Setting Boundaries as a Young Lawyer: "And being able to discern what you can do, what you can't do, what you should do, and what you shouldn't do as you start practice." - Steve Palmer

I’m sharing a lesson that stuck with me from right after my own law school days: a lawyer is not a bus. Troy and I dive into what that really means—why you don’t have to stop for every client, why saying “no” can save your career, and how vital it is to set boundaries, especially when you’re just getting started or when family and friends come calling for favors.

We talk candidly about the challenges you face outside the classroom, like handling “can’t you just…” requests, resisting the temptation to take every case (even for Aunt Joanne!), and balancing the desire to help with the realities of making a living. I draw from my own war stories and mistakes so you can avoid the same pitfalls—particularly around ethical responsibilities, pro bono work, and the constant pressure to do more than you should.

Here are 3 key takeaways from the episode:

Lawyers aren’t obligated to take every case. Just because someone asks (even Aunt Joanne!) doesn’t mean you have to say yes. Saying “no” — and setting healthy boundaries — is vital to avoid overcommitment and professional pitfalls.

Beware of the “Can’t You Just...” Trap. Clients (and family) will often push for free or heavily discounted legal help, asking, “Can’t you just write a letter?” These situations rarely end well and can drain your time, energy, and resources.

Pro bono is a choice, not an obligation. While giving back is important, the decision to do pro bono work should be yours. Don’t let guilt or pressure dictate when, how, or for whom you volunteer your services.

Moments

00:00 Understanding Professional Ethics in Law

04:29 Right to Decline Client Representation

08:41 Learning to Say No in Law

10:37 "Recognizing Problematic Client Cases"

13:31 Doing God's Work vs. Paid Work

16:59 "No Guarantees, Only Effort"

22:25 "Lawyer's Time Is Valuable"

24:58 Selective Pro Bono Participation

26:45 Not My Area of Expertise

Submit your questions to www.lawyertalkpodcast.com.

Recorded at Channel 511.

Stephen E. Palmer, Esq. has been practicing criminal defense almost exclusively since 1995. He has represented people in federal, state, and local courts in Ohio and elsewhere.

Though he focuses on all areas of criminal defense, he particularly enjoys complex cases in state and federal courts.

He has unique experience handling and assembling top defense teams of attorneys and experts in cases involving allegations of child abuse (false sexual allegations, false physical abuse allegations), complex scientific cases involving allegations of DUI and vehicular homicide cases with blood alcohol tests, and any other criminal cases that demand jury trial experience.

Steve has unique experience handling numerous high publicity cases that have garnered national attention.

For more information about Steve and his law firm, visit Palmer Legal Defense.

Copyright 2025 Stephen E. Palmer - Attorney At Law

Mentioned in this episode:

Circle 270 Media Podcast Consultants

Circle 270 Media® is a podcast consulting firm based in Columbus, Ohio, specializing in helping businesses develop, launch, and optimize podcasts as part of their marketing strategy. The firm emphasizes the importance of storytelling through podcasting to differentiate businesses...

“Can I appeal my conviction or sentence if I pleaded guilty?”

I break down the realities of what happens when you plead guilty, how that decision limits your rights on appeal, and whether there’s any hope of changing your sentence after the fact.

I’ll walk you through real-world scenarios I’ve seen in Ohio courts, explain the “magic words” judges have to say when handing down sentences, and why it’s rarely a home run to challenge a sentence after a guilty plea.

If you’re thinking, “I’ll just appeal if I don’t like my sentence,” you’ll want to hear my candid advice before heading down that road.

Top 3 Takeaways:

• A guilty plea is a total admission: Once you plead guilty, the court and everyone else in the process will treat you as guilty, both legally and factually.
• Appealing a sentence is limited and rare: After a guilty plea, you can sometimes appeal the sentence, especially if you receive the maximum sentence or if "magic words" (required legal justifications) are missing from the judge’s explanation. However, reversing or reducing the sentence through appeal is statistically rare.
• Be fully informed before pleading guilty: Don’t assume you can “just appeal” if you’re unhappy with your sentence. Talk to your attorney, weigh the risks, and make sure your decision to plead is made knowingly, intelligently, and voluntarily.

Submit your questions to www.lawyertalkpodcast.com.

Recorded at Channel 511.

Stephen E. Palmer, Esq. has been practicing criminal defense almost exclusively since 1995. He has represented people in federal, state, and local courts in Ohio and elsewhere.

Though he focuses on all areas of criminal defense, he particularly enjoys complex cases in state and federal courts.

He has unique experience handling and assembling top defense teams of attorneys and experts in cases involving allegations of child abuse (false sexual allegations, false physical abuse allegations), complex scientific cases involving allegations of DUI and vehicular homicide cases with blood alcohol tests, and any other criminal cases that demand jury trial experience.

Steve has unique experience handling numerous high publicity cases that have garnered national attention.

For more information about Steve and his law firm, visit Palmer Legal Defense.

Copyright 2025 Stephen E. Palmer - Attorney At Law

Mentioned in this episode:

Circle 270 Media Podcast Consultants

Circle 270 Media® is a podcast consulting firm based in Columbus, Ohio, specializing in helping businesses develop, launch, and optimize podcasts as part of their marketing strategy. The firm emphasizes the importance of storytelling through podcasting to differentiate businesses and engage with their audiences effectively. www.circle270media.com

One of the big questions that’s been coming up everywhere lately: how does the First Amendment actually work when it comes to online pornography?

In this episode, I break down the recent Supreme Court case, Free Speech Coalition Inc. v. Paxton, which addresses whether states can require age verification pop-ups on adult websites and whether that crosses the line into unconstitutional territory.

I’ll walk you through the basics of how the courts view content-based regulation versus time, place, and manner restrictions, and why that distinction matters for everything from protests on the statehouse lawn to what you see on your favorite websites.

We’ll talk about why challenges to these regulations are so important, what makes something pass constitutional muster, and where things might be headed next in the ever-evolving world of free speech and online content.

If you love digging into constitutional law, or if you simply want to understand how these headlines affect your rights, this episode is for you. Got a question? Head over to lawyertalkpodcast.com, send it my way, and let’s keep the conversation going.

3 Key Takeaways:

Content-Based vs. Time, Place, and Manner:

Content-based regulations, where the government restricts speech based on its message, are almost always unconstitutional. By contrast, time, place, and manner restrictions (imposing rules about when, where, or how speech happens) are generally permissible if applied fairly and equally.

Strict Scrutiny Applies:

Content-based restrictions are subjected to the strictest legal scrutiny and rarely survive court challenges. Time, place, and manner restrictions, if neutral and reasonable, tend to fare better legally.

Slippery Slope & Future Concerns:

The age verification requirement for adult content raises important “what’s next?” questions. Could similar regulations creep into academic, legal, or other sensitive content areas? How might new rules affect non-pornographic but still controversial discussions or resources online?

Got a question you want answered on the podcast? Call 614-859-2119 and leave us a voicemail. Steve will answer your question on the next podcast!

Submit your questions to www.lawyertalkpodcast.com.

Recorded at Channel 511.

Stephen E. Palmer, Esq. has been practicing criminal defense almost exclusively since 1995. He has represented people in federal, state, and local courts in Ohio and elsewhere.

Though he focuses on all areas of criminal defense, he particularly enjoys complex cases in state and federal courts.

He has unique experience handling and assembling top defense teams of attorneys and experts in cases involving allegations of child abuse (false sexual allegations, false physical abuse allegations), complex scientific cases involving allegations of DUI and vehicular homicide cases with blood alcohol tests, and any other criminal cases that demand jury trial experience.

Steve has unique experience handling numerous high-publicity cases that have garnered national attention.

For more information about Steve and his law firm, visit Palmer Legal Defense.

Copyright 2025 Stephen E. Palmer - Attorney At Law

Mentioned in this episode:

Circle 270 Media Podcast Consultants

Circle 270 Media® is a podcast consulting firm based in Columbus, Ohio, specializing in helping businesses develop, launch, and optimize podcasts as part of...