As The American Lawyer, an affiliate of Law.com, turns 40 years old this year, we take a look at the publication's impact on the legal profession—especially Big Law—since the magazine's debut in 1979. 

In this episode, Steven Brill, the founder of The American Lawyer, talks with current editor-in-chief Gina Passarella about how the magazine put a spotlight on the business of law and attorney compensation at the most powerful firms in the country.

The initial reaction, he says, was a bit of shock and yes, some horror. "Lawyers had never seen themselves written about as businesses before."

Brill explains about how he got the idea for the magazine, what the early days were like and how it affected his professional and personal life.

They also talk about the sustainability of the billable hour model and what the future of Big Law will look like.

Listen to the podcast above or subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Spotify or Libsyn.

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