The Newfangled Lawyer host, Patrick Patino, is joined by CBUS Mob host, Allison Harrison, to share the exciting news that Patrick is joining Allison's law firm, ALH Law Group.
This is a collab better than PB & J.
About Courtney
Courtney Schulnick, Esquire spent two decades as a litigator at Marshall Dennehey’s Philadelphia office, advocating in state and federal courts. Firsthand experience with the intense demands of legal practice led her to the Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) Program at Jefferson’s Myrna Brind Center, where she discovered the transformative power of mindfulness.Now a MBSR teacher at Jefferson’s Center for Mindfulness, Courtney integrates her legal background and mindfulness expertise to support professionals in high-stress environments. She specializes in helping attorneys and teams build resilience, reduce stress, and cultivate greater focus and balance through practical, evidence-based tools.Courtney is passionate about reshaping workplace culture to prioritize well-being and sustainable performance. Her mission is to create spaces where professionals feel empowered, recharged, and connected to their purpose.Outside of her work, Courtney enjoys life with her husband and three sons, who continually remind her to slow down, be present, and embrace life’s small moments.
About Sierra
Sierra Grandy is a speaker, attorney, advocate, and adventurer focusing on neurodiversity, disability, and mental health topics. As a neurodivergent and disabled person herself, Sierra draws on her lived experiences and educational background to give voice to marginalized and overlooked communities. As an avid volunteer and leader in her community, with leadership roles within the National Alliance on Mental Health (NAMI), the Minnesota State Advisory Council on Mental Health, and the Minnesota Disability Bar Association, she uses her connections and resources to try to make a difference in the lives around her. As an Adventurer, Sierra uses gamification and positive psychology to have more fun in life using a system that she calls “Questify Your Life.”
https://questifyyourlife.substack.com/
About Erin
Erin Gerner is an attorney turned elite coach, speaker and founder of the Powerhouse Lawyers community. She helps high-achieving women in law reclaim their power, set bold boundaries, and build lives and careers they actually love. Through her podcast, retreats, and coaching programs, Erin empowers women to define success on their own terms—without sacrificing themselves in the process.
This episode features Allie Levene, a lawyer revolutionizing legal services, particularly for small businesses and nonprofits. Her view of the law is that it is not as an elite profession, but is a vehicle to help the everyday person. She opens up about the challenges of fitting into traditional law firms that weren't designed for her differences and her desire to make legal support truly accessible.
Discover why Allie passionately advocates for flat-fee billing and presents services via a "menu," seeing it as a way to remove skepticism clients often hold towards traditional lawyers and to even the playing field. Her core mission is educating clients, empowering them to handle legal issues themselves over time. Hear about her creative methods for simplifying complex legal concepts, such as using the debate "Is a hot dog a sandwich?" to teach argument and reasoning to second and third graders.
The conversation explores common misconceptions about lawyers, the critical distinction between what is strictly legal and what is ethical or moral, and the importance of navigating uncertainty in the law. They discuss the significant risks of relying on readily available, non-traditional sources like Reddit, Legal Zoom, or ChatGPT for legal help. Allie shares a crucial perspective: compliance is not 100% perfection, and what truly matters is what you do after a mistake occurs. She explains how empowering clients to understand and interact with the law not only benefits them but also builds valuable relationships and generates referrals, akin to the idea of teaching someone to fish.
Tune in as they discuss necessary improvements in the legal profession, highlighting the need for authenticity, humanizing lawyers, and prioritizing mental health. She shares how launching her own practice in January 2024 provided the vital flexibility needed to be present for her children's school activities and daily pickups, while acknowledging the privilege that facilitated this path. Ultimately, she views lawyers as essential community helpers.
Beyond the law, learn about Allie's personal interests, including her passion for Legos and her collection of meaningful tattoos. This episode offers an insightful and refreshing perspective on creating a legal practice that is transparent, client-centric, and dedicated to promoting equitable access to justice.
About Allie
Allie Levene is the founder of Levene Legal, a Connecticut-based law firm dedicated to providing affordable legal services to small businesses and nonprofits. Allie helps clients navigate legal issues at every stage of their business by helping them understand their legal obligations and options, without all of the confusing legal jargon. She believes in empowering organizations to prioritize proactive legal support to protect their business.
Join host Patrick Patino and guest Bradley Miller as they discuss finding peace while practicing law in your own way. Bradley discusses deprioritizing his identity as a lawyer and what that reframe brought to his life.
About Bradley
Helping Create a Better Legal Profession | Happy Lawyers → Happy Clients | Legal Counsel for Franchisees and Small Business Buyers & Sellers | #LawyerDad #LawyersWhoWoo
www.linkedin.com/in/bradleymiller
www.bradleymillerlaw.com
Join host Patrick Patino and guest Johnathan Merel. With a focus on bringing comfort to his clients, Jonathan has created a family law firm that provides a refreshing experience, bucking the traditional way of doing things. Jonathan has made his impact by reshaping what a law firm looks like. This episode is filled with laughter, no-BS insights, and pushback on traditional ways of thinking about practicing law.
About Jonathan
Jonathan Merel is an experienced attorney who advocates for his clients in all divorce and family law proceedings, including settlement negotiations and trials. Jonathan founded Merel Family Law in early 2009 after working for many years at another family law firm in Chicago. Through his hard work and unwavering dedication to his clients, Jonathan has quickly grown the firm to become one of the premier divorce and family law firms in the Chicagoland area.
In this episode of The Newfangled Lawyer, Karen Munoz discusses the personal and professional impact of working in high-trauma legal practice areas and what led her to study and practice yoga, mindfulness, and eventually trauma therapy. She and host Patrick Patino unpack the mental toll of practicing law, the weight of vicarious trauma, and how presence, community, and self-awareness helped her build a new path forward.
About Karen
Karen Munoz is a veteran plaintiff’s attorney, wellness educator, and founder of Roaring Grace, a legal wellness consultancy. With nearly 20 years of trauma-informed practice, she now blends law and psychology to help lawyers lead with clarity, resilience, and heart.
In this episode of The Newfangled Lawyer, Patrick Patino and Maddison Koper get real about what it means to build a legal career—and a life—on your own terms. They swap stories about running your own firm, blending personal and professional identities, and choosing authenticity over outdated expectations. Maddison shares her journey of creating a law practice that actually fits who she is, while Patrick reflects on why being a lawyer today means designing your own path instead of following someone else's. If you have ever wondered whether you can be both yourself and a successful lawyer, this conversation will show you the answer is a resounding yes.
About Maddison
Maddison Koper is a spiritual entrepreneur blending wellness, coaching, and law to help others create a balanced life and business. She and her husband, Connor, co-founded MaddConscious, a lifestyle e-commerce brand and wellness community where she leads movement and breathwork as a Pilates and fitness instructor.
Through Life Coach Lawyer, she offers 1:1 coaching to support entrepreneurs in both business and personal growth. Sunshine Law Firm brings a fresh, accessible approach to LLCs, contracts, and trademarks. Whether guiding legal strategy or mindful growth, Maddison empowers others to build, protect, and live their dreams.
In this episode host Patrick Patino is joined by guest Drew Amoroso to discuss lawyer coaching, non-attachment, and bringing kind and gentle masculine energy to the practice of law.
About Drew
Drew Amoroso is a former lawyer and the Founder of DueCourse, the legal industry’s only platform enabled coaching company. He's a recognized workday coach and thought leader on how to bring a human-centered approach to the future of work and work models that promote ahappier workforce - starting with DueCourse. The company shifted to a four-day workweek in August 2024.
Drew founded DueCourse in 2018 to help professionals design an intentional, authentic, and values-driven approach to their workday and career. The company partners withinnovative talent teams at AmLaw 200 firms deliver impactful coaching at scale, specializing in cohort-based and 1-1 coaching.
Prior to DueCourse, he was a senior litigation associate at Reed Smith LLP and is a visiting lecturer at three Bay Area law schools where he teaches a Practice Ready Seminar designed to prepare law students to make the transition from students to practice-ready lawyers.
Join Patrick Patino on The Newfangled Lawyer Podcast as he sits down with John Avi Socha, Chief Operating Officer at Hemmatt Law Group, a prominent family law firm in Seattle. John shares his journey and experiences in driving innovation through technology, automation, effective management practices, and embracing novelty.
John dives into the challenges of maintaining a high-touch client experience while scaling operations and discusses his approach to building a firm culture that embraces innovation without losing the human element.
This episode offers valuable insights and actionable advice for legal professionals aiming to modernize their practices, boost productivity, and stay competitive in an evolving legal landscape.
Perfect for attorneys, legal tech enthusiasts, and law firm leaders committed to growth and excellence!
About John
John Avi Socha serves as the Chief Operating Officer of the Hemmat Law Group, a complex family litigation firm headquartered in Seattle, Washington. He is the Co-Host of Gossip Without Prejudice, a podcast profiling the ways the legal industry fails society. A triple attendee of the University of Washington, John champions change in the legal industry through storytelling and public advocacy for a kinder industry.
In this episode, host Patrick Patino returns from a brief hiatus and sits down with Brandy Wilson Edwards, a self-described "multi-passionate person and professional." While Brandy is an attorney and motivational speaker, much of the conversation focuses on her vibrant identity beyond traditional titles. She shares her love for hot yoga, abstract painting, personal development, and her unapologetic obsession with the color pink. The two dive into the evolving concept of professional identity, with Brandy emphasizing the importance of embracing all facets of oneself rather than limiting identity to a job title. This insightful and uplifting dialogue encourages lawyers and anyone in a high-performing role to reflect on their full selves and pursue joy, passion, and authenticity alongside their careers.
About Brandy
Attorney, Author, Motivational Speaker and Well-Being Advocate, Brandy Wilson Edwards empowers you to be a zealous advocate for yourself while challenging you to pursue your potential. Brandy works with organizations that prioritize well-being and want to use the power of mindset to create happier, engaged, and confident professionals. Brandy is obsessed with personal development and believes both your happiness and well-being should be non-negotiable.
She obtained her undergraduate degree from the University of North Texas and received her law degree from Oklahoma City University School of Law. As a multi-passionate person and professional, Brandy is also certified to teach yoga and mindfulness. Her life mantra is "Be Strong and Courageous", which she encourages you to adopt so you live with more courage and less regret.
In this episode, Patrick is joined by Henry Nelson-Case, a UK-based lawyer and content creator, for an engaging conversation about breaking traditional molds in law.
Henry shares his unconventional journey from a traditional legal career to becoming a social media influencer, balancing the structured world of law with the creative freedom of content creation. He reflects on the challenges of stepping outside professional norms and the rewards of building a digital community. Through personal anecdotes, Henry reveals how platforms like TikTok have transformed his confidence, allowed him to connect with people worldwide, and opened doors to unexpected opportunities, from TEDx talks to global collaborations.
Together, Patrick and Henry explore themes of authenticity, innovation, and rethinking what it means to be a lawyer. They challenge outdated stereotypes, encouraging lawyers to embrace their individuality and unique voices. The episode highlights the importance of continuous learning, self-expression, and letting go of rigid notions of professionalism, offering practical insights for lawyers looking to adapt to the profession's rapidly changing landscape.
Whether you're a lawyer seeking inspiration or simply curious about the intersection of law and creativity, this episode is a thought-provoking and uplifting listen.
About Henry
Alongside working as a lawyer, Henry creates relatable and impactful content on social media that aims to positively impact the lives of all those who have been affected by negative corporate workplace behaviours. In doing so, Henry strives to promote the importance of mental health and wellbeing in the workplace and challenge such toxic corporate behaviours. Henry has also delivered a TedX talk on how toxic masculinity negatively impacts mens mental health, alongside speaking on BBC World News on Millennial and Gen Z behaviours. Henry has also spoken at Oxford and Cambridge universities and has also lead discussions at a whole host of UK conferences.
In this engaging episode of The Newfangled Lawyer, host Patrick Patino sits down with Justie Nicol, founder of Colorado Lawyer Team, to discuss her decade-long journey as a firm owner and her experiences as a legal professional in today’s rapidly evolving world. Patrick and Justie recount their first meeting at ClioCon in Austin, where a chance introduction over unexpectedly great pizza laid the foundation for this insightful conversation.
Justie shares the highs and lows of running her own firm for over ten years, offering a glimpse into her focus areas of criminal defense, family law, and civil litigation. With honesty and humor, she reflects on the lessons learned from balancing the demands of law firm ownership while staying connected to her passion for client advocacy.
The discussion highlights the power of networking, the value of attending industry conferences, and the importance of embracing change in the legal field. Justie and Patrick explore topics like maintaining work-life balance, leveraging technology to streamline legal practices, and fostering meaningful client relationships.
Whether you’re a seasoned attorney, a law student, or someone curious about the inner workings of modern legal practice, this episode is packed with practical advice, personal anecdotes, and actionable insights. Join Patrick and Justie for a thoughtful conversation that underscores the adaptability, resilience, and innovation required to thrive as a newfangled lawyer.
About Justie
Justie Nicol is a feisty, red-headed, nerdy, dog & toddler mom, with a variety of legal experience who’s actually a PERSON (human first, then attorney) and who wants to GENUINELY HELP her clients. Justie practices primarily criminal defense work but is also well-known for innovation, systems-design, and using legal tech to achieve great results for the firm and her clients. Justie is often teaching other lawyers about tech stacks , guest-lecturing at local universities about animal law, teaching animal control officers how to testify and investigate, or giving webinars on law firm automation. She is the Colorado Lawyer Team visionary.
Patrick Patino welcomes guest Heather Moulder, a former corporate finance attorney turned career and business coach for lawyers, to discuss what it means to be a "newfangled lawyer." Heather shares her journey from 18 years in Big Law to helping attorneys align their personal values with their professional practice. Together, they explore the importance of authenticity, self-awareness, and value-driven decision-making in creating a fulfilling and successful legal career.
About Heather:
Heather Moulder is a former Big Law partner turned lawyer coach who traded in her multi-million dollar law practice to help lawyers build their own seven-figure law practice to support the life they actually want to live. Using her unique mindset, values and strengths-based framework, Heather is known for helping clients 10x their performance while also reenergizing professionally. When not assisting her clients achieve balanced success, you’ll most likely find Heather cooking a never-guess-it’s-gluten-free meal from scratch or cheering on her 2 baseball-obsessed boys in the searing hot Texas sun.
In this episode of The Newfangled Lawyer podcast, Patrick Patino welcomes Allison Harrison, the founder of ALH Law Group, a firm celebrating its 10th anniversary. Allison shares her journey of building a firm that specializes in estate planning for the queer community while also maintaining a unique niche in representing car dealers. She discusses the success of embracing her firm’s unconventional identity.
Allison provides thoughtful insights into the importance of authenticity and persistence in building a sustainable legal practice. She recounts the hurdles of establishing her business and the innovative approaches she has taken to address the diverse needs of her clients. The conversation also touches on the broader challenges faced by lawyers trying to carve out nontraditional paths in the legal field, emphasizing the value of staying true to one’s vision.
Listeners will gain practical advice and inspiration from Allison’s story of perseverance and innovation. Whether you’re navigating niche legal markets or looking to make your mark in the industry, her journey offers a refreshing perspective on what it takes to build a law firm with purpose and personality.
About Allison
Allison Harrison founded ALH Law Group in 2014 with a clear mission: to provide practical, no-nonsense legal services to small businesses and individuals, especially those underserved or facing unique challenges. She’s passionate about empowering minority-owned businesses and the LGBTQ+ community, offering them a trusted partner to navigate complex legal landscapes. From defending small businesses in consumer disputes to guiding estate planning with care and transparency, Allison’s work is rooted in a drive to make the law more accessible and equitable.
Over the past four years, she has reimagined her team, blending innovative technology with personalized service to deliver exceptional results without losing the human touch. When she’s not advocating for her clients, Allison enjoys traveling the world with her wife, Heidi, doting on her cats, Stabler and Benson, and hitting the golf course, snowboarding slopes, or tennis court.
In this episode of The Newfangled Lawyer podcast, host Patrick Patino welcomes Frank Ramos, a Miami-based civil defense lawyer with a flair for innovation and a passion for AI. Frank shares his journey into the world of artificial intelligence, explaining how he became captivated by the technology when ChatGPT passed the bar exam in 2023. Now, he's an avid AI evangelist, incorporating it into his daily practice to streamline tasks like deposition preparation and case analysis, which has not only enhanced his productivity but also reshaped his client interactions. Frank discusses how AI has transformed the legal landscape and shares practical insights into leveraging it ethically and effectively.
The conversation then takes a reflective turn as Frank opens up about his upbringing in Chicago, where he navigated a tough environment that demanded vigilance and adaptability. He recounts his experiences growing up near gang territories and how they instilled in him a keen sense of observation—a skill he now uses to excel in depositions and courtroom settings. Frank’s story sheds light on how his past shaped his resilience and ability to size up situations, which have become invaluable in his legal career. His openness about the challenges and lessons from his youth provides listeners with a unique perspective on how personal history can influence professional success.
Frank also shares how his experience with OCD has heightened his ability to notice details that others might miss, turning what could be seen as a limitation into a unique strength. The discussion covers a wide array of topics, from his thoughts on social media’s impact on younger generations to the importance of curiosity and lifelong learning. Throughout, Frank exemplifies what it means to be a "newfangled lawyer," constantly evolving and adapting to the ever-changing legal landscape.
About Frank:
Frank Ramos is a seasoned civil litigation attorney with over 26 years of experience, currently serving as a partner at Goldberg Segalla in Miami. Specializing in retail and hospitality, product liability, and alternative dispute resolution, Frank has built a reputation for his strategic defense work across diverse industries, from pharmaceuticals to construction. He is especially known for his success in defending high-stakes cases involving catastrophic personal injuries, commercial disputes, and transportation-related claims. His notable accolades include being named Miami’s Product Liability Lawyer of the Year for both 2020 and 2023 by *The Best Lawyers in America*.
In addition to his practice, Frank is a prolific writer and speaker, having authored over 20 books and 500 articles on various aspects of law, litigation management, and career development. He has also delivered more than 400 presentations, sharing insights with legal professionals on topics ranging from trial skills to the ethical use of artificial intelligence. Frank’s contributions extend to mentoring young lawyers through his books, such as From Law School to Litigator and The Associates’ Handbook, as well as through one-on-one conversations and numerous public speaking engagements.
Recognized as a thought leader, Frank is deeply involved in industry organizations, including the Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel, where he serves on multiple committees. His dedication to advancing the legal profession has earned him numerous awards and honors, such as the Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent rating and consistent recognition in *Florida Super Lawyers*. Beyond his legal practice, Frank remains committed to helping clients navigate the evolving landscape of artificial intelligence, ensuring they adopt these technologies safely and effectively.
Join host Patrick Patino and guest Shane Seppinni on a laugh-filled episode where they discuss living in awe, creating boundaries, and giving yourself permission to doing things differently.
About Shane:
Shane Seppinni founded Seppinni Law. Seppinni Law is a preeminent plaintiffs law firm headquartered in New York City, representing employees and survivors against Corporate America and abusers. After graduating from Stanford Law School, where he was a member of the Black Law Students Association, Shane worked as a Civil Rights Public Defender at the Bronx Defenders. Shane then joined the trial law firm of Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan. Before becoming a lawyer, Shane worked at Google studying tech companies' employment practices. Shane was the first student from his public high school to be admitted to Cornell University, where he studied Industrial Labor Relations as an undergrad. Shane lives in Brooklyn with his wife, their son, and their dog.
Join host Patrick Patino and guest Shams Merchant as they discuss taking ownership of your career with joy. Shams shares how he started building a book of business even before becoming a licensed attorney and how he took control of his career through intentional business/personal brand development.
About Shams
Shams is a real estate private equity attorney, representing investors, developers and real estate private equity firms in their transactional and securities matters. Shams has represented some of the largest real estate investment firms in the world and currently represents many active real estate players in the Texas market.
https://mwfirm.com/shams-merchant
https://www.linkedin.com/in/shams-merchant/
About this episodes sponsor stage:
Stage is a women-owned legal marketing and business development firm specializing in business development coaching and actionable strategies to boost empathy, revenue, and visibility for lawyers, with a particular focus on women. They love working with lawyers and legal marketers to turn touchpoints into “trustpoints.”
They believe stage stands out as one of the pioneering in-house legal marketing teams to transition from Big Law and launch an independent company as a united team. They stay true to their ethos by providing free business development coaching to support working parents before/after parental leave. Their love of working together shines through for all who collaborate with them. They bring experience from Big Law + Big Four + investment banking. They have worked side-by-side with lawyers at all levels, bringing together practice groups, collaborating with professional/talent development teams, and deepening client relationships and revenue ranging from start-ups to Fortune 500.
In this episode of The Newfangled Lawyer Podcast, host Patrick welcomes Krisina Zuñiga, a newly minted partner at Susman Godfrey, as the first episode of Season 3 following a brief hiatus. Krisina offers insights into balancing a demanding legal career while maintaining personal well-being.
Krisina shares her path to becoming a partner, highlighting her background growing up in Laredo, Texas, a border town, and her experiences as both a federal law clerk and attorney. She reflects on how her upbringing shaped her professional identity. Krisina also explains how her philosophy studies, particularly in ethics and logic, enhanced her ability to navigate the complexities of law with a sharp, analytical approach, bringing a fresh perspective to her litigation work.
The conversation explores being a female Hispanic attorney and how Krisina manages the balance between her legal career and motherhood. She describes her approach to handling both worlds with intention, supported by a strong family network and a firm culture that embraces work-life balance. Krisina also touches on her mentorship and involvement in the community, emphasizing the importance of setting boundaries and prioritizing what truly matters.
This engaging episode offers a fresh take on what it means to be a "newfangled lawyer" — one who embraces both professional excellence and personal fulfillment. Krisina’s story is not only a testament to her resilience but also an inspiration for attorneys who aspire to make meaningful choices in their careers and lives.
About Krisina:
Krisina Zuñiga represents plaintiffs and defendants in all types of commercial litigation. Career highlights include securing a dismissal of the FTC’s antitrust challenges to client Intercontinental Exchange’s proposed $11+ billion acquisition of Black Knight; winning a nearly $40 million judgment for the defendant Repeat Precision after a federal court trial; and representing the City of Baltimore in its litigation against the opioid distributors and manufacturers that fueled the worst opioid epidemic in the country, which litigation is ongoing and has already resulted in $242.5 million in settlements, a larger recovery than the City would have received under the global settlement. Krisina has been recognized by the American Bar Association as one of the nation’s Top 40 Lawyers Under 40, by the National Law Journal as a Rising Star of the Plaintiff’s Bar, by Super Lawyers as a “Rising Star,” by Bloomberg Law as an “Intellectual Property Fresh Face,” by Texas Lawyer as one of fewer than 30 lawyers “On the Rise,” and by the Greater Houston Women’s Chamber of Commerce as a “Breakthrough Woman.” Krisina joined Susman Godfrey after clerking for the Honorable Diana Saldaña of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas in her hometown of Laredo, Texas, and the Honorable Jennifer Walker Elrod of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. Krisina earned her J.D. from Stanford Law School after graduating summa cum laude from Rice University. She is a past president of the Houston Young Lawyers Association and a board member of the Houston Bar Foundation and the Hispanic Bar Association of Houston.
www.linkedin.com/in/krisina-zuniga
https://www.susmangodfrey.com/attorneys/krisina-zuniga/