The Agile Attorney Podcast

The lawyer shortage is real, and the latest data offers some signs of change. But a bigger pipeline of future lawyers does not mean law firms will be able to hire their way out of the problem anytime soon.

In this episode, I revisit my earlier look at the roots of the lawyer shortage to see what's changed. I also explain why investing in your existing people, improving your processes, and making better use of your technology can help your firm increase capacity and throughput while continuing to deliver value to clients.

Legal delays are often blamed on procrastination, but that is not what I see in the practices I work with. The problem is rarely that people are sitting idle. More often, good lawyers are buried under more work than their systems can reasonably handle.

In this episode, I explore the connection between ethical diligence and capacity discipline. I explain why managing workload, commitments, and work in progress is essential to keeping matters moving, and why too much work in the system can make it harder for lawyers to deliver the level of service their clients...

Why does your law practice sometimes feel like it hits a wall overnight? The answer may not be that you suddenly have too much work. When your system is operating near capacity, even small changes can create major delays and bottlenecks.

In this episode, I explain why law firm overload happens and why the solution is often not working harder or adding more resources. I break down how capacity, utilization, complexity, and work in progress affect the flow of legal work, and why closing just a small percentage of your active matters can create significant...

What do business clients actually want from their law firms, beyond excellent legal work? For in-house legal teams managing tight budgets, growing workloads, and pressure from the rest of the business, the experience of working with outside counsel matters just as much as the legal expertise they provide.

This week, I’m joined by Stephanie Corey, founder of UpLevel Ops and co-founder of the Corporate Legal Operations Consortium (CLOC), who has spent 25 years on the buying side of legal services. We dig into what she has learned from working with more than 100 general counsels and ch...

Sometimes saving the day comes at a cost. After an unexpected problem forced me into a “diving catch” last week, I found myself dealing with the aftermath of pushing my capacity too far.

In this episode, I reflect on what happened and the lessons it reinforced about capacity, utilization, and sustainable work. I share why operating too close to full capacity leaves no room for unexpected challenges, how a lack of slack causes work to slow down, and why relying on diving catches and other heroics is a sign that something in the system may need...

Your clients are probably already using AI to ask questions about their legal matters. The question is no longer whether they will use these tools, but whether they will use them with the right information and guidance.

In this episode, I explore why telling clients not to use AI may not be the most realistic or helpful approach. I explain what clients are getting from these tools, including instant access, the ability to ask unlimited questions, and a place to work through their concerns, while also discussing the risks they may not understand. I share...

People do not stop needing answers when they can no longer afford legal help. They still have questions, still need to understand what is happening, and still need guidance through unfamiliar processes. But when access to their attorney changes, they often have to find other ways to fill that gap.

In this episode, I revisit a conversation with Jason, a former divorce litigant who shares what it was like navigating the legal system as a client. We’ll explore the importance of setting expectations, helping clients understand how legal services work, and recognizing what happens wh...

Overdue tasks are a frustrating reality for many law firms. But the problem is not always a lack of discipline or effort. Often, it is the way the system is designed to manage work.

In this episode, I explore why overdue tasks keep piling up in your law practice and why traditional task management approaches often make the problem worse. I explain how practice management software can create task overload by treating every matter independently instead of accounting for the team's shared capacity to complete the work.

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A law firm’s vision and values only create real impact when they influence the decisions people make every day. Many firms have mission statements that live on a website but never become part of how the organization operates. The challenge is turning those ideas into a practical framework that helps guide hiring, leadership, culture, and difficult decisions.

In this episode, I sit down with Florida-based litigator Jim Boatman to discuss the law firm blueprint he created to define his firm’s purpose, values, and operating principles. Jim shares how what started as a recruiting tool...

Kanban boards are one of the most effective tools for visualizing and managing work in a law practice. Whether you are juggling multiple matters, tracking client requests, or balancing internal projects, a well-designed board helps you see what’s in progress, what’s waiting, and what’s done, so nothing falls through the cracks.

In this episode, I take a deep dive into the Kanban methodology and show how to apply it specifically for legal workflows. I cover the basics of task-level and matter-level boards, how to structure columns for “to-do,” “doing,” “waiting,” and “done,” and the importance of...

AI tools promise productivity and efficiency, but many lawyers experience AI brain fry, a form of mental fatigue caused by working with AI in ways that outpace human perception of time. Unlike humans, AI doesn’t experience the passage of time, which can lead to overcommitment, distraction, and exhaustion if workflows are not carefully managed.

In this episode, I explain why this mismatch between human time and AI behavior matters for legal professionals. Drawing on examples from social media experiments and real-world experience, I highlight how AI engagement loops, infinite scope suggestions, and tool design ca...

AI is transforming the legal profession, but adopting new technology isn’t just about tools. It requires a mindset shift. Without structured approaches, lawyers can struggle to keep up with rapid technological change, meet evolving client expectations, and maintain quality and efficiency in their work. Understanding how to integrate AI into legal workflows effectively is key to sustainable transformation.

In this episode, I speak with Marion Ehmann, partner at Venturis Consulting Group and a leading expert in legal process improvement. We explore how Agile methods provide the structure law firms need to experiment, adapt, and it...

Errors in legal work can have significant consequences, yet many law firms rely on quality assurance processes that are insufficient or misapplied. Even experienced teams can miss critical issues when workflows are overloaded, timelines are tight, or responsibility is unclear. Recognizing where quality assurance fails is crucial for improving both client outcomes and operational efficiency.

In this episode, I share and examine a real appellate case to illustrate how gaps in legal quality assurance can occur, even in high-performing teams. I discuss how cognitive overload, inadequate processes, and misaligned incentives can allow errors to slip...

Pricing legal services is one of the most challenging aspects of running a law practice. Many lawyers rely on hourly billing or copy industry defaults without fully understanding the value they deliver to clients. This can lead to underpricing, overwork, and stress, leaving both the firm and its clients with suboptimal outcomes.

In this episode, you’ll learn how to price with confidence and capture the true value of your work. I sit down with behavioral economist Etinosa Agbonlahor, an expert in pricing strategy and legal business consulting. We explore how lawyers can shift from bi...

Deciding to end a client relationship is one of the most difficult choices a lawyer can make. Many attorneys feel obligated to continue working on a matter even when it consumes disproportionate time and emotional energy, often for a client whose behavior or engagement is challenging.

In this episode, I walk through how to fire a client professionally and ethically. I cover practical steps, including organizing work products, ensuring proper timing in litigation and transactional matters, and communicating clearly with the client. I also discuss the emotional and cognitive biases that make it hard to...

Lawyers often think of legal operations, legal technology, and legal practice as separate disciplines. But many of the same principles that improve a legal department, support a successful technology product, or strengthen the management of a legal matter are more connected than they might first appear.

In this episode, I sit down with Justin McCallon, CEO of the legal AI company Strongsuit and a former legal transformation leader at AT&T. We explore how process-improvement frameworks and operational thinking can help legal professionals solve problems more effectively. Justin shares lessons from leading large-scale legal transformation...

AI is being sold to lawyers as a productivity breakthrough, a way to eliminate tedious work, increase efficiency, and free up more time for higher-value thinking. But once you move past the hype, the more important question becomes whether you're falling into an AI productivity trap where increased activity is mistaken for meaningful progress.

In this episode, I kick off a new occasional series on AI ROI by exploring how lawyers should think about return on investment beyond simple time savings or subscription costs. I break down the hidden investments that often go overlooked, including...

Law firms are constantly being introduced to new tools, frameworks, and operational philosophies that promise better efficiency and better results. But the challenge is not simply adopting a popular methodology; it’s understanding which approaches actually fit the type of work your team is doing and the problems you’re trying to solve within your law firm operations.

In this episode, I sit down with business consultant and Agile practitioner Robin Sims-Allen to explore what law firms can learn from other heavily regulated industries about process improvement, project management, and organizational change. We discuss the stre...

As a lawyer, it’s easy to fall into defensive mode when a client expresses frustration with your work or challenges your bill. But instead of getting defensive, what the client really needs is your curiosity.

In this episode, I introduce a tool I’ve been using for over a year called Clean Language questions. This technique, originally from psychotherapy, helps clients open up and explore their own thoughts without leading them. When clients express dissatisfaction, instead of jumping into problem-solving mode, Clean Language questions allow you to get to the root of their concerns, stre...

Many lawyers are highly trained in practicing law but receive little to no guidance on how to consistently bring in business. Without a clear business development strategy, building reliable client flow can feel uncertain, intimidating, or overly dependent on luck.

In this episode, I sit down with criminal defense attorney and author of Making It Rain, Robert Hartmann, to explore how business development in law firms is often less about flashy marketing tactics and more about mindset, empathy, responsiveness, and relationship building. We discuss Robert’s approach to rainmaking as a predictable business development system, on...

The biggest threat to your law firm’s productivity is unlikely to be a lack of effort, but rather too much complexity. If your firm feels like it is running on hard mode, the real solution may be learning how to simplify capacity.

In this episode, I use the Tetris strategy to explore how different practice areas, workflows, and client demands create distinct “shapes” competing for your finite capacity. I explain why simplifying the number of workflows in your practice, or more intentionally compartmentalizing complexity, can make your firm more sustainable, efficient, and scalable.

What do you do when productivity starts to slip in your law firm? For many leaders, the instinct is to push harder by setting targets, issuing ultimatums, or applying pressure. But those approaches are actually causing more damage than they solve.

In this episode, I talk with Clarke Ching, also known as The Bottleneck Guy, about a better way to think about productivity through the lens of bottlenecks and system design. We explore his “bomb on the bus” metaphor and discuss how to identify constraints, manage them intentionally, and build a practice that moves work forw...

At the recent ALA conference, I attended several talks that framed low productivity as a personal issue, and I don’t think that’s the whole story.

In today’s episode, I push back on that narrative and explain why shifting the focus from blaming individuals to improving the systems they work within is the key to solving productivity challenges. I also discuss how taking a systems approach can help you identify the real bottlenecks, make work visible, and create a more collaborative environment within your team.

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It’s that time of year when we naturally think about spring cleaning our homes and clearing out the clutter. But this year, I’m encouraging you to apply that same mindset to your professional commitments. As legal professionals, we often take on more than we can handle, and that’s when overwhelm sets in.

In today’s episode, I’ll walk you through why it’s important to first assess your capacity and why honest self-reflection is key to maintaining a sustainable workload. I share a clear framework for evaluating your workload and prioritizing what really...

Do your meetings actually move work forward, or do they just take up time on your calendar?

In this episode, I share three examples from my recent work that illustrate what well-designed, well-run meetings can actually accomplish. From Agile cadence meetings like weekly planning and daily standups, to larger strategy discussions and even simple client check-ins, I walk through how real-time conversations create alignment, surface better ideas, and move work forward more effectively than email.

By the end, you will have a clearer understanding of when meetings are the right tool...

Are you building a practice designed to last, or one that only works as long as you can keep up with the pace? It is easy to focus on immediate demands, chasing efficiency or output, without stepping back to consider whether your systems, your reputation, and your way of working are actually sustainable over time.

In this episode, I talk with Jordan Couch, an attorney and innovator at Palace Law, about what it really looks like to take a long view of your legal practice. We explore how tools like Kanban can help make work...

What happens when the metrics we rely on to measure success start pulling us away from the outcomes we actually care about? From internal performance to billable hour targets, many of the systems we use were designed to create clarity, but over time, they can distort behavior in ways that are hard to see until the impact is already felt.

In this episode, I sit down with author Radhika Dutt to explore how this dynamic shows up not just in legal work, but across industries, and why optimizing for the wrong metrics can quietly undermine...

After ten episodes on Agile lawyering tools and practices, it is worth stepping back to ask a bigger question. What does it really mean to be an Agile Attorney?

In this episode, I bring the series together by revisiting those core patterns and the first principles behind Agile thinking. My goal is to leave you with a clearer sense of how these ideas can help you build a practice that is more resilient, more intentional, and better able to serve the people who rely on it.

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Legal work is complex and high-stakes, yet many law firms still rely on outdated project management approaches. In this episode, I introduce the concept of a matter strategy plan, a flexible, evolving document that keeps legal teams aligned and informed. I discuss how this Agile approach fosters collaboration, smarter decision-making, and helps legal teams stay adaptable, ultimately leading to better outcomes for both the team and the client.

Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: agileattorney.com/110

Take your law practice from overwhelmed to optimized with GreenLine Legal

For many firms, consistency is fragile. It lives in individual habits, personal preferences, and institutional knowledge that never quite makes it out of people’s heads.

In this episode, I explore what it really takes to focus on creating consistency inside a growing law practice without sacrificing professional autonomy. If you want your client journey to be more than an aspiration, creating consistency has to move beyond good intentions and into deliberate mechanisms that make quality and timing repeatable across people and over time.

Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: ag...

Most law firms improve internal workflows without ever defining the full client experience. That blind spot creates unnecessary friction for both clients and teams.

In this episode, I explain why building a client journey map is a powerful strategic move for law firm owners who want stronger client engagement and more cohesive operations. When you can see the journey clearly, everything else starts to align.

Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: agileattorney.com/108

Take your law practice from overwhelmed to optimized with GreenLine Legal<...

Imagine getting into your car and realizing the only gauge on the dashboard shows how hard the engine is working. No speedometer, no fuel gauge, just RPMs. That is how most law firms operate.

In this episode, I introduce a better dashboard built around six practical law firm metrics that help you manage the work, not the worker. These metrics are not about squeezing more hours out of your team. They are about creating clarity, balance, and predictable delivery.

Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: agileattorney.com/107

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Does your law firm feel like it’s constantly reacting instead of progressing? In this episode, I break down how urgency becomes the default operating system in many practices and how to replace it with a calmer, more predictable way of working.

You’ll hear how capacity limits, first-in-first-out prioritization, and simple cadence meetings can shift your firm away from fire-fighting and toward consistent delivery, without relying on willpower or heroics.

Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: agileattorney.com/106

Take your law practice from over...

Getting more work done often starts with doing less, even though that idea can feel uncomfortable for lawyers. When everything feels urgent, it’s tempting to push harder, take on more, and hope it all evens out.

In this episode, I explain why the most reliable way to increase throughput in a law practice isn’t effort or efficiency, but smarter constraints. You’ll hear how counterintuitive Agile principles help firms reduce overload, protect capacity, and deliver more consistently without burning out the people doing the work.

Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here...

For many legal professionals, one of the most persistent sources of stress isn't the complexity of the law itself but the uncertainty that permeates daily work. Not knowing who's doing what, when something is actually done, or whether it's been done correctly.

In this episode, I'm tackling this uncertainty head-on by showing you how to create explicit quality standards that serve as a stabilizing force for your practice with simple, easy-to-implement tools. You'll learn how to create fit-for-purpose quality standards, why explicit policies reduce rework, and practical guidance on developing these standards in the context of your...

Once you make your work visible, you can finally see how much of your work is just stuck. And while a common reaction is to think that you are the bottleneck, that thinking is actually preventing you from understanding something much more useful and ultimately less personal about bottlenecks in law firms and how work is actually flowing through your legal delivery systems.

In this episode, I’m building on last week's discussion of making work visible. The focus now shifts from seeing where work is to getting work to flow. You'll learn how to find the mo...

What happens when good intentions collide with finite capacity? In many law practices, it shows up as overload, missed deadlines, and promises that quietly slip through the cracks.

In this episode, I’m introducing the idea of a promise-keeping machine and explaining why making work visible is the first and most important step toward building one. You’ll learn how simple visual systems like Kanban help lawyers see their true commitments, protect capacity, and make more credible promises to clients, colleagues, and themselves.

Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: agil...

A new year and a new number on the podcast episodes feels like the perfect time to slow down for a moment and get back to some foundational questions. In this episode, I’m kicking off a reboot of The Agile Attorney Podcast with a return to first principles.

You'll discover why so many legal professionals feel pressure to do more and more work, why that so often leads to overwhelm and burnout, and how you can start to prevent that overwhelm by focusing on what it really means to be agile in a world th...

When massive technology projects spiral out of control, teams often feel like they're trapped in an endless cycle of changing requirements, missed deadlines, and mounting frustration.

In this episode, I sit down with my GreenLine co-founder, Dimitri Ponomareff, to explore how he discovered a different way forward during one of those classic "death march" projects early in his career. You'll discover the Agile lessons he carried forward from his early Agile experiments, and how they translate directly into the way modern law firms can operate with more calm, more confidence, and far more control.

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When lawyers tell me their practice is too unique for standardized processes, I hear the same concern echoed across every type of legal work. We believe our complexity makes us special, that our clients' needs are too varied to systematize.

But in this episode, I'm joined by process expert Joe Bockerstette, who brings a perspective forged across manufacturing floors, angel investment firms, and county public defender offices that challenges this fundamental assumption. Through our conversation, you’ll discover the universal fundamentals of how work gets done so you can create the clarity and consistency that tr...