Ethical-ish

Jeff Robbins still remembers the emotion and feelings he had when his mother passed after open heart surgery. The surgeon consoled him as her situation worsened: "I'm going to treat your mom like she's my mom." That was about eight years ago. Today, Jeff is the director of client experience at DM Injury Law, a role that fit him personally and professionally after working in the healthcare field. “I like sharing that story with people because it kind of gave me that ‘a-ha’ moment of: Experience is not about perfection, it's about presence,” Jeff tells host Paul Bamert. He and Paul have collaborated on research aimed at understanding the modern consumer. In this episode, they discuss what the legal industry can learn from healthcare and how law firms can use tools like Case Status to stay emotionally present across hundreds of cases.Learn More and Connect☑️ Jeff Robbins | LinkedIn☑️ DM Injury Law | LinkedIn | Instagram | Facebook | X | YouTube☑️ Paul Bamert | LinkedIn☑️ Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon MusicProduced and Powered by LawPodsSponsored by Case Status

He’s not a lawyer – and that’s exactly what gives Shawn Lehocky a unique perspective on law firms. “I get to see a lot of different aspects of running the business of a law firm,” Shawn explains to host  Paul Bamert. As the CEO of Pond Lehocky Giordano, Pennsylvania's largest workers' compensation firm, Shawn breaks down two key elements that drive the firm forward: the client and an operational focus on client service. He dives into how scaling client service has created opportunities outside the practice areas of the firm - an  expansive referral network that allows the firm to service legal needs beyond geographical boundaries and their primary practice area.  Tune in for his insights about marketing, AI, and common sense. After all, clients expect law firms to behave with common sense – just like any other industry. “At the end of the day, we are in a client service business,” he observes.Learn More and Connect☑️ Shawn Lehocky | LinkedIn☑️ Pond Lehocky Giordano | LinkedIn | Instagram | Facebook | TikTok | YouTube☑️ Paul Bamert | LinkedIn ☑️ Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon MusicProduced and Powered by LawPodsSponsored by Case Status

Arizona became the first state to allow non-attorney ownership of law firms, but has the feared apocalypse arrived? Travis Meltzer, founder of Valley Injury Law, joins host Paul Bamert to share his frontline perspective on alternative business structures (ABS). Travis explains that private equity money flooding the state has increased competition without creating the "Walmart law firm" nightmare many predicted (yet.) He also explores the upside of ABS: empowering firms to operate like genuine businesses by offering equity to non-attorney staff, creating meaningful ownership that drives better client service and firm growth.Learn More and Connect☑️ Travis Meltzer | LinkedIn☑️ Valley Injury Law | LinkedIn | Instagram | Facebook | X ☑️ Paul Bamert | LinkedIn ☑️ Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon MusicProduced and Powered by LawPodsSponsored by Case Status

Immigration case law and policy is changing at a breakneck speed, and Ruby Powers is on the front lines. “I think there's been 400 to 500 policy changes in the last nine months. Some of them are really big. Even small ones can have a big impact on our client's lives,” she explains to host Paul Bamert. A board-certified immigration attorney, Ruby describes her experience navigating these changes to help clients. Tune in as she shares best practices for other immigration attorneys. “I think we just have to remember why we do what we do and keep up the good fight,” she says.Learn More and Connect☑️ Ruby Powers | LinkedIn☑️ Power Up Your Practice | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube | TikTok☑️ Powers Law Group | Facebook | X | YouTube☑️ Paul Bamert | LinkedIn ☑️ Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon MusicProduced and Powered by LawPodsSponsored by Case Status

Podcasting live from the main stage at the Client Experience Summit 2025 in historic Charleston, SC, host Paul Bamert brings together a diverse CLE panel to explore the intersection of artificial intelligence, ethics, and client experience in modern law firms. Each guest offers a different perspective: Ty Robinson, a founding attorney from a growing firm; Brian Page a Chief Legal Officer and practicing attorney from a larger, scaling firm; Constance Anastopoulo an attorney and professor from academia; Marina Bradley a C-suite Executive Director from firm with a strong legacy; and AI ethicist Angel Evan who consults with other industries that are pushing the technology envelope. Each weighs in on the essence of the client relationship while addressing issues like putting guardrails on AI chatbots and leveraging AI to compete in the marketplace. If they have anything in common, it’s that they are obsessed with the client experience to make relationships scale while maintaining the human connection.Learn More and Connect☑️ Constance Anastopoulo | LinkedIn☑️ Charleston School of Law☑️ Marina Bradley | LinkedIn☑️ Ostroff Godshall Injury and Accident Law Firm☑️ Angel Evan | LinkedIn☑️ AG Consulting Partners, Inc☑️ Brian Page | LinkedIn☑️ Trust Guss Injury Lawyers☑️ Ty Robinson | LinkedIn☑️ Ty Robinson Law Firm☑️ Paul Bamert | LinkedIn ☑️ Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon MusicProduced and Powered by LawPodsSponsored by Case Status

Ken Hardison calls himself “old as dirt” but is most certainly on the cutting edge of “what’s next.” Although he no longer runs his own firm, he helps hundreds of attorneys and firms plan for the  “what’s next” in the practice and business of law through his marketing association PILMMA.  He is diving head first into the opportunity that is AI. In this conversation with host Paul Bamert, Ken discusses his journey – from embracing traditional advertising in the 1990s to treating every client like Grandma to maximizing the power of AI today. The conversation explores using AI in practice to be more efficient and to compete with the bigger players. Tune in for Ken’s insights about why firms that fail to adapt will struggle against those that leverage AI to reduce labor costs and increase marketing budgets. Learn More and Connect☑️ Ken Hardison | LinkedIn☑️ PILMMA (Personal Injury Lawyers Marketing and Management Association) | LinkedIn | Instagram | Facebook | X | YouTube☑️ Paul Bamert | LinkedIn ☑️ Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon MusicProduced and Powered by LawPodsSponsored by Case Status

This episode is a frank look at how outdated communication puts your firm—and clients—at risk. Whether you call it “cybersecurity,” “cyberliability,"  or “network security,” it’s risk and “it’s scary,” says Mike Shea, president of boutique insurance brokerage firm SGP Advisors. Since Covid, this type of insurance has surpassed malpractice among SGP’s client base. With host Paul Bamert, Michael explains the critical distinction between incidents and breaches, why 50% of businesses still lack cyber coverage, and how state-by-state regulations complicate response protocols. He emphasizes that while insurance premiums are rising, the real cost lies in business disruption, reputational damage, and time diverted from core operations. Learn More and Connect☑️ Mike Shea | LinkedIn☑️ SGP Advisors | LinkedIn | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube ☑️ Paul Bamert | LinkedIn ☑️ Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon MusicProduced and Powered by LawPodsSponsored by Case Status

In this episode of Ethical-ish, we explore the increasingly blurred line between healthcare privacy and legal ethics — and the very real risks that come with it.Paul Bamert is joined by George Bessenyei and Tiffanny Anghel of YoCierge to unpack urgent and relevant issues facing modern law firms. Although there are great overlaps between HIPAA compliance and ABA model rules, there are other notable headlines including the rise of fraudsters posing as clients, using public accident reports to dupe law firms and file false claims (a scam YoCierge’s identity verification technology is already catching and preventing in action) and the practice of EMR companies using business models that introduce unreasonable friction and cost. (Spoiler: They are working against you to preserve their own businesses and profits.)  They also dive into why “bank-grade security” means nothing without actual ISO or SOC 2 certifications, the need to treat medical records like protected health data, and the growing role of AI in both protecting firms from fraud and raising new ethical questions around data mining and client consent. Learn More and Connect☑️ George Bessenyei | LinkedIn☑️ Tiffanny Anghel | LinkedIn☑️ YoCierge | LinkedIn | Instagram | X☑️ Paul Bamert | LinkedIn ☑️ Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | SpotifyProduced and Powered by LawPodsSponsored by Case Status

Ryan McKeen and Brittany Green from Best Era reveal why communication is still the #1 bar complaint against attorneys—and what it indicates about your practice. With host Paul Bamert, they argue that poor client communication isn't just an ethical issue but a "canary in the coal mine" signaling deeper operational problems that destroy trust. In today's Amazon Prime world focused on client experience (CX), clients expect responsive service, education and transparency. Ryan shares how his firm implemented "90 touches in the first 30 days" to build immediate trust, while Brittany emphasizes leveraging technology to enable more human touches. Learn More and Connect☑️ Ryan McKeen | LinkedIn☑️ Brittany Green | LinkedIn☑️ Best Era Consulting | LinkedIn | Instagram | Facebook | X | YouTube☑️ Paul Bamert | LinkedIn ☑️ Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | SpotifyProduced and Powered by LawPodsSponsored by Case Status

Research shows that mental illnesses are common in the United States, affecting tens of millions of people each year. Estimates suggest that only half of people with mental illnesses receive treatment. No surprise, attorneys are not insulated from these stats. Renee Morgan is a practicing attorney, author, and is bringing mental health to the forefront in legal circles. In this episode, we dive into the challenging profession and lives faced by attorneys who have chosen a vocation that seeks to help the everyday people in their community. With host Paul Bamert, we cover several hot topics at the crossroads of ego, emotion, and ethics and what practitioners can do to bring balance into reality.Learn More and Connect☑️ Renee Morgan | LinkedIn☑️ Ram Law | LinkedIn | Instagram☑️ Paul Bamert | LinkedIn ☑️ Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify Produced and Powered by LawPodsSponsored by Case Status

The personal injury lawyer’s billboard may say, “Millions Won!,” but how much did the client net?  Complicated tax scenarios could tell a different story about what was really “won.” In this episode, Jeremy Babener describes his work helping plaintiffs’ attorneys ensure that a win in the courtroom actually adds value to the firm’s bank account and the client’s. Jeremy, tax counsel at Structured Legal, supports lawyers in meeting ethical duties on issues outside their expertise, such as tax finance or government finance. As he explains to host Paul Bamert, there are many strategies for reducing taxes, but “you have to dot your i's. You have to know what to do in order to take advantage of those benefits. And that's really where we focus our time.”Learn More and Connect☑️ Jeremy Babener | LinkedIn☑️ Structured Legal | LinkedIn☑️ Paul Bamert | LinkedIn ☑️ Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon MusicProduced and Powered by LawPodsSponsored by Case Status

Since 2020, 750,000 law firms have been cyber-attacked. That statistic explains why the ethics courses that Constance Anastopoulo teaches at Charleston School of Law and UCLA School of Law are so relevant. While some principles of legal ethics remain constant, technology has changed the practice, “and ethics have to keep up with it,” she tells host Paul Bamert.In this episode, Constance describes potential implications when law firms fail to navigate the intersection of ethics and technology. In the age of the cloud, the law firm and the attorney are 100% responsible for the privacy and protection of their clients’ data. She offers tips for hiring third-party providers (avoid focusing on the cheapest vendor) and new lawyers (ask what they know about the role of technology in the practice). In this evolving landscape, she encourages all lawyers to become familiar with the ABA model rules for professional conduct in their jurisdiction and to take seriously the responsibility of due diligence. Keeping law firms out of the headlines is good for everyone! Learn More and Connect☑️ Constance Anastopoulo | LinkedIn☑️ Charleston School of Law | LinkedIn | Instagram | Facebook | X | YouTube☑️ Paul Bamert | LinkedIn ☑️ Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon MusicProduced and Powered by LawPodsSponsored by Case Status

Seth Price, a lawyer who founded the legal marketing firm BluShark Digital, reveals marketing practices that keep lawyers out of “hot water.” With host Paul Bamert, Seth discusses avoiding misleading claims, adhering to state bar rules, and ensuring the authenticity of positive online reviews. He also highlights today’s hot topic in digital marketing: businesses buying fake online reviews. Learn More and Connect☑️ Seth Price | LinkedIn☑️ BluShark Digital | LinkedIn | X | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube ☑️ Price Benowitz | LinkedIn | Instagram | Facebook | X | YouTube☑️ Paul Bamert | LinkedIn ☑️ Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon MusicProduced and Powered by LawPodsSponsored by Case Status

Welcome to Ethical-ish, a podcast for lawyers and legal consumers. We are pulling back the curtain on what makes a modern law firm ethical (or not!)Whether you’re the average American interested in practical takeaways on what to look for in a law firm that will prioritize you, or an attorney searching for the latest guidance on legal ethics, Ethical-ish is your go-to resource.Here, you’ll find leading legal minds offering insights, stories, and frank discussions about transparency and integrity in law practices. We’ll examine the serious, the practical, and even the entertaining nuances of modern legal ethics, including the intersection of legal ethics and technology. And we’ll do it all against the backdrop of today’s most pressing – and compelling – headlines. Listen in from start to finish: Ethical-ish.Sponsored by Case Status, the leading client engagement software for law firms.  We make client engagement easy. Produced and Powered by LawPods, podcast marketing that converts prospects and drives revenue.