What does it really take to go from heartbreak and grief to passing the bar exam and building a law career — all while starting over at age 50?

In this episode of That One Lawyer™ Podcast, Neal Goldstein sits down with attorney Gretchen Nicolaysen, whose inspiring story proves that it is never too late to reinvent yourself. From her early struggles as a teenager to her bold decision to pursue law school later in life, Gretchen shares the truth about what it means to face setbacks, overcome fear, and create a meaningful legal career.

If you’re a lawyer (or aspiring lawyer) who has ever wondered:

• Am I too late to start over?

• How do I balance resilience with the demands of law school?

• What role does mentorship play in shaping a law career?

• How can I find purpose in this profession beyond billable hours?

This episode is packed with insight, encouragement, and practical wisdom.

Watch the full video HERE

• Hear the unfiltered reality of what it’s like to go through law school at 50

• Learn how Gretchen turned hardship into the drive to earn her JD

• Discover why mentorship and community matter more than grades or prestige

• Find out how lawyers can redefine success and fulfillment in this profession

• Get inspiration to stay the course even when the odds feel stacked against you

• From grief to JD: how Gretchen transformed hardship into motivation

• The challenges of law school as a non-traditional student

• Why resilience is a lawyer’s greatest asset

• Mentorship: how to find it, how to give it, and why it matters

• Building a legal career after 50 — the opportunities no one talks about

• Advice for young lawyers (and older lawyers) about staying authentic

• Reinventing yourself as a professional when others doubt you

• Gretchen’s Early Struggles and Turning Points

• The Decision to Go to Law School at 50

• From Grief to JD: Finding Purpose Through Hardship

• The Importance of Mentorship in the Legal Profession

• Building Resilience Inside and Outside the Courtroom

• Challenges of Being a Non-Traditional Law Student

• How to Reinvent Yourself Later in Life

• Advice for Lawyers Seeking Meaning and Purpose

• Closing Thoughts: Why It’s Never Too Late

That One Lawyer™ Podcast is where lawyers, entrepreneurs, and changemakers come to talk about what really matters — building a meaningful career based on authenticity, relationships, and long-term growth.

Hosted by Neal Goldstein, attorney and author of Who’s in the Waiting Room?, the podcast brings you real conversations with lawyers, entrepreneurs, and leaders who refuse to blend in. Each episode is packed with mentorship, insights, and the kind of honesty you won’t find in textbooks.

Whether you’re a law student, a millennial lawyer, or a seasoned attorney searching for more meaning in your practice, this podcast is your place to learn, be inspired, and connect with the stories that remind us why we chose this profession in the first place.

This show is for lawyers who want to stop playing the game the way they were taught and start building a career (and life) that actually works.

What if the defining case of your career was born from tragedy and changed everything?

Michael Barasch never planned to be a lawyer. But unexpected turns, relentless advocacy, and a deep personal connection to his clients turned him into one of the most recognized voices for both 9/11 first responders and civilian survivors.

As managing partner of Barasch & McGarry, Michael and his team have helped secure over $3 billion in compensation and lifetime healthcare for thousands of people through the 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund from firefighters and police officers to teachers, downtown residents, and families who lost loved ones.

Watch the Full Video on YouTube HERE

In this episode of That One Lawyer™ Podcast, Neal Goldstein talks with Michael about:

• How he went from reluctant law student to 9/11 legal advocate

• The career moments that changed his path forever

• Why networking and relationships can matter more than grades or résumés

• Behind-the-scenes of passing the Zadroga Act and securing long-term healthcare funding

• How his firm built trust with thousands of clients during their most difficult moments

• What it takes to lobby Congress as a trial lawyer

• Why being part of the community you serve changes everything

💡 WHO THIS IS FOR:

• Lawyers who want to use their careers for impact, not just income

• Millennial attorneys looking for career clarity and inspiration

• PI lawyers who want to build a client-centered practice

• Legal professionals curious about public interest law and advocacy

• Anyone who believes the law can be a force for good

💬 MICHAEL BARASCH ON PURPOSE:
"I keep thinking there are so many people out there who still don't realize that they're eligible… That brings me so much satisfaction… That feels so good. So no, I don't get tired. I'm just always energized by who else can I reach."

👤 ABOUT MICHAEL BARASCH
Michael Barasch is the managing partner of Barasch & McGarry in New York City, the leading law firm representing 9/11 first responders and survivors. Over the past two decades, he and his team have helped secure more than $3 billion in awards through the 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund. A cancer survivor himself, Michael has turned his firm into a mission-driven practice focused on justice, healthcare, and advocacy for those exposed to the toxic aftermath of 9/11.

🌐 Learn more: 911victims.com

🎙️ ABOUT THE PODCAST
That One Lawyer™ Podcast is where lawyers, entrepreneurs, and changemakers come to talk about what really matters building a meaningful career based on authenticity, relationships, and long-term growth.

Hosted by Neal Goldstein, this show is for lawyers who want to stop playing the game the way they were taught and start building a career (and life) that actually works.

📌 WANT MORE LIKE THIS?
🟢 Subscribe to the channel for new episodes every week
🟢 Leave a comment with your favorite insight from Michael
🟢 Share this video with a lawyer who needs a new perspective

What if the key to standing out as a lawyer is not in your rates, your referrals, or your résumé... but in how you make people feel?

In this episode of That One Lawyer™ Podcast, host Neal Goldstein interviews Chris Schembra, Wall Street Journal best-selling author of Gratitude and Pasta and Gratitude Through Hard Times, and founder of the 7:47 Gratitude Experience™. Chris shares how lawyers can use gratitude and emotional intelligence to build deeper trust, create unforgettable client experiences, and grow a practice built on authentic relationships.

Chris has helped over 500,000 leaders around the world strengthen connection using the science of gratitude. His work has impacted over 200 companies, earned 2 Emmy Awards, and been featured in Forbes, Harvard Business Review, Entrepreneur, and USA Today.

Now, he is helping lawyers do the same, because in a competitive industry, how you connect matters more than ever.

Whether you are a young attorney just starting out or a seasoned lawyer ready to change how you build your firm, this episode will change how you think about relationships and success.

Watch the Full Video HERE

• Why gratitude is a game-changer for lawyers who want long-term growth

• How to build deeper trust in just one client conversation

• Chris’s neuroscience-backed approach to client loyalty and referrals

• Real prompts you can use this week to create stronger relationships

• Why most law firm marketing overlooks the emotional element

• How to move past transactional relationships and create real moments of value

• The hidden cost of avoiding emotional intelligence as a lawyer

• How gratitude works for litigators, solopreneurs, and everyone in between

✅ Subscribe to That One Lawyer™ Podcast
✅ Like this video and comment your biggest takeaway
✅ Share with your firm or legal team

Chris Schembra is the founder of the 7:47 Gratitude Experience™, a best-selling author, keynote speaker, and relationship-building expert. Known as the "Gratitude Guru" by USA Today, Chris is on a mission to help leaders foster deeper human connection in work and life.

His books Gratitude and Pasta and Gratitude Through Hard Times explore how thankfulness can reshape everything from mental health to business growth. Chris has created award-winning experiences for organizations like Dell, LVMH, Microsoft, and the United States Veterans Chamber of Commerce.

He is a founding member of the Rolling Stone Culture Council and his work has been featured in The Wall Street Journal, Inc., NBC, Fox News, Forbes, Entrepreneur, and more.

• What is gratitude-based lawyering

• The science behind emotional intelligence and trust

• The 7:47 Gratitude framework in action

• How to deepen client loyalty without spending more money

• Why young lawyers are missing this

• Building a values-first law firm

• From lead generation to client connection

• Practical gratitude habits for busy lawyers

• Chris’s final challenge for every attorney
  
  
  

📘 Grab "Gratitude and Pasta" on Amazon!
🌐 Website → https://www.747club.org/

🎙️ ABOUT THE PODCAST That One Lawyer™ Podcast is where lawyers, entrepreneurs, and changemakers come to talk about what really matters, building a meaningful career based on authenticity, relationships, and long-term growth.

Hosted by Neal Goldstein, this show is for lawyers who want to stop playing the game the way they were taught and start building a career (and life) that actually works.

📌 WANT MORE LIKE THIS?
🟢 Subscribe to the channel for new episodes every week
🟢 Leave a comment with your favorite insight from Chris
🟢 Share this episode with a lawyer who needs a new perspective

What if everything you were told about growing a successful law firm was wrong?

In this episode of That One Lawyer™ Podcast, host Neal Goldstein sits down with John Fisher — a nationally recognized personal injury attorney, bestselling author of The Power of a System, and the founder of a referral-only law firm — to reveal the exact strategies that helped him build an empire by doing the opposite of what most lawyers are taught.

John didn’t spend a dime on Google Ads. He doesn’t chase ambulance leads. He doesn’t rely on gimmicks. Instead, he doubled down on systems, referrals, client trust, and thought leadership to create a sustainable, purpose-driven business model that has transformed the lives of countless attorneys and clients.

WATCH FULL EPSISOD ON YOUTUBE HERE

• How John Fisher scaled his personal injury law firm

• Why he chose to focus exclusively on medical malpractice — and what niche marketing really means

• The 3 systems that changed everything for his business

• How to become a magnet for lawyer referrals without asking

• The story behind The Power of a System and why he wrote it for lawyers

• Why he believes your legacy is more important than your verdicts

• How to build a reputation without flashy branding

• What most lawyers misunderstand about content, connection, and client experience

• Solo and small firm attorneys who want more control and less chaos

• Lawyers sick of chasing leads and ready to build a business that attracts

• PI attorneys who want to grow a referral-based practice

• Legal entrepreneurs who want to scale their firm with integrity, not gimmicks

• Anyone who wants to design a law firm that works for their life, not just their bank account

“I don’t care about being the guy who had the biggest verdict. I want to be remembered as someone who helped lawyers build their dream lives.”

John Fisher is a personal injury and medical malpractice attorney, author, and law firm growth strategist. His book, The Power of a System, has become a must-read for lawyers across the country who are tired of burnout and ready to take control of their practices.

John runs John H. Fisher, P.C., a boutique firm in upstate New York that handles complex med-mal cases. He’s also the creator of the Mastermind Experience, a private network for forward-thinking lawyers.

📘 Grab The Power of a System on Amazon
🌐 Website → https://www.fishermalpracticelaw.com

🎙️ ABOUT THE PODCAST

That One Lawyer™ Podcast is where lawyers, entrepreneurs, and changemakers come to talk about what really matters — building a meaningful career based on authenticity, relationships, and long-term growth.

Hosted by Neal Goldstein, this show is for lawyers who want to stop playing the game the way they were taught and start building a career (and life) that actually works.

🟢 Subscribe to the channel for new episodes every week
🟢 Leave a comment with your favorite insight from John
🟢 Share this video with a lawyer who needs a new perspective

What happens when a Latina lawyer builds a brand that’s unapologetically bold, wildly authentic, and nothing like the firm next door? You get Heather Reese.

In this episode of That One Lawyer™ Podcast, we’re sitting down with Heather, a personal injury lawyer, fashion-forward disruptor, and advocate for doing law your own way. Heather is not here to fit in. She is here to change the game.

Heather didn’t come up through Big Law. She didn’t play it safe. And she didn’t shape-shift into someone else’s idea of what a lawyer should be. Instead, she embraced her culture, her creativity, and her community and built a PI practice that actually reflects who she is.

If you're a solo lawyer, millennial attorney, law student, or small-firm owner trying to grow a personal brand that feels honest and impactful, you’ll find something real in this conversation.

Watch the full episode on YouTube HERE

In this episode, we cover:

• How Heather turned her “nontraditional” presence into a professional superpower

• The power of showing up as yourself in the courtroom, online, and everywhere else

• Why personal injury lawyers need branding just as much as trial skills

• The emotional cost of trying to hide who you are just to be taken seriously

• Tips for lawyers navigating burnout, imposter syndrome, or the pressure to conform

• How social media helped Heather grow her reach without losing her voice

• What she wants every first-gen or minority law student to hear before graduation

Why This Episode Matters:

The legal field is full of unspoken rules. Don’t be too loud. Don’t wear that. Don’t say that. Don’t stand out too much. But for lawyers like Heather, women of color, solo practitioners, or anyone building from scratch, those rules often mean erasing your identity just to succeed.

Heather flips that narrative. She shows us what it looks like when you stop editing yourself for approval and start building something real. Her story is both a strategy session and a permission slip for lawyers ready to lead differently.

About Heather Reese:

Heather Reese is a Philadelphia-based personal injury attorney, speaker, and digital creator known for her unfiltered voice, fearless presence, and commitment to helping people feel seen and heard both in and out of the courtroom.

Whether she is mentoring future Latina lawyers or rocking the runway in a power suit, Heather is a movement. Her law practice is grounded in justice, representation, and showing up with heart. She proves you don’t need to dim your light to do meaningful work.

📲 Follow Heather on Instagram: @heather_rxoxo

If you loved this conversation, here’s how you can support That One Lawyer™ Podcast:
✅ Subscribe wherever you listen
🎧 Watch the full episode on YouTube HERE
⭐️ Leave a review to help others find the show
📢 Share this episode with a law student or solo lawyer who needs it

Benny Gold never planned to start a movement. He just wanted lawyers to feel less alone. What began as a storytelling project turned into Lawyer Stories, a global platform with over 50,000 followers that connects lawyers and law students through honest, human stories.

In this episode, Benny shares how storytelling became the foundation of a thriving legal brand and why sharing your truth might be the most powerful thing you can do as a lawyer today.

Watch the full video on YouTube HERE

• The story behind the creation of Lawyer Stories

• Why authenticity connects more than accolades

• How to build community in a traditionally isolating profession

• Tips for growing a legal brand on social media

• Why lawyers should stop hiding the human side of their journey

"When lawyers share their stories, they connect. That connection builds trust and that trust changes everything." Benjamin Gold

Benjamin “Benny” Gold is the founder of Lawyer Stories, a global community and media platform that shares the journeys of legal professionals around the world. Benny started Lawyer Stories to give lawyers a space to tell their stories, build relationships, and shift the culture of the profession toward more authenticity and empathy.

Instagram: @lawyer_stories
Website: https://www.lawyerstories.com

Subscribe to That One Lawyer™ wherever you listen.
Leave a review if this conversation resonated with you.
Watch the full video on YouTube: HERE

Mitch Jackson is proof that technology does not have to replace human connection. It can enhance it. In this first episode of That One Lawyer™ Podcast, Mitch shares how he has stayed ahead of the curve by embracing emerging tools like AI while staying grounded in the core values that matter most: trust, empathy, and real client relationships.

Whether you are a new lawyer, a solo practitioner, or a seasoned litigator navigating the digital shift, this conversation is packed with valuable insights into how to lead with innovation while staying grounded in what matters most.

Watch the full video on YouTube HERE

• How Mitch got started using AI in a high-stakes litigation practice

• Why authenticity matters more than marketing gimmicks

• How to balance legal tradition with digital innovation

• What young lawyers should know about staying future-ready

• Why clients choose lawyers they trust, not just lawyers with the best résumé

"People don't care how much you know until they know how much you care — and AI doesn’t change that. It just gives us new ways to show up." Mitch Jackson

Mitch Jackson is a California trial lawyer who has been recognized as Orange County Trial Lawyer of the Year and California Litigation Lawyer of the Year. He is a nationally known advocate for legal innovation, digital communication, and relationship-based lawyering. Mitch has been featured in major publications including Forbes, INC, and The Wall Street Journal for his work at the intersection of law, technology, and human connection.

In addition to his law practice, Mitch writes regularly on his Substack newsletter, Streaming Lawyer, where he shares insights on AI, digital transformation, and building trust in a virtual world. His content is designed for lawyers, professionals, and anyone interested in staying ahead of the curve without losing their core values.

Substack: Mitch's Substack - Uncensored Objection

Subscribe to That One Lawyer™ wherever you listen.
Leave a review if you enjoyed the episode.
Watch the full video on YouTube: HERE

The truth is… you won’t learn how to grow a thriving law practice from a textbook. But on That One Lawyer™ Podcast, you’ll get the real-world strategies and relationship-driven advice that actually work.

Hosted by attorney and bestselling author Neal Goldstein, this is the podcast for lawyers who are ready to stand out, get clients who stick, and build a business that feels like their own.

Full episodes begin Wednesday, July 16. New episodes will be released weekly.

Follow now so you don’t miss a thing.