What does it really take to build a successful law firm when you start with nothing but faith and a laptop?

In this powerful episode of That One Lawyer™ Podcast, Neal Goldstein sits down with Cortney Walters, founder of The Walters Law Firm, to talk about her journey from first-generation law student to respected South Florida attorney.

Cortney shares how she built her firm from the ground up — starting on her couch during COVID with zero clients and no funding — and how she used social media, faith, and a heart for service to grow her practice.

This episode is packed with real talk for lawyers who are ready to bet on themselves, create an authentic brand, and lead with compassion instead of ego.

✅ How to build a law firm from scratch with no budget or big-name backing
✅ What law school didn’t teach — running a business, managing stress, and building relationships
✅ How faith, discipline, and mentorship sustain you through the early years
✅ Why compassion and accessibility are the best marketing tools
✅ How to balance ambition with self-care to prevent burnout
✅ Why comparing yourself on social media will kill your confidence
✅ How to lead with kindness, not perfection

• The leap from public defender to solo practice
  
  

• What happens when you’re laid off and decide to start your own firm
  
  

• Building a personal brand on Instagram and TikTok that actually converts
  
  

• Staying authentic online while growing your firm
  
  

• How to build relationships with clients who feel seen and heard
  
  

• Using faith and discipline to stay centered
  
  

• How to create opportunity for others as your practice grows
  
  

• Managing burnout and knowing when to slow down
  
  

• First-generation lawyers and law students paving their own path
  
  

• Solo and small firm attorneys ready to go independent
  
  

• Women in law who want to build a practice on their own terms
  
  

• Lawyers struggling with toxic firm culture or burnout
  
  

Anyone who believes kindness and integrity still matter in business

What happens when a lawyer decides that bigger isn’t always better?

On this episode of That One Lawyer™ Podcast, Neal Goldstein sits down with Don McClure — a Houston attorney, former police officer, and community leader — who’s spent the last 30 years proving that success in law doesn’t have to come at the cost of integrity, family, or peace of mind.

Don and his wife, Edith, have built a practice that’s less about billboards and more about belonging — where every client feels seen, heard, and valued. From handwritten notes and phone calls to charity events and summer reading programs, Don’s firm has become more than a business. It’s a hub for human connection.

In this heartfelt conversation, Don shares how his faith, humility, and life experiences shaped not only the lawyer he became — but the man he strives to be.

Watch now on YouTube HERE

✅ How Don McClure turned a small Houston firm into a community pillar
✅ Why authenticity and communication are more powerful than marketing spend
✅ How growing up in dysfunction taught him empathy and intentional living
✅ The impact of being a police officer on his approach to client care
✅ How faith and family keep him grounded in an ego-driven profession
✅ What most lawyers misunderstand about connection and communication
✅ Why being proactive with clients actually saves time — and builds trust
✅ The story behind his firm’s culture of giving back (from bike giveaways to reading programs)
✅ How moving to Mexico helped him redefine “success” and “enough”

In an age of Google ads, SEO campaigns, and social media competition, it’s easy to forget what actually matters. Don reminds us that the best marketing is genuine care — and that your character is the real differentiator.

This episode is a must-listen for lawyers who:

• Feel burned out chasing endless growth goals
  
  

• Want to build a meaningful, sustainable firm that aligns with their values
  
  

• Are tired of the “billboard lawyer” image and want to stand out for the right reasons
  
  

• Believe that how you practice law matters just as much as what you practice
  
  

• Communication isn’t just a task — it’s trust in action.
  
  

• Your story (and your scars) can become your greatest connection point.
  
  

• Scaling doesn’t always mean more — sometimes it means better.
  
  

• Clients remember how you made them feel, not how fast you settled their case.
  
  

Hosted by attorney Neal Goldstein, That One Lawyer™ Podcast goes beyond legal talk. It’s real lawyers having real conversations about what it takes to build a fulfilling practice — and a meaningful life.

Each week, Neal interviews attorneys, entrepreneurs, and thought leaders who’ve redefined success in law through authenticity, empathy, and relationships.

🎧 Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.

What if law school prepared you for everything except real life?

In this powerful episode of That One Lawyer™ Podcast, host Neal Goldstein sits down with Xavier Prescod — a first-generation lawyer who’s rewriting what success looks like in the legal profession.

Born to immigrant parents from St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Xavier grew up watching his mom work as a home health aide and his dad build homes as a carpenter. Today, he’s building something of his own — a thriving career in insurance defense litigation at one of the top firms in the country.

But his path wasn’t paved for him. From failing his first LSAT to being the only Black male student in his law school section, Xavier had to fight imposter syndrome, push through doubt, and learn how to succeed in a system not built for him.

This episode is raw, grounded, and deeply human — a must-listen for any lawyer who’s ever questioned whether they belong.

Watch Full Video on YouTube HERE

✅ How to turn self-doubt into determination (and why failing the LSAT was the best thing that ever happened to him)
✅ The truth about being a first-generation lawyer in today’s profession
✅ What law school should teach you — but doesn’t
✅ How to build real relationships across generations in the legal field
✅ The role of mentors (like Judge Latia Martin) in shaping professional identity
✅ How to overcome feeling like the “only one in the room”
✅ What younger lawyers wish older lawyers understood — and vice versa
✅ The power of kindness, collaboration, and staying authentic in a competitive field
✅ How social media can humanize lawyers — and where it can go wrong

• Xavier’s family story and early influences

• His LSAT journey and the moment he realized he could actually do this

• Navigating law school as one of the few minority students

• Finding belonging through friendship, mentorship, and hard work

• Lessons from clerking in Bronx Supreme Court

• The realities of working in insurance defense

• How firm culture can make or break young lawyers

• What his generation is getting right — and wrong — about work and life

• Why relationships are the future of the legal profession

• How Neal’s “one stranger a day” rule can change your career trajectory

• First-generation lawyers finding their footing in law

• Law students navigating imposter syndrome

• Young attorneys figuring out firm culture and client relationships

• Mentors looking to understand the next generation of lawyers

• Diverse attorneys and advocates for inclusion in law

• Anyone who believes grit, authenticity, and empathy matter more than prestige

Instagram: @x.laflame
Email: xavier.prescod7@gmail.com

🎙️ That One Lawyer™ Podcast is for attorneys who refuse to blend in — the ones building meaningful careers and authentic relationships.