MiLawyer Podcast

Spotlight Media Studios

4.9 (13)
CAREERS

Brought to you by the State Bar of Michigan, this podcast provides legal professionals in Michigan with insights and strategies to help you improve your practice and protect your well-being. Join us as hosts Molly Ranns and Savanna Polimeni talk with legal experts, innovators, and visionaries each month.

MAR 31

Chief Justice Megan Cavanagh

Struggling to balance the stress of your legal career? You’re not alone. Hear how Chief Justice Megan Cavanagh built her work-life balance, including her personal wellness practices, the tools she uses to stay grounded, and how she manages her responsibilities at both work and home.

30 min
MAR 31

Introduction to MiLawyer Podcast

The State Bar of Michigan understands the unique challenges Michigan attorneys face — and we’re here to help! Our all-new, monthly MiLawyer Podcast offers the chance to not only hear from colleagues who have been in your stressed-out shoes but also learn their top tips and tools to succeed and thrive. Learn more in this introductory episode.

4 min
09/08/2025

Meaningful Wellbeing in Work/Life Imbalance

Pursuing perfect “balance” in our work and personal lives may not actually be a reasonable goal. There will inevitably be times when either work or home needs more of your attention, and that’s okay. Instead of striving for an elusive sense of balance, focusing on setting meaningful boundaries and prioritizing well-being can help lawyers move toward a healthier mindset. Molly Ranns talks with Robinjit Eagleson about her many years in legal practice and how she has navigated seasons of burnout, vicarious trauma, and other professional challenges to reconnect with her personal values and sense of purpose as an attorney. Robinjit Eagleson is Lawyer Services Program Director at State Bar of Michigan.

30 min
08/11/2025

Record Retention Guidance for Your Law Firm

Law firms deal with a mountain of sensitive documents and communications, so knowing how to manage them appropriately—and ethically—is a must for every attorney. Molly Ranns and JoAnn Hathaway welcome Alecia Chandler to discuss how to develop a robust records retention policy tailored to your law firm. Alecia guides lawyers through the process of creating a retention policy that can be customized to their practice area, including considerations for differing document retention requirements in specific areas of the law. Learn more: Ethics: Record Retention Kit - State Bar of Michigan Alecia Chandler is an attorney and Professional Responsibility Programs Director at the State Bar of Michigan.

35 min
07/14/2025

Under Pressure: Confronting the Mental Health Crisis in Law

We see higher rates of mental illness, divorce, alcoholism, and more in the legal profession, but what can we do to change it? In the difficulties of the practice of law, some attorneys struggle to care for themselves in the midst of the critical care they must provide their clients. Molly Ranns and JoAnn Hathaway talk with Rick Barinbaum to gain a deeper understanding of the adversarial systems lawyers must operate within and how to protect wellbeing in the midst of these challenges. Rick Barinbaum, LMSW, is a clinical social worker, educator,and practitioner.

31 min
06/09/2025

“The Untold Secrets to Thrive as a Lawyer” with Judy Selby

Drawing from over 30 years experience in legal practice, Judy Selby’s newest book offers a wealth of knowledge for attorneys looking to move forward with confidence in their legal career. Molly Ranns and JoAnn Hathaway sit down with Judy to learn her insights on creating meaningful relationships with clients while growing a brand that reflects your personal values. And, when it comes to wellbeing, Judy has practical, realistic advice that helps attorneys avoid the pitfalls that could negatively impact their progress. Read Judy’s book to learn more! The Untold Secrets to Thrive as a Lawyer: Six Steps to Ignite Your Legal Career Even if You Didn’t Go to Harvard or Yale judyselby.com

27 min
05/12/2025

A New Study on Lawyer Mental Health and Wellbeing

After the ABA’s 2016 study of mental health and substance use disorders among lawyers, it became well known that lawyers face particular challenges concerning addiction and wellbeing and that there were often barriers to recovery. Now, nearly 10 years later, where do we stand? Molly Ranns welcomes Patrick Krill, a lawyer, counselor, and researcher, to learn about his current research which will follow up on the 2016 ABA study. They discuss aspects of wellbeing that have improved in recent years and later dig into the areas where trends show continued struggle throughout the profession. Learn more: What's New with Mental Health and Well-Being in the Legal Profession: Progress, But More Needs to Be Done Patrick Krill - Krill Strategies Patrick Krill is the founder of Krill Strategies, a behavioral health consulting firm exclusively for the legal profession.

28 min
04/14/2025

The AI Legal Impacts All Lawyers Should Know

With the explosion of AI products, apps, software integrations, and more., many attorneys have no small amount of nervousness about whether they should trust this technology and, if so, how to use it to their advantage. To discuss AI’s current place in legal work and its future potential, Molly Ranns and JoAnn Hathaway welcome Sateesh Nori, legal innovation strategist and professor at NYU School of Law. They examine the many helpful uses for AI in everyday legal work, discuss AI in access to justice, and address the ethical and regulatory questions surrounding this technology. Later, Sateesh looks ahead to consider what legal professionals and law students should do to prepare themselves for a future with increasing AI use in the practice of law. Sateesh Nori is a lawyer, law professor, senior non-profit executive, legal strategist, and author of “Sheltered: Twenty Years in Housing Court”.

36 min

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TRAILER

Teaser: Introducing the State Bar of Michigan’s “On Balance” Podcast

Being a lawyer is stressful. Many struggle to balance their physical health and wellbeing with the demands of their profession. On Balance, premiering this week on Legal Talk Network, delivers useful and entertaining ideas on managing life as a lawyer. To hear more about the show and what inspired its creation, tune in as the State Bar of Michigan’s executive director Janet Welch introduces hosts Tish Vincent and JoAnn Hathaway. Stay till the end for a sneak peek at the bonus content and some of the notable guests featured in the early podcasts.

S1

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7 min

4.9

out of 5

13 Ratings

SBM Podcast

01/23/2018

LGLPRO

Excellent addition to Bar’s arsenal of resources.
Great podcast!

01/23/2018

NotoriousRBG

Wonderful content for any lawyer looking to strike a better work-life balance!
Great show from the Bar

01/19/2018

AAJCCA

A must for all Michigan lawyers

Brought to you by the State Bar of Michigan, this podcast provides legal professionals in Michigan with insights and strategies to help you improve your practice and protect your well-being. Join us as hosts Molly Ranns and Savanna Polimeni talk with legal experts, innovators, and visionaries each month.