The Free Lawyer

In this episode of "The Free Lawyer," host Gary welcomes Tina Brigley, a world-renowned coach and personal development expert. Tina shares her journey from being a special education teacher to becoming a coach, emphasizing the importance of personal growth and self-awareness. She discusses the pitfalls of wishing days away and the significance of being present. Tina highlights the need f...

In this podcast episode, host Gary discusses the significance of mindfulness in the legal profession. He delves into the stress and frustration prevalent in law, advocating mindfulness to improve focus, well-being, and success. Quoting Louis L'Amour, he emphasizes living in the present. Gary explains mindfulness principles and their benefits, such as mental clarity, reduced stress, and better...

In this episode of "The Free Lawyer," host Gary interviews Tracy Inscore, a California lawyer turned holistic energy practitioner. Tracy shares her journey from experiencing severe burnout and imposter syndrome to discovering holistic wellness practices. She discusses the effectiveness of Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) in managing stress and preventing burnout among lawyers. Tracy ex...

Are you struggling to manage stress in the legal profession? In this podcast episode, host Gary shares strategies for overcoming anxiety, strongly emphasizing self-care. He underlines the importance of regular exercise, healthy eating, sufficient sleep, and mental well-being activities, all crucial for your well-being. Gary also highlights productivity techniques like goal-setting, time management...

In this podcast episode, host Gary, a lawyer, welcomes Courtney Schulnick, a fellow lawyer and mindfulness teacher from Pennsylvania, to discuss the crucial role of mindfulness in managing stress in the legal profession. Courtney shares her journey with stress and anxiety, intensified by her responsibilities as a litigator and personal challenges. She explains how mindfulness helped her manage the...

Feeling the pressure of the legal profession? In this episode of "The Free Lawyer" podcast, our host Gary, a seasoned lawyer, tackles the pervasive issue of stress and its impact on lawyers' well-being and job satisfaction. Starting a two-part series, the first part uncovers the root causes of stress, such as billable hour requirements, client pressures, and internal competition. Gar...

In this episode of "The Free Lawyer" podcast, host Gary explores team building, leadership, and empathy in the legal profession with guests Isabelle Fortin and Melissa Robinson-Winemiller. Isabelle, a team leadership strategist with a military background, underscores the significance of team congruency and effective leadership. Melissa, an empathy and emotional intelligence expert, stres...

Are you equipped to handle the pressures of the legal profession? In this episode of "The Free Lawyer," host Gary, a lawyer, delves into the critical importance of resilience in navigating challenges like high workloads, client expectations, and work-life balance. Discover nine essential resilience characteristics, including adaptability, perseverance, and emotional regulation. Learn abo...

In this episode of "The Free Lawyer," host Gary interviews Melanie Herschorn, a publicist and award-winning journalist. Melanie shares her unconventional journey from Hollywood PR to journalism and eventually to helping lawyers write and publish their books. She explains her passion for making legal expertise accessible and offers practical advice for lawyers on how to find time to write...

Have you ever wondered how effective communication can transform your legal career? In this podcast episode, Gary Miles, a lawyer, delves into the crucial role of communication in the legal profession. Gary addresses common communication challenges lawyers face, such as interruptions and misunderstandings, and outlines the negative impacts of poor listening. He emphasizes the importance of clarity...

In this episode, Gary introduces Dan Warburton, a consultant helping law firm owners increase profits and reduce workload. Dan shares his journey from being inspired by his father's business to becoming a sought-after consultant. He discusses the importance of building companies that don’t rely solely on the owner's physical work and emphasizes leveraging a team of associates. The conversa...

In this episode, Gary, a seasoned legal professional, delves into fear within the legal practice, offering insights and practical tips for overcoming it. He acknowledges many lawyers' internal struggles despite outward confidence, identifying common fears such as failure, judgment, and public speaking. The episode explores how fear impacts decision-making, stress levels, and job satisfaction....

In this episode of "The Free Lawyer," Gary is joined by Lisa Ross, a seasoned clinical director with over three decades of experience in education and counseling. Lisa, who currently serves as the Clinical Director of New Leaf Teletherapy, brings her wealth of knowledge to the discussion on mental health in the legal profession. Together, they delve into the prevalent issues of high stre...

Today, Gary talks about the massive problem of perfectionism.  Perfectionism can be a double-edged sword. Aiming for excellence is crucial, but it's time to reassess our approach when perfection becomes an obsession.  He shares his journey with perfectionism, how it has affected him, and its signs and causes. He also describes its consequences for lawyers and provides 12 practical tools for ov...

In this podcast episode, host Gary interviews Charlie Mann, founder of Law Firm Alchemy, on his unique approach to growing law firms through marketing and leadership. Charlie shares his theater background and how it informs his coaching style. They discuss law firm owners' challenges, such as communication and setting expectations, and delve into marketing strategies and the importance of work...

In this episode of "The Free Lawyer," host and lawyer Gary discusses the importance of embracing change for career and personal growth. He shares his own experiences, including overcoming alcoholism and making significant career shifts, to illustrate the benefits of change. Acknowledging common fears and obstacles, Gary offers strategies to overcome resistance, such as understanding fear...

In this podcast episode of "The Free Lawyer," host Gary interviews Keeley Blanchard, a trial attorney who has shifted her focus to teaching and jury consulting. They explore the critical role of storytelling in trial work, particularly in opening and closing statements. Keeley shares her insights on the science of storytelling, emphasizing the need to frame stories to resonate with juror...

In this podcast episode, host Gary Miles, a lawyer with 45 years of experience, underscores the significance of mentorship for lawyers. He shares his journey, and the profound influence mentors had on his career. Addressing the everyday struggles lawyers face, such as isolation and self-doubt, Gary advocates for the pursuit of mentorship to foster confidence, clarity, and productivity. He confront...

In this episode of "The Free Lawyer," host Gary interviews Sejal Thakkar, an expert in civility and workplace culture. They delve into the significance of civility in the legal profession and strategies for combating unconscious bias to create inclusive environments. Sejal recounts her transition from employment law to founding her consulting firm, TrainXtra, which aims to improve workpl...

In this episode, Gary offers lawyers a lifeline in the billable hour battle. Recognizing the stress and inefficiency that can come with tracking billable hours, he shares strategies for reclaiming control over time and improving productivity and work-life balance. He delves into the detrimental effects of the billable hour system on lawyers' lives and presents a dozen tools to enhance time man...

In this episode of "The Free Lawyer," host Gary interviews Jeff Sterling Hughes, founder of Sterling Lawyers, a family law firm. Jeff discusses his journey from poverty to law, the firm's rapid growth, and the shift to focusing solely on family law. He shares the challenges and failures encountered, particularly with fixed-fee pricing, intake processes, and converting consults to clients. Jeff exp...

In today's episode, Gary discusses the drawbacks of the billable hour system in law practice, highlighting how it affects lawyers' productivity and stress levels. The episode covers the challenges of time management, client expectations, and work-life balance under the billable hour system, as well as obstacles like distractions and mental fatigue. The speaker emphasizes the need for effic...

In this podcast episode, Gary, host of "The Free Lawyer," welcomes Jeff Kichaven, a seasoned business mediator, to discuss the transition from litigation to mediation and the challenges lawyers face in the adversarial legal system. Jeff shares his journey and the factors that influenced his shift to mediation, including the desire for a more balanced life and the emotional toll of litiga...

In this podcast episode, host Gary Miles discusses the critical role of accountability in the legal profession for achieving professional and personal goals. He explores how accountability acts as a catalyst for progress, sharing his experiences with his coaching clients. He emphasizes lawyers' challenges, such as billable hours and work-life balance, and how accountability can provide structu...

Gary welcomes Jeff Cunningham, Connecticut litigator and fractional general counsel in this podcast episode. They discuss Jeff's work in legal malpractice, attorney discipline, and his emphasis on risk management and proactive client communication. Jeff also touches on the critical role of attorney wellness in reducing malpractice claims and the benefits of having an outside general counsel fo...