Everything changes for clients and for the profession when a seasoned divorce litigator walks out of the courtroom and into the world of mediation, Zoom, and AI. In this episode, you’ll hear how one lawyer rebuilt her practice around future-focused resolutions, flat-fee models, and technology long before the rest of the legal world caught up.
In this episode, Philip and Susan discuss:
- Emotional reality of divorce versus “it’s just a math problem”
- Transition from litigation to mediation and dispute resolution
- Using Zoom and online practice before and during COVID
- AI, legal risk-aversion, and the future of law practice
- Moving beyond the billable hour with flat fees and strategic practice design
Lightbulb Moments:
- Treating divorce as “just a math problem” ignores the emotional chaos, parenting dynamics, and long-term family relationships that must be preserved beyond the legal process.
- Shifting from backward-looking litigation to forward-focused negotiation can dramatically improve post‑divorce outcomes for parents and children.
- Even when colleagues dismiss them, early adoption of tools like Zoom can create enormous opportunity when the market suddenly shifts, as it did during COVID.
- Lawyers’ risk‑averse training often leads them to reject new technologies like AI, but the real opportunity lies in understanding the risks and building strategies to manage them.
- Moving from hourly billing to flat-fee and value-based models can increase trust, reduce friction with clients, and free professionals from obsessively tracking every billable minute.
“Criminal attorneys see the worst people at their best, and divorce attorneys see the best people at their worst.” – Susan E. Guthrie
Susan E. Guthrie is an attorney, mediator, and nationally recognized practice-building expert with over 30 years of experience in the legal profession. She is the Immediate Past Chair of the ABA Section of Dispute Resolution and a leading voice in helping professionals build modern, profitable practices. Susan is the host of the top 1% podcast Divorce & Beyond and the creator of The Practice Playbook Podcast, where she shares strategies on business growth, thought leadership, and innovative pricing models. She is also a best-selling author of The Thought Leadership Playbook and other books in The Practice Playbook Series, helping professionals move beyond traditional models to build practices that align with their goals and values.
Connect with Susan E. Guthrie:
Website: https://susaneguthrie.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/susaneguthrie/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/susaneguthrie
Connect with Philip:
Website: https://www.fornarolaw.com/
Podcast Website: https://lbmpodcast.com/
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/philipfornaro/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@fornarolaw3002
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fornarolaw
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fornarolaw/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FornaroLaw
https://www.facebook.com/philip.fornaro.3
Podcast Production by Turnkey Podcast. Thinking of starting a podcast? Get more info at https://turnkeypodcast.com/ or reach out to Doug Sandler directly at Doug@TurnkeyPodcast.com or call 410-340-6861.
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