BE THAT LAWYER

What does it take for lawyers to become the person others think of first? This episode explores a practical approach to personal branding built on relationships, useful content, and consistency.   In this episode, Steve Fretzin and Tim Semelroth discuss: Talent alignment in marketing and trial work The “Three Ls”: Lists, LinkedIn, and the Lectern Strategic follow-up with referral partners Fin...

Could outside expertise and capital help law firms grow without taking control of legal judgment? This episode explores how MSOs may transform law firm operations—and why choosing the right partner matters.   In this episode, Steve Fretzin and Frederick Shelton discuss: Legal MSOs and law firm back-office operations Rule 5.4 and protecting lawyers’ independence Platform firms, bolt-ons, and d...

AI is changing how lawyers market themselves, manage work, and bill for their services—but using it responsibly takes more than the right tools. Explore practical ways to put AI to work while protecting client confidentiality and making room for human oversight.   In this episode, Steve Fretzin and Frank Ramos discuss: AI for personal branding and business development AI-assisted presentation...

How can a law firm grow while protecting its people and its reputation? Scott Rahn shares how relationship-building, values-based hiring, and honest conversations can help firms serve clients well without burning out their teams.   In this episode, Steve Fretzin and Scott Rahn discuss: Long-term friendships and professional relationships Scott’s path into private wealth disputes Generational...

Lawyers can’t do everything themselves—and trying to may cost them time, focus, and growth. This episode explores how to delegate effectively, build trust with remote assistants, and focus on the work that matters most.   In this episode, Steve Fretzin and Jaime Nacach discuss: Delegation and prioritization for lawyers Choosing tasks and roles for virtual assistants Training remote team membe...

What can a handful of great books teach lawyers about listening, delegation, client service, and building a thriving firm? Brian Klein and Steve Fretzin share the ideas that changed how they work—and how they care for clients.   In this episode, Steve Fretzin and Brian Klein discuss: Listening, empathy, and authentic networking Reading and continuous professional growth Time management, deleg...

You look after your body, your mind, and your money, but when did you last check your legal health? A veteran class action lawyer explains why an ounce of legal prevention beats a courtroom disaster, and how writing and speaking turned his career into something no firm could take away.   In this episode, Steve Fretzin and Danny Karon discuss: Legal wellness as the "fourth pillar" of wellness...

Law school taught you how to practice law, but nobody taught you how to bring in clients or lead people. In her first podcast appearance ever, Susan B. Silverman explains why copying your firm's top rainmaker won't work, and how building on your own strengths, earning trust, and learning leadership as a skill can change your career.   In this episode, Steve Fretzin and Susan Silverman discuss...

A high school dropout who became a law firm founder explains why every success story has someone else's fingerprints on it — and why the relationships lawyers neglect are the ones already sitting in their contact list. It's a conversation about building a book of business by treating connection as a way of life, not a marketing tactic.   In this episode, Steve Fretzin and Neal Goldstein discu...

Most lawyers who start a podcast quit before it ever pays off — because they're playing the wrong role in their own show. Dennis Meador explains how flipping the host-guest dynamic collapses a three-year payoff into six to eight months, and why one episode should never be just one piece of content.   In this episode, Steve Fretzin and Dennis Meador discuss: Pricing without context and the med...

Most lawyers think more hours equal more success—but what if that belief is quietly destroying their performance? In this episode, you’ll learn how to borrow habits from elite athletes to protect your energy, sharpen your focus, and build high-performance routines that actually last.   In this episode, Steve Fretzin and Pete Leibman discuss: The myth of “work longer, perform better” in high-p...

Discover why “doing great work and waiting for the phone to ring” is no longer enough for lawyers—and how problem‑focused, education-based marketing can turn unaware prospects into your best clients. In this episode, you’ll learn how to stand out in the attention economy by marketing the problems your clients actually feel, not just the services you offer.   In this episode, Steve Fretzin and...

Discover why the biggest challenges for CEOs aren’t business problems, but life problems—and how the right peer group can become their most powerful tool for clarity, accountability, and growth. In this episode, you’ll hear how listening, vulnerability, and shared experience can transform the way leaders run their firms and live their lives.   In this episode, Steve Fretzin and Mark McFatridg...

In this episode, fractional AI officer Alejo Pijuan breaks down how lawyers can use AI to close more qualified leads, slash unbillable busywork, and finally see real ROI from their tech investments.   In this episode, Steve Fretzin and Alejo Pijuan discuss: Shiny penny syndrome and narrowing business focus AI as support, not replacement, for legal work Lead response speed and intake breakdown...

When law firms are waging bidding wars for top partners, and AI is reshaping billable work, how do lawyers actually take control of their careers? In this episode, you’ll hear how lateral moves, books of business, and smart networking can dramatically change your leverage—whether you stay in BigLaw or go out on your own.   In this episode, Steve Fretzin and Stuart TenHoor discuss: Current dem...

AI isn’t coming for your job—but it is coming for your workflows. In this episode, you’ll learn how to cut through AI hype, protect client confidentiality, and use practical tools to automate the repetitive work that’s clogging your day.   In this episode, Steve Fretzin and Colin Levy discuss: Uneven adoption of AI and legal tech across the profession Evolution of legal technology from e‑disc...

Feeling like you’re “doing all the right networking” but not seeing any real business come in? In this episode, Laurin breaks down how lawyers can move beyond just showing up, get specific about referral sources, and turn the pressure of business development into a true competitive advantage.   In this episode, Steve Fretzin and Laurin Johnson discuss: Reframing pressure as a privilege in a legal...

Drowning in emails, client demands, and late nights at the office? In this episode, you’ll learn how to use boundaries, focus, and smart delegation to transform your law practice from constant chaos into a business you actually enjoy running.   In this episode, Steve Fretzin and Elizabeth Grace Saunders discuss: Power of boundaries in time management Recognizing when your schedule has become a pro...

What happens when a probate litigator stops chasing every matter and starts designing a firm that can grow without them? In this episode, you’ll hear how Shawn Kerendian scaled a niche trust and estate litigation practice by saying no to the wrong work, obsessing over infrastructure, and using EOS, OKRs, and tech to build a truly scalable law firm.   In this episode, Steve Fretzin and Shawn Kerend...

What if your biggest business-development advantage wasn’t your legal skill, but how you make people feel? In this episode, you’ll hear how a former big-firm lawyer turned coach built a decades-long career helping attorneys grow their books by leading with listening, caring, and genuine relationships.   In this episode, Steve Fretzin and Stewart Hirsch discuss: Why “how you make people feel” drive...

Discover how an employment lawyer built a seven-figure practice not by “working the room,” but by being radically authentic, hyper-generous, and unforgettable in her relationships. This episode breaks down how to turn clients, competitors, and even adversaries into your most loyal referral sources.   In this episode, Steve Fretzin and Randi Cohen discuss: Non-traditional path from prosecutor to em...

What’s really holding your law firm back isn’t a lack of leads—it’s how you spend your time and handle the ones you already have. In this episode, you’ll learn how smart hiring, offshore staffing, and a professional intake process can free you from $10-an-hour tasks and unlock real, sustainable growth.   In this episode, Steve Fretzin and Brett Trembly discuss: Mindset shift from saving to spendin...

When everyone’s chasing the latest shiny marketing tactic, what does it look like to grow a law firm by doing less but better? In this episode, Elliot Johnson shares how “addition by subtraction,” disciplined strategy, and deep content can transform both your firm’s brand and your client experience.   In this episode, Steve Fretzin and Elliot Johnson discuss: Addition by subtraction and prioritiza...

Discover how small and midsize law firms can stop being “revenue rich but cash poor” by building real systems, leveraging AI, and tracking the right numbers. In this episode, you’ll hear how to plug profit leaks, tame AR, and design a law firm that runs like a business—not a burnout machine.   In this episode, Steve Fretzin and John Jakovenko discuss: Career path from HR to fractional law firm COO...

Discover how a jazz pianist turned niche entertainment work into a powerhouse advertising, privacy, and tech practice—and why treating business development as a marathon, not a sprint, has allowed him to build a loyal, decades‑long client base. In this episode, you’ll hear practical, battle‑tested strategies for specialization, client relationships, and training the next generation of rainmakers....