“It’s not more work. You have to start thinking differently. Because once you start thinking differently, the work yields different results.” – Kara Vaval

On this episode of That One Lawyer Podcast, Neal Goldstein sits down with Kara Vaval, attorney, entrepreneur, speaker, and author, to unpack one of the most important lessons lawyers need to learn: success in law isn’t about grinding harder, it’s about shifting your mindset.

For too long, lawyers have been told that the only path to success is longer hours, more billable time, and constant hustle. Kara challenges that outdated thinking. Instead, she explains how a true lawyer mindset shift can transform the way you practice, the way you serve clients, and ultimately, the results you’re able to achieve.

Watch Full Episode on YouTube HERE

In this conversation, Kara and Neal go deep on topics that every young lawyer, solo practitioner, and law firm owner needs to hear:

• Why thinking differently creates better outcomes for both lawyers and clients

• The importance of aligning your practice with your values and vision

• How to avoid burnout by reframing the way you approach your work

• The difference between “more work” and “different work” — and why the latter is where growth lives

• Kara’s personal journey from traditional lawyering to becoming a sought-after voice on mindset, marketing, and meaningful success

• Real strategies to help lawyers stop chasing someone else’s version of success and start building practices that actually support their lives

This episode is about more than just motivation. Kara offers tangible steps you can take right now to build resilience, think differently, and see real change in your practice.

Whether you’re a law student, a new lawyer just starting out, or a seasoned law firm owner trying to adapt to a changing profession, Kara’s insights will help you rethink what’s possible.

Why this episode matters for lawyers

Lawyers today face more pressure than ever — competition, client expectations, and the relentless pace of legal work. The lawyers who thrive are not necessarily the ones working the longest hours. They are the ones who adapt, evolve, and embrace a new way of thinking.

Kara shows us that lawyers who make the mindset shift can:

• Attract better clients through authentic relationships

• Build more sustainable firms without sacrificing personal health and well-being

• Grow beyond traditional marketing strategies like billboards and SEO, and instead create trust and loyalty that lasts

Become “that one lawyer” people think of when it matters most.

About That One Lawyer Podcast

Hosted by attorney Neal Goldstein, That One Lawyer Podcast isn’t about Hollywood lawyers in expensive suits. It’s about real lawyers having real conversations. Every week Neal talks with lawyers, business leaders, and entrepreneurs who share the stories that shaped them, the mistakes they’ve made, and the strategies they’ve used to build meaningful, client-centered practices.

The podcast is designed for:

• Law students wondering what it’s really like to practice law

• Young lawyers trying to stand out in a crowded field

• Solo and small-firm lawyers looking for marketing and growth strategies

• Law firm owners ready to rethink their business models

• Anyone who believes relationships are the true foundation of success in law

Subscribe to That One Lawyer Podcast for more interviews with attorneys, law firm owners, and entrepreneurs who are changing the way law is practiced. Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.

At The McCraw Law Group, compassion and integrity aren’t just words on a wall. They’re the foundation of how Lin McCraw has built a values-driven law firm that gets results for real people.

In this episode of That One Lawyer™ Podcast, Neal Goldstein sits down with Lin McCraw to explore how filtering every decision through core values — compassion for clients and integrity in every interaction — creates a law firm that stands out.

Watcht the full video on YouTube HERE

Lin shares:

• Why treating clients as human beings, not case files, is the key to building trust.

• How compassion and integrity guide his firm’s systems, culture, and growth.

• Practical steps lawyers can take to align their practice with their personal values.

• Why values-driven lawyering creates both better outcomes and better lives for attorneys.

Whether you’re a young lawyer, a solo practitioner, or a law firm owner looking for growth strategies, this conversation will show you how to build a sustainable practice that puts clients first without burning yourself out.

👉 Subscribe to That One Lawyer™ Podcast for more interviews with attorneys, law firm owners, and entrepreneurs who are changing the way law is practiced.

Starting a law career later in life doesn’t mean you’re behind — it can mean you’re better prepared.

In this episode of That One Lawyer™ Podcast, host Neal Goldstein talks with Christopher Nicolaysen, co-founder of Springs Law Group in Colorado Springs, about his unconventional path into law, building a practice around authenticity, and how young and solo attorneys can grow without burning out.

Christopher shares his journey of entering law later in life, what he carried from past experiences into his practice, and how staying grounded in family and fitness gives him balance. He opens up about the challenges of starting a firm, the lessons he’s learned about client relationships, and why vulnerability and humility make you a better lawyer.

Whether you’re just starting your practice, running a small law firm, or thinking about how to make your career more sustainable, this episode is packed with insights you can apply right now.

Watch Full Episode on YouTube HERE

• Intro

• Why Christopher Nicolaysen started law later in life

• Lessons from starting a firm with no “traditional” background

• Building Springs Law Group with authenticity and heart

• How fitness and family anchor his leadership

• What young lawyers need to know about client trust

• Mistakes to avoid when starting your own law practice

• Advice for lawyers who feel behind in their careers

• Closing thoughts

Christopher is the co-founder of Springs Law Group, a personal injury firm in Colorado Springs. Known for his approachable leadership style and client-first mentality, he helps people rebuild after trauma while guiding his team with authenticity and care.

👉 Subscribe now for more conversations with lawyers who are growing referral-first, relationship-driven practices.
🎧 Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.

Stephanie Rodriguez-Ruiz isn’t just a personal injury lawyer — she’s a former high school dropout with a felony record who went on to become a civil rights attorney, nonprofit leader, and fierce advocate for teens and marginalized communities.

In this episode of That One Lawyer™ Podcast, Neal Goldstein sits down with Stephanie to unpack her unbelievable journey to the courtroom, how 12 years as a paralegal shaped her client-first approach, and what it really takes to build a legal career that matters.

If you're a young or entrepreneurial lawyer wondering whether you belong — this is your episode.

Watch the video on YouTube HERE

What You’ll Learn:

• How Stephanie rewrote her story after early mistakes and legal trouble
  
  

• Why law school doesn’t define you — but grit does
  
  

• The power of lived experience in building client trust
  
  

• What most law firms get wrong about “serving the community”
  
  

• Why mentorship is more than a buzzword — and how she’s doing it in real life
  
  

• How being authentic builds a reputation better than any resume
  
  

Guest: Stephanie Rodriguez Ruiz
Stephanie is a personal injury and civil rights attorney in Boston. She co-founded the nonprofit Leading Ladies of Boston, serves on the board of the Boston Arts Academy (which once expelled her), and is a passionate advocate for record sealing, educational equity, and mentoring teens.

Host: Neal Goldstein
Author of Who’s In The Waiting Room? and founder of That One Lawyer™ Podcast, Neal brings real talk and practical wisdom to lawyers building meaningful careers.

What if burnout wasn’t a failure — but a sign you’re ready to grow?

In this episode of That One Lawyer™ Podcast, Neal Goldstein interviews Bryan Kramer — TED speaker, best-selling author, and marketing expert — on what it means to stop performing and start living.

From burnout to balance, Bryan shares the mindset shift that changed everything.

Watch full video HERE

👉 Topics We Cover:

• Identity beyond your career

• Why burnout isn't weakness

• Mindset shifts for young lawyers

• Boundaries, balance & purpose

• Reinventing your version of success

🎧 Subscribe for more real talk, mentorship, and growth strategies for lawyers.

What does it really take to go from heartbreak and grief to passing the bar exam and building a law career — all while starting over at age 50?

In this episode of That One Lawyer™ Podcast, Neal Goldstein sits down with attorney Gretchen Nicolaysen, whose inspiring story proves that it is never too late to reinvent yourself. From her early struggles as a teenager to her bold decision to pursue law school later in life, Gretchen shares the truth about what it means to face setbacks, overcome fear, and create a meaningful legal career.

If you’re a lawyer (or aspiring lawyer) who has ever wondered:

• Am I too late to start over?

• How do I balance resilience with the demands of law school?

• What role does mentorship play in shaping a law career?

• How can I find purpose in this profession beyond billable hours?

This episode is packed with insight, encouragement, and practical wisdom.

Watch the full video HERE

• Hear the unfiltered reality of what it’s like to go through law school at 50

• Learn how Gretchen turned hardship into the drive to earn her JD

• Discover why mentorship and community matter more than grades or prestige

• Find out how lawyers can redefine success and fulfillment in this profession

• Get inspiration to stay the course even when the odds feel stacked against you

• From grief to JD: how Gretchen transformed hardship into motivation

• The challenges of law school as a non-traditional student

• Why resilience is a lawyer’s greatest asset

• Mentorship: how to find it, how to give it, and why it matters

• Building a legal career after 50 — the opportunities no one talks about

• Advice for young lawyers (and older lawyers) about staying authentic

• Reinventing yourself as a professional when others doubt you

• Gretchen’s Early Struggles and Turning Points

• The Decision to Go to Law School at 50

• From Grief to JD: Finding Purpose Through Hardship

• The Importance of Mentorship in the Legal Profession

• Building Resilience Inside and Outside the Courtroom

• Challenges of Being a Non-Traditional Law Student

• How to Reinvent Yourself Later in Life

• Advice for Lawyers Seeking Meaning and Purpose

• Closing Thoughts: Why It’s Never Too Late

That One Lawyer™ Podcast is where lawyers, entrepreneurs, and changemakers come to talk about what really matters — building a meaningful career based on authenticity, relationships, and long-term growth.

Hosted by Neal Goldstein, attorney and author of Who’s in the Waiting Room?, the podcast brings you real conversations with lawyers, entrepreneurs, and leaders who refuse to blend in. Each episode is packed with mentorship, insights, and the kind of honesty you won’t find in textbooks.

Whether you’re a law student, a millennial lawyer, or a seasoned attorney searching for more meaning in your practice, this podcast is your place to learn, be inspired, and connect with the stories that remind us why we chose this profession in the first place.

This show is for lawyers who want to stop playing the game the way they were taught and start building a career (and life) that actually works.

What if the defining case of your career was born from tragedy and changed everything?

Michael Barasch never planned to be a lawyer. But unexpected turns, relentless advocacy, and a deep personal connection to his clients turned him into one of the most recognized voices for both 9/11 first responders and civilian survivors.

As managing partner of Barasch & McGarry, Michael and his team have helped secure over $3 billion in compensation and lifetime healthcare for thousands of people through the 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund from firefighters and police officers to teachers, downtown residents, and families who lost loved ones.

Watch the Full Video on YouTube HERE

In this episode of That One Lawyer™ Podcast, Neal Goldstein talks with Michael about:

• How he went from reluctant law student to 9/11 legal advocate

• The career moments that changed his path forever

• Why networking and relationships can matter more than grades or résumés

• Behind-the-scenes of passing the Zadroga Act and securing long-term healthcare funding

• How his firm built trust with thousands of clients during their most difficult moments

• What it takes to lobby Congress as a trial lawyer

• Why being part of the community you serve changes everything

💡 WHO THIS IS FOR:

• Lawyers who want to use their careers for impact, not just income

• Millennial attorneys looking for career clarity and inspiration

• PI lawyers who want to build a client-centered practice

• Legal professionals curious about public interest law and advocacy

• Anyone who believes the law can be a force for good

💬 MICHAEL BARASCH ON PURPOSE:
"I keep thinking there are so many people out there who still don't realize that they're eligible… That brings me so much satisfaction… That feels so good. So no, I don't get tired. I'm just always energized by who else can I reach."

👤 ABOUT MICHAEL BARASCH
Michael Barasch is the managing partner of Barasch & McGarry in New York City, the leading law firm representing 9/11 first responders and survivors. Over the past two decades, he and his team have helped secure more than $3 billion in awards through the 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund. A cancer survivor himself, Michael has turned his firm into a mission-driven practice focused on justice, healthcare, and advocacy for those exposed to the toxic aftermath of 9/11.

🌐 Learn more: 911victims.com

🎙️ ABOUT THE PODCAST
That One Lawyer™ Podcast is where lawyers, entrepreneurs, and changemakers come to talk about what really matters building a meaningful career based on authenticity, relationships, and long-term growth.

Hosted by Neal Goldstein, this show is for lawyers who want to stop playing the game the way they were taught and start building a career (and life) that actually works.

📌 WANT MORE LIKE THIS?
🟢 Subscribe to the channel for new episodes every week
🟢 Leave a comment with your favorite insight from Michael
🟢 Share this video with a lawyer who needs a new perspective

What if the key to standing out as a lawyer is not in your rates, your referrals, or your résumé... but in how you make people feel?

In this episode of That One Lawyer™ Podcast, host Neal Goldstein interviews Chris Schembra, Wall Street Journal best-selling author of Gratitude and Pasta and Gratitude Through Hard Times, and founder of the 7:47 Gratitude Experience™. Chris shares how lawyers can use gratitude and emotional intelligence to build deeper trust, create unforgettable client experiences, and grow a practice built on authentic relationships.

Chris has helped over 500,000 leaders around the world strengthen connection using the science of gratitude. His work has impacted over 200 companies, earned 2 Emmy Awards, and been featured in Forbes, Harvard Business Review, Entrepreneur, and USA Today.

Now, he is helping lawyers do the same, because in a competitive industry, how you connect matters more than ever.

Whether you are a young attorney just starting out or a seasoned lawyer ready to change how you build your firm, this episode will change how you think about relationships and success.

Watch the Full Video HERE

• Why gratitude is a game-changer for lawyers who want long-term growth

• How to build deeper trust in just one client conversation

• Chris’s neuroscience-backed approach to client loyalty and referrals

• Real prompts you can use this week to create stronger relationships

• Why most law firm marketing overlooks the emotional element

• How to move past transactional relationships and create real moments of value

• The hidden cost of avoiding emotional intelligence as a lawyer

• How gratitude works for litigators, solopreneurs, and everyone in between

✅ Subscribe to That One Lawyer™ Podcast
✅ Like this video and comment your biggest takeaway
✅ Share with your firm or legal team

Chris Schembra is the founder of the 7:47 Gratitude Experience™, a best-selling author, keynote speaker, and relationship-building expert. Known as the "Gratitude Guru" by USA Today, Chris is on a mission to help leaders foster deeper human connection in work and life.

His books Gratitude and Pasta and Gratitude Through Hard Times explore how thankfulness can reshape everything from mental health to business growth. Chris has created award-winning experiences for organizations like Dell, LVMH, Microsoft, and the United States Veterans Chamber of Commerce.

He is a founding member of the Rolling Stone Culture Council and his work has been featured in The Wall Street Journal, Inc., NBC, Fox News, Forbes, Entrepreneur, and more.

• What is gratitude-based lawyering

• The science behind emotional intelligence and trust

• The 7:47 Gratitude framework in action

• How to deepen client loyalty without spending more money

• Why young lawyers are missing this

• Building a values-first law firm

• From lead generation to client connection

• Practical gratitude habits for busy lawyers

• Chris’s final challenge for every attorney
  
  
  

📘 Grab "Gratitude and Pasta" on Amazon!
🌐 Website → https://www.747club.org/

🎙️ ABOUT THE PODCAST That One Lawyer™ Podcast is where lawyers, entrepreneurs, and changemakers come to talk about what really matters, building a meaningful career based on authenticity, relationships, and long-term growth.

Hosted by Neal Goldstein, this show is for lawyers who want to stop playing the game the way they were taught and start building a career (and life) that actually works.

📌 WANT MORE LIKE THIS?
🟢 Subscribe to the channel for new episodes every week
🟢 Leave a comment with your favorite insight from Chris
🟢 Share this episode with a lawyer who needs a new perspective