In 1958, one article changed how lawyers got paid. We're here for the next change.
The 1958 Lawyer Podcast
The 1958 Lawyer is a podcast about the business of law — how solo and small firms actually grow, market, hire, and run a practice. Real attorneys, real numbers, honest conversation. Hosted by Ron Bockstahler, founder of Amata Law Office Suites.
"The 1958 Lawyer and His 1938 Dollar."The American Bar Association pamphlet that gave this show its name — and helped launch the billable hour.
The last time the business of law really changed.
Before 1960, most legal work was billed by the project. Then the ABA published a now-famous pamphlet arguing that lawyers were falling behind — and the billable hour was born. It reshaped how every firm in America made money.
That was the last major change to the business of law. More than 60 years ago. We think it's past time for the next one — and this show is where we work it out, one honest conversation at a time.
What is The 1958 Lawyer? It's a podcast about the business of law for solo and small firms — growth, marketing, staffing, and the realities of running a practice — hosted by Ron Bockstahler, founder of Amata Law Office Suites and a Chicago Bar Association partner.
Ron & Rebecca: How to Collect Without Conflict
Episodes worth your commute.
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Justin True: From Prompt Panic to Practical AI Workflows for Lawyers
AI sanctions in court aren't hypothetical anymore — attorneys have been fined for filing briefs full of cases ChatGPT simply…
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Bill Reynolds: Flat-Fee Appeals, Contingency Litigation, and Escaping the Billable Hour Trap
Bill Reynolds left big-firm litigation to build a specialized solo ERISA practice around a transparent flat-fee and contingency model —…
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Ron & Rebecca: How to Collect Without Conflict and Get Paid on Time
Most lawyers are working late, billing hard—and silently bleeding cash in accounts receivable. In this episode, Ron and Rebecca break…
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Jared Reynolds: The Quiet Power of Being Fully Yourself
Jared Reynolds talks about what changed when he stopped hiding parts of himself — including coming out as bisexual —…
Listen now →Atty. Pat Cotter: Justice, Fairness, and the Human Side of Law
Pat Cotter's career spans both sides of the courtroom — decades as a criminal prosecutor, including a role in the…
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Ricardo Santiago: Profitable Practice, Purposeful Impact
Nine months into his own firm, Ricardo Santiago made a deliberate choice most new solo attorneys wouldn't: focus on family…
Listen now →Clint Ind: Smarter Lawyering in the Age of AI
AI tools are moving fast, and attorneys are right to wonder what happens to client documents once they're uploaded into…
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Gary Savine: The Hidden Risks of Growing a Law Firm
Many firms that use a PEO assume it washes their hands of employment law liability the moment an employee becomes…
Listen now →We're Ron & Rebecca.
Legal industry veterans, strategic partners, and curious people. The 1958 Lawyer is where we have real conversations about what's working, what's not, and what's next in the legal world.
More about Amata →
Doing law differently? Come talk about it.
We're always looking for attorneys and legal professionals with a real story about the business of law — what worked, what didn't, and what you'd tell someone starting out.
Or call us — 312.924.0200