Great Practice. Great Life. by Atticus

You can have the best intentions in the world, but without focus, they won't turn into results. In Part 2 of this two-part series, Steve Riley helps lawyers move from insight to execution by designing a practical structure for 2026. Instead of piling on resolutions, Steve makes a counterintuitive case for choosing just two goals: one Great Life goal and one Great Practice goal. Nothing more. He ex...

Most lawyers don't struggle with setting goals. They struggle with protecting them. As a new year begins, many high performers find themselves frustrated, tired, and wondering why carefully written plans never quite survive real life. In Part 1 of this two-part series, Steve lays the groundwork for designing a stronger 2026 by first assessing what really happened in 2025. Before you set new goals,...

As 2025 wraps up, Steve revisits five standout moments from some of our most impactful Great Life conversations this year. Like  Part 1 , this episode is built as a highlight reel, with short clips pulled from full-length interviews, but this time the focus is on building a great life so your great practice can grow quicker and easier. The goal is simple: give you the best ideas from 2025 in one p...

As 2025 comes to a close, Steve revisits five standout moments from five of our most impactful Great Practice conversations this year. This episode is built as a highlight reel, with short clips pulled from full-length interviews that focused on the business side of running a law firm. The goal is simple: give you the best ideas from 2025 in one place, so you can spot the next upgrade your firm ne...

In this episode of Great Practice, Great Life, Steve Riley welcomes back forensic psychologist Dr. Deborah Day for a direct, real-world look at the difficult people lawyers face every single day. High-conflict clients, drama-driven opposing counsel, partners who escalate everything, and even judges who seem to thrive on chaos are not outliers. As Dr. Day explains, roughly one in three people you i...

On this week's episode of Great Practice, Great Life, you're in for a ride. Steve Riley sits down with attorney Brad Wiewel, whose career took a wild turn in 1979 when a client's husband fired a bullet into Brad's car because Brad was fighting too hard in a divorce case involving a stripper. That single  ka-pow moment launched Brad's 45-year obsession with what he calls Defensive Law; a proactive,...

Time management for lawyers isn't just a productivity hack, it's the key to freedom. What if you could take around 200 days off a year without your firm collapsing, and actually increase law firm profitability in the process? That's exactly what Arizona probate, trust, and estate litigator Attorney Kent Berk has pulled off. In this episode of Great Practice, Great Life . , Kent joins Steve to shar...

In this episode of Great Practice, Great Life, Steve Riley breaks down one of the toughest challenges in law firm leadership: the feeling that you're failing when life and work start to pile up. Using the story of Kay, a team leader pushed to her limits, Steve explains why overwhelm is rarely a personal flaw and more often a sign that your systems, habits, or support structures need to evolve. Ste...

Content note: This episode includes discussion of suicide and mental health. If you or someone you know needs support in the U.S., call or text 988 for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline In this episode of Great Practice, Great Life, appellate attorney and Florida Bar leader Robin Bresky joins host Steve Riley for a candid and deeply human conversation about building a thriving law practice and a meani...

Financial stress can linger even in the most seemingly prosperous lives. In this episode of Great Practice, Great Life, Steve Riley sits down with Jacquette Timmons, a nationally recognized financial behaviorist, to explore the power of a financial mindset for lawyers. Together, they examine why even successful attorneys can feel financial stress, and how beliefs, habits, and emotional patterns sh...

What if you could transform a legacy law firm while staying true to your personal goals? In this episode of Great Practice, Great Life, attorney Lauren Presser reveals the law firm growth strategies that transformed her practice, creating clarity, balance, and sustainable growth. After buying out her uncle's 50-year-old family firm in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, Lauren partnered with Atticus to moder...

How can legal professionals stay sharp without burning out? In this episode of Great Practice, Great Life, psychologist Dr. Deborah Day joins Steve Riley to explore the realities of law firm stress, and the practical ways attorneys and legal teams can manage it. Drawing from decades of experience working with high-performing professionals, Dr. Day explains the difference between acute and chronic...

How Shannon Sagan used a memorable niche to drive referrals and build a sellable brand. On this episode of Great Practice, Great Life, Steve Riley welcomes personal injury attorney Shannon Sagan, better known as  The Dash Cam Lawyer . Shannon shares his incredible story of how niching for lawyers, done with purpose and creativity, transformed his career from a defense firm associate into a standou...

10 insider secrets to leverage a team leader for growth, profit, and balance On this episode of Great Practice, Great Life, Steve Riley talks with Emily Sorbi about how law firms break through growth ceilings by developing a strong team leader. Emily rose from the front desk to Director of Operations and now manages a team of 30 across multiple states. Her story shows what happens when owners inve...

On this episode of Great Practice, Great Life, Steve Riley sits down with Calgary family law attorney Lonny Balbi to explore how he shifted his consultations from free to paid, and why that change became a game-changer for his practice. Lonny's innovative Balbi Marital Assessment package breaks away from the traditional free consultation model. Instead of giving away time, he designed a structured...

What happens when a father-son duo takes on the challenge of revamping a struggling law firm? On today's episode of Great Practice, Great Life, Carl and Brent Doré share their extraordinary journey of transforming the Doré Rothberg Law Firm into a thriving practice, along with the invaluable support of partner Lisa Rothberg, who was instrumental in stabilizing and growing the firm. After a record-...

In an age of constant information, it's easy to feel lost in the noise. On this episode of Great Practice, Great Life, Steve Riley welcomes back attorney and author Ronald Chapman II to discuss how to navigate our complex digital world and take back your own truth. Drawing on his experiences as a Marine Corps JAG officer and nationally recognized trial lawyer, Ronald offers practical ways to think...

On this episode of   Great Practice, Great Life, Steve Riley welcomes Susan Drumm—a Harvard-trained lawyer, bestselling author of  The Leader's Playlist,  and leadership advisor whose path from law to acting to consulting shaped her approach to leadership. Susan shows how to lead with purpose by connecting music, neuroscience, and personal growth. Her eclectic career taught her the power of reinve...

On this episode of Great Practice, Great Life, Steve Riley sits down with attorney and former Marine Corps officer Patrick McLain to share the leadership lesson lawyers need most today. Patrick's path took him from serving as a Marine JAG officer and military judge to building a successful criminal defense practice. Along the way, he discovered that the same principles that carried him through com...

In this deeply personal solo episode of Great Practice, Great Life, host Steve Riley opens his heart to honor the memory of his father, Donald C. Riley. What unfolds is not just a tribute, but a vulnerable reflection on the man who shaped him through stories, lessons, and quiet acts of courage. While growing up, Steve's home was filled with fables told by his father. Yet these weren't just stories...

What if upgrading your client base could transform not only your law practice but also your life? On this episode of Great Practice, Great Life, attorney Chris Murphy shares how he implemented a client upgrade system and it reshaped his practice and personal life. At first, Chris admits he was hesitant about some of the strategies suggested to him. Moving to flat fees? Saying no to certain clients...

Nationally acclaimed author and founder of the Every Monday Matters movement, Matthew Emerzian, sits down with Steve Riley to have a conversation about purpose, connection, and building a life that truly matters. Matthew's story did not begin with a breakdown. From the outside, it looked like he had it all. He lived in Beverly Hills, working in the music industry with world-famous bands like U2 an...

On this episode of Great Practice, Great Life, guest host Jonathan White sits down with NHL legend Grant Fuhr to explore how a positive mindset fueled his Hall of Fame career and continues to shape his life today. Best known as the goaltender behind the Edmonton Oilers dynasty, Grant Fuhr is a five-time Stanley Cup champion. He was a key force behind one of hockey's greatest teams, known for his c...

On this episode of Great Practice, Great Life, Steve Riley sits down with family law attorney Gerard Virga to share a remarkable story of resilience, leadership, and reinvention. When Hurricane Michael destroyed Gerard's law office in 2018, he didn't pause or panic. Instead, the very next day, he started looking for a new space to work. Remarkably, that same day, he found a building still standing...

On this episode of Great Practice, Great Life, Steve talks with attorney Ronald W. Chapman II, who shares his powerful journey from the battlefield to the courtroom. A former Marine Corps JAG officer, Ronald opens up about how his military service shaped not just his legal skill set but also his mindset. The idea of not using the law as a shield became a defining part of his growth as a leader. Hi...