Breaking Down the Bar

For this episode, Jeremy welcomes a very special guest: his wife, Carley Winter, a Canadian Certified counsellor with a master degree in Counselling Psychology, who has lived through every stage of Jeremy's legal career since his law school days. Together, they trace the evolution of their relationship, from the early years of last-minute cancelled plans and adjusting to a demanding lifestyle, to finding grounding rituals like a standing "Tuesday night" that stays protected no matter how busy work gets. Carley shares candid reflections on the balancing act of their two careers, the sacrifices she made as Jeremy's practice grew, and the patterns she's noticed among other couples where one spouse is a lawyer. They also discuss the importance of communicating openly about ambition and expectations early in a relationship, and Carley makes the case that a lawyer's success is never really an individual achievement - it's built together with a supportive partner. This is part one of a two-part conversation; part two digs into the biggest pain points of being married to a lawyer and how things shifted after becoming parents, so be sure to tune in to the next episode! Featured guest: Carley Winter, Canadian Certified Counsellor Breaking Down the Bar is hosted by Jeremy Ellergodt. For behind the scenes footage and more, follow the show on Instagram @breakingdownthebar Produced by Jess Schmidt: https://www.jessdoespodcasting.com/ Edited by Morgane Chambrin: https://www.morganechambrin.com/

Ahmed Malik returns to the show to talk about some key skills many associates avoid until it's too late: marketing and networking. Ahmed, a business lawyer and partner practicing in real estate, corporate law, and banking, walks through why business development can't be turned on overnight once you're up for partnership - it has to start early, beginning with internal networking inside your own firm. He and Jeremy discuss how introverted associates can still build this skill over time by starting small. Ahmed also makes the case for treating your whole personal network - old classmates, teammates, friends - as potential future clients or referral sources, and offers practical advice on how to reach out authentically without it feeling like a sales pitch. He also shares some personal stories that prove relationship-building, not closing, is the real skill. Featured guest: Ahmed Malik, Partner Breaking Down the Bar is hosted by Jeremy Ellergodt. For behind the scenes footage and more, follow the show on Instagram @breakingdownthebar Produced by Jess Schmidt: https://www.jessdoespodcasting.com/ Edited by Morgane Chambrin: https://www.morganechambrin.com/

Jeremy asks lawyer and mom of two Samantha McKinnon a question they don’t include in any law school test: when is the “right” time to have kids? Sam shares her path to motherhood as she and Jeremy discuss the impact of having children early-versus-late in a legal career and how partnership compensation structures can influence that decision. Sam also explains how an unexpected premature birth made her first leave chaotic and slowed her workflow on return, and the learnings she brought her second leave around more intentional planning, clear file notes, and team handoffs. Jeremy and Sam also dig into practical prep around EI logistics, financial planning, and the physical realities of pregnancy…plus, the answer you’re probably secretly hoping for: there’s really no such thing as a perfect time, or an imperfect one. The best lesson when it comes to getting pregnant is to try to stress less, and take things as they come. As Sam says, “It all comes out in the wash!” Featured guest: Samantha J. MacKinnon, Partner Breaking Down the Bar is hosted by Jeremy Ellergodt. For behind the scenes footage and more, follow the show on Instagram @breakingdownthebar Produced by Jess Schmidt: https://www.jessdoespodcasting.com/ Edited by Morgane Chambrin: https://www.morganechambrin.com/

In this episode, Jeremy interviews his longtime paralegal, Alexa Huntley, about what differentiates basic, reactive paralegal work from high-level, proactive file and practice management. They discuss how paralegal roles vary by regulation and training across Canada, and Alexa outlines common baseline tasks (pleadings, affidavit of records, e-discovery, document review) versus advanced work such as cradle-to-grave file handling, client and counsel correspondence, and drafting mediation or trial materials while anticipating next steps. Using new home warranty files as an example, they flesh out how a trusted paralegal can streamline workflows, improve client communication, and increase capacity. Alexa and Jeremy also emphasize useful mentorship techniques new lawyers might find useful in navigating working relationships with paralegals, like clear “how and why” instructions, how to give useful constructive feedback, and why specificity in requests makes life easier for both sides. Featured guest: Alexa Huntley, Paralegal Breaking Down the Bar is hosted by Jeremy Ellergodt. For behind the scenes footage and more, follow the show on Instagram @breakingdownthebar Produced by Jess Schmidt: https://www.jessdoespodcasting.com/ Edited by Morgane Chambrin: https://www.morganechambrin.com/

In this solo episode, Jeremy tackles a question almost every ambitious associate eventually asks: is making partner actually worth it? Speaking candidly from his own experience, he breaks down both the upside and the real costs of partnership - the flexibility and autonomy it brings, the chance to help build and shape the business of the firm, and yes, the money - along with an honest look at how differently partner compensation actually works across firms. But Jeremy is equally direct about what associates often don't see coming: the slow financial ramp-up in the early years of partnership, the new expenses that come with buying in, and the shift from thinking like a high-performing associate to thinking like an owner. He closes with a set of practical questions every associate should ask themselves before chasing the title, including not whether they want to be a partner, but whether they actually want the day-to-day job a partner has at their specific firm. Breaking Down the Bar is hosted by Jeremy Ellergodt. For behind the scenes footage and more, follow the show on Instagram @breakingdownthebar Produced by Jess Schmidt: https://www.jessdoespodcasting.com/ Edited by Morgane Chambrin: https://www.morganechambrin.com/