Why This Lawyer Refused to Stay in One Lane

Lawyers Are More Connected Than Ever. So Why Do They Feel So Alone?

Michelle Stern never wanted clients. She went to law school intending to work in advocacy and nonprofit leadership, not traditional legal practice. That path eventually led her to the New York State Academy of Trial Lawyers, where she has spent more than two decades building one of the largest trial lawyer organizations in the state. Today the Academy serves more than 6,000 members, but Michelle believes one of the biggest challenges facing lawyers has very little to do with law. It's loneliness. In this episode, Neal Goldstein and Michelle discuss how COVID changed the profession, why younger lawyers are struggling to build meaningful professional relationships, and what happens when convenience replaces connection. They talk about mentorship, networking, referrals, client communication, soft skills, lawyer development, and the importance of building a community instead of simply building a practice. Michelle also shares the story behind the Academy's growth, her thoughts on the future of legal education, and the advice she gives lawyers who want to stand out in a crowded profession. This is a conversation about legal careers, professional identity, and the relationships that shape both. Subscribe to That One Lawyer Podcast and follow for future episodes. NEW YORK STATE ACADEMY OF TRIAL LAWYERS [https://trialacademy.org/]

Why This Lawyer Refused to Stay in One Lane

What happens when a lawyer refuses to stay in one lane? Asha Smith has spent her career doing exactly that. Public defender. Professor. Mediator. Appellate advocate. Civil rights lawyer. Bar association leader. Artist. While many attorneys are told that success comes from narrowing their focus, Asha built her career by pursuing multiple interests and refusing to separate creativity from legal practice. In this episode, Asha joins Neal Goldstein to discuss why she believes lawyers limit themselves unnecessarily, how creativity strengthens advocacy, and why professional growth often comes from experiences outside the courtroom. The conversation explores public defense, mediation, legal education, bar association leadership, diversity in the legal profession, and the importance of building a career that reflects who you are rather than who others expect you to be. For lawyers questioning whether they have to choose between professional success and personal fulfillment, Asha offers a different perspective: you only get one life, so why spend it doing just one thing? Follow and subscribe to That One Lawyer Podcast for more conversations with lawyers building extraordinary careers on their own terms.

The Lawyer Who Won the Case and Lost Everything

Victor Suthammanont's path to becoming a lawyer was anything but traditional. Before entering the legal profession, he studied drama at NYU Tisch, founded a theater company, wrote screenplays, and performed stand-up comedy across New York City. Eventually, he went to New York Law School, clerked for a federal appeals judge, spent years at the SEC, and became a litigation partner while continuing to write fiction late at night after legal work was done. In this conversation with Neal Goldstein, Victor explains how storytelling, acting, and vulnerability shaped the way he practices law and understands people. They discuss depositions, trial advocacy, emotional intelligence, client trust, and the pressure many lawyers feel to hide who they really are. The episode also centers on Victor's acclaimed novel Hollow Spaces, a legal thriller inspired by the emotional aftermath of an acquittal. Together, Neal and Victor explore whether the justice system can ever truly deliver justice, what happens after public suspicion takes hold, and why winning in court does not always mean winning in life. Victor also reflects on grief, losing his father during the writing process, and the importance of authenticity for young lawyers trying to build careers that actually fit who they are. Follow and subscribe to That One Lawyer Podcast for more conversations with lawyers redefining success in the legal profession.

Most Lawyers Are Networking Wrong And It's Costing Them Clients

Most lawyers are taught that networking means legal mixers, bar association dinners, and handing out business cards to strangers. Neal Goldstein explains why that approach often feels transactional and why it rarely creates meaningful long-term relationships. In this episode, Neal shares how shifting away from traditional legal networking helped shape his career, his client relationships, and ultimately the growth of his law practice. From his involvement with multiple sclerosis organizations inspired by his mother's illness, to building community connections through the JCC, Neal explains why authentic relationships create stronger opportunities than forced professional interactions. He also breaks down how lawyers can build deeper trust with clients by treating them like people instead of files, why proactive communication matters, and how long-term relationships often become the strongest referral source a lawyer can have. This episode is for lawyers trying to grow a practice without feeling fake, transactional, or disconnected from the people they serve. Subscribe and follow That One Lawyer Podcast for more conversations on law firm growth, client relationships, legal careers, and building a meaningful practice.

Who Decides 'Professional' for Lawyers?

*]:pointer-events-auto [content-visibility:auto] supports-[content-visibility:auto]:[contain-intrinsic-size:auto_100lvh] R6Vx5W_threadScrollVars scroll-mb-[calc(var(--scroll-root-safe-area-inset-bottom,0px)+var(--thread-response-height))] scroll-mt-[calc(var(--header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]" dir="auto" data-turn-id= "request-WEB:d380cfe9-1e0d-4689-866e-ad7bb1ac615c-10" data-testid= "conversation-turn-22" data-scroll-anchor="false" data-turn= "assistant"> Who decides what it means to be a professional lawyer? In this episode, Haley Moss, Florida's first openly autistic attorney, explores how expectations around professionalism are formed, reinforced, and applied in the legal field. Many of these standards are not written down, yet they shape how lawyers are judged, evaluated, and advanced. Haley shares her experience navigating those expectations early in her career, including moments where following the "rules" was still not enough. The pressure to conform often requires constant adjustment, and that effort can take energy away from the actual work lawyers are trained to do. The conversation examines how these unwritten standards develop, why they vary so widely, and what happens when someone does not naturally fit the traditional mold. It also looks at the gap between advocating for clients and advocating for yourself, something many lawyers are never taught how to do effectively. Haley also discusses burnout, masking, and the long-term impact of trying to meet shifting expectations. She explains how authenticity and clear communication can lead to stronger professional relationships and better outcomes for both lawyers and clients. This is a practical and honest look at what the profession rewards, what it overlooks, and how lawyers can begin to think more intentionally about how they show up in their work. Follow and subscribe for more conversations with lawyers who are rethinking the profession.