Michelle Coady Carter on The Billable Mom Podcast, Episode 21: Adoption, Guardianship & DCFS – A Working Mom’s Guide to Safeguarding Families
Michelle’s Journey: Law, Family, and Heart
On Episode 21 of The Billable Mom, host Cari Rincker, Esq., founder of Rincker Law PLLC, interviews Michelle Coady Carter, a dedicated attorney, mom, and the principal of Coady Law. Michelle focuses her Illinois practice on adoption, guardianship, and litigation involving the Department of Children & Family Services (DCFS). In this heartfelt and insightful episode, Michelle shares her personal journey, professional expertise, and the emotional layers of building and protecting families through the legal system. In this blog, we share “A Working Mom’s Guide to Safeguarding Families.”
Adoption is More Than a Legal Process
Michelle opens up about her unique path to becoming a “billable mom,” including her experience with international adoption. She discusses the challenges that come with adopting an older child, from the emotional rollercoaster to the steep learning curve, and offers advice on building support systems to help navigate that journey. Her transparency and authenticity make this episode an invaluable listen for legal professionals, adoptive parents, and anyone involved in foster care or guardianship cases who want to safeguard families.
Balancing Law Practice with Parenthood
One key theme throughout the episode is the importance of flexibility and systems in creating a sustainable legal practice while also being a present and engaged parent. Michelle explains how implementing remote work practices, setting boundaries with clients, and finding the right tools helped her better manage her time and energy.
How Smokeball Made Billing Less Stressful
A standout moment in the conversation is Michelle’s praise for Smokeball, the legal practice management software she credits with transforming her billing process. As someone who admits to struggling with capturing time, Michelle shares that Smokeball’s passive time capture feature has been a game changer. No more worrying about missed emails, text messages, or time entries—Smokeball automatically tracks her activity, ensuring her firm is more profitable and less stressful. While it’s a higher investment per user, Michelle emphasizes that the return has been well worth it.
Cari’s Favorite Tool: Lawmatics
Cari also gives a shoutout to Lawmatics, one of her favorite legal tech tools. Lawmatics offers automation for client intake, follow-up, and marketing, streamlining the administrative side of running a law firm so attorneys can focus more on client care and growth. For any lawyer-mom trying to do it all, these systems are worth exploring.
Recommended Reads for Adoptive Families and Attorneys
Inspired by Michelle’s story? We’ve put together a list of audiobook recommendations aligned with the emotional and legal complexities of adoption and guardianship. Whether you’re an attorney, an adoptive parent, or someone navigating the DCFS system, these titles offer guidance, hope, and practical tools:
- The Connected Child by Dr. Karyn Purvis – A must-read for adoptive families, especially those adopting older children.
- Instant Mom by Nia Vardalos – A heartfelt and humorous memoir about foster-to-adopt parenting.
- Three Little Words by Ashley Rhodes-Courter – A powerful story from a former foster child’s perspective.
- Parenting the Hurt Child by Gregory Keck & Regina Kupecky – Deep insights into parenting adopted and foster children who’ve experienced trauma.
These titles are all available on Amazon Audible—perfect for listening during commutes or quiet moments between court hearings and client calls.
Key Takeaways for Lawyer Moms and Caregivers
Key takeaways from Michelle’s interview include the understanding that adoption is not just a legal process—it’s a deeply emotional journey. Legal professionals working in this space must approach each case with empathy, patience, and clarity. Additionally, Michelle’s use of practice management tools like Smokeball and her intentional approach to setting boundaries with clients shows that it’s possible to build a thriving law practice while prioritizing family and mental well-being.
Listen to the Michelle’s Episode on Safeguarding Families Through Adoption and Guardianship
To hear Michelle’s full story and tips on safeguarding families through adoption and guardianship, tune into Episode 21 of The Billable Mom Podcast.
Affiliate Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate and affiliate of other platforms, we may earn from qualifying purchases or subscriptions. Thank you for supporting The Billable Mom’s mission to empower women in law and motherhood.