Most people assume the path to becoming a lawyer starts early.

Rick Metzgar proves otherwise.

After spending nearly two decades in mortgage banking, raising a family, and building a successful career, Rick enrolled in law school at 45 while continuing to work full time.

In this episode, Rick shares how a difficult divorce first exposed him to the legal system, why that experience stayed with him for years, and what finally convinced him it was time to pursue law.

Neal and Rick discuss first-generation law students, working through imposter syndrome, balancing family responsibilities, the realities of night law school, the cost of legal education, and why empathy and character remain essential qualities for great lawyers.

Whether you're already practicing law or simply wondering if it's too late to pursue something bigger, this conversation offers an honest perspective on purpose, resilience, and the long road to becoming a lawyer.

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Are young lawyers chasing the wrong definition of success?

In this special replay episode of That One Lawyer Podcast, Neal Goldstein revisits one of his favorite conversations with attorney, entrepreneur, and author Kara Vaval.

A young lawyer wanted to enter personal injury law after hearing stories about lawyers making hundreds of thousands—even millions—of dollars. But Kara explains why comparing yourself to someone else's income can become one of the biggest obstacles to building a satisfying legal career.

Together, Neal and Kara discuss:

• Why chasing someone else's version of success often leads to disappointment.
• The danger of believing everything you hear about lawyer income.
• Building a practice around your values instead of comparisons.
• Why mindset often determines long-term success more than talent.
• How honest self-reflection creates a more fulfilling legal career.

Whether you're a law student, a new lawyer, or a seasoned attorney rethinking your career, this conversation offers a refreshing perspective on what success actually looks like.

When Alex Wilson was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2016, she faced the same uncertainty that confronts many people receiving life-changing medical news.

What happened next surprised even her.

Rather than pulling back, Alex adopted a simple philosophy: why wait?

In this episode, Alex joins Neal Goldstein to discuss her journey from private practice to senior in-house leadership, living with relapsing-remitting MS, and the mindset shift that changed how she approaches both work and life.

They discuss disability disclosure in the legal profession, resilience, support networks, accessibility, perfectionism, networking, and the realities of building a legal career while managing an invisible condition.

Alex also shares practical insights from her work on the Law Society Council representing disabled solicitors across England and Wales, including the progress being made and the challenges that remain.

A thoughtful conversation about uncertainty, authenticity, and making the most of the time we have.

Follow and subscribe to That One Lawyer Podcast for more conversations with remarkable people behind the legal profession.

Nick Altopiedi grew up watching his father build a successful personal injury practice, but his own path to law was anything but direct.

Before becoming a lawyer, Nick played college baseball, worked in finance at JP Morgan Chase, bartended in New York City, and attended law school at night while working full time during the day.

In this conversation with Neal Goldstein, Nick shares how those experiences shaped the lawyer he is becoming today. They discuss building an identity inside a family legacy, earning trust with clients, the value of face-to-face relationships, and the realities of practicing personal injury and medical malpractice law

The episode explores work ethic, mentorship, trial advocacy, and what it means to develop your own voice while learning from those who came before you.

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Watch The Conversation : https://www.youtube.com/@ThatOneLawyerPod

Contact Nick Altopiedi: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicholas-altopiedi-esq-3b3ba1149/ OR https://www.pilawyer.com/

Michelle Stern never wanted clients.

She went to law school intending to work in advocacy and nonprofit leadership, not traditional legal practice. That path eventually led her to the New York State Academy of Trial Lawyers, where she has spent more than two decades building one of the largest trial lawyer organizations in the state.

Today the Academy serves more than 6,000 members, but Michelle believes one of the biggest challenges facing lawyers has very little to do with law.

It's loneliness.

In this episode, Neal Goldstein and Michelle discuss how COVID changed the profession, why younger lawyers are struggling to build meaningful professional relationships, and what happens when convenience replaces connection.

They talk about mentorship, networking, referrals, client communication, soft skills, lawyer development, and the importance of building a community instead of simply building a practice.

Michelle also shares the story behind the Academy's growth, her thoughts on the future of legal education, and the advice she gives lawyers who want to stand out in a crowded profession.

This is a conversation about legal careers, professional identity, and the relationships that shape both.

Subscribe to That One Lawyer Podcast and follow for future episodes.

NEW YORK STATE ACADEMY OF TRIAL LAWYERS

What happens when a lawyer refuses to stay in one lane?

Asha Smith has spent her career doing exactly that.

Public defender. Professor. Mediator. Appellate advocate. Civil rights lawyer. Bar association leader. Artist.

While many attorneys are told that success comes from narrowing their focus, Asha built her career by pursuing multiple interests and refusing to separate creativity from legal practice.

In this episode, Asha joins Neal Goldstein to discuss why she believes lawyers limit themselves unnecessarily, how creativity strengthens advocacy, and why professional growth often comes from experiences outside the courtroom.

The conversation explores public defense, mediation, legal education, bar association leadership, diversity in the legal profession, and the importance of building a career that reflects who you are rather than who others expect you to be.

For lawyers questioning whether they have to choose between professional success and personal fulfillment, Asha offers a different perspective: you only get one life, so why spend it doing just one thing?

Follow and subscribe to That One Lawyer Podcast for more conversations with lawyers building extraordinary careers on their own terms.

Victor Suthammanont's path to becoming a lawyer was anything but traditional.

Before entering the legal profession, he studied drama at NYU Tisch, founded a theater company, wrote screenplays, and performed stand-up comedy across New York City. Eventually, he went to New York Law School, clerked for a federal appeals judge, spent years at the SEC, and became a litigation partner while continuing to write fiction late at night after legal work was done.

In this conversation with Neal Goldstein, Victor explains how storytelling, acting, and vulnerability shaped the way he practices law and understands people. They discuss depositions, trial advocacy, emotional intelligence, client trust, and the pressure many lawyers feel to hide who they really are.

The episode also centers on Victor's acclaimed novel Hollow Spaces, a legal thriller inspired by the emotional aftermath of an acquittal. Together, Neal and Victor explore whether the justice system can ever truly deliver justice, what happens after public suspicion takes hold, and why winning in court does not always mean winning in life.

Victor also reflects on grief, losing his father during the writing process, and the importance of authenticity for young lawyers trying to build careers that actually fit who they are.

Follow and subscribe to That One Lawyer Podcast for more conversations with lawyers redefining success in the legal profession.

Most lawyers are taught that networking means legal mixers, bar association dinners, and handing out business cards to strangers. Neal Goldstein explains why that approach often feels transactional and why it rarely creates meaningful long-term relationships.

In this episode, Neal shares how shifting away from traditional legal networking helped shape his career, his client relationships, and ultimately the growth of his law practice. From his involvement with multiple sclerosis organizations inspired by his mother's illness, to building community connections through the JCC, Neal explains why authentic relationships create stronger opportunities than forced professional interactions.

He also breaks down how lawyers can build deeper trust with clients by treating them like people instead of files, why proactive communication matters, and how long-term relationships often become the strongest referral source a lawyer can have.

This episode is for lawyers trying to grow a practice without feeling fake, transactional, or disconnected from the people they serve.

Subscribe and follow That One Lawyer Podcast for more conversations on law firm growth, client relationships, legal careers, and building a meaningful practice.