OVERRULED With Scott Vicknair
ISSUE THIRTY THREE| January 2026
IN THIS ISSUE
CaseResult-SheBuiltHer Career.WeHelpedRebuildHer Life.
Monkeys,Mentors,andMaking Moves-CheckOuttheLateston OVERRULED
GreenBeanBaconBundles
BuildingaPracticeWithPurpose
Reset, Refocus, Rebuild: Starting theYear Like a Lawyer
Januaryalwaysbringsthesamequestion:“Whatare yourgoalsthisyear?”
Formostlawyers,it’stemptingtoanswerwith metrics morecases,higherrevenue,better systems Andthoseareallvalid Butbeforewedive backintothegrind,it’sworthaskingadeeper question:
Howdoyouwanttopracticein2026?
Weoftengetsocaughtupinwhatwe’redoingthat weforgettoaskwhywe’redoingit Arewebuildinga practicethatalignswiththelifewewant orone thatrunsusintotheground?Arewespendingtime onmattersthatenergizeus,orjustreactingtothe fireoftheday?
Thestartofanewyearisarareandvaluable windowtopause,reflect,andrecalibratebeforethe paceofthecalendartakesoveragain.
Hereareafewpromptsworthrevisiting:
WhatamInolongerwillingtotolerateinmy practice?
Whatgivesmeenergyinthiswork andhowcan Idomoreofit?
Whatsystems,people,orboundariesdoIneedin placetomake2026sustainable?
Januaryisn’taboutgrandreinvention.It’saboutsmall, intentionalcoursecorrections.Thekindofchanges thatdon’tshowupinyourcasecountorhoursbilled yetcompletelyreshapehowyouexperienceyourwork
Maybeit’sdrawingahardlinearoundyourevenings again.Maybeit’sfinallyhiringhelp.Maybeit’scutting outthetypeofworkyoudread—evenifitstillpays.
Aslawyers,wearetrainedtosolveotherpeople’s problems Butweoweittoourselvestoapplythe sameproblem-solvingmindsettoourownpractices.
Ifyou’vebeenmeaningtobuildabetterversionof yourfirm orabetterversionofyourlife thisisthe time
Takethepause.Getclear.Resetyourcompass.
Here’stopracticingwithpurposein2026 andhelping eachotherstayalignedalongtheway
OntheMic:Monkeys,Mentors,andMakingMoves
A truck carrying Tulane University research monkeys overturned near the Louisiana–Mississippi border, sparking fear, outrage, and viral headlines David and Brad unpack the chaos, the ethicalquestionsaroundprimateresearch,andthedebateover transparencyintaxpayer-fundedlabs.
We also hear inspiring career stories: Tony Albrecht on leaving law to start a successful LinkedIn ghostwriting agency, Evan Bergeron on building a legal career while mentoring the next generation, and Alex Robinson on transitioning from design professionaltothrivingdigitalcreator.
Tune in for legal insight, entrepreneurial journeys, and one truly wildprimatestory
OVERRULEDwithBradScottandDavidVicknairis availableatScottVicknair.com/podcasts orlistenonGooglePodcasts,ApplePodcasts, andSpotify
Aftereveryotherfirmkeptgivingmethe runaround,Icontactedthem,andthey ensuredIwouldgetthebestservice possible,andthatwasdefinitelygranted! -JaneyB.
GlennF.,EricH.,TabithaS., SherylH.,DonaP.,BlaineM.,JessicaM.,andKarenR.for believingwearetherightfirmtohelptheirfriendsand family.Yourcontinuedsupportgivesustheabilitytoreach moreindividualsandmakeapositivedifferenceintheirlives.
GreenBean BaconBundles
INGREDIENTS
2 lbs. raw green beans
½ lb. bacon
¼ c. softened butter
1 Tbsp. Dijon mustard
Juice of ½ lemon
2 Tbsp. toasted almond slivers
DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
Cook bacon in the microwave for approximately 1 minute. Cut bacon slices in half. Set aside.
Fill a pot for which you have a lid with 1 c. water. Add green beans, cover with lid, and gently boil on stovetop for 8 to 10 minutes. After 8 to 10 minutes, drain the water from the green beans. Wrap each bacon strip around a bundle of approximately 5 green beans. Line up bundles in Pyrex baking dish. Bake in preheated oven until bacon is cooked, approximately 10 to 15 minutes.
Meanwhile, combine the butter, Dijon mustard, lemon, and toasted almond slivers in a small saucepan and place on stovetop over low heat. Let simmer until combined and hot, approximately 5 minutes.
Once green bean bundles are removed from the oven, pour mustard sauce over the bundles.
Ourclient’slifewasforeverchanged whenarecklessdeliverytruckdriverran heroverwhilesherodehermoped.She sufferedsevereorthopedicandbrain injuries,leavingherunabletocontinue herconstructioncareer.
Thetruckingcompanyquestioned everythingabouther,butwefought relentlesslyandsecureda$3,000,000 settlementtohelpherrebuildherlife. #FightForTheWin
1.SendyourPersonalInjury& SuccessioncallerstoScottVicknair: Whenyourintaketeamgetsacallfrom someoneinjuredinanaccidentordealing withestateissues,havethemgathersome basicdetailsaboutthecaller(andalso providethemwithourdirectintakeline 504-977-2044).Yourintaketeamcansend theinformationto referrals@scottvicknair.com.
2.ReferredClientSignswithScott Vicknair:
Ourintaketeamwillcontactthereferred client(iftheydon’tcallusfirst),andwe’ll starttheonboardingprocess.Whenthe referredclientsigns,ourteamwillcontact yourfirmandletyouknow.Asalways,we willmakeyoutheHEROintheeyesofthe clientthroughoutthecase
3.WeHandletheirLegalIssueand MakeYoutheHERO:
ScottVicknairwillensuretheclientknows thatthereferringlawfirm(YOU)are playingasignificantroleinhelpingthem byconnectingthemtotherightattorney andrestoringtheirpeaceofmind.Wewill keepyouinvolvedthroughoutthecase, andtelltheclientiftheyeverhavelegal issuestocontactyourfirmfirst.
Building a Practice With Purpose
VICK'S PICKS VICK'S PICKS
Mostlawyers canexplain whattheydo.
Farfewercan explainwhy.
Andthatgap mattersmore thanyouthink. andwhatservesyourgoalsand life.
Thistimeofyearisagoodtimeto thinkaboutyour"why,”revisitingwhy youaredoingcertainthingsinyour practice Iwasluckyenoughtobegin listeningtoBenGlass,alawyerin Virginia,5yearsago.
ListeningtoBentaughtmemany valuablelessons:
Dothingsinpracticebecause youwantto,notbecauseyouare comparingyourselftoothersor youthinkit’swhatyoushoulddo Comparisonisthethiefofjoy.
Youcanhavea5-person practice,a50-personpractice, anda150-personpractice.There isnorightanswer Theonlyright answeriswhathelpsyourclients, whatfeelsmeaningfultoyou,
Livealifebydesign Avoidletting things"happen"toyou,and createthepracticeyoubelievein, areproudof,andthatservesyou andyourclients
Ourwhyisstraightforward: Toprovidethebesthospitalityand resultstoeverysingleclient.
Whethertheyhavea$5,000caseor a$5,000,000case,mygoalisto providethebesthospitality,legal services,andresultstoeverysingle client.
Verysimple,butveryhardtodo consistentlyyearoveryearacross hundredsofcases
Ihopeyouspendsometimeduring theholidaysthinkingaboutit, discussingit,anddefiningitforyour team.
Becauseabiggerclientlistwon'tfixa practicethatdoesn'thaveapurpose.
