Legal Talk Network - Law News and Legal Topics

Professors Andrew Garcia and James Matthews discuss Suffolk University Law School’s Accelerator to Practice program. Designed to prepare students for small and solo practice, students partnered with small law firm owners in the Lawyerist Lab coaching program. Using tenets learned in Lawyerist’s book The Small Firm Roadmap, students interviewed the owners, analyzed their firms, and presented a case study complete with recommendations for improvements. Links from the episode: 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! Thanks to Posh Virtual Receptionists, Clio, & LawPay for sponsoring this episode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mental health, wellness, and managing burnout made headlines during and after the pandemic. But what did we learn? Guest Richard Rivera, a highly successful partner at a Florida law firm, knows we should. Many of us work too much and too hard and push beyond reasonable limits. Rivera knows firsthand. He was a fourth-year associate in a litigation focused firm, and he said yes to everything. Any new case, any new project, he was game. It was a matter of professional pride and rapid development. Then he noticed the stress was taking a physical toll on his body resulting in itchy and yellowing skin, fatigue, and sleepless nights. He figured eventually things would slow down and these conditions would pass. Of course, neither happened. A doctor eventually found the constant stress had taken an enormous toll on his body. Set boundaries: a time you won’t go to the office before or stay after; take at least one day off – really off – during the week. You only have so much capacity, and when you exceed that, you damage yourself and you can harm your clients and your firm with errors due to exhaustion. If you’re not good to yourself, you’ll be no good to anyone. Take a moment to listen to this critically important episode. By Rich Rivera My Experience with Organ Transplantation Additional Resources How Sleep Affects Your Health How Lawyers Can Manage Stress and Cortisol Levels How to Talk about Mental Health with Your Employer ABA Young Lawyers Division ABA Commission on Lawyer Assistance Programs Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Guest Andrew Schierberg retired from his first career after 20 years as a police officer, investigator, and chief in Northern Kentucky. Then he asked, “What next?” With a law degree and a lifetime of working in tense situations with people during their most stressful moments, Schierberg started a law practice with a focus on helping families by specializing in elder law and estate planning. He wrote his own business plan, shadowed established attorneys, sought educational and business development support, found shared office space with other lawyers, and developed a holistic approach that lets him to build relationships with his clients and work not only as an attorney but also as a trusted advisor. Learn how he set up his practice, selected case management software, established a flat-fee subscription plan for his clients rather than hourly rates, and developed an understanding of the needs of both elder clients and their families as they navigate a new stage of life. If you’re well into a first career, you might be surprised at how much your “real world experience” can translate to a solo law practice. Got questions or ideas about solo and small practices? Drop us a line at [email protected] Topics: Starting a solo practice as a second career and putting your “old job” skills to work in your new venture. The importance of selecting the right practice management and office equipment tools, learning about marketing, and asking for help when you don’t know. The value of finding a niche that lets you focus your energy on the kind of law that matches your passion. Mentioned in this Episode: Fearless Paranoia podcast Life Care Planning Law Firms Association Actionstep MyCase ElderCounsel DecisionVault Calendly Textexpander Maximum Lawyer podcast The 80/20 Principle podcast The Law Entrepreneur podcast Lunch Hour Legal Marketing podcast Peggy Gruenke on Legal Talk Network podcasts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Copyright law is buzzing with the rising possibilities of AI-related legal matters. Is this a major concern in our current era of blossoming AI technologies? Sharon Nelson and Jim Calloway welcome Vedia Jones-Richardson to get her expert opinion on a variety of legal questions arising from the “creative expressions” of generative AI. They review the current landscape of AI’s copyright connections, get explanations on what is and isn’t protected, and discuss notable cases that have explored the infringement and copyright implications of AI-created materials. Vedia Jones-Richardson is a Principal with Olive and Olive, PA, where she leads the trademark and copyright practice group. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Because someday you might face massive espionage charges... or something. Donald Trump is struggling to find representation in his multi-count federal criminal case and it shows because he just can't stop saying incredibly damaging stuff about his case. Like how he will plead guilty for money. This is what happens after decades developing a reputation for stiffing attorneys. We also have more layoffs from Orrick and Reed Smith -- what can we glean from these moves? And a Massachusetts court expanded the standard for ineffective assistance of counsel to include instances where the lawyer is clearly bigoted. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Do you have a particular interest outside of becoming a lawyer? With how incredibly broad the law is, a niche practice area might just align with your passions. For Arlan Lewis, his experience in architecture and some serendipitous happenings in law school led him to a fulfilling career in construction law. DeMario Thornton talks with Arlan about his career path, the nuances of construction law, and his top advice for today’s law students, no matter what area of the law they choose to pursue. Arlan D. Lewis is a partner at Blueprint Construction Counsel, LLP. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

While directed at young children, a lawyer's book also speaks to lawyers who are moms, letting them know that being both can be a busy but fulfilling life. As Michelle Browning Coughlin, of counsel at ND Galli Law in Louisville, Kentucky, was raising her two daughters, she wanted her kids to understand what lawyers do. She worried that children only knew the type of lawyers who commonly appeared in courtrooms on television shows. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Which attorney has jumped out of an airplane? Had an invisible friend? Or was required to wash rocks as a child? We went around the table using a fun life experiences questionnaire that prompted revelations and introspection from four Heels in the Courtroom attorneys. Get to know us by learning who did what…then try it with your own friend group and get to know them a little better too. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Focus groups are common in marketing, but they also can help a lawyer learn what resonates with nonlawyers before presenting a client’s case before a jury. Focus groups, in their simplest form, offer a “test run” for issues and strategies you are considering using in pretrial and trial matters, and will let you know if you are building the best strategy and communicating your legal arguments in a way that is understood. You can even use them to evaluate whether your expert witness is likeable and communicates well. Don’t wait until your client’s fate is on the line! In this episode, guest Ken Levinson, a focus group expert and successful personal injury lawyer, gives advice on how attorneys can incorporate focus groups into their trial preparations. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dr. Thaddeus Johnson, former police officer, Senior Fellow at the Council on Criminal Justice, and Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice and Criminology at Georgia State University, discusses his research and unique insights on empowering citizens to create safer communities. Public safety requires more than police reform, it requires community reform and in this wide-ranging and motivating conversation, Dr. Johnson details the steps communities can take to reduce crime, increase police accountability, and rebuild trust. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

To succeed in a competitive business environment, leaders in the legal field need to continuously develop new skills while responding swiftly to change. Host Jamy Sullivan and guest PJ Dunn, C.C.P., a certified behavioral strategist and professional development coach, discuss competencies and management strategies that became essential during the pandemic and are needed by law firms and legal department leaders to excel today, including creative thinking, innovation and agility and tips for prioritizing well-being. Mentioned in this Episode: PJ's Website Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Helping workers and their families get back on their feet after a workplace injury or other workplace-displacing health event takes more than legal aid, insurance, and even doctors. Injured workers are people first, and people have emotional needs. Guest Danielle Troxel is managing director of Kind Souls Foundation, a non-profit, donation and volunteer driven organization dedicated to helping displaced workers with the emotional support and services navigation assistance they need to recover. Many of us see ourselves as our job. It’s part of our identity. Being stripped of that routine may lead to feelings of isolation or loss of identity. Having someone to talk to about those feelings can help people adjust and move forward. Assistance is offered discretely, even anonymously. There’s no need to provide a case number or any details. No insurance companies need to be involved and no medical records are needed. Kind Souls Foundation simply wants to help. If a client or someone you know has been displaced from work due to a health event and could use emotional support, they can contact the Kind Souls Foundation at their website, https://www.kindsoulsfoundation.org/ and schedule a session. Help is available online through a face-to-face video connection, through text and chat sessions, or by phone. Sponsorship opportunities are available at the Kind Souls Foundation website. Individual donations are accepted online at https://kindsoulsfoundation.charityproud.org/Donate . Mentioned in this Episode: Kids’ Chance Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Even if you’re a great lawyer, your top-notch skills might be holding you back when it comes to running your business. Jared talks with Steve Seckler about his recent article in the ABA’s GPSolo eReport, Stop Thinking (and Acting) Like a Lawyer, in which he outlines the typical attorney characteristics that work great in legal matters, but kinda suck when you’re trying to network, grow your firm, get referrals, manage your employees, and more. Listen in to learn how to suppress those lawyer instincts when needed. Later, time to Roast some Rumps! Jared has crafted a brand new game for today’s special guest, titled “Deep Cuts with Steve Seckler” and featuring obscure trivia from the world of popular music. And, if you haven’t noticed, most law firm logos are terrible. Tune in to hear Jared’s list of what not to do when you design your logo—we’re looking at you, Doric columns, books, boring stuff, etc—and learn how to make something that’s actually appealing. Stephen Seckler is president of Seckler Legal Recruiting and Coaching. ----- It's time to get deep - DEEP - into Steve's musical tastes. That's right, we've got some deep cuts here. ----- Our opening track is Two Cigarettes by Major Label Interest. Our closing track is Tenderness of You by Cast of Characters. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, Hemant Varshney joins me to discuss client retention; what it is, why it’s important, and tips to help you create an environment that fosters a growing client relationship. For over 14 years, Hemant has played a pivotal role in all aspects of digital marketing. Starting out as a media manager, he continued on to become a consultant, Head of Growth, and executive at a hyper-growth agency, managing a team of 30+. Outside of work, Hemant loves to travel and has been to more than 45 countries (and counting). Hemant gives listeners actionable tips on: [2:00] Why client retention is important [4:30] The different categories for retention [6:45] Being open and available to receiving feedback [8:40] The client retention processes Hemant has in place [12:30] Signs a client isn’t a good fit [15:30] Prioritizing client and team communication [19:20] Getting to know clients on a personal level [22:15] Building out your client experience [24:25] Creating systems for feedback [26:15] Hemant’s book recommendation [30:05] One key takeaway to implement right away Resources mentioned in this episode: Principles by Ray Dalio Connect with Hemant here: www.instagram.com/digicom.io www.twitter.com/digicom_io https://www.linkedin.com/in/hvarshney/ www.Digicom.io 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

Legal technology is essential to the fight for access to justice, opening up a multitude of new possibilities for addressing legal needs. Dennis and Tom continue their “Fresh Voices” series by talking with Tiffany Graves about her knowledge of the pro bono space and how tech-powered solutions are helping expand access to legal services. Tiffany discusses the current landscape of pro bono tech, the importance of collaboration, and what emerging technologies could have in store for future pro bono work. 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. Tiffany Graves is Pro Bono Counsel at Bradley Arany Boult Cummings LLP. Mentioned in this Episode: The Justice Technology Association Law school introduces hologram witnesses in mock trial — ABA Journal All Microsoft’s PowerToys for Windows 10 and 11, Explained — How-To Geek Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, Stephanie talks with diversity scholar Dr. Terrell Strayhorn about the concept of belonging, emphasizing its significance beyond buzzwords like diversity, equity, and inclusivity. They highlight the positive outcomes of belonging, including increased job satisfaction and productivity and explore obstacles to fostering belonging. Dr. Strayhorn offers strategies for cultivating a sense of belonging in large organizations. The conversation extends to the ongoing need for addressing challenges faced by the LGBTQ+ community in leadership and workplaces. Rewarding behaviors that foster belonging, such as recognizing selflessness and facilitating social connections, is also discussed. They discuss the concept of belonging and its importance, highlighting that it goes beyond buzzwords like diversity, equity, and inclusivity. positive outcomes of belonging, such as higher job satisfaction and productivity in the workplace. They explore the obstacles to creating a sense of belonging in the workplace, highlighting individual, group, and structural factors. Dr. Strayhorn suggests strategies for making large organizations feel smaller and promoting a sense of belonging among employees. discusses the importance of continuing conversations about the challenges faced by the LGBTQ+ community in leadership, the workplace, and job opportunities even beyond the month of June. The discussion also touches on the idea of rewarding behaviors that promote belonging, such as recognizing selfless actions, welcoming newcomers, and facilitating social connections. Links from the episode: 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! Thanks to Posh Virtual Receptionists, Clio, & LawPay for sponsoring this episode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Employees within your organization are likely a bigger risk to your cybersecurity than threat actors from without. Why? Because it very often takes an insider to let in an outsider. Sharon Nelson and John Simek talk with Mike Barnsback about prevention strategies for both internal and external threats. Mike explains common tactics employed by cyber attackers and how the right policies and training can protect your firm from a breach. Mike Barnsback is managing partner of O’Hagan Meyer in Alexandria, Virginia, where he counsels employers on issues concerning internal monitoring and data breach response obligations and procedures. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When you think about it, is a deputized bear really weirder than keeping classified documents in a bathroom with two chandeliers? Donald Trump got indicted since we last convened. And then the case got assigned to the same judge who got professionally scorched for trying to bail Trump out in the first place. Apparently he thinks the government pays people to plead guilty? It's all very weird. Davis Polk plays follow-the-leader with Skadden and announces a 4-day in-office work week -- is this the start of a trend or not? Barber Ranen is no longer Barber Ranen after racist, sexist, and antisemitic emails between the founders at their last firm came to light. There's a lot to be said about baked in structures of discrimination and casual bigotry, but also... how did labor and employment attorneys think it was a good idea to put this in writing? And we talk about a bear cop. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Everyone daydreams about winning the lottery and never “working” again. That fantasy probably won’t happen, but thinking about it can help you recognize some passions you might want to make room for in your life right now. Play along with our candid discussion about how much we love the law vs the grind and take this listener challenge: guess who wants to open a swim school, who would seriously consider running a beach chair business, which attorney would teach law and who wouldn’t change her career at all. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the United States, there has been very little movement toward establishing a regulatory framework at the federal level for artificial intelligence. Why is that? ChatGPT, the large language model released by OpenAI, is one of several such tools that have revolutionized the legal industry in a short amount of time, igniting debates about whether artificial intelligence has to be regulated—and by whom. The European Union recently took the first step toward passing the AI Act, whereby regulation would increase in proportion with the potential threat to privacy and safety that an AI system poses. China has also drafted rules to regulate AI. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This time, it’s all about the absolute perfect amount of time to spend on your marketing efforts and what a local social butterfly and a mathematician can do for your marketing dream team. --- Money is time and time is money, so exactly how much of both should you be putting into your marketing schemes? Gyi and Conrad have the magic percentage right here in this very podcast, so put your growth mindset on and listen in. And, while you’re fine tuning your perfect balance, don’t forget you can be as creative with your marketing as you dare. The guys talk about how Dean Blachford uses his love of softball, Charlotte Towne has fun on social media, and you can do whatever strikes your marketing fancy. You’re looking to grow your in-house marketing team, but what kind of candidate do you want? Gyi and Conrad draft their first two picks—watch for more in future episodes! Gyi selects the local social butterfly, who helps a firm become well-known purely through a knack for community connections. And Conrad’s dream pick, the mathematician, understands the business math behind your marketing and sees the value in both measurable and immeasurable tactics. The News: Joe Patrice has yet another great article—this time shining the light on some really bad lawyering that is absolutely not AI’s fault: For The Love Of All That Is Holy, Stop Blaming ChatGPT For This Bad Brief. Lawmatics has a new “Help Me Write” feature to help your communications sound like you actually do have all the smarts it took to graduate law school: Lawmatics Launches LM[AI], A GPT-Driven AI Feature to Generate and Inspire Client Emails and Templates. And, if you’re a lawyer, legal techie, legal marketer, etc, etc, submit a proposal to speak at next year’s TECHSHOW. New talent and new thoughts always needed: ABA TECHSHOW 2024 Call for Proposals. Mentioned in this Episode: 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

The authors of the article “Reducing Family Separations in New York City: The Covid-19 Experiment and a Call for Change” join Talk Justice Co-host Molly McDonough to discuss reducing child removals in New York City and systemic flaws in the child welfare system on the latest episode of LSC's Talk Justice podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode’s discussion around the Community Table: Getting from “yes” to “signing the check.” How to accelerate and bullet-proof your sales cycle. Getting the client to go from agreeing to hire you to actually turning over that retainer. Vaccinating the recruiter. Preparing a third-party recruiter with responses to a prospective employee’s objections. How do you arm a recruiter for a prospect’s “Yeah, but I heard they …” Stalking a specific type of client? Go where they are. If you’re the best in a niche field, where do you find the clients who need you, and how is that different from asking for referrals? And, Facebook vs. LinkedIn, your marketing dollars. Mentioned in this Episode: Previous appearance of Erik and Elliot Alicea on The Un-Billable Hour, “Marketing is Metrics: The Cost Of New Business Acquisition” Join the next Community Table live. What’s on your mind? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, Stephanie Riel joins me to discuss the science of branding and its impact on your firm. We talk about what branding means, the opportunities you have as a lawyer and a firm to align your brand with your ideal clients, and how to define what your brand is overall. Stephanie Riel is a brand strategist and marketing consultant and the founder of RielDeal® Brands. Stephanie started her first business at the age of 22 - before she had even graduated college. Since starting that first business, she has spent more than a decade supporting everyone from small business to Fortune 10 companies in the e-commerce, health and wellness, technology, real estate, fitness, beauty, and retail industries build and grow their businesses by crafting marketing strategy that drives visibility, generates leads and nurtures those leads to convert. In her personal time she enjoys taking vacations to the beach, focusing on personal development and wellness, and soaking up every special moment with her dog Teddy the Schnoodle. Stephanie gives listeners actionable tips on: [2:35] The biggest mistakes about branding right off the bat [5:05] The science and psychology behind color in branding [12:50] What to do when your brand is misaligned with your ideal clients [18:20] Having different calls to action in your marketing [21:10] Creating an email drip campaign [26:00] How to understand your client's feelings about your brand [31:45] Content differentiation between platforms [34:20] Branding and your customer journey [35:40] Stephanie’s book review [38:20] How branding impacts the purchasing decision [45:30] One big takeaway from this episode Resources mentioned in this episode: Evolve Your Brain by Joe Dispenza Connect with Stephanie here: www.instagram.com/rieldeal www.twitter.com/rieldeal https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephanieriel/ https://www.facebook.com/stephanieriel.rieldeal www.stephanieriel.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

In Biglaw, there is a natural inclination amongst attorneys to build a reputation for being the best, but too often this comes at the expense of mental health and overall wellness. Molly Ranns and JoAnn Hathaway talk with Anthony Sallah and Stacy Sampeck about their expertise and thought leadership in promoting well-being in large law firms and in-house legal teams. They discuss the traditional pressures of working in Biglaw and outline wellness strategies that can help attorneys thrive and do their best work. Anthony Sallah is a partner at Barnes & Thornburg LLP and serves as a member of the State Bar of Michigan’s Lawyers and Judges Assistance Committee. Stacy Sampeck serves as Director, Assistant General Counsel at 3M and is a founding member of The Mind-Budget Connection, a volunteer group of attorneys and professionals focused on addressing burnout in the eDiscovery industry. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Endangered Species Act of 1973 (ESA) provided a framework to conserve and protect endangered and threatened species and their habitats both domestically and abroad. According to the Center for Progressive Reform, at an April 2023 hearing of the Water, Wildlife and Fisheries Subcommittee of the House Natural Resources Committee, the conservative majority pushed no less than three Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolutions aimed at blocking ESA protections. In this episode of our Environmental Law series, host Craig Williams is joined by professor of environmental law, Robert L. Fischman from the Indiana University Maurer School of Law, as they spotlight ESA, its impact, and ESA reform. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, Zack explores the vital role sleep plays in overall health and well-being with Alex Colkit, Founder and CEO of AC Holistic Wellness. They discuss the connection between sleep and mental health, suggest reminders of sleep importance, and emphasize the significance of a consistent sleep schedule. You’ll learn tips to help form healthy sleep habits and how prioritizing rest can lead to better decision-making and emotional stability. Sleep is the cornerstone of good health and can positively impact one's daily choices and well-being. Lack of sleep and poor mental health are interconnected, and good sleep contributes to better decision-making and emotional stability. Zack asks for tips on forming sleep habits and kicking himself into prioritizing sleep without much thought. Alex suggests finding tricks or touch points to remind oneself of the importance of sleep and the negative consequences of sleep deprivation. Stick to a regular sleep schedule, including wake-up and bedtime, to synchronize with the body's circadian rhythm. Links from the episode: 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! Thanks to Posh Virtual Receptionists, Clio, & LawPay for sponsoring this episode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Maybe the woman who called the cops on a Black birdwatcher should try using ChatGPT to make up some fake caselaw for her appeal because the real ones aren't helping. After a year of sword rattling that higher education is "hostile to free speech" because students don't appropriately sit quiet and absorb what speakers on stage are laying down, the media grandstanding came to a halt -- and in the case of the NY Post went into reverse -- amid calls to defund CUNY Law School over a speaker. Apparently it's only a "free speech crisis" in one direction. Meanwhile, the Second Circuit seems highly skeptical of Central Park Karen's claim that her former employer defamed her for citing its zero tolerance for racism in firing her. And by "highly skeptical" we mean the panel appears to have granted oral argument simply to dunk on her lawyer. Speaking of lawyers getting dunked on, the hapless attorneys who filed a response filled with fake caselaw they got off of ChatGPT are in serious trouble. But don't mistake this for "the perils of technology" because this was a failure of good old-fashioned lawyering. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In his new book, The Supermajority: How the Supreme Court Divided America, Michael Waldman identifies three times the U.S. Supreme Court caused a public backlash against itself—and warns the court may be well along the path to a fourth massive public backlash. In this episode of the Modern Law Library, Waldman walks the ABA Journal’s Lee Rawles through the prior episodes of backlash, starting with the fallout from the Dred Scott decision in 1857. He explains the “switch in time that saved nine,” when in 1937 the court narrowly avoided President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s plan to change the makeup of the court by unexpectedly upholding the constitutionality of New Deal legislation. And he posits that much of the contentious legal wrangling of the past half-century can be seen as a backlash to the Warren Court’s decisions like Brown v. Board of Education. Waldman, a constitutional lawyer who is the president and CEO of the Brennan Center for Justice at the New York University School of Law and a former speechwriter for President Bill Clinton, says that over the period of three days in June 2022, “the Supreme Court changed America.” With decisions overturning Roe v. Wade, loosening gun restrictions and reducing the authority of the Environmental Protection Agency, Waldman argues that the court’s six conservative justices signaled a sea change for the court. He warns that the change from a 5-4 ideological balance to what he terms a “supermajority” of conservative justices will mean a more turbulent relationship between the public and the Supreme Court. In this episode, Waldman shares his thoughts on the position of Chief Justice Roberts in the new balance, his advice on how the public can respond when the Supreme Court acts in opposition to the public will, and a counter-intuitive theory on why having more former politicians on the Supreme Court might have made the court less politically divisive. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There’s a good chance your expert is going to be asked about facts that aren’t in evidence, prior relationships with your firm and their own compensation in the case. Should you be nervous about that? Not if you’ve followed our tips on expert prep. We also discuss the best way to help experts prepare their opinions prior to depo, which will save time, make the depo go more smoothly, and most importantly, eliminate surprises that could cost you your case. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Great, you’ve got a job offer! Should you take less money to follow your passion or jump at a paycheck that might not be in the practice area you love? Acclaimed St. Louis attorney Joan Lockwood joins us to share her inspiring personal success story that started off a bit unconventionally but delivered the fulfilling life Joan wanted in the long run. Tune in for great advice to keep in mind when you come to a crossroads in your career path. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Professors Morgan Hazelton and Rachael Hinkle have published a fascinating book on one of the mysteries behind Supreme Court decision-making. "Persuading the Supreme Court: The Significance of Briefs in Judicial Decision-Making" combines research of more than 25,000 party and amicus briefs filed between 1984 and 2015 and interviews with former Supreme Court clerks and attorneys to shed light on the use of amicus briefs, one of the more mysterious and consequential features of Supreme Court cases. Both professors have J.D. and Ph.D. degrees and combine unique academic expertise in judicial politics, judicial process, and analytical methods. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Law schools do an excellent job teaching the law, but does anyone teach new lawyers how to communicate and develop positive, productive relationships? Most lawyers graduate with a solid grasp of the law, but many have never learned how to work with clients, colleagues, judges, opposing counsel, and the community at large. Effective communication and relationship development are at the heart of every litigation practice. Communication builds strong cases, establishes rapport with clients and colleagues, and helps litigators explain complicated issues to juries. Guest Nan Joesten, a former corporate executive and litigator and founder of Rapid Evolution LLC, is dedicated to helping attorneys and executives build communication and relationship skills. In this episode, we discuss key elements for communication; strategies to use in the courtroom and in our practices; and tips to help us listen, communicate, connect, get involved, and build a reputation. Hear Nan’s real-world insights and actionable tips--don’t wait to become a better communicator! Stay tuned for our “Quick Tips” segment on mediation at the end of this episode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, Adam Sinkus joins me to discuss how to get more leads from your website. He also shares key information you may be missing from your current website, and suggestions and strategies to optimize your pages, marketing strategy, and overall lead generation. Getting to the bottom of a challenge is what Adam does best. He is a passionate and creative problem solver with more than a decade of experience in Marketing, Operations, Customer Journeys, and Training. Adam has worked with some of the largest companies in the US in Technology, Health Insurance, Transportation, and Logistics. Adam gives listeners actionable tips on: [2:00] Why your website needs constant attention [5:35] How to improve leads to and from your website [7:15] The power of having clear CTAs [10:40] Creating “secondary calls to action” on your site [13:25] Marketing strategies you can develop from have a website, including targeted ads [14:10] Creating a look-alike audience [17:05] Adam’s book review [20:20] Focusing on your website visitor [25:05] Designing an easy client experience on your website [29:20] Organizing the information on your website [30:15] One big takeaway to implement right away Resources mentioned in this episode: Youtility by Jay Baer Connect with Adam here: https://www.instagram.com/apurposepartnership/ https://twitter.com/AdamSinkus https://linkedin.com/in/adamsinkus https://www.facebook.com/apurposepartnership https://apurposepartnership.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

Whether you’ve got a summer trip planned or not, it’s always a good time to start a really great book. Dennis and Tom talk through their personal summer reading goals and how they approach the curation of book lists that hit business and pleasure in equal measures. Later, what the heck is the Fediverse? Twitter’s slow death has us all a bit annoyed and increasingly disengaged, but social media is still a big part of how we humans interact, so what’s next? Dennis and Tom explain “federated platforms” and what they promise for our future social media experience. 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. Mentioned in this episode: A Segment: Summer Reading Lists Artificial Intelligence - Melanie Mitchell Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals - Oliver Burkeman Ideaflow - Jeremy Utley Outlive: The Science and Art of Longevity - Peter Attia Think Again - Adam Grant Rise and Fall Series - Michael Sullivan The Final Architecture Series - Adrian Tchaikovsky A World of Curiosities - Louise Penny Beyond Data: Reclaiming Human Rights at the Dawn of the Metaverse - Elizabeth M. Renieris Demon Copperhead - Barbara Kingsolver Beartown Series - Fredrik Backman Work Clean - Dan Charnas B Segment: Federal of Social Media Fedi.tips Parting Shots: Libby Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rocky Dhir welcomes Laura Gibson and Trey Apffel to hear all about what to expect at the June 22 & 23 State Bar of Texas Annual Meeting 2023. They talk through the “CLE on steroids” programs, making the most of your conference experience, and later highlight each of the scheduled keynote speakers. What can lawyers learn from a filmmaker? Tune in for insights on Daytripper creator Chet Garner’s session centered around his exploration of the great state of Texas. Rocky, Laura and Trey also discuss the drama surrounding controversial speaker Attorney General William Barr. Register now! Online registration closes Sunday, June 18, 2023. Laura Gibson was the 2022/23 President of the State Bar of Texas and is a member of Dentons’ Litigation and Dispute Resolution practice and the Managing Partner of the Houston office. E.A. “Trey” Apffel III became executive director of the State Bar of Texas in December 2017. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Zack talks with Joe Hodge from American Printing House for the Blind, about building websites and systems for the visually impaired. They discuss why accessibility plugins may not be the panacea they claim to be and why good accessibility practices are beneficial to all users. Links from the episode: https://www.w3.org/WAI/standards-guidelines/wcag/ 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! Thanks to Posh Virtual Receptionists, Clio, & LawPay for sponsoring this episode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

And the Supreme Court's ethical problems just won't go away. Biglaw has always played follow-the-leader. Usually it's about bonuses, but Skadden is taking a big gamble that the rest of the industry will follow it back to a Monday-Thursday office work week. If the rest of Biglaw doesn't follow suit, the giant sucking sound you hear will be Skadden talent lateraling to rival firms. Also the Supreme Court's ethical follies continued with John Roberts teasing a secret plan to cure its ethical woes, while Gibson Dunn took a turn as legal industry laughing stock with a shoddily researched letter on behalf of Harlan Crow. And the Court sided with a grandmother after the county stole $25,000 from her... but dig a little deeper and her case wasn't as sympathetic as it looked. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dan Thompson from Expert Service Provider Dee Gee Rehabilitation Ltd. discusses how technological improvements and enhancements are impacting individuals with disabilities and claims in the U.S. and Canada. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In wrongful death cases, we always focus on the facts regarding the decedent. Experienced attorneys know we should also consider the settlement before taking the case. Today we’ll talk about due diligence regarding estranged family members, what to do when potential beneficiaries can’t play nicely together and why having all beneficiaries represented by a single counsel can strengthen your case Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You’ve been working on this case for 2 years and it’s looking good. Then your own expert destroys it with a devastating response in their deposition. Is it their fault or yours? Good expert prep involves more than simply presenting the facts of the case. We’ll share tips from our expert depo checklist and show you how a little extra time with your expert upfront can prevent a disaster on depo day. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, Johanna White joins me to talk about the world of branding and how to position your brand as premium vs. commodity. We discuss what branding truly means, debunking common misconceptions along the way, and provide valuable insights into Johanna’s three-step process required when starting a brand and offer guidance on how to effectively distinguish your brand from competitors. Johanna White is an award-winning graphic designer and visual branding strategist who designs premium brand identities that create impactful first impressions. As the founder of Design By Jo Studio, she believes that if someone is the best at what they do, they deserve to look like it! For the past decade, she’s worked with everyone from individuals to Fortune 200 brands worldwide to help magnetize their dream opportunities, clients and investors, and be as delightfully expensive as they deserve to be. Johanna knows there’s no limit on success, and she proved it several years ago when she took life by the horns and started three companies within one year while battling a brain tumor. At a time when everyone else in her life was suggesting that she quit working and go on social security to cover medical bills, she chose to do the opposite and defy the odds. As a result, Johanna is a now a “Dreamer Extraordinaire” for top performers, elite experts, and companies who are driven to maximize their impact. Specializing in designing premium brand identities from start to finish, Johanna assists her clients in a large range of needs, with complete branding packages that include everything you need to show up in the world as your best. - These days, she is on a mission to help other driven founders fully capture their uniqueness, level up their legacy and embody their limitless potential. Johanna gives listeners actionable tips on: [1:55] How most people treat their brand [3:45] What brand is and isn't [8:20] The three step process you need when starting a brand [10:20] How to distinguish your brand [13:10] Creating a premium vs. commodity brand [16:55] How to translate this into your firm [18:10] Developing brand consistency [24:30] Having clarity in your brand message [28:10] Why you need to create an intentional brand [30:30] Why it's hard to undo preconceived brand perceptions [39:30] Johanna's book recommendation Resources mentioned in this episode: Start by Jon Acuff Connect with Johanna here: https://www.instagram.com/designbyjostudio/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/johanna-white-designbyjo/ https://www.facebook.com/Designbyjostudio https://www.designbyjostudio.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

With the current exam, candidates have a 90% chance of passing, if they follow the advice of their law schools’ academic support staff. When the National Conference of Bar Examiners launches a revamped version of the bar exam in 2026, called the NextGen bar exam, it is expected that there will be new assessments on skills including legal research, investigation and client counseling. And that could mean less focus on memorization for candidates. Or not, says Mike Sims, president of the test prep group BARBRI. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

According to the League of Women Voters, “Voting is a fundamental principle, and all Americans deserve the equal opportunity to make their voices heard in our democracy.” Yet over the years, various states have suppressed voters from reaching the ballot box through various methods like strict ID laws, purging voter rolls, and cutting early voting. Gerrymandering, defined as “to manipulate the boundaries of (an electoral constituency) so as to favor one party or class” has taken center stage when it comes to voting in elections. Just recently, SCOTUS decided to take up a South Carolina racial gerrymandering case, a lower court decision that struck down a congressional district in South Carolina as an illegal racial gerrymander. This case will be heard by SCOTUS next term. In this episode, host Craig Williams joins guest, professor Ruth Greenwood, Director of the Election Law Clinic at Harvard Law School. Craig and Ruth discuss election law, voting rights, gerrymandering, and SCOTUS and the South Carolina racial gerrymandering case. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Small Firm Roadmap Revisited doubled-down on our Healthy Firm model. But what, exactly, is it? Join us for another stop on our podcast book tour. This week we’re diving into recruiting, building, and retaining Healthy Teams. Stephanie talks with Aaron Elinoff, Labster and managing partner of Novo Legal Group, about how he guided his team to define who they are and how a breakthrough at a team retreat helped identify his firm’s vision and goals. Learn the steps he took to get his team aligned, moving in the same direction, and keep momentum. Links from the episode: 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! Thanks to Posh Virtual Receptionists, Clio, & LawPay for sponsoring this episode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

From the depths of addiction to helping attorneys overcome their own, lawyer and author Brian Cuban joins the show to share his personal journey, as well as shed light on the often overlooked issue of substance abuse within the legal community. Drawing from his own struggles, Brian highlights the unique pressures, stressors, and challenges which can commonly lead lawyers down the path of addiction. He also offers valuable advice to attorneys and law school students who find themselves grappling with similar issues. Tune in as we delve into the prominence of substance abuse, events that can contribute to addiction, available resources for support and guidance, and the steps lawyers can take towards a healthier and more fulfilling life. Additional Resources: Mental Health Options for Attorneys Dealing with a Death or Serious Illness How Lawyers Can Cope with Vicarious Trauma Voices of Recovery Podcast Series ABA Young Lawyers Division ABA Commission on Lawyer Assistance Programs Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Lately, AI developments have been top of mind for just about everybody—lawyers included. And with AI’s potential to solve all kinds of workflow problems and majorly improve access to justice, the excitement around it does have real merit. However, concerns about accuracy, security, and the current lack of regulation are just as pressing as the excitement surrounding the AI bandwagon. To address all these issues and more, Sharon Nelson and Jim Calloway welcome John Simek to unpack the latest AI trends and their implications for lawyers. John W. Simek is vice president of the digital forensics, managed information technology and cybersecurity firm Sensei Enterprises. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Let’s talk about bias. Not just “explicit” bias, the conscious bias for or against someone. Instead, think about “implicit” bias, those subconscious decisions we all make about hiring, capability, and value because of our own experiences. It happens every day. Guest Al De La Cruz leads the litigation department for the San Diego office of Manning & Kass, Ellrod, Ramirez, Trester LLP and examines how our own internal biases affect our daily decisions, even if we don’t realize it. When legal cases touch on discrimination or other issues in employment law, start with understanding how the decision was made. What was going on? It’s complicated. To overcome bias, start by being intentional. Learn to reflect on your decisions and understand your own starting point and thought process. It’s not just race, ethnicity, or gender. Think about being tall, short, older, younger, etc. Bias has consequences across our daily lives, from education to business to economics and the law. Take this opportunity to make the best, most equitable, decisions you can. Start with the Harvard University’s implicit bias test. Mentioned in This Episode: Law360 Article, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (free registration required) Implicit Association Test (IAT), Harvard University American Bar Association, “Implicit Bias Videos and Toolkit” New York Times, “Why Many CEOs Are Tall People? The Height Of The Matter” (registration required) The Economic Times, “The Necktie Syndrome: Why CEOs Tend To Be Significantly Taller Than The Average Male” “Thinking Fast and Slow,” Daniel Khaneman “Blink, The Power of Thinking Without Thinking,” Malcolm Gladwell Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Take a deep dive into eDiscovery for small and midsized firms with an old friend and frequent New Solo contributor, guest Brett Burney, a lawyer and longtime consultant who’s passionate about legal tech. Facing a mountain of electronic documents from PDFs to spreadsheets to emails to texts in discovery? You don’t need to be an expert, but you do need to understand the basics, the traps, and the available tools. Start by accepting that electronic files aren’t paper files. They are inherently different and aren’t meant to be printed out. Embrace the format and treat electronic documents as what they are. If you print electronic documentation out, or you accept a printed version, you’re not getting the full picture, and you’re letting potentially valuable information slip through your fingers. It's a digital world, and litigation is more likely than ever to include emails, smartphones, voice mails, social media posts and comments, and texts. If you’ve been wondering if you’re doing the best job possible with eDiscovery, this is the episode for you. Got questions or ideas about solo and small practices? Drop us a line at [email protected] Topics: Electronic discovery (eDiscovery) involves electronic files that are inherently different than paper discovery. What you need to know and mistakes you may be making. Metadata included in electronic documents can offer valuable clues that help you prepare your case, but it’s easy to contaminate that data. Understand the available tools that organize, preserve, and prepare digital evidence, including extracting text messages, voice memos, and emails from smartphones and tablets. Mentioned in This Episode: Previously on New Solo, with guest Brett Burney LegalWeek New York iMazing “Forensic Image,” Science Direct Synctech Synctech SMS Backup and Restore X1 Search Page Vault Pagefreezer WebPreserver vs. Pagefreezer Relativity Relativity One Everlaw NextPoint Logicull Disco Lexbe GoldFynch Acrobat Digital WarRoom NextPoint blog, “eDiscovery with Outlook: 3 Reasons Why Outlook is NOT a Document Review Tool,” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Fastcase and vLex have merged to form the world's largest law library, containing the law from over 100 countries and more than a billion documents. One platform with all these resources means attorneys around the world will have bigger, better, faster access to everything they need to do legal research. Jared chats with Ed Walters of Fastcase about their goals for democratizing the law and what plans they have to continue developing this global library and legal AI for easier use. This time on the Rump Roast, Jared and Ed play “Wack-Ass Responses from AI to Completely Reasonable Prompts,” but that title seems a bit unwieldy, so you can just think of it as: “ChatGPT Jeopardy!” And, since AI will probably take over the world eventually, let’s prove our superiority while we still can. Jared’s found the clincher: we’re funny, and AI’s sense of humor is decidedly lame. We win. Ed Walters is the CEO and co-founder of Fastcase, an online legal research software company. Read more about the merger: Legal tech disruptors vLex and Fastcase merge to form world’s largest global law library ----- Legal research is all about searching, but there's a lot of other stuff you can look for, too. ----- Our opening track is Two Cigarettes by Major Label Interest. Our closing track is Yellow Letter by Sam Barsh. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices