
Skill Over Salary | Fighting Bullies: The Case for a Career in Plaintiffs' Law - Bill Reid - S10E28
Legally Speaking PodcastShow Notes
On today’s Legally Speaking Podcast, I am delighted to be joined by Bill Reid. Bill is the senior founding partner of Reid Collins, a former federal prosecutor, a two-time Benchmark Litigation U.S. Plaintiff Litigator of the Year, an adjunct professor atthe University of Texas School of Law, and the author of Fighting Bullies: The Case for a Career in Plaintiffs’ Law. Over the course of his career, he has prosecuted precedent-setting cases and recovered billions of dollars in complex commercial litigation.This episode is not just about plaintiffs’ law. It is about how the legal profession defines success, why so many talented young lawyers are funnelled down narrow paths before they really understand their options and what it actually takes to develop real trial judgment in a profession increasingly shaped by leverage, efficiency and now AI. For our UK and international listeners, think of this as a conversation about claimant-side trial work, professional formation, and whether the system is still set up to produce great courtroom lawyers.
So why should you be listening in? You can hear Rob and William discussing: - Mastering the human element remains essential for trial success - Prioritising experience over prestige - The traditional legal career model is being reshaped - AI's encroachment exposes the inefficiency of the billable hour - Irreplaceable Human Skills.
Connect with Bill Reid here - https://www.linkedin.com/in/williamtreidiv
More from Legally Speaking Podcast
Welcome back to our 2026 edition of the Professional Training miniseries. We have a brand new regional edition continuing on from the last conference we attended, but packed with even more highlights and insights. Filmed at Manchester Hall, these minisodes explore high performance leadership, career growth, innovation and what it takes to thrive in today’s legal world. In the final minisode of the regional edition, we talk to Simon Price. He is the Learning and Development Manager for Kennedys and he argues that high-performing legal teams are built less on output metrics alone than on a culture of learning, reflection, feedback, and knowledge-sharing. Simon tells us about hybrid leadership requiring intentional inclusion through regular opportunities to connect and collaborate, while psychological safety means people can ask for help, admit uncertainty, take considered risks and learn from mistakes without lowering standards. He also stresses that lawyers and business-services teams should work as one around the client problem, that resilience includes recognising when to pause rather than simply enduring pressure and that a curiosity mindset helps people reframe challenges and keep on improving.
"AI will not replace lawyers, but lawyers that use AI will replace lawyers who don't." On today’s Legally Speaking Podcast, sponsored by Clio, I’m delighted to be joined by Michael McCready. Michael is the founder and managing partner of McCready Law, an experienced trial lawyer and a strong advocate for legal technology and innovation. In our discussion today, he explores how AI can support jury research, personalise courtroom arguments, simulate mock juries and improve trial preparation. However, he also warns of significant risks involving bias, juror privacy, confidentiality and AI-generated misinformation, emphasising the need for clear policies, staff training and human oversight. He also highlights AI’s potential to improve access to justice by helping smaller firms and under-resourced lawyers compete more effectively.
Welcome back to our 2026 edition of the Professional Training miniseries. We have a brand new regional edition continuing on from the last conference we attended, but packed with even more highlights and insights. Filmed at Manchester Hall, these minisodes explore high performance leadership, career growth, innovation and what it takes to thrive in today’s legal world.
“The road less traveled is so much more interesting than that very traditional linear path that people lay out for you.” - Samuel McGinty
Visit the Law Student Academy Here In today’s episode, we dive deep into the complexities of the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE) with industry veterans Jake and James. Together, they bring a wealth of experience to the table, discussing how students can effectively prepare for the SQE and distinguish between quality and subpar educational resources.