Leadership In Law: Growth & Leadership for Law Firm Owners

Marilyn Jenkins
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Leadership In Law™ is the podcast for law firm owners, managing partners, and attorneys who want to build stronger firms and become better leaders.   Hosted by Marilyn Jenkins, founder of Law Marketing Zone® and a digital growth strategist for law firms, each episode brings practical conversations with accomplished attorneys, law firm leaders, and industry experts.   We explore law firm growth, leadership, marketing, AI and legal technology, hiring, culture, client experience, communication, operations, profitability, business development, and the future of legal practice.   If you're building a law firm that can grow without depending on you for every decision, Leadership In Law™ gives you practical ideas, real-world lessons, and proven strategies you can put to work in your firm.     Powered by Law Marketing Zone®     

  1. 1 day ago

    From SWAT to CEO: Building High-Performance Teams Without Burnout with Bridget Truxillo

    Great leadership is not a personality trait, it’s a practice, and you can hear that clearly in our conversation with Bridget Truxillo. Bridget is an attorney, former deputy sheriff, and founder of Protective Wellness and Lady Law Shield. She’s worked SWAT, undercover narcotics, and inside law firms, which gives her a rare view of what breaks teams and what actually keeps people healthy and effective. We dig into the leadership habits that hold up in any environment, especially communication. Bridget explains why “chain of command” can’t be the only tool in law enforcement leadership, and why law firm leadership fails when partners tolerate toxic behavior just because someone brings in revenue. We talk about the hidden costs of toxic workplace culture: recruiting and training expenses, lost productivity, poor morale, employment law problems, and the slow slide into quiet quitting. If you care about employee retention, strong performance, and a workplace that people don’t dread, this part hits hard. Burnout prevention is a major thread too. Bridget shares what burnout looks like before it explodes, how leaders can spot it early, and how better systems reduce stress. She also gets specific about modern law practice management, including using AI to triage an overflowing inbox, route tasks, and protect focus. We end with her best advice for new leaders: study leadership consistently, get accountability through coaching if you can, and stay humble enough to look in the mirror and adjust. Reach Bridget here: https://ladylawshield.com/ https://www.instagram.com/ladylawshield/ https://www.facebook.com/ladylawshield https://www.tiktok.com/@lady.law.shield https://www.youtube.com/@ladylawshield https://www.linkedin.com/ladylawshield/ Season 4 Episode 185 Ready to level up your law firm marketing? Book a FREE Discovery Call with Marilyn Here: https://lawmarketingzone.com/bookacall Leadership In Law Podcast with host, Marilyn Jenkins  Powered by Law Marketing Zone® https://lawmarketingzone.com A full-service Digital Marketing Agency helping clients increase Leads, Cases, and Profit by getting their digital marketing right. Subscribe on your favorite Podcast listening platform! Like, Share, and Review us! #leadershipinlawpodcast #leadershipinlaw #lawmarketingzone #marilynjenkins

    From SWAT to CEO: Building High-Performance Teams Without Burnout with Bridget Truxillo

  2. 6 days ago

    The Game of Ten® to Become a Better Leader with Steve Barton

    Your calendar is packed, your firm is moving, and somehow your mind is still louder than ever. That is the gap we go after with executive coach and leadership expert Steve Barton, creator of The Game of Ten®. Steve joins me to unpack why so many high achievers keep trying to think their way to peace, when the real lever is awareness. We talk about how overthinking fuels reactive choices, strained communication, and the kind of quiet burnout that can hide behind “success,” especially for law firm owners and entrepreneurs.  Steve shares his leadership journey from a family owned flower business to coaching executives, including the moment he realized he had everything he wanted and still was not happy. From there we get practical: how to treat data as a tool without letting it run your life, how to create space between stimulus and response, and why “common sense” leadership often disappears under stress. We also walk through the six phrases Steve teaches clients to reduce internal noise and shift out of fear, guilt, shame, and self doubt, plus the key warning that makes the practice actually work: you have to let go of what surfaces, not just repeat the words.  We zoom out to team culture and accountability, including what it looks like to lead with unconditional respect and clear boundaries, stay fair and consistent, and help people feel heard without losing standards. Steve also makes the case that intuition is an underused leadership skill, and that clarity improves when the mind is not crowded with mental clutter.  Reach Steve here: https://www.podmatch.com/member/1774815210524688e1198d0e4 https://www.linkedin.com/service-marketplace/projects/15194679164/ https://www.stevebartoncoaching.com/ Season 4 Episode 184 Ready to level up your law firm marketing? Book a FREE Discovery Call with Marilyn Here: https://lawmarketingzone.com/bookacall Leadership In Law Podcast with host, Marilyn Jenkins  Powered by Law Marketing Zone® https://lawmarketingzone.com A full-service Digital Marketing Agency helping clients increase Leads, Cases, and Profit by getting their digital marketing right. Subscribe on your favorite Podcast listening platform! Like, Share, and Review us! #leadershipinlawpodcast #leadershipinlaw #lawmarketingzone #marilynjenkins

    The Game of Ten® to Become a Better Leader with Steve Barton

  3. 19 Oct

    Scale Your Firm for Success with Kyle Harbaugh

    Your firm can be busy, profitable, and still stuck and the reason is usually leadership design, not legal skill. We sit down with Kyle Harbaugh, founder of Chief GO Officers LLC, to unpack what actually slows down decision making as a law firm grows, why owners hit “decision fatigue,” and how shared leadership creates operational leverage without losing quality or culture. We dig into what Kyle looks for when he assesses a practice across the core drivers of growth, from profitability and risk management to recruiting, retention, operations, sales process, and technology. You’ll hear a clear way to separate true scaling opportunities from “more work,” including a practical 80/20 mindset for finding the clients and matters that produce the best outcomes with the least drag. We also talk about meetings and communication systems that keep teams aligned as headcount rises and complexity multiplies. AI for law firms shows up here in a grounded way: not chasing tools for novelty, but using AI-powered decision making to hire faster and smarter and to get visibility into what’s really happening inside the business. We also cover what tends to break after a merger or acquisition, how to stabilize post-deal integration, and why exit planning should start years earlier than most attorneys think. Reach Kyle here: https://www.chiefgoofficers.com/ https://www.youtube.com/@Chief_GO_Officers https://www.linkedin.com/company/chief-go-officers-llc/posts/?feedView=all&viewAsMember=true Season 4 Episode 183 Ready to level up your law firm marketing? Book a FREE Discovery Call with Marilyn Here: https://lawmarketingzone.com/bookacall Leadership In Law Podcast with host, Marilyn Jenkins  Powered by Law Marketing Zone® https://lawmarketingzone.com A full-service Digital Marketing Agency helping clients increase Leads, Cases, and Profit by getting their digital marketing right. Subscribe on your favorite Podcast listening platform! Like, Share, and Review us! #leadershipinlawpodcast #leadershipinlaw #lawmarketingzone #marilynjenkins

    Scale Your Firm for Success with Kyle Harbaugh

  4. 15 Oct

    HEARTnomics™ in Leadership For a Stronger Team with Hanna D. Bauer

    Your team can hit targets and still be quietly falling apart. That’s why this conversation with Hanna Bauer, founder and CEO of HEARTnomics™, lands so hard for law firm leaders who feel the strain of burnout, misalignment, and constant change. We talk about a leadership approach that treats trust, alignment, and resilience as real drivers of results, not feel-good extras, and Hannah shares how her own story of surviving childhood heart disease shaped her view of what sustainable excellence actually requires.  We unpack the tension many managing partners and practice leaders feel: bringing empathy into the workplace without lowering the bar. Hanna makes a clear case that love does not mean soft standards. It means building the rapport and safety that help people commit, communicate, and perform. We dig into why process improvement and change management fail when leaders skip the human layer, even when the data is right and the plan is logical. If you’re navigating remote teams, AI disruption, and economic uncertainty, this is a practical roadmap for keeping performance high without grinding people down.  We also get specific about rebuilding trust after it’s been damaged. Hanna shares what leaders should measure, the common moments where trust quietly breaks, and why “we need a better culture” is not a repair strategy. Then we go deep on alignment, the leadership skill she believes we’ve historically overlooked, including how to protect nonnegotiables, build margin into your operating rhythm, and stay internally aligned so service to your team doesn’t become self-sacrifice.  Reach Hanna here: https://www.HEARTnomics.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/bauerhanna/ https://www.instagram.com/hannabauer777/ https://facebook.com/hannad.bauer https://www.youtube.com/@heartnomics https://www.linkedin.com/company/heartnomics/ Season 4 Episode 182 Ready to level up your law firm marketing? Book a FREE Discovery Call with Marilyn Here: https://lawmarketingzone.com/bookacall Leadership In Law Podcast with host, Marilyn Jenkins  Powered by Law Marketing Zone® https://lawmarketingzone.com A full-service Digital Marketing Agency helping clients increase Leads, Cases, and Profit by getting their digital marketing right. Subscribe on your favorite Podcast listening platform! Like, Share, and Review us! #leadershipinlawpodcast #leadershipinlaw #lawmarketingzone #marilynjenkins

    HEARTnomics™ in Leadership For a Stronger Team with Hanna D. Bauer

  5. 13 Oct

    Science of Persuasion and Strategic Communication with Dr. JonRobert Tartaglione

    Persuasion gets talked about like it’s pure logic, but most of us know the truth from experience: the harder you push, the harder people push back. Marilyn Jenkins sits down with psychologist and behavioral scientist Dr. JonRobert, founder of Influence 51, to unpack what actually changes minds and why smart communicators focus on psychology before they focus on proof. We dig into psychological reactance, the “anti-coercion” response that shows up everywhere from negotiations to jury deliberations, and why persuasion is often an access problem, not an argument problem.  We also get practical about courtroom communication and jury decision making. Dr. JonRobert explains why jurors tend to reward the side that builds the most coherent causal story, not just the side with the biggest stack of facts. We break down narrative transportation theory, self-generated persuasion, and a simple two-question technique that helps people talk themselves into the conclusion you want without feeling forced. If you care about trial strategy, witness exams, openings, or closings, you’ll hear how small shifts in message framing can create outsized shifts in verdicts.  Then we look at the future: AI and behavioral science. AI can generate persuasive content quickly, but Dr. JonRobert argues humans still have the edge in social dynamics like reading the room, adjusting mid-argument, and using humility instead of fake certainty. We wrap with a powerful reminder for lawyers, leaders, and legal marketers: less arguing, more curiosity, plus the right balance of competence and warmth to earn real trust.  Reach Dr. JonRobert here: https://www.influence51.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonrobert-tartaglione-ph-d-21b26770/ Season 4 Episode 181 Ready to level up your law firm marketing? Book a FREE Discovery Call with Marilyn Here: https://lawmarketingzone.com/bookacall Leadership In Law Podcast with host, Marilyn Jenkins  Powered by Law Marketing Zone® https://lawmarketingzone.com A full-service Digital Marketing Agency helping clients increase Leads, Cases, and Profit by getting their digital marketing right. Subscribe on your favorite Podcast listening platform! Like, Share, and Review us! #leadershipinlawpodcast #leadershipinlaw #lawmarketingzone #marilynjenkins

    Science of Persuasion and Strategic Communication with Dr. JonRobert Tartaglione

  6. 8 Oct

    Evict The Doubts Squatting Rent-Free In Your Mind with Stan Lewis

    Doubt has a way of sneaking into high-performing careers and then acting like it owns the place. One day you are leading a team, arguing a case, or scaling your firm, and the next day you are hearing that quiet voice saying, “You are not ready,” “You do not belong here,” or “Do not risk it.” We sit down with leadership coach and author Stan Lewis to name that voice for what it is: a squatter living rent-free in your mind, and we talk about how to evict it with clear, repeatable habits. Stan shares stories from his time in the Navy, law enforcement, federal investigations, and hundreds of mediations to show how self-doubt and imposter syndrome show up at every level, including seasoned executives. We dig into his vantage point shift framework for moving beyond comfort zones, plus practical communication tools like DISC behavioral styles and a listening hierarchy that helps you stop talking at people and start connecting with them. If you lead in a law firm, a legal department, or any high-stakes environment, these are the skills that tighten culture, reduce conflict, and improve decision-making under pressure. We also unpack the “1% reality” idea: most workplace drama is noise, and progress speeds up when you identify the real issue and coach people toward solutions. Stan explains why accountability structures and mentorship make change stick, and why recognition is more than “nice,” it is a performance multiplier.  Reach Stan here: Doubt Detox Worksheet Value Add for your audience: https://links.nwardjourney.com/widget/form/9Yzt26GcgQP2LwrdcCwR?notrack=true https://www.stanlewis.net/home Get his book and bonuses: https://go.nwardjourney.com/starter-bundle-page-page Season 4 Episode 180 Ready to level up your law firm marketing? Book a FREE Discovery Call with Marilyn Here: https://lawmarketingzone.com/bookacall Leadership In Law Podcast with host, Marilyn Jenkins  Powered by Law Marketing Zone® https://lawmarketingzone.com A full-service Digital Marketing Agency helping clients increase Leads, Cases, and Profit by getting their digital marketing right. Subscribe on your favorite Podcast listening platform! Like, Share, and Review us! #leadershipinlawpodcast #leadershipinlaw #lawmarketingzone #marilynjenkins

    Evict The Doubts Squatting Rent-Free In Your Mind with Stan Lewis

  7. 5 Oct

    Building a Collaborative, Happy, Multi-Location Firm with Tara Jalali Malek

    If your law firm feels busy but brittle, like one missed deadline or one tough personality could tip the whole place into stress, you’re not alone. I’m joined by Tara Jalali Malek, co-owner at Malek + Malek, and a former federal and state prosecutor, to talk about what actually makes a firm strong: culture you can feel, leadership you can measure, and systems that turn talented attorneys into a real team.  We dig into why mentorship matters so much in the legal profession, especially when the billable hour makes “unbillable time” feel impossible to justify. Tara shares how new lawyers often experience overwhelm and imposter syndrome, and why psychological safety is not a soft concept, it directly impacts thinking, problem-solving, and client work product. We also talk compensation and the hidden damage of the eat what you kill model, plus what changes when you design incentives for collaboration instead of internal competition.  You’ll hear how Tara’s firm keeps four offices aligned using practical legal practice management tools: internal messaging, case-based channels, an attorney-wide space to brainstorm hard issues, and a weekly all-hands meeting that starts with kudos and gratitude. We also get specific about measuring culture through anonymous internal surveys and using the data to improve morale, retention, and performance. Finally, Tara shares what she hopes young lawyers experience differently, including stronger parental leave policies and a more supportive, sustainable model for law firm leadership.  Reach Tara here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tara-jalali-malek-14491820/ https://www.malekattorneys.com/  https://www.instagram.com/malekattorneys/  https://www.linkedin.com/company/malekat Season 4 Episode 179 Ready to level up your law firm marketing? Book a FREE Discovery Call with Marilyn Here: https://lawmarketingzone.com/bookacall Leadership In Law Podcast with host, Marilyn Jenkins  Powered by Law Marketing Zone® https://lawmarketingzone.com A full-service Digital Marketing Agency helping clients increase Leads, Cases, and Profit by getting their digital marketing right. Subscribe on your favorite Podcast listening platform! Like, Share, and Review us! #leadershipinlawpodcast #leadershipinlaw #lawmarketingzone #marilynjenkins

    Building a Collaborative, Happy, Multi-Location Firm with Tara Jalali Malek

  8. 1 Oct

    Why Great Engineering Teams Slow Down and How to Fix It with Thanos Diacakis

    Your product roadmap can look perfect on paper while your engineering team quietly grinds to a halt. When that happens, the issue is rarely “lazy developers” or “bad attitudes” it’s usually overload, unclear priorities, and a business engineering communication gap that makes every request feel like an emergency. We sit down with Thanos Diacakis, a software leader with nearly 30 years of experience across startups and tech giants, to unpack what actually helps teams ship high-quality software faster. We talk about why business leaders and engineers often lack a shared language, how to create healthy conflict instead of feature-factory pressure, and why the fastest teams often win by doing less at once. Thanos shares a clear four-step framework for aligning product goals with engineering practices: shorten the path to production, build quality into the system, manage complexity as you scale, then earn planning and predictability. We also challenge common myths around Agile, speed vs quality, and technical debt. You’ll hear why manual “quality gates” can backfire, how automation and CI/CD tighten feedback loops, and why technical debt is better understood as compounding investment. Thanos explains when ditching sprints for Kanban can reduce meeting overhead, how a simple 10% investment rule can produce dramatic improvements, and what leadership habits prevent burnout in high-performing engineering teams. He also shares where to find him on LinkedIn, his site cosmicteacups.com, and his Team Metrics tool for visualizing features, bugs, and investment work over time. Reach Thanos here:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/thanosd/ https://www.cosmicteacups.com/ https://Team-metrics.dev Season 4 Episode 178 Ready to level up your law firm marketing? Book a FREE Discovery Call with Marilyn Here: https://lawmarketingzone.com/bookacall Leadership In Law Podcast with host, Marilyn Jenkins  Powered by Law Marketing Zone® https://lawmarketingzone.com A full-service Digital Marketing Agency helping clients increase Leads, Cases, and Profit by getting their digital marketing right. Subscribe on your favorite Podcast listening platform! Like, Share, and Review us! #leadershipinlawpodcast #leadershipinlaw #lawmarketingzone #marilynjenkins

    Why Great Engineering Teams Slow Down and How to Fix It with Thanos Diacakis
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About

Leadership In Law™ is the podcast for law firm owners, managing partners, and attorneys who want to build stronger firms and become better leaders.   Hosted by Marilyn Jenkins, founder of Law Marketing Zone® and a digital growth strategist for law firms, each episode brings practical conversations with accomplished attorneys, law firm leaders, and industry experts.   We explore law firm growth, leadership, marketing, AI and legal technology, hiring, culture, client experience, communication, operations, profitability, business development, and the future of legal practice.   If you're building a law firm that can grow without depending on you for every decision, Leadership In Law™ gives you practical ideas, real-world lessons, and proven strategies you can put to work in your firm.     Powered by Law Marketing Zone®     

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