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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Faye Gelb: Empowering Women in Law
Faye is teaching female attorneys not to make the assumptions she did: that hard work is all it…
Sean Park: Putting the Personal Back in Personal Injury Law
Yes, this title is purposefully corny. Personal injury attorneys are often viewed advertising first, and not in a…
Chris Dreyer: Powerful SEO for Attorneys without Compromising Authenticity
Developing powerful SEO for your law firm doesn’t mean catering to the robots at the cost of the…
Michelle Lawless: Relief Through Technology. How Family Law Clients Benefit from Tech-Savvy Firms.
Family law is rife with emotion. Michelle Lawless kept that in mind when she built her solo family…
Steve Fretzin: Sports Metaphors for Attorneys to Take Chances and Become Rainmakers
Platform tennis, golf, ironman competitions, fishing; no sport is safe in this conversation about marketing and building a…
Odell Mitchell III: Musician, Visual Artist, Single Father, and Lawyer for Creatives
It started as a means to an end. Now it’s a passion filled career. Odell Mitchell III gives…
Trisha Daho: Diversity, Advocacy, and Becoming the Lawyer You Want to Be
Trisha Daho has a fun job, she helps attorneys become the people and leaders they want to be.…
Douglas Church: A 50 Year Journey of Practicing Law
Doug Church recently became a Legendary Lawyer at the Indiana Bar Foundation. An incredible honor with intensive qualifications…
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