Office Hours with Roasa Law

About Office Hours with Roasa Law

Welcome to Office Hours with Roasa Law, the podcast where veterinary medicine meets real-world legal guidance. Hosted by Dr. Lance Roasa—a veterinarian-turned-attorney—and Steve Kellner. Each episode breaks down the legal, financial, and business decisions that shape a veterinary career. From understanding your first job offer to navigating ownership transitions and practice sales, we offer clear, practical advice tailored specifically to veterinary professionals. Whether you're a new grad, an associate negotiating compensation, a specialist with a complex employment arrangement, or a future practice owner, Office Hours is your go-to resource for smarter decisions and stronger contracts.

Publisher

Roasa Law Group

Category

business · education

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

1 Sept 2025

Latest episode

2 Sept 2026

Latest episodes

16 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   2 Sept 2026

   How Do I Avoid Asking for Too Much?" — UC Davis Q&A, Part 2

   Part two of the UC Davis VBMA student questions. In 5,000 negotiations we've seen an offer pulled once, so why is the fear of asking for too much still costing veterinarians five figures? With guest Dr. Jordan Tayce, JD. Show notes Office Hours is back, and we're finishing the questions veterinary students at UC Davis VBMA submitted after Lance spoke at their club meeting. Back with Lance and Stephen is Jordan Tayce, DVM, JD. Veterinarian, attorney, and the person in our office who handles many of the contract reviews for specialists and boarded veterinarians. The episode starts where most new graduates start: afraid that asking for more will cost them the job. Our office runs roughly 1,000 employment negotiations a year, and we push hard on all of them. Pulled offers in the last decade: two, one of which was reversed the next day. Meanwhile, employers are budgeting for a negotiation many veterinarians never open — including the one who set aside $20,000 for a new graduate who didn't ask, and got to keep it. From there we get into the mechanics. Building an ask that can't be argued with. Contract term. Compensation models. Negative accrual. Negotiating with confidence. Student loan repayment. Maternity and parental leave. This episode is educational and is not legal, financial, or tax advice.

2. 

   18 Jun 2026

   Partnership Buy-Ins: Selling to Your Associates vs. Corporate ft. Dr. Darby Affeldt

   For years, selling to a corporate consolidator was treated as the default exit for a veterinary practice. That's changing. In this special edition of Office Hours, Dr. Lance Roasa is joined by Dr. Darby Affeldt, a veterinarian who became a financial advisor, to make the case for the partnership buy-in, and to walk through what it looks like on both sides of the table. Lance covers the legal side: how buy-ins are structured, the documents that protect everyone, and the "five Ds" divorce, disability, disagreement, disaster, and disinterest. Darby covers the financial side: planning, cash flow, diversification, taxes, and why student debt is rarely the dealbreaker veterinarians assume it is. What you'll learn: Why associate buy-ins now rival, and often beat, a corporate sale How a corporate earn-out trades cash for control The "pizza math" behind selling a slice of your practice Why retaining your best associates increasingly takes equity, not just a raise How a typical buy-in is structured, from promissory notes to put options The "three-legged stool" every transaction needs: advisor, attorney, and CPA Whether you're an owner within a few years of a transition or an associate weighing an ownership offer, this is the conversation to have before you take a meeting with a consolidator. About the guest: Dr. Darby Affeldt is a veterinarian-turned-financial-advisor, author, and educator. Learn more (https://www.northstarfinancial.com/advisors/darby-affeldt/). Connect with The Roasa Law Group (https://www.roasalaw.com/) This episode is educational and is not legal, financial, or tax advice.

3. 

   21 May 2026

   The Hines Case: How the First Amendment Just Cracked the VCPR Wide Open

   After a decade of litigation, the U.S. Supreme Court has declined to hear Hines v. Pardue, leaving in place a Fifth Circuit ruling that fundamentally changes how state veterinary boards can regulate online consultations. In this episode of Office Hours, Dr. Lance Roasa is joined by associate Madison Hess and new team member Dr. Jordan Tayce (Texas A&M professor and Syracuse Law graduate) to break down what this constitutional decision actually means for working veterinarians. We walk through Dr. Ron Hines's 10-year fight against the Texas State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners, the demise of the Professional Speech Doctrine in the wake of NIFLA v. Becerra, and most importantly, how veterinarians should adjust their telemedicine and consultation practices starting tomorrow. You'll learn: • Why the Fifth Circuit ruled that online veterinary advice is First Amendment-protected speech • The critical legal distinction between "speech" (advice, consultations) and "conduct" (prescribing, surgery, medical records) • How your word choices in a telehealth chat can make or break a board complaint •Why this ruling does NOT shield you from civil malpractice liability or standard-of-care claims • What medical records and informed consent still need to look like, even when the VCPR question is off the table • How veterinarians outside Texas, Louisiana, and Mississippi should think about this precedent Whether you're working on a telemedicine platform, fielding text messages from clients, or running a brick-and-mortar practice, this episode gives you the practical framework to protect yourself and your license. IN THIS EPISODE 00:00 — Welcome & introducing Dr. Jordan Tayce 01:30 — Why constitutional law matters to veterinarians 03:00 — The Dr. Ron Hines backstory: a disabled vet, online advice, and a $500 fine 05:30 — The Professional Speech Doctrine (and how NIFLA killed it) 09:00 — Why the Supreme Court declined cert — and what that actually means 12:30 — The First Amendment, in plain English 15:00 — Speech vs. conduct: the line every vet needs to understand 21:00 — How to word telemedicine advice without crossing into "diagnosis" 26:30 — The civil liability gap: First Amendment ≠ standard of care 30:00 — Medical records, informed consent, and what hasn't changed 34:00 — What to do tomorrow: a practical framework KEY CASES MENTIONED • Hines v. Pardue (5th Cir. 2024; cert. denied 2025) • NIFLA v. Becerra, 585 U.S. 755 (2018) • Chiles v. Salazar (briefly referenced — full episode coming)

4. 

   20 Apr 2026

   Student Q&A: Negotiating Contracts, Internships & Specialty Career Paths

   Veterinary students submitted a dozen unfiltered questions about contracts, career paths, and negotiation, and we answered every one of them on the record. Lance, Steve, and Madison cover how negotiation shifts when you're an ECC or internal medicine specialist (including the equipment clauses oncologists and ophthalmologists must have in writing), why Lance pushes back hard on "mentorship programs" that pay less for the same work, and the supply-and-demand realities behind why equine and zoo vets consistently earn less than their small animal counterparts. They also get candid about recruiters; what they can answer, what they absolutely can't, and why "trust but verify" is the right posture, and Lance shares a sobering look at internship culture, including why he's counseled multiple clients through internship-related PTSD and the exact research process every internship-bound student should use before signing. Whether you're a fourth-year weighing the match, a new grad comparing offers, or a specialist negotiating your next contract, this one's packed with the real answers.

5. 

   10 Mar 2026

   Veterinary Contracts Aren’t Fair (Until You Know This Negotiation Trick)

   Most veterinarians assume job offers are standardized. They aren’t. In this episode, the Roasa Law Group team breaks down what they see every day reviewing hundreds of veterinary employment contracts—and why two veterinarians applying to the same practice can receive completely different deals. We discuss: • Why compensation packages vary wildly between veterinarians • How corporations quietly change contract terms when pushed • The hidden impact of negative accrual • The real reason employers discourage salary transparency • How market data can completely change a negotiation One of the biggest mistakes veterinarians make is assuming that what they’re offered is “standard.” In reality, most associates simply don’t have the market data needed to know what’s fair. Our job is to level the playing field. If you're a veterinary student, new graduate, or practicing veterinarian negotiating a contract, this episode will change how you approach employment agreements.

6. 

   20 Feb 2026

   Joint Ventures: Ownership… Without Control

   Joint ventures have become increasingly common in veterinary medicine, often presented as an opportunity for ownership, partnership, and long-term upside. After reviewing more than 20 joint venture agreements in the past year, we’ve identified consistent structural patterns that veterinarians should understand before signing. In this episode, we discuss: The typical structure of veterinary joint ventures Key provisions and how they impact ownership and control The role of management agreements and financial obligations Common risks, including limitations on exit and long-term restrictions While these arrangements can offer benefits in certain circumstances, they also involve complex legal and financial considerations that are not always immediately apparent. This episode provides a practical framework for evaluating joint venture opportunities and understanding what to look for in the underlying agreements.

7. 

   7 Jan 2026

   A 2025 Contract Reality Check

   The veterinary job market is often described as “softening," but does that actually reflect what veterinarians are seeing in their contracts? In this episode of Office Hours with Roasa Law, Dr. Lance Roasa is joined by Steve Kellner and associate attorney Madison Hess to reflect on the biggest employment and contract trends they observed in 2025 after reviewing nearly 1,000 veterinary employment agreements across the country. They unpack why the perception of a cooling job market doesn’t always align with reality, how negotiation has evolved rather than disappeared, and where veterinarians still have meaningful leverage, if they know where to look. The conversation also explores the growing role of Letters of Intent (LOIs), why persistence often matters more than initial responses, and which contract provisions quietly cost veterinarians the most when overlooked. Whether you’re a vet student preparing for your first offer, an associate considering a change, or simply looking to understand how your contract compares in today’s market, this episode offers a grounded, experience-driven look at where veterinary employment is heading and how to approach 2026 with clarity and confidence. Listen before you sign, because what’s in the fine print can shape your career for years to come.

8. 

   1 Dec 2025

   Practice Ownership 101: Timing, Specialties & Myths with CSU Vet Student Orli Algranatti

   Veterinary practice ownership often feels like a distant dream for students...but should it? In this episode, Dr. Lance Roasa sits down with CSU first-year veterinary student and Vet Inspo Talks Vodcast host Orli Algranatti to talk openly about the realities, timing, and pathways into buying or starting a clinic. Whether you’re a pre-vet, vet student, or practicing DVM considering ownership someday, this conversation offers clarity, myth-busting, and practical encouragement from someone who helps veterinarians buy practices every day.

9. 

   1 Dec 2025

   Artificial Intelligence in Vet Med: Hype, Reality, and the Future

   Artificial intelligence is reshaping every industry, and veterinary medicine is no exception. In this episode, Dr. Lance Roasa breaks down the fundamentals of AI, how machine learning systems “think,” and what makes this technology radically different from traditional software. Fresh off delivering an AI lecture at the Veterinary Innovation Summit, Lance shares where AI is already being used in practices, what’s coming next, and why this moment feels a lot like the early days of the internet in the 1990s. We also explore the legal and regulatory questions surrounding new AI startups and how veterinary professionals can responsibly adopt these tools.

10. 

    3 Nov 2025

    Beyond the Paycheck: Understanding Veterinary Benefits

    Not all compensation shows up in your paycheck. In this episode, Lance and Steve unpack the often-overlooked world of benefits. From health insurance and CE allowances to retirement contributions. Learn what counts as non-taxable compensation, how corporate groups changed the standard for benefit packages, and what every veterinarian should look for before signing. Tune in to understand how the right benefits can make (or break) your next offer.

11. 

    3 Nov 2025

    Term & Termination: How (and When) Your Veterinary Contract Ends

    In this episode of Office Hours with Roasa Law, Lance and Steve break down one of the most misunderstood sections in veterinary contracts, the Term & Termination clause. They explain how employment duration really works, what “at-will” means in practice, and why automatic renewals can quietly shift leverage away from associates. Whether you’re signing your first contract or renegotiating your fifth, this episode will help you understand how and when your contract can actually end, and how to protect yourself before it does.

12. 

    1 Oct 2025

    Thinking of Selling Your Veterinary Practice? Start Here.

    Deciding to sell your veterinary practice is one of the biggest financial and professional moves you’ll ever make. In this episode, Dr. Lance Roasa and Steve Kellner dive into what every veterinarian should know before starting the process of a sale. They discuss: Why selling a practice is often the pinnacle financial decision in a veterinarian’s career. The crucial first steps to take when you decide to sell. Common pitfalls when dealing with corporate buyers and private equity groups. Why a specialized veterinary lawyer is essential—and how they differ from general practice attorneys. Real-world insights from Lance’s experience both as a practice owner and as a veterinary attorney guiding clients through transactions. Whether you’re planning for retirement, considering selling to a corporate group, or just want to understand your options, this conversation lays out the foundation to help you protect your legacy and maximize your practice’s value.

13. 

    1 Oct 2025

    Breaking Down Non-Competes: What Every Veterinarian Needs to Know

    Non-compete agreements aren’t just fine print, they can shape your entire career. In this episode, Dr. Lance Roasa and Steve Kellner dive into the realities of non-competes in veterinary medicine, sharing real-world stories of veterinarians who faced tough choices after signing them. From long commutes and forced relocations to negotiating carve-outs and even facing lawsuits, we explore what options exist when these restrictive covenants come into play. You’ll learn: Why veterinarians are uniquely impacted by non-competes compared to other professions. The costly consequences of waiting until after a dispute to negotiate. Practical steps you should take before signing an employment agreement. The latest updates on FTC and state-level developments around non-competes. Whether you’re a new graduate reviewing your first contract or an experienced veterinarian thinking about your next career move, this conversation gives you the insight you need to protect your future.

14. 

    1 Sept 2025

    Don’t Sign Yet: The Truth About Veterinary Offer Letters

    In this episode of Office Hours with Roasa Law, Dr. Lance Roasa and paralegal Steve Kellner dive into one of the most common, and risky, moves new veterinary grads and seasoned professionals make: signing an offer letter too soon. They break down why offer letters are not just harmless placeholders, the hidden implications of signing early, and how a casual decision can lock you into unfavorable terms. They discuss: Why almost every veterinary job starts with an offer letter—and why that’s not always a good thing The psychological (and financial) weight of signing early What should be included in an offer letter vs. what’s usually left out How to ask for the full employment contract without sounding confrontational Real stories from the negotiation trenches, including how a few small questions saved veterinarians tens of thousands of dollars Whether you're a new grad, a specialist, or a vet considering a job change, this episode will make you think twice before putting pen to paper.

15. 

    1 Sept 2025

    Demystifying Production Pay

    How veterinarians really get paid (and what no one tells you). Production pay is one of the most common, and most confusing, parts of veterinary contracts. In this episode, Lance and Steve unpack how production-based compensation actually works, what details often get overlooked (like negative accrual and what counts as production), and how those fine-print clauses can impact your income long-term. Whether you’re a new graduate or a seasoned veterinarian, this is a must-listen before signing your next contract.

16. 

    1 Sept 2025

    The Truth About Signing Bonuses

    They sound like free money — but what’s the catch? In this episode, Lance and Steve break down one of the hottest topics in veterinary contracts: signing bonuses. They cover the history of how these bonuses became so common, what repayment clauses really mean, and the hidden tax implications that can surprise new grads and experienced vets alike. If you’re thinking about taking that big upfront check, listen first, because what looks like a gift can sometimes come with strings attached.

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Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

2 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

2 ratings

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