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

Elise Holtzman left Big Law to raise her children, without a clear roadmap for what came next. Now she’s a leadership coach and founder of The Lawyer’s Edge, helping lawyers build confidence, develop business skills, and grow professionally. In this episode, Elise shares the mindset shifts that led her from practicing law to coaching those still in the field. LAWYER SIDE HUSTLES What began as a curiosity became a calling. Elise explored executive coaching and soon realized she could use her background in law to serve other lawyers. That side interest eventually became The Lawyer’s Edge [https://thelawyersedge.com/], which she now runs full-time, offering coaching programs, firm-wide trainings, and a popular podcast. “I didn’t set out to start a business. I set out to help people,” Elise Holtzman shares in Episode 210 of You Are a Lawyer. Elise’s story shows how side projects can evolve into full-fledged careers. By paying attention to what energized her, and what drained her, she built a business that supports both her clients and her life. She encourages other lawyers to give themselves permission to try something new, even if it starts small. LISTEN TO LEARN * How to overcome the fear of leaving traditional law practice * What lawyers actually need when it comes to leadership and business development * How to build a coaching business tailored to legal professionals WE ALSO DISCUSS * The identity crisis many lawyers face when stepping away from the profession * Why law school doesn’t prepare you to be a leader or entrepreneur * How to balance motherhood and career reinvention 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/]

Lamia Rahman is a Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree, TEDx speaker, and co-founder of SEEKR, a tech startup creating wearable AI devices for the blind. In this inspiring episode, Lamia shares her journey from law school in Hong Kong to the front lines of legal tech, accessibility, and advocacy. LAWYER SIDE HUSTLES SEEKR began as a passion project and has since grown into a globally recognized AI startup. The company develops wearable devices that help blind and visually impaired users navigate the world more independently. Lamia co-founded SEEKR during her law degree, blending her passion for tech with her desire to serve. “It was a small idea at first. Now we’re building something that’s used across countries. That’s wild,” Lamia Rahman shares in Episode 209 of You Are a LawyerMore than a “side hustle,” SEEKR is a mission-driven business, fueled by Lamia’s belief that tech should be inclusive and empathetic. In the episode, she shares what it’s like to build a team, pitch to investors, and develop AI that solves real-world problems, all while still figuring out what comes next in her legal career. LISTEN TO LEARN * How Lamia co-founded an AI startup that creates wearable tools for the blind * Why legal knowledge helps entrepreneurs navigate business growth * How public speaking and networking open unexpected career doors WE ALSO DISCUSS * Her experience studying law in Hong Kong as an international student * How being a woman of color in tech and law shaped her journey * Ways to combine social justice, accessibility, and innovation 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/]

Daniel Rosenberg 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 Daniel’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,” Daniel Rosenberg shares in Episode 208 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, Daniel 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 Daniel'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/]

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/]