According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the average American spends just over 27 minutes one way in their daily commute to work. For some, that time is spent contemplating life, zoning out to radio talk shows, or having an epic people watching experience on the Boston “T”. We’re not here to judge how you spend your commute time. However, podcasts can turn your commute time into a productive, thought provoking—and potentially career enhancing— experience. Here are our top 5 favorite podcasts for those in the legal industry.
1. The Lawyerist
Hosts Sam Glover, Aaron Street, and Stephanie Everett speak weekly with legal entrepreneurs and innovators about building successful law practices. Guests include lawyers, industry experts, and prominent authors who speak about innovative business models, legal technology, marketing, ethics, and starting a law firm. The primary focus is to provide solo and small firm attorneys with tools of the trade they will need to be successful.
The Lawyerist Podcasts air every Thursday on Legal Talk Network and average 45 minutes in length.
2. The Gen Y Lawyer
Nicole Abboud aired her very last episode on Oct. 7, 2019, but we feel that her podcasts are relevant enough to stand the test of time and are worth a listen. With a focus on providing inspiration and advice catered towards young attorneys born in the 80s or 90s (Generation Y/Millennials), Abboud takes on topics including work/life balance, harassment and bullying in the workplace, and understanding and overcoming procrastination, burnout, and anxiety.
The Gen Y Lawyer podcasts run anywhere from 20 minutes to an hour and can be found on Abboud’s website, iTunes, and various other legal podcast platforms.
3. I Am the Law
We know, this podcast sounds like an episode of Chicago P.D. but nothing could be further from the truth. Produced by Law School Transparency, I Am The Law is a series of informational interviews with new and seasoned law school graduates who convey what the practice of law is really like. The goal is simple: to shed a little light on real jobs and help listeners make better law school choices, improve their job search process, and (ultimately) increase their job satisfaction.
I Am the Law podcasts are approximately 20 minutes long with new episodes released every Monday. Listeners can find “I Am The Law” on iTunes, Stitcher, and other podcasting apps.
4. Maximum Lawyer
Maximum Lawyer founders and podcast personalities James Hacking and Tyson Mutrux are entrepreneurs with a mission. Through their podcasts, this dynamic duo shares ideas, resources, solutions, challenges, and triumphs of being a legal entrepreneur.
Not an entrepreneur? Not to worry. There is a ton of relevant content in these podcasts for lawyers employed in firms big and small. Plus, each episode posted on their website comes with “Tyson’s Tip” and “Hacking’s Hack” if you just want the meat but don’t have time for the entire sandwich.
New Maximum Lawyer podcast episodes are released each week and run approximately 30 minutes.
5. Legal Toolkit
Are you a brilliant lawyer but struggle with the day-to-day management of your practice? For nearly ten years, Legal Toolkit podcasts have featured conversations with top lawyers and professionals about the services, ideas, and programs that have improved their practices. Host Jared D. Correia has spent the last decade consulting for solo and small law firms, providing business management solutions and technology services.
Legal Toolkit podcasts are released several times a month and run between 30- and 45- minutes.
We have one final podcast that you MUST check out, but it’s not in the legal field which is why it’s not officially part of our top five. Spectacular Failures hosted by Lauren Ober examines the most spectacular business failures of all time and what could have been done to avoid them. The Schlitz Beer cost cutting debacle of the 70s, the U-Haul family throwdown that ended in bankruptcy, and the end of the Toys R Us dynasty are all fair game for Ober. Check it out…you won’t be disappointed.