You Are A Lawyer: Take Risks and Change Careers in Law

From Lawyer to Legal Innovator feat. Sam Mollaei (August 2022)

Sam Mollaei is a California attorney, entrepreneur, and founder of Legal Funnel. After realizing traditional legal practice wasn't the life he wanted, Sam built multiple virtual law firms and now teaches attorneys how to automate client acquisition, streamline their businesses, and create practices that are virtual, scalable, and designed for freedom.  Lawyer Side Hustles Legal Funnel began after Sam successfully applied online sales funnels to his own law firms and realized other attorneys could benefit from the same systems. Today, he mentors hundreds of lawyers through group coaching, teaching them how to automate client intake, delegate work, and build businesses that continue growing without sacrificing their personal lives.  "I love giving. I love sharing,” shares Sam Mollaei in Episode 56 of You Are a Lawyer. For Sam, mentorship has become just as meaningful as entrepreneurship. After experiencing the impact of having his own business mentor, he now helps attorneys create sustainable firms while encouraging them to think differently about what's possible with a law degree.  This episode is produced by Skip the Boring Stuff [https://www.skiptheboringstuff.com/], a podcast strategy company for business owners and creatives.

Why Bigger Isn't Always Better feat. Ruma Mazumdar

Ruma Mazumdar is a New Jersey real estate and estate planning attorney who built a successful virtual law firm after leaving Big Law. In this episode, she shares how working as a paralegal shaped her legal career, why she chose entrepreneurship despite growing up around family business, and how redefining success led her to build a practice that supports the life she actually wants. Lawyer Side Hustles Launching her own law firm wasn't originally part of Ruma's plan. Growing up with entrepreneur parents, she witnessed the sacrifices that came with running a business and initially wanted the stability of traditional employment. But after several years in private practice and the shift toward remote work during the pandemic, she realized she wanted to build something on her own terms.    "I wanted to just have that sort of life,” Ruma Mazumdar expresses in Episode 255 of You Are a Lawyer. Today, Ruma operates a fully virtual law firm while living outside the state where she practices. She has also embraced human design as a framework for understanding how she works best, allowing her to build a business that prioritizes sustainability over constant growth. Her journey demonstrates that entrepreneurship isn't simply about owning a business. It's about intentionally creating a career that aligns with your values and lifestyle. This episode is produced by Skip the Boring Stuff [https://www.skiptheboringstuff.com/], a podcast strategy company for business owners and creatives.

What Law School Doesn't Prepare You For feat. Jay Coleman

Jay Coleman is a criminal defense attorney, probate attorney, Social Security attorney, and law firm owner based in Arkansas. Returning to You Are a Lawyer six years after his first appearance, Jay reflects on how his career has evolved, the realities of running a law practice, and why finding balance has become just as important as building a successful legal career.   Lawyer Side Hustles For Jay, entrepreneurship wasn't always part of the plan. Like many lawyers, he initially imagined working for someone else. Running his own firm gradually taught him that practicing law and operating a business require two very different skill sets.   "I didn't go to law school planning to have my own business,” Jay Coleman expresses in Episode 254 of You Are a Lawyer. Today, Jay spends as much time thinking about leadership, operations, and creating systems as he does practicing law. He's also intentionally working toward something many lawyers struggle to achieve: balance. Rather than measuring success solely by billable hours or case outcomes, he's learning to prioritize his own health, hobbies, and relationships alongside his growing practice. His journey reflects a reality many lawyers experience but don't often discuss openly.  This episode is produced by Skip the Boring Stuff [https://www.skiptheboringstuff.com/], a podcast strategy company for business owners and creatives.

Helping Small Businesses Win Big Contracts feat. Amber Johnson

Amber Johnson is an attorney whose legal career has evolved from civil rights and compliance work into helping small businesses compete for multimillion-dollar airport contracts. In this episode, Amber shares how her law degree opened unexpected doors, why transportation is full of legal careers beyond aviation law, and how lawyers can use their skills to build stronger organizations and stronger communities.     Lawyer Side Hustles Although Amber no longer practices law full time, she intentionally maintains her law licenses while continuing to grow her leadership career. Along the way, she has discovered that the skills lawyers develop are remarkably transferable across industries.   "Think about what you're passionate about and then find a role that fits that,” Amber Johnson expresses in Episode 253 of You Are a Lawyer. Amber's professional journey has taken her from diversity, equity, and inclusion work to civil rights compliance, public transportation, and now airport operations. Each transition built upon the last, proving that legal careers don't have to follow a straight line. Instead of limiting herself to one definition of success, she continues finding new ways to combine law, leadership, and community impact.  This episode is produced by Skip the Boring Stuff [https://www.skiptheboringstuff.com/], a podcast strategy company for business owners and creatives.

The Mentor Every Future Lawyer Needs feat. Anjie Vichayanonda (December 2021)

Anjie Vichayanonda is the founder and CEO of Leg Up Legal, a mentorship platform that connects aspiring law students with attorneys before they apply to law school. In this episode, Anjie shares how mentorship changed the course of her own career, why exposure matters before making the investment in law school, and how lawyers can use their knowledge to create opportunities for others. Lawyer Side Hustles Leg Up Legal began as an effort to solve a problem Anjie experienced firsthand. She knew how difficult it could be for aspiring lawyers to find mentors, learn about different practice areas, and understand what life as a lawyer actually looks like before committing to law school. Instead of accepting that challenge as inevitable, she built a platform designed to make mentorship more accessible.  “I wanna be able to teach these things to hundreds of people, thousands of people,” shares Anjie Vichayanonda in Episode 28 of You Are a Lawyer. In addition to running Leg Up Legal, Anjie also became a published co-author of Networked, an anthology written alongside 19 other women lawyers during the COVID-19 pandemic. The project captured stories of resilience, career pivots, personal challenges, and professional growth during a historic moment. Both the book and Leg Up Legal reflect Anjie's broader passion for helping people navigate uncertainty through connection, mentorship, and community.   This episode is produced by Skip the Boring Stuff [https://www.skiptheboringstuff.com/], a podcast strategy company for business owners and creatives.