Podcast

Law school teaches you how to think like a lawyer.
It does not teach you how to build trust, lead with empathy, or create meaningful client relationships.

In this episode of That One Lawyer™ Podcast, attorney and author Neal Goldstein sits down with Lani Medina, a New York–based corporate lawyer whose path to law was anything but traditional.

Born and raised in the Bronx, Lani served in the U.S. Air Force, worked in higher education, attended Fordham Law School as a non-traditional evening student, and ultimately built a corporate law career centered on kindness, mindfulness, and client trust. She is widely known for redefining what it means to be a “corporate lawyer” through her client-centered philosophy often referred to as “The Kind Deal Lawyer.”

In this conversation, Neal and Lani explore:

• Why being told she was “too nice” pushed Lani to lean into authenticity
• What law school does not teach about client relationships and trust
• How military experience shaped her leadership and emotional intelligence
• Why empathy and zealous advocacy are not opposites
• The role of representation for Latina lawyers and women in corporate law
• How to build trust with clients without losing professional boundaries
• Why soft skills matter more than ever in the age of AI
• Mental health, mindfulness, and sustainability in legal careers
• Why authenticity is a competitive advantage, not a weakness

This episode is especially valuable for:

• Corporate lawyers and transactional attorneys
• Solo and small-firm lawyers building client relationships
• Law students and first-generation attorneys
• Lawyers navigating imposter syndrome
• Professionals interested in relationship-driven law practice
• Lawyers curious about AI, authenticity, and modern legal careers

Whether you are early in your career or decades in, this episode offers a powerful reminder that clients do not want perfect lawyers. They want real ones.