Legal Grounds | Conversations on Life, Leadership & Law

If you’ve ever found yourself pulling into your driveway only to realize you meant to stop at the grocery store on the way home, you know how easy it is for the brain to run on autopilotAnd while forgetting you needed to pick-up a couple of ingredients for dinner is always a bummer, when leaders find themselves running on autopilot, there’s suddenly a lot more at stake… and for A LOT of other people as well. We talk plenty on this podcast about the less-admirable traits of leadership and how to go about changing them for the better. But my guest today, Dr. Eugene K. Choi, decided to take it a step further. Instead of simply asking, “how can I fix or improve these areas I clearly need to work on?”, he also asked, “where do these habits even come from in the first place?”Dr. Choi is a clinical pharmacist, certified consultant for Neuro Change Solutions, and the founder of Destiny Hacks, a coaching program that focuses on the science of change. Now a transformational Mindset Coach on a mission to transform leaders, businesses, and communities, Dr. Choi has become a prolific writer and thought-leader whose articles have garnered over 8 million readers and his videos and short-films have amassed more than 23 million views. From learning that sometimes working towards an accomplishment is actually driven by our “Fight” response to understanding that being good at planning is widely different from executing said plan, we dive into the psychology and physiology of how habits can make or break leaders, and in turn, how leaders can break the habits. Enjoy the show!SHOW NOTES-------------------Dr. Choi's NeuroHacking Podcast

This week we welcome Serban Mare back to the program. Last time we spoke, Serban and I discussed his life story and really focused on how trust is the foundation to any working relationship. But what listeners didn’t know was that we had an entire section of the interview that we simply ran out of time on. And - perhaps ironically - that subject was Burnout. So today we pick up where we left off, discussing the different kinds of ‘burnout’ and the ways they can manifest themselves, why the pursuit of efficiency is harming business, and why the best leaders put themselves in a place to work ON their business not IN their business. It was a lively conversation full of laughter and a couple of soap-box-moments, so I hope you’ll give it a listen. Enjoy the show!____________________SHOWNOTES:The Monkey Business Illusion Video

My guest this week is Dave Obrand, a fellow attorney and Deputy County Counsel out of Orange County. What attracted me to Dave was not simply the work he does helping to reunite families, but the story of his OWN family and the power to grow through grief. While not giving away the entire episode, after graduating from law school, Dave’s life took a very sudden and very unexpected turn when his father fell ill. The conversation this week was free-wheeling, but in the end I found it to be a meditation on the power of mentorship, both the intentional and the unknown. We also discuss the reasons Dave was drawn to public service, what advice he’d give to young lawyers, and why the best leaders never say, “do this FOR me,” but instead ask, “how do WE do this?”Enjoy the show. SHOWNOTES:Dave Obrand for California State Assembly

For this week’s episode I was lucky enough to sit down with the Assistant Managing Editor of the ABA Journal, Victor Li, for one of the most wide-ranging discussions on the law we’ve had on this show in a while. As a writer focusing on Legal Technology and the Business of Law, it was a great chance to get the pulse of what’s happening at the forefront of the legal profession. We discuss how A.I. is helping lawyers while also unpacking why no amount of computing power can take away the responsibilities we have as attorneys. I was also fascinated by how Victor sees law schools adapting to new technology and enjoyed exploring the difference between having access to knowledge versus knowing how to apply it. We also talk about bullying in the law, how entertainment has shaped the practice of law, and even Richard Nixon makes a brief appearance. Enjoy the Show. SHOWNOTES:Nixon in New York: How Wall Street Helped Richard Nixon Win the White Houseby Victor LiVictor's Recommendations: Master of the Senate by Robert CaroDave Barry's Book of Bad Songs by Dave Barry

Twelve Wooden Stirring Spoons. Twelve. That’s the number Liz and I unearthed the first time we decided to give Minimalism a try. We had both just read the book, “The More of Less” written by my guest today, Joshua Becker, founder of Becoming Minimalist.The book explained how Minimalism wasn’t just a novel series of systems or routines to apply to your life, it was about a philosophy, a way of interacting with and moving through the world. As Josh puts it, “Minimalism is about the intentional promotion of the things we value most.”Our conversation this week explores the misconceptions surrounding Minimalism, the way Minimalism can impact and improve our relationships, and perhaps my favorite topic - how organization tricks us into thinking we have less, and why the more we have the harder it is to truly value it allEnjoy the ShowSHOWNOTES:Find All of Josh's Books HEREJosh's Recommendation: The Magic of Big Thinking by David Schwarts

In last week's episode we looked back on the “standard practices” that the pandemic shifted from in-person to virtual spaces.So for this week's episode it only seems appropriate that we look forward with someone who has been moving the practice of law away from brick-and-mortar operations since before the pandemic forced our collective hands. Sam Mollaei has been practicing law for over a decade, and in that time has helped found, guide, or grow multiple law-firms by leveraging technology to make it easier for clients to find lawyers and vice versa. The founder of My Legal Academy, he has helped thousands of attorneys by incorporating A.I., Software as a Service, and funneling strategies into their business. Sam is a  Amazon Bestselling author of Virtual Law-Firm Secrets: How to Run Your Law Firm so it Doesn’t Run You and appears frequently on podcasts across the entrepreneur and legal ecosphere. We discuss how lawyers are learning to incorporate A.I. into their business, why being good at managing a law firm is wildly different from being a good lawyer, as well as how leaders can use tools like ChatGPT to help find and grow their strengths.It was a fascinating conversation and a look into the future of law through a lens I hadn't considered until now. Enjoy the show.

For this week’s episode I had the absolute pleasure of talking with veteran attorney, now full-time mediator, Jean Lawler.Mediation now makes up around 30% of my practice, and as you’ll be able to tell from today’s conversation, it’s something I’ve truly come to love. What really broke open this week’s conversation for me was Jean’s observation that in a world where conflict is prevalent, the tools of dispute resolution are about so much more than working out the technicalities. They are about learning to recognize others. A set of skills we ALL need to acquire for the betterment of ourselves and those around us. Jean and I discuss this idea in detail, as well as how the landscape has changed since we both began practicing and what the switch from in-person to virtual meetings has done to mediations and the practice of law at-large.Oh, and in a first-ever, we made a Top 10 list ~ live with no rehearsal.And so for this episode, Jean and I come up with the 10 things every attorney can do to get the best out of their next mediation. It was a great conversation and I can’t thank her enough.Enjoy the show! SHOWNOTES:Lawler Alternative Dispute Resolution

As we start off the new year, there’s a good chance you’ve chosen one or two areas of life that you’d like to work on “changing” for the better. While it’s no secret that we at Legal Grounds are big fans of self-improvement, I think there is a real danger in ALWAYS moving forward.As anyone who has done Deep Work can tell you, it’s exhausting. And while it’s worth the effort, it’s also not a state that one can maintain for infinite periods of time. Or, rather, you CAN maintain it, but all of the energy you might use for building and nurturing the relationships outside of yourself is going to be gone. So for this episode I want to talk about why it may be time to actually look backwards this year, so that we can move forward with intention. I hope y’all had a Happy New Year and we’ll be back next week with a new episode.

As the end of 2023 draws closer, there is a good chance that if you’re reading this you’re already starting to think about what changes you want to make in the new year.For most of us it will be something meaningful but probably not always something major - after all, nearly all research points to the fact that making a drastic change overnight is rarely sustainable.But what if you are feeling like maybe you’re stuck? Like the career path you’ve chosen, while rewarding, no longer holds your attention in the way it used to?Now there are certain professions that we associate with marketable, versatile skills, and a lot of these usually fall into the creative realm. So it’s no surprise that when a lawyer thinks about changing careers, not only can it feel like they’re throwing away an education, it can feel like they’re throwing out an identity.My guest has struggled with these feelings since the minute she walked out of taking the bar exam. Alexandra Macey Davis is the managing editor of “Public Discourse,” the online policy journal of the The Witherspoon Institute whose mission is to enhance public understanding of the moral foundations of free societies.But before that, she was the founder of Davis Legal Media, a company that specialized in working with those in the legal fields on marketing, ghostwriting, and major content. And before THAT, she was a practicing attorney, specializing in business litigation and personal injury. In this week’s episode, Alex and I talk about what options attorneys have when it comes to stepping back from the practice of law, which also happens to be the subject of her latest book, Pivot: The Non-Traditional J.D. Handbook. And while the conversation centers around the legal profession, there’s plenty to take away no matter what your line of work, including discussions on procrasti-planning, the sunk cost fallacy, and so much more. It was a great conversation to close out the year and I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. We’ll be back next week with our annual New Year’s Lightroast. 

As we come up on the Holidays, there’s a good chance you’re scrambling for at least one last-minute gift. It’s such a cliche that it’s become a comedic trope, but behind the joke is the very heartfelt fact that we don’t want others to feel left out. But instead of thinking about the things we get from others, I want to reflect on what we can give ourselves when we decide, not to add, but to SUBTRACT from our lives. So for this week’s episode, let’s talk about the art of letting go. Happy Holidays and enjoy the show.

When it comes to any sort of formal training, it’s easy for leaders to lose sight of the fact that there is an unavoidable power dynamic.And as the person who ‘knows’ what they're doing, having to correct or explain what seems obvious is a recipe for frustration - no matter how good the leader. But while getting frustrated is a natural emotion, for leaders there is the added complication of turning that difficult moment into a teachable one.Or at least, that should be the goal Unfortunately, when that power dynamic is forgotten, some observation or suggestion the leader may intend to be constructive can come off as judgment.Now there are plenty of practical things we as leaders can do to make sure we’re helping people fail-forward, many of which we’ve talked about on this podcast.Things like using an appropriate tone of voice, asking questions instead of declaring our opinions as fact, and of course, putting ourselves in the other person's shoes. But as my guest today so wisely points out, when it comes to criticism versus judgment, oftentimes the only thing separating the two is Trust. Does the person receiving the advice trust that it’s coming from someone who wants them to succeed? And vice versa, does the person giving the advice trust that the person receiving it is in fact doing their best?This is one of the many topics we tackle with this week’s guest. Serban Mare is an Engineering Program Manager with 18 years of experience leading cross-functional teams in the semiconductor industry through multimillion-dollar projects. He came to the United States from Romania at the age of 23 with $200 and within 10 years he had the red-brick house, a job he enjoyed, and a wife he loves. But despite achieving the “American Dream,” Serban realized he craved deeper meaning and fulfillment. Today we’ll discuss that journey; one which has led Serban to become a Professional Speaker, Certified CBT Practitioner, frequent podcast guest, and Life Coach who believes in continuously refining his communication and leadership skills to connect with diverse audiences effectively.Enjoy the Show! 

We talk a lot on the show about the risks we have to take if we want to develop ourselves both professionally and personally. We use phrases like "taking a leap of faith" or "hit the ground running" to describe the uncertainty and urgency that comes with those risks, but for most of us they don't carry any actual physical danger.Now sure, you may have been on a retreat where you participated in something like a trust-fall. But my guest today has a unique insight into the teamwork and preparation needed to take EXTREME risks. Like lighting-someone-on-fire-and-pushing-them-off-a-building risks. Bunny Young is a former stuntwoman turned serial entrepreneur and the founder of A Better Place Consulting.She earned her Master’s Degree in Counseling Psychology and has gone on to help clients of every size or level tackle dissatisfaction by creating the spaces needed for positive change.A Licensed Professional Counselor, Bunny is now a business coach and retreat facilitator whose clients include Fortune 50 companies and C-suite leaders.This is one of those conversations that I never could have planned and included meditations on the nature of work, leadership, and parenthood. At the end of the day, I would say this conversation is about how leaving a legacy involves building a much different kind of capital than you might think.Enjoy the show. 

If you're a regular consumer of podcasts, chances are at least one show in your feed has an episode this week centered around "surviving the holidays". And while I know that people lead complex lives, in all of my experiences, a lot of the stress and 'pain' associated with big gatherings like Thanksgiving is for the most part self-inflicted. So for this Thanksgiving episode I want to share with listeners the biggest lessons I learned during my annual 8-Day silent retreat.My hope is that maybe it can help reframe those frustrations so that your holidays are something to look forward to, not something to endure. Have a Happy Thanksgiving y'all.Enjoy the Show

As you’ve heard me joke about before, even though I did a little bit of medical malpractice work at the very beginning of my legal career, my high school science grades all but guaranteed it would be a short-lived endeavor.That being said, when it comes to the kinds of major trucking accidents that our firm deals with, understanding the science behind them has actually been one of the most fascinating parts of my career.Now, one type of injury that we encounter frequently are T.B.I.s, or Traumatic Brain Injuries. When I first started practicing, we didn’t have nearly the amount of medical research we do today on the human brain. But even though the science has grown exponentially, one thing I’m confident in saying is that the more I’ve learned, the more I’ve realized there is so much more we DON’T know than we DO know when it comes to the brain. Which is why, for me, our guest this week is particularly inspiring for what he’s overcome. At 28, Dan MacQueen was leading a healthy, active life. But after an optometrist appointment to identify the cause of his persistent headaches was cut short, he was handed a sealed envelope and told to go directly to the hospital.After surviving two emergency brain surgeries, weeks in a coma, and months in the hospital, Dan battled through excruciating rehab exercises to rebuild his life and return to a job he loved.Beyond grateful for the doctors who saved him and the friends and family who supported him, now he wants to pay it forward. As a keynote speaker, for the past six years Dan has helped teams explore the areas of resilience, mindset, mental health, and social media. We discuss the importance of knowing where your motivation comes from, what it’s like to have to fight for voice, and why acceptance is the opposite of giving up. Enjoy the show! SHOWNOTES:Dan's recent post on mindset after his latest eye surgery. 

For those of you who know your history - or your motivational quotes - then you know that Teddy Roosevelt's, "Man In the Arena" speech is considered one of the best observations on the nature of persistence. But there is another Roosevelt quote from Teddy's distant cousin, Franklin, and it came to mind after this week's conversation. “Take a method and try it. If it fails, admit it frankly, and try another, but by all means, try something.”It's almost as if FDR was providing the second half of Teddy's idea; that, yes, "the credit belongs to the person in the arena," but for that person to truly get back up, they must admit what knocked them down in the first place. My guest today embodies this mentality and is on a mission to help others do the same. Max Nijst is a substance abuse recovery coach and the founder and spirit behind Fearless Happyness Coaching & Consulting.  He specializes in helping high-performers treat and manage their addictions, while also helping families by educating them about the disease of addiction so they can better support their loved ones A motivational speaker, Max is also the author of Fearless Happyness: My Addiction. My Battles. My Recovery, as well as hosting the Fearless Happyness podcast.We talk about how the opposite of addiction is connection, how "No" can be a complete sentence, and why he chooses to spell Happyness with a “Y”. Enjoy the show! 

There has been no shortage of headlines about the devastating impact that ransomware can have on an organization – big or small.  And if you’re a fellow Texan, there’s a good chance you heard about the recent, and massive attack that essentially crippled the city of Dallas.And yet when it comes to the world of technology, so many leaders, often older, are either aware of or worse, actively dismissive of the potential threats floating in the digital ether. And so while my guest and I will be looking at cyber security through the lenses of the justice system, I would argue that if you own a small business, or work with technology (so basically anyone), there’s a lot to be learned from today’s conversation. Daniel Cotter has been working on privacy and cybersecurity issues since 1996, including development of terms and conditions and disclaimers on Fortune 500 websites in the late 1990s.  Over his nearly 3 decades of practicing law, Dan has dealt with complex insurance regulatory issues and transactions, reorganizations of holding company systems and has substantial experience with internal investigations and employment-related issues. A past President of the Chicago Bar Association and an Adjunct Professor at the John Marshall Law School, Dan is also a prolific author of news and legal articles as well as the book, “The Chief Justices” an in-depth look at the 17 men who sat at the center seat.   Our conversation deals heavily with cyber security and the law, but we also touch on topics ranging from tips for young law students to Supreme Court history.  It was a fascinating conversation and I hope you’ll join us. Enjoy the show! 

This week’s episode brings us to the end of our four-part series with Perry S. Kaufman on Fork in the Road moments. For our first three episodes, we aimed to show founders and leaders how planning for the future is an essential tool for operating in the present.In our final conversation, Perry and I take a look back at some of the key elements and warning signs that come before these Fork in the Road moments that every founder should know.But this isn’t just a recap. Perry and I discuss actionable strategies leaders can take, such as the habit of being inclusive, the art of delegations, and yes - getting up early. This week’s episode is a lighthearted, practical conclusion to our first-ever multipart series, and I can’t thank Perry enough for coming along for the ride. Enjoy the show! SHOWNOTES:"Every Day is a Gift" - Sen. Tammy Duckworth

Under the banner of, “Finding the Silver Lining,” I think one of the most important things that came out of the pandemic was an acceleration of the already occurring destigmatization of mental illness.Now again, that’s a silver lining. Not just because of the sheer toll the pandemic took in human lives, but because as my guest today points out, for many of us it took the world shutting down to earnestly sit with our own thoughts. And while receiving a medical diagnosis can be incredibly relieving, simply taking a medication will not suddenly make everything better. And like my guest today, I speak from experience. For the first half of her career, Michele Capots was a journalist whose work was published by the likes of The Washington Post and Marie Claire. But while working full time at the Tribune Review, Michele came face to face with her own diagnosis, a struggle that would lead her to discover there’s a difference between mental HEALTH and mental WELLNESS.This is just one of the many topics we cover in this week’s episode. A tale of tragedy and triumph, Michele now shares her story and works with others who are learning that the path to recovery is very rarely a linear one, but well worth the journey.Enjoy the show! SHOWNOTES:Connect with Michele:LinkedInInstagram

WARNING: this weeks episode contains discussions of sexual violence. I won’t lie to you folks, this week’s episode is a tough one, but I also think it might be the hard conversation someone just might need to hear.This week my guest is Sonny Von Cleveland, Director of The Von Cleveland Foundation, a non-profit organization that uplifts marginalized individuals by providing coaching, resources, and a safe haven for learning, all free of charge.I think Sonny would be the first one to say he’s simply paying it forward, but it is where the currency comes from that makes Sonny’s story so unique.Charged with his first felony at the age of 7, his childhood oscillated between being in trouble with the law and being abused at home.He would end up spending 18 years in prison, but during a long stint in solitary confinement he would meet a mentor and fellow inmate who would change his life.It’s a story he tells beautifully, if not heartbreakingly, in his new memoir, “Hey White Boy: Conversations of Redemption” and continues to explore with others on his podcast, “The Choice Effect.”This episode won’t be for everybody, but for the person that needs to hear it, I think it can be transformational.Enjoy the show.

This week's episode is the third part in our series with Perry S. Kaufman about the Fork in the Road moment for leaders. Perry is the founder of PSK consulting, a firm that specializes in working with founder-led companies.When he last joined us we discussed what it looks like when it comes to transitioning a business to the next level or the next leader; how to navigate the fork in our proverbial road. For this week’s conversation, we dive into some fairly frank discussion on what it looks like when it’s time for a leader to let go. Now, letting go might mean retirement or moving to a new project, but whatever the impetus is, the planning needs happen further out than most owners recognize. Perry and I talk about how to know when the stress feels different, why it’s hard for leader’s to pivot from survival-mode to strategy-mode, as well as red-flags that owner’s can look for when it comes time to enter the marketplace. Enjoy the Show!