Love thy Lawyer

Louis J Goodman

Focusing on, but not limited to, Alameda County California attorneys, we meet and get to know practicing attorneys, people connected to the legal profession, and those affected by the justice system. How they got there, what they're doing, how they experience the practice of law and their connection to it. 

  1. Henry Cox - Problem Solving at All Levels

    12/24/2025

    Henry Cox - Problem Solving at All Levels

    Send us a text Henry Cox is a longtime legal professional who now works mainly as a neutral mediator, arbitrator, and hearing officer, while also writing fiction. Over the years, his work has shifted from active litigation to helping parties resolve disputes outside the courtroom. Over his career, Henry Cox practiced law in dozens of states, handled complex civil and civil rights cases, and represented everyone from local governments to major companies. He also argued appeals in higher courts and later played a key role in early training and adoption of mediation and arbitration programs. Along the way, he moved through government work, in-house corporate roles, large firms, and solo practice before focusing fully on neutral work. In this episode, he talks about how the legal profession has changed, the difference between practicing law and running the business side of it, and why most lawyers never become trial lawyers. He also shares how his interest in research and storytelling led him to write novels alongside his legal work. Listeners should tune in to hear a clear, honest look at what a long legal career can really look like, including its tradeoffs and surprises. The conversation offers practical perspective on career paths in law, problem-solving skills, and how those skills can carry into completely different creative work. Henry Cox https://www.henry-cox.com/   Louis Goodman www.louisgoodman.com https://www.lovethylawyer.com/ 510.582.9090 Music: Joel Katz, Seaside Recording, Maui Tech: Bryan Matheson, Skyline Studios, Oakland Audiograms: Paul Robert louis@lovethylawyer.com

    26 min
  2. Gordon Firemark - Entertainment Law

    12/10/2025

    Gordon Firemark - Entertainment Law

    Send us a text Gordon Firemark is an entertainment and media attorney who works with creators, producers, and businesses in television, film, publishing, and digital media. He focuses on helping creative professionals share their work while protecting their interests. Over his long career, he has built a solo practice that serves clients across the entertainment world and has become a well-known presence online through his teaching, writing, and podcasting. He was one of the earliest lawyers to market through internet content, starting with newsletters, websites, and later podcasts. He has also developed courses and speaks at events to guide creators and new lawyers in the media space. In this conversation he talks about building a lifestyle driven law practice, the realities of starting out on your own, and the business lessons lawyers rarely learn in school. He also shares insights about creativity, content production, professional growth, and the challenges of the legal system. In this episode Gordon gives honest advice about finding clients, staying motivated when work is difficult, and shaping a legal career around personal values. Tune in to learn how he built a long-lasting practice, why creative industries matter to him, and what he believes lawyers should focus on to thrive. Gordon Firemark https://gordonfiremark.com/  Law Offices of Gordon P. Firemark https://firemark.com/   Louis Goodman www.louisgoodman.com https://www.lovethylawyer.com/ 510.582.9090 Music: Joel Katz, Seaside Recording, Maui Tech: Bryan Matheson, Skyline Studios, Oakland Audiograms: Paul Robert louis@lovethylawyer.com

    26 min
  3. Helen Hoeffel - Legal Assistance for Seniors

    11/26/2025

    Helen Hoeffel - Legal Assistance for Seniors

    Send us a text In collaboration with theAlameda County Bar Association, Love Thy Lawyer presents an interview with: Helen Hoeffel   Helen Hoeffel is a staff attorney who works with Legal Assistance for Seniors, helping older adults in Alameda County with housing, consumer issues, conservatorships, guardianships, benefits, and elder abuse cases. She also serves on the Alameda County Bar Association board and chairs its business section. Her career includes civil litigation work at a small San Francisco firm, years handling personal injury cases as outside counsel for an insurance company, extensive real estate title litigation, and published appellate cases in both civil and criminal matters. She later moved into criminal appeals for indigent clients before joining LAS, where her work combines litigation, advocacy, and direct service. The episode covers her hands-on work with seniors facing housing and consumer problems, her perspective from serving as a pro tem judge, the emotional challenges of clients in crisis, and the rewards of meaningful wins. She also talks about the role of community, outdoor life, and learning new skills like horseback riding. Listeners will hear a candid look at what it is like to practice law in high-pressure fields while still staying grounded, curious, and connected to the community. Tune in to learn how legal services, appellate work, and real-world problem solving come together in her career and what younger lawyers can learn from her approach. Legal Assistance for Seniors https://www.lashicap.org/ Louis Goodman www.louisgoodman.com https://www.lovethylawyer.com/ 510.582.9090 Music: Joel Katz, Seaside Recording, Maui Tech: Bryan Matheson, Skyline Studios, Oakland Audiograms: Paul Robert louis@lovethylawyer.com

    36 min
  4. Ted DeBettencourt - JuvoLeads

    11/12/2025

    Ted DeBettencourt - JuvoLeads

    Send us a text Ted DeBettencourt is the founder of Juvo Leads, a company that provides real-person chat services to help law firms convert website visitors into clients. He specializes in legal marketing and client intake systems, combining his background in law and business to improve how firms attract and manage leads. He began his career in marketing after experimenting with SEO and content creation for law firms, eventually growing his own small agency before launching Juvo Leads in 2016. Today, the company serves more than a thousand law firms nationwide and employs nearly a hundred human chat agents. Ted has built his business from scratch, scaling it through persistence and a deep understanding of law firm operations and marketing performance metrics. In the conversation, he discusses how law firms can grow by measuring and improving their intake process, why empathy and speed matter in client communication, and how marketing channels like SEO, pay-per-click, and local service ads work together. He also shares insights on running a 24/7 business, balancing family life on his North Carolina farm, and the lessons learned from years of entrepreneurial trial and error. Tune in to hear Ted’s honest take on building a business from the ground up, how lawyers can get 50% more leads by fixing their intake process, and why success in any field starts with working harder than you thought you could. Juvo Leads https://juvoleads.com/   Louis Goodman www.louisgoodman.com https://www.lovethylawyer.com/ 510.582.9090 Music: Joel Katz, Seaside Recording, Maui Tech: Bryan Matheson, Skyline Studios, Oakland Audiograms: Paul Robert louis@lovethylawyer.com

    33 min
5
out of 5
32 Ratings

About

Focusing on, but not limited to, Alameda County California attorneys, we meet and get to know practicing attorneys, people connected to the legal profession, and those affected by the justice system. How they got there, what they're doing, how they experience the practice of law and their connection to it. 

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