Lisa Johnson never planned to become a high-conflict divorce strategist. After enduring a $100,000 divorce that stretched into a decade of legal battles, she discovered a phenomenon she hadn't known existed: legal abuse. Today, she's on a mission to help others navigate the treacherous waters of divorce and custody battles with narcissistic opponents.

The conversation explores coercive control, subtle abuse through threats, humiliation, and control that often feels "normal" to victims. Lisa's advocacy helped Connecticut become one of seven states to legally recognize it as domestic violence.

This episode stands out for Lisa’s real-world negotiation strategies that work with high-conflict personalities. Instead of traditional methods, she suggests giving narcissists some spotlight, keeping sessions short, and using smart communication to stay in control. “It’s a patience game,” she explains, not about winning fast, but winning smart.

For attorneys supporting domestic violence survivors, Lisa shares powerful tips for building trust; sometimes, a simple “I’m sorry you’re going through this” can make all the difference. She also flags warning signs of legal abuse, like persistent anger, addiction, or mental health issues, and hidden finances.

Reach Lisa here:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/been_there_got_out/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BeenThereGotOut
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BeenThereGotOut
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@been_there_got_out
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/been-there-got-out/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/BeenThereGotOut
Podcast: https://beentheregotout.buzzsprout.com/
Book: https://amzn.to/4lKu2FU

This episode is sponsored by Wealthy Woman Lawyer®

Wealthy Woman Lawyer® is a law firm growth strategy and business coaching service exclusively for women law firm owners. Ready for a practice that funds your dream lifestyle and gives you time to enjoy it?

Visit https://wealthywomanlawyer.com today.

Join our private community, Law Firm Growth Guild, Your Shortcut to Marketing Mastery and More Clients at
https://checkout.lawmarketingzone.com

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Leadership In Law Podcast with host, Marilyn Jenkins
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What happens when a seasoned prosecutor crosses the aisle to become a defense attorney? James Porfido's remarkable 35-year legal journey reveals troubling truths about our justice system that every attorney and citizen needs to hear.

With his book "Unequal Justice" as a backdrop, James shares how a devastating 1994 vehicular homicide case changed not only his career trajectory but also New Jersey law. When a drunk driver killed a mother of three, James pursued the highest possible charges, while the victim's husband, an attorney, successfully campaigned for stricter mandatory minimums for DUI fatalities. In a heartbreaking twist, this same husband was later killed in an accident near where his wife died, leading James to carry on his advocacy work by speaking to over 75,000 students about drinking and driving.

The conversation takes a provocative turn when James describes switching sides to become a defense attorney. "I saw how the system seemed to be somewhat skewed in favor of the state," he reveals, noting how the presumption of innocence often feels like mere lip service. This bias became even more pronounced during COVID, when algorithmic risk assessments began determining pretrial detention, keeping defendants jailed while judges treated numerical scores as "gospel truth" rather than one factor among many.

Beyond the courtroom, James discusses his work in helping craft New Jersey's Good Samaritan Law for overdose cases, his representation of families of crime victims in high-profile murders, and his 18-year career as a legal analyst, which has included cases such as those involving O.J. Simpson and Michael Jackson. Now teaching Persuasion and Advocacy at Seton Hall Law School, he emphasizes to students that experiencing both sides of the courtroom develops crucial objectivity.

Reach James here:

Unequal Justice book on Amazon: https://amzn.to/4jMHbwB
www.unequal-justice.com
https://www.porfidolaw.com

This episode is sponsored by Wealthy Woman Lawyer®

Wealthy Woman Lawyer® is a law firm growth strategy and business coaching service exclusively for women law firm owners. Ready for a practice that funds your dream lifestyle and gives you time to enjoy it?

Visit https://wealthywomanlawyer.com today.

Join our private community, Law Firm Growth Guild, Your Shortcut to Marketing Mastery and More Clients at
https://checkout.lawmarketingzone.com

Ready to level up your law firm marketing? Book a FREE Discovery Call with Marilyn Here: https://lawmarketingzone.com/bookacall

Leadership In Law Podcast with host, Marilyn Jenkins
Powered by Law Marketing Zone®
https://lawmarketingzone.com
A full-service Digital Marketing Agency helping clients increase Leads, Cases, and Profit by getting their digital marketing right.

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Ryan Gregerson's leadership journey offers a masterclass in transforming from successful attorney to visionary law firm owner. From his early days building a family law department from scratch to founding RCG Law Group, Ryan reveals the critical mindset shifts that enabled his success.

Ryan stands apart by embracing purpose-driven leadership, inspired by Simon Sinek’s “find your why.” He built a firm culture focused on helping clients rise above their challenges and live their best lives, a mission that shapes hiring, client interactions, and a thriving community.

The conversation gets interesting as Ryan shares how he’s using AI in family law, not just dabbling, but building custom agents that analyze financials, fill forms, and calculate expenses, cutting down on time-consuming tasks. Using ChatGPT, his team also maintains case memory for consistent, high-quality work.

Ryan challenges the billable hour with flat fees and hybrid models, creating “three-way wins”: better client value, higher team pay, and stronger firm margins. His approach encourages lawyers to rethink pricing in an AI-driven world.

Success in the entrepreneurial journey hinges on two key skills: selling and delegating. From winning clients to securing early hires, attorneys must learn to sell. Just as vital is building systems to delegate, embracing Dan Martell’s motto: “80% done by someone else is 100% awesome.”

Reach Ryan here:

https://www.rcglawgroup.com/
https://www.facebook.com/rcglawgroup
https://altium-advisors.com/
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61573088450667

This episode is sponsored by Wealthy Woman Lawyer®

Wealthy Woman Lawyer® is a law firm growth strategy and business coaching service exclusively for women law firm owners. Ready for a practice that funds your dream lifestyle and gives you time to enjoy it?

Visit https://wealthywomanlawyer.com today.

Join our private community, Law Firm Growth Guild, Your Shortcut to Marketing Mastery and More Clients at
https://checkout.lawmarketingzone.com

Ready to level up your law firm marketing? Book a FREE Discovery Call with Marilyn Here: https://lawmarketingzone.com/bookacall

Leadership In Law Podcast with host, Marilyn Jenkins
Powered by Law Marketing Zone®
https://lawmarketingzone.com
A full-service Digital Marketing Agency helping clients increase Leads, Cases, and Profit by getting their digital marketing right.

Subscribe on your favorite Podcast listening platform!

Like, Share, and Review us!

#leadershipinlawpodcast #leadershipinlaw #lawmarketingzone #marilynjenkins