That One Lawyer™ Podcast

Neal A. Goldstein
  • 5.0 (8)
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Updated Weekly

The truth is, law school never taught lawyers how to build the kind of client relationships that create real success. That One Lawyer™ Podcast, hosted by attorney and bestselling author Neal A. Goldstein, helps lawyers and professionals grow their practices through authenticity, trust, and real connection. If you're trying to grow your law firm, stand out in your market, or simply figure out what's next, this show is for you. Neal brings nearly 40 years of courtroom and client experience to every episode, alongside honest conversations with lawyers, entrepreneurs, and leaders who know that real growth starts with real relationships. Forget the flashy marketing gimmicks — you'll get relationship-first strategies, business-building advice, and mentorship that actually makes sense in the real world. Whether you're a solo attorney, firm owner, or just getting started, tune in for insights and stories that remind you why authenticity still wins. New episodes every Wednesday. For more, visit TruthInSuccess.com.

  1. 18h ago

    Why Lawyers Sometimes Make Things Worse

    Roman Lifson built the kind of legal career many lawyers are taught to want. He became a trial lawyer, a partner, and a litigator handling cases from both the plaintiff and defense sides. Outside the courtroom, he found another demanding arena: competitive race car driving. But somewhere along that path, Roman began asking a harder question. What is being a lawyer actually costing us? In this episode of That One Lawyer Podcast, Neal Goldstein sits down with Roman for a deeply personal conversation about the pressures lawyers learn to normalize and the parts of themselves they often learn to hide. Roman's story begins in Moscow during the Soviet era. He immigrated to the United States with his family at 10 years old after they left almost everything behind. During the immigration process, Roman watched his father, a neurosurgeon, study as many as 12 to 16 hours a day to pass the exams that would allow him to practice medicine in America. That experience helped shape Roman's own ambitious path: college, law school, law firm, partnership, and decades of litigation. For years, Roman describes his life as intensely linear. Choose the destination, put on the blinders, and keep moving toward it. Eventually, his perspective changed. Roman and Neal explore what happens when lawyers become so conditioned to professional performance that admitting uncertainty, fear, or failure starts to feel dangerous. Lawyers can comfortably talk about wins, successful careers, families, homes, and vacations. Roman argues that it becomes much harder to tell another person where we failed, what we're ashamed of, or what we're afraid of. In a profession built around competition and identifying weaknesses, vulnerability can feel like a liability. Roman believes some of that conditioning begins in law school. He describes legal education as teaching students to solve everything "from the neck up." Analyze the problem. Find the answer. Respond quickly. Never appear uncertain. Those habits can follow attorneys throughout their careers. The conversation also examines Roman's relationship with his wife, Hallie, and how their work together changed his understanding of authentic connection, emotional expression, and the relationships lawyers need when professional competence isn't enough. That perspective has also changed the way Roman practices law. Clients often arrive already carrying anger, fear, distrust, and hurt. Roman believes lawyers have a choice. They can help clients move through that conflict, or they can pick up the baton and escalate the war. As Roman says, lawyers are supposed to be problem solvers. Sometimes they become problem creators. That realization connects two seemingly different parts of his life: litigation and racing. On a racetrack, Roman competes intensely while trusting the drivers around him with his safety. Everyone wants to win, but everyone also understands what can happen when competition overwhelms judgment. For Roman, there's a lesson there for lawyers. This conversation isn't about abandoning ambition or pretending litigation isn't adversarial. It's about examining whether the habits that make lawyers successful professionally can sometimes make it harder to stay connected to themselves and the people around them. And whether success is still success when nobody feels safe enough to talk about what it costs. Subscribe to That One Lawyer Podcast for conversations about the people, relationships, pressure, and experiences behind a life in law. CONNECT WITH ROMAN LIFSON: https://www.mythicadventuretravel.com/liberating-lawyers-for-life  https://www.cblaw.com/roman-lifson/ https://hallie-lifson.mykajabi.com/magdalene-womb-temple CONNECT WITH NEAL GOLDSTEIN / THAT ONE LAWYER PODCAST: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@UC9V41LAfvZS-7AmQKduNp5Q IG: @nealagoldsteinlaw LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/nealagoldsteinlaw/

  2. Aug 5

    Lawyers Build Networks. But Who Actually Shows Up?

    Lawyers spend years building networks. But Steve Fretzin learned that having a network and having people who actually show up are two very different things. Steve joins Neal Goldstein for a conversation about business development, family, survival, loyalty, and the relationships behind professional success. At 26, Steve survived a plane crash that left him severely injured and his girlfriend with a traumatic brain injury. During his recovery, lifelong friends and family stepped in to care for him. But people Steve had thought of as little more than associates also unexpectedly showed up. That experience reinforced a lesson that runs throughout Steve's life and career: relationships matter long before you know how much you are going to need them. Steve shares how growing up with a lawyer father shaped his work ethic and eventual career, and how his mother's serious health problems forced him to take on adult responsibilities at a young age. Neal and Steve also examine how those lessons translate to the legal profession. Have lawyers confused networking with relationship building? Are online connections creating genuine relationships or simply creating the appearance of relevance? Why do so many attorneys allow client relationships to disappear as soon as the legal matter ends? Steve explains why business development should not be treated as something lawyers are simply expected to figure out, and why younger lawyers need to understand both the practice of law and the business of law. The conversation also returns to Steve's father, the advice he carried with him, and the recordings Steve was fortunate enough to preserve before his father died. One piece of advice captures much of the episode: "If you can't make a sale, make a friend." Follow or subscribe to That One Lawyer Podcast for more conversations about the people, relationships, resilience, and experiences behind a life in law.

  3. Jul 29 ·  Video

    Why Most Lawyers Quit SEO Right Before It Starts Working

    Every lawyer wants more cases. Very few are willing to wait long enough for the strategy that keeps producing them. In this episode of That One Lawyer Podcast, Neal Goldstein sits down with Seth Price to discuss one of the biggest mistakes law firm owners make with marketing: giving up on SEO before it has a chance to work. Their conversation goes far beyond search engine optimization. Neal and Seth explore why relationships often outperform credentials, why some of the most successful professionals weren't necessarily the best students, and why patience, consistency, and strong interpersonal skills can create opportunities that talent alone cannot. Seth shares his perspective on building sustainable organic growth for law firms, including why SEO requires a long-term mindset, how lawyers should evaluate marketing investments, and the realistic timeline for seeing results. They also discuss local search, managing expectations, and avoiding the costly cycle of chasing the next marketing trend. Whether you're starting your own practice, growing an established law firm, or deciding where to invest your marketing budget, this episode offers practical insights into what actually drives long-term success. In this episode, you'll learn: • Why most lawyers quit SEO too soon • How long organic growth really takes • The biggest mistake law firms make with digital marketing • Why relationships can matter more than credentials • How successful lawyers think differently about long-term growth • What to expect before SEO begins producing meaningful results If you're serious about building a stronger law practice through smart marketing and sustainable growth, this conversation with Seth Price is one you won't want to miss. 🔔 Subscribe to That One Lawyer Podcast for more conversations with the lawyers, entrepreneurs, and industry leaders shaping the future of the legal profession.

  4. Jul 22

    He Started Law School at 45. Everyone Said He Was Too Late

    Most people assume the path to becoming a lawyer starts early. Rick Metzgar proves otherwise. After spending nearly two decades in mortgage banking, raising a family, and building a successful career, Rick enrolled in law school at 45 while continuing to work full time. In this episode, Rick shares how a difficult divorce first exposed him to the legal system, why that experience stayed with him for years, and what finally convinced him it was time to pursue law. Neal and Rick discuss first-generation law students, working through imposter syndrome, balancing family responsibilities, the realities of night law school, the cost of legal education, and why empathy and character remain essential qualities for great lawyers. Whether you're already practicing law or simply wondering if it's too late to pursue something bigger, this conversation offers an honest perspective on purpose, resilience, and the long road to becoming a lawyer. Follow and subscribe for more conversations about the people behind the legal profession.

  5. Jul 16

    The Money Myth Young Lawyers Believe

    Are young lawyers chasing the wrong definition of success? In this special replay episode of That One Lawyer Podcast, Neal Goldstein revisits one of his favorite conversations with attorney, entrepreneur, and author Kara Vaval. A young lawyer wanted to enter personal injury law after hearing stories about lawyers making hundreds of thousands—even millions—of dollars. But Kara explains why comparing yourself to someone else's income can become one of the biggest obstacles to building a satisfying legal career. Together, Neal and Kara discuss: • Why chasing someone else's version of success often leads to disappointment. • The danger of believing everything you hear about lawyer income. • Building a practice around your values instead of comparisons. • Why mindset often determines long-term success more than talent. • How honest self-reflection creates a more fulfilling legal career. Whether you're a law student, a new lawyer, or a seasoned attorney rethinking your career, this conversation offers a refreshing perspective on what success actually looks like.

  6. Jul 1

    I Almost Didn't Go... Here's Why I'm So Glad I Did

    I Almost Didn't Go... In this first edition of That One Lawyer Unplugged, Neal Goldstein shares a personal story about almost skipping a New York Law School alumni event—and why showing up reminded him that relationships are built one conversation at a time. This isn't an episode about networking. It's about overcoming hesitation, reconnecting with people, and remembering that meaningful relationships don't stop being important just because we've reached a certain point in our careers.

  7. Jun 24

    She Was Diagnosed With MS and Stopped Waiting for "Someday"

    When Alex Wilson was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2016, she faced the same uncertainty that confronts many people receiving life-changing medical news. What happened next surprised even her. Rather than pulling back, Alex adopted a simple philosophy: why wait? In this episode, Alex joins Neal Goldstein to discuss her journey from private practice to senior in-house leadership, living with relapsing-remitting MS, and the mindset shift that changed how she approaches both work and life. They discuss disability disclosure in the legal profession, resilience, support networks, accessibility, perfectionism, networking, and the realities of building a legal career while managing an invisible condition. Alex also shares practical insights from her work on the Law Society Council representing disabled solicitors across England and Wales, including the progress being made and the challenges that remain. A thoughtful conversation about uncertainty, authenticity, and making the most of the time we have. Follow and subscribe to That One Lawyer Podcast for more conversations with remarkable people behind the legal profession.

  8. Jun 17

    Building Your Own Name When Your Father Is a Trial Lawyer

    Nick Altopiedi grew up watching his father build a successful personal injury practice, but his own path to law was anything but direct. Before becoming a lawyer, Nick played college baseball, worked in finance at JP Morgan Chase, bartended in New York City, and attended law school at night while working full time during the day. In this conversation with Neal Goldstein, Nick shares how those experiences shaped the lawyer he is becoming today. They discuss building an identity inside a family legacy, earning trust with clients, the value of face-to-face relationships, and the realities of practicing personal injury and medical malpractice law The episode explores work ethic, mentorship, trial advocacy, and what it means to develop your own voice while learning from those who came before you. Follow and subscribe to That One Lawyer Podcast for more conversations about the people behind the profession. Watch The Conversation : https://www.youtube.com/@ThatOneLawyerPod Contact Nick Altopiedi: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicholas-altopiedi-esq-3b3ba1149/ OR https://www.pilawyer.com/

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The truth is, law school never taught lawyers how to build the kind of client relationships that create real success. That One Lawyer™ Podcast, hosted by attorney and bestselling author Neal A. Goldstein, helps lawyers and professionals grow their practices through authenticity, trust, and real connection. If you're trying to grow your law firm, stand out in your market, or simply figure out what's next, this show is for you. Neal brings nearly 40 years of courtroom and client experience to every episode, alongside honest conversations with lawyers, entrepreneurs, and leaders who know that real growth starts with real relationships. Forget the flashy marketing gimmicks — you'll get relationship-first strategies, business-building advice, and mentorship that actually makes sense in the real world. Whether you're a solo attorney, firm owner, or just getting started, tune in for insights and stories that remind you why authenticity still wins. New episodes every Wednesday. For more, visit TruthInSuccess.com.

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