Ep 14 - Jim Leonard

Mark Tanner’s drive, keen understanding of the anatomy of a trial, and his humility are amongst the characteristics that make him one of the best trial lawyers in the profession.  Mark’s results as well as the awards and accolades he receives from his peers make this fact quite obvious.  Mark has the rare recognition of being a fellow in both the American College of Trial Lawyers and the International Academy of Trial Lawyers.  

During our conversation, Mark discusses the motivation that he continues to draw upon from watching his family struggle as a child when his father was laid off from a job...Mark shares that from that point forward, he never wanted anybody to control his destiny.  Mark’s journey as a lawyer didn’t start as planned as he lost his first four jury trials.  During a poker game, one of Mark’s childhood buddies said to him, if I don’t hate the defendant doctor, I would not find for your client.  Mark took that lesson and applied it.  Mark Tanner describes himself as a guy who will never stab his opponent in the back , but he will kick them in the teeth. 

Enjoy this episode of Iron Advocate as we continue to explore how lawyers can kill it in the practice of law without it killing us.

Christon Halkiotis was a prosecutor for 15 years, handling the most serious criminal cases including drug investigations, sexual assault and murder.  But one year ago, Christon decided to turn in her badge, open her own law office and she now defends the rights of those accused.  Christon is a board certified criminal specialist practicing in Greensboro, North Carolina. 

In normal times, hanging out a shingle and building a law practice ain’t easy...during these challenging times, it’s a whole new ballgame.  Christon takes us through her year-long journey starting with what she was thinking when she turned the office lights on for the very first time.  She walks us through the fears, the successes and the vision for her future.. 

Christon loves being a lawyer.  Throughout the conversation, we raise various challenges that present themselves at the intersection where business meets lawyering.  The three of us had big fun discussing the issues from very different vantage points...two of us with 20 years each in private practice and one of us reflecting on her first year...

Join us for this episode of Iron Advocate as we continue to explore how lawyers can kill it in the practice of law without it killing us.

Visit Christon’s website www.cshlawpllc.com to learn more about her.

Ashley Kesner has battled alcohol and drug addiction as well as an eating disorder since her teenage years.  Thanksgiving 2020 was Ashley’s 224th day sober.

Ashley’s father, Kim Kesner, was an attorney for 40 years including 33 as solicitor to Clearfield County, Pennsylvania.  Being the face of the law in a small rural community is extremely isolating.  It also comes with the false perceptions of your community that because you are a lawyer...you must be rich.  The pressures of the practice weighed heavily upon Kim. 

Ashley and Kim Kesner offer a raw and honest lens into the undeniable connections between Kim’s life as a lawyer and Ashley’s struggles.  From Kim’s need to isolate himself at home while showing no signs of weakness to his reactions upon learning of Ashley’s spiral, Ashley and Kim share memories including Kim’s reaction upon discovering bags of vomit in his daughter’s bedroom.

Ashley says I wanted my dad, I didn’t want a lawyer...

This conversation delivered growth, laughter and tears...we hope that it does the same for you.

Join us for this episode of Iron Advocate as we continue to explore how lawyers can kill it in the practice of law without it killing us.

Michael Goldberg is a clinical therapist and performance enhancement specialist. Michael works with athletes, lawyers and highly successful business people to put their arms around anxiety and normalize it.  Michael supports his individual clients as well as firms and organizations in creating a culture of identifying, talking about and welcoming the uninvited guests who will never leave...anxiety, fear and shame.  Rather than pretend that they aren’t there...Michael shows his clients the boundless power in using anxiety, fear and shame as a way to gain an advantage over opponents.  Creating this culture of embracing and normalizing what others deny and run from gives growth mindset law firms a distinct advantage toward victory...and as Michael says...why wouldn’t you want that?

Every lawyer and law firm needs to listen to what Michael shares. Michael speaks in clear, passionate and relatable terms about what lawyers must do right now to improve their mindset and win...emotionally, professionally and financially.

You can reach Michael at:

magoldberg@executivefunctioning.net

Join us for this episode of Iron Advocate as we continue to explore how lawyers can kill it in the practice of law without it killing us.

Renee McDonald Hutchins has done it all in the law...and based upon her passion for the profession and vision for legal education in America, she is just getting started...Renee currently serves as Dean of UDC Law which is one of the nation’s 6 HBCU law schools.  Dean Hutchins eloquently and thoughtfully dissects what is working within our profession as well as what we must do better, and differently, to meet the honorable mandates that come with being a lawyer.  We put Dean Hutchins on the spot and asked her to describe the perfect law school were budget, boards of trustees, choice of faculty and ABA oversight no longer issues of complication.  Her answers did not disappoint.  

Prior to assuming the leadership of UDC Law, Renee Hutchins was a litigator and law professor. After graduating from Spelman College and Yale Law school, she clerked for legendary Judge Nathaniel Jones on the Sixth Circuit. Renee followed that up with years litigating as one of the nation’s leading voices on 4th Amendment issues, writing two textbooks, serving for more than a decade as a professor at the University of Maryland’s Frances King Carey School of Law including time as co-director of the Clinical Law Program, and founding director of the Appellate and Post-Conviction Advocacy Clinic.

Join us for this episode of Iron Advocate as we continue to explore how lawyers can kill it in the practice of law without it killing us.

Olivia Vizachero currently finds herself atop the best seller charts with the just released book, #Networked.  Olivia is one of 20 women lawyers who came together during the struggles of the pandemic and used the crisis as an opportunity for professional and personal growth.  Each chapter of the book is authored by a different woman.  

Olivia Vizachero’s story in the law started at age 8 when she announced that she wanted to be a lawyer...what she didn’t know was that her journey through law school and days as an associate in Big Law would lead her into coaching lawyers who struggle with the challenges we all face.  After confronting the reality that what she wanted her entire life wasn’t feeding her soul, Olivia Vizachero walked away from Big Law and started The Less Stressed Lawyer.  Her days are spent supporting lawyers who find themselves over-worked, over-stressed, overwhelmed and simply OVER it...

Our conversation with Olivia offers insights into where the profession is headed and how lawyers can maximize opportunity for growth inside and outside of the law.  Join us for this episode of Iron Advocate as we continue to explore how lawyers can kill it in the practice of law...without it killing us.

Visit the TheLessStresseawyer.com and you can reach Olivia at olivia@thelessstressedlawyer.com

David Jaffe is the Associate Dean of Student Affairs at American University’s Washington College of Law.  David is a pioneer who is on the cutting edge of the dialogue surrounding the connection between wellness and true success in the law.  David shares his vision for sparking innovative conversations and designing unique coursework in law schools which will produce lawyers with a growth mindset as they blaze new trails within the profession.  Our discussion is a realistic journey through the challenges facing the profession as we continue to uncover the oft-ignored connection between wellness and winning.  Enjoy this episode of Iron Advocate as we continue to explore how lawyers can kill it in the practice of law without it killing us.

Jen Riggs graduated law school and dove head-first into stress as a public defender.  During our conversation, Jen reflects on the burnout that came quickly.  She walked away from the law without a plan and boarded a plane to London.  This began Jen’s journey of deep personal growth that today finds her as an expert in mindfulness-based leadership development.  Jen offers digestible reflections that she believes would have changed her life in the law had she known then what she knows now.  Jen offers thoughts on having perspective, purpose and people around you for support.  Jen makes mindfulness relatable and attainable.  As she says during our conversation...being mindful doesn’t require you to sit on a cushion for 20 mins a day chanting Om.  Rather, it is about stepping into the present moment, grounding in your body and taking a breath.  Enjoy this episode of Iron Advocate as we continue to explore how lawyers can kill it in the practice of law without it killing us.  You can contact Jen at JenRiggs.com

In the fifth episode of Iron Advocate "Dialogue”,  Bob and Jeff tackle the importance of Productivity. 

Join us for this episode of Iron Advocate as we continue to explore how lawyers can kill it in the practice of law without it killing us. 

In the fourth episode of Iron Advocate "Dialogue”,  Bob and Jeff tackle the importance of Client Relationships. 

The three tenets/principles discussed are managing client expectations, not getting pulled into the client’s emotional reality, and establishing trust with the client. 

Join us for this episode of Iron Advocate as we continue to explore how lawyers can kill it in the practice of law without it killing us.