Leadership In Law: Growth & Leadership for Law Firm Owners

Marilyn Jenkins
  • 5.0 (55)
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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. 6h ago

    If You Don’t Plan, You’re Stupid: Estate Planning Without the Legalese with Andrew Rosenberg

    Probate court is not a movie scene, and a will is not a magic shield. South Florida estate planning attorney, Andrew Rosenberg, a 30-plus year veteran known for radical clarity and the unforgettable line, “If you don’t plan, you’re stupid,” to explain what actually protects your family when life turns fast and messy. Andrew shares the story of suffering a massive heart attack at 48 and why he stayed calm in the ER: his estate plan was already organized. That real-world moment sets the tone for a practical conversation about incapacity planning, family protection, and the everyday legal breakdowns that happen when people assume they will “get to it later.” We walk through what Andrew calls the foundation of an estate plan: durable power of attorney, healthcare surrogate, living will, and HIPAA authorization, plus why these documents matter even if you are young or do not consider yourself “wealthy.” We also break down common estate planning mistakes that trigger fights, delays, and unexpected taxes, including failing to update beneficiary designations, accidentally leaving an ex-spouse in place, and adding children to bank accounts or property in ways that create liability or capital gains problems. If you care about avoiding probate, Andrew explains what probate really is, why it can drag on for a year or longer, and how simple tools like TOD and POD designations may help keep certain assets out of court. Finally, Andrew pulls back the curtain on law firm leadership: staying personally accessible, scaling with associates, and building trust through workshops, educational videos, and hundreds of five-star reviews. Reach Andrew here:  https://rosenberglawfirm.net/ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvP09nhy0n_gbLvCyjj0o5A If you don't Plan, You're Stupid! Book https://amzn.to/4xayDXn Season 4 Episode 188 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

    If You Don’t Plan, You’re Stupid: Estate Planning Without the Legalese with Andrew Rosenberg

  2. 3d ago

    Bankruptcy Isn’t the End: The Myths That Keep People Trapped in Debt with Barry Levine

    Debt can make smart, capable people feel trapped, and the worst part is how much bad advice is floating around online. We sit down with Barry Levine, a Massachusetts bankruptcy attorney with nearly 45 years of experience, to talk about what bankruptcy actually looks like in real life, how creditors apply pressure, and how to spot the moment when “I’ll catch up next month” turns into a long-term crisis. We get practical about the path from missed payments to collection agencies, lawsuits, judgments, and the court processes people don’t realize can spiral if they ignore notices. Barry explains why “just paying the minimum” can drain a household, what it means to be judgment-proof, and how protections like the Massachusetts homestead exemption can safeguard home equity in many cases. We also talk timing, including why last-minute property transfers can trigger fraudulent conveyance and clawback problems in bankruptcy court. Small business owners will want to hear the section on SBA loans after the pandemic. Barry breaks down what he’s seeing now that COVID-era funding is coming due, when SBA debt can be discharged, and why some owners are better served by thoughtful wind-down planning than by throwing money at the problem. We close with a blunt warning about debt settlement companies, hidden fees, and 1099 tax surprises, plus a simple rule of thumb: get real legal advice before you gamble your future on an ad. Reach Barry here:  https://levineslaw.com/ Season 4 Episode 187 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

    Bankruptcy Isn’t the End: The Myths That Keep People Trapped in Debt with Barry Levine

  3. Oct 29

    Leadership, Business Development, and High-Conflict Litigation with Matthew Bourque

    Some cases are “legal” on paper, but pure emotion in real life and that’s where leadership either shows up or falls apart. We sat down with Matthew Bourque, managing partner at RMO LLP in Dallas and Houston, to talk about what it takes to lead clients and teams through high-conflict, high-stakes work like contested probate, trust litigation, guardianship disputes, and fiduciary litigation. If you’ve ever felt like law school trained your brain but didn’t train your people skills, you’ll recognize a lot of what Matthew shares. We get into what empathy-first advocacy looks like when families are dealing with loss, diminished capacity, Alzheimer’s or dementia, and even allegations of financial elder abuse or inheritance theft. Matthew breaks down “technical empathy” and emotional intelligence in a way that’s practical: how to validate what someone feels, name the underlying concern, and still move the conversation toward the best legal outcome without fueling more conflict. We also zoom out to law firm leadership and mentorship. Matthew explains why great litigators are great problem solvers, why clients need a 360-degree view beyond just “winning,” and how leaders can strengthen culture and performance by consistently explaining the why behind the work. You’ll also hear common misconceptions about contested probate and what this practice area really does: help people get closure and move on. Reach Matt here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-bourque-1256043/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/rmo-rahn-muntz-o'grady-llp/ https://rmolawyers.com/ Season 4 Episode 186 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

    Leadership, Business Development, and High-Conflict Litigation with Matthew Bourque

  4. Oct 27

    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

  5. Oct 22

    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

  6. Oct 19

    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

  7. Oct 15

    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

  8. Oct 13

    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
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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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