Legal Talk Network - Law News and Legal Topics

Hosts Alan and Judson Pierce reflect on nearly two decades of the Workers Comp Matters podcast with an examination of unusual or bizarre claims and cases. A reminder, while some of these cases may have puzzling or humorous elements on their face, it’s never funny when a person is hurt. We may wonder what people were thinking when these incidents happened, but we can learn from each case. For starters, always expect the unexpected. An employee who thought her boss provided gluten-free pizza was actually fed pizza with gluten in it (what followed after her Workers’ Comp claim was denied is educational and clever). Or an octogenarian, part-time attorney who slipped and fell when he was summoned from his home office to a workplace office and claimed it was an exception to the “going and coming” rule? How about the “personal comfort doctrine” and the breakfast sandwich incident? These and other unusual cases spotlight both employee behavior and how Workers’ Comp rules vary by state. They may challenge the way you view your own cases. This episode is well worth your time. If you have thoughts on Workers’ Comp law or an idea for a topic or guest you’d like to hear, contact us at [email protected] or [email protected]. Referenced Links: Thomas A. Robinson blog, WorkCompWriter.com Walter A. Zerofski's Case, Masscases.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On March 15th, 2025, the Trump administration defied an oral order from U.S. District Court Judge James Boasberg to stop the flights of Venezuelan migrants headed to a Salvadoran prison, after the administration used the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 to deport more than 200 alleged members of the Venezuelan Tren de Aragua gang to El Salvador with no due process. In this episode, Craig is joined by Virgil Wiebe, Professor of Law from the University of St. Thomas School of Law, as they discuss the recent deportation of Venezuelan migrants and federal Judge Boasberg's ruling, blocking the Trump administration from deporting noncitizens. Craig & Virgil talk about the Alien Enemies Act, defying the judiciary, and next steps for individuals who are deported without due process. Related Episodes Senators Weigh In on Immigration, The Constitution, and Obama’s Executive Order Unaccompanied Minor Immigrants: Push and Pull Factors of Immigration Inside Human Trafficking: Sex & Labor Trafficking, and the Fight to Protect Victims Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mentors help you build skills, gain confidence and are there for you when you need trusted advice on practically anything. Mary brings her mentor (and Dad) Attorney John Simon into the discussion on the power of positive mentorship. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What if law firms didn’t have to be owned by lawyers? In the UK, non-lawyer ownership has been shaking up the legal industry for over a decade, bringing in private equity, corporate structures, and even stock market listings. But has it led to innovation or just new ethical dilemmas? Corinne Staves, a UK legal expert, joins Lawyerist Podcast to reveal the surprising ways this shift has (and hasn’t) transformed the profession. Listen to our previous episodes about non-lawyer ownership: #354: A Look at the New Non-lawyer Firm Ownership Reform, with Lori Gonzalez: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Lawyerist #355: A Look at the New Non-lawyer Firm Ownership Reform, Pt.2, with Allen Rodriguez: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Lawyerist #221: The State of the Legal Profession, with ABA President Robert M. Carlson: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Lawyerist Have thoughts about today’s episode? Join the conversation on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and X! If today's podcast resonates with you and you haven't read The Small Firm Roadmap Revisited yet, get the first chapter right now for free! Looking for help beyond the book? See if our coaching community is right for you. Access more resources from Lawyerist at lawyerist.com. Chapters / Timestamps: 0:00 Introduction & ABA TECHSHOW Announcement 2:50 Meet Corrine Staves 3:44 How Non-Lawyer Ownership Works in the UK 6:03 Why the US is Afraid of Non-Lawyer Ownership 8:41 Can Non-Lawyer Ownership Threaten Attorney Ethics? 12:18 Unexpected Benefits of Non-Lawyer Ownership 17:17 Does This Hurt Small Law Firms? 20:31 Advice for US Lawyers Considering This Model 23:20 The Future of Law Firm Ownership Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Get inspired and stay inspired as a solo legal practitioner. Guest Paige Greenlee started her firm, Greenlee Law PLLC, in 2014 and is still going strong on her own. Hear how she does it. Keeping the lights on, and keeping track of cases, business, even contract help is a full load, but you can do it. Having worked for large firms, Greenlee realized she wanted to control her own business, use the technology that worked for her, and manage her own calendar and cases. But as so many have noted, you learn the law in law school – not business management. Hear how Greenlee leaned on family experiences, mentors, and her own trial and error to keep the lights on, keep the cases coming in the door, and stay organized and efficient. Here’s a hint, a lot of running a solo practice comes down to making a business decision and then outsourcing the implementation. Greenlee learned to delegate tasks, including accounting and technology management. And as she started to build her practice, she learned to find and hire the right assistants to manage day-to-day duties. She relies heavily on tech tools – the right tools, not cheap imitations – to eliminate the forest of paper documents that comes her way daily. Questions or ideas about solo and small practices? Drop us a line at [email protected] Topics: Hear how a successful solo law firm founder learned to practice law, enjoy her life, and take care of the day-to-day chores it takes to run a business It’s easy to fall into the habit of trying to do everything yourself. Learn when to “outsource,” turning over business issues such as bookkeeping and administration to contract employees and firms. When it comes to your tech, don’t skimp. If you need it, get it. “Good enough” is rarely good enough. Mentioned in This Episode: Clio Legal Tech Microsoft 365 for Business NetDocuments ScanSnap Gliss Marketing and Consulting TrialPad Florida Bar Association ABA TECHSHOW 2025 Clio Cloud Conference 2025 Clio Legal Trends Report Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this powerful, and deeply emotional and inspirational episode, acclaimed author and speaker Jesse Leon tackles sensitive issues including human trafficking and substance abuse and how he rose above the challenges on his path to success. Leon grew up homeless, addicted, and sexually trafficked. But he survived and is here to remind all of us that we all matter, and we can grow and rise above. None of us are alone. Leon shares his struggles and ultimate triumph as motivation and inspiration. No matter where you are in life, you are important, you can overcome. We are all warriors. If you’re struggling, if you’re hurting, there is help. People do care about you. There is help out there. Mentioned in This Episode: “I’m Not Broken” by Jesse Leon, available at Amazon National Public Radio (NPR) “'I'm Not Broken' Is About Being Broken — And Building a New Life” 2022 MenHealing.org NALA, The Paralegal Association NALA Conference & Expo 2025 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Courage seems to be in short supply in Biglaw. ----- Paul Weiss folded immediately in the face of Trump's threat, offering the president pro bono services and a retreat from DEI. For a firm that built its reputation on litigation, the move came as a surprise. A Skadden associate called upon the industry to develop a backbone. So she's not going to be working there any more. There are a lot of dumb things about the administration's mass deportation to an El Salvadoran prison, but its unironic inversion of the burden of proof is definitely the scariest. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

AI is majorly, seriously, (annoyingly?) impacting law firm marketing, and it’s not just about content generation. What’s a lawyer to do? ----- In this special LHLM episode, Gyi and Conrad air their chat with Zack Glaser of the Lawyerist Podcast. Artificial intelligence has its sticky fingers in everything nowadays—even the world of law firm marketing. It’s changing the way consumers behave and changing the way ad agencies strategize in your market. So, how do you continue to compete, and where can you leverage AI to make a real difference? Zack, Gyi, and Conrad hash out how to make AI work for you, not against you. The News: Google’s still working toward world domination: Google makes its biggest-ever acquisition | CNN Business Joy Hawkins noticed some data anomalies in CTRs. What’s up? Come see us at some upcoming conferences! Gyi will be at ABA Techshow in Chicago, and Conrad’s headed to Mass Torts Made Perfect in Las Vegas. Then, they’ll both get together (virtually) at Infotrack’s Legal Up for another delightful website teardown. Links Mentioned: Lawyerist Podcast Suggested LHLM Episodes: Google Local Service Ads: To Brand or Not to Brand? Connect: The Bite - Lunch Hour Legal Marketing Newsletter! Leave Us an Apple Review Lunch Hour Legal Marketing on YouTube Lunch Hour Legal Marketing on TikTok Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Guests from a Wisconsin program creating web platforms that help users solve legal problems discuss their Legal Tune Up tools on Talk Justice. LIFT, or Legal Interventions for Transforming Wisconsin, was formed by lawyers and nonprofit leaders who wanted to create resources to address the access to justice crisis in their state. Leveraging the state’s public databases like Wisconsin Circuit Court Access, commonly referred to as CCAP, they have developed free, web-based tools that allow users to identify and solve some of their civil legal issues without assistance from a lawyer. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of The Legal Report from Robert Half, host Jamy Sullivan talks with Ranti Okunoren about the top legal trends for 2025. They discuss the impact of AI and automation on legal practices, the challenges of integrating new legal tech, and the role of compliance officers in ensuring regulatory adherence. The conversation also covers data privacy, cybersecurity, the rise of alternative legal service providers, and how the roles of paralegals and lawyers are evolving in the age of AI. Tune in to gain valuable insights on how legal professionals can navigate these emerging trends and stay ahead in the evolving legal landscape. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s tax time. No, we’re not referring to a specific date. For your business, every day is tax time. Guests Jackie and Adam Williams are married and co-own Pennywise Tax Strategies, a firm focused on helping small businesses navigate tax codes to keep more of their hard-earned money. Jackie Williams is a CPA and veteran tax specialist, and Adam Williams is an attorney and serial entrepreneur who became frustrated with large tax bills. Managing a business and your business taxes is more than handing over a stack of receipts to an accountant once a year. Many business owners don’t know enough about the tax system and miss opportunities to maximize earnings through intentional tax strategies throughout the year. Look at the future, not the past, when you think about taxes. Payroll, cash flow, metrics, records all matter and all fit together every day, not just at the end of the tax year. This requires a shift in your mindset. Keep more of your money, reinvest it in your business, and get more out of life. Tax strategy is not just for billionaires, it’s for you. Understand incentives baked into the tax code and how you can use tactics including the switch from sole proprietor to LLC or S Corp structures. Think this isn’t for you? Wait until you hear how much money, real money, you can save. Hear the actionable things you can start doing today. Mentioned in This Episode: The Un-Billable Hour podcast website Join the next Community Table live. What’s on your mind? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Legal teams work best when their operations run smoothly and efficiently, and developing innovations must be kept in mind as teams hone their legal operations strategies. Dennis and Tom talk with legal tech experts Amy Brookbanks and Michael Kennedy about their work helping lawyers and in-house legal teams work through problems with effective technology solutions. They discuss strategies for defining necessities in workflows to help lawyers understand how to implement technology to optimize their practices. They also discuss their career paths in the legal field and discuss current happenings in tech, AI, collaboration, and much more. As always, stay tuned for the parting shots, that one tip, website, or observation that you can use the second the podcast ends. Have a technology question for Dennis and Tom? Call their Tech Question Hotline at 720-441-6820 for the answers to your most burning tech questions. Amy Brookbanks is Legal Operations Consultant at Addleshaw Goddard. Michael Kennedy is head of R&D (Innovation & Legal Technology) at Addleshaw Goddard. Show Notes: Addleshaw Goddard LLP Tech Talks | Addleshaw Goddard LLP LinkedIn - Amy Brookbanks LinkedIn - Michael Kennedy Innovation Graduate Scheme 2025 Braintoss Retrospectives with OneNote Tom and Dennis on Video! Copilot Legal AI Live on LinkedIn the second Friday of every month TextExpander Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Get ready to take notes. In this episode, successful litigators and guests Monette Davis, Mark Romance, and Joseph Schaeffer walk us through 10 steps for setting up a successful litigation practice and being a successful litigator. Whether you’re fresh out of law school or setting off on your own after working for a firm, these tips will propel you forward. Your reputation is vital. Hear how to become the most trusted person in the room and a good teammate with a clear, honest voice. Build your reputation with everything you do, whether that’s being impeccably prepared or simply being on time and organized. Think about how you want others to see you (and what you want them to say about you when you’re not in the room). Little things matter, like knowing the rules. Not just the stuff you learned in law school, but state and local rules, even rules specific to an individual judge. Being a top litigator is all about being professional, honest, trustworthy, dependable, and prepared. Take advantage of this insightful, heartfelt mentoring session from three litigators who have been there, done that, and built successful careers. (And don’t forget to be good to yourself.) Resources: American Bar Association American Bar Association Litigation Section Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, Geoff Woods discusses his book, 'The AI Driven Leader,' exploring how AI can serve as a thought partner for lawyers and business owners. He emphasizes the importance of adapting leadership skills to navigate technological disruptions, the strategic use of AI in business, and the mindset shift required to embrace these changes. The conversation also covers practical applications of AI in legal practice, the risks of inaction, and resources for further learning. Links from the episode: Schedule a demo with Tabs3 The AI-Driven Leader Chapters: 00:00 – Intro & Invite to Stephanie’s Birthday in Chicago 3:31 – An Interview with Tabs3 10:12 – AI Driven Leadership 10:49 – Leadership Skills Need to Evolve 13:35 – Strengths of Humans vs. Machines 15:06 – Using AI as a Thought Partner 18:44 – A Whole New Way of Thinking About Using AI 20:01 – AI as a Business Advisor 25:50 – Examples of CRIT in action Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There's no escaping the administration's influence on the legal landscape. ----- The Trump administration continues its revenge tour against Biglaw, and Perkins Coie is fighting back. Through counsel at Williams & Connolly, Perkins delivered a scorching takedown of the administration's arbitrary retaliation against the firm, earning a partial TRO. Meanwhile, most of Biglaw remains silent. And if they aren't silent, they're silently deleting references to diversity, including a clumsy effort that autodeleted pronouns from email signatures. And "Stop the Steal" lawyer turned interim US Attorney Ed Martin has his first ethics complaint on the job he hasn't even really started. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Peak performance in high-stress environments. It’s the goal for the basketball players taking the court during March Madness, but just as much for players on a different kind of court. Lawyers can and should learn a lot from elite athletes, says Dr. Amy Wood. In this episode of the Modern Law Library, Wood shares her insights with the ABA Journal’s Lee Rawles. Wood, a clinical psychologist, has focused her career on attorney wellness. She is the author of the new book Lawyer Like an Athlete: How to Up Your Game at Work and in Life, published by the ABA’s GPSolo Division. Wood first developed Lawyer Like an Athlete as a CLE program, sharing tips on achieving physical and mental wellness, as well as preparing lawyers to maximize their work performance. There are four characteristics Wood identifies as being shared by star athletes and star attorneys: exquisite self-care, a grounded perspective, “nourishing diversions” and thriving relationships. Without attending to those elements, she says, it’s difficult for lawyers to sustain themselves in a high-stress profession. Many lawyers enjoy extreme solo sports, like marathon running. But don’t forget about team sports. There’s much you can learn about personal performance from elite athletes, but it’s just as important to integrate lessons about team performance, Wood says. Are the people on your “team” helping you perform at your peak? Wood and Rawles also discuss the importance of striving for a “fan’s perspective”; the importance of visualization; the cycle of workouts and recovery days; and five signs that it’s time to reach out for professional assistance. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Now that you’ve built your case to include punitive damages, we’ll discuss ways to turn your case into a cause and address punitive damages at each state of the trial. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Grace Oswald from Qualified Member Expert Service Provider S-E-A discusses Biomechanics and impact on cases and claims. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Live from the American Association for Justice conference in Miami, Lunch Hour Legal Marketing is back with another deep dive into law firm marketing strategies that actually move the needle. Conrad Saam and Gyi Tsakalakis break down the biggest questions they tackled at the event: 🍟 How much should lawyers spend on marketing? 🍟 Brand vs. non-brand marketing—why it matters 🍟 Are you tracking the right metrics, or just vanity numbers? 🍟 Lawyer referrals vs. digital marketing—what’s the real ROI? 🍟 Why law firms MUST use a CRM to stop missing leads Plus, we expose how some legal marketing agencies try to take credit for leads they didn’t earn. (Yes, we see you.) If you’re serious about law firm growth, you won’t want to miss this one. 🔔 Don’t forget to subscribe for more legal marketing insights! 🎥 Watch the full video here. Chapters 00:00 - Intro & Welcome from Miami 00:46 - How Much Should Lawyers Spend on Marketing? 01:32 - Investing in Growth: ROI vs. Volume 02:34 - Why 30% is a Key Number in Legal Marketing 03:56 - Brand vs. Non-Brand: What It Means for Your Law Firm 05:09 - How Marketing Agencies Take Credit for Your Leads 07:00 - Why "How Did You Hear About Us?" is Crucial 10:31 - The Biggest Intake Mistakes Law Firms Make 13:15 - If You Don’t Have a CRM, Are You Even Growing? 19:01 - How to Hold Your Marketing Agency Accountable 21:20 - The Truth About "Up and to the Right" Traffic Graphs 21:56 - Wrap-Up & Final Thoughts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Live from the American Association for Justice conference in Miami, Lunch Hour Legal Marketing is back with another deep dive into law firm marketing strategies that actually move the needle. Conrad Saam and Gyi Tsakalakis break down the biggest questions they tackled at the event: 🍟 How much should lawyers spend on marketing? 🍟 Brand vs. non-brand marketing—why it matters 🍟 Are you tracking the right metrics, or just vanity numbers? 🍟 Lawyer referrals vs. digital marketing—what’s the real ROI? 🍟 Why law firms MUST use a CRM to stop missing leads Plus, we expose how some legal marketing agencies try to take credit for leads they didn’t earn. (Yes, we see you.) If you’re serious about law firm growth, you won’t want to miss this one. 🔔 Don’t forget to subscribe for more legal marketing insights! 🎥 Watch the full video here. Chapters 00:00 - Intro & Welcome from Miami 00:46 - How Much Should Lawyers Spend on Marketing? 01:32 - Investing in Growth: ROI vs. Volume 02:34 - Why 30% is a Key Number in Legal Marketing 03:56 - Brand vs. Non-Brand: What It Means for Your Law Firm 05:09 - How Marketing Agencies Take Credit for Your Leads 07:00 - Why "How Did You Hear About Us?" is Crucial 10:31 - The Biggest Intake Mistakes Law Firms Make 13:15 - If You Don’t Have a CRM, Are You Even Growing? 19:01 - How to Hold Your Marketing Agency Accountable 21:20 - The Truth About "Up and to the Right" Traffic Graphs 21:56 - Wrap-Up & Final Thoughts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Lisa Sperow is the Executive Director of the Cal Poly Low Income Taxpayer Clinic. The clinic provides free representation to low-income taxpayers in disputes with the IRS. Many of the clinic’s clients have nowhere else to seek help when they receive frightening notices from the IRS. It is even more alarming for taxpayers who do not speak English and who are completely unfamiliar with the process and documents necessary to respond to government claims, even if the claims are in error. As Lisa says, “this program helps ensure the fairness and integrity of the tax system by educating low-income taxpayers about their rights and responsibilities and by ensuring that their individual rights are protected.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Did Jesus have one trial or two? And what really happened in the courtroom, if there was one at all? In this tenth and final episode of season one, we take a lawyer’s approach to one of history’s most debated legal proceedings: the trial of Jesus. With no contemporaneous records and conflicting accounts shaped by religious and cultural biases, the truth remains elusive. Join us as we examine the evidence, explore the mysteries, and challenge what we think we know about this ancient case. SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR CONTRIBUTORS AND VOICE ACTORS: Steve Guerra as Analyst Cari Lockwood as Bible Narrator Daniel Tulchinsky as Jesus Gil Kidrone as Sanhedrin Priest Lily Spader as Roman Law Reader Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Every year, millions of men, women, and children are trafficked worldwide – including right here in the United States. According to the Department of Homeland Security, human trafficking is defined as “the use of force, fraud, or coercion to obtain some type of labor or commercial sex act.” In this episode, Craig is joined by returning guest, Bridgette A. Carr, clinical professor of law and co-director of the Human Trafficking and Immigration Clinic at the University of Michigan Law School, as they spotlight human trafficking. Craig & Bridgette discuss the different types of human trafficking, how it happens, how to recognize it, and what is being done to combat trafficking. Mentioned in This Episode: Archived Lawyer 2 Lawyer Episode: Legal Crackdown on Human Trafficking featuring Bridgette A. Carr Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Introverted and shy attorneys, this episode is for you! Discover the key differences between introversion and shyness, gain practical tips to overcome performance anxiety, and learn how to harness your natural strengths to thrive in the legal profession with episode highlights from Heidi Brown, professor at Brooklyn Law and author of The Introverted Lawyer. Plus, don’t miss the heartfelt conversation with Rio Lane from ALPS Insurance on why “fake it till you make it” isn’t always the best approach and how lawyer wellbeing is essential for success. Hear the original episode with Heidi K. Brown. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Zack talks with the hosts of the Lunch Hour Legal Marketing Podcast, Gyi Tsakalakis, and Conrad Saam about how artificial intelligence is affecting consumer behavior and how your law firm should adjust to the changing market. Additionally, they discuss how to leverage AI to your advantage against your own marketing data to be more deliberate with your legal marketing spend. Additionally, Zack and Jennifer discuss the Lawyerist’s annual Best Law Firm Website contest, where they dig into what makes a website “work.” Links from the episode: Subscribe to Lunch Hour Legal Marketing https://www.youtube.com/@LHLM https://www.gorillaz.com/ Chapters 00:00 Introduction to AI in Marketing 03:04 Best Practices for Law Firm Websites 06:11 The Importance of Emotional Connection 08:53 Innovative Website Experiences 12:08 Navigating AI's Impact on Marketing 15:02 Consumer Behavior and Marketing Strategies 20:42 The Impact of AI on Business Visibility 24:24 Leveraging AI for Client Insights 28:19 Data Analysis and AI: Transforming Marketing Strategies 32:44 Democratizing Data Access with AI 36:56 The Importance of Accurate Data Tracking 41:03 Practical Marketing Takeaways in the AI Era 46:12 lawyerist-podcast-outro.mp4 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

ACB isn't having it. ----- Remember when Arrested Development made this a gag? John Roberts is living it out in real time as the president explains -- on national television -- that Roberts is a partisan hack. Amy Coney Barrett seems less excited about the prospect. Meanwhile, the administration is threatening law firms. The dean of one law school is stepping up. Also, what is this -- now former -- partner doing? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For one thing, it marks the 40th annual iteration of the show. For another, it promises to be the biggest of all time—emanating for the first time from the McCormick Place Convention Center in Chicago. Techshow co-chair Stephen Embry talks to the ABA Journal’s Victor Li about what to expect from this year’s show. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Let’s not sugar coat it. To be a successful trial attorney you need to work long hours in a changing legislative landscape, deflect the inevitable gender bias women face and have serious support at home. Are you in? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Lead thievery! How on earth could your competitor’s ad have YOUR name in it? Brand conquesting is a real thing, and it sucks. Later, is Gyi completely wrong about direct brand search in LSAs? The guys fight it out. ------ Having a competitor’s brand in your ad is some super shady lawyer marketing and violates Google’s trademark policies, but it still happens. What’s the deal? Gyi and Conrad talk about the ins and outs of brand conquesting, how it should be viewed under lawyers’ rules of professional conduct, and whether this kind of dirty campaigning is actually successful for the law firms who engage in it. Next, does having direct brand search turned on in Google Local Service Ads negatively impact your visibility? Maybe so, maybe no… it’s complicated! Gyi and Conrad argue their viewpoints and nerd out on a variety of marketing scenarios that could affect those pesky LSA outcomes. The News: If you’re amongst the crowd of laid off federal lawyers, Ben & Brian Glass are offering their assistance in helping you start your own gig. The Diversity Update from Google might be causing a drop in your organic results. Everybody’s noticing an uptick in AIOs in legal, so—yay! Lawyerist Podcast with Gyi and Conrad is coming soon! Links Mentioned: Google "Diversity Update" Live Stream Google - Trademarks - Advertising Policies Help Suggested LHLM Episodes: Google Local Service Ads: To Brand or Not to Brand? Connect: The Bite - Lunch Hour Legal Marketing Newsletter! Leave Us an Apple Review Lunch Hour Legal Marketing on YouTube Lunch Hour Legal Marketing on TikTok Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Legal tech innovators discuss how they are working to scale and improve their successful projects on Talk Justice. FosterPower and Legal Aid Content Intelligence (LACI) leverage technology to make high-quality legal information available to people for free online. Both also received Technology Initiative Grants (TIG) from the Legal Services Corporation to launch their projects. Then, in 2024 they were both selected for a different TIG, called the Sustainability, Enhancement and Adoption (SEA) grant. This funding supports TIG projects that have demonstrated excellent results as they improve their tools and work to increase uptake. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode’s discussions around the Community Table: PLA? Professional law firm administrators. What you need to know and what they do. It’s not an office manager and it’s not an administrative assistant. Hear why you might need a PLA. As your firm grows, are you spending more time “running the business” than attracting clients and winning cases? Maybe you need a PLA. While we’re at it, how about a non-attorney salesperson. Someone who is passionate will build your firm beyond simply sales. Propelling your brand is as important as getting a signature on the dotted line. Compensation, goals, motivation, there are so many factors. Understanding the difference between “wealth” and “money” is critical to your business. Money spent builds client lists (SEO, advertising, Google ranking), but building a referral network through a solid reputation builds wealth that never stops. One takes cash, one takes time, effort, and commitment. Mentioned in This Episode: Ask us anything for the Community Table. Leave us a question online. Join the next Community Table live. What’s on your mind? Association of Legal Administrators Clio Legal Trends Report Clio Cliocon 2025 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The stresses and demands of a legal career take their toll on all attorneys, but women lawyers face the additional challenge of navigating menopause in the midst of their professional journey. After a difficult personal experience with menopause symptoms, attorney Mary Pate decided to leave legal practice to develop her expertise in health and wellness strategies for women facing similar struggles. JoAnn Hathaway and Molly Ranns talk with Mary to discuss common questions women have about menopause and practical tips for managing symptoms. And, for all you men out there, this topic is for you as well! Mary shares insights into how men can help women as they navigate this transitional time in their lives. Visit Mustard Seed Health Coaching to learn more about Mary and her personalized programs . Mary Pate is a former attorney turned Certified Menopause Coaching Specialist dedicated to helping professional women manage disruptive menopause symptoms. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Courts matter, and the rule of law is essential to the success of our judicial system. However, collectively, we often do not fully understand the impact of courts on the wellbeing of society. In a wide-ranging discussion, Dennis and Tom talk with Jason Tashea about his perspectives on legal technology and its current impacts in the legal field, particularly in courts and information systems.They discuss potential technology and AI deployments in efforts for access to justice, and Jason points out the practical limitations all legal professionals should be aware of as they engage with AI in legal work. Jason Tashea is a writer and entrepreneur exploring the intersection of justice and society. A lawyer by training, he is the founding director and a co-founder of the Judicial Innovation Fellowship program at Georgetown Law. Show Notes: The Judicial Innovation Fellowship Program | Institute for Technology Law & Policy jasontashea.com Mr Bates vs The Post Office | Masterpiece | Official Site | PBS gaithappens.com Legal AI Live - 2nd Friday Afternoons on LinkedIn DennisKennedy.Blog Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this conversation, Temi Siyanbade, founder of TOS Legal, discusses the importance of video marketing for legal professionals. She shares her journey into using video to connect with clients and build her brand, emphasizing the need to overcome the fear of being on camera. Temi explains how video can enhance legal marketing by building rapport with potential clients and providing valuable information. She also offers practical advice on starting with basic equipment and measuring success in video marketing, encouraging lawyers to embrace this medium to better serve their clients. Additionally, Zack talks with the folks at NetDocuments about the importance of organizing your digital files and recent advancements in document search. Links from the episode: Request a demo from NetDocuments Show, Don't Tell by Temi Siyanbade Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Expert Service Provider Janine McCartney from HHC Safety Engineering Services and HHC Safety Consulting Services, Corporation discusses workers’ compensation claims related to employees working from home. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Berkeley Research Group (BRG) is a Premier Sponsor of the ABA Litigation Section. On this Litigation Radio episode, we will hear from Deepa Sundararaman, Director with BRG, about diversity in experts. The selection of BRG as the subject of this interview should not be construed as an endorsement by the American Bar Association of BRG and its services. ----------------------------------------------------- Attracting, retaining, and promoting a diverse panel of experts remains an important issue for successful attorneys winning cases. A diverse panel of attorneys and experts leads to better thinking by helping legal teams understand how jurors with different backgrounds and experiences will interpret evidence and testimony. Guests Tiffany Shimada and Deepa Sundararaman explain how optimal results follow when we widen the thought process and open ourselves to new angles and ways of thinking. Hear how a diverse team of lawyers and experts can help legal teams spot storylines and arguments that persuade juries. Tiffany and Deepa share examples of when broadening the team and seeking diverse opinions, experiences, and networks worked. Diversity isn’t about politics. It’s about winning cases and satisfying clients. Hear how you can broaden your network of experts and tap into new perspectives you may not have considered, perspectives that could sway jurors in ways you might be missing. Resources: McKinsey & Company, “Diversity Matters Even More: The Case For Holistic Impact” National Association of Women Lawyers American Bar Association American Bar Association Litigation Section Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We can probably all think of a moment (or many) when we struggled with natural, constructive communication with those around us. But, how do we learn from those difficult and/or awkward moments and successfully convey our views? Rocky Dhir talks with Jefferson Fisher about his tips for becoming a more effective verbal communicator. Jefferson shares advice for legal professionals to help them foster authentic relationships with both peers and clients. Later, they discuss communication techniques for handling yourself well in the midst of arguments or other stressful situations. Jefferson Fisher is a Texas board certified trial lawyer, author, keynote speaker, and argument expert. You may pre-order Jefferson’s new book: The Next Conversation here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

And the new USNWR rankings are dealing with some crazy data. ----- We're not saying Diddy is an unsavory client, but we are saying Osama bin Laden's lawyer just noped out of continuing to represent him. We also got some limited insight into the US News rankings and there's some potential tumult at the top. And Judge Reyes had to blow up a hapless DOJ lawyer trying to defend the indefensible and the Trump administration displayed its inner snowflake. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What if we are asking the wrong questions when selecting American judges? Mark Tushnet thinks our current criteria might be off. “We should look for judges who are likely to display good judgment in their rulings … and we shouldn’t care whether they have a good theory about how to interpret the Constitution as a whole—and maybe we should worry a bit if they think they have such a theory,” the Harvard Law professor writes in his new book, Who Am I to Judge? Judicial Craft Versus Constitutional Theory. In looking at what qualities were shared by great Supreme Court justices, Tushnet identified five he thinks were of especial importance: Longevity and age Location in political time Prior experience in public life NOT A JUDGE (“I put this in capital letters because it’s common today to think that justices have to have been judges,” Tushnet wrote. He doesn’t see having a past judicial career as disqualifying, but points out that many great justices were not sitting judges when appointed.) Intellectual curiosity In this episode of The Modern Law Library, Tushnet and the ABA Journal’s Lee Rawles discuss how he thinks people should be evaluated for judicial positions; his experience as a clerk for former U.S. Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall; what makes a well-crafted opinion; and why he thinks any overarching theory about the Constitution will fall short. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A surefire place to learn the ins and outs of being a trial attorney is at the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office. The CCSAO prosecutes tens of thousands of cases each year and is deeply committed to the pursuit of justice to provide greater safety and well-being to Cook County residents. Tracy Brammeier and Maggie Mendenhall-Casey welcome new Cook County State’s Attorney Justice Eileen O'Neill Burke to learn about her plans for the CCSAO. In their wide-ranging discussion, they dig into plans for strengthening the office through new training and hiring initiatives; talk through major crime issues including gun crimes, theft, and domestic violence; discuss the need for more connected systems and communications in the county’s justice system; and much, much more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In our continuing series on punitive damages, we explore the value of post-incident conduct and discuss powerful ways to frame your case. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Cathy Sakimura has spent her entire professional life empowering young people, first as a youth organizer, then as the Deputy Director at the National Center for Lesbian Rights, and now as Executive Director of Legal Services for Children (LSC) in San Francisco. In this episode, Cathy describes why she has dedicated her life to serving children and families, how she manages the challenges, and what each of us can make a difference in a child’s life, including donating money to LSC because it lost its federal funding that allowed it to serve immigrant children in detention. https://secure.everyaction.com/cVYzZjzhqkC12TIE2v3q7A2 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Civility within the legal profession can be defined as the courteous and respectful behavior exhibited by legal professionals throughout their practice. Personal attacks, not agreeing to reasonable requests, writing inflammatory emails, briefs, or motions, are just a few examples of incivility within the profession. These actions have prompted calls for a return to civility. Where some states have adopted codes of civility, a fight for mandatory civility continues. In this episode, Craig is joined by David A. Grenardo, a professor of law and associate director of the Holloran Center for Ethical Leadership in the Professions at St. Thomas School of Law. Craig & David spotlight civility in the legal profession, and take a look at mandatory civility and teaching the importance of civility to our law students and to those within the legal profession. Mentioned in This Episode: Civility Rules: Debunking the Major Myths Surrounding Mandatory Civility for Lawyers and Five Mandatory Civility Rules That Will Work Hear more from David on State Bar of Texas Podcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The 27th Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Texas, the Honorable Nathan L. Hecht retired from the bench at the end of 2024 as the longest-serving member in the history of the Texas Supreme Court. In this conversation, Hecht reflects on how his time on the bench shaped his perspective on access to justice. He describes the current challenges that civil courts face and shares what recent innovations he finds most exciting. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dreaming of launching your own law firm or leveling up your current practice? In this episode, Stephanie Everett shares the top five game-changing strategies you need to know to build a thriving law firm. From crafting a crystal-clear vision to mastering your tech stack and establishing solid legal and financial foundations, they’ve got you covered. Links from the episode: Amplify your legal practice with Paxton AI Paxton AI We just announced a $22M Series A funding round Listeners can sign up for our webinar - accelerating your practice with AI on 2/19 here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this “Super Episode,” host Adriana Linares is joined by Stephanie Everett, a host for the Lawyerist podcast on the Legal Talk Network and the chief growth officer, lab coach, and speaker with Lawyerist, a firm dedicated to helping solo and small legal practices flourish in every area including marketing, finance, staffing, and legal tech. Twice the hosting! Together, they tackle the transition to flat-fee billing and explain how it can sometimes be a better solution for lawyers and their clients. Clients are used to the traditional billable hour, but in reality, they aren’t paying for your time, they are paying for results. They are paying you for what you achieve. So why not bill that way? This doesn’t have to be all or nothing. Some jobs can be better handled with a straight up, flat fee or a subscription model. Others may still require hourly billing. Or maybe one part of the case is a set amount, with hourly add-ons if the case drags on. The goal is never to see your practice earn less revenue, but flat-fee billing can benefit both client and lawyer. Think of how many times clients were afraid to call you or chat a bit to build a relationship because they worried the clock was ticking. Hear how you can try it out, “play with” a rate shift. Maybe even present clients with an option. If you’ve been curious about how flat-fee billing can work, this is the episode for you. Questions or ideas about solo and small practices? Drop us a line at [email protected] Topics: Flat-fee billing? It can be done, and it can offer advantages to both clients and law firms. Clients are paying for results, not “hours. How you price your services doesn’t have to be one way or the other. It can be both. Some tasks can be set for a straight up, transparent flat fee. Others may work best at an hourly rat Explaining fees to clients is a new concept. But clients often warm up to new ways of doing things if they’re given the chance and understand their options. It starts with honest, clear conversations. (Don’t forget to help your own staff understand, too.) Mentioned in This Episode: Previously on Lawyerist podcast, “#547: Legal Tech You Need for Flat Fees, with Adriana Linares” ABA TECHSHOW 2025 Clio Cloud Conference 2025 Clio Legal Trends Report Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today’s legal evidence, more than ever, is digital. We’re not digging through boxes of paperwork and memos anymore. In its own way, paper evidence was easy – if time consuming – to request, sift through, organize, present, and protect. But today, evidence lives in the digital universe. We find evidence in emails, tablets, mobile devices, computers, the cloud, cell phones, even digital doorbells and devices connected through the Internet of Things (IoT). Guest John Sammons is an author and professor teaching digital forensics at Marshall University and is the associate director of the Marshall Institute for Cyber Security. He explains how vital paralegal professionals have become in the struggle to gather, understand, decipher, explain, and protect today’s digital evidence. More than ever, well-educated and up-to-date paralegal professionals become indispensable as they help their legal teams understand what to ask for, where digital evidence might be hiding, and how to clearly explain these complex clues to a judge and jury. Sammons explains how advancing technologies, AI, digital duplicates, and speech replication tech are making tech-savvy paralegal professionals irreplaceable components inside their organizations. Get inspired to get out there and learn something new today. Mentioned in This Episode: American Academy of Forensic Sciences CES, Consumer Electronics Show Appalachian Institute of Digital Evidence NALA, The Paralegal Association NALA Conference & Expo 2025 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The new federal deficit is the government's research deficit. ----- Elon Musk's aimless cost-cutting escapades turn to the SEC where DOGE slashed their Westlaw access because no one over there is smart enough to know how legal research works. Apparently now is an opportune time to start committing securities fraud! Speaking of aimless, former judge Alex Kozinski penned a meandering opinion piece about canceling elections in case, maybe, some president might want to consider it. And a few law schools quietly reworked their websites to remove diversity language. They probably won't be the last. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion is an essential part of the legal profession. Attorneys who recognize, anticipate, and navigate cultural bias can foster deeper connections and achieve better outcomes in their practice. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today, we unpack Gyi’s beloved catchphrase to see how “meh” he really feels about the significance of links in local SEO. Later—the strategic guide you need for top-knotch link building in 2025. A whole lotta folks like to say links don’t really matter anymore, but are they right? In practice, the guys have seen the positive effects of link building for clients for many, many years, and it’s still a piece of the pie today. However, there’s a ton of misinformation out there, so Gyi and Conrad debunk the most common misconceptions to get you on track for optimized, relevant, business-building links. And, later, what’s working best for link building in 2025? The guys share some great stories of businesses who engaged their local communities through service, scholarships, sponsorships, and more—all while getting awesome PR and plenty of links. Room for dessert? Here's some exclusive bonus content from this week's episode: How to Get Your Website to Rank in ChatGPT Search | SEO Strategy | Lunch Hour Legal Marketing The News: More mergers & acquisitions! Places Scout was purchased by Yext… so are we all in for some price jacking? Sigh. Probably. ABA is standing up for the judiciary, and you should too: ABA condemns remarks questioning legitimacy of courts and judicial review Quit ruining our weekends, Googs. Sheesh. Google Confirms Business Profile Reviews Outage Super grateful to Ahrefs for this really well done post: Google Says "Links Matter Less"—We Looked at 1,000,000 SERPs to See if It's True Mentioned: Google Cites Scholarship Links in a Manual Action Penalty Suggested LHLM Episodes: Is Link Building Worth It Anymore? || Top 10 Link Building Tips Connect: The Bite - Lunch Hour Legal Marketing Newsletter! Leave Us an Apple Review Lunch Hour Legal Marketing on YouTube Lunch Hour Legal Marketing on TikTok Chapters (Times Approximate) (0:00) The Consummate One-Upsman (3:26) The News: Places Scout, the ABA takes on Trump, & GBP Outage (10:00) Busting Link Building Myths (24:45) How To Create Backlinks For Your Website In 2025 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices