The Newfangled Lawyer

Hosted by Patrick Patino

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Oct 2026

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The Newfangled Lawyer Podcast offers a fresh perspective of lawyers. Through candid conversations and storytelling, we aim to humanize the lawyer experience. By doing so, we want to provide opportunities for our listeners to get to know lawyers in a unique way. In our episodes, we feature lawyers discussing their passions, sharing unique stories, and offering insights into their lives outside of the law. We challenge preconceived notions and emphasize the multifaceted nature of lawyers. We hope to inspire our listeners to embrace their own humanity and stories. Hit up newfangled.legal

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October 21, 2026Episode 8046 min

Episode 80: Get Unstuck with Jordan Nahmias

In this episode of The Newfangled Lawyer, host Patrick Patino and guest Jordan Nahmias, a former film and TV lawyer turned coach, get honest about what happens when a career that looks great on paper slowly stops fitting the person living it. Jordan shares his 12-year path through entertainment law, from hanging a shingle as a “part-time” practice alongside photography, teaching yoga, and running an outdoor film festival, to co-founding a boutique firm with his name on the door. Along the way, the creative parts of his life were quietly sacrificed one by one, until burnout, anxiety, and depression made it impossible to keep ignoring the signals. With a newborn daughter at home, Jordan walked into his partner’s office right before the 2021 holiday break and said he was done. Together, they unpack what it means when your career becomes your identity: the difference between “I am a lawyer” and “I do law,” the always-on expectations of the profession, and why the harder part of leaving wasn’t the leap, but the stillness after it. Jordan describes his year-long “shavasana” of reigniting music, art, and DJing before finding his way to coaching, while Patrick reflects on his own transition and the realization that painting a pressurized room pink doesn’t make it any less pressurized. They close on the human side of lawyering that no technology can replace, and on a definition of the newfangled lawyer as someone who is both excited and scared, holding a career like sand, and brave enough to move forward anyway. About Jordan Jordan Nahmias is the founder of Unstuck Consulting , an executive coaching practice for lawyers and law firm partners. A former entertainment law partner in Toronto, he helps high performers navigate burnout, career transition, and identity. Website and Socials: linkedin.com/in/jordannahmias Instagram: @get_unstuck_consulting & @jordannahmias ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Season Sponsor: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Andy Gregory Law, PLLC

September 17, 2026Episode 7953 min

Episode 79: Demystifying Neurodivergence with Sarah Ennor

In this episode, Patrick Patino talks with Sarah Ennor about ADHD in the legal profession. Ennor shares what happened after her adult ADHD diagnosis and how traditional corporate law environments tend to punish unique work styles, holding people to rigid expectations and narrow ideas of what "professional" looks like. They talk about why the legal field draws in so many neurodivergent people in the first place: it's intense, constantly changing, and full of hard problems to solve. At the same time, they push back on industry norms that reward administrative conformity over actual skill and output. Patino and Ennor also get into practical strategies for neurodivergent lawyers, like outcome-based advocacy, body doubling, and flat-fee billing. Ennor points to data showing that inclusive, accessible workplaces see up to 28% higher revenue and 30% higher profit margins when they focus on results instead of rigid process. The episode lands on a vision for what a "Newfangled Lawyer" looks like: someone who embraces authenticity, leans into neurodivergent strengths, and simplifies overcomplicated systems to make things better for both lawyers and clients. About Sarah Sarah Ennor is a speaker who makes ADHD human and profitable by sharing her unfolding story. She is a biracial entrepreneur, insomniac, lawyer, international athlete, creative, and woman with ADHD. Sarah helps firms get better performance, stronger leadership, and real commercial results by supporting the neurodivergent talent they already have. Her speaking, consulting, and 1:1 coaching help firms and individuals tap into the ADHD advantage!Sarah was called to the bar in 2007. She has lawyered at small and large firms, in-house, and as a sole practitioner. She became an entrepreneur in 2017. ⁠ Website and Socials: Web: www.growthcounsel.ca LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-ennor/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sarah.ennor.79/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SarahJEnnor London Speaker Bureau: https://londonspeakerbureau.com/speaker-profile/sarah-j-ennor/ Talk About Speakers: https://talkaboutspeakers.com/speaker/sarah-ennor/ ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Season Sponsor: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Andy Gregory Law, PLLC

September 10, 2026Episode 7854 min

Episode 78: Compassionate Law with Vivek Sankaran & Bridgette Carr

Vivek and Bridgette embody all the goodness and kindness that can come from friendship and community. Warm, engaging, and real, they discuss their friendship, the communities they've cultivated, and the future of the legal profession. About Vivek and Bridgette Vivek Sankaran is a clinical professor of law at the University of Michigan Law School, where he champions the rights of children and parents involved in child welfare proceedings. His work centers on transforming the child welfare system by empowering families, advancing justice through thoughtful legal reform, and building more compassionate legal institutions.Sankaran directs the Child Welfare Appellate Clinic, where students represent clients in trial and appellate proceedings. He also is the co-director of Michigan Law’s AI Law and Policy Clinic, which equips students to tackle critical justice challenges at the intersection of emerging technology, law, and ethics.Nationally recognized for both his teaching and advocacy, Sankaran is the recipient of the John W. Reed Michigan Lawyer Legacy Award from the State Bar of Michigan and Michigan Law’s Teaching Award for Support of Student Community and Well-Being. His writing—widely published—calls for deeper reflection on the values underlying legal systems, and his appellate litigation has helped shape Michigan law on the rights of families.Beyond the courtroom and classroom, Sankaran is leading a national movement to bring compassion into legal practice. After completing the Applied Compassion Training at Stanford University, he now designs and facilitates compassion retreats across the country for the legal community, including judges, lawyers, and law students.Bridgette Carr is a clinical professor of law at the University of Michigan Law School, where she co-directs the AI Law and Policy Clinic and co-teaches Designing a Fulfilling Life in the Law (DFL), a course that helps law students build the skills to create meaningful, sustainable careers. She is also a faculty affiliate at the Center for Positive Organizations at U-M’s Ross School of Business.A commitment to making the law work for people in their full humanity runs through all of Carr’s work: her ongoing representation of trafficking survivors, her focus on how AI can expand access to justice, and her efforts to help lawyers and judges sustain themselves in demanding, high-stakes practice.Today, Carr brings that same human-centered perspective to her work in AI and legal technology. As co-director of the AI Law and Policy Clinic, she and her colleague Vivek Sankaran, ’01, guide law students in exploring how artificial intelligence can improve legal practice and expand access to justice, not simply by increasing efficiency, but by creating opportunities to reach the people that current legal systems have been unable to serve.Carr is equally committed to the well-being of legal professionals doing difficult, high-stakes work. Together with Sankaran, she created Designing a Fulfilling Life in the Law, a course that applies design thinking principles to help students reflect on what they want from their careers and lives and build a framework for getting there. Carr, Sankaran, and colleague Rick Barinbaum also co-led Michigan’s first Judicial Compassion Retreat, a two-day gathering where judges stepped away from their courtrooms to share the emotional weight of their work and explore how to sustain themselves in it.She has appeared as an expert on the Today Show, MSNBC, and National Public Radio, and has been quoted in the New York Times and many other news outlets. In 2014, she received the Champion of Justice award from the State Bar of Michigan. Website and Socials: https://compassionatelawproject.com/ ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Season Sponsor: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Andy Gregory Law, PLLC

August 13, 2026Episode 7752 min

Episode 77: HeyCounsel with Brian Scherer

In this episode of The Newfangled Lawyer , host Patrick Patino and guest Brian Scherer explore the intersection of managing a high-stakes law firm and the unpredictability of daily life. Brian shares the candid reality of balancing a growing firm with personal responsibilities, including a newborn at home and the challenges of team management. Together, they discuss the "nonattachment" required to handle professional chaos, advocating for a human-centric approach defined by trust, grace, and the ability to roll with the punches. Challenging the traditional, always-on legal archetype, they redefine what it means to be a truly "newfangled" lawyer—one who knows that sometimes the most important professional move is showing up for your life. About Brian Founder of HeyCounsel, bringing the power of numbers to boutique and solo lawyers. We say "big firm power for smalls and solos"... and we mean it. https://www.heycounsel.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianscherer1/ ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Season Sponsor: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Andy Gregory Law, PLLC

August 6, 202624 min

Minisode: Community with Andy Gregory

We dive deep into the realities of launching a solo practice, focusing on: The Power of Community: How Andy and his peers turned forced networking into a vibrant, informal monthly meetup that balances shop talk with genuine friendship. Entrepreneurial Lawyering: Why the "best days" in his practice have nothing to do with billable hours and everything to do with curiosity, human connection, and having zero ego. Hunting vs. Farming: How he approaches business development—balancing visibility with authentic relationship-building. The Listening Approach: Why success in estate planning isn't about selling documents; it’s about reading people, building trust, and acting as a dedicated human advisor rather than a transaction-focused service provider. Join us for a conversation on de-optimizing the grind and rediscovering the "old school" value of being the family lawyer who actually cares about the family. About Andy Andy has been passionate about the law for many years. During an extended career with the federal government, he began pursuing his dream of becoming a practicing attorney. Andy graduated cum laude from Mitchell Hamline School of Law in Saint Paul, Minnesota, and served as an Associate on the Mitchell Hamline Law Review. He earned his bachelor's degree in business finance from Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia. Andy’s practice consists primarily of Estate Planning, Estate Administration, Wills and Trusts, and Conservatorships/Guardianships. In his estate planning, he works with individuals, couples, and families to develop comprehensive and efficient estate plans through wills, trusts, incapacity instruments, and other related documents. Andy also works with those suffering from the loss of a loved one to smoothly and cost-effectively navigate the administration of an estate through the probate system or by providing counsel to trustees. Additionally, his experience provides him with insights into the financial decisions, social work, and life care plans associated with guardianships and conservatorships. This background informs his personalized service and compassionate approach to family legal matters. Andy is professional yet approachable and is full of positive energy when it comes to helping his clients. A dedicated member of the legal community, Andy serves as a Governing Council Member of the Minnesota State Bar Association Probate & Trust Law Section. He is a recognized "North Star Lawyer," having donated over 50 hours of pro bono service annually to programs such as the Minnesota State Bar Association Wills for Heroes Program and the Probate Advice Clinic. Licensed in Minnesota and North Carolina, Andy lives in Minneapolis with his wife, Jessica, and their three cats. Outside the office, he enjoys running and bike rides. ⁠https://www.andygregorylaw.com/

July 30, 2026Episode 761 hr 5 min

Episode 76: Into the Wild with Heather Cantua

In this episode of The Newfangled Lawyer, host Patrick Patino and guest Heather Cantua of Scale LLP explore the intersection of high-tech legal practice and nature-aligned living. Heather shares her journey from a fast-paced career in San Francisco to finding balance and a new perspective on professional practice in the temperate rainforests of Washington’s Olympic Peninsula. Together, they discuss the "juxtaposition" of maintaining a modern, distributed legal practice while deeply valuing analog traditions, such as salmon habitat restoration and manual labor. Challenging the traditional, aggressive legal archetype, they advocate for a human-centric approach defined by curiosity, trust, and adaptability, redefining what it means to be a truly "newfangled" lawyer. About Heather I'm a first generation college student who stumbled into law school and feel like I've been creating my own path since. I started at a big law firm in San Francisco, went in-house to a large publicly traded company, then a small one, and now practice at a fully remote law firm. During the pandemic I moved to the rainforests of the Olympic Peninsula in Washington state. https://www.linkedin.com/in/heather-cantua-31a39b30/ https://scalefirm.com/team-members/heather-cantua/ ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Season Sponsor: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Andy Gregory Law, PLLC

July 16, 2026Episode 7557 min

Episode 75: Fractional with Kimberly DeCarrera

This episode of the features a conversation with Kimberly DeCarrera of Springboard Legal, who uniquely serves as both a fractional general counsel and CFO for small and medium-sized growing companies. Throughout the episode, Kimberly and Patrick explore the convergence of law and finance, emphasizing that legal and financial decisions are deeply intertwined and should not be managed in isolation. Key discussion points include: Proactive Risk Management: Kimberly emphasizes the importance of identifying business-specific risks—ranging from unclaimed property to ransomware—and implementing internal policies and procedures to mitigate them, often serving as a necessary precursor for insurance coverage. The Power of Systems: A central theme is the necessity of standardized, documented workflows for scalability. Kimberly explains that without these systems, firms struggle to deliver consistent client service, leading to CEO burnout and operational instability. Human-Centric Legal Services: Despite the rapid advancement of technology and AI, both speakers argue that the value of a modern lawyer lies in their ability to provide "human therapy"—listening, empathizing, and helping clients navigate the emotional complexities of business decision-making. Navigating the Modern Legal Model: The discussion contrasts traditional, high-friction legal models with flexible, proactive partnerships. Kimberly shares insights on how she uses her unique dual-role expertise—and even her experience working from an RV—to offer highly personalized, mobile, and responsive counsel to her clients. Ultimately, the episode serves as a guide for law firm owners and business leaders on moving away from reactive "firefighting" toward building sustainable, tech-enabled, and human-centered organizations. About Kimberly What happens when a Chief Financial and Legal Officer gets burned out from hyper growth? She goes back to her own law firm, starting a new business model of Fractional General Counsel. But not to leave her finance experience behind, she also offers Fractional CFO services to clients. In particular, law firms. Because they didn't teach us how to run law firms in law schools, Kimberly DeCarrera uses her experience to build better law firms, trying to escape the toxicity of some of her prior employers as well as helping clients with sustainable growth. So they don't burn out or run out of cash. ⁠ https://springboardlegal.com https://linkedin.com/in/kdecarrera https://threads.com/kdecarrera https://facebook.com/springboardlegal ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Season Sponsor: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Andy Gregory Law, PLLC

July 9, 2026Episode 7457 min

Episode 74: Radical Authenticity with Zach Anderson

In this episode, host Patrick Patino chats with Zach Anderson, attorney, go-go dancer, spin instructor, and Nebraska’s premier queer advocate. Zach shares his unconventional journey from growing up in a devout, dogmatic environment to building a law practice that shatters the traditional, stuffy legal archetype.We dive into what it means to be a "new fangled" lawyer in a profession that is often resistant to change, covering: Authenticity as Strategy: Why bringing your full, tattooed, colorful self to the office isn't just a personal choice—it’s a powerful client-care model that fosters radical trust. Trauma-Informed Practice: Moving beyond "technical" lawyering to support the human experience during life’s most difficult transitions, like divorce. Challenging the System: How a new generation of attorneys is pushing back against the old-school "hazing" culture and the traditional archetype of lawyering. The "Drag" of Law: Why we all choose our own "drag" in our professional lives, and how choosing your own identity can fundamentally change how you relate to your work and your clients. Join us for a candid conversation about shedding shame, prioritizing mental health, and why the future of law is relational, not transactional. About Zach Zachary W. Anderson is Nebraska's Premier Queer Attorney, based in Lincoln who helps clients through some of life’s most personal and difficult legal issues, including family law matters, guardianships and conservatorships, mediation, and estate planning. He is known for a practical, compassionate approach that combines clear guidance with strong advocacy. Through his work, Zach focuses on helping people make thoughtful decisions and move forward with confidence during challenging times. zandersonlaw.com IG: @zandersonlaw or @motionsustained ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Season Sponsor: ⁠⁠⁠Andy Gregory Law, PLLC

July 1, 2026Episode 7417 min

Minisode: Journey with Andy Gregory

In this introductory minisode, host Patrick is joined by his friend and "your neighborhood’s friendliest estate planning attorney," Andy Gregory. Andy shares his unique 20-year journey from graduating college to finding his true calling in the law. Key Highlights: An Untraditional Path: After graduating into a tough economy, Andy spent a decade in financial services working for the federal government. The Turning Point: After moving to Minnesota in 2016, Andy experienced a professional re-ignition that led him to attend Mitchell Hamline School of Law in St. Paul as a full-time evening student while working full-time. Finding Joy in Estate Planning: Unlike many law school graduates who leave feeling depleted, Andy loved his law school experience and found his passion in estate planning—a field he describes as a perfect puzzle that blends numbers with human interaction. Building Community: Now running his own solo practice for the past four years, Andy highlights the supportive, vibrant, and collegial nature of the Minnesota estate planning bar and discusses the monthly informal meetups he organizes to build connection and combat the isolation of solo practice. Tune in to hear an inspiring conversation about stepping out of your comfort zone, embracing a collaborative mindset, and redefining what it means to practice law. About Andy Andy has been passionate about the law for many years. During an extended career with the federal government, he began pursuing his dream of becoming a practicing attorney. Andy graduated cum laude from Mitchell Hamline School of Law in Saint Paul, Minnesota, and served as an Associate on the Mitchell Hamline Law Review. He earned his bachelor's degree in business finance from Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia. Andy’s practice consists primarily of Estate Planning, Estate Administration, Wills and Trusts, and Conservatorships/Guardianships. In his estate planning, he works with individuals, couples, and families to develop comprehensive and efficient estate plans through wills, trusts, incapacity instruments, and other related documents. Andy also works with those suffering from the loss of a loved one to smoothly and cost-effectively navigate the administration of an estate through the probate system or by providing counsel to trustees. Additionally, his experience provides him with insights into the financial decisions, social work, and life care plans associated with guardianships and conservatorships. This background informs his personalized service and compassionate approach to family legal matters. Andy is professional yet approachable and is full of positive energy when it comes to helping his clients. A dedicated member of the legal community, Andy serves as a Governing Council Member of the Minnesota State Bar Association Probate & Trust Law Section. He is a recognized "North Star Lawyer," having donated over 50 hours of pro bono service annually to programs such as the Minnesota State Bar Association Wills for Heroes Program and the Probate Advice Clinic. Licensed in Minnesota and North Carolina, Andy lives in Minneapolis with his wife, Jessica, and their three cats. Outside the office, he enjoys running and bike rides. https://www.andygregorylaw.com/

June 25, 2026Episode 7357 min

Episode 73: Introspection with Ben Chiriboga

Ever feel like you’re living on autopilot, just going through the motions? In this episode, former lawyer and legal innovator Ben Chiriboga shares how he moved from survival mode to true alignment by embracing silence, intuition, and community. We explore why our best breakthroughs happen in the quiet moments we usually try to fill, and how letting go of rigid planning can radically change your perspective. About Ben Ben Chiriboga is a lawyer, founder, and legal technology executive. Check out his podcast, This Legal Life and his Substack, Reframe.Lawyer, to learn how legal professionals are reframing their careers in a rapidly changing legal industry. linkedin.com/in/benchiriboga https://reframe.lawyer/ This Legal Life Podcast ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Season Sponsor: ⁠⁠Andy Gregory Law, PLLC