Lawyers Who Care

Pamela Price | Attorney at Law

In this episode of Lawyers Who Care, host Andrew Samalin speaks with Pamela Price, attorney at law in Oakland, California. With over forty years of legal experience, Pamela serves small and medium-sized businesses in the Oakland and East Bay areas, bringing a career defined by courage, persistence, and a commitment to using the law as a tool to serve people. Pamela shares how a juvenile arrest at a civil rights demonstration and a path through Yale College first shaped her relationship with the law — and how meeting movement lawyers showed her that legal practice could be a force for good. She recounts how a client she turned down three times kept returning to her office until she finally accepted his case, ultimately leading her to argue before the United States Supreme Court and win after nearly a decade of litigation. She also reflects on what it meant to stand before the Supreme Court as a Black woman from a small Oakland firm, the challenges she faced even within the courthouse walls, and how being named California Lawyer of the Year followed one of the most extraordinary legal victories of her career. Topics covered: * A path to law through civil rights, Yale, and movement lawyering * The client she turned down three times — and why she finally said yes * Nearly ten years of litigation and arguing before the U.S. Supreme Court * What it meant to be a Black woman arguing before the nation's highest court * Being named California Lawyer of the Year in employment law * Forty years of serving small and medium-sized businesses in Oakland * Why courage and persistence are the foundation of legal excellence Connect with Pamela Price:  Website: pypesq.com  Email: pamela@thepamelaprice.com

Jennie Woltz | Employment and Labor Law

In this episode of Lawyers Who Care, host Andrew Samalin speaks with Jennie Woltz, co-founder of Woltz & Folkinshteyn in Stamford, Connecticut. Jennie works with both employers and employees across a broad range of employment and labor law matters, helping businesses de-risk their HR functions, reduce litigation exposure, and build workplace cultures where people can thrive. Jennie shares how a background in anthropology and an early interest in people and culture eventually led her away from complex commercial litigation and toward labor and employment law — the closest thing, she says, to being an anthropologist in a professional setting. She breaks down the employment risks that catch most employers off guard, from retaliation and leave administration to wage misclassification, and explains why proactive legal counsel almost always saves more than reactive litigation. She also describes how she and her partner launched their firm during the COVID-19 pandemic and responded to the crisis by creating an entirely new legal services model — the Employment Law Co-op — designed to help nonprofits and essential service providers stay compliant with a rapidly shifting body of new laws in real time. Topics covered: * From anthropology major to labor and employment attorney * The most overlooked legal risks employers face * Discrimination, retaliation, wage and hour, and leave administration * Why proactive employment law counsel prevents costly disputes * Launching a firm during COVID and building a new legal services model * The Employment Law Co-op and how it protected nonprofits during the pandemic * Why AI is not a substitute for trusted legal advice Connect with Jennie Woltz:  Email: jwoltz@wfpclaw.com  Phone: (203) 276-0792

Hillary Johns | Trial Law

In this episode of Lawyers Who Care, host Andrew Samalin speaks with Hillary Johns, managing partner of Hillary Johns Trial Lawyer in Beverly Hills, California. Hillary focuses her practice on civil litigation, real estate, business law, and intellectual property matters, representing clients across Southern California, the Bay Area, and New York. Hillary shares how a childhood fascination with Perry Mason first drew her to the courtroom, and how working alongside seasoned trial lawyers early in her career gave her the confidence and skill to try her first case just six months out of law school. She reflects on what separates lawyers who litigate from those who actually go to verdict — and why that distinction matters for clients. She also discusses the broader shifts she has observed across the legal profession, from the expanding access to legal services and the rise of employment and defamation cases, to the growing challenge of AI hallucinations appearing in legal arguments — and why returning to the fundamentals of good work and personalized service remains the most reliable strategy for lawyers and business owners alike. Topics covered: * Building a trial law career from the ground up * The difference between litigating and going to verdict * How access to the legal system has changed over the decades * AI hallucinations and their impact on legal practice * The explosion of employment and defamation cases * Why law is a business — and why that matters * Staying grounded in fundamentals amid rapid change Connect with Hillary Johns:  Email: hilary@hilarytriallawyers.com  Website: hilarytriallawyers.com

Jason Luros | Real Estate and Intellectual Property Law

In this episode of Lawyers Who Care, host Andrew Samalin speaks with Jason Luros, partner at Hudson & Luros in Napa, California. Jason focuses his practice on real property, estate planning, business law, and intellectual property, helping clients protect both their assets and their long-term interests. Jason discusses his unusual path into the legal profession, beginning in systems and software engineering before discovering that the analytical nature of law aligned with his strengths. After initially exploring patent law, he found his calling in real estate and estate planning, where he could build lasting relationships with clients and help families navigate important life decisions. He shares the story of a longtime client whose home and vineyard were destroyed in a wildfire. Beyond providing legal counsel, Jason helped the client rebuild her life by assisting with property purchases, business restructuring, and estate matters—demonstrating how trusted legal relationships can extend far beyond a single transaction. Topics covered: - Estate planning and real property law - Long-term client relationships in legal practice - Helping clients through personal crises - Keeping clients out of litigation - Why legal guidance should not feel intimidating Connect with Jason Luros: Website: hudsonluros.com Phone: (707) 418-5118 Email: jason@hudsonluros.com

Nico Romano | Estate Planning Law

In this episode of Lawyers Who Care, host Andrew Samalin speaks with Nico Romano of DGIM Law in Aventura, Florida. Nico focuses his practice on estate planning, business succession, corporate matters, and real estate transactions, helping clients protect their families and preserve their businesses. Nico shares how a seventh-grade mock trial first sparked his interest in the legal profession. After considering a career in finance, he ultimately returned to law and found a firm whose values aligned with his own belief that client care should remain at the center of every legal practice. He explains how technology has transformed the estate-planning client experience, enabling his firm to offer more flexible virtual meetings and remote document execution. Nico also describes a moment when he personally traveled to a client’s home to complete an important signing, illustrating how thoughtful service often means meeting clients where they are. Topics covered: - Estate planning and succession strategies - Using technology to improve client service - Virtual legal meetings and document execution - Going beyond the office for clients - Why convenience matters in legal care Connect with Nico Romano: Phone: (954) 914-8074 Email: nico@dgimlaw.com Website: dgimlaw.com