In this episode of Probate Notes, Sam flips the script and brings listeners inside his own law firm to explore a part of probate practice that often gets overlooked: the first phone call. That initial conversation sets the tone for the entire attorney-client relationship, shaping expectations around cost, timeline, communication, and trust. Sam explains why attorneys are often not the best people to handle these early conversations and how a well-trained intake professional can improve both client experience and firm efficiency.

Joining Sam is Brandie Cooper, a client care specialist at Price Law Firm, who shares her perspective from the front lines of probate intake. Drawing on her background in banking, sales, and client service, Brandie explains how she gathers essential information, guides conversations with empathy, and helps families feel supported during an emotionally difficult time. Together, Sam and Brandie discuss how structure, compassion, and clear boundaries can lead to better outcomes for both clients and law firms.

This conversation offers insight for probate attorneys considering whether to delegate initial consultations and for professionals who want to understand what it takes to excel in a client-facing intake role.

In this episode, you will hear:

• Why initial probate consultations often work better when handled by a non-attorney
• How intake professionals gather key information without giving legal advice
• Setting clear expectations around probate timelines, costs, and communication
• Managing emotionally charged calls with empathy while guiding the conversation
• Common objections and challenges families raise during probate intake
• The importance of finding the right personality for a client care role
• How effective intake systems support client retention and firm growth

Resources from this Episode

https://pricelawfirm.com/about-us/

The 6-Stage Probate Process: How to Navigate California Probate: https://a.co/d/82310Rw

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Episode Credits

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you.

In this episode of Probate Notes, Sam welcomes Sharon Vidano, a former criminal defense attorney turned certified life coach, for a conversation about mindset, energy, and intentional living in the legal profession.

Drawing on her own experience practicing law, Sharon explains why so many attorneys find themselves living on autopilot, pushing through long hours, high stress, and constant demands without ever stopping to ask whether the life they're building actually feels fulfilling. Sharon introduces the idea of "living by default" versus "living by design," emphasizing that change starts with awareness. By noticing thought patterns, emotional reactions, and areas of dissatisfaction, attorneys can begin to make intentional choices about how they show up at work and at home. She shares examples of how mindset shifts can transform difficult client interactions, reduce emotional exhaustion, and improve professional outcomes without requiring a career change.

A major theme of the discussion is energy preservation. Sharon explains how unmanaged stress and constant reactivity drain mental and emotional reserves, making even routine tasks feel overwhelming. She offers simple tools such as pausing, reframing thoughts, and intentional breathing to help regulate the nervous system in high-pressure moments, whether in court, client meetings, or negotiations.

The episode also explores why growth is difficult to sustain on its own. Sharon discusses the value of coaching, accountability, and structured support, especially for attorneys who are used to self-reliance. Rather than adding more to an already full plate, coaching helps attorneys work more intentionally with the time, energy, and resources they already have, leading to greater clarity, confidence, and fulfillment.

In this episode, you will hear:

• Living by default vs. living by design
• Why attorneys are prone to burnout and autopilot thinking
• Awareness as the foundation for change
• Mindset shifts that improve client interactions
• Energy preservation in high-stress environments
• Breathing techniques to reset during tense moments
• Visioning exercises to clarify what you truly want
• The role of coaching and accountability in sustainable growth

Resources from this Episode

lifecoachsharon.com

sharonvidano.systeme.io/get-your-free-burnout-toolkit

tidycal.com/sharonnvidano/breakthroughsession

The 6-Stage Probate Process: How to Navigate California Probate: https://a.co/d/82310Rw

Follow and Review:

We'd love for you to follow us if you haven't yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We'd love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select "Ratings and Reviews" and "Write a Review" then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast.

Episode Credits

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you.

Family disputes over trusts and estates don't just involve legal questions. They carry decades of emotional history, misunderstandings, and tension that money alone can't resolve.

In this episode of Probate Notes, Sam sits down with veteran trust-and-estate mediator Daniel I. Spector to explore how mediation offers an effective, human-centered alternative to years of bruising litigation.

Dan walks through what mediation actually looks like inside probate disputes — how neutral fact-framing works, why listening for understanding (not rebuttal) changes negotiations, and how collaborative compromise gives families far more control over outcomes than courtroom battles ever can.

Daniel I. Spector is a partner at Hanson Bridgett and a neutral with Judicate West, with over 30 years of experience litigating and mediating complex trust, estate, financial elder abuse, and conservatorship disputes throughout California.

If you've ever wondered how some of the most emotionally charged legal cases resolve without trials, this episode provides a rare behind-the-scenes look at the process.

In this episode, you will hear:

• The practical differences between litigation and mediation in trust and estate disputes

• Why most probate conflicts resolve through settlement rather than trial

• How neutral fact statements guide productive negotiations

• The importance of listening for understanding instead of rebuttal

• How mediation addresses both financial issues and family dynamics

• A step-by-step walkthrough of a realistic probate mediation scenario

• Key traits and experience needed to become an effective mediator

Resources from this Episode

www.linkedin.com/in/daniel-i-spector-a0bb441b

www.hansonbridgett.com/Our-Attorneys/daniel-spector

www.judicatewest.com/adr/daniel-spector

The 6-Stage Probate Process: How to Navigate California Probate: https://a.co/d/82310Rw

Follow and Review:

We'd love for you to follow us if you haven't yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We'd love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select "Ratings and Reviews" and "Write a Review" then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast.