LawHer: Recent Episodes
Sonya Palmer, Rankings.io
LawHer, a new podcast from Rankings.io, is here to shine a light on some of the brightest and boldest women in the legal industry. From attorneys to judges, entrepreneurs to politicians, we will be discussing their unique career paths, as well as the tools they developed along the way.
Shermin Lakha's firm LVLUP Legal may have a brick-and-mortar location in New York. But that is as close as she gets to a traditional firm. Most business is conducted virtually - saving time for the clients and staff. Which allows her high-volume firm to take on more clients. And her innovative practices extend into the structure of the practice itself. She has done away with the billable hour entirely. Flat fees for service can increases transparency and cultivate trust with your clients - especially in young businesses with limited resources. Firms also benefit from reduced overhead administrative costs. She explains how she sets fees for service, maintains boundaries, and hires great cultural fits under this model. What's in This Episode
Who is Shermin Lakha?
Why has switching to a fee-based firm accelerated her growth?
How did she fund her firm in the early stages of development?
What do you really need to start a practice of your own?
How does she set boundaries without billable hours?
Why has she not spent a dollar on advertising?
How does she only spend two hours a week making a week's worth of social content?
Women are acutely aware that advancement in the legal world is not guaranteed. The solution? Become indispensable. Angela Mason, managing partner at The Cochran Firm Dothan has been with the firm for over two decades. The first female hire in her office, she has risen through the ranks by filling the gaps and being reliable. She turned to the few other women attorneys for guidance and technique in trial and found the most success by remaining true to who she is. We discuss how to stay in the field and advance your career, how to be a better trial attorney, and what motivates her to keep going. What's in This Episode?
Who is Angela Mason?
What has she learned after practicing law for 25 years?
How does she prep for trial?
How did she make herself indispensable to her firm early on?
Why is curiosity essential to a long career?
How does travel fit into her life?
Bresha Shepherd treats every prospective client with five-star service. As Intake Specialist at Varghese Summersett, she greets each caller with warmth, making sure they understand how her firm will care for them. Bresha's passion and empathy shine both in her client interactions and how she approaches team building. To get the best from any team, she knows that employees have to feel empowered to take leadership roles. Regardless of position. Bresha shares with us how she has created a service first intake and onboarding process, why onboarding is just as important as intake, and how to structure award winning firm culture. Whats in This Episode
Who is Bresha Shepherd?
How has her position as an intake specialist helped shape her firm?
Why does Bresha approach intake like a world-class service provider first and a law firm second?
What onboarding process has she found to be the most successful?
When is the appropriate time to give a potential client a quote?
Why was her firm named one of the best places for mothers to work?
Davina Frederick has spent 14 years as a lawyer and business owner and nearly 10 years as a business coach and law firm growth strategist. Her company - Wealthy Woman Lawyer - helps firm owners create over 1 Million dollars in wealth-generating business. For Davina, creating a thriving practice is not just about securing wealth for its own sake. Increasing earning potential goes beyond immediate financial security. It can be about maintaining your current lifestyle once retired, traveling on more than a shoestring budget, and caring for parents as they age. Often women think of making "enough." But Davina believes that wealth, prosperity, and abundance are birthrights. In this episode, she explains how the rubber of mindset meets the road of action when building an abundant law firm. What's In This Episode
Who is Davina Frederick?
Why did she sell her first practice to open a virtual firm before they were popular?
How can the right coach improve the bottom line of practice?
What are the differences in coaching women law firm owners versus men?
Why do only 1.7% of women business owners make more than one million dollars in their business?
How can firm owners scale their businesses without taking on a larger workload?
Passionate about complex litigation and mass torts, Jessica Givens has spent the last 6 years at the illustrious Cochran Firm. She has been awarded Top 10 Under 40 in 2022 by the National Academy of Personal Injury Attorneys. She has also received the Hugo L. Black Scholar Award and George Peach Taylor Award for Trial Advocacy. She explains how to maintain a sense of community - even if the firm is 42 offices strong. Why representation is critical to the advancement of women in the legal industry. And how one of the most useful and powerful tools at her disposal is one we all possess - delegation. What's In This Episode
Who is Jessica Givens?
How did the biochem student transition from an education in STEM to law?
The Cochran firm has established itself as the country's premier victims advocate law firm. How does her role maintain that title?
In a firm of 42 offices, how does she maintain community?
How does a firm with such a large reach humanize its interactions with clients?
Why do so few women end up at the managing level of multi-tier firms?
Why is delegation such an underrated tool for advancing your career?
What can female lawyers do to increase their visibility - beyond social media?
Melissa Lamore is the Senior Vice President of Communications at Velawcity, a legal advertising network. Her superpower lies in building relationships that are deep-seated and wide-reaching. For Melissa, the lines between personal and professional are blurred. When she battled breast cancer, much of her support network came from the legal industry. As a result, her rapidly expanding network naturally led to co-founding The League with Carson Bayer. Melissa explains how leaning into your vulnerability can help build an authentic community. And why complimentary values can be just as important as shared ones. How The League is elevating the 'whole woman' and how the simple action of journaling daily can help unlock your future. What's In This Episode?
Who is Melissa Lamore?
How did Melissa transition from event production to SVP of Brand and Communication?
How did her experience with breast cancer make her a more effective communicator?
Why are complementary core values just as powerful as shared values in personal and business development?
What is the League and how does it help build women up?
How can brand position be communicated effectively both internally and externally?
What journaling practices can help you identify your why?
Stephanie Forbes has seen - and improved - the inner workings of some of the most successful firms in the nation. The COO turned consultant is on a mission to help growing firms replicate their success. Owner of Forbes Consult, Stephanie helps Personal Injury Law Firms capitalize on maximum results by teaching swift, quality case management, and elite customer service. Today, we discuss how systems can make firms of any size run more efficiently and reap larger margins. We cover when and how to train new hires. And she reveals how to get the maximum recovery through proper case management. What's in This Episode
Who is Stephanie Forbes?
What did she learn while working at some of the largest firms in the nation?
How have her mentors helped make more successful firms?
How does she get new hires with no personal injury experience up to speed in just days?
How do her systems help make firms more profitable?
What aspects of case management are most overlooked when trying to get the maximum recovery?
You can spend all the money in the world on marketing - but if your intake team is not dialed in, your marketing budget has gone to waste. Associate and intake manager at West Coast Trial Lawyers, Liana Khachatryan oversees 15 offices and intake teams across California. One of the most successful personal injury and employment firms, the team consists of over 100 staff and 20 attorneys. Today, we discuss finding the practice area that best suits your lifestyle, how to vet calls and accepting the cases that fit with the business model. And she explains how doing it messy and figuring it out along the way is often the best policy. Whats In This Episode?
Who is Liana Khachatryan?
How did she know that personal injury was the right fit?
How does she manage the intake teams across 15 locations?
Why does she assign an 'on call' attorney 24/7?
How does she manage the raw emotions that come with being a personal injury attorney?
How does her team replicate positive first impressions, client to client?
When all you have is the calling - helping people is enough. Hillary Walsh, owner of New Frontier Immigration Law, began her immigration law firm with few resources. In the early days, she pretended to be her own receptionist and would drive over three hours to avoid a twenty-dollar filing fee. Four years later her firm has grown to over 90 employees and she helps hundreds of families through the immigration process. Today, we discuss how she learned the ropes of immigration law while in Korea - before the remote work revolution. We go over the tools and policies she uses to maintain culture with a fully remote team. We also get into how women can align work with menstrual cycles to unlock their superpowers and be more productive in the process. What's in This Episode
Who is Hillary Walsh?
How did her experience in the foster care and juvenile system allow her to better connect with her clients?
What did she learn from street boys in Uganda when she volunteered at an orphanage?
How did she transition from commercial litigation to immigration law?
How did she turn a 'no' from her organization of choice into running her own firm?
How did she overcome a fear of spending on her firm?
How can working on a four-week cycle that matches our menstrual cycle make us more productive?
How does she maintain culture remotely?
As an immigration and personal injury attorney, Keren Barrios clients trust her firm with their lives. She loves making an impact on her community and fulfills the promise she made to herself to help change and improve the lives of others. Over the past decade, the managing and founding partner of Barrios & Virguez has grown her firm to over 30 staff members and has helped countless families in Georgia. Keren shares how she sees her double minority status as a woman and Latina as an advantage and how she's healing from extreme trauma. We discussed working through the mess to find yourself and growing a wildly successful firm in the process. Whats in This Episode?
Who is Keren Barrios?
How did her experience growing up in Guatemala shape her legal career?
What is the importance of finding your "Why"?
How did she keep going when life and law got hard?
How does she manage and maintain the culture of the firm?
What does her community building efforts look like from a professional and community standpoint?
In 1692 witchcraft was an indisputable fact of life in Massachusetts. Those accused faced felony charges. The Salem Witch Trials were the result of a rational worldview shared by well-reasoned people who saw witchcraft as the devil incarnate and a threat to daily life. But how did they get there? What can we learn from the trials about access to power and how social dynamics shape legal systems? Here to help answer all of these questions is New York Times Best Selling and award-winning writer of historical fiction, Katherine Howe. She edited The Penguin Book of Witches for Penguin Classics and authored The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane - a historical fiction novel that travels between witch trials of the 1690s and modern life. She has also collaborated with Anderson Cooper on not one, but two books. What's In This Episode?
Who is Katherine Howe and what is her family connection to the Salem Witch Trials?
Why have witches held such a prominent space in our collective imagination for centuries?
What was real and rational about witchcraft in the 1600s?
What did the world of 1692 look like for the people who lived through the trials?
What does power have to do with WHO gets accused?
Why were women both at the center of the trials and the primary accusers?
Why would the accused sue for slander?
Why did the trials come to an end?
Renata Musial, an attorney turned coach, teaches female attorneys how to go after their happiness - unapologetically. The owner of The Happy Lawyer Project spent years struggling to find happiness in her career despite ticking standard boxes guaranteed to bring joy. After an Adult ADHD diagnosis and realizing the power of the stories we tell ourselves, Renata mentors female attorneys to help them feel as good in life as they look on paper. Today, we get into how mindset and accountability work together to transform lives. We dive into limiting beliefs and the importance of following your own compass. What's in This Episode?
Who is Renata Musial?
Why is there a disconnect between the external success of female lawyers and internal distress?
What is one of the first steps to having a happier life?
What are common limiting beliefs and how can one get past them?
Why is it important to understand the difference between confidence and self-confidence?
Why is the concept of balance really a limiting belief in disguise?
What role does accountability play in happiness?
How has a diagnosis of adult ADHD changed Renata's perspective?
Bibi Fell is one of the strongest trial lawyers in the country. And her firm, Fell Law is consistently recognized as the top in the legal field by the Daily Journal, Lawdragon Leading Plaintiff Lawyer, The National Trial Lawyers: Top 100, and Superlawyers. She is also an Adjunct Professor at the University of San Diego School of Law who has recovered millions for her clients. She is also a Partner at the nationally renowned female-lead Athea Trial Lawyers. We discuss what can be done to help close the gender gap in the legal field and why being yourself is a superpower. We also get into what it takes to build a kickass group of female trial lawyers. What's in This Episode?
Who is Bibi Fell?
How did her family shape her view of the law and community?
As an adjunct professor, what keeps her coming back year after year?
As a student, practitioner, and educator of the law - what did you learn in all three states?
What can be done to close the gap between women and men in the legal field?
What information should all women entering the legal field have?
Are you really faking it or are you just proving to yourself that you were already capable of doing it?
What are the first steps in building a collective of incredible women lawyers?
When striking out on your own, what do women need to know about financially weathering the down times?
As the saying goes - if you're not growing, you're dying. But what goes into successfully growing a firm? Today, Ashton Bremer offers her marketing expertise and explains why to grow your firm you need more than a Facebook page. The driving force behind the explosive growth of Stewart Guss Injury Accident Lawyers, Ashton commands a marketing department that spans four states and nine locations. We break down where to start if your marketing budget is limited, why intake is just as important as marketing, websites that convert, and what marketing channels will give you the best ROI. What's in This Episode?
Who is Ashton Bremer?
As a firm grows, how should marketing evolve with it?
Which marketing channels deliver the highest quality leads?
What waterfall investment should a firm make into marketing?
Why is a multi-state firm revisiting branding?
How is the marketing space changing for Personal Injury lawyers?
If a firm has a limited budget, where are the top three places to spend?
Sparks Law opened its doors in April of 2022. Today we dive into what it is like to open a practice - from a woman who is living the experience. Samantha Sparks is managing partner at the Missouri based firm and wears two (of many) hats. The personal injury cases and consumer protection attorney also manages the firm. Today we discuss how to wade through the uncertainty when starting a firm, jumping in with both feet and the strength in asking for help. What's In This Episode
Who is Samantha Sparks?
Why is asking for help a strength?
How did her sister-in-law become her partner?
What has she learned while starting a firm?
Where would she spend her budget if she had unlimited resources?
How is she striking a balance between being human and running the firm?
Reb Masel doesn't just entertain her 1.1 Million followers. The attorney best know for reading baffling public depositions on TikTok creates an outlet for legal professionals who often feel isolated. The litigation attorney at Buchalter demonstrates to young lawyer hopefuls that there is no one right way to be an attorney. We discuss leveraging social media as a platform for representation, privilege, and bringing others with you. On the path to becoming a lawyer, confidence did not come easily to Reb. And rock bottom had many basements. We discuss how her desire to be the best not just for herself, but for future clients pushed her through. Whats in This Episode
Who is Reb Masel?
How is she using her following of over one million people on TikTok to create equity in the legal space?
When the "rock bottoms" of law school kept getting lower, what motivated her to keep going?
How does she manage a hobby with a potential workload of a full-time job?
How is she bringing other women with her?
On TikTok, LawyerPaige, aka Paige Sparks, has over two hundred thousand followers. Attracting millions of eyes, she offers practical legal advice and tosses out myths that are more like urban legend than law. How does extreme social media exposure inform a business plan and re-imagine the client journey? Owner of freshly-minted Sparks Law is here to show us the way. She has already figured out one of the most complex aspects of running a firm. With her marketing figured out, she has more flexibility to rethink the essentials of building a firm. Today, we cover some of the unexpected practicalities of starting a firm, hustling on the side to fund her dreams, and simple systems to capture ideas when they strike. What's in This Episode?
Who is Paige Sparks?
What hurdles did she have to clear when launching her firm?
How did she raise the capital to begin her firm?
What non-notables would she spend top dollar on if she were starting a firm again?
Why did she divert resources from her website?
How does having a massive social media following change the client's journey?
Paige makes videos for people who are where she once was.
How does her lived experience shape her videos?
How does social media presence fit into her business model?
Managing Partner at San Diego-based Haeggquist & Eck, Alreen Haeggquist has more than 19 years of experience recovering millions of dollars for her clients and a 99% success rate. She is a compassionate advocate who never backs down from a fight. Today we discuss how her role has shifted as her practice has grown, the values of J.U.S.T.I.C.E. that ground her firm, and how to create meaningful social impact. What's In This Episode
Who is Alreen Haeggquist?
How did she start her firm with just $5,000?
What are the advantages of having a staff that is mostly female?
How is she providing mentorship for her staff?
What core values guide her firm?
Why do law firms have an obligation to give back to the community?
How has a website rebrand helped her firm expand?
Crisp has grown from $500 to over $40 Million in just nine years. This success is thanks, in no small part, to Jessica Mogill. Jessica's official title is Head of Coaching Strategy but she has done it all - from sales to systems. The former industrial engineer has laid the track for the exponential growth of Crisp. Today we dive into asking for - and taking - help. Why you needed to implement processes yesterday. What systems every female-run law firm needs and establishing boundaries around the non-negotiables in your life. For 25% off of your ticket to the Crisp Summit in Atlanta, go to CrispSummit.com and enter the promo code RANKINGS. What's In This Episode
Who is Jessica Mogill?
How did the right hand of Crisp transition from industrial engineering to business consulting?
How can solo attorneys and firm owners ensure the systems in place actually get used?
What personality assessments help build stronger teams?
What can women learn from the female-led panels at the upcoming Crisp Summit?
In 2018, only 1% of women-owned businesses broke a million dollars in revenue. Jennifer Gore, founder of Atlanta Personal Injury Law Group, secured her firm's position as one of the fastest growing in America - three years in a row - and built her way to that 1%. The goal is simple: create a better law firm with better jobs. Exponential growth is what happened along the way. Learn from one of the best in the business. Today, Jennifer offers wisdom on building a personal brand as the foundation of a successful practice and the drive needed to open a firm right out of law school. She also discusses the importance of delegation and how to hire for your firm - at any stage. What's In This Episode
Who is Jennifer Gore-Cuthbert?
How did Jennifer grow her firm to over $1 million dollars?
How did early development of a personal brand shape her career?
Why did she open a law firm right after passing the bar?
How did she secure cases early on?
What strategic hires, systems, and processes helped her firm grow exponentially?
Why are there so few million-dollar firms run and owned by women?
Lisa Bloom, owner of The Bloom Firm, is synonymous with high-profile cases that expose men in power for sexual misconduct. She has represented women in the Cosby, O'Reilly, and Epstein cases to name a few. The Bloom Firm has fought for and won tens of millions of dollars for victims of discrimination, harassment, and abuse. She is a human and animal rights champion activist, three-time author, television host, and fierce trial attorney. Today we discuss leveraging social media for justice, how to reset when emotionally drained and the problem with celebrity worship - as it relates to justice. What's In This Episode?
Who is Lisa Bloom?
How does she recover when exhausted from an unending battle?
Was courage a learned behavior?
How can law firms train employees to fight victims of discrimination, harassment, and abuse with compassion?
How can lawyers leverage social media to get their message across?
How can attorneys fight against a racially biased system when it feels like they are on their own?
What is Lisa optimistic about?
President of legal marketing firm LawRank, Maria Monroy's list of responsibilities is all too familiar for business owners: client-facing operations, speaking at conferences, sales, employee management, and business development. But how can you find time to do it all, when everything calls for your attention? Today we dive into mindset, time management, the power of delegation, and letting go of guilt to reach your goals. What's In This Episode?
Who is Maria Monroy?
How can firm owners effectively manage time?
How can firm owners build community?
How is the marketing strategy different for female-run and owned law firms?
When striking out on your own, what is the first marketing step?
How can women learn to delegate life and business guilt-free?
Marlie Willer, Principle owner at Liro Willer Law, advocates for families and children whose lives have been wrecked by medical malpractice, with a focus on obstetric negligence. Today, we discuss how medical malpractice suits can help change the medical industry for the better. Women perform the bulk of unpaid labor in the home - we look at ways to seek financial compensation for caregivers and explore non-economic damages in medical malpractice and obstetric negligence cases. We open the conversation to gender bias in med mal, pumping while in court, and how to recalibrate from the daily trauma of litigation. What's in This Episode
Who is Marlie Willer?
How did lessons of discipline and routine put her ahead of the competition in law school?
Why did she choose medical malpractice?
How does gender bias play out in the cases she represents?
What about the compounding problem of racial disparity and medical malpractice?
Can legal action change the way medicine is practiced?
What common misconceptions does she wish potential clients knew about medical malpractice and birth injuries?
How can attorneys point to tangible damages if a women's labor is unpaid and the trauma is mostly mental?
Since 1974, and the passing of The Equal Credit Opportunity Act, American women have unfettered access to banking. Despite nearly 50 years of financial female firsts, women remain largely absent from high finance. Today, we sit down with Brooke Lively, president at Cathedral Capital to discuss why so few women are in finance, why she prefers to hire mothers, and the six key numbers your firm needs to understand to increase your bottom line. So often women in male-dominated sectors like finance and law feel intimidated and hit obstacles their male counterparts will never encounter. Fed up, Brooke forged her own path. She holds an MBA in Investments and Corporate Finance. And after graduation, built a 7- figure company in under 2 years. As a Chartered Financial Analyst, she and her team work with Hall of Famers, INC 5000 businesses, CEOs, and Small Business Owners to help turn businesses into profitable companies. What's in This Episode?
Who is Brooke Lively?
How do you run a firm by the numbers to increase profitability?
Only 7% of female MBA graduates in finance - making Brooke a unicorn - what drew her to this path?
Why are most of the staff at Cathedral Capital women who work part time?
How can female lawyers get recognized for partner?
What six key financial numbers does every firm owner need to know?
What number is essential to knowing the health of your firm?
What is the 'profit finder' and how can it help your firm?
Genie Harrison's success is fueled by her unflinching high standards and bolstered by her grit. Dogged advocate for employees and lead trial counsel at The Genie Harrison Law Firm, she advocates for victims of all forms of sexual abuse, sexual harassment, discrimination, and retaliation. She has recovered over $220 million in settlements and verdicts for her clients, but sees the real wins come from systemic change. She holds the distinction of top 10 Super Lawyers in Southern California for seven years, is Best Lawyers, 2022 Plaintiff's Employment Lawyer of the Year, and is an inductee to the Civil Lawyer Hall of Fame by the Association of Southern California Defense Council. Today, Genie discusses how grit and courage make her a better fighter, why opening an independent firm can't be done in isolation, and the apps she has built to better serve all victims and attorneys. What's in This Episode
Who is Genie Harrison?
What drew Genie to employment law?
Without mentors, how did Genie become the trial lawyer she is today?
What practical ways can women become better trial attorneys?
Are grit and tenacity traits that can be learned throughout a career?
How did Genie come to represent the women who voted to be in the Harvey Weinstein case?
What is a 'dignity deposit' and why is it important to plaintiffs?
Why did Genie start a legal tech business?
How can these apps help lawyers capture the non-economic problems for a plaintiff and prep for trial?
A Super Lawyer since 2018, a graduate of the Trial Lawyers College, and a devoted mother - in the courtroom and at home - Candice Klein thrives in the chaos. With 20 years of experience, she has taken over 30 cases to verdict and recently founded Chang | Klein with partner Deborah Chang. Between the two, billions of dollars have been recovered on behalf of their clients. And in its first year, Chang | Klein LLP was honored to have been ranked “Best Law Firms” by U.S. News & World Report and Best Lawyers. Today, we explore mentorship for women in law, founding a successful firm, and carving out time for yourself - even if it's only 20 minutes a day. What's in This Episode
Who is Candice Klein?
How did Candice reach her level of success in the courtroom without mentorship?
How can continuing education improve performance in the courtroom?
What practical advice does Candice have for leaning into motherhood and career at the same time?
What key factors make good attorneys great?
What creative ways does Candice tell client stories in the courtroom?
With so much demand for her time, how does Candice carve time out for herself?
Kelly Deutsch, CEO and Executive Producer of Verdict Video, has produced nearly 600 videos for mediation and trial. With over 25 years of experience, her deep compassion and empathy can be felt in every production. Her Dateline-style presentations for mediation or arbitration have helped secure the recovery of multiple 9 and 10-figure verdicts. A natural leader - and introvert - Kelly shares the struggles and success that come with the role. Kelly explains why knowing what you want and investing in yourself 100% are the bedrock of a successful business. What's in This Episode
Who is Kelly Deutsch?
How did she climb to the top of Verdict Videos and become CEO?
How does she make decisions as a leader that have the most positive impact?
Leadership positions can feel isolating - how does Kelly find connection?
As an introvert, to what does Kelly attribute her natural leadership?
As CEO and Executive Producer, how does she balance working in the business and on it?
How does Kelly cope with the level of emotional investment that is needed to create compelling videos?
Nothing beats real trial experience. You can read books and attend seminars, but to become the best you have to get in the ring. Aslin Tutuyan's first trial - a premises liability case against LA Times - set the tone for her career. Never shying away from a fight, as the personal injury trial attorney at Mandell Trial Lawyers she has walked away from massive companies like Disney and represented over 250 plaintiffs against SoCal Gas. On today's episode, we discuss pre-trial jitters and building a strong opening statement. We also dive into mental well-being, taking ownership of our happiness, and the importance of self-care for trial lawyers. What's In This Episode?
Who is Aslin Tutuyan?
When Aslin lost her father, how did she decide to seek help?
How did the Plaintiffs Trial Academy prepare Aslin for her first trial?
What excites Aslin about trial?
How does Aslin manage stress during a trial?
How can lawyers recover from less than desirable outcomes for their clients?
Felice Duffy, founder of Duffy Law, is a dedicated Title IX advocate and former head coach of the Yale Division I Women’s Soccer Team. She is committed to excellence and driven by passion - in the courtroom and on the soccer field. Felice's first experience with Title IX was when she filed an action against UCONN under the then-new Title IX statute to compel the creation of a woman’s soccer program. She would go on to be named to the first Women’s U.S. National Soccer team and selected for the first Division one All-American women's soccer team. Receiving her JD at the age of 40, Felice has served over ten years as a federal prosecutor and clerked for federal judges. In today's episode, we dive into fighting for your passion, her role in over two decades of gender equity, and shifting culture through education. What's in This Episode
Who is Felice Duffy?
What did it take for Felice to establish one of the first women's soccer teams under Title IX?
What was her journey from farmer to international soccer star?
Why did Felice decide to practice law in her mid-thirties?
What similarities does Felice see between the courtroom and soccer?
What changes on the horizon does Felice see for gender equity?
Diandra Debrosse Zimmermann's 15-year career has spanned four firms as managing partner or partner as recovered over $45 million for her clients. Managing partner of the Birmingham office at DiCello Levitt Gutzler and co-chair of their mass tort practice, she is ranked Top 100 by National Trial Lawyers, Top 40 under 40 by the National Trial Lawyers, and numerous other accolades. Today, we discuss only accepting the offer you want and how to have the uncomfortable conversations that tackle pay inequity. We also explore how to enter the courtroom with authority and recapture it when that power has been taken away. What's in This Episode?
Who is Diandra "Fu" Debrosse Zimmermann?
How did she secure her first partnership?
Why does she see the role of partner as a choice?
How to have a productive conversation about leading a case.
How can woman lawyers take back the power that is lost in the courtroom?
What actions are being taken in the legal industry to help rectify pay inequity across genders?
Amy Griggs is a tenacious catastrophic injury trial lawyer. Partner at Regan Zambri & Long - one of the top 1% of law firms in the county- Amy has earned over $30 Million in restitution for her clients, including multiple 8-figure cases. She has been awarded Personal Injury Plaintiff and Medical Malpractice Plaintiff for DC by Best Lawyers and speaks regularly at conferences and legal education seminars. Her success in the courtroom is directly tied to the emotional, human, connection she has with her clients. But with this success comes stress and emotional challenges. Today we dispel the myth of the work-life balance and dig into better ways to structure time. Amy also shares the best ways to find community and how to deal with the emotional stress that is inherent in building strong trial cases. What's In This Episode?
Who is Amy Griggs?
How women can find community in the legal industry.
What drew Amy to medical malpractice?
How can personal struggles make for better lawyers?
How does Amy deal with the stress of the emotional involvement necessary to build a strong trial case?
How she found her voice as a leader in a male-dominated field.
What can children teach us about being a better trial lawyer?
Noemi Puntier is a fierce advocate and tenacious in the courtroom. The founder of Puntier Law Firm, Noemi faced many roadblocks to becoming an attorney. But with the right mentor, she came to see her youth in the Bronx, gender, and culture as superpowers on the path to becoming the first in her family to attend law school. She loves being a lawyer and promised to be a voice for the voiceless. She relied on hard work and discipline, guided by faith, to help build the table for minority woman lawyers for generations to come. I sat down with Noemi to discuss becoming a lawyer as a second career, finding the right mentors and attitude, and empowering her community through social media. What’s In This Episode
Who is Noemi Puntier?
What drew her to work with the Legal Aid Society?
How did she see roadblocks as opportunities?
How does she handle burnout?
How can young lawyers get the experience necessary to become a great advocate?
How can beginning a law firm help women find themselves?
For over 15 years, Kelly Burris has not only opened multiple offices for Cordell & Cordell in Texas - the senior litigation partner has also received Best Lawyers in Dallas under 40, "Texas Rising Star", and "Super Lawyer" from Super Lawyers for a combined eight years. She is also at the forefront of family law and cryptocurrency. On today's episode, I sat with Kelly to discuss her rise to senior litigation partner and why she finds family law so rewarding. We dive into the changing legal landscape of bitcoin, hidden assets and how to find them, and tax evasion. What’s In This Episode
Who is Kelly Burris?
When is an attorney most marketable to other firms?
How did Kelly rise to senior litigation partner?
How did Kelly get into cryptocurrency?
What role is cryptocurrency playing in family law practice?
What should someone do if they suspect cryptocurrency is being hidden?
Taking a law firm from start-up to a multimillion-dollar business won't happen overnight. But CEO and founder Allison Williams did just that in under four years. Williams Law Group is ranked 14th of the fastest-growing law firms in the nation. Allison founded Law Firm Mentor to help law firm owners "stop the chaos" by creating an efficient firm resulting in more success and free time. On today's episode, we cover honing a clear vision and why a firm can not save its way to success. And we dig into why working more is not the same as adding value. What’s In This Episode
Who is Allison Williams?
How to rewrite the narrative of working more does not mean more human value.
What pitfalls should be avoided when starting a firm?
Is chemistry in a law firm partnership enough?
How Allison grew her firm to a multi-million dollar business.
How can attorneys crush chaos in life and in business?
Only 2% of practicing attorneys are women of color, even less are managing partners. Kimberley Wallace, founding partner of Albany-based Wallace Turner Law, literally beat the odds. For Kimberley every challenge brings new opportunities. When confronted with high rates of recidivism as a public defender, she knew that healing her community meant treating the roots. She and her founding partner, Raysheea Turner, see home equity and entrepreneurship as the seeds of systemic change. Less than six months after opening their firm, the pandemic struck. Not to be deterred, this was a chance to test their paperless and remote law practice in earnest. Today, they help small business owners develop and implement remote strategies and first time home buyers grow generational wealth. I sat with Kimberley to discuss her experience from law school through becoming a public defender and building a future-proof law firm. Whats in this episode?
Who is Kimberley Wallace?
How growing up in Jamaica prepared her for a career in law.
What it was like to open a business in the pandemic?
What legacy does Kimberley Wallace want to leave behind?
As a professor, what advice does she give her students?
Defense attorney Jacqui Ford is the lawyer she wished her dad had. When she was young, his felony conviction derailed Jacqui's life, sending ripple effects throughout the family. Resolved to defend the accused, she was the first to go to college and receive a J.D. After passing the bar she spent six years as an Oklahoma County Public Defender, representing 3,000 people charged with felonies. Awarded the peer-nominated Clarence Darrow award she stood at the podium knowing she could make a stronger impact. In 2011 she opened her firm Jacquelyn Ford Law. Since then she has graduated from the Trial Lawyers College and received Top 100 Trial Lawyers three years in a row. On today's episode, I sat down with Jacqui to discuss motivation and finding your true values, effective rehabilitation, and the future of Oklahoma County. What's in this Episode
Who is Jacqui Ford?
How did Jacqui's childhood shape her legal career?
What misconceptions do people have about defense attorneys?
Why did Jacqui open her own law firm?
How does Jacqui help clients outside of the courtroom?
Founding partner of Albany-based Wallace Turner Law, Raysheea Turner, along with her partner Kim Wallace, are actual trailblazers for black women in law. The duo launched their remote-first law office in 2020. With a mission to heal a broken system, they help renters become first-time homeowners and ambitious entrepreneurs create thriving businesses. I spoke with Raysheea about the importance of creating strong support systems and how to make a substantial impact in the communities you wish to serve. We also cover how to build a business without sacrificing personal life or happiness. What’s In This Episode
Who is Raysheea Turner?
Why did Raysheea pivot from civil defense to opening her own law firm?
How did Raysheea build a law firm that was pandemic-proof?
What apps and tools does she use to remain remote first and paperless?
What are some barriers to entry people of color face when opening their own law firm?
How to create a business that works for you and does not require compromise
CEO of Legal Back Office, Jaimee Hall along with co-founder Sarah Stock, teaches attorneys how to increase profitability through systemization, technology, and client development. Legal Back Office manages the business side of small to midsize law firms so that attorneys can focus on what matters most - their clients. Jaimee is acutely aware of the challenges unique to women in law. Her insightful advice for woman attorneys is actionable and practical. I talked with her about what it really takes to start a law firm, the importance of early goal settings for founding partners, and what it means to be a bad-ass boss and an imperfect human.
What’s In This Episode
Who is Jaimee Hall?
What problems does Legal Back Office solve for attorneys?
Which systems need to be in place for a successful launch of a law firm?
What is the one thing that all founders need to do before creating a partnership?
How to build a business, timeline, and marketing plan in 90 days?
What should successful law firms ask their marketing agencies?
Why togetherness is one of the strongest lived values that women lawyers can leverage?
Successful trial lawyers understand empathy, effectively communicating the humanity of their client to the jury. For over a decade Lauren Wood, Senior Lawyer at Omega Law Group Injury & Accident Attorneys, has advocated for personal injury victims in California, obtaining hundreds of six and seven-figure verdicts and settlements - in no small part thanks to her commitment to travel. Lauren believes that travel is an ideal way to gain human lessons on understanding, compassion, and empathy. Named a Southern California Super Lawyers Rising Star four years in a row, Lauren's career is a perfect example of passion inspiring innovation. Curiosity led her from civil defense to personal injury law where she thrived in trial and earned a position as a partner for over 10 years. I sat down with Lauren to discuss her career and how she is creating supportive and educational spaces through travel for women in law and The Women in Trial Travel Summit. What’s In This Episode
Who is Lauren Wood?
How having an undefined path leaves room for discovery
What was Lauren's path to becoming a partner at a law firm
Which cases had the most impact on Lauren's career
How Lauren blends her two passions: law and travel
How Lauren is building a continuing education conference for women in law
Which women young lawyers should be following
Sara Williams is an attorney, an educator, and a top-notch personal brand builder. On top of a thriving legal career at Alexander Shunnarah Trial Attorneys (where she recovered more than $15 million for her clients just five years into her time at the firm), Sara dedicates a lot of time to mentoring, advising, and advocating for professional women and young attorneys via her blog, newsletter, and YouTube channel where she unpacks practical strategies for building a successful legal career. I spoke with Sara about the importance of mentorship, the barriers to entry facing women and people of color in the legal field, and how she defines career success at this stage in her life. What’s In This Episode
Who is Sara Williams?
Sara's law school experience at Cumberland School of Law
The importance of a mentor who has accomplished what you would like to accomplish
Creating educational spaces where students can be their full selves
Redefining career success and self-worth
Why digital marketing is the great equalizer
Why equity in business starts with equity in our homes
LawHer, a new podcast from Rankings.io, is here to shine a light on some of the brightest and boldest women in the legal industry. From attorneys to judges, entrepreneurs to politicians, we will be discussing their unique career paths, as well as the tools they developed along the way. Coming Spring 2022.