Legal Talk Network - Law News and Legal Topics

In this episode, Nick Hutchison, founder of BookThinkers, a company dedicated to helping authors promote and market their books, shares his journey and insights on the importance of reading and applying knowledge from books for personal development. Nick, who has recently published his first book 'Rise of the Reader,' discusses the impact of reading habits on personal and professional growth, and the significance of actionable writing for authors and readers alike. Our conversation explores strategies for effective reading and writing, touches on the value of non-fiction books, and delves into the role of books in the life of professionals, particularly lawyers. Tips on overcoming reading barriers, setting SMART goals for reading, and making reading and writing actionable are also discussed, providing valuable takeaways for listeners seeking to leverage books for learning and growth. Nick Hutchison is the visionary force behind BookThinkers, a thriving 7-figure marketing agency bridging authors and readers. In just over 7 years, he has cultivated a platform reaching over 1,000,000 people monthly and hosts the top 2% global podcast, "BookThinkers: Life-Changing Books," featuring interviews with renowned authors like Grant Cardone and Lewis Howes. Nick's platform and services have empowered countless authors to reach millions of readers, driving substantial revenue growth. His services encompass video production, podcast booking, and social media brand building. With a mission to inspire readers to take action, Nick authored "Rise of the Reader," delving into mastering reading habits and applying newfound knowledge to unlock potential. Nick gives listeners actionable tips on: 0:00 Intro 2:19 My favorite book of 2023 03:47 Tracking reading and using GoodReads 5:28 Nick's favorite book of 2023 7:37 How to write in a compelling way for readers to take action on the advice given 9:11 Top examples of actionable books 11:50 SMART goals for each book you read 13:27 Mistakes people make when writing 16:18 The importance of language for concise communication 17:30 Getting a reader to follow through with a specific call to action 23:47 How to get the reading inertia going and good reading habits to adopt 28:34 Extracting book information from nonfiction books to apply to your life 34:53 Book Review 43:57 About Nick's book Resources mentioned in this episode: The 4-Hour Workweek by Timothy Ferris Get a copy of his book here! Connect with Nick here: https://www.instagram.com/bookthinkers/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/bookthinkers/ http://www.bookthinkers.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

A trusted depth of data helps genAI infuse into the legal world more effectively and accurately, but not all genAI is up to scratch. Dennis and Tom talk with Emily Colbert about current AI uses in legal, with particular focus on the integration of AI into the Practical Law tool from Thomson Reuters. Emily discusses the importance of human experts and trusted content in developing genAI and what industry leaders are doing to drive efficiency and find new integrations for AI that support business growth and improved legal practice. 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. Emily Colbert leads global product management for the Practical Law, Checkpoint and Regulatory Intelligence product lines at Thomson Reuters. Links Mentioned: Gemini by Google MoreUsefulThings.com by Ethan Mollick Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Guest Evita Nwosu-Sylvester focuses on the civil rights and fair lending needs of middle- to low-income earners in their quest for affordable housing. She works in multifamily fair lending operations at Freddie Mac (the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp.). But Nwosu-Sylvester is also a fighter for rights, fair hiring needs, and workplace accommodation for those embracing disabilities. Nwosu-Sylvester followed a nontraditional path to her legal career. She earned her undergraduate degree in psychology with the goal of pursuing that field, focusing on helping people with disabilities. Then, the idea of putting a law degree to work in the field of disability and civil rights attracted her. Throughout her education, she worked to embrace her own disability – cerebral palsy – and learn how to live independently while making a difference. In her legal career, Nwosu-Sylvester shows organizations that people with disabilities are capable, valuable contributors. Accommodation doesn’t have to be insurmountable or expensive, and Nwosu-Sylvester and her team regularly make themselves available to help organizations understand and develop neurodiversity policies and programs. RESOURCES: U.S. Department of Labor Job Accommodation Network (JAN) ABA Commission on Disability Rights The American Association of People With Disabilities American Bar Association American Bar Association Young Lawyers Division Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We return to our series profiling leading litigators and business builders with guest Paula Hinton, a litigation partner and executive committee member with international firm Winston & Strawn. She’s held numerous leadership positions, is recognized across the profession, and handles a variety of complex cases. And she did it her way. “It starts with taking people out to breakfast!” Growing up the daughter of a respected small-town attorney in Alabama, Hinton jokes that she was “Scout” to a real-life Atticus Finch of the novel To Kill a Mockingbird. Hinton learned at a young age the trust clients place in their attorneys and the duty attorneys have to serve clients and the community, in and out of the courthouse. Hinton’s path took her from a small town to big city firms with international clients. Entering an area of the law that at the time featured few women, Hinton made her own way, walking into senior attorneys’ offices and volunteering for the toughest cases. In an era before the phrase “work/life balance,” she learned to manage the demands of high stakes law in balance with her personal life. Throughout, Hinton strove to raise her profile, develop a strong reputation, and build and sustain business relationships through involvement in nonprofit and association work and by making herself available to senior firm members for complex cases. “Don’t wait for them to find you, you go find them,” she says. Hear first-hand Hinton’s tips for building a high-profile career in litigation, leveraging both corporate and American Bar Association relationships, and building on each previous step. Resources: American Bar Association American Bar Association Litigation Section Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Are your writings being read? Stephanie and Harvard’s Todd Rogers discuss effective writing. Links from the episode: Schedule a free 30 minute strategy session with iLawyer! Book with Todd Writing for Busy People Checklist AI Email Editing Tool 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

Conservative justices can't stop telling on themselves when it comes to forum shopping. __________________ Joe Biden says he got a standing ovation for trying to BS his way through a law school cold call. We call BS on that. Also Cooley Law School finds itself at the bottom of the heap when it comes to bar passage rates again. At some point, the ABA has to step in... right? Finally, the nation's judges did something about politicized forum shopping and right-wingers can't stop help but crying about how they miss their cheat code. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

James Patterson has written bestsellers in many genres. But as he tells the ABA Journal's Lee Rawles in this episode of The Modern Law Library, he has always been fascinated by legal thrillers, courtroom dramas and crime novels. He even considered becoming a lawyer, before his literary career took off. In his newest release, The #1 Lawyer, James Patterson partnered with co-author Nancy Allen to tell the story of Stafford Lee Penney, a criminal defense attorney in Biloxi, Mississippi, who’s never lost a case. But after handing a high-profile murder trial involving the son of a mobster, Penney finds himself on the other side of the bench as a defendant himself, charged with murdering his own wife. Patterson has written and co-written more than 300 books, including bestselling series like Alex Cross, Women’s Murder Club and Maximum Ride. He had some writing tips for attorneys, particularly on how to work collaboratively. As Patterson tells listeners in the podcast, he is open about working with other writers on many of his books, and he finds tools like outlining absolutely essential. He also shares with Rawles how he thinks co-writers should handle interpersonal communication while working together. Patterson says one of the major benefits of working with co-authors is pulling from their experiences to make his books more accurate and true to life. When he wrote The President is Missing with Bill Clinton, the former president could tell Patterson the inside details of how a Secret Service detail worked. When he wrote Run, Rose, Run with Dolly Parton, she walked him through the production cycle for a song. Allen, who conducted more than 30 jury trials as a prosecutor in Missouri and taught law for 15 years at Missouri State University, contributed her firsthand courtroom experience to The #1 Lawyer. Patterson says they worked to make everything as accurate as possible—while still allowing for a good story. It’s the pair’s second book together, following a previous standalone novel, Juror #3. In this episode of The Modern Law Library, Patterson shares some of his favorite law-related pop culture picks; news about new and ongoing projects; and describes a very special birthday event with Dolly Parton. He also discusses how his children’s series Maximum Ride got caught up in Florida book bans in 2023. For fans of Patterson’s breakout success, the Alex Cross series launched in 1993 with Along Came a Spider, the author shares updates about what’s next for the intrepid detective—including details about the upcoming Amazon Prime TV series Cross, starring Aldis Hodge. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In part two, we share our mentor’s most impactful lessons and talk about the benefits of building long lasting relationships through mentorship. No matter if you are the mentor or the mentee, taking time to share experience and expertise elevates our profession. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jim Barbieri from independent adjusting company Claims Advantage, Inc. discusses the complexity of automobile theft claims. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Since the mid to late 1980s, an increasingly conservative federal bench has made it more difficult to defend Indian rights under existing treaties and federal law. John Echohawk is an attorney and Executive Director of the Native American Rights Fund (NARF) defending Native American tribes, organizations, and individuals. He joins SideBar to discuss issues such as tribal sovereignty, treaty rights, natural resource protection, voting rights, and Indian education. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Many law students begin their studies thinking they have their legal ambitions all mapped out, only to realize later that their perfect plan is no longer what they want. Having this type of identity crisis in law school isn’t a bad thing, and if it happens to you, don’t panic! Law school and your early legal career should be a time for exploration and change. Chay Rodriguez talks with attorney Katie Winchenbach about her personal experiences and the strategies, resources, and connections that helped her pivot to new opportunities both as a student and a young lawyer. Katie Winchenbach is a corporate attorney at Motorola Solutions and program director for Ms. JD, a national nonprofit that supports aspiring and early-career women attorneys. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

March is Women’s History Month where we celebrate the contributions women have made to the United States throughout American history in a variety of fields. Charlotte E. Ray. Belva Lockwood. Sandra Day O’Connor. Ruth Bader Ginsberg. These are just some of the standout women who have shaped our legal history and fought for women and girls across the nation. Unfortunately, in recent years women’s rights have come under attack. With SCOTUS’ overturning of Roe v. Wade, and many other policy issues like equal pay, Title IX, childcare, taxes, and equity in education, women continue to fight for their individual rights. In this episode, Craig is joined by Amy Royce, Senior Counsel for Income Security for the National Women’s Law Center, as they will spotlight Women's History Month by discussing the current policy issues involving women, highlighting the intersection of gender justice and tax policy. We will also take a look back at women throughout history who have paved the way, and what women across the nation can do to rise up against legislation and fight for their rights. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What are you putting off? We’ve all been there and here’s the good news: it doesn’t mean you are lazy or a bad person! In this episode, Stephanie explores the why behind procrastination with time management expert, Paul Unger. Of course, they’ll also dig into actionable steps you can take to overcome procrastination and get those to-dos off your plate! Links from the episode: Check out Pilot! Time Management for Legal Professionals Course with Paul Unger 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

Parental leave and a bumbling Supreme Court highlight the week. _____________________________ Are law firms going to get stingy with parental leave? While most firms report solid revenue, sparking resentment over a few weeks of leave seems like a weird strategy, but DLA Piper recently cut back on the leave available to non-birthing parents. It's a first as far as Above the Law can tell, but will it be the last? Also, the Supreme Court screwed up its metadata, committing an error that would get junior associates fired. And finally, Joe Biden offered the Court some tough talk... by quoting them. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Frustration. Guilt. Anger. Loss. It’s hard to stay focused when so many powerful emotions come at you in a single day. Listen in as we discuss our recent rides on the emotional roller coaster and learn about the tools we use to keep our sanity and come back for more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcription technology has existed for a while now, but its accuracy has never been that high. Now, artificial intelligence could make automated transcription even more accurate. As the tech becomes better and better, is it possible that it could eventually replace human court reporters? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This time, the guys unpack Google’s latest headlines, caution lawyers against some highly questionable speakers at legal conferences, and share the latest books to add to your reading list. ____________________________ Today’s big thing—The News: Google’s latest core updates are really trying to crack down on spam and garbage content. Will it work? Gyi and Conrad talk through what it all means for you. Check out: Google’s Search Status Dashboard for Ranking and Google Is Finally Trying to Kill AI Clickbait. Disgusting, but predictable––Google’s February LSA update was super gross: Google tests Branded Local Service Ads with opt-out option. Gyi explains how Google is trying to reduce spam in some areas through quality rater guidelines, but they don’t seem to care about it when it comes to ads: Search Quality Rater Guidelines: An Overview. Conrad rants against Google’s Pay Per Click (PPC) tactics, so to wrap your head around PPC marketing in general, try LHLM 101: Advertisement Buying Alphabet Soup and Search Engine Land’s What is PPC – Pay-Per-Click marketing? Later, there are a fair amount of conference sessions these days in which the speakers are paying big money to pitch their message/product to attendees. What do we think of this practice? Gyi and Conrad both have their own take, but the bottom line is: there’s a lousy content issue at conferences, and the guys share IRL examples of session claptrap you should avoid. Finally, what have the guys been reading lately? For Conrad, Shoe Dog by Phil Knight, tells the story of the messy process of building a successful business. And Gyi has been reading all of Tiago Forte’s books, including Building a Second Brain and The PARA Method for organizing your digital life. Mentioned in this Episode: LHLM Office Hours are coming March 15th! Register or View Here The Game Changing Attorney Podcast: The Brutally Honest Guide to Public Speaking 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

Experts discuss the vast funding gap in legal tech. LSC President Ron Flagg hosts the conversation with guests Bob Ambrogi, lawyer and award-winning legal tech journalist, and Cat Moon, director of innovation design for the Program on Law and Innovation at Vanderbilt Law School. Inspired by Ambrogi’s recent LawSites article, they discuss how tech companies, big law firms and corporate law departments could step up to help close the justice gap. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Since its inception in 2017, the Committee on Disciplinary Rules and Referenda has been charged with the examination of Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct and Rules of Disciplinary Procedure to determine rule adequacy and necessary changes. After extensive evaluation of existing rules, the committee proposed 12 new rules between 2021 and 2023 which Texas attorneys will now have the opportunity to vote on from April 1-30, 2024. Rocky Dhir talks with committee members Lewis Kinard (Chair), Judge Phyllis Martinez Gonzalez, and Scott Brumley, and former member Claude Ducloux about the proposed rules to help Texas legal professionals gain a better understanding of the purpose and implications of the suggested changes. For more information, including links to background information on each rule proposal, go to texasbar.com/rulesvote. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode’s discussions around the Community Table: We start with an attorney who wants to balance hiring and firm growth. What happens when you hire “too much” team for the work or have “too much work” for the team? It’s a delicate dance. Start with a business plan and control the one thing you can, the number of cases you accept. It’s OK to say no to a new potential client. (Plus, find out what Christopher calls a “bull$#!* plan”). What happens when you haven’t explored new ways to market and you fall behind? No use crying over spilt milk, but honestly, get on it. You start from where you are. Understand what you’re doing, what’s working, and what’s failing. A swift kick in the pants may get you motivated. And how do you help a long-standing employee establish some metrics, mainly a minimum billable hour requirement? Be straightforward, but it’s a balancing act. Sometimes you gotta be cruel to be kind (in the right measure). Mentioned in this Episode: Empirical360 BlueShark Digital Marketing What are LSAs? (Local Service Ads) Join the next Community Table live. What’s on your mind? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, I’m joined by Doug Reifschneider, a Fractional Chief Marketing Officer at Chief Outsiders, to discuss the benefits and strategies of employing fractional CMO services for law firms. Doug Reifschneider is a marketing veteran from the restaurant industry. During his four-year tenure with Chief Outsiders as a fractional Chief Marketing Officer (CMO), Doug has worked with home services, funeral services, franchised security services, B2B, and restaurants to prove that marketing skills are transferrable. Chief Outsiders is the largest Fractional CMO firm in the USA. Chief Outsiders stands as the largest fractional CMO firm in the U.S., offering over 110 CMOs and chief sales officers. Doug shares insights into the growing trend of fractional services across industries, including law firms, and emphasizes the importance of understanding customer needs, competition, and unique value propositions for effective marketing strategies. We get into 'The Growth Gears' methodology as a simplified approach to marketing strategy, focusing on insights, strategy, and execution phases to fuel business growth. Doug also highlights common marketing mistakes businesses make, such as lack of coherent strategy or 'random acts of marketing,' and suggests solutions like customer nurturing and leveraging operational systems for automated post-purchase engagement to keep law firms on the path to growth. Doug gives listeners actionable tips on: 0:00 Intro 2:18 How he starts a big marketing strategy for a client 4:59 Using your people as a point of differentiation 8:31 How to move your clients through "I need marketing" to spending time going through a strategy for growth 10:34 How to explain the mistakes your clients are making when they come to you 12:54 What kind of suggestions do you offer at the bottom part of the funnel 16:56 How do you avoid random acts of marketing and stay focused 18:16 Do you have metrics and reporting to assure people it's working 20:32 What's the typical timeframe you recommend for them to see results 23:25 Looking at clients as customers and why language matters 26:31 Book Review 31:50 One big takeaway Resources mentioned in this episode: The Growth Gears by Art Saxby Connect with Doug here: https://twitter.com/Reiflman https://www.linkedin.com/in/doug-reifschneider/ https://www.facebook.com/Reiflman/ https://www.chiefoutsiders.com/profile/doug-reifschneider 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

It is important to attorneys to build a rich career, but just as important is the time they put into life outside of legal practice. Molly Ranns and JoAnn Hathaway talk with Kevin McGoff about his recently published book, Find Your Landing Zone: Life Beyond the Bar. Kevin shares his personal experiences and discusses effective ways to manage transitions both during and at the close of a legal career. Kevin believes attorneys should commit to reflection and take charge of the many fulfilling opportunities retirement has in store. Kevin McGoff is an author, travel writer, speaker and lawyer. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Creative thinking and design elements can help you elevate your legal practice and develop more meaningful solutions for clients. Dennis and Tom welcome Tessa Manuello to discuss her insights on legal technology with a particular focus on creative design adaptations for lawyers. Tessa discusses the tech learning process for attorneys and explains how a more creative approach for both learning and implementing tech can help lawyers make better use of current tools, AI included. 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. Tessa Manuello is founder and CEO of Legal Creatives, an internationally recognized speaker, and a leading expert in the world of legal design. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Adjusting to the new and persistent presence of AI in the legal world isn’t easy, but it is necessary. Jared welcomes brothers Justin and Luc Cary, an attorney and software engineer, respectively, to unpack the current state of AI in business and legal uses. They discuss current safety issues, emerging guardrails, best practices for research, AI in legal tech software, and more. Later on in the Rump Roast, the guys play “Brother Up”, where Justin and Luc must identify famous brothers in history and pop culture. And, should you be entering confidential information into generative AI tools? Well, there are layers, folks, but in the current AI environment, lawyers should never assume their data is secure. That being said, Jared doesn’t want to throw a wet blanket on the AI revolution, he just wants you to know the three simple things that will enable you to use these tools safely and ethically. Justin Cary is an attorney at Drummond Woodsum. Luc Cary is associate director of machine learning at Invitae. _______________________________________________________ Since we have the Cary brothers with us this week, here's a playlist all about siblings! _______________________________________________________ Our opening track is Two Cigarettes by Major Label Interest. Our closing track is Promised Land by Brian Brown Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You own a law firm and have amazing thoughts, ideas, and stories to share. So, what’s holding you back from writing that book? In today’s episode, Stephanie talks with best-selling author and speaker Sharai Robbin about why and how you can write that book. Links from the episode: Freebie - 7- Figure Secret Case Study Upcoming Masterclass - "The 3 Critical Mistakes Stopping Coaches & Experts From Getting Their Books Done" 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

Bond... unaffordable cash bond. _________________________________ Donald Trump needed to put up some cash before E. Jean Carroll can begin executed the judgment she has against him. Instead, Trump tried to argue that he was simply too rich to put up a bond. The argument was not persuasive, but it did get Above the Law mentioned on Stephen Colbert. We also discuss the Supreme Court taking up the Trump immunity case even though there's not a chance they'll endorse his theory. And when should we just let bygones be bygones with a lawyer's bigoted past? A law professor says everyone is way too hard on Thomas's new clerk just because she got fired from a past right-wing organization after racist messages came to light. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Three high-profile cases of sexual assault in 2012 followed a basic pattern: A teenage girl was sexually assaulted at a house party by one or more teenage boys while she was incapacitated by alcohol. The attacks were recorded and the photos, videos and stories were shared on social media or via texts. The photos and videos were used to ridicule the victims among their peers. Those texts and posts later became evidence in criminal cases. These incidents took place in Steubenville, Ohio; Maryville, Missouri; and Saratoga, California, and sparked national conversations about youth, technology and sexual assault in 2013. “The question gnawing at everyone, myself included, was: What were these kids thinking?” writes Anna Gjika, a sociology professor who studies crime and gender issues. More than 10 years later, Gjika has attempted to answer that question in her new book, When Rape Goes Viral: Youth and Sexual Assault in the Digital Age. She took a close look at the three attacks in 2012, but identifies a number of similar instances that have happened more recently. One of the elements the public found shocking about the cases was how many bystanders filmed or photographed the unconscious girls or the sexual assaults as they were occurring, without intervening. In talking to people involved in the cases and to teens in general as part of her research, Gjika found that the young people did not think of their social media as archival so much as “of the moment.” They filmed and posted what was happening around themselves because they were used to doing that. “Sharing an experience has become an integral part of the experience,” Gjika writes. In this episode of The Modern Law Library, Gjika and the ABA Journal’s Lee Rawles discuss her research into generational attitudes towards social media and sexual assault; the promises and pitfalls of digital evidence in sexual assault cases; how social media can be empowering or degrading for survivors; the social responsibility held by the legal community and the tech industry; and what interventions could be effective to prevent such assaults from taking place. Digital evidence like cellphone videos and texts can be extremely beneficial to prosecutors looking to prove incidents of sexual assault, particularly when victims are unable to recount their experience because they were unconscious or impaired during the attacks. But Gjika explains that this kind of evidence is not uncomplicated. The way juries perceive the evidence will still be filtered through societal expectations and prejudices. Defense attorneys do not have the same access to digital evidence from tech companies, and usually lack capacity to process immense amounts of data. The expertise, willingness and resources of police departments and prosecutors’ offices to seek out this evidence also vary widely. And the victims can be further traumatized by the use in court of images and video of their assaults, and the knowledge that the images continue to be disseminated on the internet. In closing, Rawles and Gjika discuss what actions can be taken by schools, the legal community and the tech industry to prevent such attacks or to assist victims whose assaults have been digitally documented. Gjika believes educational programs and trainings for teens need to focus on peer groups and norms, rather than emphasizing individual responsibility, and “must be grounded within adolescents’ lived experiences, rather than on adult fears and anxieties.” She also argues that adults as well as teens would benefit from “ethical digital citizenship initiatives,” where concepts like privacy and online decision-making could be discussed. And she suggests the creation of government-funded organizations to assist survivors with removing digital content from the internet. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mentorship improves competence and confidence. John brings his daughter Attorney Mary Simonto the mic to discuss the power of mentorship for personal and professional growth. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Subscription legal services are the future, folks, so let’s ride the new wave! The billable hour has become increasingly despised, but how do you make the switch to a subscription-based, recurring revenue law firm? In a live conversation at ABA TECHSHOW, Gyi chatted with Kim Bennett and Blaine Korte about how to leave the billable hour behind and create processes and automations that keep your ideal client’s journey in mind and make your law firm more profitable. Kim Bennett is CEO and co-founder at Fidu Legal. Blaine Korte is CTO and co-founder at Fidu Legal. 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 Russ Rosenzweig, CEO 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. ______________________________________________________ When representing clients with complex issues, there are times when you need an expert witness. A real expert. Someone who will help you dissect, understand, and present key elements to jurors or judges in a way they can understand. Enter Round Table Group, “the experts on experts.” Guest Russ Rosenzweig is CEO and co-founder of a firm that specializes in identifying, enlisting, and providing expert witnesses and consultants across virtually every possible topic with tens of thousands of affiliated leaders in their field. Hear how litigators find and hire an expert, no matter the niche. Remember that scene in “My Cousin Vinny” when Joe Pesci puts his girlfriend, Marisa Tomei, on the stand as a brilliant expert. It doesn’t happen like that. And they don’t teach this in law school. Learn about the search process, search and hire billing rates, and expert fee negotiations. Many lawyers don’t know where to start. They may be missing the best of the best, or they can waste time trying to find the right expert. Many Round Table Group staffers themselves are lawyers, engineers, and experts. They know how to read a patent or dissect evidence to find the exact right expert to help attorneys prove their point and win their case. Learn how a team of professionals can help you identify your needs, craft the right angle, and dial in to the expert who can push your case across the line. Resources: Aminer.org Experts.com Google Scholar PubMed New York Times, “More And More, Expert Witnesses Make The Difference” Daubert Standard, Cornell University American Bar Association American Bar Association Litigation Section Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The federal constitution neither explicitly nor implicitly includes the right to vote. Instead, the framers allowed the States to determine the “Time, Places, and Manner of holding Elections.” Rick Hasen, author of A Real Right to Vote: How a Constitutional Amendment Can Safeguard American Democracy, believes that needs to change. He asserts that a constitutional right to vote can deescalate election litigation and can safeguard democracy from election subversion. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On November 5th, 2024, people across the nation will head to the polls and cast their vote for president of the United States. It is looking more and more like another battle between President Joe Biden & former President Donald Trump with policy and rhetoric indicating an even more divided nation than in the prior election. With policy issues like immigration, abortion, IVF, guns, employment, and the economy taking center stage in this race, this election could once again be a controversial one. So, with a nation divided, can our democracy be saved? In this episode, Craig is joined by attorney David Pepper, as they discuss the upcoming presidential election, the state of democracy in the U.S., the current policy issues that could impact the election, and how we can save our democracy. Mentioned in this episode: Saving Democracy: A User’s Manual Laboratories of Autocracy: A Wake-Up Call from Behind the Lines Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Your firm is more likely to succeed with the right software in place, but not all lawyers have a large technology budget. Judge Barbara Leach shares cost-effective software solutions that can help lawyers grow their business and increase efficiency. Judge Leach emphasizes the importance of a basic investment in practice management software early in your firm’s development to seamlessly move from a few clients to many more. She also outlines the valuable resources both mandatory and voluntary bar associations have to offer their members. Barbara Leach is a Circuit Court Judge in Orlando, Florida where she currently serves one of three Domestic Violence Divisions. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Is it time to review the tech tools you use every day? Are you getting the most out of your online services (or are you using the right ones?) A lot has changed in the way Microsoft tools interact with the world of legal tech in the past year or so. So, we’ve got a special episode on tech. A back-to-school session where host Adriana Linares offers some no nonsense tutoring to help you get the most out of your Microsoft subscriptions and tech and be more productive. Start with understanding your Microsoft account and the types of available add-ons and subscriptions. Take a deep dive into the types of Microsoft accounts: personal/family, work, and third-party accounts. Dig into available AI and how they apply to your business. And learn about security options, and why they are so important. Got questions or ideas about solo and small practices? Drop us a line at [email protected] Topics: Understand the array of Microsoft accounts and services. Business or personal? Security? Plus, add-ons and subscriptions. Learn why you should never mingle your personal and private accounts. Get the latest on AI add-ons such as Microsoft Copilot (and understand the security around these new tools). Mentioned in this Episode Microsoft 365 Microsoft 365 Pricing Microsoft Office.com Microsoft OneDrive Microsoft SharePoint Microsoft Defender Microsoft Loop Microsoft Copilot, “Announcing Microsoft Copilot, Your Everyday AI Companion” Copilot for Microsoft Edge Microsoft Copilot Create a Gmail account Create an Outlook email account Google Workspace Godaddy.com Previously on New Solo, Adam Alexander, “AI And The Evolving Security Threats (And Protections)” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You have great ideas as a leader, but do you struggle getting your team on board and ready to change with you? In this episode, Stephanie talks with Paco Roman, Professional Development Coach, about a change management system that will help you get your team on board and moving in the same direction. Additionally, Zack talks with Joyce Brafford, from Cosmolex about how accounting and business reporting can be made easier through an all-in-one practice management platform. Links from the episode: Check out CosmoLex! 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

Modernization is pushing us toward change, and one area of contention has been Model Rule of Professional Conduct 5.5 and related Unauthorized Practice of Law issues, particularly as they relate to multi-jurisdictional legal practice. Emma Raimi-Zlatic talks with Charity Anastasio and Micah Buchdahl about their session dedicated to the changing landscape of rule 5.5 and how things are shifting as the legal profession sees a greater need for multi-jurisdictional, national, and even global legal practice. Charity Anastasio is a Practice and Ethics Counsel for the American Immigration Lawyers Association’s Practice and Professionalism Center in Washington D.C. Micah U. Buchdahl is an attorney and President of HTMLawyers, a law marketing company based in Moorestown, New Jersey. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The “times they are a changing” in the world of Workers’ Compensation, a system developed when the relationship between workers and employers were more clearly defined. Guest Emily Spieler is an accomplished author, former professor, practicing attorney, and government official with a career that spans the space of workers’ rights, safety, and compensation. The 100+ year old system of Workers’ Comp has evolved and continues to change and adapt. But the bottom line is we still have a duty to care for injured workers. How do we fit today’s challenges into an old model? There’s a growing debate today in both legal and government circles over the definition of worker/employer relationships. The world today is more complex than when compensation rules were developed, and the nature of work has moved beyond old factory and mining jobs. Contract workers, gig employees, and working remotely are shaking up the working world. Who should cover an Uber driver? As unions fade, who helps injured workers understand their rights, file claims, and protects them from retaliation for asking for compensation? Robotics, AI, rush warehouse fulfillment, and even jobs that haven’t been invented strain the limits of our current system. This is a fascinating conversation. Mentioned in this Episode: “(Re)Assessing The Grand Bargain: Compensation For Work Injuries In The United States, 1900-2017,” Emily A. Spieler, Rutgers University Law Review “US Court Rules Uber And Lyft Workers Are Contractors,” BBC “Oklahoma Workers’ Comp Opt Out Ruled Unconstitutional,” Insurance Journal Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Another firm begins cracking down on office attendance through punishment. Law firms want lawyers back in the office, but if they don't want associates spending that office time fielding calls from recruiters, it's time to consider incentives that treat lawyers like professionals. A Bush judge questioned Trump's manhood and Amy Wax fights back against the slap on the wrist Penn prepared to give her. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Is there some sort of universal average you should be hoping for in your cost per acquisition, particularly on social media? Gyi and Conrad have the answer. And, later, your marketing dream team needs an off-hours operator! ______________________________ What is the best cost per acquisition you can hope to attain in your social media marketing efforts? Gyi and Conrad unpack this listener question and dig into how it actually ought to be considered in an entirely different way. Is a cost per acquisition of under $100 the magical threshold everyone thinks it is? Your law firm’s goals might beg to differ. Later on, the draft for your marketing dream team is back! The guys talk about the essential role of the off-hours operator. Whether human-powered or fully automated, your firm needs to be able to be communicative with consumers at all times, day and night. The News: Google and Reddit are getting together: Google strikes $60 million deal with Reddit, allowing search giant to train AI models on human posts - CBS News Aaand, more Google, as usual—they’re working with machine learning to keep trying to actually be helpful: How machine learning keeps contributed content helpful Gyi was on Trial Lawyer Nation, so you better go check that out. Mentioned in this Episode: Reddit Episode Curtis Boyd - The Transparency Company Leave Us an Apple Review Lunch Hour Legal Marketing now on YouTube Lunch Hour Legal Marketing on TikTok Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ray Brescia, a law professor at Albany Law School, has taken a hard look at the country’s legal system in his new book, Lawyer Nation: The Past, Present and Future of the American Legal Profession. In this episode of The Modern Law Library, Brescia tells the ABA Journal’s Lee Rawles about the efforts in the late 19th and early 20th century to exclude people from the legal profession who were not part of the dominant social class, and how access-to-justice issues persist today as a result of some of those measures. The early American Bar Association is one of the organizations he names as a participant in the exclusionary efforts through its law school accreditation program, and he and Rawles discuss the ABA’s current efforts to increase diversity, equity and inclusion. As someone who has worked in academia, the non-profit world, legal aid organizations and as a clerk at the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, he says he’s come across many people who care deeply and want the justice system to function better. But without fundamental changes to the ways legal services are delivered, he does not think the access-to-justice issues can be solved. A large part of Brescia’s concern that he expresses in Lawyer Nation is for legal professionals themselves. Brescia says the mental illness and substance-use levels within the profession demonstrate that greater care has to be shown for lawyers’ well-being and work-life balance. He shares his advice for making the profession more sustainable for the incoming generation. He also discusses how law schools and legal education can change. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Many female attorneys agonize over courtroom attire….but does it really matter? Intentional dressing really does communicate an attitude to the jury and imparts a first impression that can impact you and your client. Tune in for a slightly different take on the courtroom clothing conversation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

AI is increasingly laced into the daily processes of legal professionals, and it promises to become an even larger part of our lives for greater efficiency and reach in many aspects of the law. Jack Newton joins Laurence Colletti to discuss AI’s rapid advancements and how attorneys can manage its use in legal practice. They also discuss ethical concerns and the continued research and developments that will lead this technology into the future. Jack Newton is the CEO and co-founder of Clio, a pioneer in cloud-based legal technology. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Experts discuss resources for disaster preparedness and recovery on this episode of Talk Justice. As natural disasters become more frequent, LSC and First Street Foundation have collaborated to bring HeartlandDisasterHelp.org to life. The website empowers residents across ten states in America's heartland that have faced significant flooding, windstorms, extreme heat and wildfires over the past decade. Also, legal services providers in Oklahoma and Nebraska share how disasters effect their clients. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Production and technology are inextricably intertwined. That doesn’t mean online tech replaces the human touch. It means today’s tech tools can help you better serve clients. But you still need to ask, anticipate, listen, and deliver. Guest Joey Seeber – an experienced litigator and the founder of the legal tech consulting and implementation company Level Legal – explores how tech and humans work together. The legal world has become a digital jungle. Virtually everything is digitized. But untangling the bits and bytes and preparing them for courtroom presentation takes know-how and careful thought. There is no longer simply “acceptance” of technology; instead, technical competence is expected. The trick is finding the perfect point where tech meets the human touch, allowing lawyers to best serve clients and to meet needs and understand things that go unsaid. From eDiscovery to AI, the tools are out there. But the human application of those tools makes the real difference. How well do you understand your role as a human in a high-tech world? What makes you stand out? Hear some great tips about using the right tech while bringing your own special touch to surprise and delight your clients. Mentioned in this Episode: Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy Clio Cloud Conference ABA Techshow Legalweek 2024 Join The Un-Billable Hour Community Table Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, brand coach Cindy Chang joins me to discuss improving client relations, attracting ideal audience, and converting leads into clients through the marketing funnel. We explore the importance of understanding your audiences' needs, the role of demographics and psychographics in shaping marketing strategies, and how to show value to potential clients. Cindy emphasizes on focusing on the outcome rather than the features of a service to effectively appeal to clients. You have unique gifts to share. But... does the world KNOW what you have to offer? Cindy is the person who helps make sure the answer to this question is a resounding: YES. Cindy cut her teeth on marketing for nostalgic brands like Kraft Mac & Cheese to JELL-O, before leaving corporate and leaping into entrepreneurship. Today, she helps founders and creatives build their own brands: from scratch. From helping an Asian woman-owned business break into the male-dominated construction industry... to launching grief circles during the holiday season... Cindy helps business owners with unconventional gifts share their work, and redefine norms along the way. Cindy gives listeners actionable tips on: 0:00 Intro 2:13 How can people improve the middle section of the sales funnel 3:18 What is ‘showing value’? 10:37 Cindy's approach and philosophy to get people to buy 17:01 How do you find your dream audience and then build relationships to create clients from audience members 19:28 Old school marketing vs. now 23:36 Basic tips to sustain relationships with past clients 28:27 How to listen in to your audience 31:01 Book Review 32:52 One big takeaway Resources mentioned in this episode: You Are the Brand by Mike Kim Connect with Cindy here: https://www.instagram.com/thehustlingheart/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/cindy-chang-59b76b58/ http://www.thehustlingheart.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

Billing pain points can severely impact a law firm’s success, but today’s technology can make all the difference. Laurence Colletti chats with Jordan Turk and Jayden Doyé to hear highlights from their session on law firm billing automation. They explain the disadvantages of manual billing and offer resources for attorneys to learn and implement automated billing software for greater efficiency and profitability in legal practice. Jordan Turk is a practicing attorney in Texas and the Legal Technology Advisor at Smokeball. T. Jayden Doyé is president of Prestige Accounting Solutions LLC. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The core of what Quinten Steenhuis does at Suffolk University’s Legal Innovation and Technology Lab is find new ways to help poor people gain access to legal help to work toward closing the justice gap. Dennis and Tom talk with Quinten about his work in this space to learn more about legal tech’s uses and potential for solving large-scale problems in the justice system. Quinten explains specific tech developed at the Lab, talks about tech competence and education amongst attorneys and law students, shares his favorite collaboration tools, and much more. Quinten also digs into the best current uses of AI and automation and their many possibilities for solving more problems for lawyers. 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. Quinten Steenhuis is Practitioner in Residence at Suffolk University Law School and founder of Lemma Legal. Links Mentioned: Namedrop.io Copilot Microsoft 365 Introducing AI Prompt Worksheets for the Legal Profession by Jennifer Wondracek Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Change is hard, especially when your team is uncertain about a new process or uncomfortable with new tech implementations for your legal practice. Gyi Tsakalakis is joined by Danielle Hall and Matt Spiegel to discuss their TECHSHOW session focused on managing change well in your law firm. They discuss common mistakes that may lead to resistance and offer strategies for creating change management processes that encourage and support your team. Danielle Hall is the Executive Director for the Kansas Lawyers Assistance Program. Matt Spiegel is the co-founder and CEO of Lawmatics, an attorney-client relationship management platform. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Often, attorneys’ schedules are so packed that they feel overwhelmed by daily tasks, struggling to manage their time effectively. Lawyers want to have the time they need to do their work well, and Bill Ramsey and Phil Hampton are here to help. They talk about their session dedicated to time-saving practices for lawyers, outlining common struggles, tips for eliminating procrastination, and how a well-prioritized schedule can revolutionize your legal practice. William T. Ramsey is an attorney at Neal & Harwell, where the primary focus of his practice is complex civil and criminal litigation. Phillip Hampton is a legal technology consultant with over 30 years of experience in the field of information technology. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Guest Michael Kippins is a Boston-based civil rights attorney with Lawyers For Civil Rights. Driven by a desire to advocate for those too often left without robust representation, Kippins made the courageous jump from a big law setting to his civil rights practice and hasn’t looked back. In one of his high-profile cases, Kippins is challenging what the suit describes as Harvard University’s system of admission bias toward “legacy” students and the harm that practice poses to communities, including first-generation students and students of color. During the episode, Kippins discusses the differences between civil rights law and his previous role in big law. From working with community groups to prioritizing public awareness of his cases, the range of skills required as a civil rights attorney is diverse and unique to the practice. A career in civil rights litigation can be a labor of love and fulfill a passion. Hear how the work civil rights attorneys does make a difference in people’s lives. If you’ve been interested in pro bono work, if you’ve found something missing in another area of law, or if you’re simply curious about civil rights law, this is an episode you can’t miss. Christina Gregg served as the associate producer on this episode of Young Lawyer Rising. Resources: Why I Became a Civil Rights Attorney ABA Civil Rights and Social Justice Section Lawyers For Civil Rights Lawyers For Civil Rights, Facebook Lawyers For Civil Rights, Email: [email protected] Massachusetts Black Lawyers Association Boys & Girls Club of Boston Newsweek, “Harvard Faces Another Legal Fight Over Its Admissions” Reuters, “Harvard 'Legacy' Policy Challenged On Heels Of Affirmative Action Ruling” SXSW Educational Seminar Week American Bar Association American Bar Association Young Lawyers Division Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices