You Are A Lawyer: Take Risks and Change Careers in Law

Lawrence Blackmon is a trial attorney, Mississippi House Representative, and the CEO of Legal Ease, a consumer facing legal tech company using artificial intelligence to help people handle certain non complex legal matters without hiring an attorney. In this episode, Lawrence shares how mock trial shaped his confidence, how he stepped into public service, and why he believes lawyers can use their training far beyond traditional practice.Lawyer Side HustlesLawrence co-founded Legal Ease in 2023 with the goal of making legal easier and more accessible for consumers. Legal Ease is built to help people handle what he calls non complex legal matters without going through the full traditional attorney process, especially when the work is largely checklist driven and expensive simply because it requires a lawyer’s time to ask questions and process information.“I like getting up every day and working towards building something,” Lawrence Blackmon expresses in Episode 234 of You Are a Lawyer.He describes Legal Ease as consumer facing legal technology powered by artificial intelligence, designed for matters like expungements, no fault divorce, and certain personal injury situations. The platform is meant to guide users through the same questions a lawyer would ask and help them move through the process without paying what he calls exorbitant fees. He even names the AI component of the platform.This episode is produced by Skip the Boring Stuff, a podcast strategy company for business owners and creatives.

Francesca Chang is a lawyer, former travel blogger, and entrepreneur who sued the U.S. Department of Education to discharge nearly $260,000 in student loan debt. In this episode, Francesca shares what it was like to declare bankruptcy, represent herself pro se, and fight for relief in a system with a historic 0.1 percent success rate.Lawyer Side HustlesBefore pursuing bankruptcy relief, Francesca built multiple careers outside traditional practice. From legal marketing to entrepreneurship to travel blogging in Taiwan, she consistently followed alignment over expectation.“Don’t let the debt keep you strapped to something you don’t want to do,” Francesca Chang expresses in Episode 233 of You Are a Lawyer.Her journey reflects the broader YAAL theme that a law degree is a tool, not a cage. Whether building businesses abroad or litigating pro se against the Department of Education, Francesca’s path demonstrates that lawyers can redefine success on their own terms.This episode is produced by Skip the Boring Stuff, a podcast strategy company for business owners and creatives.

SeNita McRae is a legal operations professional with a background in broadcast journalism, public administration, and law. In this episode, SeNita shares how she built a thriving career in eDiscovery and legal operations, why passing the bar was not required for her success, and how every degree she earned eventually fit together.What Can You Do with a Law DegreeAfter law school, SeNita’s career took an unexpected turn into eDiscovery and legal operations. Starting as a project attorney in document review, she gradually moved into litigation support, preservation coordination, and eventually legal operations roles embedded within large corporate environments.“This is an industry that I would stay in," explains SeNita McRae, on this episode of You Are a Lawyer.Her legal training allowed her to translate complex technical concepts for attorneys while also working directly with vendors and internal teams. SeNita’s experience shows how a JD can be a powerful credential even without bar licensure, particularly in operational, technology driven legal roles.This episode is produced by Skip the Boring Stuff, a podcast strategy company for business owners and creatives.

John Lopez is the Legal Director of the Youth Sentencing and Reentry Project, where he supports children charged as adults across Pennsylvania. In this episode, John shares how combining law and social work allowed him to practice in alignment with his values, and why treating people as people is central to meaningful legal advocacy.Lawyer Side HustlesOutside of his legal role, John co-founded a nonprofit called Toolshed Boxing with his sister, providing trauma-informed boxing and yoga programs for kids in the Lehigh Valley. While the programs involve physical movement, the real focus is connection, mindfulness, and helping young people feel safe in their bodies.“The real transformative thing is the relationship,” John Lopez expresses in Episode 231 of You Are a Lawyer.Through both his legal and community work, John demonstrates that advocacy can take many forms. Whether in courtrooms, classrooms, or parks, his work centers on presence, care, and helping people reconnect with themselves.This episode is produced by Skip the Boring Stuff, a podcast strategy company for business owners and creatives.

Casey Berman is the founder of Leave Law Behind and a former in-house lawyer who helps attorneys transition into careers that better align with their skills, values, and lives. In this episode, Casey shares how he left traditional legal practice, built a remote business from Hawaii, and helps lawyers rethink identity, risk, and what fulfillment can look like after law.Lawyer Side HustlesCasey began Leave Law Behind in 2008 by writing online about his own experience leaving law. What started as a personal, cathartic project eventually gained traction as lawyers around the world resonated with his story and reached out for support.“People started reaching out and saying, can you help me and I will pay you for your time,” Casey Berman expresses in Episode 230 of You Are a Lawyer.Today, Leave Law Behind is a robust platform offering resources, coaching, and guidance to lawyers exploring new paths. Casey’s work reflects how side projects, creativity, and experimentation can grow into meaningful careers, especially when lawyers allow themselves to try something new without attaching to a specific outcome.This episode is produced by Skip the Boring Stuff, a podcast strategy company for business owners and creatives.