I had the opportunity a while back to join Dallas trial lawyer Mike Bassett on his podcast, Legal Grounds: Conversations on Life, Leadership, and Law. I’ve long been a fan of Mike’s show and his thoughtful approach to law practice, so I was honored when he invited me to appear as a guest.
We covered a lot of ground in our conversation, including:
- My journey from law school to a Texas Supreme Court clerkship, through BigLaw (twice), and ultimately back to practicing on my own.
- The strategic value appellate counsel can bring to trial teams—not just on appeal, but starting at the trial level through brief writing, legal issue spotting, and helping preserve error.
- The evolution of my practice and how I’ve embraced technology (including AI) to deliver efficient, high-quality legal services in a modern solo setting.
- Thoughts on mentoring young lawyers, the importance of civility in appellate practice, and how the profession is (and isn’t) changing.
One thing I appreciated about the interview is that Mike gave me the space to reflect candidly on what I’ve learned over three decades in the law—from my days as a young associate trying to beat my supervising partner into the office to appreciating what really matters in a lean solo practice.
I’m grateful to Mike for the invitation and the conversation. If you’re interested in appellate law, solo practice, or just want to hear a couple of Texas lawyers swap war stories, I encourage you to give this one a listen.