Lawyer Life Podcast

Lawyer Life Podcast
  • 4.8 (6)
  • BUSINESS
  • UPDATED BIWEEKLY
Lawyer Life Podcast

The Lawyer Life Podcast covers the professional, personal, and sometimes political lives of lawyers. Hosts Mike Anderson and Darlene Tonelli use their experience across the music, media, and entertainment business to explore the news of the day, and how lawyers can truly enjoy life. Email us: lawyerlifepod@gmail.com

  1. Time Management For Lawyers

    JUL 9

    Time Management For Lawyers

    This week, in a twist, Darlene is in the interviewer's seat, asking Mike (!) about his time management skills (which are impressive, even by lawyer standards). One of Mike's special superpowers is his ability to set and meet deadlines, regardless of his workload. How does he do it?? Darlene aims to find out, in this episode, and Mike shares his top tips, grouped into four easy and memorable "buckets". In addition: a quick chat about the Midjourney/Disney AI image generator lawsuit, and as always, our goods and gripes. Mike is DONE with music biopics, but promotes and supports a great local live music show where the band's performance is on point. Darlene is self aware (at least), about her soccer mom cheering issue. And we tease our next episode, in which we will interview Adam Dodek about his book "Heenan Blaikie: The Making and Unmaking of a Great Canadian Law Firm".

    37 min
  2. In-house vs. Private Practice

    JUN 23

    In-house vs. Private Practice

    As lawyers who have both practiced in law firms and in-house, Mike and Darlene are often asked "which is a better way to practice law: in a law firm, or in-house in a corporation?". In this episode, we aim to answer this question based on our own experience and all that we have observed in our careers to date. We focus on the pros and cons in each of: culture; workload; and lifestyle. If you are trying to figure out which is a better fit for you, we hope this episode will be helpful!

    42 min
  3. Episode Trailer - Setting the Right Goal: Closing Commercial Contracts

    MAY 30

    Episode Trailer - Setting the Right Goal: Closing Commercial Contracts

    EPISODE TRAILER - When it comes to commercial contracts, are lawyers sometimes just moving the puck around? Or are we trying to score...? As in hockey, lawyers can decide that our goal is to close, just like a professional hockey team can decide their goal is to win the Stanley Cup. Join us to hear our simple tips on HOW to negotiate with closing in mind. And as always, we have our goods and gripes. Darlene loved another podcast that perfectly mixed the professional and the political in another context, and Mike is listening to podcasts about... trade secrets? Oh and Jerry Maguire, "the perfect movie". Also "Super Team Canada". Darlene has a follow-up mouthtape gripe, and Mike must stay indoors despite the beautiful spring weather.

    1 min
  4. Setting the Right Goal: Closing Commercial Contracts

    MAY 30

    Setting the Right Goal: Closing Commercial Contracts

    When it comes to commercial contracts, are lawyers sometimes just moving the puck around? Or are we trying to score a goal..? As in hockey, lawyers can decide that our goal is to close, just like a professional hockey team can decide (in theory...) that their goal is to win the Stanley Cup. Join us to hear our simple tips on HOW to negotiate with closing in mind. And as always, we have our goods and gripes. Darlene loved another podcast that perfectly mixed the professional and the political in another context, and Mike is listening to podcasts about... trade secrets? Oh and Jerry Maguire, "the perfect movie". Also "Super Team Canada". Darlene has a follow-up mouthtape gripe, and Mike must stay indoors despite the beautiful spring weather.

    49 min
  5. Deal or No Deal PART 2: How Should Law Firms Respond to these Threats?

    MAY 1

    Deal or No Deal PART 2: How Should Law Firms Respond to these Threats?

    This week, Mike and Darlene revisit the topic discussed in the last episode, about Big Law firms navigating Executive Orders by entering into “deals”. With less focus on the associates’ perspective this week, and more on the issue from the firm level, they comment on new developments, listener feedback, and—of course— commercial contracts and the joy of boilerplate. Plus, in Goods & Gripes: Mike’s praising smart collaborators and lamenting legalese, while Darlene’s channeling Simon & Garfunkel and calling out procrastinating politicians. Link to two New York Times articles mentioned in the episode are here: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/16/us/politics/law-firms-deals-trump.html https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/19/business/trump-law-firms.html

    44 min
  6. Deal or No Deal - How Should Law Firms (and Lawyers) React to These Threats?

    APR 17

    Deal or No Deal - How Should Law Firms (and Lawyers) React to These Threats?

    Right now, big law firms are being asked to enter into “deals” to extract themselves from Executive Orders. Mike and Darlene talk through our thoughts on this, and its impact on the legal profession as a whole, mainly by responding to the NYT Daily podcast interview with departing Skadden Arps associate Thomas Sipp. We’re asking ourselves what we might do if faced with a similar choice. And as always, there are goods and gripes! Mike is glad about Guerrero Jr., but he gripes that it seems people have to be attractive forever now. When do we get to just be comfortable? Darlene thinks vacation is utopian, but the new “mouth tape” trend is highly dystopian.

    45 min
  7. Staying Reasonable in Unreasonable Times

    APR 1

    Staying Reasonable in Unreasonable Times

    In a world where unreasonable behaviour seems more common than ever, Mike and Darlene ask: Is "being reasonable" something we actively need to protect? They explore how the small choices we make every day shape our ability to stay true to ourselves when faced with major societal upheavals. Are we preparing ourselves to stand by our principles when it really counts? As always, there are goods and gripes! Mike is a hockey coach now, and putting his sheriff-y ways behind him… mostly. Darlene has six pairs of AirPods and can’t find any of them. CHAPTERS 2:04 → Mike Myers's federal election endorsement of Mark Carney 4:42 → A post-reasonableness world? 8:33 → Are more people willing to do whatever it takes? 9:50 → Being "ready for the call" and the Thai cave rescue 14:21 → The golden rule and being the best version of yourself 19:58 → Watching people who get "all the things" 24:56 → Idolizing the wrong stuff 27:52 → Climate change support group 28:53 → Goods and Gripes ***************************************************************** Video of Mike Myers and Mark Carney: https://x.com/MarkJCarney/status/1904188670401187853 ***************************************************************** Subscribe to Lawyer Life: ✸ Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4jyH7uFx4KgYHSSmD5pCiP ✸ Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/lawyer-life-podcast/id1410555303 ✸ Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/lawyerlifepod ✸ RSS Feed: https://feeds.soundcloud.com/users/soundcloud:users:229516407/sounds.rss Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lawyerlifepod Email: lawyerlifepod@gmail.com

    39 min
  8. Risks & Benefits of Integrating AI

    MAR 18

    Risks & Benefits of Integrating AI

    In this week’s episode, we talk AI: Artificial Intelligence, the topic that is on everyone’s mind — but this is a more personal take. We discuss our high hopes for the use of AI in improving government efficiency (based on the government of Canada and its new AI policy rollout, as covered in Canadian Lawyer Magazine). Of course, we had to talk about our fears of doomsday scenarios. But we also made wish lists for interesting AI uses in our (lawyerly) lives. The article we were referring to is here: "Federal government introduces first AI strategy for the public service," Canadian Lawyer Mag https://www.canadianlawyermag.com/practice-areas/privacy-and-data/federal-government-introduces-first-ai-strategy-for-the-public-service/391602 And as always, there are our goods and gripes. Darlene is happy about the educational opportunities that long car rides present… Mike is gearing up for summer and talking about his affinity for a particular type of sunglasses. We griped first this time to leave the episode on a high note. ***************************************************************** Chapters: 00:00 - Intro 01:21 - Mike's uncanny doppleganger 03:14 - AI Policy in the Canadian Government 08:11 - AI in the Legal Profession 10:59 - Regulation, Security, and Ethical Considerations 22:04 - Dream Use Cases & AI-Assisted Legal Work 30:19 - Goods & Gripes: houseplants and cords 33:28 - Parenting and kid screentime on road trips 37:23 - The magic of sunglasses ***************************************************************** Subscribe to Lawyer Life: ✸ Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4jyH7uFx4KgYHSSmD5pCiP ✸ Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/lawyer-life-podcast/id1410555303 ✸ Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/lawyerlifepod ✸ RSS Feed: https://feeds.soundcloud.com/users/soundcloud:users:229516407/sounds.rss Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lawyerlifepod Email: lawyerlifepod@gmail.com

    41 min
See All (69)

4.8
out of 5
6 Ratings

About

The Lawyer Life Podcast covers the professional, personal, and sometimes political lives of lawyers. Hosts Mike Anderson and Darlene Tonelli use their experience across the music, media, and entertainment business to explore the news of the day, and how lawyers can truly enjoy life. Email us: lawyerlifepod@gmail.com

Information

  • Creator
    Lawyer Life Podcast
  • Years Active
    2018 - 2025
  • Episodes
    69
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © All rights reserved
  • Show Website
    Lawyer Life Podcast

You Might Also Like

To listen to explicit episodes, sign in.

Stay up to date with this show

Sign in or sign up to follow shows, save episodes, and get the latest updates.
Select a country or region

Africa, Middle East, and India

Asia Pacific

Europe

Latin America and the Caribbean

The United States and Canada