The Stand : Expert Business Solutions for Modern Law Firm Issue

The Stand Podcast - Season 1 Finale: Looking Back & Moving Forward

It's a wrap! Join us as we celebrate the end of Season 1 of The Stand podcast, recorded live in San Antonio after the Texas ALA retreat. We're revisiting the most impactful moments from this season—from retirement planning and executive benefits with industry leaders like Debbie Foster and Corey Johnson, to Michael Migdol's eye-opening take on payroll as human capital management. We'll also reflect on powerful conversations about mental health with Michael Cohen and profit leakage insights from Kelly Brubaker that could save your firm up to 20% in client-related expenses.
But that's not all—we're pulling back the curtain on what's next for Lemonade for Legal, including our expansion into virtual education and leadership development. Plus, get a HUGE Announcement about Lemonade....?
Season 2 is going to be bigger, better, and packed with solutions tailored to the next generation of legal leaders. Got a topic you want us to cover? Send us your feedback in the comments!

Winning the Talent War: Enhancing Law Firm Benefits for Retention and Success

Winning the Talent War: Enhancing Law Firm Benefits for Retention and Success
Are your employee benefits actually helping you retain top legal talent—or are they just another line item in your budget?
This episode of our podcast is designed specifically for law firm leaders, HR professionals, and managing partners seeking to transform their employee benefits into a powerful tool for attracting and retaining high-caliber attorneys. In today’s ultra-competitive legal landscape, offering standard benefits is no longer enough. Firms must thoughtfully design, evaluate, and adapt their benefits packages to stand out, meet evolving expectations, and support long-term organizational success.
Join us as we explore what really makes a difference to legal professionals—from comprehensive health plans and flexible working policies to wellness initiatives and unique perks that foster loyalty. We’ll discuss how smaller firms can compete with Big Law, cost-effective strategies to boost your benefits package, and methods for accurately measuring the ROI of your offerings. You’ll hear real-world stories that highlight both successful and misguided approaches, giving you practical guidance and inspiration.
Key takeaways include:
The benefits that actually move the needle for attorney retention
Cost-effective strategies for smaller firms competing with Big Law
How to measure ROI on your benefits investments
Real-world examples from firms that got it right (and wrong)
Whether you’re looking to enhance your firm’s competitiveness or justify new investments to stakeholders, this episode delivers actionable insights to help you build a stronger, more engaged legal team.
Don’t let subpar benefits cost you your best people—tune in now.

Succession Planning for Law Firms: Why Waiting Is the Worst Strategy

Succession Planning for Law Firms: Why Waiting Is the Worst Strategy
Is your firm prepared for leadership transitions—or are you stuck in damage control mode?
When it comes to running a successful law firm, succession planning often falls to the bottom of the priority list. Many firms avoid these conversations altogether, assuming there’s plenty of time or believing that a rough plan will suffice. But the reality is that ignoring succession planning can leave your firm vulnerable to disruption, uncertainty, and lost business when unexpected changes occur. With competition increasing and younger generations redefining what it means to build a legal career, laying the groundwork for smooth leadership transitions has never been more essential.
In this engaging episode, Debbie Foster from Affinity Consulting joins us to tackle one of the legal industry's most avoided conversations: succession planning. Debbie brings decades of experience helping law firms move from reactive decision-making into proactive, strategic planning. She explores why lawyers often struggle to discuss the idea of slowing down or passing the torch and addresses the cultural and financial obstacles that can make these conversations feel overwhelming. Debbie also digs into the impact of generational shifts, with younger lawyers seeking new pathways and sometimes resisting traditional equity partnership models.
Throughout the episode, you’ll discover practical, actionable strategies to normalize critical succession discussions before it’s too late. Whether your firm is facing an imminent retirement, or you simply want to protect your legacy and future-proof your business, Debbie’s advice will help you turn succession planning from a dreaded chore into a powerful opportunity for growth and stability.
What you'll learn:
The difference between true succession planning and reactive damage control
Why conversations should start in your 50s—not your 70s
How to address compensation concerns, client transitions, and buyout structures
Practical advice for engaging younger lawyers who may not aspire to equity partnership
The tangible benefits of an intentional, forward-thinking succession strategy
No matter your role—managing partner, rainmaker, or firm administrator—this episode will inspire you to tackle succession planning head-on and give you the insights you need to lead your practice confidently into the future.
Resources mentioned:
Affinity Consulting Group: AffinityConsulting.com
Connect with Debbie Foster on LinkedIn

Law Firm Marketing : Is Your Law Firm's Online Presence Costing you Clients?

Is Your Law Firm's Online Presence Costing You Clients?
"If you're not telling your story online, then who is?" Professionalism no longer starts in the boardroom—it starts online. Many law firms struggle with outdated websites and a lack of engaging content, causing them to lose potential clients before the first consultation.
In this episode, Rich Wilson, Founder of Vibe Media, shares why video marketing is no longer a "nice-to-have" but a necessity for growth. Discover practical strategies to build trust, establish expertise, and stand out in a crowded market. Rich explains how to leverage video testimonials, create valuable Q&A content, and showcase your firm's unique culture to connect with clients authentically. Learn how to transform your digital presence and turn your online story into your most powerful marketing tool.

Retirement Plans for Law Firms

Is your law firm leaving retirement plan opportunities on the table? Many firms settle for "401k in a box" solutions that lack the flexibility to truly benefit partners and staff.
In this episode of The Stand, host Alan Wilson sits down with Corey Johnson from GLJ Financial to explore sophisticated retirement plan strategies designed specifically for law firms. Discover how layering profit-sharing and cash balance plans on top of your 401k can maximize employer contribution flexibility while meeting the unique needs of attorneys at different career stages.
Key topics covered:
Cross-tested new comparability plans for maximum contribution flexibility
The limitations of cookie-cutter 401k solutions
How to harmonize multiple plan designs for optimal results
Essential considerations for plan administration and tax implications
Whether you're an established partner looking to maximize contributions or a firm administrator seeking better options for your team, this episode provides actionable insights to transform your retirement benefits strategy.
Guest: Corey Johnson, GLJ Financial - specializing in fiduciary standards for retirement plans
Ready to optimize your firm's retirement plan? Learn more at gljfinancial.com

Protecting Your Firm's Top Talent: Executive Benefits and Disability Insurance

Are your firm's top earners actually uninsured? This eye-opening episode reveals a critical gap that most law firms don't even know exists.
Host Alan Wilson from GLJ Benefit Consultants sits down with Dolce Sutton, Regional Director of Executive Benefits at Principal Financial Group, to uncover why partners and high earners at law firms are often left vulnerable despite having "comprehensive" disability coverage.
Discover the shocking math: how a typical group long-term disability plan that covers "60% of income up to $15,000" actually leaves anyone earning over $300,000 dramatically underinsured. Dolce breaks down the real-world implications when disability strikes and shares practical solutions for identifying at-risk employees and implementing proportionate executive benefits.
Key insights include:
Why 1 in 4 25-year-olds will face disability during their career
The hidden tax implications of group disability benefits
How to calculate your firm's coverage gaps in minutes
Cost-effective strategies for protecting your rainmakers
Whether you're an HR director, managing partner, or benefits consultant, this episode provides actionable steps to ensure your most valuable employees—and your firm—are truly protected when it matters most.
 

Managing Payroll Challenges with Isolved's Technological Solutions

Is your law firm juggling multiple systems for payroll, HR, benefits, and more? Join us on The Stand as we sit down with Michael Migdol, Director of Sales at isolved, to tackle the frustrating challenges legal administrators face when working with disconnected technology.
Michael brings 20+ years of expertise in payroll and HR solutions, sharing insights into how law firms can leverage an all-in-one platform to simplify operations, optimize efficiency, and prepare for future growth. We discuss real-world examples, including a firm in growth mode that adopted a unified solution to streamline reviews, track total compensation, and empower employee development.
Whether you're struggling with manual processes or looking to future-proof your firm with cutting-edge tech, this episode is packed with practical advice on turning challenges into opportunities.
Discover how to revolutionize your firm's administrative processes today.

Plugging the Profit Leaks

In this episode of The Stand Podcast, brought to you by the Lemonade for Legal Network, we sit down with Kelley Brubaker, CPA, to tackle a critical issue plaguing law firms: profit leakage. Kelley shares her expert analysis on the root causes of profit loss in legal practices and offers actionable solutions to help firms safeguard their bottom line. From identifying inefficiencies to implementing the right tools and strategies, this conversation is packed with valuable insights to help your firm thrive. Don’t miss this essential discussion for legal professionals looking to maximize profitability and efficiency!
 

Breaking Barriers to Legal Tech Adoption: Mastering Change Management

Legal professionals face unique challenges when adopting new technologies, from attorney skepticism about learning curves disrupting billable work to the multi-generational workforce's varying tech comfort levels. Add to this the organizational "PTSD" from past failed implementations, complex decision-making hierarchies, and the common struggle to quantify ROI, and it’s no wonder change feels daunting.
But there’s hope.
In this episode, Rob Joyner of Centerbase break down a roadmap to successful technology adoption in law firms, highlighting the strategic role of effective change management. Learn how pre-implementation assessments can pinpoint firm-specific pain points and how forming a dedicated implementation team can make all the difference. We'll discuss creating role-specific training programs, setting clear success metrics, and implementing phased "crawl-walk-run" approaches to build confidence.
Plus, discover why celebrating wins, providing ongoing support, and making accountability central are essential for long-term adoption.
Whether you’re a legal professional, a tech enthusiast, or a stakeholder looking to drive real change, this episode is packed with actionable insights to help your firm thrive in the digital age.

Solutions, Solutions, Solutions -- Making Lemonade Live with The Stand

At the Association of Legal Administrators Annual Conference in May 2025 we hosted a fast-paced, fun session with our Lemonade for Legal Lemonhead Rapid Response Team who are ready to tackle the #1 issues law firms face and share their top solutions! You’ll leave with actionable insights in just 30 minutes! Moderated by Alan Wilson from GLJ Benefit Consultants, this live recording of The Stand Podcast brings together a powerhouse panel of Lemonhead experts, including:
Debbie Foster, CEO at Affinity Consulting
Rob Joyner, Senior VP of Business Development at Centerbase Michael Migdol, National ALA Program Director at isolved
Corry Johnson, President at GLJ Financial
Stephanie Everett, Business Coach at Lawyerist
 
Don’t miss out—join us and get practical solutions for your law firm, straight from the experts!
 
Led by: Alan Wilson - GLJ Benefit Consultants, Inc.