Ever drafted the “I’m out” email and saved it as “send after bonus”? In this episode, Jonathan Hawkins returns to talk about the messy middle of law firm life: when to leave, how to leave without stepping on landmines, and how to know if “partner” is a leap or a leash. We get into the kitchen-table talk at home, what you can and can’t say to clients before you give notice, and the quiet costs of equity that no one puts in the brochure.

We also dig into the parts owners whisper about: slowing down departures without playing games, conflict waivers when friends want to be partners, when to update the partnership agreement, and what M&A really looks like for smaller firms, especially in PI. If you’re plotting an exit or trying to keep your team from plotting theirs, this one will feel familiar and useful.

Jonathan’s new book, The Law Firm Life Cycle, is our guide throughout, with simple checklists and plain-English frameworks you can use the minute the episode ends.

• Book: The Law Firm Life Cycle: Counsel for Every Stage of Your Law Firm’s Journey — Paperback ISBN-13: 9781964046808 (Amazon paperback: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1964046807
  • Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FT3K1WMY
  • B&N: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/1148475106
• Book landing page: https://www.lawfirmgc.com/law-firm-life-cycle/
• Website: https://www.lawfirmgc.com/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathan-hawkins-law-firm-general-counsel/

If this episode sparks a decision, start with the book chapter on planning your exit, then replay the section on client communications and do the kitchen-table talk tonight. Your future self will thank you.

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Brian Glass is a nationally recognized personal injury lawyer in Fairfax, Virginia. He is passionate about living a life of his own design and looking for answers to solutions outside of the legal field. This podcast is his effort to share that passion with others.

Want to connect with Brian?

Follow Brian on Instagram: @thebrianglass
Connect on LinkedIn

Picture a new client on day 17. They signed last week. Their neck still hurts. Their inbox is quiet. The silence makes the story in their head louder. Did the firm forget me?

That moment is where this episode lives. From the first call through the first 30 days and beyond, Brian Glass sits with Gyi Tsakalakis and Abogado Jared Jaskot to map a simple system for better client communication and steadier client engagement. They show how to set client expectations on day one, why a real voice every 30 days calms anxiety, and how a welcome kit or closeout letter can anchor the relationship. You will hear where digital tools help and where they don’t. Chatbot for intake, sure. Automation for reminders and scheduling, yes. But the real wins come from mixing law firm technology with a human check-in that proves you are working the file.

If you care about legal marketing that feels like service, legal practice management that your team can keep, and a client experience that earns five-star reviews, this is your playbook. We cover using SMS over email when it fits, capturing preferences early, routing DMs back into your system, and building evergreen videos that answer common questions without repeating yourself. Keywords you will hear throughout: client communication, client expectations, digital tools, chatbot, automation, and the habits that make a modern practice run.

Recorded at Kaleidoscope 2025 by 8AM (formerly, Affinipay) with Brian, Gyi, and Jared.

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Brian Glass is a nationally recognized personal injury lawyer in Fairfax, Virginia. He is passionate about living a life of his own design and looking for answers to solutions outside of the legal field. This podcast is his effort to share that passion with others.

Want to connect with Brian?

Follow Brian on Instagram: @thebrianglass
Connect on LinkedIn

You’ve hired the bookkeeper. You’ve got the tax pro. You’re making money. So… why does it still feel like you're flying blind and low-key drowning?

In this episode, Brian sits down with Kelley Brubaker, a Fractional CFO who’s been called the Numbers Whisperer for law firms, and not in a “look at this pretty P&L” kind of way. She helps firm owners ditch the chaos, decode the metrics that actually matter, and stop scaling their misery.

They get into:

• Why your P&L is lying to you (and what to use instead)
• The KPI trap most lawyers fall into (and how to escape it)
• What “scaling” really means and why most firms do it backwards
• When to stop DIY-ing your finances and hire a grown-up

If you’ve ever said “I just want to grow,” without knowing what the hell that means, this is your wake-up call!

Connect with Kelley:
🔗 LinkedIn
🌐 Profit Scale Thrive
📅 Book a Curiosity Call

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Brian Glass is a nationally recognized personal injury lawyer in Fairfax, Virginia. He is passionate about living a life of his own design and looking for answers to solutions outside of the legal field. This podcast is his effort to share that passion with others.

Want to connect with Brian?

Follow Brian on Instagram: @thebrianglass
Connect on LinkedIn

What’s the real return on all that time lawyers are spending posting on LinkedIn, Instagram, or YouTube?

In this special episode pulled from a recent GLM Tribe call, Ben Glass and Brian Glass have an honest conversation about what’s working, what’s not, and why social media might not be the magic bullet many lawyers are hoping for.

They share how they think about visibility, what role social media plays in their own firms, and what most lawyers get wrong about it. You’ll also hear how they balance short-form content, personal branding, referral building, and where they believe your next hour or dollar is best spent.

This isn’t about going viral. It’s about being seen, being trusted, and being intentional with your time and energy.

To learn more about how to grow a law practice that gives you more freedom, and to join the Tribe, visit https://www.greatlegalmarketing.com

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Brian Glass is a nationally recognized personal injury lawyer in Fairfax, Virginia. He is passionate about living a life of his own design and looking for answers to solutions outside of the legal field. This podcast is his effort to share that passion with others.

Want to connect with Brian?

Follow Brian on Instagram: @thebrianglass
Connect on LinkedIn

He left Big Law after 90 days to chase juries. Now Sharif Gray, Richmond trial lawyer and co-host of the RVA Trial Lawyers podcast, breaks down how authenticity (not interrogation) wins over jurors and drives real results in the courtroom.

We get into the hard stuff: valuing cases beyond medical specials and policy limits, the “speed-trial” mindset of cutting what doesn’t serve the story, and why parachuting in close to trial can actually sharpen your case. Sharif also shares a tough crime-victim matter that shows what accountability really looks like—and why some cases are worth saying “no” until it pays.

In this episode:

• Make authenticity your unfair advantage in voir dire
• Price pain and conduct—not just bills and limits
• Speed-trial thinking: cut to win
• Parachute-lawyering: fresh eyes, clearer themes
• Build a career around trials vs. running the business
• Get real reps (JAG, prosecution) when jury trials are scarce
• Intake filters that find clients who want accountability, not just a check

Sharif’s Event
Voir Dire to Verdict 2025 — practical training from top trial minds. Proceeds support the Wounded Warrior Project.
Info & tickets: https://rvatriallawyers.com/events/

Connect with Sharif
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sharifgray
YouTube (RVA Trial Lawyers): https://www.youtube.com/@RVATrialLawyers
Apple Podcasts (RVA Trial Lawyers): https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rva-trial-lawyers-virginias-trial-lawyer-podcast/id1669382040
Contact page: https://rvatriallawyers.com/contact-us/
Firm bio: https://graybroughton.com/team/sharif-gray/

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Brian Glass is a nationally recognized personal injury lawyer in Fairfax, Virginia. He is passionate about living a life of his own design and looking for answers to solutions outside of the legal field. This podcast is his effort to share that passion with others.

Want to connect with Brian?

Follow Brian on Instagram: @thebrianglass
Connect on LinkedIn

Forget boring branding and forget trying to please everyone, this episode is about standing out, building trust, and boldly owning your space.

This week, Brian sits down with Lee Rudin, founder of RUDIN LAW and the brain behind the unforgettable “Get Rude” brand. If you’ve ever wondered how to create a law firm identity that clients actually remember and wear on a t-shirt, this is your playbook.

Lee shares:

• Why polite branding gets you forgotten (and what to do instead)
• How niche swag and grassroots engagement built his client base
• The psychology behind bold legal advertising
• What most firms get wrong about digital marketing
• How he's managing cash flow and growth while scaling fast
• And why your brand should repel as much as it attracts

He’s not selling gimmicks — he’s building real relationships and a brand that hits hard.

If you're tired of safe, bland, forgettable law firm marketing... it's time to Get Rude!

🎤 Connect with Lee Rudin:

• Instagram / TikTok / YouTube: @GetRudeLaw
• Facebook: RUDIN LAW
• LinkedIn: Lee Rudin
• Website: www.getrude.com
• He's speaking at PIMCON in Scottsdale, October 2025. Don’t miss it!

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Brian Glass is a nationally recognized personal injury lawyer in Fairfax, Virginia. He is passionate about living a life of his own design and looking for answers to solutions outside of the legal field. This podcast is his effort to share that passion with others.

Want to connect with Brian?

Follow Brian on Instagram: @thebrianglass
Connect on LinkedIn

What if the fastest way to grow your firm was not another ad, but a joke?
n this episode of Life Beyond the Briefs, Brian sits down with Jimmy Lai, an immigration lawyer with a fast-growing, empathy-first practice, to ask a simple question: Could humor make you more hireable?
From Taiwan to Oklahoma City, Jimmy’s story shows how culture, personality, and daily LinkedIn posts can turn strangers into clients and advocates.

You will learn:

• How to use humor and empathy to lower client anxiety and increase conversions
• A simple LinkedIn posting routine (PS and PPS) that builds trust and referrals
• Why community beats cold outreach and how to build one that sticks
• Smart ways to scale, including of-counsel partnerships, reviews, and operations that do not break
• The immigration law nuances that make your intake truly client-centered

Hit play, grab a coffee, and steal the playbook for being memorable without being unprofessional.

Connect with Jimmy Lai
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jimmylai-jdmba/

Free LinkedIn Growth Community on Skool
Free now. Becomes paid on September 20, 2025.
Learn posting frameworks, get content feedback, and join community accountability.
Join here: https://www.skool.com/unforgettable-professionals/about?ref=c82ba443bf884d888c5bb36e1705a4a0

Enjoying the show? Follow, rate, and review Life Beyond the Briefs, and share this episode with a lawyer who needs a nudge to post with personality.

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Brian Glass is a nationally recognized personal injury lawyer in Fairfax, Virginia. He is passionate about living a life of his own design and looking for answers to solutions outside of the legal field. This podcast is his effort to share that passion with others.

Want to connect with Brian?

Follow Brian on Instagram: @thebrianglass
Connect on LinkedIn

What if the thing capping your firm’s growth is you?

Seth Price scaled from 2 to 40 lawyers by making the move most founders avoid. He let go, then replaced himself with systems, A players, and data that compound.

In this episode, Brian and his friend Seth get specific about what actually works, not theory.

You’ll learn:

• why speed to lead wins cases before your coffee cools
• the first two hires that free your week and raise the bar
• the core systems that run without you
• what to automate and what should stay human
• how local SEO and Google Business Profiles turn clicks into clients
• the data rhythms and KPIs that keep a firm honest
• where the legal market is shifting and how to position your practice

If your firm feels busy but not bigger, this is your blueprint to scale with less stress and more control.

Connect with Seth Price:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sethprice
Price Benowitz LLP: https://pricebenowitz.com/

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Brian Glass is a nationally recognized personal injury lawyer in Fairfax, Virginia. He is passionate about living a life of his own design and looking for answers to solutions outside of the legal field. This podcast is his effort to share that passion with others.

Want to connect with Brian?

Follow Brian on Instagram: @thebrianglass
Connect on LinkedIn