Subscribe
Kelly Firm-2
0:00 0:00
Podcast

The Kelly Firm, LLC Proves Why Small Firms Beat Big Law

48:55 min

Three sisters, Lauren, Erica and Gianna Kelly, switch sides, from being defense lawyers to giving a voice to plaintiffs. The result? The creation of The Kelly Firm, LLC and a transformation of the medical malpractice space. In this episode of Between the Briefs by Steno, the trio joins hosts Adrian Cea and Joe Stephens to explore the full story.

What You’ll Learn:

  • How to leverage defense litigation experience on the plaintiff side

  • The optimal case vetting framework for medical malpractice litigation

  • Why pre-suit negotiation timelines differ between practice areas 

  • How to scale your firm without compromising on client connection and culture

  • The strategic deployment of AI and legal technology in resource-constrained firms

  • Building firm culture around distributed trust and complementary skill sets

  • Why smaller firms deliver measurable value that scale cannot replicate

 

Tune in for an energizing and purposeful story from the world of law!

Quotes:

  1. “We need to fight for people who can't fight for themselves. We need to fight for the patient who had a catastrophic injury due to a medical error and can't work anymore and can't support their family." - Lauren 

  2. "We're creating our own type of law where we put the client first. We really try to connect with them and try to empathize with how they're feeling." - Gianna

  3. "The quality of work doesn't correlate to the number of attorneys you have at a firm. When you go to a smaller firm, you know you're gonna talk to one of those attorneys, not a secretary or paralegal every time you call." - Gianna

  4. "There's always somewhat of an uphill battle, not only when you're a woman, but when you're a young woman. We've many times been the youngest attorneys in the room or sometimes the only female attorneys in the room, and what that means is you have to be twice as prepared and twice as ready. We really pride ourselves on the fact that even if we are the youngest attorney, we will always be the most prepared." - Erica 

Highlights

00:00
Introduction

02:11
The Kelly Firm’s Origin Story & Switching from Defense to Plaintiff

04:05
On Being a Women-Led Firm

06:50
How Three Attorneys Manage One Case

09:06
Family Legacy and the Evolution of Legal Practice

14:00
Why Patient Representation Matters

15:45
Gender Bias in Litigation and How to Overcome It

About the Contributors

Joe Stephens

Joe Stephens, J.D., is Steno's Director of Legal Solutions as well as a Clinical Lecturer at Texas Tech University School of Law. With over 15 years of experience in criminal defense and public service, he founded and led Texas' largest rural public defender office, which serves a 12-county area. A graduate of The University of Texas School of Law (cum laude) and Vanderbilt University (B.A.), Stephens currently serves as a Board Member of the Texas Criminal Defense Lawyer's Association (TCDLA) and sits on multiple State Bar of Texas committees. His expertise spans the intersection of legal practice and technological innovation in the justice system.

View Full Profile Email LinkedIn

Adrian Cea

Adrian Cea is Steno's Social Media Manager, leading content strategy, audience engagement, and digital brand-building across platforms. He also produces and co-hosts Between the Briefs, Steno's podcast covering the intersection of legal technology, court reporting, and the future of litigation. With a background spanning content creation, field marketing, and sales at companies like Sell Better and Chili Piper, Adrian brings a multi-disciplined lens to making complex legal tech topics accessible and engaging.

View Full Profile Email LinkedIn
Podcast

AI Transformation Without Change Management is Useless ft. Mike Russell

Legal AI Case Management & Workflow Legal Industry Trends
Jun '26 • 45:21 min
Joe Stephens
Listen
Podcast

Why Is Legal Still Riding Horses in the Age of GenAI ft. Umair Muhajir

Legal AI Litigation Strategy Case Management & Workflow Attorney Resources Legal Industry Trends
Jun '26 • 45:09 min
Joe Stephens
Listen
Podcast

Why Paralegals Are Quietly Becoming More Valuable Than Associates ft. Michelle Pendleton

Paralegal Resources Legal Industry Trends Legal Resources
Jun '26 • 39:39 min
Joe Stephens
Listen