• He Left Law for 24 Years and Came Back Seeing Why Lawyers Get Taken Advantage Of
    Apr 29 2026
    YouTube Titles He Left Law for 24 Years and Came Back Seeing Why Lawyers Get Taken Advantage Of Lawyers Get Taken Advantage Of Here's Why After 24 Years Outside the Profession If You Can't Negotiate for Yourself This Is What It Costs You Final Title He Left Law for 24 Years and Came Back Seeing Why Lawyers Get Taken Advantage Of Thumbnail Text THEY TAKE ADVANTAGE Cold Open Start: 16:28 End: 17:18 Clip: "Absolutely, absolutely. You know, this is actually a point I frequently make for when I'm talking, when I'm doing education programs with Jewish clergy, Christian clergy and the like, is that we go into this, into this clergy business because we want to help other people. And we don't tend to think enough about how we need to help ourselves, but classic examples of the, you know, that you got to your own gas mask on before you put the oxygen mask on the, on your kids. It's the same thing. You've got to take care of yourself." YouTube Description He left the legal profession for 24 years. When he came back, one pattern was impossible to ignore. Lawyers get taken advantage of. Not because they are inexperienced. Not because they lack intelligence. But because of how they are wired. In this episode, Tom Alpert explains what most lawyers cannot see while they are inside the system. After starting in law, spending decades as a rabbi, and returning to legal practice, he brings an outside perspective that exposes a critical blind spot. The issue is not technical skill. It is behavior under pressure. Lawyers are trained to: listen carefully reduce conflict find resolution Those traits build trust with clients. They also create vulnerability when negotiating for yourself. You hesitate to push. You soften your position. You prioritize maintaining the relationship. The other side does not. That imbalance shows up in real ways. Lower compensation than your actual value. Undefined roles that expand over time. Agreements that favor the institution over the individual. Neal Goldstein pushes deeper into this tension by breaking down the difference between transactional lawyers and relationship-driven lawyers. One focuses on extracting value. The other focuses on building outcomes that last. The problem is most lawyers apply the second mindset in situations that require the first. Tom also explains why negotiating for yourself is fundamentally different from representing a client. Distance creates clarity. Without it, even experienced lawyers lose objectivity, absorb criticism personally, and weaken their own leverage. There is also a skill gap most lawyers underestimate. Listening. Not just hearing facts, but understanding what is actually being said, what is being avoided, and what is driving the other side's position. Combined with storytelling, this becomes one of the most effective tools in both litigation and negotiation. This episode is for lawyers who feel the gap between how they perform for clients and how they show up for themselves. If you have ever accepted terms too quickly, avoided pushing when you should have, or felt like you left value on the table, this conversation will hit directly. The takeaway is simple. If you do not advocate for yourself, someone else will define your value for you. Subscribe for more conversations that expose how lawyers actually build leverage, authority, and control over their careers. Libsyn Description What happens when someone leaves the legal profession for decades and then comes back? They see things differently. In this episode, Neal speaks with Tom Alpert, a lawyer who spent 24 years as a rabbi before returning to legal practice. That time outside the profession gave him a clear view of a pattern many lawyers miss while they are in it. Lawyers often struggle to advocate for themselves. They are trained to help others, resolve conflict, and maintain relationships. Those instincts serve clients well but can lead to weaker outcomes when negotiating personal compensation, roles, and boundaries. Tom explains how this shows up in real situations and why even experienced professionals lose objectivity when the stakes are personal. The conversation also explores the role of listening, storytelling, and relationship dynamics in effective lawyering. This is a discussion about professional agency and the hidden ways lawyers give up leverage without realizing it. Follow the show for more conversations that challenge how lawyers think, negotiate, and build their careers. l
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    30 mins
  • Most Lawyers Fake Success and Clients Know It
    Apr 22 2026

    Many lawyers try to project success. Fewer actually build it.

    In this episode, Michael Liner discusses the gap between how lawyers present themselves and how real legal value is created. From luxury marketing to surface-level branding, he explains why many approaches fail to build trust or attract the right clients.

    The conversation explores what clients actually care about, how authenticity influences decision-making, and why systems and service matter more than image.

    If you are building a practice and questioning what really drives growth, this episode offers a clear perspective.

    Follow and subscribe for more conversations on how lawyers build practices that work in the real world.

    Michael Liner - Liner Legal Youtube

    Neal Goldstein - Watch The Episode and Subscribe!

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    45 mins
  • He Left Defense Law After This Case Changed Everything
    Apr 15 2026

    Scott Peterson spent seven years on the defense side before making a decision that changed his career.

    It was not driven by money or opportunity. It came from a moment where the work no longer aligned with who he wanted to be.

    In this episode, Scott explains what pushed him to leave and what it actually takes to build a plaintiff-side practice. He talks about the risk most lawyers underestimate, the emotional weight of the cases, and the discipline required to choose the right work.

    There is also a clear look at why many lawyers struggle when they go out on their own, especially when they bring a defense mindset into a contingency-based practice.

    This is a grounded conversation about risk tolerance, case selection, and building a practice that reflects how you want to live and work.

    Follow and subscribe for more episodes focused on how lawyers actually build sustainable careers.

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    41 mins
  • Lawyers Are Trained to Think - Not to Build a Practice
    Apr 8 2026

    Most lawyers follow the same path and still end up feeling like something is missing.

    In this episode, Neal sits down with Alycia Kinchloe to talk about what law school doesn't teach and why that gap creates problems later in your career.

    Alycia shares how stepping into leadership early exposed a lack of training in managing people, running systems, and building a business. That experience led her to pursue an MBA and rethink how she approached her practice.

    They discuss the role of emotional intelligence in client work, especially in family law, and why being heard often matters more than legal outcomes. The conversation also explores how relationships drive long-term growth, why most referrals come from trust, and how community involvement plays a role in building a sustainable practice.

    Alycia also breaks down how she structures her life to reduce burnout, including sleep discipline, physical activity, and setting personal guardrails that keep her aligned.

    This is a practical conversation about building a legal career that actually works for you.

    Follow the show for more conversations like this. Watch That One Lawyer Podcast

    Alycia Kinchloe Contact

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    39 mins
  • The Real Reason Lawyers Are Miserable and Don't Know It
    Apr 1 2026

    A lot of lawyers look successful on paper. That does not mean they are happy.

    In this episode, Neal sits down with Jordan Ostroff to talk about what is really going on behind the scenes for many attorneys. Burnout, pressure, and chasing the wrong definition of success are more common than most people admit.

    Jordan breaks down why so many lawyers are stuck playing someone else's game and what happens when you finally question it. The conversation covers billing models, delegation, firm structure, and how to build something that supports your life instead of consuming it.

    They also get into the mental health side of the profession and why the adversarial nature of law creates unique challenges that many lawyers never address.

    This is a direct and honest conversation about what needs to change if you want a career that actually feels worth it.

    Follow and subscribe for more episodes focused on helping lawyers build practices and lives they actually want.

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    33 mins
  • Criminal Defense Lawyer Explains Why Most Cases Take 8 Months and Still End in a Deal
    Mar 25 2026

    Most people think criminal cases move quickly.

    They don't.

    In this episode, Michael Kotek explains what really happens after an arrest and why most cases take six to eight months before they reach any kind of resolution. From pretrial conferences to discovery and delays, the process is slower and more complex than clients expect.

    That gap between expectation and reality is where many lawyers lose control of the client relationship.

    Michael shares how to manage that tension, why trust matters more than tactics, and how real outcomes are often negotiated rather than won in dramatic fashion. He also talks about the human side of criminal defense, and why caring about your client is what separates a good lawyer from a great one.

    If you're a lawyer trying to build a practice or handle cases more effectively, this episode gives you a clear look at how the system actually works.

    Follow the show for more conversations with lawyers who are doing the work at a high level.

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    36 mins
  • What No One Teaches About Law
    Mar 18 2026
    This is a conversation about the part of practicing law that no one really prepares you for. Not the cases. Not the textbooks. The reality. The pressure, the expectations, and the moments that stay with you longer than they should. We talk honestly about what it feels like to be in it — and why so many lawyers struggle with things that aren't talked about nearly enough. If you're a lawyer, thinking about becoming one, or just curious about the profession, this is a conversation worth hearing.
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    14 mins
  • The Real Cost of Skipping the Work in Your Legal Career
    25 mins