Claim OwnershipThe Lawyer Stories Podcast
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First founded on Instagram in July 2017, (@lawyer_stories,) the Lawyer Stories Podcast discusses lawyers and law students journeys to the practice of law.
243 Episodes
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The Lawyer Stories Podcast Episode 241 features Sara Shikhman, Healthcare Attorney and Managing Partner at Lengea Law, and a true Medspa powerhouse based in NYC. 💼✨ We dive into Sara's entrepreneurial journey — from building an online furniture company to becoming a leader in the medspa industry. Hear how her resilient mindset and business savvy helped her pivot, grow, and empower others to launch their own medspas. 🎧 Tune in to learn what it really takes to build, scale, and succeed in this fast-growing space.
The Lawyer Stories Podcast Episode 240 features Jeff Kimmel, Partner and CEO of Salenger, Sack, Kimmel & Bavaro (SSKB) in New York. Jeff shares his inspiring journey of integrating business strategy, legal innovation, and client-centered practices while honoring the mentorship of the late Marvin Salenger. He reminds us to go where life takes you, embrace it, and be who you are. SSKB continues to grow through quality over quantity, focusing on serious medical malpractice and personal injury cases that truly make a difference. 🎧 Tune in to hear how Jeff's approach combines purpose, leadership, and compassion in law.
The Lawyer Stories Podcast Episode 239 features Victoria Inoyo, Director of Advising at Juris Education, a leading law school admissions consulting edtech startup. 🎓 Victoria shares her passion for guiding aspiring law students through the competitive admissions process — helping them craft authentic applications and discover their "why" for pursuing law. A dedicated mentor and advocate for accessibility in legal education, she's helping shape the next generation of lawyers through innovation and personalized support. 🎧 Tune in to hear Victoria's journey, insights on legal education, and advice for future law students. 👉 Watch now on YouTube or listen wherever you get your podcasts.
The Lawyer Stories Podcast Episode 238 features Donald "Don" E. Smolen II, Owner & Attorney at Smolen Law | The Alpha Firm in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Raised on a ranch just south of Tulsa, Don's grit and work ethic shaped his career, and after earning both his B.A. in Psychology and his J.D. with honors at the University of Tulsa, he founded Smolen Law, becoming one of Oklahoma's leading trial lawyers. At The Alpha Firm, Don and his team focus on Catastrophic Tort Litigation including insurance bad faith, medical malpractice, product liability, and complex personal injury. He has secured numerous multimillion-dollar verdicts and settlements, consistently fighting against powerful corporations and insurance companies, guided by a simple but powerful philosophy: approach every case with zeal, integrity, and an unwavering commitment to client advocacy. In this episode, Don shares his personal journey, how his upbringing influences his courtroom style, and what it takes to win high-stakes, life-altering cases. 👉 Tune in now to hear this inspiring conversation that blends legal insight with real-world grit.
The Lawyer Stories Podcast Episode 237 features David Craig, Founder and Managing Partner at Craig, Kelley & Faultless, LLC in Indianapolis, Indiana. David shares insights from decades of advocating for injury victims and dives into his new book, It's Never Been Easier to Hire the Wrong Attorney, which helps clients navigate today's legal landscape to make informed choices. In this episode, David reflects on what motivated him to write the book, the common mistakes people make when choosing legal representation, and how his firm has built a reputation for trust and results. He also discusses the values that drive his work, the importance of educating clients, and why every attorney should strive to raise the standards of the profession.
The Lawyer Stories Podcast Episode 236 features Katie Daryl — award-winning TV host, producer, and VP of Programming at AXS TV. From her early start as a teen radio DJ, to reporting for MTV's Choose or Lose, co-hosting The Mark Cuban Show, and creating smash hit series like The World's Greatest Tribute Bands and The Top Ten Revealed, Katie has built a career at the intersection of music, media, and storytelling. 🎙️ Don't miss this fantastic conversation as Katie shares her journey, her love for rock-'n-roll culture, and how she continues to shape music television for fans around the world. Fun fact: back in 2006, after long days in law school, our host Benny Gold would unwind by watching Katie's show Deadline!—a reminder that there's more to life than casebooks and exams. A true personal fan moment brought full circle!
The Lawyer Stories Podcast Episode 235 features Saevion David-Longe, a Guyanese attorney at Stanbrook Prudhoe with more than six years of experience in civil and commercial litigation. Saevion shares his journey from growing up in Guyana—where competitive tennis matches with his siblings helped shape his discipline and drive—to becoming a respected legal professional advising on real estate, trust, administrative, and employment matters. Beyond his practice, Saevion is passionate about establishing a law school in Guyana to strengthen local access to legal education. As Guyana undergoes rapid industrial growth fueled by its booming oil sector, and navigates important issues of social and environmental governance, he envisions a stronger legal infrastructure that can equip the next generation of lawyers to guide the country's future. Tune in to hear Saevion's story of competitiveness, perseverance, and vision for Guyana's evolving legal landscape.
New Era in Justice: How Collin Williams is Transforming Dispute Resolution The Lawyer Stories Podcast Episode 234 features Collin Williams, Founder & Chairman at New Era ADR. From aspiring litigator to groundbreaking entrepreneur, Collin's journey started in law school with dreams of courtroom advocacy — only to discover that litigation often has little to do with being in court. With a background spanning big law and corporate counsel, Collin followed his entrepreneurial drive to create New Era ADR in 2020, reimagining how disputes are resolved. New Era ADR delivers simplified dispute resolution — ending litigation gamesmanship with fair, efficient 100-day arbitrations and mediations for one flat fee, all powered by top-tier neutrals on a digital platform. We also dive into the history of arbitration, Collin's legal career lessons, and the importance of mental health awareness — a cause we're both passionate about. Listen now and discover how the future of dispute resolution is here.
Stop working on cases you'll never get paid on. The Lawyer Stories Podcast Episode 233 welcomes back Joe Frick, Air Force veteran, Idaho native, and Owner and Chief Marketing Officer of Idaho Divorce Law. Joe first appeared on Episode 122 nearly two years ago, and he returns to share valuable insights on growing a successful family law practice. In this episode, we discuss the unique challenges of intake in family law, and Joe introduces his powerful C.A.S.E.² Framework — designed to help attorneys systematically attract only the clients they want to work with. Joe shares why attorneys need to stop spending time on cases that won't pay and instead run their firms like businesses: systematically, predictably, and profitably. His firm has grown 40% in five years, and his new book offers the blueprint for attorneys who are ready to take control of their time, intake process, and client relationships. Tune in now to learn how to transform your law firm from reactive to intentional and profitable.
Want to land the right legal job and love the culture you're in? This episode is for you. Episode 232 of The Lawyer Stories Podcast features Erin Andersen, Founder of YourBrandNetworker, Career Transition Coach, and Flat-Rate Hiring Manager. Based in NYC and working nationwide, Erin shares how she pivoted from corporate banking into the legal space—building a powerful network and community of lawyers along the way. Erin reminds us: "Culture matters—pay attention to the environment you're building or stepping into." Tune in to hear how she's helping legal professionals align their careers with purpose and connection.
The Lawyer Stories Podcast Episode 231 welcomes back Mengyue Wang, Owner and Online Coach at MW Fitness.Mengyue first joined us nearly two years ago, and this time, she shares her inspiring journey transitioning to life in Hawaii. Once an Ivy League executive, Mengyue has evolved into a Fitness and Nutrition Coach for high-performing, career-driven professionals around the world. In this episode, Mengyue emphasizes that you don't have to sacrifice your health to build a successful career. She's passionate about creating transformational experiences by identifying the GAP in each of her clients' lives and delivering real, tailored solutions.
The Lawyer Stories Podcast Episode 230 welcomes Howard Ankin, Owner of Ankin Law and a prominent personal injury attorney in the Chicagoland area. A third-generation lawyer, Howard reflects on growing up in a family deeply rooted in the legal profession, often spending school breaks accompanying his father to court. Many of his clients today are children and grandchildren of those his father and grandfather once represented. Howard shares how he found his own path within the legal world, building a practice centered on personal injury, product liability, and mass torts. With a deep passion for justice and an unwavering commitment to his community, Howard has dedicated his career to continuing the Ankin family tradition—providing trusted, compassionate, and superior legal support to those in need. This is a powerful story of legacy, purpose, and a lifelong devotion to the law.
The Lawyer Stories Podcast Episode 229 features Marc Brown, Founder & Managing Attorney at the Marc Brown Law Firm, serving personal injury and wrongful death victims across South Carolina and Georgia. With a unique perspective shaped by years representing major insurance companies and corporations, Marc now fights for the individuals on the other side of the courtroom — the injured and their families. Since launching his firm in 2019, Marc has brought big-firm experience and dedication to a boutique, client-focused practice. Tune in to hear how Marc's journey from defending powerful entities to championing justice for the underserved has shaped his mission, mindset, and message. This is the story of a lawyer who knows both sides — and chooses to stand with the people.
The Lawyer Stories Podcast Episode 227 welcomes back Massimo D'Angelo, Partner & Co-Chair of the Real Estate Industry Group at Black Rome LLP in NYC — and a longtime friend from UMass-Amherst. In this powerful return to the show (last featured in Episode 3), Massimo dives into his roots as the son of Southern Italian immigrants and traces his journey to becoming a legal force in high-stakes real estate litigation. He recounts his pivotal role in the Atelier Condo board raid, where his investigation led to a sweeping crackdown on short-term rentals in Manhattan. Massimo also shares how that case opened the door to representing none other than former Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili. Don't miss this gripping conversation with a lawyer making headlines.
The Lawyer Stories Podcast Episode 227, we sit down with Grant Little, the CEO of Precedent, to discuss his extensive 20+ years of experience in the insurance industry. From his beginnings as a claims analyst to recognizing the need for innovative solutions in the legal field, Grant shares his journey of creating Precedent. Precedent is transforming the way insurance claims are handled by law firms. With its cutting-edge platform, it streamlines key processes, allowing claims to be set up, limits verified, demands drafted, offers made, and settlement payments processed in record time. By reducing administrative tasks, eliminating unnecessary back-and-forth, and minimizing stalemates with insurance companies, Precedent ensures a more efficient and error-free experience for both insurers and law firms. Join us as we explore how Precedent is saving time, cutting costs, and ensuring fair, reasonable settlement outcomes for all parties involved.
The Lawyer Stories Podcast episode 226 welcomes Aaron Zimmerman, the Head of Attorney Recruitment at Morgan & Morgan. Aaron shares his journey from Harvard Law School—where he was a member of the Harvard Defenders—to his current role recruiting top trial attorneys for one of the largest plaintiffs' firms in the country. Before attending Harvard, Aaron made the strategic decision to defer his admission and work as a legal headhunter at a boutique recruiting firm. There, he trained under two veteran legal recruiters and led litigation placements. This formative experience gave him deep insight into the career trajectories of litigators, helping him understand both immediate and long-term professional pathways in the legal field. As an executive recruiter, Aaron interviewed and placed hundreds of attorneys into prestigious AmLaw 100 firms both domestically and internationally. Now, he brings that wealth of experience to Morgan & Morgan, passionately working "For the People" by ensuring the firm is staffed with the best trial attorneys available.
The Lawyer Stories Podcast Episode 225 features Nancy Jeng, Co-Founder of Billalbles AI. Jeng shares her inspiring journey from the world of advertising to the forefront of legal tech innovation. A graduate of the University of Texas with a degree in advertising, Nancy began her career creating high-profile ad campaigns—including work featured during the Super Bowl. Her path led her to major tech companies like Google and Pinterest, where she honed her skills in tech and product development. Drawing from her own experience as a timekeeper, Nancy co-founded Billables AI, a groundbreaking legal tech startup. The company offers an AI-powered, automated time tracking tool designed for lawyers, consultants, marketers, and other professional services providers. Billables AI aims to revolutionize time reporting by making it seamless and accurate.
The Lawyer Stories Podcast Episode 224 features Samah "Sam" Abukhodeir, Founder and Managing Partner at The Florida Probate and Family Law Firm. Sam shares her story of patience and perseverance and how she grew her law firm to 12 attorneys and 30 plus employees across nine offices. The firm is dedicated to serving clients throughout Florida in the areas of probate, guardianship, estate planning, elder law, and family law. We first shared Sam's story with the Lawyer Stories Community in October of 2020. Sam is also a Founding Member of Lawyer Stories Connect!
The Lawyer Stories Podcast Episode 223 features Patrick Carver, Chief Executive Officer of Constellation Marketing, located in Atlanta, Georgia, but offering services to all law firms. Constellation's journey that began in 2017 is rooted in a personal story. When Patrick discovered his father being underserved by a major legal marketing company, he took matters into his own hands. By implementing effective SEO and advertising strategies, Patrick not only revitalized his father's firm, adding $200,000 to its revenue within a year, but also laid the foundation for what Constellation is today. Since then, Constellation has liberated over 100 law firms from ineffective marketing, consistently driving them towards and beyond the seven-figure mark. In addition, Constellation has been a supporter of the Lawyer Stories community and has offered to host our community members' websites for free of charge while supplies last.
The Lawyer Stories Podcast Episode 222 features Jay Kobak, CEO & Co-Founder at 5 Star Legal Funding, LLC based out of New York. Jay shares with us that he spent many years in the financial industry offering investment advice to attorneys. While getting to know these attorneys he heard their frustrations and disappointments regarding their clients' legal funding issues. Jay recounts the story of sitting down for a meal with twenty of the top trial attorneys in New York City to figure out how he could make a different in the legal funding industry. He later went on to assist those attorneys' clients with their funding needs! 5 Star Legal Funding offers a non-compounding, low cost and lawyer friendly product. Jay is a passionate and affable individual and tells us that regarding the employees at 5 Star Legal Funding, "Everybody is somebody." Jay will go above and beyond to help friends, family, or someone in need.
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Super interesting listen, keeping me entertained on my exercise walk!
I love #Lawyerstories Podcast. Inspiring stories from a diverse set of lawyers.