Lawyerist Podcast

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Aug 2026

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The Lawyerist Podcast is your ultimate guide to building, managing, and growing a successful small or medium-sized law firm. Tailored for lawyers and attorneys who aspire to thrive in today’s fast-paced legal landscape, this podcast delivers actionable advice, proven strategies, and cutting-edge insights to help you run a modern law firm with confidence. Whether you're a solo attorney starting your practice, managing a growing firm, or looking to optimize your operations, The Lawyerist Podcast provides the tools you need. From mastering law firm marketing, streamlining workflows with legal technology, and improving client relationships to building sustainable firm culture, we cover everything that matters to entrepreneurial lawyers. Hosted by industry leaders and packed with interviews featuring top legal professionals, tech innovators, and law firm management experts, each episode dives deep into topics like law firm profitability, automation, time management, and future trends in legal services. If you’re searching for practical advice on how to run a law firm, grow your legal business, and stay ahead of the curve, The Lawyerist Podcast is the resource you’ve been waiting for. Subscribe now to elevate your practice and build the law firm of your dreams.

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August 20, 202623 min

Law Firm Leadership: How to Lead Yourself Before Leading Your Team, with Debbie Foster & Stephanie Everett

Leaders do not simply enter a room. They change it. In episode 632 of the Lawyerist Podcast, Stephanie Everett talks with Debbie Foster about leading self, the first cornerstone from their new book, Be a Next Level Leader.  Debbie explains why “leaders bring the weather” and how a leader’s emotions, attention, and energy can shape an entire meeting. Together, they explore what happens when leaders make promises they cannot realistically keep, become bottlenecks for their teams, or undermine decisions by delivering them as someone else’s instructions.  They also discuss why honoring commitments is essential to building trust, how to renegotiate a deadline without hiding behind busyness, and what it means to speak as a leader even when you disagree with a decision. Debbie and Stephanie share practical scripts, exercises, and shared language law firm teams can use to make better leadership habits part of everyday work.  If you want your team to trust your word, follow your direction, and feel secure when pressure rises, better leadership starts with understanding how you show up.  Listen to our previous episodes on Law Firm Leadership, Self-Awareness & Building Stronger Teams.  #627: Building Stronger Law Firm Teams Through Better Communication, with Zeina Baydoun Apple | Spotify | LTN  #615: How to Stop Being the Bottleneck and Build Stronger Teams, with Debbie Foster and Stephanie Everett Apple | Spotify | LTN  #596: The Athlete’s Mindset for Lawyers, with Jess Sargus Apple | Spotify | LTN  #592: Client Care, Culture, and Character: A Framework for Great Leaders, with William O’Neal Apple | Spotify | LTN  #527: Casting Your Vision and Leading Your Firm, with Kevin DeShazo Apple | Spotify | LTN  Links from the episode:  https://beanextlevelleader.com/    Have thoughts about today’s episode? Join the conversation on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and X!   If today's podcast resonates with you and you haven't read The Small Firm Roadmap Revisited yet, get the first chapter right now for free! Looking for help beyond the book? See if our coaching community is right for you.   Access more resources from Lawyerist at lawyerist.com.   Chapters / Timestamps  00:00 – Introduction  01:19 – Why Leadership Teams Need Shared Language  03:16 – Meet Debbie Foster  03:45 – Why Leadership Starts with Leading Self  04:13 – Leaders Bring the Weather  05:27 – Showing Up Fully Present  06:17 – How Broken Commitments Erode Trust  08:15 – When the Leader Becomes the Bottleneck  09:29 – Speak as a Leader, Not a Messenger  10:11 – Disagree, Commit & Support the Decision  12:02 – How Leaders Undermine Their Own Credibility  12:57 – Turning Leadership Theory into Practical Tools  14:31 – Scripts for Renegotiating Commitments & Receiving Feedback  16:10 – How the Book and Workbook Took Shape  17:21 – Shared Language Creates Stronger Leaders  19:26 – Leading When Responsibility Exceeds Authority  21:21 – How Do You Show Up Under Stress?  22:34 – Closing Thoughts 

August 13, 202659 min

Tune In Before You Jump In: A Better Way to Delegate, with Shawn Vanderhoven

When everything feels urgent, meaningful work rarely gets the attention it deserves. In episode 631 of the Lawyerist Podcast, Zack Glaser talks with leadership researcher and author Shawn Vanderhoven about how law firm leaders can create the clarity their teams need to focus and perform at their best.  Drawing from his book, Pause: How to Lead Brilliant Work in a Busy World, Shawn explains why effective leadership sometimes requires slowing down before moving forward. He shares what his research revealed about the behaviors that improve focus, the leadership habits that amplify distraction, and why teams struggle when every project is treated like a top priority.  Together, they explore how to make realistic tradeoffs, involve your team in prioritization, delegate without derailing someone’s entire day, and create systems that make difficult conversations easier. Shawn also explains why asking, “What will it take to do this well?” can lead to better decisions than simply asking whether the work can get done.  If your law firm is juggling too many priorities, this episode offers practical ways to reduce distraction, lead with greater clarity, and create space for work your team can be proud of.  Listen to our previous episodes on Law Firm Leadership & Building Stronger Teams.  #627: Building Stronger Law Firm Teams Through Better Communication, with Zeina Baydoun Apple | Spotify | LTN  #615: How to Stop Being the Bottleneck and Build Stronger Teams, with Debbie Foster and Stephanie Everett Apple | Spotify | LTN  #604: From Practice to Business: Scaling Beyond Yourself, with Andy Hays Apple | Spotify | LTN  #592: Client Care, Culture, and Character: A Framework for Great Leaders, with William O’Neal Apple | Spotify | LTN  #541: Why the Best Teams Have Keystone Conversations, with Michael Bungay Stanier Apple | Spotify | LTN  Links from the episode:  https://www.pausebook.co/  Have thoughts about today’s episode? Join the conversation on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and X!   If today's podcast resonates with you and you haven't read The Small Firm Roadmap Revisited yet, get the first chapter right now for free! Looking for help beyond the book? See if our coaching community is right for you.   Access more resources from Lawyerist at lawyerist.com.   Chapters / Timestamps  00:00 – Introduction  00:25 – A Different Kind of Law Firm Conference  03:10 – LabCon for Law Firm Leaders  07:05 – What Is Broken About Law Firm Intake  11:30 – How to Secret Shop Your Firm  15:15 – The Role of AI in Client Intake  20:45 – Why Clients Still Want Access to Humans  26:30 – Meet Shawn Vanderhoven  29:15 – Why Leaders Need to Pause  30:25 – How Leadership Can Improve Focus  33:25 – When Everything Feels Important  37:15 – Making Prioritization a Team Sport  40:20 – Choosing Your Majors and Minors  42:45 – A Better Way to Delegate Work  46:10 – Navigating Competing Priorities  49:10 – Making Difficult Conversations Easier  54:45 – Creating Clarity Around What Matters  56:10 – Pausing to Help Your Team Move Faster  59:05 – Closing Thoughts 

August 6, 202640 min

Let AI Do the Bull$h!t Work: Practicing at the Top of Your License, with Sam Harden

Lawyers may soon spend less time opening applications, and more time simply telling AI what needs to happen next. In episode 630 of the Lawyerist Podcast, Zack Glaser talks with innovation strategist Sam Harden about the rise of agentic AI and how tools like ChatGPT Work and Claude Cowork could reshape the way legal professionals work.  Unlike a traditional chatbot, an agentic system can operate within a workspace, analyze groups of files, create and update documents, develop plans, and connect information from different sources. That could allow lawyers to access emails, calendars, case materials, research, and practice management information through a single working interface.  Zack and Sam discuss what this means for law firms filled with open Word documents, browser tabs, PDFs, research databases, and disconnected software. They also challenge the idea that AI should perform the most sophisticated legal reasoning while lawyers clean up the formatting. Instead, AI should take on the repetitive administrative work so lawyers can operate at the top of their licenses.  If you want to understand where legal AI is heading beyond prompting and summarization, this episode offers a grounded look at the tools, opportunities, risks, and experiments shaping the next phase of legal work.  Listen to our previous episodes on Agentic AI, Law Firm Workflows & the Future of Legal Work.  #620: What Claude Means for Law Firms, Part 2: Using AI to Practice at the Top of Your License, with Sam Harden Apple | Spotify | LTN  #619: What Claude Means for Law Firms: AI Skills, Connectors, and Workflow Strategy, with Sam Harden Apple | Spotify | LTN  #601: Beyond Chatbots: Using Agentic AI in Law Firm Intake, with Matt Spiegel Apple | Spotify | LTN  #581: Agentic AI for Lawyers: Moving Beyond Enhanced Search, with Drew Bloom Apple | Spotify | LTN  #577: Rethinking Law Firm Growth in the Age of AI, with Sam Harden Apple | Spotify | LTN  Have thoughts about today’s episode? Join the conversation on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and X!   If today's podcast resonates with you and you haven't read The Small Firm Roadmap Revisited yet, get the first chapter right now for free! Looking for help beyond the book? See if our coaching community is right for you.   Access more resources from Lawyerist at lawyerist.com.   Chapters / Timestamps  00:00 – Introduction  00:18 – What the World Cup Teaches About Professionalism  05:19 – Meet Sam Harden  06:25 – The “Claudification” of ChatGPT  08:15 – From Chatbot to Agentic Workspace  10:35 – Why ChatGPT Is Following Claude  13:00 – The Shift from Asking to Delegating  14:00 – What Agentic AI Actually Means for Lawyers  17:40 – Making AI the Interface for Legal Work  19:10 – The Future Surface of Work  23:30 – When Your Phone Becomes Your Workspace  25:35 – How Agentic AI Could Transform Law Firms  26:45 – Letting AI Handle the Legal Busywork  29:20 – Operating at the Top of Your License  31:15 – AI Should Format the Work, Not Make the Judgment  34:30 – How Lawyers Can Start Experimenting Safely  37:25 – Closing Thoughts 

July 30, 202643 min

Privacy, Power, and Prediction: Reclaiming Control of Your Personal Data, with Carissa Véliz

Privacy is not just about keeping secrets. It is about protecting your power. In episode 629 of the Lawyerist Podcast, Zack Glaser talks with Oxford professor and author Carissa Véliz about how personal data gives companies, governments, and technology platforms the ability to influence our choices and shape our lives.  Carissa explains why seemingly harmless information, from the music you enjoy to the way your phone battery drains, can be used to identify, categorize, and predict you. They explore how AI has made surveillance cheaper and more powerful, why predictions should never be treated as facts, and how automated scores can affect important decisions without giving people a meaningful way to challenge them.  The conversation also offers practical ways to reclaim control without abandoning technology entirely. From choosing more private digital tools to questioning the predictions presented as inevitable, Carissa shows why every decision to protect your privacy matters.  If you have ever clicked “accept” without thinking about what happens next, this episode will change the way you think about your data, your autonomy, and who gets to shape your future.  Listen to our previous episodes on AI, Privacy & Legal Ethics.  #618: AI and Legal Ethics: Protecting Client Privacy in a Changing Legal System, with Sunny Eaton Apple | Spotify | LTN  #612: AI for Lawyers: What You Need to Know Before Your Clients Do, with Cat Casey Apple | Spotify | LTN  #582: Deepfakes, Data, and Duty: Navigating AI Ethics in Law, with Merisa Bowers Apple | Spotify | LTN  #543: What Lawyers Need to Know About the Ethics of Using AI, with Hilary Gerzhoy Apple | Spotify | LTN  #486: How to Safely Include AI in Your Legal Tech Stack, with Will Anoh Apple | Spotify | LTN  Have thoughts about today’s episode? Join the conversation on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and X!   If today's podcast resonates with you and you haven't read The Small Firm Roadmap Revisited yet, get the first chapter right now for free! Looking for help beyond the book? See if our coaching community is right for you.   Access more resources from Lawyerist at lawyerist.com.   Chapters / Timestamps  00:00 – Introduction  00:55 – The Future of Law Firm Leadership  05:00 – The Four Cornerstones of Leadership  09:00 – Be a Next Level Leader  10:45 – Meet Carissa Véliz  11:45 – Why Privacy Is Power  13:30 – How Personal Data Limits Your Autonomy  15:50 – Who Decides What Your Data Says About You?  17:50 – How Companies Exploit Personal Vulnerabilities  20:10 – The Data You Never Realized Was Personal  21:15 – The Connection Between Surveillance and Prediction  22:30 – Applying Fiduciary Duties to Personal Data  24:15 – Why You Cannot Contest a Prediction  26:20 – Banning the Sale of Personal Data  28:25 – Predictions Are Power Plays, Not Facts  30:30 – AI and the Expansion of Digital Surveillance  33:25 – How to Take Back Your Digital Privacy  37:30 – Why Every Privacy Choice Matters  40:00 – The Future Is Not Predetermined  41:25 – The Most Private Way to Read a Book 

July 23, 202634 min

Marketing Without Feeling Salesy: How Lawyers Can Stay Visible and Win Better Clients, with Aaron Thomas

Law firm marketing does not have to mean paid ads, aggressive sales tactics, or posting constantly online.  In episode 628 of the Lawyerist Podcast, Chad Fox talks with Aaron Thomas about marketing for lawyers who do not think of themselves as marketers. Aaron shares how he went from relying almost entirely on referrals to building a more intentional approach that helped grow his firm and bring in better-fit clients.  They explore why referral marketing is still marketing, how newsletters can keep firms visible, and why useful content often works better than a direct sales pitch. Aaron also explains how lawyers can build stronger referral networks, make their expertise easier to find, and outsource repetitive marketing tasks without hiring a full-time employee.  If you want to grow your firm without sounding salesy or turning marketing into a second job, this episode provides simple strategies you can begin using right away.  This episode is sponsored by Posh Virtual Receptionists. As Aaron explains, effective marketing is often less about selling and more about making it easier for the right clients to find, trust, and connect with your firm. Posh helps support that experience by answering calls, improving responsiveness, and helping law firms maintain consistent communication with prospective and current clients.  Learn more at https://posh.com/lawyerist/.  Listen to our previous episodes on Law Firm Marketing & Building Client Relationships.  #608: Business Development for Lawyers: Building Real Relationships That Lead to Clients, with Megan Senese Apple | Spotify | LTN  #603: Turn Expertise into Clients: Building Authority That AI Recognizes, with Karin Conroy Apple | Spotify | LTN  #546: Unlock Law Firm Growth: AI Marketing Secrets, with Karin Conroy Apple | Spotify | LTN  #526: LinkedIn Mastery: Grow Your Law Firm NOW!, with Matthew Hunt Apple | Spotify | LTN  #515: Simple Marketing Hacks Lawyers Swear By, with Gyi Tsakalakis Apple | Spotify | LTN  Have thoughts about today’s episode? Join the conversation on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and X!   If today's podcast resonates with you and you haven't read The Small Firm Roadmap Revisited yet, get the first chapter right now for free! Looking for help beyond the book? See if our coaching community is right for you.   Access more resources from Lawyerist at lawyerist.com.   Chapters / Timestamps  00:00 – Introduction  00:25 – What Happens When a Business Fully Unplugs  02:05 – Why Rest Belongs in Your Business Plan  12:15 – Meet Aaron Thomas  13:05 – Every Law Firm Is Already Marketing  15:05 – Finding More of the Right Clients  16:20 – Why Advertising Should Not Be Your First Move  17:40 – Marketing to Your Existing Network First  18:50 – Newsletters That Clients Want to Read  21:05 – Networking Without the Sales Pitch  21:55 – Creating Referral Partnerships with Other Lawyers  23:50 – Using Helpful Content to Build Authority  25:10 – Let Your Expertise Do the Selling  26:25 – Why Free Information Still Leads to Paid Work  28:30 – A Practical Starting Point for Overwhelmed Firms  29:50 – Outsourcing the Work That Never Gets Done  31:20 – How Basic Marketing Created Rapid Growth  32:55 – Closing Thoughts 

July 16, 202637 min

Building Stronger Law Firm Teams Through Better Communication, with Zeina Baydoun

Knowing your communication style is useful. Knowing when to move beyond it is what creates growth. In episode 627 of the Lawyerist Podcast, Zack Glaser talks with Zeina Baydoun about how law firm leaders and teams can use DISC to better understand themselves, communicate more effectively, and respond with greater intention.  Zeina breaks down why DISC is not a personality test or a permanent label. It is a starting point for recognizing the behaviors that come most naturally, the blind spots those tendencies can create, and the ways stress may amplify them. Rather than using a profile to say, “That is just how I am,” she encourages leaders to ask whether their default response is actually what the person or situation needs.  They discuss how different communication styles can create friction inside law firms, why understanding behavior can replace judgment with curiosity, and how teams can better support one another without lowering expectations for growth.  If you want to improve communication without forcing everyone to think and work the same way, this episode offers a thoughtful framework for building more adaptable leaders and more connected teams.  Listen to our previous episodes on Leadership, Communication & Building Stronger Law Firm Teams.  #615: How to Stop Being the Bottleneck and Build Stronger Teams, with Debbie Foster and Stephanie Everett Apple | Spotify | LTN  #596: The Athlete’s Mindset for Lawyers, with Jess Sargus Apple | Spotify | LTN  #592: Client Care, Culture, and Character: A Framework for Great Leaders, with William O’Neal Apple | Spotify | LTN  #527: Casting Your Vision and Leading Your Firm, with Kevin DeShazo Apple | Spotify | LTN  Have thoughts about today’s episode? Join the conversation on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and X!   If today's podcast resonates with you and you haven't read The Small Firm Roadmap Revisited yet, get the first chapter right now for free! Looking for help beyond the book? See if our coaching community is right for you.   Access more resources from Lawyerist at lawyerist.com.   Chapters / Timestamps  00:00 – Introduction01:25 – Using DISC as an Active Leadership Tool04:10 – Meet Zeina Baydoun05:45 – What DISC Reveals About Communication08:35 – Understanding Behavioral Preferences12:00 – How Self-Awareness Changes Team Dynamics14:40 – The Problem with Personality Labels16:20 – Why Leaders Cannot Hide Behind Their Style17:40 – Developing Skills Outside Your Comfort Zone18:55 – Adapting Your Communication to the Situation21:55 – Leadership and Communication Under Pressure25:25 – Supporting Strengths and Managing Blind Spots28:50 – Creating Space for Other People to Lead31:05 – Moving Beyond Fixed Leadership Styles32:10 – Building New Behavioral Habits33:05 – Choice, Growth and Intentional Leadership35:05 – Closing Thoughts 

July 9, 202628 min

The Power of Humor in Law Firm Communication, with Jennifer Cargo

Law firms deal with serious issues, but that does not mean every client interaction has to feel heavy. In episode 626 of the Lawyerist Podcast, Stephanie Everett talks with Jennifer Cargo about humor as an underrated communication skill for lawyers and law firm teams.  Jennifer shares how her experience with comedy training and amateur standup shaped the way she connects with clients, leads a team, and lightens stressful moments inside a law firm. From breaking the ice during client signings to helping team members feel more comfortable bringing challenges to her, she explains why humor is not about being silly or unprofessional. It is about paying attention, reading the room, and making people feel at ease.  Together, they explore how small moments of levity can build trust, improve client experience, and create a more approachable workplace culture. Jennifer also shares what comedy teaches about timing, observation, confidence, and finding the absurdity in everyday life.  A more human law firm does not always start with a new process or platform. Sometimes, it starts with the way you make people feel when they walk through the door.  Listen to our previous episodes on Law Firm Communication & Client Trust.   #609: Improve Client Satisfaction Without More Work: Designing Smarter Legal Services, with Laura Hartnett Apple | Spotify | LTN  #606: Breaking the Copycat Cycle: Building a Law Firm with Personality, with Patrick Patino Apple | Spotify | LTN  #592: Client Care, Culture and Character: A Framework for Great Leaders, with William O’Neal Apple | Spotify | LTN  #462: Designing an Empathetic Client Experience, with Kirk Simoneau Apple | Spotify | LTN  #338: Reframing Your Client Experience, with Spencer Keys Apple | Spotify | LTN    Have thoughts about today’s episode? Join the conversation on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram!  If today's podcast resonates with you and you haven't read The Small Firm Roadmap Revisited yet, get the first chapter right now for free! Looking for help beyond the book? See if our coaching community is right for you.   Access more resources from Lawyerist at lawyerist.com.   Chapters / Timestamps  00:00 – Introduction  00:20 – Humor as a Serious Communication Skill  00:45 – What Makes LabCon Different  02:05 – Working on the Business, Not Just in It  04:03 – Meet Jennifer Cargo  05:17 – How Comedy School Changed Jennifer’s Perspective  06:29 – Practicing Confidence Before the Stage  07:22 – Standup, Improv, and Learning to Be Funny  08:42 – Observing the Absurdity Around You  09:05 – Turning Office Friction into Client Connection  10:44 – Humor and the Client Experience  12:06 – Finding Levity Without Dismissing Stress  14:43 – Why Smiling Changes the Interaction  15:29 – Timing, Pauses, and the Structure of a Joke  18:56 – What Law Firms Can Learn from Comedy  20:27 – Building Trust Through Approachable Leadership  22:45 – AI, Comedy Writing, and Creative Prompts  24:51 – Using AI as a Thought Partner  25:17 – The Value of Trying Something New 

July 2, 202626 min

Before You Hire: How to Know What Your Law Firm Really Needs, with Bernadette Harris

Most law firm owners know what it feels like to need help. But needing help and being ready to hire are not always the same thing. In episode 625 of the Lawyerist Podcast, Stephanie Everett sits down with Bernadette Harris to talk about the timing, planning, and clarity required to make a successful hire. Bernadette shares why the biggest hiring mistake is not always choosing the wrong person. Sometimes, it is hiring at the wrong time. Hire too soon, and the firm may not have enough work or revenue to support the role. Hire too late, and the owner may be too overwhelmed to train, onboard, and set the new person up for success. Stephanie and Bernadette discuss how to evaluate consistent demand, identify whether the owner is the real bottleneck, and use capacity planning to make a more grounded hiring decision. They also explore why lawyers need to define the role clearly before bringing someone in, including the tasks, expectations, soft skills, and success metrics that will shape the position. If you are thinking about hiring because your firm feels chaotic, this episode will help you pause, look at the data, and make sure you are solving the right problem before adding another person to the payroll. Listen to our previous episodes on Law Firm Hiring, Delegation & Building Better Teams. #621: Stop Calling Them VAs: How to Build a High-Performing Remote Legal Team, with Raquel Gomes Apple | Spotify | LTN #616: From Solo to CEO: Letting Go of Legal Work to Grow Your Firm, with Ellen Williamson Apple | Spotify | LTN #615: How to Stop Being the Bottleneck and Build Stronger Teams, with Debbie Foster and Stephanie Everett Apple | Spotify | LTN #523: Financial Red Flags: Are You Hiring Too Soon?, with Bernadette Harris Apple | Spotify | LTN Have thoughts about today’s episode? Join the conversation on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and X! If today's podcast resonates with you and you haven't read The Small Firm Roadmap Revisited yet, get the first chapter right now for free! Looking for help beyond the book? See if our coaching community is right for you. Access more resources from Lawyerist at lawyerist.com. Chapters / Timestamps 00:00 – Introduction00:17 – The Case for Closing the Firm for a Week01:30 – What Has to Be True Before You Can Unplug02:35 – Planning Ahead So Time Off Actually Works03:25 – Meet Bernadette Harris03:55 – The Real Hiring Problem: Wrong Timing04:20 – Financial Stress vs. Operational Chaos05:25 – How to Know When Your Firm Is Ready06:05 – Why Hiring Decisions Need Data06:40 – Capacity Planning for Law Firm Owners07:40 – Are People in the Right Seats?08:45 – Consistent Work vs. One Busy Month09:55 – The Referral Problem and Predictable Demand11:15 – When the Owner Becomes the Bottleneck12:25 – The Time Study Every Owner Needs13:05 – Stop Hiring for “Help”14:20 – Role Clarity and the Type of Person You Need15:45 – Soft Skills Matter More Than You Think16:40 – Why You May Need the Opposite of Yourself17:45 – Onboarding Is More Than Paperwork18:30 – Creating a 90-Day Training Plan20:25 – Why Expectations Need to Be Clear Up Front22:50 – Showing New Hires What Success Looks Like24:30 – What Really Makes a Firm Ready to Hire24:45 – Closing Thoughts

June 25, 202638 min

Building Better Lawyers in the Age of AI, with April Dawson

AI is not just changing how lawyers work. It is changing how lawyers learn. In episode 624 of the Lawyerist Podcast, Zack Glaser talks with April Dawson, Associate Dean of Technology and Innovation and Professor of Law at North Carolina Central University School of Law, about what AI means for legal education, new lawyer training, and the future of law practice. April explains why law schools can no longer rely on written work alone to measure whether students truly understand the material. As AI becomes embedded in legal writing, research, and drafting tools, new lawyers will need to prove their value in different ways, including verbal explanation, critical thinking, judgment, and the ability to use technology responsibly. Together, they explore how AI may shrink traditional mentorship opportunities, why new lawyers need to become more self-directed learners, and how legal employers may increasingly expect graduates to arrive with real AI fluency. April also shares why small firm owners should rethink their workflows from beginning to end instead of layering AI on top of inefficient systems. If you are wondering what the next generation of lawyers needs to know, this episode offers a practical look at how AI is reshaping legal education, law firm training, and the skills lawyers will need to stay valuable. Listen to our previous episodes on AI Skills New Lawyers Need Now. #619: What Claude Means for Law Firms: AI Skills, Connectors, and Workflow Strategy, with Sam Harden Apple | Spotify | LTN #590: Innovating Without Overwhelm: Practical AI Tips for Lawyers, with Graydon Trusler Apple | Spotify | LTN #577: Rethinking Law Firm Growth in the Age of AI, with Sam Harden Apple | Spotify | LTN #553: AI Tools and Processes Every Lawyer Should Use, with Catherine Sanders Reach Apple | Spotify | LTN Have thoughts about today’s episode? Join the conversation on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and X! If today's podcast resonates with you and you haven't read The Small Firm Roadmap Revisited yet, get the first chapter right now for free! Looking for help beyond the book? See if our coaching community is right for you. Access more resources from Lawyerist at lawyerist.com. Chapters / Timestamps: 00:00 – Introduction01:20 – What Claude for Legal Shows Lawyers About AI05:20 – Using AI Without Starting from Scratch09:20 – Meet April Dawson10:40 – Why Law School Can’t Teach the Same Way12:05 – Why Writing Alone No Longer Proves Understanding13:20 – The Skills Clients Will Actually Measure16:05 – Why “Strong Writer” Is Now Table Stakes18:15 – What New Lawyers Lose When AI Does the First Draft19:25 – How New Lawyers Can Learn Faster with AI22:55 – Building Judgment Without 20 Years of Experience27:10 – Why AI May Help New Lawyers Start Firms Sooner28:35 – What Small Firms Should Rethink Before Adding AI31:50 – Why AI-Savvy Lawyers Will Stand Out34:15 – The Risk of Automating Broken Processes36:15 – Closing Thoughts

June 18, 202631 min

AI Arbitration and the Future of Legal Work, with Bridget McCormack

Lawyers are trained to spot risk. But when it comes to AI, focusing only on risk may cause firms to miss the bigger opportunity. In episode 623 of the Lawyerist Podcast, Zack Glaser sits down with Bridget McCormack to talk about AI arbitration, legal innovation, and why the future of legal work may be less about replacement and more about reinvention. Bridget reflects on her time as Chief Justice of the Michigan Supreme Court, including how the pandemic forced courts to adopt technology faster than anyone expected. She explains why that moment revealed both the limits of traditional legal systems and the potential for more accessible, user-friendly ways to resolve disputes. Now leading the American Arbitration Association, Bridget shares how AAA is using AI to build tools for clause drafting, self-represented parties, resolution simulation, and even documents-only arbitration. The conversation explores what fairness looks like when AI is involved, why human oversight remains essential, and how legal professionals should think about accountability, bias, and trust. If AI changes the routine parts of legal work, lawyers will need to rethink what clients actually need from them. This episode offers a practical and future-focused look at arbitration, legal technology, and the new kinds of judgment lawyers will need to bring to the table. Listen to our previous episodes on Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Legal Practice. #612 – AI for Lawyers: What You Need to Know Before Your Clients Do, with Cat Casey Apple | Spotify | LTN #607 – The Future of Law Firm Business Models in the Age of AI, with Jordan Furlong Apple | Spotify | LTN #619– What Claude Means for Law Firms: AI Skills, Connectors, and Workflow Strategy, with Sam Harden Apple | Spotify | LTN #590 – Innovating Without Overwhelm: Practical AI Tips for Lawyers, with Graydon Trusler Apple | Spotify | LTN #587 – Future-Proofing Your Firm in the Age of AI, with Jack Newton Apple | Spotify | LTN #577 – Rethinking Law Firm Growth in the Age of AI, with Sam Harden Apple | Spotify | LTN Links from the episode: https://adr.org/ Have thoughts about today’s episode? Join the conversation on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and X! If today's podcast resonates with you and you haven't read The Small Firm Roadmap Revisited yet, get the first chapter right now for free! Looking for help beyond the book? See if our coaching community is right for you. Access more resources from Lawyerist at lawyerist.com. Chapters / Timestamps: 00:00 – Introduction 00:55 – Why Lawyers Should Test Their Own Intake Process03:35 – Meet Bridget McCormack04:25 – Leading Michigan Courts Through COVID05:20 – Why Remote Court Was Already on the Radar06:40 – Moving Trial Courts Online Fast08:45 – Why Legal Systems Are Slow to Change10:33 – From Chief Justice to CEO of AAA13:18 – How Alternative Dispute Resolution Is Evolving14:50 – AI Tools for Arbitration and Self-Represented Parties15:57 – Building AAA’s AI Arbitrator17:36 – Resolution Simulation and Faster Settlements19:05 – What Is Left for Lawyers?21:19 – Fairness, Bias, and Human Oversight in AI Arbitration23:45 – Why Legal Disputes Need More Options24:41 – AI Agents and the Future of Legal Infrastructure26:26 – When AI Agents Negotiate Contracts28:30 – Closing Thoughts