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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Geo Bellas: Forty-Years of Game-Changing Tech for Law Firms
His firm’s first game-changing tech adoption was a trio of fax machines that outpaced the competition and he…
Coleman & Vannucci: How Immigration Attorneys are Handling their Challenging Practice Area
It’s our first dual-guest interview, with representatives from both areas of immigration law! Christina Coleman is a Canadian…
Bill Belmont: This Investigative Firm Knows How to Help Attorneys. It was Built by One
Bill Belmont was a trial attorney, investigative attorney, worked in law enforcement, and nearly became an FBI agent…
Lori Levin: From Gov. Prosecution Work to Running a Solo Practice
We’re going to use the phrase ‘from this to that’ a lot because Criminal Defense attorney Lori Levin’s…
Jamie Rubin: Running a ‘Lean & Mean’ Boutique Law Firm
InfoLawGroup LLP has offices across the U.S. and covers three major areas of law – advertising, privacy, and…
Amy Gardner: Law Firm Partner Turned Law Practice Development Expert
The secret to law practice development? Successful attorneys are using coaches; experts like Amy who know the legal…
Tracy Coenen: A Fraud Investigator with Investigative Intuition
She was inspired by Encyclopedia Brown and once aspired to become a prison warden, now Tracy Coenen is…
John Risvold: Prioritizing Powerful IP Over Fancy Legal Tech
While John D. Risvold likes the tech changes he sees in the legal system — E-Filing, video calls…
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