First Aid for the Mind: Mental Health in Law, with Soumya Palreddy & Jill Kluesner
In episode 585 of Lawyerist Podcast, Soumya Palreddy and Jill Kluesner explain how Mental Health First Aid equips lawyers to recognize signs of burnout, stress, and crisis—before they escalate. Learn practical tools for building healthier teams, reducing stigma, and improving communication in high-pressure firms.
Discover why legal leaders are embracing mental health training as a core business skill, and how a few key mindset shifts can protect both your well-being and your practice.
Links from the episode:
http://www.jillkluesnerconsulting.com
https://www.soumyapalreddyconsulting.com/
Listen to our previous episodes about Legal Professional Wellness.
#375: Taking Care of Your Team’s Mental Health, with Calvin Benton Apple | Spotify | LTN
#469: Lawyers in Crisis: Navigating Addiction and Mental Health, with Brian Cuban Apple | Spotify | LTN
#473: Redefining Perfectionism and Striving for Lawyers, with Stephanie Villinski and Kara Hardin Apple | Spotify | LTN
Have thoughts about today’s episode? Join the conversation on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and X!
If today's podcast resonates with you and you haven't read The Small Firm Roadmap Revisited yet, get the first chapter right now for free! Looking for help beyond the book? See if our coaching community is right for you.
Access more resources from Lawyerist at lawyerist.com.
Chapters / Timestamps:
00:00 – Introduction & ClioCon Recap03:45 – What Is Mental Health First Aid?06:10 – Training for the Legal Mind08:45 – Breaking the Stigma: Talking About Mental Health at Work11:32 – Signs, Symptoms & What to Notice15:55 – The First Aid Framework: How to Help19:20 – Leadership, Culture & Modeling Wellness22:58 – From Self-Care to Community Care26:40 – Practical Steps for Teams29:10 – Final Takeaways & How to Get Trained30:45 – Closing Thoughts & Resources
--------
30:46
--------
30:46
How to Stay Human in the Age of AI-Driven Law Firm Marketing, with Conroy Creative
In episode 584 of Lawyerist Podcast, Zack Glaser sits down with longtime legal marketing expert Karin Conroy of Conroy Creative Counsel to talk about the evolution of law firm marketing in the age of artificial intelligence.
Karin explains why lawyers shouldn’t fear AI, but should learn to use it strategically. From the “Iron Man vs. Terminator” analogy to practical steps for improving your firm’s marketing funnel, she shares how attorneys can blend technology and human insight to build trust, attract the right clients, and stay ahead of the curve.
They also dig into how AI is reshaping SEO, the importance of authenticity, and why marketing fundamentals still matter more than ever.
Links from this episode:
Conroy Creative Counsel
The AI Marketing Cookbook for Lawyers
Listen to our previous episodes with Karin:
#559: The Imitation Trap: Lessons from 15 Years of Top Law Firm Websites , with Conroy Creative Counsel (Sponsored) Apple | Spotify | LTN
#546: Unlock Law Firm Growth: AI marketing Secrets with Karin Conroy Apple | Spotify | LTN
Have thoughts about today’s episode? Join the conversation on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and X!
If today's podcast resonates with you and you haven't read The Small Firm Roadmap Revisited yet, get the first chapter right now for free! Looking for help beyond the book? See if our coaching community is right for you.
Access more resources from Lawyerist at lawyerist.com.
Chapters / Timestamps:
0:00 – The evolution of law firm marketing 3:50 – AI’s rise and the Iron Man vs. Terminator analogy 9:50 – Understanding your marketing funnel 12:00 – Why referrals are marketing 17:00 – Finding weak points in your strategy 21:00 – Adding AI without losing the human touch 25:30 – How AI is changing SEO and “Search Everywhere Optimization” 37:40 – The value of authenticity and human connection
--------
43:57
--------
43:57
From Survival to Strategy: Scaling Your Law Firm Finances, with Bernadette Harris
In episode 583 of the Lawyerist Podcast, Zack Glaser talks with Bernadette Harris, business strategist and finance coach at Lawyerist, about how to move beyond “survival mode” and into strategic, scalable growth.
Bernadette breaks down the financial metrics that define a mature, transferable law firm, what she calls the difference between working in your business and having your business work for you. Together, they explore the KPIs that show when your team, not just you, is generating revenue, how to measure leverage across roles, and how to build systems that make your firm valuable enough to sell or pass on.
Bernadette also shares what succession planning really looks like for small firms, why client origination should be team-wide, and how to start laying the groundwork, no matter your current stage of growth.
Listen to our previous episodes with Bernadette:
#557: KPIs for Lawyers: Measuring Your Law Firm’s Financial Health with Bernadette Harris Apple | Spotify | LTN
#523: Financial Red Flags: Are You Hiring Too Soon?, with Bernadette Harris Apple | Spotify | LTN
#457: Healthy Profits: Understanding the Story Your Numbers Tell, with Bernadette Harris Apple| Spotify | LTN
If today's podcast resonates with you and you haven't read The Small Firm Roadmap Revisited yet, get the first chapter right now for free! Looking for help beyond the book? See if our coaching community is right for you.
Access more resources from Lawyerist at lawyerist.com.
Chapters/Timestamps:
0:00 – Introduction: Running and Community at LabCon 2:40 – The Power of Accountability and Growth Communities 5:40 – Advanced Firm Finances: Stage 3 & 4 Growth 8:45 – Shifting from Survival to Strategy 11:35 – Measuring Leverage: Who’s Doing the Work? 14:45 – Tracking Revenue by Role, Not Hours 19:15 – When Owners Should Stop Doing Casework 23:00 – Building Transferable Value 25:40 – Succession Planning and Client Origination 29:10 – Systems, SOPs, and True Scalability 33:20 – How to Reach the Next Stage 35:10 – Closing Thoughts & Resources
--------
36:58
--------
36:58
Deepfakes, Data, and Duty: Navigating AI Ethics in Law, with Merisa Bowers
In episode 582 of Lawyerist Podcast, Zack Glaser talks with Merisa Bowers, Loss Prevention and Outreach Counsel at the Ohio Bar Liability Insurance Company, about how artificial intelligence is reshaping lawyers’ ethical duties.
Merisa explains how deepfakes and realistic scams are creating new challenges for diligence and verification, why unregulated chatbots can accidentally create attorney-client relationships, and what disclosures lawyers should make when using AI tools. She also shares practical steps to maintain confidentiality, protect client data, and apply long-standing ethics rules to fast-changing technologies.
Links from the episode:
ABA Formal Opinion 512 - Generative AI
ABA Formal Opinion 510 - Prospective Clients & Rule 1.18
Listen to our previous episodes about non-lawyer ownership:
#354: A Look at the New Non-lawyer Firm Ownership Reform, with Lori Gonzalez: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Lawyerist
#355: A Look at the New Non-lawyer Firm Ownership Reform, Pt.2, with Allen Rodriguez: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Lawyerist
#221: The State of the Legal Profession, with ABA President Robert M. Carlson: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Lawyerist
Have thoughts about today’s episode? Join the conversation on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and X!
If today's podcast resonates with you and you haven't read The Small Firm Roadmap Revisited yet, get the first chapter right now for free! Looking for help beyond the book? See if our coaching community is right for you.
Access more resources from Lawyerist at lawyerist.com.
Chapters / Timestamps:
0:00 – ClioCon4:45 – Meet Merisa Bowers6:50 – Tech Shifts & New Ethics Risks9:10 – Deepfakes & Diligence13:40 – AI Scams & Fake Clients18:30 – Chatbots Creating Clients
23:40 – Ethical Chatbot Models26:45 – Should Lawyers Disclose AI?29:40 – Don’t Let AI Think for You34:20 – Protecting Client Data36:10 – Staying Ethical with AI37:40 – Wrap-Up & Final Thoughts
--------
38:24
--------
38:24
Agentic AI for Lawyers: Moving Beyond Enhanced Search, with Drew Bloom
In episode 581 of Lawyerist Podcast, Zack Glaser talks with Drew Bloom of Affinity Consulting Group about how artificial intelligence is evolving from assistants into agents that can act on a lawyer’s behalf. Instead of just suggesting edits or answers, agentic AI can redline contracts, search multiple documents, and connect across platforms to finish tasks before asking for approval.
Drew explains what this shift means for law firms, what tools are likely to appear in the next 12–24 months, and why preparing your data—through structure, metadata, and integrations—matters more than ever. He also shares practical ways to start experimenting with AI connectors in tools you already use, so you’re ready when agentic features become standard in everyday legal work.
Listen to our other episodes on AI in Law:
#577: Rethinking Law Firm Growth in the Age of AI, with Sam Harden Apple | Spotify | LTN
#565: Becoming the AI Driven Leader, with Geoff Woods Apple | Spotify | LTN
#562: Beyond ChatGPT: The AI Revolution Happening Inside Your Firm, with Charreau Bell Apple | Spotify | LTN
#553: AI Tools and Processes Every Lawyer Should Use, with Catherine Sanders Reach Apple | Spotify | LTN
#543: What Lawyers Need to Know About the Ethics of Using AI, with Hilary Gerzhoy Apple | Spotify | LTN
#538: AI Is Making Law Firms Obsolete, with Alistair Vigier Apple | Spotify | LTN
If today's podcast resonates with you and you haven't read The Small Firm Roadmap Revisited yet, get the first chapter right now for free! Looking for help beyond the book? See if our coaching community is right for you.
Access more resources from Lawyerist at lawyerist.com.
Chapters/Timestamps:
0:00 – Introduction & Conferences Recap
2:48 – From SEO to AEO: The New Search Frontier
6:34 – Meet Drew Bloom: AI for Law Firms
8:48 – What Makes AI “Agentic”?
13:47 – Assistants vs. Agents: How They Differ
16:00 – Redlining & Real-World Use Cases
20:41 – MCPs and Custom AI Connections
27:30 – The Future: Multi-Tool AI & Mobility
29:48 – Preparing Your Firm: Data & Metadata
34:38 – Where Lawyers Can Experiment Safely
The Lawyerist Podcast is your ultimate guide to building, managing, and growing a successful small or medium-sized law firm. Tailored for lawyers and attorneys who aspire to thrive in today’s fast-paced legal landscape, this podcast delivers actionable advice, proven strategies, and cutting-edge insights to help you run a modern law firm with confidence.
Whether you're a solo attorney starting your practice, managing a growing firm, or looking to optimize your operations, The Lawyerist Podcast provides the tools you need. From mastering law firm marketing, streamlining workflows with legal technology, and improving client relationships to building sustainable firm culture, we cover everything that matters to entrepreneurial lawyers.
Hosted by industry leaders and packed with interviews featuring top legal professionals, tech innovators, and law firm management experts, each episode dives deep into topics like law firm profitability, automation, time management, and future trends in legal services.
If you’re searching for practical advice on how to run a law firm, grow your legal business, and stay ahead of the curve, The Lawyerist Podcast is the resource you’ve been waiting for. Subscribe now to elevate your practice and build the law firm of your dreams.
Polska