Lawyers Who Care

Episodes

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  Helene Bernstein | Divorce and Family Law 21.10.2026 11m

  In this episode of Lawyers Who Care, host Andrew Samalin speaks with Helene Bernstein, founder of the Law and Mediation Office of Helene Bernstein in Brooklyn. Helene’s practice focuses on divorce, separation, custody, child support, and related family law matters.Helene shares how her early work with children led her to family law, beginning with Suffolk County Family Court and later prosecuting child abuse cases. She explains how that experience shaped her approach to helping families navigate difficult legal and personal challenges.She also discusses the differences between litigation, mediation, and collaborative approaches, and how she helps clients determine which process is right for their circumstances. For some clients, mediation can provide a path toward settlement, while cases involving domestic violence or hidden assets may require court intervention.Helene also shares her perspective on helping children through divorce, including the importance of protecting the child's relationship with both parents. She discusses approaches such as nesting, shared holidays, and bringing in financial and mental health professionals to support families through the transition.In This Episode, You'll Learn:- Helene’s path into family and divorce law- How to determine whether mediation or litigation is the right fit- When domestic violence or hidden assets may require court intervention- Common mistakes parents make during divorce involving their children- How nesting can help children adjust to separation- The importance of protecting a child’s relationship with both parents- Why divorce should move at the client’s own paceConnect with Helene Bernstein:Website: hbernsteinlawandmediation.com
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  Brian Kupferberg | Family Law 14.10.2026 9m

  In this episode of Lawyers Who Care, host Andrew Samalin speaks with Brian Kupferberg, a family and matrimonial lawyer with Berkman, Bottger, Newman & Schein, serving clients throughout New York City, Westchester, Nassau, and Suffolk counties.Brian discusses his path into family law and how working as a clerk for a matrimonial judge gave him an inside perspective on effective advocacy and courtroom practice. He also explains how his firm's range of matrimonial services allows clients to pursue different paths depending on their individual needs.Brian shares two client success stories: a straightforward prenuptial agreement that allowed a couple to proceed with their marriage without unnecessary conflict, and a custody and child support case in which his clients ultimately chose to work together rather than have the court determine the outcome.Throughout the conversation, Brian emphasizes that effective legal representation means supporting clients in making informed decisions about what is best for themselves and their families.In This Episode, You'll Learn:- Brian's path into family and matrimonial law- Prenuptial and postnuptial agreements- Litigation, mediation, and negotiated solutions- Supporting clients through custody and child support matters- Why clients should have a voice in determining their path forward- The importance of effective advocacy and good advisors- How strong client relationships contribute to successful outcomesConnect with Brian Kupferberg:Phone: (212) 867-9123Website: berkbot.com
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  Daniel Campen | Estate Planning and Elder Law 14.10.2026 9m

  In this episode of Lawyers Who Care, host Andrew Samalin speaks with Daniel Campen of Campen Estate Planning in Tyrone, Georgia. Daniel focuses on estate planning, special needs planning, Medicaid planning, and probate and trust administration.Daniel shares how personal experiences shaped his practice, including his mother's experience with nursing home care and raising a daughter on the autism spectrum. These experiences inspired him to help families navigate some of life's most difficult legal and financial challenges.He also discusses how the loss of his daughter, Josephine, changed the way he approaches estate planning and led him to consider creating the Josephine Joy Fund to support clients experiencing pregnancy loss.Throughout the conversation, Daniel emphasizes the importance of maintaining a relationship with your attorney and regularly reviewing an estate plan as life changes.In This Episode, You'll Learn:- Daniel's path into estate planning and elder law- Medicaid and special needs planning- How personal experiences influence legal practice- Recognizing children who have experienced pregnancy loss in estate planning- Why estate plans need to be reviewed as life changes- The importance of working with a legal specialist- Why it's never too early or too late to planConnect with Daniel Campen:Phone: (678) 340-3223Email: [email protected]
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  Jolee Vacchi | Family Law 07.10.2026 10m

  In this episode of Lawyers Who Care, host Andrew Samalin speaks with Jolee Vacchi, founding attorney at Foundations Family Law and Mediation Center in Worcester, Massachusetts. Jolee is a family law attorney, collaborative attorney, and certified divorce and family law mediator.Jolee discusses how an early internship with a divorce attorney led her to family law and eventually inspired her to create a settlement-focused practice. She explains her firm's holistic approach to divorce, which connects clients with professionals who can provide financial, emotional, parenting, and other support throughout the process.Jolee also shares why helping clients move through one of the hardest periods of their lives and into their next chapter is the most rewarding part of her work.Topics Covered:- Jolee's path into family law- Litigation, mediation, and collaborative divorce- A settlement-focused approach to divorce- Foundations Family Law's holistic model- Supporting clients through co-parenting challenges- Why clients don't have to navigate divorce aloneConnect with Jolee Vacchi:Phone: (508) 635-8965Website: foundationsfamilylaw.comEmail: [email protected] Media: @foundationsfamilylaw
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  Tyler Hadyniak | Veterans Disability and Litigation Law 07.10.2026 7m

  In this episode of Lawyers Who Care, host Andrew Samalin speaks with Tyler Hadyniak, senior attorney and partner at Hadyniak and Bascom in Freedom, Maine. Tyler focuses on veterans' disability and litigation in Maine courts.Tyler discusses how he began practicing veterans' disability law in law school and why helping veterans access benefits they may not know exist is so important to him.He also shares the story of representing the widow of a veteran affected by toxic exposure in Vietnam. Tyler traveled to California to support her during her appeal, which ultimately resulted in the full granting of the benefits she sought.Throughout the conversation, Tyler discusses the challenges of practicing law and the fulfillment that comes from helping veterans and their families.Topics Covered:- Tyler's path into veterans disability law- Helping veterans access VA benefits- Veterans disability appeals- Supporting a veteran's widow through an appeal- The importance of personal advocacy- Why serving veterans can be deeply fulfillingConnect with Tyler Hadyniak:Phone: (207) 323-3462Website: hadyniakbascom.com
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  Martin Friedlander | Family Law 07.10.2026 8m

  In this episode of Lawyers Who Care, host Andrew Samalin speaks with Martin Friedlander, founding partner of Martin Friedlander PC in Midtown Manhattan. With over 25 years of experience, Martin focuses on complex matrimonial and high-net-worth matters, including religious divorces and prenuptial agreements.Martin shares the story of a highly contested divorce in which a wife reached out to Martin after months of litigation, telling him he was the only person who cared. Martin helped connect the couple with a therapist, and they ultimately reconciled.Throughout the conversation, Martin discusses the importance of understanding clients' personal circumstances and helping families through difficult legal situations.Topics Covered:- Martin's path into matrimonial law- Religious divorce and prenuptial agreements- Navigating highly contested divorce matters- Understanding the emotional dynamics of family law- How Martin helped a couple reconcile- Why attorneys should help rather than escalate conflictConnect with Martin Friedlander:Phone: (212) 321-7092Email: [email protected]
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  Renata Calderaro | Immigration Law 23.09.2026 10m

  In this episode of Lawyers Who Care, host Andrew Samalin sits down with Renata Calderaro, CEO of Calderaro Law Group in Doral, Florida, to discuss her journey in immigration law and the powerful ways she helps investors, professionals, athletes, artists, and families create new opportunities through immigration.With 25 years of experience practicing law, Renata views immigration law as more than navigating regulations and securing visas. For her, it is about giving people options, helping them pursue their goals, and creating opportunities for families to build a better future.Renata shares two inspiring client stories that demonstrate what it means to go beyond traditional legal counsel. One involves an Argentine client who lost nearly everything during the country's 2001 economic crisis and ultimately rebuilt his life and business in the United States. Another follows a young couple whose growing business and critically ill child's medical needs created an urgent immigration challenge, one that Renata and her team worked to overcome so the family could remain together in the United States.Throughout the conversation, Renata explains why her clients continue to inspire her and why she believes that difficult circumstances can sometimes reveal possibilities that were not previously visible.In This Episode, You'll Learn:What inspired Renata to pursue a career in law and immigration.How immigration law can create new options for individuals, families, and business owners.How Renata helped a client rebuild after Argentina's 2001 economic crisis.How her team went above and beyond to help a family facing an urgent medical and immigration situation.Why Renata believes freedom means having options.The importance of recognizing opportunities even when circumstances seem limiting.Renata's advice for anyone who wants to change their situation and pursue a bigger goal.Connect with Calderaro Law Group:Email: [email protected]: +1 305-582-1948Website: visamiami.com
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  Carla Barone | Matrimonial & Family Law 26.08.2026 8m

  In this episode of Lawyers Who Care, host Andrew Samalin speaks with Carla Barone, partner and head of the matrimonial and family law practice at Cohen Forman Barone, with offices in New York City and Long Island. With over twenty-five years of experience negotiating and litigating complex divorce and custody cases, Carla leads a firm that collectively brings more than seventy-five years of litigation experience to clients navigating some of the most difficult moments of their lives.Carla shares how early personal experiences with the legal system first drew her toward advocacy, and how years of litigation training as a public defender at the Legal Aid Society in New York City shaped the courtroom skills she and her partners brought with them when they founded the firm. She explains how Cohen Forman Barone serves clients across matrimonial and family law, criminal defense, and immigration, three areas where people most need someone steady at the helm.She also recounts a ten-day trial on behalf of a ninety-three-year-old client whose spouse sought one hundred percent of their shared estate, arguing he would not need the assets for long. Carla describes what it meant to be the only voice for a client who could not appear in the courtroom himself, and how the judge ultimately awarded him seventy percent of the estate.Topics covered:- From public defender at the Legal Aid Society to founding partner- Over twenty-five years in matrimonial and family law in New York- How Cohen Forman Barone serves clients across family law, criminal defense, and immigration- A ten-day divorce trial fought on behalf of a ninety-three-year-old client- Why the absence of a prenuptial agreement can turn a late-in-life divorce into a full trial- What it means to be a client's only voice in the courtroom- Why peace of mind is the firm's defining promise to every clientConnect with Carla Barone:Email: [email protected]: (212) 766-9111Website: cfblaw.com
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  Nicole Zuvich | Elder Law 30.07.2026 8m

  In this episode of Lawyers Who Care, host Andrew Samalin speaks with Nicole Zuvich, owner and lead partner at the Law Offices of Nicole Zuvich, serving clients across Nassau, Suffolk, and New York City. With over thirty years of experience in elder law and estate planning, Nicole has built a full-service practice helping clients with everything from wills, trusts, and powers of attorney to Medicaid planning for both home care and nursing home placement.Nicole shares how her path to elder law began not in law school but in tenth grade, when a career center placement led her to an elder law firm directly across the street from her high school. She went on to work for that firm through high school, college, and law school — learning every aspect of the practice from the ground up before eventually founding her own firm.She also recounts one of the more remarkable dynamics that has arisen in client consultations more than once: a spouse revealing the existence of a child the other partner did not know about — and how careful, sensitive estate planning helped families navigate that revelation and build a workable plan going forward.Topics covered:A thirty-year career in elder law that began in high schoolWills, trusts, powers of attorney, and medical proxiesCommunity Medicaid and chronic care Medicaid planningWhy elder law and estate planning are not just for older adultsNavigating blended family dynamics and complex estate planning disclosuresEstate planning considerations for first responders and police department workersWhy it is never too early — and never too late — to start planningConnect with Nicole Zuvich:Phone: (631) 840-0100Website: zuvichlaw.com
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  Jackie Harounian | Family Law 22.07.2026 16m

  In this episode of Lawyers Who Care, host Andrew Samalin speaks with Jackie Harounian, managing partner of Wisselman Harounian Family Law in Carle Place, New York. Since 1976, Jackie's firm has been recognized as a leader in matrimonial and family law, representing clients throughout Long Island, Westchester County, and New York City. Jackie also holds a graduate degree in psychology, a credential she draws on daily in one of the most emotionally charged areas of legal practice.Jackie shares how more than thirty years of experience has shaped her approach to divorce, from setting realistic expectations with clients early on to understanding what motivates opposing counsel to recognizing when emotion, rather than strategy, is driving a case in the wrong direction. She reflects on how her practice has evolved toward mediation, negotiation, and prenuptial agreements, and why she now views litigation as a last resort rather than a default.She also walks through the realities of high-conflict divorce, the cost of multi-day depositions, the three-year wait for a trial date in Nassau County, and why clients who go all the way to trial rarely end up satisfied, and explains what lawyers and clients alike can do from the very beginning to avoid that outcome.Topics covered:- Thirty-plus years of matrimonial and family law on Long Island and New York City- How psychology informs Jackie's approach to divorce strategy- Setting client expectations and managing the cost of litigation- Mediation, collaborative law, and litigation, and when each is appropriate- Why fifty percent of cases in New York are good candidates for mediation- The hidden costs of high-conflict divorce and the three-year trial wait in Nassau County- Why litigation should be a last resort, and how to choose the right lawyerConnect with Jackie Harounian:Phone: (516) 773-8300Email: [email protected]: lawjaw.com
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  Irene Lax | Corporate Law 13.07.2026 6m

  In this episode of Lawyers Who Care, host Andrew Samlin speaks with Irene Lax, senior counsel at Block & Leviton in Wilmington, Delaware. Irene focuses on complex commercial litigation and corporate shareholder litigation and shares how a people-first approach can strengthen legal advocacy across practice areas.Irene discusses the importance of trauma-informed advocacy and explains how communication, preparation, and empathy can improve client experiences during difficult legal matters. She also shares a meaningful client story from her civil rights work that continues to influence her approach to litigation today.Topics covered:- Corporate shareholder litigation- Trauma-informed legal advocacy- Supporting clients through difficult situations- Human-centered litigation strategies- Building trust through communicationConnect with Irene Lax:Website: blockleviton.comEmail: [email protected]: (302) 520-5050
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  Lisa Valente | Elder Law 13.07.2026 6m

  In this episode of Lawyers Who Care, host Andrew Samlin speaks with Lisa Valente, managing partner at Makofsky Valente Law Group in Garden City, New York. Lisa focuses on elder law, estate planning, special needs planning, Medicaid planning, and probate and estate administration, helping families prepare for life’s most important transitions.Lisa shares her journey from starting at her firm as a high school file clerk to becoming the managing partner more than three decades later. She also discusses a powerful client story involving a family navigating a severe medical crisis during COVID and explains how planning, advocacy, and guidance can help families protect both their loved ones and financial future.Topics covered:- Elder law and estate planning- Medicaid planning and asset protection- Supporting families through medical crises- Probate and estate administration- Why planning today protects tomorrowConnect with Lisa Valente:Website: makofskylaw.comEmail: [email protected]: (516) 228-6522
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  Jasmine Weg | Business Litigation and Entrepreneurial Law 10.06.2026 10m

  In this episode of Lawyers Who Care, host Andrew Samalin speaks with Jasmine Weg, founder of Weg Law PLLC, a New York-based law firm focused on litigation, business disputes, construction law, and strategic counsel for entrepreneurs and small businesses. Jasmine is also the host of Exhibit A-List, a podcast where she breaks down legal issues, celebrity disputes, internet culture, and modern business controversies in an accessible and entertaining way.Jasmine shares how a childhood argument with a school principal first planted the seed of a legal career, and how an unconventional path — pausing college, raising a young son, and returning to law school on a full scholarship — ultimately led her to found her own firm during the uncertainty of COVID-19. What began as insurance defense litigation grew into a full-service practice serving business owners and entrepreneurs on everything from contract drafting to commercial disputes.She also discusses how viral TikTok videos about trending lawsuits gave rise to Exhibit A-List, why she believes contracts are at the root of nearly every high-profile legal dispute — from Taylor Swift to Blake Lively — and why she never turns down an opportunity to give someone fifteen minutes of her time, even when there's no case in it for her.Topics covered:- Founding Weg Law PLLC after being laid off during COVID-19- Business litigation, contract drafting, and counsel for entrepreneurs- How Exhibit A-List grew from viral TikTok videos to a full podcast- Celebrity disputes, contracts, and what they teach everyday business owners- Name, image, and likeness rights in entertainment and sports- Counseling entrepreneurs on how to grow from solo operators to a company- Why generosity with your time and knowledge builds a lasting legal practiceConnect with Jasmine Weg: Instagram: @jasmineeegesq Website: wegesq.com Podcast: Exhibit A-List
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  John Florsch | Elder Law 03.06.2026 8m

  In this episode of Lawyers Who Care, host Andrew Samalin speaks with John Florsch, senior counsel at RLGC Law Group in Albany, New York. John focuses his practice on elder law, Medicaid planning, and residential real estate and title insurance, helping families navigate one of the most complex and emotionally charged areas of the legal system.John shares how an estate planning course in law school unexpectedly redirected his ambitions away from criminal defense and corporate law, and how an internship with an elder law firm revealed the depth of connection possible with clients facing placement and care decisions. Nearly two decades later, he is still doing the same work — and still finding it as meaningful as ever.He also walks through a sobering case in which both parents were placed in nursing homes simultaneously, generating invoices of up to forty-six thousand dollars a month, while a free non-legal service submitted an incomplete and potentially damaging Medicaid application that sat pending for nine months. John explains how he was able to step in, identify key exemptions, and ultimately preserve a significant portion of the family's assets.Topics covered:From criminal defense ambitions to elder law specialistCrisis Medicaid planning and nursing home placementThe dangers of free non-legal Medicaid filing servicesNavigating simultaneous nursing home placement for both parentsReferral fee arrangements and their impact on facility placement decisionsThe five-year look-back rule and why it's not the end of the roadWhy consulting an elder law attorney before placement can preserve fifty to sixty percent of assetsConnect with John Florsch: Phone: (518) 250-4264  Email: [email protected]
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  Shauna Anderson | Trusts, Estates, and Tax Law 27.05.2026 7m

  In this episode of Lawyers Who Care, host Andrew Samalin speaks with Shauna Anderson, partner and owner at Law Stein Anderson in Irvine, California. Shauna practices trusts, estates, and tax law, advocating for clients during family inheritance disputes and probate proceedings while helping families protect their assets through thoughtful estate planning.Shauna shares how a family member in the legal profession inspired her ambition to become an attorney from elementary school age, and how working with children with learning disabilities during law school shaped her belief that legal practice should always make a meaningful impact on people's lives. That same calling led her to the senior community, where clients navigating the loss of a spouse or the onset of diminished capacity need both legal guidance and genuine human support.She also recounts a deeply moving client story: a woman who had spent her career as a hairstylist, raised her children, and never managed the family finances — only to discover after losing her husband of more than fifty years that she was now responsible for thirty million dollars in real estate assets she never knew existed.Topics covered:- A lifelong calling to law and its roots in community impact- From disability rights advocacy to trusts and estates law- Serving the senior community through life's most difficult transitions- Helping a client discover and navigate a thirty-million-dollar estate- The emotional and legal dimensions of trust administration- Why preparation and family education prevent inheritance disputes- Transparency is the most important trait of an effective trusteeConnect with Shauna Anderson: Email: [email protected] Phone: (949) 501-4800Website: lsalawyers.com
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  Michael Fried | Matrimonial and Family Law 27.05.2026 8m

  In this episode of Lawyers Who Care, host Andrew Samalin speaks with Michael Fried, partner at Berkman Bottger Newman & Schein in New York City. Michael is an experienced litigator and trial attorney who has practiced exclusively in matrimonial and family law since 1997, and is a Fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers — one of the most selective designations in the field.Michael shares how a desire to specialize rather than generalize led him into family law straight out of law school, and how an early internship helping battered women obtain orders of protection confirmed that the courtroom — and this area of the law — was where he belonged. He explains how his firm approaches divorce through three distinct paths: mediation, collaborative law, and litigation, and why having attorneys who are deeply expert in each makes all the difference for clients.He also recounts a month-and-a-half custody trial in Brooklyn that ultimately kept a child rooted in her home, her school, and her community — and the Christmas cards he still receives from that client more than a decade later.Topics covered:- Why Michael chose to specialize in matrimonial law from day one- The rise of specialization in the legal profession- Mediation, collaborative law, and litigation as three paths to resolution- A high-stakes custody trial and a client whose life was changed- Why organization and document preparation are critical in divorce cases- Serving high-net-worth clients in matrimonial and family law- What it means to be a Fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial LawyersConnect with Michael Fried: Email: [email protected] Phone: (212) 867-9123Website: berkbot.com
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  Alfonso Vilaboa | Corporate and International Business Law 27.05.2026 9m

  In this episode of Lawyers Who Care, host Andrew Samalin speaks with Alfonso Vilaboa, partner at Miller Shah in New York City. Alfonso focuses his practice on international corporate law, mergers and acquisitions, and private equity, serving as outside general counsel for European and South American companies establishing operations in the United States.Alfonso shares how his father's advice about the versatility of a legal career steered him away from his dream of becoming a diplomat — and how that decision ultimately led him from Uruguay to New York, where he now leads the corporate department at a full-service firm. He explains how his practice spans strategic M&A, private equity, and venture capital transactions, as well as ongoing outside-counsel work for international businesses navigating the US market.He also walks through a complex cross-border transaction in which he served as quarterback for the sale of a telecom robotics company with offices across the US, UK, Netherlands, India, and Australia — coordinating multiple international firms, navigating foreign exchange regulations, cultural differences, and time zones, all while helping a founder honor his commitment to his employees through a complex executive compensation structure.Topics covered:- From Uruguay to New York — building an international corporate law career- Leading the corporate department at Miller Shah- M&A, private equity, and outside general counsel for international businesses- Serving as a transaction quarterback across multiple countries and time zones- Navigating founder dynamics in a family-owned business sale- Cross-border executive compensation and foreign exchange challenges- Why great M&A counsel goes far beyond redlining documentsConnect with Alfonso Vilaboa: Phone: (866) 540-5505Email: [email protected] Website: millershah.com
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  Pamela Price | Attorney at Law 13.05.2026 9m

  In this episode of Lawyers Who Care, host Andrew Samalin speaks with Pamela Price, attorney at law in Oakland, California. With over forty years of legal experience, Pamela serves small and medium-sized businesses in the Oakland and East Bay areas, bringing a career defined by courage, persistence, and a commitment to using the law as a tool to serve people.Pamela shares how a juvenile arrest at a civil rights demonstration and a path through Yale College first shaped her relationship with the law — and how meeting movement lawyers showed her that legal practice could be a force for good. She recounts how a client she turned down three times kept returning to her office until she finally accepted his case, ultimately leading her to argue before the United States Supreme Court and win after nearly a decade of litigation.She also reflects on what it meant to stand before the Supreme Court as a Black woman from a small Oakland firm, the challenges she faced even within the courthouse walls, and how being named California Lawyer of the Year followed one of the most extraordinary legal victories of her career.Topics covered:A path to law through civil rights, Yale, and movement lawyeringThe client she turned down three times — and why she finally said yesNearly ten years of litigation and arguing before the U.S. Supreme CourtWhat it meant to be a Black woman arguing before the nation's highest courtBeing named California Lawyer of the Year in employment lawForty years of serving small and medium-sized businesses in OaklandWhy courage and persistence are the foundation of legal excellenceConnect with Pamela Price: Website: pypesq.com Email: [email protected]
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  Jennie Woltz | Employment and Labor Law 13.05.2026 12m

  In this episode of Lawyers Who Care, host Andrew Samalin speaks with Jennie Woltz, co-founder of Woltz & Folkinshteyn in Stamford, Connecticut. Jennie works with both employers and employees across a broad range of employment and labor law matters, helping businesses de-risk their HR functions, reduce litigation exposure, and build workplace cultures where people can thrive.Jennie shares how a background in anthropology and an early interest in people and culture eventually led her away from complex commercial litigation and toward labor and employment law — the closest thing, she says, to being an anthropologist in a professional setting. She breaks down the employment risks that catch most employers off guard, from retaliation and leave administration to wage misclassification, and explains why proactive legal counsel almost always saves more than reactive litigation.She also describes how she and her partner launched their firm during the COVID-19 pandemic and responded to the crisis by creating an entirely new legal services model — the Employment Law Co-op — designed to help nonprofits and essential service providers stay compliant with a rapidly shifting body of new laws in real time.Topics covered:From anthropology major to labor and employment attorneyThe most overlooked legal risks employers faceDiscrimination, retaliation, wage and hour, and leave administrationWhy proactive employment law counsel prevents costly disputesLaunching a firm during COVID and building a new legal services modelThe Employment Law Co-op and how it protected nonprofits during the pandemicWhy AI is not a substitute for trusted legal adviceConnect with Jennie Woltz: Email: [email protected] Phone: (203) 276-0792
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  Hillary Johns | Trial Law 13.05.2026 10m

  In this episode of Lawyers Who Care, host Andrew Samalin speaks with Hillary Johns, managing partner of Hillary Johns Trial Lawyer in Beverly Hills, California. Hillary focuses her practice on civil litigation, real estate, business law, and intellectual property matters, representing clients across Southern California, the Bay Area, and New York.Hillary shares how a childhood fascination with Perry Mason first drew her to the courtroom, and how working alongside seasoned trial lawyers early in her career gave her the confidence and skill to try her first case just six months out of law school. She reflects on what separates lawyers who litigate from those who actually go to verdict — and why that distinction matters for clients.She also discusses the broader shifts she has observed across the legal profession, from the expanding access to legal services and the rise of employment and defamation cases, to the growing challenge of AI hallucinations appearing in legal arguments — and why returning to the fundamentals of good work and personalized service remains the most reliable strategy for lawyers and business owners alike.Topics covered:Building a trial law career from the ground upThe difference between litigating and going to verdictHow access to the legal system has changed over the decadesAI hallucinations and their impact on legal practiceThe explosion of employment and defamation casesWhy law is a business — and why that mattersStaying grounded in fundamentals amid rapid changeConnect with Hillary Johns: Email: [email protected] Website: hilarytriallawyers.com