Breaking Down the Bar: Your Guide to Private Practice

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

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. 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

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. Produced by Jess Schmidt: https://www.jessdoespodcasting.com/ Edited by Morgane Chambrin: https://www.morganechambrin.com/

Every lawyer knows a great legal assistant can make or break their practice - but how much thought goes into that relationship, and what are lawyers actually bringing to it? In this episode, Jeremy talks with Jenna Bell, a legal assistant with 13 years of experience who now leads training and development for legal assistants at a large global law firm. Jenna and Jeremy dig into what makes the lawyer-assistant relationship work: the central role of communication, how trust is built, and how to strengthen a relationship that's functional - but lacking rapport. Jenna also gives a simple, but powerful checklist of tasks to keep in mind that go a long way toward building a genuinely great working relationship. Featured guest: Jenna Bell, Learning And Development Specialist