The 1958 Lawyer

Let’s talk about what it actually takes to build a legal career that doesn’t hollow you out along the way. Not the glossy version. Not the “grind harder” myth. The real thing—loans, losses, courtroom pressure, and the slow work of becoming yourself in a profession that often asks you to disappear. Today, Ron and Clinton sit down with trial attorney Jared to trace a non-traditional legal path shape...

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 th...

They say all good things must come to an end—including your time as a business owner. The trick is making sure your exit isn’t a dramatic collapse but more of a graceful bow-out, preferably with a cocktail in hand. Ron Bockstahler is back one last time to talk about exit strategies, or as I like to call it, ‘How to Leave Without the Whole Thing Going Up in Flames.’ Ron, be honest—how many business...

Alright, so you’ve started your business, you’ve made some money, and now... your work-life balance is about as stable as a wobbly table at a bad diner. Don’t worry, you’re not alone! Today, Ron Bockstahler is here to walk us through the mid-journey checklist —the part where we figure out how to run a business without working 24/7 or answering emails from the beach like a maniac. Ron, tell us—what...

They say failing to plan is planning to fail, and I don’t know about you, but I’ve had enough of both. Today, we’re diving into the ‘pre-journey checklist’ for life and business—because, apparently, just winging it isn’t a great long-term strategy. Ron Bockstahler is back with us, ready to help us set real, meaningful goals instead of just making to-do lists we’ll conveniently ignore. Ron, let’s b...

Today, we’re talking about balance. And no, not the kind where you finally master standing on one foot during yoga class—this is about balancing life and business without falling flat on your face. My guest is Ron Bockstahler, a man who’s not only built a successful business but also managed to have a life outside of it—an actual, fulfilling life! He’s here to tell us how to do the same, and I, fo...

Patrick Carver is the Owner of Constellation Marketing, a digital marketing company that focuses on driving growth for law firms using web design, advertising and other tools. In this episode, Ron and Patrick talked about how you can take advantage of the many facets of digital marketing today.  Patrick shared how a law firm can attract clients by doing sustainable and organic practices like makin...

Timestamps: The most difficult part in file retrieval(1:17) Eliminating the problem of indexing (8:46) Evolving with technology and maintaining client relationships (15:47) Future quality of life features(23:52)   “If you’re not evolving exponentially with the technology that comes out, you’re gonna fall behind or you’re not gonna be able to capitalize on opportunities that are  really out there f...

Michael DeLon is the President in Paperback Expert, he is an author, speaker, marketing strategist and business growth coach for business owners and sharp, aggressive entrepreneurs looking to get to the next level in their business.  In this episode Michael talks about all the ways you can establish credibility, stand out, and convert leads by publishing a book. He uses three concepts: clarify, si...

Melissa Costello is the creative lead and chief storyteller for MELISSACOSTELLO.COM’s video-centric take on branding and marketing. In this episode, she shares the value of telling stories in marketing and why marketing through video works for lawyers. They talk about how lawyers today need to start thinking differently about their business and embrace marketing.  The most important kind of market...

Marie Sarantakis is the founder of Sarantakis Law Group, LTD. She is a best-selling author, a prominent family law attorney, nationally recognized divorce coach, and the president of Adrikos, LLC. In this episode, Marie talks about narcissism in divorce court cases and defines what it really means and how it differs from mere selfish behavior.  They also discussed how divorce coaches can give clie...

Nate Dinger is the Senior Vice President of Commercial Banking at Signature Bank - he helps small, mid sized businesses, and law firms in Chicago manage their finances. Often times lawyers don’t have any time to take care of their own firm’s financial concerns so Nate, along with Signature Bank, helps them through financial advise, management and even through giving out loans for cases - which is...

Steve Mesirow is the Senior Managing Director in Mesirow Wealth Management and he has been providing expert investment advice and financial planning strategies to his clients for over 25 years. In this episode, Steve talks about how law businesses are at a disadvantage because they register their taxes at the highest rates. He discussed all the ways in which lawyers can build and protect their wea...

Ryan Kimler is the Founder of Financial Clarity, working with solo and partner practice law firms, bringing them financial clarity to grow their law practice into successful and profitable businesses. In this episode, Ryan talks about how important financial discipline and accounting is for a law firm and how invaluable the guidance of a CFO or accountant can be on that regard.  They also discuss...

Gregg Garofalo is the Founding Partner at Garofalo Law Group, he has been practicing law for 20 years with a strong focus on probate matters and estate planning. Gregg talks about when it’s right to do estate planning and what are some basic estate planning one should have outright.  Gregg also talks about estate planning if you have a special needs child, how you can maximize their benefit to giv...

Megan Mathias is the Founder of Lopp Mathias Law, she represents business owners with challenges relating to corporate governance, employment issues, shareholder disputes, Family Law disputes and contract issues. Megan talks about how entrepreneurial knowledge and creating a united culture is important in building a good law firm.  She talks about how her law firm started out as a virtual service...

In this episode, Stephen E. Seckler, Esq. talks about how lawyers should adopt marketing strategies that feel comfortable and how hiring a coach make a big difference in building a law practice. Steve also talks about how he coaches lawyers through career transitions.  He describes the work he is now doing with senior lawyers who are trying to decide what comes next. Steve is host of his own podca...

McKenna is the founder of Law x Design, a legal practice that focuses on entrepreneurs, artists and start-ups. In this episode, she talks about encouraging clients to think with a legal mindset to protect themselve’s from liability. She also talks about how people are all unique, and the best way to keep clients is to acknowledge that they’re all individuals and to dedicate a lot of time on networ...

Corinne Cantwell Heggie is a Principal at Wochner Law Firm LLC and she specializes in estate planning. She advocates to protect your property, regardless of your marital status, your age, your income level or your tax bracket. Corinne gave a general overview of estate planning on why it’s important and who it is for. They also talked about the benefits of joining a Bar association and how it can h...

Bill Cisar left his career working as an associate at a boutique firm to establish his own practice as an expert in formation of private foundations and other exempt entities, opening this option up even for small businesses or lesser established clients. In this episode, Bill talks about the importance of making legal needs available to everyone, including small businesses and individuals and the...

Franklin “Frank” Ramos has written over 20 books, 400 articles and spent many years providing invaluable advice to lawyers around the country. In this episode Frank discusses some of the challenges facing young lawyers such as mental health challenges, work-life balance issues, lack of mentorship from experienced lawyers, and expectations that lawyers of color may face.  Frank also gives us a glim...

RM LAW GROUP  https://www.rmlawfirm.com/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rmlawgroupllc   LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/rm-law-group-llc   MATTHEW MCELWEE, RM Law Group LLC Founding Member Corporate Law Matthew McElwee has worked at some the largest firms in Chicago, IL (Kirkland & Ellis; Neal, Gerber & Eisenberg; and McDonald Hopkins), but entered private practice in 2020 to tailo...

His firm’s first game-changing tech adoption was a trio of fax machines that outpaced the competition and he says AI is the next big player. But Geo Bellas – nicknamed Geo as a reference to Neo in The Matrix – hasn’t been a techie simply because of the success it’s brought his practice over the past forty years. He says it's also the fun of getting a “new toy.” Further proof that staying true to y...

It’s our first dual-guest interview, with representatives from both areas of immigration law! Christina Coleman is a Canadian immigrant who owns her own practice and focuses on employment-based immigration while Katie Vannucci handles the family-based side as shareholder at a mid-sized Chicago firm. They’ve been friends since law school, and both credit support for each other and in the legal comm...

Bill Belmont was a trial attorney, investigative attorney, worked in law enforcement, and nearly became an FBI agent before starting his investigative firm. He jokes he founded The Belmont Group with one goal in mind: to make more money so that his wife wasn’t relegated to the ‘hillbilly’ lifestyle he enjoyed. Bill has considerable experience investigating civil and criminal matters in a wide rang...