a co-counsel's cocky,...

The hosts unpack what ego really means in the legal profession and why female attorneys especially need a healthy dose of it. They trace the word's negative connotations alongside its necessary flip side: the confidence to stand in front of a jury and believe what you're arguing whether that's a damages number or a case strategy. Stories range from convincing a jury of a dollar amount yo...

In this episode, the conversation gets candid about the toll this work takes on lawyers themselves. Sara Marler of Marler Law Partners challenges the myth of "compassion fatigue," explaining that what attorneys are really experiencing is empathetic distress, carrying burdens that aren't theirs to carry. Brittany Graham offers a reframe that often stops attorneys in their tracks: trauma explai...

An unconventional addition to the staff at a female-led family law firm has revolutionized how the firm operates as well as renamed its approach to lawyering. In this episode, Sara Marler and Ramona Gau explain how the addition of dedicated mental health specialist Brittany Graham at Marlar Law Partners has helped them define what trauma-informed lawyering looks like in practice and why it matters...

“Feared in corporate board rooms” is how the St. Louis Business Journal describes attorney Mary Anne Sedey. In Part Two of Heels in the Courtroom, this legendary trial lawyer shares more powerful stories from her career, including high-stakes discrimination cases, multimillion-dollar verdicts, and hard-learned courtroom strategies. From exposing systemic racism at a major hotel to winning big agai...

What was it like to win a landmark case before the U.S. Supreme Court and pursue a high-profile discrimination lawsuit against Anheuser-Busch? In this episode of Heels in the Courtroom, legendary attorney Mary Anne Sedey covers it all, from founding the first women-owned law firm in St. Louis dedicated to advancing employee rights. Along the way, Mary Anne reflects on the realities of litigation,...

An honest discussion about imposter syndrome, rejecting societal timelines, and redefining work-life balance with the newest member of the Heels in the Courtroom cast Sydney Marino gives listeners a relatable and inspiring look at the early stages of a legal career and the mindset it takes to thrive. Marino also opens up about navigating burnout through daily walks and leaning on family support an...

The ladies leading Weigl Jackson share the emotional and legal complexities of discrimination claims, including managing client expectations, confronting difficult truths about the legal system, and balancing empathy with objectivity. Krystal Weigl, managing partner and trial attorney, shares her philosophy of representing “good people and good causes.” Olivia Weigl, the firm’s practice manager, d...

The ladies leading Weigl Jackson share the emotional and legal complexities of discrimination claims, including managing client expectations, confronting difficult truths about the legal system, and balancing empathy with objectivity. Krystal Weigl, managing partner and trial attorney, shares her philosophy of representing “good people and good causes.” Olivia Weigl, the firm’s practice manager, d...

In this episode of Heels in the Courtroom, Liz Lenivy, Mary Simon, Elizabeth McNulty and Katie St. John explore recent cases raising concerns about attorney-client privilege, confidentiality, and discoverability when AI tools are used. The hosts highlight the risks of exposing sensitive information as more clients use AI to draft summaries of their cases when looking to hire an attorney. The ladie...

In part two of a conversation with Mollie Farrell Khazaeli and Kelli Dunaway, Mary Simon and Elizabeth McNulty go deeper into the unexpected ways coaching can help women lawyers move from where they are to where they want to be, and how to know if coaching might be right for you.

Mollie Farrell Khazaeli and Kelli Dunaway both left careers in law to become coaches for legal professionals. In this episode, they talk with Mary Simon and Elizabeth McNulty about the difference between a coach and a mentor, as well as how they tackle their most common question among clients.

Imani Maatuka discusses the illusion of choice many law students face in choosing a career and how her scholarship program, Bridging the Gap, is helping these students navigate the process.

What’s it like to go from a big law firm to opening a boutique law firm in partnership with your mother in the first five years of your career? Listen in as Imani Maatuka shares the experience and lessons learned along the way with Liz Lenivy and Elizabeth McNulty.

This week, the ladies of Heels in the Courtroom are bringing back on one of the most popular episodes of The Jury is Out, which explores how your most effective marketing tool is y our own genuine interest in the people you interact with every day. Heels will be back next time with new guests and new topics for 2026!

Take a moment to reflect on 2025 and recognize your personal and professional accomplishments.  And rather than setting lofty resolutions for the new year, we find it’s more helpful to focus on a single word to guide you through the year…..hear our picks for 2026.

A document dump. Disappearing evidence. And a new depo the first night of trial. Despite all this, Katie pulled off a win and shares what she learned, including how to use a snowstorm to your advantage.

We’re so proud to have won a $10 million verdict for our client in a battle that took seven years and two trials. Mary Simon shares her courtroom story, including how she handled losing her carefully prepared outline and what she learned through this team effort. Tune in and celebrate with us!

Data shows that family building benefits improve productivity and support employee’s mental and physical health. It’s a win-win, but many employers may balk at the expense. Sarah Moore discusses low cost ways to retain and gain key employees.

How do you get support and resources to build your family in a male dominated industry? Guest Sarah Moore discusses the importance of parental support benefits for families and employers.