Behind the Bar with David Brown — Ascent Employment Law
In this episode, Susan sits down with employment lawyer and Ascent Employment Law co-founder David Brown for an honest, grounded, and deeply practical conversation about building your legal career with intention. David shares his unconventional articling story, the power of relationships, how to navigate discomfort, and why young lawyers should be both “house cats” and “alley cats” in their early years.

Whether you’re a law student, an articling student, or a new associate trying to find your footing, this episode gives you guidance you can act on today.

What you’ll learn in this episode

• How David created an articling role for himself through strategic relationship-building
  
  
• Why discomfort is part of the profession—and how to lean into it
  
  
• The truth about networking (and why it’s a muscle, not a personality trait)
  
  
• How to think like an entrepreneur early in your career
  
  
• What to do if you’re in the wrong firm or wrong practice area
  
  
• The “house cat vs. alley cat” model for succeeding as a junior lawyer
  
  
• How values shape firm culture—and how Ascent built a values-led practice from day one

Episode notes:

David Brown LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidmjbrown/

Ascent Employment Law website: https://ascentemploymentlaw.ca/

In this episode of Behind the Bar, I sit down with litigator, Mark Virgin, who brings more than 30 years of practice experience—and an extraordinary level of candor—to a conversation every law student and junior lawyer needs to hear.
Mark shares the lessons he wishes he knew as an articling student, including why you should always ask the “stupid” question, how to find the right mentors inside a firm, and what it actually means to “reach up” when you need help. He also speaks openly about his journey with anxiety, how he learned to manage it, and why early-career lawyers must proactively build healthy habits and support systems.
We also cover:
• How to communicate effectively as a junior lawyer—and avoid the 50% misunderstanding trap
• Why self-awareness, curiosity, and preparation are foundational to success
• The professional etiquette expectations that genuinely matter in law firms
• How to build a client-centric mindset early in your career
• The long-term value of community involvement and choosing causes that matter to you
• Why your ethical compass—and your reputation—are your most important assets in law
This conversation is packed with practical guidance, stories from Mark’s career, and honest reflections that will help you navigate articling, summering, and your first few years of practice with more confidence, clarity, and resilience.

Episode notes:

Anxiety Canada: https://www.anxietycanada.com/
Lawyers Assistance Program BC: https://www.lapbc.com/
CBA Lawyer Assistance Program: https://cba.org/resources/well-being-and-lawyer-assistance/

Behind the Bar – Lawyer Launcher
Real advice from real experience — the things law school never told you.

In this episode, Susan sits down with retired business lawyer and former managing partner Murray Gottheil, known for his frank, funny, and refreshingly honest insights about the legal profession. From the “safety of retirement,” Murray shares the truths he wishes he’d known earlier — and the hard lessons he believes every law student, summer student, and new associate needs to hear before starting in a law firm.

Together, Susan and Murray break down:

The biggest mistakes new lawyers make

• Why confidence and self-awareness matter more than you think
  
  
  
• How introverts (and extroverts!) can set themselves up to succeed
  
  
  
• What “ownership mentality” really looks like — and why partners value it
  
  
  
• How to ask better questions without driving your supervising lawyer crazy
  
  
  

The hard truths about starting your legal career

• You know far less than you think after graduation — and that’s normal
  
  
  
• Why legal success isn’t about hard work alone
  
  
  
• The reality of learning outside billable time
  
  
  
• How culture varies between firms, offices, and practice groups
  
  
  
• Why defining your own version of success is essential for long-term health
  
  
  

Murray also shares stories from decades in practice — from articling in the 80s, to hiring students, to mentoring young lawyers — with practical, actionable advice to help you thrive, not just survive.

If you’re preparing for summering, articling, or your first year of practice, this episode will give you the insight (and perspective) you won't find in textbooks.

Listen now and start building the leadership habits your future self will thank you for.

Don’t forget to subscribe to Lawyer Launcher for more episodes that help you thrive in the legal profession.

Episode notes:

Law & Disorder Inc: https://www.murraygottheil.com/

Murray Gottheil LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/murray-gottheil-58787b1/