More Than A Lawyer with Holly Cope

We’re obsessed with time management.Calendars. Schedulers. But what if we’re managing the wrong thing?Because time isn’t the problem.You can have an empty day and still feel exhausted.You can finish early and still feel drained.The real issue?Energy.No one teaches us to manage it.But it’s the thing that fuels everything else.So maybe it’s not about how many hours you work.It’s about how you feel during them.Today I'm sitting down with Grace Williams to get expert advice on how to manage stress & burnout through energy management in law, she's an ex white and case solicitor turned health and nutrition coach. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The future of law isn’t just about AI.Or automation.Or the next hot legal tech startup.It’s about people.Visibility.Culture.And the conversations we’re brave enough to have.In this episode, I'm showcasing the key conversations that are defining the future of law.Holly Cope & Helen PamelyThe best-kept secret in the future of your law career?It’s how marketable you are.Jonathan WatmoughLet me introduce you to Jonathan Watmough, award-winning former managing partner and author of How to Thrive in a Commercial Law Firm.We talk about: How firms can balance culture + profitability — if they’re willing to evolve. Because the culture they build will become their competitive edge.Valentin Feklistov and Alex Bitskov The legal industry needs better conversations.The kind that actually move the profession forward.That’s why events like FutureLaw matters.Let me introduce you to the founders of FutureLaw Valentin Feklistov and Alex Bitskov. They created the event to talk about what’s really happening at the intersection of law, tech, and innovation.FutureLaw is happening in Tallin, Estonia, 29th - 30th May 2025.Find out more here: https://futurelaw.ee/--25 Ways To Do Law Differently- Free guideDiscover innovative, unconventional waysto build your legal career on your own terms.Whether you want more freedom or flexibility, this FREE guide offers 25 inspiring ideas to get paid for doing law in a way that works for YOU.Download now:https://holly-cope.myflodesk.com/25ways-to-do-law-differently Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

AI isn’t coming for lawyers.It’s coming for tasks.And here’s the real shift:If your value is tied only to what a system can do faster,It’s time to rethink what you’re really selling.Lawyers who will thrive aren’t the ones who fear AI.They’re the ones who double down on the one thing machines can’t do:Trust.Judgment.Human connection.Creative strategy in grey areas.AI might draft the contract.You’ll still be the one they call before they sign it.---A landmark moment for the legal industry:The Solicitors Regulatory Authority has officially authorised Garfield.Law, the first ever AI-driven law firm regulated to provide legal services in England and Wales.This isn’t just another firm using AI to streamline admin. Garfield.Law is entirely AI-driven, offering small businesses an AI litigation assistant to recover unpaid debts, guiding them through the small claims process all the way to trial.I went straight to the source.I interviewed the founder of Garfield.Law, Philip Young.And I asked the questions everyone wants the answers to:You’re going to want to hear this.  Listen to the full episode here:Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5cuz6TZU3cGh7Z3BMASdqjApple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/exclusive-interview-inside-the-first-ai-driven-law/id1729325503?i=1000708233067 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

You want to do law differently.But let’s be real, no one’s handing you the blueprint.You’re told to follow the script:Bill the hours. Climb the ladder. But the moment you want freedom, creativity, or flexibilityIt feels like you’re breaking some silent rule.Here’s what most won’t tell you:Doing law differently doesn’t make you less of a lawyer.Today I'm sitting down with Ari Mike Varjabedian, a digital nomad lawyer and now, founder of E-Legal Counsel which provides tech-driven legal services to entrepreneurs & businesses. He created a life of travel and law and in this conversation he talks about how he did it. Find Ari here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ari-mike/----25 Ways To Do Law Differently- Free guideDiscover innovative, unconventional waysto build your legal career on your own terms. Whether you want more freedom or flexibility, this FREE guide offers 25 inspiring ideas to get paid for doing law in a way that works for YOU.Download now:https://holly-cope.myflodesk.com/25ways-to-do-law-differently  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What happens when innovation outpaces regulation?It took 8 months for Garfield the UK’s first AI-driven law firm to be authorised.Because the law itself hasn’t caught up.The first hurdle?A threshold question: Does the SRA even have the power to regulate this?Find out how the process went behind the scenes in this exclusive interview. This is the first podcast interview Philip has done.A landmark moment for the legal industry:The Solicitors Regulatory Authority has officially authorised Garfield.Law, the first ever AI-driven law firm regulated to provide legal services in England and Wales.This isn’t just another firm using AI to streamline admin. Garfield.Law is entirely AI-driven, offering small businesses an AI litigation assistant to recover unpaid debts, guiding them through the small claims process all the way to trial.I went straight to the source.I interviewed the founder of Garfield.Law, Philip Young.And I asked the questions everyone wants the answers to:You’re going to want to hear this.  Listen to the full episode here: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5cuz6TZU3cGh7Z3BMASdqj Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/exclusive-interview-inside-the-first-ai-driven-law/id1729325503?i=1000708233067 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Philip Young, the visionary behind Garfield.Law, discusses the groundbreaking launch of the first AI-driven law firm in England and Wales. He shares insights on the firm’s AI litigation assistant designed for small businesses and tackles key questions about the ethics of AI in law. Young elaborates on how AI can address late payments impacting SMEs and the necessity of safeguarding measures. The conversation also explores the evolving landscape of legal jobs, emphasizing the potential for new roles and the partnership between technology and legal expertise.

Sleep deprivation is costing businesses billions, yet many workplaces still overlook its impact, particularly within the legal industry. The legal industry runs on high stakes and high accountability.Deadlines don’t wait.Mistakes aren’t an option.So, sleep? It’s often the first thing to go.Today, I'm sitting down with adult sleep expert, Maryanne Taylor. She's been featured on Sky News, Channel 4, Channel 5Maryanne reveals how small shifts can transform the way lawyers sleep boosting energy, focus, and performance.Find Maryanne here:https://thesleepworks.co.uk/about/ ---25 Ways To Do Law Differently- Free guideDiscover innovative, unconventional waysto build your legal career on your own terms. Whether you want more freedom or flexibility, this FREE guide offers 25 inspiring ideas to get paid for doing law in a way that works for YOU.Download now:https://holly-cope.myflodesk.com/25ways-to-do-law-differently  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The one-sized-fits-all mindset doesn’t work in international law.Step into another country thinking your way is the only way, and you’ll fail fast.Success in law isn’t just about knowing the rules—it’s about understanding the culture behind them.I’ve seen lawyers walk into international markets assuming they can operate like they do at home. They hit a wall. Because legal strategy, business and connections is shaped by culture.In some places, contracts mean everything. In others, personal relationships hold more weight than a signed agreement.Cultural intelligence isn’t just a “nice-to-have” skill. It’s the difference between landing clients and losing them.Today, I'm sitting down with George Summerfield, partner at K&L Gates Beijing office. He has worked in patent litigation for over 30 years and was listed in The Best Lawyers in America® for patent litigation in 2024. After a long career in the US, George decided to make a career change and move to China. We explore the challenges and insights of cross-cultural experiences, practicing law in a completely different culture, adapting to new norms, and building meaningful connections. --25 Ways To Do Law Differently- Free guideDiscover innovative, unconventional waysto build your legal career on your own terms. Whether you want more freedom or flexibility, this FREE guide offers 25 inspiring ideas to get paid for doing law in a way that works for YOU.Download now:https://holly-cope.myflodesk.com/25ways-to-do-law-differently  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Taking a career break won’t ruin you. But staying miserable might.Lawyers panic about stepping away.The fear? That a career break means career suicide. That law firms will blacklist you. That you’ll never make it back.But here’s the truth: that mindset is outdated.The real risk isn’t taking a break.It’s burning out in a system that tells you survival is success.Today I'm sitting down with Brian Dixon, digital nomad lawyer, fractional general counsel. He offers tailored legal solutions to digital nomads and remote-first companies whilst living in Bali. We discuss this topic - is it taboo to take a career break in law or could it be your competitive advantage? --25 Ways To Do Law Differently- Free guideDiscover innovative, unconventional waysto build your legal career on your own terms. Whether you want more freedom or flexibility, this FREE guide offers 25 inspiring ideas to get paid for doing law in a way that works for YOU.Download now:https://holly-cope.myflodesk.com/25ways-to-do-law-differently  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Why do some people stay in toxic workplaces?Because sometimes, it feels familiar.If you grew up in an unsupportive or estranged family, you might have learned early on that approval and safety come at a cost. Maybe you had to compete for attention. Maybe speaking up led to punishment. Maybe you learned that keeping the peace was more important than being heard.Fast forward to your career.You enter a workplace where toxic dynamics thrive, where leaders play favourites, pit employees against each other, or make you feel like you have to prove your worth every day. And instead of seeing the red flags, you normalise them. You tolerate the dysfunction. Maybe, without realizing it, you even contribute to it.Because once upon a time, that was survival.Today I'm sitting down with Becca Bland, a journalist, researcher, and leading advocate for family estrangement awareness. She founded Stand Alone, the UK’s only non-profit for estranged individuals, and has driven groundbreaking research and policy change. Her work has been featured in The Guardian, BBC, The New York Times, and more. Today, we’re discussing how your background can shape your legal career especially when it comes to recognising (or overlooking) toxic workplaces. Why do some people stay in unhealthy work environments? And how does past experience make dysfunction feel…normal? Let’s break it down.  Find Becca here:https://www.beccabland.com/my-story --25 Ways To Do Law Differently- Free guideDiscover innovative, unconventional waysto build your legal career on your own terms. Whether you want more freedom or flexibility, this FREE guide offers 25 inspiring ideas to get paid for doing law in a way that works for YOU.Download now:https://holly-cope.myflodesk.com/25ways-to-do-law-differently  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.