Michele Locke

About Michele Locke

Michele Locke is a former Associate Family Court Judge and Associate Municipal Court Judge and experienced family law litigation attorney turned fierce legal advocate, writer and speaker whose voice is reshaping conversations about divorce, trauma recovery and self-care. Drawing from decades of experience in family law – and her own lived journey through divorce and abuse – Michele brings authenticity, legal insight and heart to her work. As a survivor and seasoned legal professional, she is uniquely positioned to help others navigate the legal system while reclaiming their voice and power.

Michele partnered with Zilker Media with the goal of building a strong personal brand that could support future offerings, speaking engagements, media relationships and community-building efforts. The result: a rapid evolution from zero press to a trusted media authority alongside significant audience growth across platforms.

The Challenges

Building a Brand from Scratch in a Competitive Legal Landscape

Michele came to Zilker Media with no media footprint and a desire to make a lasting impact beyond the courtroom. Her goals were ambitious but clear:

• Establish name recognition and authority in the legal space
• Develop and refine her personal brand, messaging, and content topics
• Earn media coverage that could credential her and foster key relationships

The Solution

Thought Leadership, Media Outreach, and Brand Growth Strategy

Zilker Media devised an earned media strategy to help Michele break through. The approach combined media placements, brand storytelling, and strategic partnerships to create a multi-channel platform for Michele’s thought leadership.

Key components included:

• Developing Michele’s core messaging pillars rooted in her legal background, lived experience, and distinct point of view
• Pitching Michele for timely expert commentary, with a focus on family law, divorce, trauma, and women’s empowerment
• Ghostwriting bylined essays and pitching longform profiles to elevate her brand voice
• Booking Michele on relevant podcasts where she could speak directly to target audiences
• Supporting her with speaking opportunities and applications to broaden her offline platform

The Execution

From Minimal Presence to 30+ Media Interviews and a Thriving Community

Michele’s visibility exploded in under 12 months. The Zilker Media team secured 30+ media opportunities across podcasts, broadcast television, and written publications, creating a comprehensive media presence that showcased different facets of her expertise.

Broadcast Television:

• Daytime TV (6+ segments): Covering topics from holiday dating to celebrating divorce
• FOX7 Austin: Live commentary on high-profile local legal stories
• Ticker News: Legal expert commentary

Written Publications:

• Authority Magazine: Featured in “Top Lawyers” series discussing the 5 things needed to become a successful lawyer
• BizWomen (In Her Own Words): Personal essay sharing her transformation journey
• YourTango: Channeling family trauma into a mission to fight for abused women
• Canvas Rebel and Bold Journey: In-depth profiles on her background and mission

Legal Commentary:

• Yahoo! News: Expert analysis on high-profile custody and missing child cases
• Newsweek: Commentary on financial support and family structure disputes

Podcast Appearances (15+ shows including):

• Strictly Stalking (336K monthly listeners): One of Michele’s first podcast interviews, featuring her dual role as a survivor and judge. This strategic booking proved pivotal – Michele’s chemistry with host Jake Deptula led to her becoming a recurring legal expert on his other podcast, lovelustfear, and ultimately partnering with Jake to launch her own podcast, lovelustlaw, in July 2025
• Journey Beyond Divorce: Discussing parental alienation and court blind spots
• Get Over Divorce: Expert tips on advocating for yourself in divorce
• When Dating Hurts: Sharing her story as a lawyer, judge, and DV survivor
• An Imperfectly Perfect Life: Navigating complexities of long-term relationships
• Don’t Pick the Scab: From hurt to hope – mastering life after divorce
• All The Legal Ladies, Ladies Who Law, Legacy Leaders Resilient Entrepreneurs and more.

The Results

Credibility, Audience Growth, and Platform Monetization

The results of the partnership have been significant and measurable:

• Michele grew from zero press to 30+ media appearances across podcasts, broadcast TV, and written publications in under 12 months, earning trust and visibility across lifestyle, legal, and entrepreneurial verticals
• Strategic relationship building: A single well-placed podcast booking on Strictly Stalking led to Michele becoming a recurring legal expert on lovelustfear and ultimately co-hosting her own podcast, lovelustlaw, launched in July 2024 – demonstrating how earned media creates compounding opportunities
• Established thought leadership positioning: Her media appearances demonstrate versatility – from personal transformation stories on lifestyle podcasts to authoritative legal commentary in major news outlets
• Cross-platform credibility: Michele’s written pieces in Authority Magazine and BizWomen showcase her personal journey, while her legal commentary in Yahoo News and Newsweek demonstrates her expertise in interpreting complex legal issues for general audiences
• Speaking and collaboration opportunities: Her consistent earned media presence contributed to significant audience growth across platforms, including Instagram (managed by partner agency Sangfroid), which surpassed 10,000 followers, opening doors for monetization opportunities

Today, Michele is actively exploring ways to monetize her platform, from branded content and speaking to developing her own digital offerings. She is now firmly positioned as a respected legal expert and survivor-advocate, with a growing audience and a message that resonates.

Zilker Media’s partnership with Michele Locke is a powerful example of how authentic storytelling, strategic media exposure, and collaborative partnerships can transform a behind-the-scenes expert into a widely recognized thought leader. Through strategic earned media and audience engagement, Michele now stands as a rising voice of truth and advocacy in the legal and wellness spaces, ready for the next phase of her platform.