Love thy Lawyer

Louis J Goodman
  • 5.0 (31)
  • CAREERS
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

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. FEB 11

    DA Ursula Jones Dickson / Emilie Raguso - Berkeley Scanner

    Send a text This episode features Ursula Jones Dickson, the current District Attorney of Alameda County, and Emilie Raguso, a journalist who runs The Berkeley Scanner, an independent public safety news outlet covering Berkeley and the DA’s office. Both work closely with the criminal justice system from different sides, one inside government and one reporting on it. Ursula talks about leading a large District Attorney’s office after a period of instability, rebuilding staff, fixing budget problems, and clearing a major case backlog. Emilie shares her experience covering crime, courts, and prosecutors over many years, including how public attention on the DA’s office changed after a high-profile recall. Together, they reflect on how policy shifts, staffing changes, and public trust affect how justice is delivered day to day. The conversation covers how the DA’s office works in practice, victims’ rights in California, gun and violence related charging decisions, and the challenges of running a major public office under public and political pressure. Emilie also discusses the role of journalists in verifying claims, slowing down reporting, and explaining complex legal systems to the public. Tune in to hear an inside look at how a major prosecutor’s office is rebuilt, how journalists track accountability in real time, and what both sides see as the biggest challenges facing criminal justice right now. Plus, they offer a practical view of how law, media, and public trust intersect when decisions affect an entire community.   Ursula Jones Dickson for DA https://www.ursulajonesdicksonforda.com/   The Berkeley Scanner  https://www.berkeleyscanner.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

    57 min
  2. Fatima Silva - HBO Star / Reasonable Doubt

    FEB 4

    Fatima Silva - HBO Star / Reasonable Doubt

    Send us a text Fatima Silva is a Bay Area criminal defense attorney who focuses exclusively on representing people accused of crimes. She runs her own practice and also collaborates with other defense attorneys in the region. She has spent over a decade working primarily in criminal law, after earlier experience handling a wider range of cases. She also reached a national audience as a featured attorney on the HBO series Reasonable Doubt, which examined claims of wrongful convictions. In this episode, she talks about the realities of criminal defense work, including the emotional toll of working with clients and their families. She also shares what it was like traveling across the country for Reasonable Doubt and seeing how differently the justice system operates from state to state. Fatima also offers insight into the justice system, the challenges of running a legal practice, and the resilience needed to stay in the work long term. Tune in for a clear and honest look at life as a criminal defense lawyer, both inside and outside the courtroom.  Silva Law https://www.silvalawsf.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

    38 min
  3. Scott Kriens - Founder Juniper Networks/1440 Multiversity

    JAN 21

    Scott Kriens - Founder Juniper Networks/1440 Multiversity

    Send us a text Scott Kriens is a technology entrepreneur and investor best known for co-founding Juniper Networks, a company that builds the core systems that move data safely and quickly across the internet. Today, his work focuses on investing, philanthropy, and supporting projects that help people improve how they relate to themselves and others. He helped grow Juniper from an early startup into a major global company with billions in revenue and played a key role in shaping how large-scale internet traffic is handled. After stepping away from day-to-day executive roles, he shifted his time toward board work, long-term investing, and co-founding the 1440 Foundation, which supports mindfulness, presence, and relationship-focused initiatives. In the episode, he talks about building trust inside companies, the role of relationships in long-term success, and how technology, leadership, and artificial intelligence are changing what skills really matter. He also shares personal reflections on gratitude, listening, and being fully present in daily life. Tune in to hear a grounded take on success that goes beyond money and titles, and to learn why deep listening and strong relationships may matter more than technical skill alone.  1440 Multiversity https://www.1440.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

    39 min
  4. Elizabeth Larrick - Juror Focus Groups

    JAN 7

    Elizabeth Larrick - Juror Focus Groups

    Send us a text Elizabeth Larrick is a trial lawyer who works as a plaintiff personal injury attorney and also helps other lawyers prepare cases for court, mediations, and depositions. She focuses on understanding how juries think and helping lawyers communicate more clearly and effectively. Over the course of her career, she has handled personal injury cases, gone to trial regularly, and built her own practice. She later expanded her work into consulting, teaching lawyers through focus groups, speaking events, and hands-on preparation for real courtroom situations. In this episode, she talks about how lawyers can use focus groups, witness prep, and visual tools to test ideas and strengthen cases before trial. She also shares honest insights about running a law practice, building a book of business, and learning skills that law school does not teach. Tune in to hear practical advice about trial strategy, communication, the business side of practicing law, and how to prepare cases and connect with juries and clients.   Elizabeth Larrick  https://larricklawfirm.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

    35 min
  5. 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
  6. 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
  7. 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
  8. 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
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Trailer

5
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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. 

Information

  • Creator
    Louis J Goodman
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    238
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Love thy Lawyer
  • Show Website
    Love thy Lawyer