The Advocate's Key

Self-described "recovering attorney" Katheryn Burmeister joins Scott Key for a candid conversation about her journey in law, from starting her own firm to abandoning the status quo in search of happiness and fulfillment. She shares how her battle with burnout and the sudden, tragic loss of a mentor caused her to reevaluate her career path, and cautions fellow legal professionals to avoid becoming addicted to success.

Originalist textualism is a way of interpreting the law that can often feel a bit like stepping into a time machine. In this episode, former Justice of the Georgia Supreme Court, Keith Blackwell, guides us through originalist methodology and gives important context to the legal debates happening today and in the future. Blackwell breaks down the fundamentals of the practice in a way that can make you a more effective advocate.

When Elissa Haynes first moved from insurance defense work to trial work, the Atlanta partner knew she’d need a solid framework to build each case. In this episode, Haynes shares how she organizes everything from the discovery stage to the closing statement. She also explains how preparation can lead to an engaging case.

As a legal malpractice attorney, David Lefkowitz knows all the common pitfalls and administrative errors that lawyers need to avoid. In this episode, Lefkowitz breaks down how a casual conversation with a friend to a failure to meet a deadline could potentially place an attorney in hot water. He’ll also explain how communication and documentation can be your antidote to legal missteps.

An opera aficionado and legal history fanatic, William Maselli goes into each trial with the same care and passion as an artist. In this episode, the Maine-based criminal defense attorney breaks down broad legal principles and how these fundamentals can help shape the work you do in the courtroom. He also dives into the importance of collaboration and what his work as a composer has taught him about the practice of law.

Every lawyer prepares for trial in their own way, but what matters to Savannah-based attorney Tom Withers is the level of organization that he can bring to a case. Withers explains how he outlines his case from start to finish by creating a road map for everything from deposition to demonstratives. He also shares how he manages high profile cases, client expectations, and what to do with unexpected surprises.

More and more lawyers are opting to take their cases to mediation rather than trial and John Miles, founder of Miles Mediation & Arbitration Services, doesn’t expect that trend to stop anytime soon. He shares what lawyers need to know about the arbitration process in order to bring the best results – from how to prepare to what environment works best for clients.

When you begin your own practice, you need to learn how to market yourself. After years of handing out business cards and writing out hand-written letters, Steve Murrin, the “Biker Lawyer,” has adapted his civil practice to reach people across social media and through word of mouth. Murrin shares how he uses his passion for Harleys to connect with potential clients and the need-to-knows for building your client base.

As the one and only Georgia statewide animal crimes prosecutor, Jessica Rock fights animal crime by helping both prosecutors and law enforcement identify animal abuse and understand its connection to domestic violence. In this episode, Rock explains the benefits, the challenges and the importance of trying animal crime cases in court.

When Robin Frazer Clark set out to begin her own practice, she knew it would take patience, drive and, most of all, focus to pull it off. After 33 years of successful civil advocacy, she’s got plenty of advice on how to prevail. In this episode, Scott guides us through the benefits of preparing with a focus group, the importance of getting involved in the professional community, and some ways you can protect the mental health of your colleagues.

In Frank Hogue’s long years as a criminal defense attorney, he’s never been daunted by high profile cases. That’s why he’s taken on defending George McMichael in the case of the death of Ahmaud Arbery. In this episode, Hogue breaks down the challenges of cases with major media attention, racial inequalities in the justice system, and his philosophy on the role of a criminal defense lawyer.

Welcome to the Advocate’s Key, a podcast where Atlanta lawyer Scott Key sits down with some of the nation’s top thinkers to explore their journeys to the courtroom and the lessons they’ve learned along the way. Through their conversations, we’ll learn how to build the most effective case, how to manage the workload and what it takes to be a successful advocate.  

Studying philosophy and Japanese in college, Anna Cross has always been a deep-thinker with her eyes set on success. After decades of triumphant trials, Cross shares what she’s learned from her years of prosecution: how to set the pacing of a trial, how to improve your cross examination and the attitude to have when you enter the courtroom.

Raised by two lawyers, Adam Hames was always told he was genetically engineered to be an attorney. With experience in federal court, state appellate court and in habeas cases, Hames talks about the importance of crafting a story in court, his creative pursuits in college and why he believes listening is a vital key in advocacy.

After decades of practicing law, nationally-recognized criminal defense lawyer Doug Peters understands the heavy responsibility of advocating for those most in need. Peters shares what led him to start his own defense practice, why he used a proactive people-centered approach for preparing for trial and the best time to put your client on the stand.

Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of Georgia and former Judge of the Georgia Court of Appeals, Charlie Bethel shares various lessons he learned from his early trial court experiences, in particular his role as clerk for the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia. He also explains why lawyers should engage with non-legal individuals to challenge their arguments and benefit from more collaboration.

Carrying out his father’s legacy, criminal defense attorney Steve Frey offers stories from his own successful career spanning 28 years, beginning with his decision to go to law school and the lessons he learned then from his father Pete, an accomplished trial lawyer himself. Frey also shares advice on preparing for a jury trial and how to best use cross examinations to benefit your case.

Encouraged at an early age by her nonconformist parents to question authority and to be wary of the dangers of biased legal practices, Molly Parmer was born to be a criminal defense attorney, fiercely fighting for the rights of the marginalized and underrepresented. She shares how her non-traditional upbringing influenced her legal career, which spans from public defender at the state level to a federal criminal defender and eventually owning her own practice in Atlanta, GA where she continues to fight for the underdogs.

In her best-selling book, The Anxious Lawyer, co-author Jeena Cho offers guidance for lawyers looking to improve their mental health and practice of law through the use of mindfulness and meditation. Cho discusses why the dynamics and training most attorneys receive fail them in the long run and provides successful coaching techniques she uses to assist anxiety-ridden lawyers to create a sustainable career in law with less stress and more joy.

Lester Tate, former President of the State Bar of Georgia and former Chair of the Georgia Judicial Qualifications Commission, discusses his career as a trial lawyer, the current state of judicial ethics, and the often political nature of successful advocacy. Since 1996, Lester has practiced as a shareholder in Akin & Tate, Georgia's oldest continuing law firm, and offers his advice to new and future attorneys, including the one job he believes best prepared him for a career in law.