What if legal expertise isn’t the most important thing your clients are looking for?
In this episode of Legal Innovation Simplified, I sit down with Joey Gartner, Director of the ABA Center for Innovation, to uncover the lawyer skills that truly set you apart in today’s legal landscape and explore how innovation in legal services is reshaping the profession.
Most law firms assume that clients prioritize legal expertise—but the reality is, expertise is just the baseline. What clients really value is how you engage with them, how you listen, and how you create a seamless, client-centered experience.
Joey breaks down why emotional intelligence, client experience, and adaptability are the real differentiators for innovation lawyers—and how you can use them to future-proof your practice.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
- Why legal expertise is just the starting point—and what actually matters to clients.
- How emotional intelligence and client experience impact law firm success.
- Why lawyers must shift from risk-averse to iterative mindsets to embrace innovation.
- The importance of emerging legal careers and non-traditional career paths.
- How to turn friction points into opportunities for business growth and client trust.
Key Highlights:
- The Role of Emotional Intelligence in Legal Services – Learn why listening, empathy, and connection drive client trust more than expertise alone.
- From Friction to Opportunity – Discover how to spot inefficiencies in your legal practice and transform them into growth strategies.
- The Future of Lawyer Skills – Explore how adaptability, project management, and legal design thinking can set you apart.
- Beyond the Billable Hour – How automation and client experience improvements can help lawyers work smarter, not harder.
Here’s the website for ABA Center for Innovation.
Remember to leave a 5-star rating and review for Legal Innovation Simplified. Your support means the world to me!
- Want to get my free audio training: Prototyping for Purpose and Profit - Turn AI Stress into Clarity and Confidence with Heart-Centered Legal Innovation? Get it here.
- Curious about Legal Innovation Incubator? Learn more here
- Interested in working with me 1:1? Book a strategy call here
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!