The 1958 Lawyer Podcast
A podcast about the business of law — how solo and small firms actually grow, market, hire, and run a practice. Each episode features attorneys, founders, and consultants sharing how they built their practice, found clients, and navigated the legal landscape.
"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
Latest Episodes
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Safiya Fatima: Inside the Life of a Fractional Paralegal Powering Multiple Law Firms
What actually happens behind the scenes when one paralegal quietly keeps half a dozen law firms running? In…
Jared Gibson & Kelly Foran: Turning Executive Expertise into Authentic, AI‑Powered Content
Today's prospective client searches your name — and increasingly asks an AI chatbot about their legal problem —…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
What Listeners Say
Ron gets to the heart of what matters — real talk about running a law practice. No fluff, just honest conversations with people doing it right.
Been solo for 3 years and this podcast has been my best business mentor. The guests actually run firms, not consultants selling frameworks.
Every episode gives me something I can actually use. Growth, staffing, operations — The 1958 Lawyer covers what matters to real attorneys.
This is the podcast I recommend to every attorney I know. Real problems, real solutions, from people who've actually built successful practices.
Finally a podcast that treats attorneys like adults — no sugar-coating, no fluff. Ron's guests are doing real work and aren't afraid to talk about the money side of law.
The business of law rarely gets this honest treatment. From marketing to operations to hiring — these conversations are changing how I think about my firm.
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