This Legal Life: Lessons Learned from a Life in Legal

Nexl

Join host Ben Chiriboga, Chief Growth Officer at Nexl as he interviews guests to get their lessons learned from a life in legal. From overcoming practice silos to fostering collaboration and battling toxic work environments while building strong client relationships -- This Legal Life leaves no stone unturned.

  1. Better Lawyers, Better Dads: Matthew Korn on Balance, Burnout, and Building Community

    4 DAYS AGO

    Better Lawyers, Better Dads: Matthew Korn on Balance, Burnout, and Building Community

    In this episode of This Legal Life, host Ben Chiriboga sits down with Matthew Korn, Partner at Fisher Phillips and founder of Dad, Esq., to explore the real meaning of success in today’s legal world. From his first job at McDonald’s to navigating layoffs, in-house roles, and the partnership track, Matt shares an honest account of burnout, resilience, and rediscovering purpose as both a lawyer and a father. What began as a search for connection has grown into a global community where lawyer dads support one another in navigating work, parenthood, and wellbeing. Through candid reflection and practical lessons, Matt shows that community is not just support; it is the foundation of sustainable growth in law and life. For anyone balancing firm life with family or seeking a more human approach to leadership, this conversation is a reminder that you do not have to do law or fatherhood alone. Meet Our Guest: Matthew Korn is passionate about helping employers navigate complex employment law challenges with practical, business-focused solutions. His experience as in-house counsel for a multinational, publicly traded company gives him a unique perspective on the client side of employment law. He uses that insight to help clients align compliance with their broader business goals. Matthew has extensive experience across industries including healthcare, hospitality, construction, mining, pharmaceuticals, and manufacturing. He also has a special focus on working with ABA providers to build compliant employment policies, minimize risk, and prevent litigation. Beyond his legal work, Matthew is the founder of Dad, Esq., an online community for lawyer dads to connect, share stories, and support one another through the challenges of balancing law and fatherhood. Links: Dad, Esq. Community: https://DadEsq.mn.coWebsite: https://DadEsq.comLinktree: https://linktr.ee/DadEsq

    53 min
  2. Unlearning to Grow: Charlotte Smith on Reinvention, Fear, and Building the Future of Legal Performance

    3 NOV

    Unlearning to Grow: Charlotte Smith on Reinvention, Fear, and Building the Future of Legal Performance

    In this episode of This Legal Life, Ben Chiriboga speaks with Charlotte Smith, a UK lawyer turned legal tech founder and executive coach, about the courage it takes to start over. After moving from London to California, Charlotte faced an identity crisis that forced her to redefine success and rediscover her purpose. Through resilience, coaching, and curiosity, she rebuilt her confidence — proving that growth often begins with unlearning. About our Guest: Charlotte Smith is an Executive Coach and Management Consultant who blends deep legal expertise with a passion for guiding teams, leaders, and organizations to reach their full potential. She began her career in the UK, becoming a partner at a top-tier firm by age 30, recognized for her forward-thinking approach—including launching a subscription-based employment law service for the travel and hospitality sector. In 2014, she moved to Silicon Valley, pivoting from lawyer to entrepreneur and coach, combining her legal background with a commitment to innovation and human development. Charlotte is also the author of How to Attract, Engage, and Retain Top Legal Talent (Globe Law and Business), a resource for teams that embrace change, leverage technology, and optimize human performance. Her consulting engagements have included a wide range of law firm organizations and in-house legal teams. By integrating energy management, human performance, and mindset strategies, Charlotte empowers General Counsels, law firms, and in-house teams to tackle leadership dysfunction, align teams, and thrive in today’s rapidly evolving legal landscape. Balancing technology, AI, and emotional intelligence, she ensures leaders drive meaningful results without sacrificing well-being. If you’re ready to transform how you lead, Charlotte is here to help. Access the updated BETA assessment launching in January: https://d8q79.share.hsforms.com/2B1LXFYArQl-q4_K8pGFVBA

    39 min
  3. Quiet Disruption: Liz Smith’s Journey from Headhunter to Legal Changemaker

    27 OCT

    Quiet Disruption: Liz Smith’s Journey from Headhunter to Legal Changemaker

    In this episode of This Legal Life, Ben Chiriboga speaks with Liz Smith, former legal headhunter and now Head of Talent at Bamboo, about her powerful career transformation and how she’s challenging the traditional model of legal recruitment. After 20 years in the industry, Liz followed her inner voice and made a bold pivot—moving from transactional placements to helping lawyers reimagine their careers with purpose, flexibility, and entrepreneurial thinking. Together, they explore how burnout, authenticity, and the search for meaning drove Liz to build a more human-centered approach to talent. From 4 a.m. reflections to guiding lawyers toward autonomy and alignment, this episode is a must-listen for anyone rethinking what success in law can really look like. About our Guest: Liz Smith is dedicated to attracting top legal talent and building meaningful connections across the legal community. Through strategic networking, headhunting, and coaching, she plays a vital role in connecting creative lawyers with opportunities that align with their ambitions. Known for her authenticity and trust-building approach, Lizzie is a passionate ambassador for her firm and an active voice within the industry. Her work gives her the autonomy to thrive—combining her natural strengths in relationship-building with her genuine enjoyment of meeting and working alongside inspiring legal professionals. Connect with Liz on LinkedIn

    56 min
  4. Leaving BigLaw Behind: Sarah Cottrell on Finding Clarity Beyond the Legal Path

    15 OCT

    Leaving BigLaw Behind: Sarah Cottrell on Finding Clarity Beyond the Legal Path

    In this episode of This Legal Life, Ben Chiriboga sits down with Sarah Cottrell — former BigLaw lawyer turned career coach and founder of The Former Lawyer Podcast. Together, they explore the courage it takes to step away from prestige, perfectionism, and external validation to rediscover what truly matters. Sarah shares her journey through burnout, anxiety, and uncertainty — and why true clarity doesn’t come from overthinking, but from taking action. About Our Guest Sarah Cottrell is a career coach who helps unhappy lawyers ditch their soul-sucking jobs. She practiced law for ten years and specializes in helping lawyers identify alternative careers. Sarah hosts The Former Lawyer Podcast, where she interviews lawyers who have left law for other fields and provides advice and strategies for those who want to do the same. She is an ICF-Certified Coach, a Certified Career Management Coach, and an Academies-Certified Strengths Coach. 🔗 Website: formerlawyer.com

    50 min
  5. From Lawyering to LinkedIn: Tony Albrecht on Rewriting the Lawyer’s Story

    13 OCT

    From Lawyering to LinkedIn: Tony Albrecht on Rewriting the Lawyer’s Story

    In this deeply reflective episode, Ben Chiriboga sits down with Tony Albrecht, former insurance defense lawyer turned Co-Founder and Creative Director of CONTENDER, to explore how recovery, reinvention, and creativity can redefine success in law. From hitting rock bottom in Guam to helping mission-driven lawyers find their authentic voices on LinkedIn, Tony shares how embracing fear, storytelling, and self-awareness can turn even the hardest chapters into powerful new beginnings. About Our Guest: Tony Albrecht is the Co-Founder and Creative Director of CONTENDER. His path has been largely defined by recovery from two things: alcoholism and lawyering. He had his last drink in 2010, a year after graduating from law school. In 2021, Tony walked away from the practice of law on the verge of making partner with an insurance defense firm in his hometown of St. Louis, Missouri. After leaving the practice, he gained traction as a creator on LinkedIn in 2022 and saw an opportunity to help others share their messages in ways that resonate. Today, Tony is building CONTENDER, a personal branding and LinkedIn ghostwriting agency that creates magnetic online presences for mission-driven lawyers and leaders. He now lives in Muskoka with his wife and their two kids. When he’s not hanging out online, Tony enjoys long runs and drinking too much coffee.

    57 min
  6. Uncovering the Newfangled Path: Patrick Patino on Redefining Legal Careers

    6 OCT

    Uncovering the Newfangled Path: Patrick Patino on Redefining Legal Careers

    In this episode of This Legal Life, host Ben Chiriboga sits down with Patrick Patino—attorney, coach, and host of The Newfangled Lawyer Podcast—to discuss what it means to practice law on your own terms. From a poet-turned-lawyer to a founder challenging conventional firm models, Patrick shares how authenticity, creativity, and presence shaped his journey. He reflects on failure, reinvention, and why lawyers should trust intuition over outdated playbooks. This candid conversation is a roadmap for legal professionals ready to embrace change and build careers aligned with who they truly are. About Our Guest: Patrick brings a sensible, mindful, and creative approach to the practice of law. He is the host of The Newfangled Lawyer Podcast. When not practicing law, he enjoys making pottery, reading chef memoirs, and going on outdoor adventures with his family. Connect with Patrick LinkedInThe Newfangled Lawyer PodcastALH Law Profile

    50 min
  7. Tech-Forward Law: Chad Main on Reinventing Legal Workflows

    29 SEPT

    Tech-Forward Law: Chad Main on Reinventing Legal Workflows

    In this episode of This Legal Life, Ben Chiriboga sits down with Chad Main, founder of Percipient and host of the Technically Legal podcast, to unpack his journey from commercial litigator to legal tech entrepreneur. Chad shares lessons from building Percipient as an alternative legal service provider, including the persistence and risk-taking required to launch and grow a business in the legal space. The conversation explores how technology and AI-assisted workflows are reshaping legal practice, the role of “human in the loop” in delivering efficient services, and why embracing change is critical for the future of law. With candid reflections on entrepreneurship, technology, and the evolving role of lawyers, this episode offers practical insights for professionals looking to adapt, innovate, and create lasting impact in the industry. About our Guest: Chad is an attorney and the founder of Percipient, an alternative legal service provider. Prior to founding Percipient, Chad worked as a litigator in Los Angeles and Chicago. Chad launched Percipient on the belief that when technology is leveraged correctly, it makes attorneys even more effective. He also hosts the Technically Legal Podcast.

    43 min
  8. The Power of Voice: David Pope on Gravitas, Authenticity & Legal Communication

    10 AUG

    The Power of Voice: David Pope on Gravitas, Authenticity & Legal Communication

    Voice is more than sound — it's a leadership tool. In this episode of This Legal Life, Ben Chiriboga sits down with David Pope to explore his journey from BBC studios to coaching law firm partners across Asia and the Middle East. With decades of audio expertise and 30,000 hours in the studio, David now helps lawyers master their vocal presence, command gravitas, and build confidence from the inside out. A must-listen for legal professionals ready to own the room — one word at a time. About Our Guest: Dividing his time between Hong Kong, Dubai and London, BBC trained Executive Voice Coach David Pope has spent the last 30 years with one aim in mind, to help GOOD speakers become GREAT speakers. Working with 1000’s of legal professionals globally in Magic Circle, US and local firms, across a huge range of practice groups, he knows that there are 3 things that will always make you stand out as an exceptional communicator: Voice – having a voice that is engaging, inspiring, captivating.Presence – being able to command the attention of a single listener or an entire room.Delivery – being able to deliver a message that moves people to take action, that inspires and educates.His highly successful Voice Intensive Program revolves around extensive recording and analysis of the voice, so that every legal professional he works with 1-1 gets to understand their vocal strengths and areas for improvement. He has coached legal professionals in global law firms in Tokyo, Sydney, Hong Kong, Beijing, Shanghai, Singapore, Dubai, Riyadh and London. He works with senior associates, preparing them for partner selection programs, partners being called on to speak more at conferences, and managing partners readying them for global speaking events. He has developed CPD accredited voice, presence and storytelling workshops that he delivers in-person or online to global audiences. So, wherever he is in the world, he can ensure his sessions deliver valuable content that can engage and educate. He has also developed online video courses: Unlocking The Power of Your Voice, Projecting Leadership With Gravitas, and Storytelling For Business, that can complement law firm’s training requirements for self-study. His full suite of offerings can be found on his website at: allvoicetalent.com Connect with him on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/popedavid/ Email him at: info@allvoicetalent.com

    36 min
See All (105)

About

Join host Ben Chiriboga, Chief Growth Officer at Nexl as he interviews guests to get their lessons learned from a life in legal. From overcoming practice silos to fostering collaboration and battling toxic work environments while building strong client relationships -- This Legal Life leaves no stone unturned.

Information

You Might Also Like