The Practice Playbook Podcast with Susan Guthrie

This is not your typical episode on profitability. Susan Guthrie welcomes guest Darren Wurz,CFP®, who brings a fresh and innovative approach to what profit really means for legal professionals. He explains why chasing higher revenue alone can actually leave firm owners feeling more stressed, stretched thin, and disconnected from the life they want their practice to support.

Darren is the founder of The Lawyer Millionaire and a fiduciary financial planner who works exclusively with law firm owners. He brings a rare perspective shaped by his background as an educator and his deep understanding of both business strategy and personal finance.

In this conversation, they dig into what profitability really means, why growing a firm can actually reduce profit if you’re not careful, and the practical systems that help lawyers keep more of what they earn while building businesses that support the lives they want.

This episode invites you to slow down, challenge familiar assumptions, and think about profit in a more intentional, sustainable way.

What You’ll Learn:

Why profitability is not the same thing as revenue, and how a growing practice can still leave you financially strained if you’re not being intentional 

How separating business and personal finances, paying yourself consistently, and setting profit aside on purpose can transform both your numbers and your decision-making

Why profitability is a team sport, and how aligning your staff around clear financial goals leads to better choices across the firm

The hidden cost of rushed decisions, and why slowing down to think strategically can protect your profit and your long-term vision

Guest

Darren Wurz, CFP®, is the founder of The Lawyer Millionaire®. He is a fiduciary financial planner who works exclusively with law firm owners, helping them bridge the gap between running a successful practice and actually building lasting wealth.

What makes Darren’s perspective so compelling is his path. He didn’t come up through traditional finance sales. He started as a teacher, driven by a genuine commitment to helping people grow, and that mindset carries through everything he does today.

Through his work with lawyers across the country, Darren saw a pattern that will sound very familiar to many of you. Talented, driven professionals bringing in good revenue, but still struggling with cash flow, taxes, long-term planning, and the question of what all that hard work is really building toward.

So he built something that didn’t exist. A flat-fee advisory firm designed specifically for law firm owners, combining business strategy, tax-smart planning, and personal financial coaching.

Connect with Darren

Community: https://community.lawyermillionaire.com
Website: https://thelawyermillionaire.com
Podcast: https://www.lawyermillionaire.com/the-lawyer-millionaire-podcast
Book: https://www.lawyermillionaire.com/the-lawyer-millionaire-book

Related Resources

Download the Law Firm Profit First Set Up Guide and Instant Cash Flow Assessment

Profit First by Mike Michalowicz

Simple Numbers, Straight Talk, Big Profits by Greg Crabtree

The Great Game of Business by Jack Stack

The Road Less Stupid by Keith Cunningham

Meet Our Creator and Host: Susan Guthrie

Susan E. Guthrie is one of the most respected voices in mediation and conflict resolution today. A nationally recognized family law attorney and mediator for 35 years, she is now a top professional coach and consultant helping dispute resolution and legal professionals build thriving, modern practices. 

Susan recently appeared on The Oprah Daily Podcast, expanding her reach to an even broader audience and highlighting her role as a trusted expert in divorce, communication, and modern conflict resolution. She is also the creator and host of The Divorce & Beyond Podcast, ranked in the top 1% worldwide, with millions of listeners and a global following.

As Immediate Past Chair of the American Bar Association Section of Dispute Resolution, Susan continues to shape the future of the profession while training and mentoring practitioners around the world.

Connect with Susan E. Guthrie

Website: https://susaneguthrie.com

Books: https://susaneguthrie.com/susans-books

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/susaneguthrie

Instagram: @susaneguthrie and @practiceplaybookpodcast

 

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You’re posting on LinkedIn. People are liking and commenting on your posts. And yet, when you look at your practice, nothing has really changed.

In this episode, Susan Guthrie unpacks a pattern she sees repeatedly in workshops, retreats, and strategy sessions with experienced professionals using LinkedIn. The effort is there. The consistency is there. But the results do not match the visibility.

Susan explores why LinkedIn engagement can be misleading, how professionals get stuck being visible without being positioned, and how to use the platform as a long-term trust builder rather than a popularity contest.

What You’ll Learn:

Why LinkedIn likes and comments reflect agreement, not trust, and what decision-makers are actually evaluating before they reach out

How the content that leads to clients often receives less engagement, and why authority-signaling posts work differently by design

How to tell when your LinkedIn visibility is not positioning you clearly, and why positioning matters more than posting consistency

Related Resources

The Business Planning Playbook

The Flat Fee Playbook

The Thought Leadership Playbook

Upcoming Live Session
🎙 Ask Susan Anything: New Year Practice Building Focus
📅 February 2 at 11am CT

A free live session for dispute resolution professionals ready to break old patterns and build smarter strategies.

Register here: https://lnkd.in/ggtQJudk

Meet Our Creator and Host: Susan Guthrie
Susan E. Guthrie is one of the most respected voices in mediation and conflict resolution today. A nationally recognized family law attorney and mediator for 35 years, she is now a top professional coach and consultant helping dispute resolution and legal professionals build thriving, modern practices.

Susan recently appeared on The Oprah Daily Podcast, expanding her reach to an even broader audience and highlighting her role as a trusted expert in divorce, communication, and modern conflict resolution. She is also the creator and host of The Divorce & Beyond Podcast, ranked in the top 1% worldwide, with millions of listeners and a global following.

As Immediate Past Chair of the American Bar Association Section of Dispute Resolution, Susan continues to shape the future of the profession while training and mentoring practitioners around the world.

Connect with Susan E. Guthrie
Website: https://susaneguthrie.com
Books: https://susaneguthrie.com/susans-books
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/susaneguthrie
Instagram: @susaneguthrie and @practiceplaybookpodcast

What trends will shape dispute resolution in 2026?
How should mediators and arbitrators adapt right now?
And what does this mean for your business plan going forward?

In this episode of The Practice Playbook Podcast, Susan Guthrie breaks down the three most important trends shaping dispute resolution in 2026 and explains how dispute resolution professionals can use these shifts to future-proof their practices.

This conversation grew out of Susan’s work on the third book in the Practice Playbook Series, The Business Planning Playbook, and centers on one essential idea:

A business plan is not a one-and-done document.
It is a living strategy that must evolve as the world and your practice change.

You will learn how AI is becoming infrastructure in dispute resolution, why the profession is moving beyond hourly billing, and how specialization in emerging practice areas is driving growth in the U.S. and globally.

This episode also includes a free downloadable handout with sample AI prompts to help you apply these ideas immediately.

What You’ll Learn

Why AI is now part of everyday dispute resolution practice

How AI can support pricing analysis and innovative fee models

Why the shift is not flat fees versus hourly billing, but moving beyond hourly billing entirely

How AI Deep Research and Learning Mode can help you identify emerging practice areas

Why specialization is driving visibility and opportunity in 2026

How emerging trends should inform your business plan this year and beyond

The 3 Trends Covered
1. AI as Infrastructure
AI is no longer optional. Used responsibly, it enhances judgment, preparation, and workflow efficiency.

2. Moving Beyond Hourly Billing
Clients want clarity and predictability. Innovative pricing models align services with value, not time.

3. Specialization and Emerging Practice Areas
Growth is increasingly driven by depth, particularly in areas like data privacy, employment, and ESG-related disputes.

Free Download: AI Prompt Handout
Download the companion resource to this episode, including sample AI prompts to help you:

Evaluate your current pricing

Explore innovative pricing models

Research emerging practice areas

Build a learning and positioning plan

📥 Download here:
https://susaneguthrie.thinkific.com/products/digital_downloads/ai-placeholder-8

 

Related Resources

The Business Planning Playbook

The Flat Fee Playbook

The Thought Leadership Playbook

Upcoming Live Session
🎙 Ask Susan Anything: New Year Practice Building Focus
📅 February 2

A free live session for dispute resolution professionals ready to break old patterns and build smarter strategies.

Register here: https://lnkd.in/ggtQJudk

 

Meet Our Creator and Host: Susan Guthrie

Susan E. Guthrie is one of the most respected voices in mediation and conflict resolution today. A nationally recognized family law attorney and mediator for 35 years, she is now a top professional coach and consultant helping dispute resolution and legal professionals build thriving, modern practices.

Susan recently appeared on The Oprah Daily Podcast, expanding her reach to an even broader audience and highlighting her role as a trusted expert in divorce, communication, and modern conflict resolution. She is also the creator and host of The Divorce & Beyond Podcast, ranked in the top 1% worldwide, with millions of listeners and a global following.

As Immediate Past Chair of the American Bar Association Section of Dispute Resolution, Susan continues to shape the future of the profession while training and mentoring practitioners around the world.

Connect with Susan E. Guthrie
Website: https://susaneguthrie.com

Books: https://susaneguthrie.com/susans-books

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/susaneguthrie

Instagram: @susaneguthrie and @practiceplaybookpodcast

In a profession increasingly shaped by AI, virtual platforms, and rapid technological change, it is easy to believe that success depends on mastering the newest tools. In this episode, we take a different approach.

Susan Guthrie is joined by veteran mediator and arbitrator Lawrence Kolin for a grounded, insightful conversation about what actually gets cases settled and why the core skills of peacemaking still matter more than ever.

With nearly twenty-five years of experience resolving complex disputes, Lawrence has practiced through sweeping changes in how mediation is conducted. Yet his message is clear: while the tools have evolved, human nature has not. Trust, intuition, preparation, and the ability to read people in the room remain the true differentiators for effective neutrals.

This episode explores why experienced mediators continue to succeed even as the profession evolves and what practitioners at every stage can learn from returning to fundamentals.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

Why mediation’s core principles have endured for thousands of years

The limits of technology and what AI cannot replace in dispute resolution

How experienced neutrals identify the true “nub” of a dispute

The information paradox in modern mediation and why more data does not always lead to better outcomes

How trust, reputation, and word of mouth still drive mediator selection

The role of intuition, judgment, and experience in moving parties toward agreement

Why adaptability and curiosity are essential skills for long-term success

Whether you are building your practice, refining your craft, or navigating a rapidly changing professional landscape, this conversation is a powerful reminder of where the real edge comes from.

Guest:
Lawrence Kolin is an AV-Rated, Preeminent Super Lawyer and a highly respected mediator and arbitrator who has resolved thousands of cases in state, federal, and appellate courts. A former General Magistrate in Florida’s Ninth Judicial Circuit, Lawrence now serves as a neutral panelist with Upchurch Watson White & Max, the American Health Law Association, and the American Arbitration Association.

Contact Lawrence Kolin: 

Email: [email protected]

Blog: www.OrlandoMediator.blogspot.com 

LinkedIn:  https://linkedin.com/in/lkolin

 

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Get Susan's Latest Book and Start 2026 with a Plan!

The Business Plan Playbook is a practical guide for dispute resolution professionals and legal entrepreneurs who want to build a sustainable, intentional practice. This book walks you through how to clarify your vision, define your ideal work, structure your services, and make smart business decisions in a profession that is evolving quickly. It is not about predicting the future. It is about creating a framework you can rely on as your practice grows and changes.

Learn more about the book and explore Susan’s full collection of titles here:
https://susaneguthrie.com/susans-books

 

Meet Our Creator and Host: Susan Guthrie

Susan E. Guthrie is one of the most respected voices in mediation and conflict resolution today. A nationally recognized family law attorney and mediator for 35 years, she is now a top professional coach and consultant helping dispute resolution and legal professionals build thriving, modern practices.

Susan recently appeared on The Oprah Daily Podcast, expanding her reach to an even broader audience and highlighting her role as a trusted expert in divorce, communication, and modern conflict resolution. She is also the creator and host of The Divorce & Beyond Podcast, ranked in the top 1% worldwide, with millions of listeners and a global following.

As Immediate Past Chair of the American Bar Association Section of Dispute Resolution, Susan continues to shape the future of the profession while training and mentoring practitioners around the world.

Connect with Susan E. Guthrie
Website: https://susaneguthrie.com

Books: https://susaneguthrie.com/susans-books

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/susaneguthrie

Instagram: @susaneguthrie and @practiceplaybookpodcast

Technology now sits at the center of modern ADR practice, and the decisions we make about tools, pricing, and security have real consequences for our efficiency, profitability, and client experience. In this episode of the Practice Playbook Podcast, I’m joined by legal tech pioneer Gary Doernhoefer to unpack what actually works for mediators, arbitrators, and dispute resolution firms today.

Gary and I talk candidly about how ADR technology has evolved, why many traditional pricing models no longer serve neutrals, and how integrated platforms can eliminate friction while protecting confidentiality. If you’re rethinking your tech stack for 2025 and beyond, this conversation offers practical insight and strategic clarity.

In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

Why eliminating friction points like manual data entry, repetitive forms, and disconnected tools is critical to a sustainable ADR practice

How automated intake, conflict checks, document generation, and secure communications can reclaim hours of professional time

The risks of piecemeal tech stacks and why integrated platforms offer stronger security and reliability

How AI tools like ADR Coach can support both practitioners and parties without replacing professional judgment

More About This Week's Special Guest:

Gary Doernhoefer graduated from the University of Chicago School of Law and has 40 years of experience in private practice, as an in-house attorney, general counsel and entrepreneur in two successful technology startup companies. His legal experience convinced him of the benefits of ADR and inspired him to apply his skills to the development of technology for dispute resolution practitioners. He is the founder of ADR Notable - the leading case and practice management software designed specifically for ADR practitioners. He also serves as Co-Chair of the ADR Practice Skills and Technology Innovations Committee of the ABA Dispute Resolution Section, and is a frequent speaker on ADR technology.

Website and Contact Information:

ADR Notable: https://www.adrnotable.com

Social media:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/gdoernhoefer/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/adr-notable/

Who This Episode Is For

Mediators

Family law and collaborative professionals

Attorneys, arbitrators, and legal neutrals

Coaches and consultants working in conflict resolution

Solo practitioners and small to mid-size ADR firms

Practice owners seeking efficiency, scalability, and sustainability

Resources Mentioned

The Flat Fee Playbook – Your guide to building, structuring, and pricing flat fee services

ADR Notable website and demo signup

The Flat Fee Playbook by Susan Guthrie

Join the waitlist for The Practice Accelerator, Susan’s brand-new subscription program packed with resources, tools, and community support to help you grow smarter.

RPS Coach Revealed: Professor John Lande’s New Tool to Transform Your Mediation Practice (Part One) on Make Money Mediating #532

RPS Coach Revealed: Professor John Lande’s New Tool to Transform Your Mediation Practice (Part Two) on Make Money Mediating #533

Meet Our Creator and Host: Susan Guthrie

Susan E. Guthrie is one of the most respected voices in mediation and conflict resolution today. A nationally recognized family law attorney and mediator for 35 years, she is now a top professional coach and consultant helping dispute resolution and legal professionals build thriving, modern practices.

Susan recently appeared on The Oprah Daily Podcast, expanding her reach to an even broader audience and highlighting her role as a trusted expert in divorce, communication, and modern conflict resolution. She is also the creator and host of The Divorce & Beyond Podcast, ranked in the top 1% worldwide, with millions of listeners and a global following.

As Immediate Past Chair of the American Bar Association Section of Dispute Resolution, Susan continues to shape the future of the profession while training and mentoring practitioners around the world.

Connect with Susan E. Guthrie
Website: https://susaneguthrie.com
Books: https://susaneguthrie.com/susans-books
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/susaneguthrie
Instagram: @susaneguthrie and @practiceplaybookpodcast