“I created a community, not because I'm the expert, or because I figured it out, but because I think there needs to be a space for us to share about what's working and what's not working.” - Matthew Korn What happens when the community you need doesn’t exist yet? Sometimes, you build it yourself. In this episode of So Much To Say: A Legal Podcast For People, Megan Senese and Jennifer Ramsey chat with Matthew Korn, employment attorney, partner at Pierson Ferdinand, and founder of Dad, Esq., about creating space for lawyer dads, making a major career change after 15 years, and figuring out how to build a career and life that actually work together. Matthew started Dad, Esq. because he kept hearing the same question: How do you balance being a lawyer and a dad? His answer wasn’t to position himself as the person who had figured it all out, but rather, a father of four with a demanding legal career of his own. He wanted a place where dads could admit that they hadn’t figured it all out, together. What began as an idea just weeks before its launch has grown into a private community of hundreds of lawyer dads across the U.S. and around the world. They talk about everything from parental leave and trial schedules to sleepless nights, marriage, potty training, career pressure, and the everyday wins that deserve celebrating. And that shared experience matters. There are things about being a lawyer that other dads may not understand, just as there are parts of fatherhood that don’t always feel easy to bring into the workplace. Dad, Esq. gives men a place for both. Matthew also gets candid about his own learning along the way, including realizing that building a community for involved dads was sometimes taking him away from being the involved dad he wanted to be. His solution? Delegate, ask for help, and remember that bigger isn’t always better. Because whether you're building a law practice, a community, or a family life you love, sometimes the goal isn't to keep making everything bigger. It's to recognize what's already working and build intentionally from there. You’ll hear about: Why Matthew left a firm after 15 years and what he was looking for in his next chapterHow greater autonomy is changing the way he thinks about work and familyWhy he created Dad, Esq. without considering himself an expert on fatherhoodThe unique pressures that come with being both a lawyer and a dadWhy talking about fatherhood at work can feel risky for menCreating a private space where lawyer dads can talk honestly about work, parenting, marriage, and lifeHow Dad, Esq. grew from an idea conceived just weeks before launch into an international communityWhy shared lived experience can make people feel less aloneThe conversations lawyer dads are having about parental leave, caregiving, career pressure, and simply being tiredHow local Dad, Esq. chapters are bringing an online community into real lifeWhy delegation became essential as Matthew balanced his family, law practice, and growing communityMatthew’s reminder to himself that everything doesn't always need to become bigger and betterAbout Matthew Korn: Matthew Korn is a company-side employment attorney, partner at Pierson Ferdinand, and founder of Dad, Esq., a free online community for lawyer dads. His employment practice spans both proactive counseling and litigation, helping employers navigate everything from reductions-in-force, wage and hour issues, and workplace policies to discrimination, retaliation, and class and collective actions. As a father of four, Matthew also knows firsthand the tension that can exist between being an ambitious lawyer and a present parent. He created Dad, Esq. in January 2025 to give lawyer dads a private space to connect, share what’s working and what isn’t, and support one another through the realities of law and fatherhood. Learn More: Connect with Matthew KornCheck out Dad, Esq. Submit your Request to Join Dad, Esq. today at DadEsq.mn.coRelated episodes: What NextGen Lawyers Need From the Legal Profession: A Conversation (with Georgetown Law Professor, Jonah Perlin)Even My Kids Know: Business Development is About Trust (Minis with Megan)Leadership Can Come From Anywhere (with Baker McKenzie CFO, William Washington III)This episode is brought to you by: ICVM Hawk ICVM Hawk is a digital marketing and AI solutions consultancy that helps law firms build stronger brands and future-ready marketing systems. They specialize in data-backed brand strategy, web design and development, SEO- and AI-optimized content and AI-enabled marketing system designed to improve visibility, credibility, and long-term growth. ICVM Hawk's solutions help law firms and legal marketing teams scale without losing the trust that matters most. Visit icvmhawk.com to learn how your firm can benefit. Stay Connected: Love So Much To Say? Let us know! Drop a review, give us 5 stars in your favorite podcast app, and tell us what made you laugh, think, or just go “yep, that’s me.” Every review helps us reach more awesome humans who want to make legal…well, human. Want to go deeper? Curious about 1:1 coaching with Megan or Jen? Or want the inside scoop on stage? Hit us up below, we’d love to chat! Learn more about stageConnect with Megan Senese Connect with Jennifer Ramsey
