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
View all →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…
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…
Richie Marrero: Rethinking Benefits for Law Firms
Richie Marrero's path into insurance and benefits is anything but typical — he came up through a social…
Katy Mickelson: Family Law, Mediation, And The Business Of Divorce
Most attorneys' careers follow one obvious lane — this guest didn't. She spent seven years in public relations,…
Ron & Rebecca: From Overwhelm To Leverage – Building A Strategic Executive Assistant Partnership
Most solo and small firm attorneys try to do everything themselves — client work, scheduling, follow-up, admin —…
Evan Polin: The Mindset and Methods Behind Law Firm Business Development
Most attorneys were never taught to sell — a gap that becomes a real problem when a managing…
Gregg Garofalo: Building a Tech-Forward, Human-Centered Estate Practice
For over two decades, Gregg Garofalo has helped families through some of life's hardest moments — settling estates,…
Maurice Vincent and Ron Robinson: Building E‑Discovery Partnerships for Solo and Small Firms
E-discovery has ballooned into a $15 billion industry that eats up the lion's share of litigation costs —…
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