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

Candace Spencer is a legal consultant, mediator, and food justice advocate based in Washington, D.C. With a unique blend of legal insight and a lifelong passion for food, Candace has built a career at the intersection of environmental mediation, sustainable agriculture, and racial equity. In this episode, she shares how she’s using her legal background to support Black farmers, empower dairy-free living, and reshape the food system from the inside out. LAWYER SIDE HUSTLES Candace’s side hustles are anything but side projects; they’re deeply aligned with her mission. Her YouTube series SSpilled Milk [https://www.youtube.com/@spilledmilk250] educates and uplifts the dairy-free community with humour and heart. She also creates downloadable legal guides for small food entrepreneurs, helping people start businesses with confidence. “It means so much to me when my friends include me with dairy-free options. That’s what Spilled Milk is about—making that kind of support easier for everyone,” shares Candace Spencer in Episode 37 of You Are a Lawyer. Whether she’s consulting on food policy or baking allergen-friendly desserts, Candace is creating systems of care. Her legal and creative ventures work in harmony, bringing clarity, inclusivity, and joy to underserved communities. LISTEN TO LEARN * Why legal skills can support advocacy work outside traditional law firm roles * How Candace empowers people through food-focused legal consulting * What it means to find creative freedom and impact in your legal career WE ALSO DISCUSS * The flaws Candace saw in traditional legal education * Why dairy-free living is about more than dietary restriction * How Black farmers and food entrepreneurs can benefit from accessible legal tools Join the FREE mailing list! Get behind-the-scenes content from You Are A Lawyer.  1) Visit www.youarealawyer.com [http://www.youarealawyer.com/] 2) Add your email address to the Subscribe pop-up box OR 3) Enter your email address on the right side of the screen 4) Get emails from me (I won't fill your inbox with junk)! Interact with You Are A Lawyer Kyla Denanyoh hosts the You Are A Lawyer podcast.  Follow the podcast: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@youarealawyer [https://www.youtube.com/@youarealawyer] Website: https://www.youarealawyer.com [https://www.youarealawyer.com/]

A.X. Foster is a former prosecutor and defense attorney turned novelist who’s turning real-life courtroom experience into gripping legal thrillers. In this episode, he shares how his background in acting and law helped him build a successful writing career, why COVID was the creative catalyst he needed, and how his novels teach readers about the legal system, without getting lost in legalese. LAWYER SIDE HUSTLES A.X.’s side hustle as an author didn’t just stem from a love of books—it came from lived experience. Drawing from real cases he prosecuted and defended, he built compelling plots that read like fiction but are grounded in courtroom realism. He even test-ran his early manuscripts with a jury of trusted friends and lawyers for feedback. “Write what you know… because I can spot right away someone who’s never been in a courtroom,” A.X. Foster shares in Episode 206 of You Are a Lawyer. He also manages his own publishing relationships and book marketing, blending legal savvy with entrepreneurial spirit. From book signings to readings to podcast interviews, A.X. shows that you can take a legal career and build something entirely new, without leaving your skills behind. LISTEN TO LEARN * How courtroom experience can shape compelling legal thrillers * Why creative skills are valuable assets in a legal career * How to write fiction that’s both entertaining and educational WE ALSO DISCUSS * The role of performance and storytelling in trial work * How A.X.'s background in acting helped him excel in law and writing * Practical advice for lawyers who want to write books or pursue creative paths Join the FREE mailing list! Get behind-the-scenes content from You Are A Lawyer.  1) Visit www.youarealawyer.com [http://www.youarealawyer.com/] 2) Add your email address to the Subscribe pop-up box OR 3) Enter your email address on the right side of the screen 4) Get emails from me (I won't fill your inbox with junk)! Interact with You Are A Lawyer Kyla Denanyoh hosts the You Are A Lawyer podcast.  Follow the podcast: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@youarealawyer [https://www.youtube.com/@youarealawyer] Website: https://www.youarealawyer.com [https://www.youarealawyer.com/]

Gary Martoccio is an employment lawyer and solo practitioner who left a large firm after 12 years to build his own plaintiffs-side practice. In this episode, Gary shares what it’s like to advocate for employees, run your own firm, and earn multiple state licenses through bar exams and reciprocity. If you’re curious about employment law or considering going solo, this episode gives a real-world perspective you won’t find in law school. WHAT YOU CAN DO WITH A LAW DEGREE Gary’s journey shows how a law degree can provide both structure and flexibility. Even if your first idea doesn’t stick (or your clients don’t make it to the big leagues), your training equips you with skills to succeed in high-stakes environments. “Don’t just limit yourself to traditional practice… it truly sets you up for so many different avenues," shared Gary Martoccio on Episode 205 of You Are a Lawyer. Today, Gary practices employment law across multiple states thanks to a smart mix of bar exams and reciprocity. He reminds lawyers and law students that options expand when you take strategic risks early on and the earlier you pivot toward work that feels aligned, the better. LISTEN TO LEARN * How to start and grow your own law firm after working in Big Law * What it really looks like to practice plaintiffs-side employment law * How to use bar reciprocity and strategy to gain licensure in multiple states WE ALSO DISCUSS * The emotional and professional payoff of advocating for employees * How to tell if your law firm (or area of law) is a good long-term fit * Why it’s never too late to pivot toward work that energizes you Join the FREE mailing list! Get behind-the-scenes content from You Are A Lawyer.  1) Visit www.youarealawyer.com [http://www.youarealawyer.com/] 2) Add your email address to the Subscribe pop-up box OR 3) Enter your email address on the right side of the screen 4) Get emails from me (I won't fill your inbox with junk)! Interact with You Are A Lawyer Kyla Denanyoh hosts the You Are A Lawyer podcast.  Follow the podcast: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@youarealawyer [https://www.youtube.com/@youarealawyer] Website: https://www.youarealawyer.com [https://www.youarealawyer.com/]

Nick Troxel is a lawyer, entrepreneur, and co-founder of Troxel Fitch, LLC, a business-focused law firm in Denver. In this episode, he shares how he went from driving Lyft after law school to building a thriving firm with his law school roommate. If you've ever dreamed of starting your own legal business, or wondered if it's worth the ris, this conversation is for you. LAWYER SIDE HUSTLES Nick didn’t have a side hustle in the traditional sense—his firm was the hustle. He and his partner built it in real time, taking every contract and client they could, learning by doing, and stretching every dollar. The early months were full of late nights, part-time jobs, and small wins that added up to something bigger. Over time, that side hustle became a full-fledged, thriving firm. “I didn’t do this to be super rich or anything. I mean, I want freedom. And that’s ultimately what entrepreneurship can give you,” shares Nick Troxel in Episode 76 of You Are a Lawyer. In addition to running his practice, Nick also co-authored How to Be a Lawyer, a book that aims to demystify the transition from law school to practice. His passion for helping new lawyers build sustainable careers has become a core part of his identity. He proves that a non-traditional career doesn’t mean a lesser one. It often means a more fulfilling one, especially when it’s built with intention and courage. LISTEN TO LEARN * What it really takes to start a law firm straight out of law school * Why lifestyle goals should guide your legal career decisions * How to build resilience through uncertainty (and global pandemics) WE ALSO DISCUSS * Entrepreneurship as a mindset, not just a job * How to avoid “golden handcuffs” in your career * Why law students should focus on the life they want—not just the job they think they should take Join the FREE mailing list! Get behind-the-scenes content from You Are A Lawyer.  1) Visit www.youarealawyer.com [http://www.youarealawyer.com/] 2) Add your email address to the Subscribe pop-up box OR 3) Enter your email address on the right side of the screen 4) Get emails from me (I won't fill your inbox with junk)! Interact with You Are A Lawyer Kyla Denanyoh hosts the You Are A Lawyer podcast.  Follow the podcast: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@youarealawyer [https://www.youtube.com/@youarealawyer] Website: https://www.youarealawyer.com [https://www.youarealawyer.com/]

Rhonda Coleman Wandel is a commercial attorney, podcast host, and founder of RCW Strategies LLC [https://www.rhondacolemanwandel.com/legal-services], a legal consulting firm serving visionary companies and legal teams. In this episode, she shares her bold transition from education to law, her path through in-house legal roles, and why she recently stepped into entrepreneurship after years at companies like Accenture and Google. From Memphis to Chicago, single motherhood to legal leadership, Rhonda’s story is about clarity, courage, and walking your own path. LAWYER SIDE HUSTLES Rhonda is the host of the Rhonda Coleman Wandel Podcast [https://www.rhondacolemanwandel.com/podcast], a platform she created to amplify women's career stories and celebrate nontraditional professional journeys. The podcast was born from her own pivot into law and a desire to show women that they can chart their own course—regardless of what the status quo says. “I wanted to create a space for women to come and talk about their unique career paths... and validate for other women like, look, you can walk your own path,” Rhonda Coleman Wandel shares in Episode 203 of You Are a Lawyer. Through her show, Rhonda has interviewed remarkable women who’ve reinvented themselves, pivoted industries, and built lives of purpose and alignment. The podcast, like her legal career, is about service, voice, and visibility. It’s also an extension of her belief that success doesn’t look one way—and that storytelling can help us find freedom in our professional lives. LISTEN TO LEARN * How to break into in-house legal roles, even without Big Law experience * Why meditation and movement matter in high-achieving legal careers * What “commercial transactional law” really means in the tech industry WE ALSO DISCUSS * How to stay ambitious without burning out * Why clarity around your values is key to career decisions * What lawyers can learn from entrepreneurship and education Join the FREE mailing list! Get behind-the-scenes content from You Are A Lawyer.  1) Visit www.youarealawyer.com [http://www.youarealawyer.com/] 2) Add your email address to the Subscribe pop-up box OR 3) Enter your email address on the right side of the screen 4) Get emails from me (I won't fill your inbox with junk)! Interact with You Are A Lawyer Kyla Denanyoh hosts the You Are A Lawyer podcast.  Follow the podcast: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@youarealawyer [https://www.youtube.com/@youarealawyer] Website: https://www.youarealawyer.com [https://www.youarealawyer.com/]