Legal Talk Network - Law News and Legal Topics

Two friends of the podcast return for this episode of New Solo to talk all things legal tech and the latest in AI services for lawyers. Guests Renee Thompson and Liz McCausland are both accomplished mediators and solo practitioners who depend on tech to boost productivity and keep up with their busy lives. AI is an emerging technology that is finding its way to more and more law offices. McCausland and Thompson served on a Florida Bar committee to draft an advisory opinion laying out ethical guidelines for the use of AI in legal practice. With ethical guardrails published, what’s next? A best practices guide and clear definitions and examples of AI for legal services. Client consent, the impact on fees and confidentiality, and even how judges view the use of AI and informing the court that AI played a role in your presentation are all pieces of the puzzle. It’s a brave new world. Where can attorneys new to AI find mentoring, what will clients and courts expect, and what about billing? Plus, hear about the Florida Bar’s Solo & Small Firms Section and how other solo and small firms are incorporating legal technologies. It’s natural to feel overwhelmed, but if you take in all these new tools step-by-step, you’ll quickly find yourself up to speed and exploring new frontiers. Questions or ideas about solo and small practices? Drop us a line at [email protected] Topics: Hear from two lawyers who helped the Florida Bar Association develop ethical guidelines for attorneys adopting AI technologies into their practice. New tools are emerging at a rapid clip. But if you take it step-by-step, you can avoid feeling overwhelmed. Every small and solo firm is different. There’s no single “right way” to incorporate legal tech into your practice, but the days of a legal pad and pen are in the past. Stay current or fall behind. Help is out there, and you can do this. Mentioned in This Episode: Florida Bar Ethics Opinion 24-1, Jan. 19, 2024 “Lawyer Cites Fake Cases Generated by ChatGPT in Legal Brief,” Legal Dive Damien Riehl on LinkedIn Jerry Bui on LinkedIn InfoTrack San Diego County Bar Association Member Benefits Clio legal software Smokeball AI Noodle AI Assistant vLex AI Fastcase Westlaw LexisNexis AI Miami Dade Public Defender Carlos J. Martinez Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nowadays, all the cool kids are using customer relationship management (CRM) software, and you should too. It’s not new technology, but if you’ve missed the boat or need a refresher—Jared’s here to fill you in on CRM technology and what it can do for you. He explains different types of CRMs in detail to show you its potential for creating seamless intake experiences and optimizing your workflows. Speaking of CRMs, Jared welcomes Matt Spiegel of Lawmatics to learn about his story as a tech founder and his methods and means for solving problems for attorneys. Matt offers his perspectives on CRM functionality and its latest developments, and also offers hints at how AI will affect this tech in the future. Last, but not least, Bobby Orozco joins Jared for the Rump Roast to flex his rap knowledge, unpack the Drake/Kendrick Lamar feud, and talk about the best diss tracks in rap history. Matt Spiegel is the co-founder and CEO of Lawmatics, an attorney-client relationship management platform. Bobby Orozco is director of sales at Lawmatics. ----- Drake v. Kendrick is just the start. This week's playlist features some of the best rap diss tracks of all time. ----- Our opening song is Two Cigarettes by Major Label Interest. Our closing song is Grime by Ghost Beatz. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Also, the Supreme Court's really sticking it to the Fifth Circuit. ----- We've got a few firms dipping into the summer bonus pool. But so far the pack hasn't followed them into the water. The Supreme Court continues to shoot down the Fifth Circuit, recognizing that politicians can't use false arrests to squelch free speech and using the Circuit to exorcise -- just a little -- their Second Amendment hangover. Is there anything normal about the YSL trial? The answer is no. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Both the governor and legislature of Texas have hoped to drive more business to Texas, but previously, businesses have expressed concerns over the potential for difficulties in navigating courts across Texas’s 254 counties. Now, a centralized system of business courts will open September 1, 2024, to serve businesses in the most populous areas of the state. Judge Emily Miskel and Marcy Hogan Greer talk with Rocky Dhir in detail about how these courts will operate and what businesses and attorneys should expect. Judge Emily Miskel has served as judge of the 470th district court of Collin County, Texas, since the court was created in 2015. Marcy Hogan Greer is the managing partner of Alexander Dubose & Jefferson LLP, a nationally recognized appellate boutique firm. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When you love what you do, you are already standing on a solid work/life balance that works for you. Listen as successful attorneys at different stages of their lives and careers reflect on what has helped them find that stability. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Lawyers can’t just take a backseat when it comes to marketing, but what do you actually need to know to make sure your marketing approach holds water? Later, how do you go about marketing for two distinct practice areas in your law firm? ----- Depending on your role in your firm, you may need to know much more or much less about the way the marketing world works, but you absolutely need to have some basic knowledge to ensure that your tactics/data/vendors/potential hires/etc. make sense. Gyi and Conrad talk through what you need to know to be able to hold your marketing people accountable for delivering on your law firm’s objectives. Next, if you have more than one practice area in your law firm, what’s the best way to make sure each one is marketed effectively? The guys answer a question about how to grow different aspects of your law firm with well-thought-out marketing, resource allocation, and web content. The News: Hona succeeded in raising $9.5M, so there’s all sorts of new potential there. Get more of Conrad and Gyi! The guys will be speaking at Answering Legal Summer Camps - July 24th and August 14. Gyi told you so on LSAs! Go listen to these episodes: Google Local Service Ads: To Brand or Not to Brand? and The Lawyer’s Guide to Conversions || Listener LSA Queries Mentioned in this Episode: 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

Camille Vasquez joins Rocky Dhir to talk about her path to becoming a lawyer and what led to her involvement in the highly publicized defamation trial between Johnny Depp and Amber Heard. Camille offers insights into her experiences during the Depp v. Heard case and highlights the importance of crafting a powerful story during cross-examination to help bring justice for your clients at trial. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

United States Senator Ben Cardin joins LSC President Ron Flagg to discuss his perspective on access to justice as a legislator and lawyer on Talk Justice. The Maryland Senator shared about his time in the state’s general assembly chairing Maryland Legal Services Corporation, as well as the “Cardin Requirement” at the University of Maryland’s Francis King Carey School of Law and his thoughts on the justice gap. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Law firms often focus on revenue generation, client retention, and financial performance. But guest Tracy LaLone says true success is driven by the (very real) people who work at the firm. Firms that fail to engage and recognize their people, she says, can never reach their full potential. LaLonde is a corporate trainer who focuses on engagement within law firms. She has more than 30 years’ experience in corporate training and helps firms focus on the involvement, commitment, and enthusiasm workers feel for their workplace. Surveys show only 30% of American workplaces are considered “engaged.” So, there’s room to grow if you know how important engagement is to your firm’s success. How eager are employees to get to work each day? How valued do they feel? Are you focusing on billable hours at the expense of your team’s wellbeing and sense of purpose? LaLonde explains how she targets law firm burnout and underperformance through her Hierarchy of Engagement, a pyramid of workforce factors including pay, performance, and perks; work/life balance; and a shared purpose. Learn key tips you can put to work at your firm today to nurture engagement and achieve peak performance. Mentioned in This Episode: “The Joychiever Journey: Evade Burnout, Surpass Your Goals and Out-Happy Everyone” by Tracy LaLonde Joychiever Hierarchy of Engagement Joychiever Quiz: Are You a Good Manager? “First, Break All the Rules,” and other titles from Gallup ALM Join The Un-Billable Hour Community Table Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Lawyers have been getting into ethical hot water over both the use and misuse of AI, failing in their duties of competence, diligence, and more, so where do we go from here? Rocky Dhir talks with Justice John Browning and Judge Roy Ferguson to learn the latest guidance on AI issues and to remind lawyers of their ethical obligations. They discuss AI’s revolutionary impacts in the legal profession and what to expect as it continues to evolve. Justice John G. Browning has been a litigator in Texas and Oklahoma for over 35 years, including as a partner in several national law firms. Judge Roy Ferguson (2013-present) presides over a five-county court of general jurisdiction covering roughly 20,000 square miles and over 20% of the U.S.-Mexico border. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Who says the best things in life aren’t free?! The State Bar of Texas partnered up with Smokeball to offer a free trust accounting and billing software platform called Smokeball Bill. If you’re a Texas lawyer, this perk is available to you at no additional charge because of your state bar membership. Tune into this episode to learn more about what it does and how to access it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Guest Mary Smith is an accomplished attorney and the first Native American woman to become president of the American Bar Association. In addition to a distinguished career in legal leadership for billion-dollar organizations, including CEO of the national organization Indian Health Services, she is also active in many civic organizations, including the Caroline and Ora Smith Foundation, dedicated to helping young Native American women forge careers in STEM fields. Smith’s career took a long and winding path, including a stop serving in the White House and the Department of Justice, along with billion-dollar publicly traded companies. Smith said the key has been to remain curious and open to new opportunities throughout her career. Being willing to take risks and face various challenges has driven her career to amazing heights. Smith explains how she never limited herself to any presupposed direction. Sometimes, you think you’ve selected a singular path, but if you remain open to new opportunities, that path can lead you to places you’ve never imagined and take you higher than you thought possible. As Smith says in this inspiring episode: “Be true to yourself. Believe in yourself. And seek help, mentors, and others who can help along the way.” Resources: “Asked & Answered: Mary Smith, ’91, President, American Bar Association,” University of Chicago School of Law Caroline and Ora Smith Foundation American Bar Association American Bar Association Young Lawyers Division Native Americans: A Crisis in Health Equity ABA President to Students: You Will Change the Practice of Law Working to Ensure an Enduring American Democracy ABA Task Force for American Democracy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We talk about finding the right law school for you, and wonder how deep the SCOTUS drama goes. ----- The Above the Law Top 50 Law Schools ranking is here and this year it's putting power in the hands of the users. Meanwhile at the Supreme Court, ACB tells her colleagues that not every legal problem is a job for bad history. Sam and Martha-Ann Alito release Unplugged album, and it only took a matter of days into the Clarence Thomas Transparency Era for him to get caught covering up more gifts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Believe it or not, there are many reasons to plead guilty when you’re not. ----- Plea deals are necessary to fight crime. Without them, our criminal justice system would grind to a halt, and the bad guys would run free. The downside is that plea deals can ensnare innocent people. Even more scary, once you admit to a crime you didn’t commit, it can take decades to get you out of prison. So why would anyone plead guilty to something they didn’t do? Tune in to hear why with host Michael Semanchik and special guests Justin Brooks, founder of the California Innocence Project, and former Los Angeles County Prosecutor Wayne Little. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sanket Kadam of Expert Service Provider S-E-A discusses risk mitigation for battery failures and available methodologies for proper assessment. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Do you ever beat yourself up over all the things you think you should be doing? Do you work even when you’re sick or when your body tells you it’s time for a break? In this episode, Stephanie talks with Dr. Devon Price about our twisted view of laziness and why it might be time to embrace a little more laziness in our lives. Links from the episode: NetDocuments: The Cloud Platform Where Legal Professionals Do Their Best Work Laziness Does Not Exist by Dr. Devon Price 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! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Finances are a fraught area for many attorneys. Despite a high earning potential, new lawyers often start out with a financial disadvantage due to the opportunity cost of the years devoted to school and bar prep, coupled with high student loans. People who chose to get JDs instead of MBAs often find themselves having to operate as entrepreneurs to launch a small firm or solo practice. In The Lawyer Millionaire: The Complete Guide for Attorneys on Maximizing Wealth, Minimizing Taxes, and Retiring With Confidence, Darren P. Wurz addresses both personal finances and firm finances. “A financial plan starts with goals,” writes Wurz, who has a master’s degree in financial planning and is a certified financial planner. “Be aware that money itself is not the ultimate goal of this plan. Rather, it is what that money can do for you that is the goal.” In this episode of The Modern Law Library, Wurz gives advice for attorneys at the beginning, middle and end of their working careers and tells the ABA Journal’s Lee Rawles about the seven biggest money mistakes attorneys can make. Wurz, who also hosts The Lawyer Millionaire Podcast, says retirement often looks different for attorneys than other professionals. Many lawyers would like to continue to practice at least part-time even past the age most other people retire. He says the goal of many of his clients is to have the financial security to have a “work-optional lifestyle” that will allow them to take on only the cases that really interest them. One of the messages Wurz wants to convey to older attorneys is that their most important asset might be something they didn’t realize could be sold: their practice itself. The time and effort put into building a book of clients can also pay off at the end of your career, not just during your active years of practice. While it might take more time and planning to arrange than selling a piece of real estate, selling your practice to a younger attorney can provide continuity for your clients and a financial boon to your retirement. While Wurz offers tips for how newly minted attorneys can start off on the right financial foot, he and Rawles also discuss options for mid-career professionals who are only now getting a handle on their finances. He also shares what his general advice would be for the thousands who have recently had their student debt unexpectedly erased through programs like Public Service Loan Forgiveness. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You, your firm and the legal profession will benefit when you make mentorship a meaningful experience in your firm. We offer tips on how you can enhance the mentee’s learning experience, help them provide better work product for you and recharge your enthusiasm in the process. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

J. Craig Williams has a brand new show 'In Dispute: 10 Famous Trials That Changed' right here on Legal Talk Network! Join us as we take a journey through time to discover the most interesting and impactful court cases in world history. Go beyond the basic historical accounts recapped in law school textbooks and soak in every aspect of the trials with fascinating reenactments of actual conversations preserved through trial transcripts and court reporters. Then, receive an exclusive courtroom backstage pass to hear legal analysis and modern-day reflections from Seasoned Attorney J. Craig Williams. Get ready to dive into the trials of the Salem witches, Chicago Black Sox, OJ Simpson, McMartin preschool childcare providers, and more! The first episode 'Salem Witch Trials: How The Hysteria Went Terribly Awry' is available to listen to now. LINKS: Subscribe on Apple Podcasts Subscribe on Spotify Sign up for our newsletter so that you’re the first to know when new episodes drop! Tell us what you’re looking forward to the most for this show on LinkedIn, Facebook, X or Instagram! Purchase the e-book Purchase the hardcover SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR VOICE ACTORS: Meghan Steenburgh as News Reporter Daniel Rover Singer as William Jennings Bryan Scott Well as Clarence Darrow Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

America’s banks play a critical role in our economy, and the industry is one of the most heavily regulated, with rules that affect nearly every consumer, borrower, and saver. In this episode, enjoy a deep dive into the web of regulations banks navigate daily and the role that litigators play. Guests Aaron Krauss and Brett Watson participated in the development of the ABA’s new book, Banking on It: The Ten Most Common Claims Involving Banks. Banking on It is a practical guide to navigating banking litigation. Aaron and Brett are experienced in litigating fraud, credit issues, and lending cases involving banks and financial institutions. Banking litigation usually involves institutions such as credit unions, commercial and retail banks, and even nationally and state-chartered banks. It’s an area full of opportunities for litigators interested in banking regulatory law and the constantly shifting landscape. For example, when was the last time you wrote a check to pay for something? It’s a jungle out there. Anything can happen in the world of banking regulation and litigation. Scams are common, and banks are frequent targets. Tune in to this episode and learn more! RESOURCES: Cozen O’Connor “Banking on It: The Ten Most Common Claims Involving Banks” “How Banks Should Respond To Calif. AG's Overdraft Warning,” Law360, by Brett Watson Law360 articles by Aaron Krauss American Bar Association American Bar Association Litigation Section Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In 1692, claims of satanic rituals, ghosts, and seemingly “afflicted” children stirred puritanical imaginations, deepened by petty rifts between powerful families and rival congregations in Salem Village (now known as Danvers, Massachusetts). In response to the growing number of citizen complaints and imprisonments, Massachusetts Bay Colony Governor William Phips appointed a man with no legal training to preside over the trials. More than a dozen poor decisions and questionable verdicts later, townspeople became all too familiar with death sentences by hanging. Hear the full story unravel with voiceover reenactments, historical context and present-day reflection from Attorney J. Craig Williams. LINKS: Sign up for our newsletter so that you’re the first to know when new episodes drop! Listen to J. Craig Williams’ other podcast, Lawyer 2 Lawyer. Tell us what you’re looking forward to the most for this show on LinkedIn, Facebook, X or Instagram! Purchase the e-book. Purchase the hardcover. SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR VOICE ACTORS: Troy Starr as John Hathorne Doreen Wiley as Sarah Good Kevin McGrath as Cotton Mather Dave Scriven-Young as Stephen Sewell Evan Dicharry as Judge Georgia Well as Bridgett Bishop Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Senior CNN Legal Analyst Elie Honig challenges whether the rule of law is under attack when powerful people square off against judges and juries. As author of Untouchable: How Powerful People Get Away with It and a former federal and state prosecutor, he served on air as a CNN Senior Legal Analyst throughout the first criminal trial and conviction of a former US President. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, Gert Mellak joins me once again to talk about the crucial importance of online reputation and referral growth for law firms. The discussion revolves around common misconceptions law firms have about separating word of mouth from marketing, and how a firm's reputation is inherently part of its marketing strategy. Gert elaborates on the insights from his book 'Fix Your Online Reputation,' explaining how to manage and improve online reputation through proactive measures such as generating positive reviews and strategically using ads. The conversation also touches on the role of SEO, knowledge panels, and social media in shaping a firm's online presence and credibility. We conclude by stressing the importance of maintaining a clean brand profile and the potential financial impact of neglecting online reputation. Gert gives listeners actionable tips on: 00:00 Intro 00:50 The Importance of Online Reputation for Law Firms 02:12 Understanding and Managing Negative Reviews 04:22 Strategies to Improve Online Reputation 11:42 Google Knowledge Panel and Business Profile 17:21 Leveraging AI and Consistent Information 21:54 Starting the Internal Audit 23:59 Quick Fixes to Save Money 24:49 Common Mistakes in Reputation Management 26:57 Proactive Strategies for Positive Reviews 31:24 Thought Leaders library 35:14 Managing Social Media and Personal Life 42:08 One thing that works Resources mentioned in this episode: The Checklist Manifesto by Atul Gawande Connect with Gert here: Instagram Twitter LinkedIn Facebook https://seoleverage.com Connect with me Instagram Pinterest Facebook Twitter Karin on Twitter Karin on LinkedIn Conroy Creative Counsel on Facebook https://conroycreativecounsel.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Enjoy this exclusive first look at the J. Craig Williams' new podcast series 'In Dispute: 10 Famous Trials That Changed History' coming to Legal Talk Network June 18th. Go beyond the basic historical accounts recapped in law school textbooks and soak in every aspect of the trials with fascinating reenactments of actual conversations preserved through trial transcripts and court reporters. Then, receive an exclusive courtroom backstage pass to hear legal analysis and modern-day reflections from Seasoned Attorney J. Craig Williams. Get ready to dive into the trials of the Salem witches, Chicago Black Sox, OJ Simpson, McMartin preschool childcare providers, and more! LINKS: Subscribe on Apple Podcasts Subscribe on Spotify Sign up for our newsletter so that you’re the first to know when new episodes drop! Tell us what you’re looking forward to the most for this show on LinkedIn, Facebook, X or Instagram! Purchase the e-book Purchase the hardcover SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR VOICE ACTORS: Meghan Steenburgh as News Reporter Daniel Rover Singer as William Jennings Bryan Scott Well as Clarence Darrow Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Blogs were a colorful, dynamic part of the internet in their heyday, but how do they fit into our world today? Dennis and Tom take a hard look at the latest trends in legal blogs and whether this form of social media/information sharing is still successfully maintaining its corner of internetland. They discuss their own blogging habits, or lack thereof, and offer their thoughts on common trends in modern blogging. Later, ChatGPT asks the guys what the biggest issues in legal tech are today, and they both agree that mediocre tech education and training are the frontrunners. Lawyers need to keep up with technology trends, and robust learning is essential. 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. Show Notes - Kennedy-Mighell Report #367 A Segment: The Current State of Legal Blogging LexBlog Network: https://www.lexblog.com/browse-the-community-by-subject/ B Segment: ChatGPT asks us a question Parting Shots: TrueCaller partners with Microsoft to bring Truecaller Assistant: https://community.truecaller.com/forums/topic/659-truecaller-partners-with-microsoft-to-bring-personal-voice-to-ai-assistant/ The unexpected pleasure of replacing an old backpack or bag with a new one: Osprey Comet Laptop Backpack - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09ZNT33HX?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details&th=1 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Getting in front of an audience to communicate on camera certainly doesn’t come naturally to all (most?) attorneys, but if you’re feeling embarrassed by your lackluster video presence, there are ways to overcome those on-camera nerves. Jared talks with Kerry Barrett about how she helps professionals sharpen media skills to increase their visibility and present confidence and credibility to their audience. In the Rump Roast, they play “Candid Camera”, where Jared asks Kerry questions on the history of all things video. What was the last truly silent film? What band played the first-ever music video on MTV? Listen in to find out if Kerry’s up to the trivia challenge. And, lastly, hating on Caitlin Clark is utterly ridiculous. Jared expounds upon the many reasons why WNBA players (including Caitlin’s own teammates) need to take advantage of the hype and bask in all that Caitlin Clark is bringing to women’s basketball. ----- Since Video Killed The Radio Star, here's a playlist featuring songs that had some of the best music videos. ----- Our opening song is Two Cigarettes by Major Label Interest. Our closing song is Just Like Me by Thruline. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Zack talks with legal tech expert Britt Lorish about the process of selecting and managing technology in large and small law firms. Listen in as they talk about typical pain points, common setups, and how process documentation is the first step you know you need to take but don’t want to. Additionally, Zack talks about the hidden side of marketing with Spotlight Branding’s Marc Cerniglia. They discuss how lead nurturing often gets overlooked in a typical marketing plan and how you can extrapolate your nurturing ROI from things like increased referrals. Links from the episode: Check out Spotlight's Marketing Plan Template 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! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Except ATM machines have limits. ----- When ProPublica first reported that Clarence Thomas had taken half a million in gifts, it turns out they had only scratched the surface. New financial disclosures and some number-crunching from Fix the Court show that Thomas has taken over $5 million in gifts and likely gifts. Meanwhile, Ketanji Brown Jackson got roughly Beyonce tickets with a roughly $4000 face value. Meanwhile, there's a summer associate taking a horse and carriage to work and Columbia Law Review is finally back online after its board nuked the website over an article about Palestinian rights. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Three generations of attorneys discuss what it’s like teetering on the factors that affect work/life balance, how it changes depending on your profession, what you’re working on and the stage of your career. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A commonly cited solution to helping bridge the access-to-justice canyon is for lawyers to provide more pro bono work. In that regard, have generative artificial intelligence tools made it easier for lawyers to provide pro bono services? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The secrets of Google’s algorithm are out! So, what (if anything) should you do? ----- Is this the biggest news to hit the SEO industry ever? Google has had their first high-profile leak, courtesy of one of their very own engineers, and now SEOs are working all kinds of angles to leverage this new information. So, how juicy is it? Is all the hype justified? There’s a lot to unpack here, and you should certainly proceed with caution if some sort of SEO professional has flashy “leak secrets” for sale. Gyi and Conrad dig into the pile to explain how to process this news and make smart, tactical decisions moving forward. The News: For the first time, Google has had a major leak. The biggest findings in the Google Search leak - The Verge Local Search Implications of the Google API Leak Quite a few AI Overviews have been scarily bad, and could be considered hilarious, dangerous, or future lawsuit fodder—especially if you’re the unlucky fellow who takes AI’s advice about eating rocks or adding glue to your pizza sauce. Google AI's Insane Answers AI Overviews: About last week The ABA has a new ethics opinion on Listservs, so here’s what you need to know: ABA issues ethics guidance on a lawyer’s use of listservs, particularly for pending matters And, LocalU Detroit is coming up on June 24th! Mentioned in this Episode: Secrets from the Algorithm: Google Search’s Internal Engineering Documentation Has Leaked - Mike King / iPullRank Local Search Implications of the Google API Leak - David Mihm / Near Media 5 local SEO insights from Google’s API documentation leak - Andrew Shotland / Search Engine Land Gyi's Google Leak Threads on X 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 researchers discuss their recent field study of generative artificial intelligence (AI) for legal aid on Talk Justice. Colleen Chien and Miriam Kim authored a paper on their research, “Generative AI and Legal Aid: Results from a Field Study and 100 Use Cases to Bridge the Access to Justice Gap,” which was published in April. The co-authors wanted to advance the conversation around generative AI for access to justice with data. Bréyon Austin, a participant in the study, also offers her perspective. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode’s discussions around the Community Table: A lawyer who’s falling behind wants to know why her leads are down. Should she focus on “branding” or “marketing,” and what’s the difference? While they are both part of attracting new business, they aren’t one in the same. Branding is important. Be authentic. Who are you? What are your values? You can’t fake it, you live it. And you don’t make it up as you go, you intentionally think about who you are and develop a consistent look, tone, feel, values, and mission across your firm. Messaging, marketing, and a clear call to action is something different. It costs money. Pay per click, local service ads, billboards, and more are about delivering a compelling message that drives potential clients to call you. Learn the “Five Commandments of Marketing.” Mentioned in This Episode: “Getting Started With Local Service Ads,” LSA explained, Google support Join the next Community Table live. What’s on your mind? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join us as we take a journey through time to discover the most interesting and impactful court cases in world history. Go beyond the basic historical accounts recapped in law school textbooks and soak in every aspect of the trials with fascinating reenactments of actual conversations preserved through trial transcripts and court reporters. Then, receive an exclusive courtroom backstage pass to hear legal analysis and modern-day reflections from Seasoned Attorney J. Craig Williams. Get ready to dive into the trials of the Salem witches, Chicago Black Sox, OJ Simpson, McMartin preschool childcare providers, and more! LINKS: Sign up for our newsletter so that you’re the first to know when new episodes drop! Listen to J. Craig Williams’ other podcast, Lawyer 2 Lawyer. Tell us what you’re looking forward to the most for this show on LinkedIn, Facebook, X or Instagram! Purchase the hardcover. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Recent protests at universities across the country pushed the boundaries of free speech, and outcomes for protestors were varied, to say the least. The world of academia encourages the free exchange of ideas, but some protest actions prompted police involvement, disciplinary action by universities, student expulsions, and even the loss of career opportunities for graduates. As a law student, what do you need to understand about these events as interpreted through our existing legal frameworks? Professor Roy Gutterman joins Chay, Leah, and Professor Berger to offer his expertise on First Amendment rights and the interplay of civil protests and the law. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Cyber threats abound in our modern world, and lawyers and law firms are prime targets due to the sensitive nature of the information they hold in trust for clients. As such, cyber insurance is becoming a necessity for attorneys, but many feel overwhelmed by the numerous options available to them and how policies change as cyber risks evolve. To help lawyers comprehend the spectrum of cyber insurance services, Molly Ranns and JoAnn Hathaway talk with Judy Selby to hear her expertise on this complicated topic. Judy explains what to look for in a policy, different types of coverage and limitations, and how to ensure that a policy will meet the unique needs of your law firm. Judy Selby is a partner at Kennedys and has over 30 years of experience in insurance coverage. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On May 31, 2024, a New York jury found former president Donald J. Trump guilty on all 34 counts in his highly watched hush money trial. He will be sentenced on July 11th by Judge Juan Merchan. Since the verdict, the former president has lashed out at the verdict and even turned to the Supreme of the Court of the United States, asking them to throw out his conviction. This is the first-ever criminal trial of a former U.S. president, and the first criminal conviction of a former president. So will former President Trump see jail time? And how will this verdict influence voters as they place their ballot for president of the United States come November? In this episode, Craig is joined by Bennett L. Gershman, professor of law from Pace University’s Elisabeth Haub School of Law, as they discuss former President Trump's hush money conviction, sentencing, and how a felony conviction of a former president may impact the presidency. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The State Bar of Texas Annual Meeting is just around the corner, happening June 20-21 in Dallas! With this meeting comes a change of leadership for the Bar, but great progress has been made in the past year under current president Cindy Tisdale’s guidance. Rocky Dhir talks with Cindy about her year as president, discussing her dedication to lawyer mental health initiatives (including a new member benefit with BetterHelp), the Bar’s Taskforce for Responsible AI in the Law (TRAIL), and progress made toward improving the process for lawyer vacation letters in Texas. Later, Rocky shifts gears to talk with Trey Apffel about what to expect from Annual Meeting 2024’s diverse programming schedule and networking opportunities. Learn more about events, speakers, registration, and more on the State Bar of Texas website. Cindy Tisdale is President of the State Bar of Texas and an attorney in Granbury, Texas, where she dedicates her practice to family law. E.A. “Trey” Apffel III is Executive Director of the State Bar of Texas. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sara joins Labster Patricia Mancabelli in a conversation about how an in-person, Lawyerist-facilitated retreat sparked a firm rebranding and enabled her team to hone in on their ideal clients. Patricia discusses the challenges and benefits of her rebrand and reveals how their new subscription model for female business owners has been a game-changer. Discover how this approach has allowed the firm to provide more purposeful and impactful support, benefiting both the firm and the women entrepreneurs they serve with accessible, top-notch legal services. Links from the episode: Mention Lawyerist when your visit Posh and get a free 2 week trial! 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! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Marilyn Mulero was wrongfully suspected of a Chicago gang murder in 1992. Naive to the criminal justice system, she was frightened into signing a statement by threats of the death penalty from law enforcement. Failing to adequately investigate the case, her attorney pressured Marilyn into making a risky blind plea deal with the court. That gamble turned into the death penalty. This is her story. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Trump conviction excuse tour is not going well for his attorneys. ----- Donald Trump is now a convicted felon and everyone wants to know why his attorneys phoned in the defense. They... don't have good answers. At all. Continuing the Trump beat, Judge Aileen Cannon continued to display a delicate mix of cynical obstinance and outright incompetence, slow-playing a motion to keep Trump from publicly lying about the FBI and then asking for briefing on how the Supreme Court's CFPB case impacts the prosecution -- which it only could have if the Supreme Court came out the other way. And students no longer care about the USNWR rankings... but maybe there's a better measure of prestige. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Originalism is the ascendant legal theory espoused by conservative legal thinkers, including the majority of U.S. Supreme Court justices. But far from being an objective framework for constitutional interpretation, says author and attorney Madiba Dennie, its true purpose is to achieve conservative political aims regardless of the historical record. In The Originalism Trap: How Extremists Stole the Constitution and How We the People Can Take It Back, Dennie traces the roots of originalism as a legal theory back to Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, though the Supreme Court rejected the arguments in the 1954 case. Its adherents argue the meaning of the Constitution must solely be determined by “the original public meaning of the Constitution at the time it was drafted,” and that there is a discernible correct answer to what that meaning would have been. The theory gained popularity in the 1980s, with the late Robert Bork and Justice Antonin Scalia as two influential proponents. Scalia famously said the Constitution is “not a living document. It’s dead, dead, dead.” Today, originalism has formed the basis for decisions such as Justice Samuel Alito’s Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization opinion overturning Roe v. Wade. “Despite originalism’s reputation as a serious intellectual theory, it’s more like dream logic: It seems reasonable at first, but when you wake up, you can recognize it as nonsense,” Dennie writes. “Originalism deliberately overemphasizes a particular version of history that treats the civil-rights gains won over time as categorically suspect. The consequences of its embrace have been intentionally catastrophic for practically anyone who isn’t a wealthy white man, aka the class of people with exclusive possession of political power at the time the Constitution’s drafters originally put pen to paper (or quill to parchment).” In this episode of The Modern Law Library, Dennie and the ABA Journal’s Lee Rawles discuss how conservative originalists prioritize the time period of the Founding Fathers over the Reconstruction Era that produced the Thirteenth, Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amendments. “We can’t fulfill the Reconstruction Amendments’ radical vision of full equality and freedom if we can’t be attentive to the ways in which we have been made unequal and unfree,” Dennie writes in The Originalism Trap. While Dennie believes there are portions of the historical record that support broad civil liberty protections, she says she does not think originalism is a useful tool for progressives to use as a legal framework. In place of originalism, Dennie has a bold proposal: inclusive constitutionalism. “Inclusive constitutionalism means what it says: the Constitution includes everyone, so our legal interpretation must serve to make the promise of inclusive democracy real. When the judiciary is called upon to resolve a legal ambiguity or when there are broad principles at issue, the application of which must be made specific, it is proper for courts to consider how cases may relate to systemic injustices and how different legal analyses would impact marginalized people’s ability to participate in the country’s political, economic and social life.” Rawles and Dennie also discuss how lawyers and judges can push back against originalism; the legal rights and protections achieved by groups like Jehovah’s Witnesses and the LGBTQ+ community; why she dropped Jurassic Park references into the book; and how she keeps an optimistic outlook on the expansion of civil liberties. “Justice for all may not be a deeply rooted tradition,” Dennie writes, “but fighting for it is.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Are you dealing with a client who is needy, mean, lies to you or is just plain unrealistic? Boy, we have too. Today we’re talking about how to serve difficult clients while protecting our personal and professional boundaries. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Attorneys Leonard Leicht, Harold Moroknek and Peggy Smith Bush from the law firm Marshall Dennehey address legal issues affecting the trucking and transportation industries. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kathy Spillar, Executive Director of Feminist Majority Foundation and Executive Editor of MS Magazine joins SideBar to discuss why ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) is an essential legal tool to guarantee women's rights. Ratification of the ERA would constitutionally prohibit sex discrimination, recognize systemic inequities across different groups of people, and uplift historically marginalized people to achieve true equality and justice. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Round Table Group is a Premier Sponsor of the ABA Litigation Section. On this Litigation Radio episode, we will hear from Dan Rubin, National Business Development Manager of Round Table Group, about using third parties in expert searches. The selection of the Round Table Group as the subject of this interview should not be construed as an endorsement by the American Bar Association of the Round Table Group and its services. ----- Expert witnesses can play a pivotal role in litigation, offering insights and testimony that can make or break a case. But where do you find them, and how do you ensure it’s the right one? Guests Genevieve M. Sauter of Noonan Lance Boyer & Banach LLP, and Dan Rubin, national business development manager for the expert witness search and referral firm Round Table Group, share their insights on locating and presenting the right experts. What are litigators looking for when they select an expert witness? Decades of experience? Advanced degrees? Sure. But also important are intangibles such as geographic location, experience, relatability, manner, and presentation skills. Hear how attorneys search for, test, and select the best experts to match each case. If your case depends on not just expertise, but also how well a jury and judge will understand that expertise, you must dedicate time to the crucial stage of selecting the right expert. Best practices, fees, contracts, discovery, and preparation. It’s all in this episode. Every step will make the difference between winning your case and missing the mark. Resources: Previous episode, “You Need An Expert Witness, But Where Do You Find One?” The Round Table Group Noonan Lance Boyer & Banach ABA Pretrial, Practice & Discovery Committee American Bar Association American Bar Association Litigation Section Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, we welcome email marketing consultant and copywriter Tanya Brody to discuss how law firms can utilize email marketing to attract and retain clients. Tanya shares insights on common email marketing mistakes made by lawyers, such as targeting the wrong audience, overemphasizing credentials, and using overly sophisticated language that can alienate potential clients. She emphasizes the importance of creating lead magnets tailored to address clients' immediate needs and outlines a strategic email funnel from awareness to repurchase. Tanya also highlights the necessity of compliance with email marketing laws to avoid blacklisting issues. Tanya Brody is an email marketing consultant and evangelist. The "Hill She Will Die On" is that every business needs an email list, regardless of size, industry, product, or service. Email is hands-down the best way to stay in touch with genuinely interested potential customers and current customers. It also has the highest ROI of any marketing channel, at 4400%. Tanya helps her clients and her students build a relationship with their subscribers and use that relationship to convert those subscribers into happy, loyal, paying customers. Tanya gives listeners actionable tips on: 00:00 Intro 01:19 Common Mistakes Lawyers Make in Marketing 01:54 The Importance of Knowing Your Audience 03:33 Simplifying Legal Jargon for Better Client Communication 05:33 Email Marketing: A Tool for Client Retention and Acquisition 08:06 Nurturing Clients Through the Marketing Funnel 18:05 Leveraging Lead Magnets for Law Firms 25:41 Navigating Email Overwhelm: A Strategic Approach 26:32 Crafting the Perfect Welcome Sequence 27:36 The Art of Email Sequencing for Engagement 28:34 Why Law Firms Struggle with Email Campaigns 29:25 The Importance of Delegating Email Marketing 33:06 Compliance and Email Marketing: Navigating the Legalities 39:27 Book Recommendation 42:31 One thing that works Resources mentioned in this episode: Invisible Selling Machine by Ryan Deiss Connect with Tanya here: https://www.instagram.com/tbcopywriter42/ https://twitter.com/harpchicwriter https://www.linkedin.com/in/tanyabrody/ https://www.facebook.com/tanyabrodycopywriter http://tanyabrodycopywriter.com https://linktr.ee/emcacademy Connect with me Instagram Pinterest Facebook Twitter Karin on Twitter Karin on LinkedIn Conroy Creative Counsel on Facebook https://conroycreativecounsel.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There’s a new iPad on the market… Do lawyers need it? New, shiny tech is always a temptation for Dennis and Tom, and right now they’re mulling over this latest Apple offering and whether its potential uses for attorneys make it worth the investment. They discuss reviews, new upgrades, uses in legal practice, laptop/phone/tablet comparisons, and more. In their second segment, Chat GPT asks the guys: Will they use AI to write a new intro to the podcast? Well, Suno, a new tool, might just be the thing for the job. 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. Show Notes - Kennedy-Mighell Report #366 A Segment: Is there a New iPad in your Legal Toolbox? Apple iPad: https://www.apple.com/ipad/ Apple Pencil: https://www.apple.com/apple-pencil/ Magic Keyboard: https://www.apple.com/ipad-keyboards/ Why Lawyers will love the new 2024 iPads: https://www.iphonejd.com/iphone_jd/2024/05/2024-ipad.html In The News Episode #146: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n4UEa6NNUIw&ab_channel=IntheNews Humane: https://humane.com/ rabbit r1: https://www.rabbit.tech/ B Segment: We Answer a Question from our ChatGPT Audience Suno - https://suno.com/ Parting Shots: Wired Mouses/Keyboards Experimenting with ChatGPT Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Let’s talk about alternative medicine and coverage under Workers’ Comp’s hodgepodge of rules. Guest Maya Rashid is a recent graduate of Penn State Law and the winner of the College of Workers’ Compensation Lawyers’ student writing competition with her article “Revitalizing Recovery: Exploring Workers’ Compensation Coverage of Alternative Medicine.” Fighting for clients seeking treatment through alternative medicine under Workers’ Comp? Even traditional medicine can get tangled in case law and treatments, but when it comes to alternative medicines, where do you, and your clients, stand? It’s a confusing issue, trying to figure out how injured workers can choose their own care and recovery path versus what insurers and jurisdictions determine is “reasonable.” The word “reasonable” varies across jurisdictions. Not to mention the confusion of medical bill coding. If you, and your clients, are confused, you aren’t alone. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A new survey finds that clients care deeply about their attorney’s tech tools and tech skills. The numbers don’t lie: Legal tech matters. An efficient, integrated system is no longer “nice to have.” It’s table stakes, from case management to client communications to online filing and billing. As a lawyer, guest Dan Lear found himself gravitating to the field of legal tech, including stints at Microsoft and Avvo and now as vice president of partnerships at InfoTrack, helping software developers provide the tech today’s lawyers, and their clients, want. If you’re running your own firm, hear what clients say about their attorney’s tech skills and their expectations and how you can explore and implement the latest tools. And if you’re a law school graduate who has found you aren’t truly attracted to traditional legal work, hear about the fascinating opportunities for lawyers in the field of legal tech development and consulting. Questions or ideas about solo and small practices? Drop us a line at [email protected] Topics: A new survey finds clients care (deeply) about their attorney’s tech and tech skills. And they expect those attorneys to use that tech to efficiently manage their cases Legal tech tools are advancing rapidly. Today’s tools can integrate every facet of a law practice, from case management and scheduling to digitally filing briefs, seamlessly. There are opportunities for law school graduates who don’t want to practice traditional law, instead helping tech firms develop new tools and helping law firms understand and implement those tools. Mentioned in This Episode: InfoTrack Attorney Competence and the Client Experience Previous episodes featuring guest Dan Lear, On the Road, “Legalweek 2024: The Future State of the Industry” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices