Legal operations has evolved from a back-office function into a strategic discipline that is reshaping how legal services are delivered. In this conversation, Stephen Seckler speaks with legal operations consultant Jeff Kruse about how technology, process improvement, and artificial intelligence are transforming the way law firms and legal departments work.

Jeff shares insights from his career path, from product liability defense lawyer to in-house chief litigation officer and eventually a legal operations consultant. The discussion explores how legal operations helps organizations improve efficiency, manage risk, and adapt to rapid technological change.

They also discuss how lawyers considering career transitions can leverage their transferable skills in new roles such as legal operations, consulting, or mediation. The episode concludes with a look at the future of legal operations and why the field is becoming increasingly strategic in law firms and corporate legal departments.

Key Takeaways

 * Legal operations has evolved from a back-office function into a strategic discipline
 * AI is accelerating change in legal departments and law firms
 * Process improvements often start with the people doing the day-to-day work
 * "Trickle-up improvementnomics" can improve efficiency across an organization
 * Change management is often the biggest obstacle to operational improvements
 * Lawyers possess transferable skills that apply beyond practicing law
 * Redundancy and backup systems are essential for managing technological risk
 * Legal operations is becoming increasingly strategic within law firms and corporate legal departments

Timestamps

00:00 Introduction and why legal operations is now critical 01:03 Jeff Kruse's background and career path 02:20 From law firm partner to in-house litigation leadership 06:16 Jeff's work as a mediator and what it taught him 08:18 Remote and hybrid work in legal teams before the pandemic 10:11 How remote work influences legal operations thinking 11:12 What legal operations actually includes 14:07 AI and the accelerating pace of change in the legal industry 15:44 Can small firms and legal departments keep up with AI? 19:23 Technology consolidation and evaluating legal tech vendors 21:10 What a legal hold is and why it matters 23:00 "Trickle-Up Improvementnomics" and operational efficiency 27:01 Why change management is difficult in legal organizations 34:01 Lessons from the Amazon Web Services outage 37:45 The future of legal operations 40:37 Closing remarks and coaching resources

Episode 171-A Career in Legal Operations with Jeff Kruse

In this episode, Steve talks with Shauna Bryce [https://www.brycelegal.com/] of Bryce Legal about finding the right balance between AI tools and old-fashioned relationship-building in today's legal job market. Shauna shares concrete examples of how AI can speed up research, clarify goals, and help lawyers target the right employers.

They also dig into the common missteps lawyers make, especially relying on AI to write résumés or to generate content without verifying accuracy. Shauna explains how strategic positioning still requires human insight and an understanding of what hiring managers actually care about.

Ultimately, the conversation reinforces that networking, trust, and genuine human interaction remain central to career advancement. For lawyers exploring new opportunities, this episode offers a grounded perspective on using AI thoughtfully without losing sight of what matters most.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to AI in Job Search

02:38 Shauna Bryce's Career Journey

05:34 Transitioning to Coaching

08:25 Role as Chief Talent Officer

10:55 Current Coaching Business Overview

14:01 Long-term Client Engagements

16:45 Impact on Diverse Lawyers

19:33 Using AI Effectively in Job Searches

22:16 Common Missteps with AI in Job Searches

23:31 The Role of AI in Resume Writing

28:39 The Importance of Networking in Job Searches

35:41 Building and Expanding Your Network

37:48 Using AI for Interview Preparation

40:47 Balancing AI and Human Relationships in Job Searches

Episode 170-Shauna Bryce on How to use (and Not to Use) AI in a Job Search

In this episode, Stephen Seckler interviews Anthonia Berry [https://strategyacademy.us/], a legal marketing and business development strategist, about her new program, Building Your Own Practice Blueprint. The program is designed to help lawyers transition from traditional employment to running their own practices. They discuss the challenges lawyers face in launching a practice, the importance of mindset, and the necessity of building a support network. Anthonia emphasizes the need for financial preparedness and the value of seeking expert advice to navigate the complexities of starting a law practice.

Takeaways

 * Strategy Academy helps attorneys generate new revenue streams.
 * The Building Your Own Practice Blueprint is designed for lawyers transitioning to solo practice.
 * Many lawyers feel overwhelmed when starting their own practice.
 * The program provides a self-guided step-by-step roadmap to avoid common mistakes.
 * Mindset shift from attorney to business owner is crucial.
 * Attorneys should have at least six months of savings before launching a practice.
 * Building a support network is essential for success.
 * Investing in the right resources is key to maintaining a practice.
 * Understanding financials is critical for sustainability.
 * Cultural experiences shape perspectives on law and business.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Strategy Academy

01:34 Understanding the Building Your Own Practice Blueprint

08:25 Navigating the Transition from Employee to Entrepreneur

14:39 Common Challenges in Starting a Practice

17:28 Building a Support Network for Success

20:43 Balancing Expenses and Investments in Your Law Practice

24:35 Financial Preparedness for Launching a Law Practice

27:09 Philosophy of Seeking Help and Embracing Change

29:56 Cultural Perspectives on Law and Business

32:45 Final Advice for Lawyers Aspiring to Start Their Own Law Practice

34:03 Recommended Reading for Growth

Episode 169-Creating a Blueprint to Launch Your Solo Law Practice--with Anthonia Berry

In this episode, Stephen Seckler interviews Matt Selig, the Executive Director of Health Law Advocates (HLA), a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving healthcare access for vulnerable populations in Massachusetts. They discuss HLA's mission, various advocacy programs, the evolution of healthcare policies, and the challenges faced in public interest law. Matt shares insights from his career journey, the skills needed for success in this field, and the importance of pro bono work. The conversation also touches on funding sources for HLA, the rewards and challenges of public interest law, and the organization's approach to addressing secondary trauma among its staff.

Takeaways

 * Health Law Advocates provides free legal services to vulnerable populations.
 * The organization focuses on improving healthcare access for those at risk.
 * Advocacy programs include mental health, immigrant healthcare, and disability rights.
 * Public interest law requires passion for the mission and hard work.
 * Experience in legal aid is highly valued in hiring at HLA.
 * Pro bono work is a great way to transition into public interest law.
 * Funding for HLA comes from state budgets, grants, and individual contributions.
 * The work in public interest law can be rewarding despite challenges.
 * Leadership roles in nonprofits can be achieved through growth within the organization

00:00 Introduction to Health Law Advocates

01:21 Mission and Activities of HLA

04:52 Legal Issues and Advocacy Programs

10:10 Evolution of HLA's Mission

12:39 Matt Selig's Career Journey

14:26 Skills for Success in Public Interest Law

16:23 Hiring Practices at HLA

17:56 Transitioning from Private Practice to Public Interest

19:17 Funding Sources for HLA

20:24 Pro Bono Opportunities at HLA

22:08 Rewards and Challenges of Public Interest Work

24:15 Addressing Secondary Trauma

26:58 Transitioning to Executive Director Role

32:34 Advice for Aspiring Public Interest Lawyers

Episode 168-Matt Selig of Health Law Advocates: Practicing Public Interest Law

In this episode, Stephen Seckler speaks with Oran Kaufman, a mediator with an extensive background in family law. They discuss Oran's journey from litigation to mediation, the skills required to be a mediator, and how mediation has changed over the last 30 years. Oran shares insights on the differences between mediation and litigation, the importance of listening, and the challenges of building a mediation practice. The conversation also touches on collaborative law, alternative legal careers, and the impact of technology on mediation.

Takeaways

 * Mediation requires a different skill set than litigation.
 * Listening is a crucial skill for both mediators and lawyers.
 * Transitioning from litigation to mediation can lower work related stress.
 * Collaborative law offers an alternative to traditional litigation.
 * Silence can be a powerful tool in mediation.
 * There are several challenges in building a mediation practice that differ from building a law practice.
 * Technology has expanded the reach of mediation services.

Timeline

00:00 Introduction and Background

03:17 Oran Kaufman's Journey into Family Mediation

05:45 Transitioning from Litigation to Mediation

08:47 The Nature of Family Mediation

11:38 Skills and Challenges of Mediation

13:58 Building a Mediation Practice

16:21 Collaborative Law and Mediation

18:50 Qualities of a Good Mediator

21:44 Exploring Alternative Legal Careers

24:29 The Evolution of Mediation

Episode 167-From Litigation to Mediation with Oran Kaufman

We are taking a pause until mid-late January 2026 for some upgrades. We are adding a YouTube feed to our mix for listeners who prefer video and we are lining up some great guests to talk to you about your legal career.

We are grateful to our listeners and guests who have made Counsel to Counsel a labor of love.

Until then, best wishes for a happy and healthy New Year!

Counsel to Counsel-Coming in Late January 2026

In this episode, Steve speaks with Saja Raoof [https://www.sar.law/], an immigration lawyer based in the Bay Area, about how introverted lawyers can build thriving practices without pretending to be extroverts.

A self-proclaimed introvert and creative marketer, Saja shares how she transformed networking anxiety into authentic relationship-building through her "Wallflower Power" approach and how coaching and ProVisors played key roles in her success.

Topics Discussed

 * How hiring a coach in 2018 helped shifted her mindset from isolation to confident business owner.

 * The role of ProVisors and the pandemic's move to Zoom in helping her find her voice and visibility.

 * Her creative use of video testimonials to highlight other professionals and build genuine connections.

 * Practical strategies for introverted lawyers: energy management, structured networking, and measuring success by impact rather than comfort.

 * Why vulnerability, generosity, and storytelling have become her most effective marketing tools.

Episode 166-Marketing for Introverts with Saja Raoof, Border Wall Destroyer

In this episode of Counsel to Counsel, Stephen Seckler speaks with Steve Herman, a civil litigator and documentary filmmaker from Vancouver, Canada. After more than 35 years in practice, Steve turned the camera on himself to explore one of the biggest transitions lawyers face—retirement.

His film, Retirement on Trial, which he produced with his filmmaker wife, Evelyn Neaman, uses humor and introspection to examine what it means to step away from a career that has long defined one’s identity.  In this episode, Steve Seckler speaks with Steve about his journey in making the film

Through interviews with 14 lawyers and judges across North America, Steve explores the challenges of letting go of professional identity, navigating relationships in retirement, and planning psychologically—not just financially—for the next chapter. The film, structured as a farcical courtroom trial of the very concept of retirement, highlights how cultural attitudes toward aging shape our views about purpose and relevance.

The conversation offers practical and emotional insights for lawyers thinking about their “next stage.” As Steve puts it, retirement isn’t the end—it’s a transition into a new stage of growth and fulfillment.

To learn more about the film and view it, visit www.retirementontrial.com [http://www.retirementontrial.com].  To learn more about Steve Seckler’s program for lawyers contemplating a retirement like transition, visit www.seckler.com [http://www.seckler.com] .

Episode 165-Retirement on Trial with Steve Herman

In this episode of Counsel to Counsel, I reflect on some of the themes of the Jewish New Year and the importance of self reflection (and the fact that you get to do it twice a year if you happen to be Jewish!)

Episode 164-Experiencing Renewal in the Jewish New Year

Counsel to Counsel is a periodic podcast produced by Stephen Seckler of Seckler Attorney Coaching (www.counseltocounsel.com). It addresses important career, marketing, and leadership issues facing attorneys. The target audience is associates, counsel and partners at law firms of all sizes; but the podcast also addresses issues that are relevant to in-house counsel, law students or any lawyer who is looking for career insights inside or outside of the law. Counsel to Counsel is aimed at individual lawyers who are looking to increase their own career satisfaction and build their marketing and leadership skills. The podcast features interviews with leading consultants, career professionals and marketing experts who advise attorneys on careers, marketing, law firm management and related issues. The guests are also a roster of successful attorneys who have found career satisfaction inside and outside the law. Counsel to Counsel is a direct outgrowth of the blog Counsel to Counsel which Stephen Seckler has been publishing since 2005. Since graduating from law school in the late 1980s, Stephen Seckler has been advising lawyers on career and marketing issues and working with a broad mix of law firms and corporate law departments. He began blogging when legal blogging was in its infancy and his blog Counsel to Counsel was named to the ABA Journal’s Blawg 100 in 2007 and 2008 (the first two years that list was in existence). Steve has written extensively on career and marketing issues and he has spoken at many law school, law firm and bar association events. He served on the Boston Bar Association’s Standing Committee on Work Life Balance and was Vice Chair of the Law Practice Management Section of the Massachusetts Bar Association. He is active in the Senior Lawyers Division of the American Bar Association, the ProVisors business network, and has been quoted frequently in the legal and business press.

Stephen Seckler

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