Legal Talk Network - Law News and Legal Topics

The pandemic underscored the need for solo practitioners and small law firms to plan for the retirement of influential leaders, business disruptions and unforeseen events. Firms without a succession plan run the risk of losing clients and revenue, if not more. As a law firm leader, what should you take into consideration when planning and timing your retirement? Discover essential elements of creating an exit strategy, including how to overcome potential obstacles, selling and valuing your legal practice and other factors to ensure a smooth transition and your firm’s future success. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Whether you're a young lawyer just starting out or a seasoned veteran looking to take your career to the next level, mentorship is crucial for lawyers at all stages of their careers; but finding and fostering a strong mentor relationship can be challenging. In this episode, we explore the importance of mentorship in the legal profession and discuss the obstacles that can make it difficult to establish and maintain these vital connections. We also discuss the benefits of mentoring for both personal and professional growth, as well as strategies for how to establish and maintain these relationships. For this engaging and informative discussion, we welcome the Chief Legal Officer of Prudential Financial, Lisa Wolmart. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Law Professor Nomi Stolzenberg discusses the US Supreme Court’s consideration of Conservative Christian ideology as a new protected class under the First Amendment. Seven of the nine members of the Supreme Court are Catholic or raised Catholic. How does this potentially affect the decisions being handed down by the Supreme Court? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Zack talks with Joyce Brafford, a lawyer and practice management expert at ProfitSolv, about incorporating AI into your firm’s workflows and automations. See how you can use Chat GPT to do the heavy lifting for template creation, client emails, and even internal brand research. 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! About Rocket Matter Rocket Matter is legal practice management software that makes the lives of lawyers a whole lot easier Schedule a Personal Demo Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This month marks 5 years CBA's @theBar bringing you interesting and unscripted conversations about legal news, events, topics, stories and whatever else strikes our fancy. Celebrate this milestone with us by delving back into our amazing catalogue of past episodes. We'll back with more great content next month! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

DNA testing is the most powerful tool for freeing the innocent. But without evidence to test, it’s useless... leaving many wrongfully convicted people without hope. That’s why it’s critical to preserve every piece of evidence in your case. In this episode we talk with Alissa Bjerkhoel about her work in Uriah Courtney’s exoneration and how his freedom hung on a single article of clothing left in a box almost 10 years earlier. Stay tuned to hear about secondary transfers and why your DNA can be on objects you never touched. The case of Lukis Anderson should terrify all of us. Alissa Leanne Bjerkhoel is the Litigation Coordinator at the California Innocence Project. - Podcast Supported by Clio Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Since its origins, DNA evidence has both convicted the guilty and exonerated the innocent. Despite its amazing abilities, this forensic science has not always been a slam dunk. In addition to reliability issues, its misapplication has led to the wrongful prosecution of the innocent around the country. Host Michael Semanchik interviews world-renowned experts John M. Butler and Deanna Lankford about the history of DNA evidence and its use in the criminal justice system. Hear what investigators learned over the years to correctly identify profiles detected at crime scenes. The results might surprise or scare you. John M. Butler is the Special Assistant to the Director for Forensic Science at the National Institute of Standards and Technology. Deanna Lankford is the Director of Forensic Casework at BODE Technology. - Podcast Supported by Clio Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Uriah Courtney was wrongfully convicted and sentenced to life for kidnapping and rape. Despite having a solid alibi, a series of coincidences and past drug offenses convinced law enforcement that they had their man. Although his case looked hopeless, there was one person who knew Uriah was innocent and refused to give up on him. After serving 8 years in prison, he would finally win his freedom. Tune in to hear Uriah’s Story, a real-life account told by the man who lived it. - Podcast Supported by Clio Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Artificial Intelligence has become one of the most discussed topics of our day. With the introduction of sophisticated chatbots like OpenAIs ChatGPT 3.5 and ChatGPT 4, many have predicted that we're on the verge of a revolution in terms of how many industries operate, including the legal industry. So what do firms and attorneys need to do to stay ahead of the incoming AI wave? In this episode, host Craig Williams joins guest John Villasenor, professor of electrical engineering, law, public policy, and management at UCLA, to discuss AI and the law, the impact, and what the future holds for the profession under this new AI revolution. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Despite best intentions, our criminal justice system is not perfect. Innocent people are frequently accused, convicted, and sent to prison for crimes they didn’t commit. On this show, we explore how this happens by talking with real-life exonerees, famous attorneys who fight for freedom, and world-renowned experts. You’ll recognize many of our guests from prominent productions like Making a Murderer, The Staircase, and the Survivors Guide to Prison. You’ll hear from well-known exonerees like Amanda Knox and Brian Banks. Hosted by Michael Semanchik. Produced and written by Laurence Colletti. Audio engineering by Adam Lockwood. Music contributions by real-life exoneree William Michael Dillon. - Podcast Supported by Clio Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For solos sharing office space with other attorneys, there are advantages, but also potential headaches. How do you navigate this arrangement? Guest Jared Correia is a podcaster, lawyer, and full-time business management consultant, sort of the lawyer you know who knows how to run a business. For clients, he digs into law firm management from the very high-level strategy to the nuts and bolts of tech and daily operations. Shared offices create issues with malpractice insurance, shared practice management software, and clearly communicating your solo status while working in what to a client may appear to be a firm. Plus, the important distinctions between website chat capability, automated chatbots, and the emergence of true artificial intelligence such as ChatGPT. Learn where each product can fill gaps in your practice and turn leads into clients. Tech that may make your solo practice work like a larger firm. Got questions or ideas about solo and small practices? Drop us a line at [email protected] Topics: Practice management problems attorneys in a shared office space encounter. Incorporating online chat and chatbots on your website, capture more leads. And where does the latest – ChatGPT artificial intelligence – fit? Resources from This Episode: Nebraska Bar Florida Bar San Diego Bar Book, “The Of Counsel Agreement” by Harold Wren ABA, Of Counsel defined ABA Techshow ABA Legal Technology Resource Center Formilla Apex remote assistants Smith remote assistants Ruby Abby Connect Back Office Betties ChatGPT OpenAI Google A.I., “Bard” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Let’s talk about the art, and science, of billing. We’ll go ahead and say it, billing isn’t fun, but it’s crucial to the success of your law firm. And tracking many of those billable hours often falls on paralegal professionals. Getting work done is important, getting paid for that work is crucial. You aren’t alone. Everybody hates billing. Tracking your time and entering it into your system isn’t natural, and maybe it’s not even taught. But you can get better at this, make it part of your daily routine. Guest Karen Tuschak is an experienced consultant who runs her own firm, Spider Silk Solutions. She provides not only coaching and practice management development to law firms worldwide, but she also encourages firms to adopt the latest technologies. She dedicates much of her time helping paralegals understand billable hours and the importance of time capture. Tuschak says a lot of paralegals “self-monitor” their work, they shave time from a task if they feel it could’ve been done faster. Don’t double check yourself, simply mark down the actual time you spend on a task. If you don’t, not only does it take money from the firm, it makes it hard for managers to spot areas of inefficiency where better tech could help. This is a great reminder and could change the way you think about your job. Your “time capture” tells your story and demonstrates your value. Resources from This Episode: San Diego Paralegal Association International Practice Management Association NALA Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In a world where AI is becoming more and more prevalent, how do we protect the rights of the original, human ideas? Today, Zack talks with author, designer, programmer and lawyer Matthew Butterick about his work in copyright infringement and artificial intelligence. Links from the episode: Typogrophy for Lawyers Stable Diffusion Litigation GitHub Copilot Litigation 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, & Gavel for sponsoring this episode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Latest podcast also talks about ranking the best law schools the worst way possible. With March upon us, we created our our bracket-based challenge to rerank the top law schools based on... nothing. If the law schools don't want to provide data to ranking services, we'll show them what that looks like. It's pretty bad. Speaking of bad, a litigant got a bit of a lecture from a federal judge who cautioned for more civility in filings and let's just say he did not get it. Finally, we return to the hybrid work model with a study in contrasts. One firm announces that it's going to close up the office for the month of August while another puts bonuses in jeopardy if an associate prefers to work in the office on different days. One of these firms will have a happier roster before this is all said and done. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Preparing for trial can be a nerve-wracking experience for a young attorney. Today’s episode offers tried and true tips on when to request a pretrial conference and what matters to discuss, how to organize depos and evidence for quick reference, which hard copies you should and should not bring to the courtroom, how to prepare and use an exhibit checklist and much more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The 1964 decision in New York Times v. Sullivan protected the civil rights movement, established the “actual malice” standard, and is the basis for modern American libel law. But in recent years, criticism of the case has grown among conservatives, with U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas calling it “policy-driven decisions masquerading as constitutional law” and suggesting that the decision should be reconsidered. In her new book Actual Malice: Freedom of the Press and Civil Rights in New York Times v. Sullivan, law professor Samantha Barbas uses archival documents to shine light on the history behind the case, and introduces readers to the pivotal figures involved. She outlines the path libel law jurisprudence had taken prior to 1964, and explains why the New York Times v. Sullivan case was such a departure. In this episode of the Modern Law Library, Barbas tells the ABA Journal’s Lee Rawles about the curious journalistic spat that led to the litigation, as well as the legal tactics used by the pro-segregationists who brought the suit. Barbas also gives listeners a glimpse at the complex and sometimes counterintuitive characters involved in New York Times v. Sullivan, explains the stakes the case holds for the 21st century, and shares the story of perhaps the only lawyer who’s ever had to argue before the Supreme Court without wearing any socks. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

From Orangeburg to Ahmaud, host Dave Scriven-Young welcomes Bakari Sellers to discuss civil rights in the United States, then and now. Later, Henry R. Chalmers joins to talk about what you can expect at the ABA Litigation Section’s Annual Conference. This year’s conference offers a unique opportunity to learn from and interact with other top litigators and judges, earn CLE credit, incredible networking to elevate your professional profile, and so much more. For more information or to register for the 2023 Litigation Section Annual Conference in Atlanta, GA, visit: https://web.cvent.com/event/8685e27b-ea2a-47fc-b24e-14d68677aa78/summary. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Where do expert witnesses come from, exactly? Jared welcomes guests Allison Muller, Nick Briscoe, and Nick Rishwain—an experienced and knowledgeable panel discussing the ins and outs of expert witnessing. They share how professionals come into this field and offer advice for attorneys looking to engage an expert witness for a case. Later on in the Rump Roast, guest Rachael Ziegler joins to talk about yet another of Jared’s favorite TV series—HBO’s reboot of the classic lawyer show, Perry Mason. And, lawyers of all ages and stages benefit from mentors in legal practice, but many don’t know how to tap into the expertise they need. Jared offers his tips for seeking out mentors and explains how multiple connections with differing knowledge bases can help attorneys thrive. Dr. Allison Muller is a board-certified toxicologist with expert witness experience in cases involving alcohol, drugs of abuse, carbon monoxide, medication errors, and postmortem toxicology. Nicholas Briscoe is Chief Economist at Briscoe Economics Group, Inc. and has provided consulting and expert witness testimony in a wide variety of economic and financial matters. Nick Rishwain is Vice President of business development and relations at Experts.com, assisting attorneys in locating a wide variety of expert witnesses and consultants for their litigation support needs. Rachel Ziegler is the founder of Ziegler Legal Services, where her practice focuses on estate planning, estate administration, trust administration, and health care advocacy. ----- Since we talked about with no less than 4 experts, here are some songs about being smart. You'll listen, if you know whats good for you! ----- Our opening track is Two Cigarettes by Major Label Interest. Our closing track is Lucky Day by SPARKZ. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Experts from the Institute for the Advancement of the American Legal System (IAALS) discuss how and why states are using non-lawyer legal service providers on the latest episode of LSC’s “Talk Justice” podcast, released today. Talk Justice Co-host Cat Moon is joined by guests Michael Houlberg, director of special projects for IAALS, and Jim Sandman, president emeritus of LSC and IAALS board member. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Guest Sandrene “Sandy” Ryan is the senior director of recruiting at Level Legal. She’s built a unique process that focuses on quality and creating “the right match” over putting bodies into slots. Culture fit can be more important than a specific skill. You can teach a skill, but you can’t make the wrong person fit your own culture. Production is the lynchpin of your firm. Acquiring new clients and ensuring profit are the bookends, but we must produce. To do that, we need to recruit. Finding the right people for your firm, whether it’s a contract hire or a full-time position is, at its heart, marketing. What’s your story? Do you know how to make your firm attractive to new hires. Do you understand what candidates are selling. It’s a two-way street. Learn how to create a process that makes candidates sign on with you, and also do their best work for you. A quick match can be more of a time waster than a longer, thoughtful process. You may be surprised at how the COVID pandemic’s shift to remote working created a wider pool of candidates. If someone doesn’t have to be in your office, you’ve got more to choose from. But it comes with new challenges as well. Nothing stays the same. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How do you grow your email list? And better yet, WHY is it important for you and your firm? In this episode with Kendra Corman, we discuss the ways in which you can leverage your email marketing to strengthen your relationship with your audience, create two-way communication, and position yourself as the subject matter expert in your industry. We also touch on why email marketing is important, especially if your business is primarily referral-based. Kendra has more than 15 years of experience in marketing. She has managed one of the world's most iconic brands and spends her time now helping small businesses, entrepreneurs and nonprofits create marketing plans that provide results. Her passion is email marketing as that is one of the best ways to get results. Kendra gives listeners actionable tips on: [1:55] Why email marketing is important [2:50] The powerful of email marketing [4:00] How email marketing keeps you top of mind [4:50] What lawyers get wrong about email marketing [8:40] Optimizing your email template design [12:25] Text-based vs. image heavy emails [15:35] How to get your list to convert [18:45] Tips for selling through email without being salesy [22:10] Do you need email marketing when your business is referral based? [26:20] How her experience working for Fortune 500 companies translates to small business [33:10] Kendra's book review [37:40] One big idea that works when it comes to email marketing Resources mentioned in this episode: The Gap and The Gain by Dan Sullivan Connect with Kendra here: Instagram LinkedIn Facebook www.kendracorman.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

As rises in Chicago carjackings continue to increase fear among many residents, Cliff Nellis, an attorney and pastor who founded the Lawndale Christian Legal Center, says his nonprofit group represents a fair amount of young people charged with the crime. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If you missed this year’s ABA TECHSHOW conference, tune in with Dennis and Tom! They guys talk with Allison Johs and Jen Lee about key takeaways from their sessions and the latest tech news and trends featured at the conference. They also discuss which developing tech they’re most excited about and share their top tech recommendations for fellow attorneys. 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. Check out Allison’s newest book: How to Do More in Less Time: The Complete Guide to Increasing Your Productivity and Improving Your Bottom Line, Second Edition. Allison C. Johs, Esq., is president of Legal Ease Consulting, which provides marketing, social media, business development, productivity, and practice management coaching for lawyers and law firms. Jen Grondahl Lee is founder and consulting attorney at Jen|Lee|Law and founder of Lawyer Success Network. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For young lawyers looking to start and build their career, there are several key factors to consider. From finding an area of law that interests you, to seeking out opportunities to gain experience, build your network, and grow professionally, the start of your legal career can be challenging. In this episode of Young Lawyer Rising, special guest Tracy Lesetar-Smith joins the show to discuss ways young lawyers can build momentum in their careers, hone their legal skills, take risks, and explore new opportunities as they navigate their career path. Tracey explains how with dedication, hard work, and a bit of luck, young lawyers can build fulfilling and rewarding careers in the legal profession. Tracey Lesetar-Smith is a longtime senior sports, entertainment, and government affairs executive with over 20 years of experience. She is the former General Counsel and Senior Vice President of NASCAR, as well as the former General Counsel and Vice President of Business and Legal Affairs for Bellator MMA. By Tracey Lesetar-Smith How to Think Like a Lawyer How I Became a Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) Attorney 6 Rules for Those Making the Jump to In-House Counsel Additional Resources Incorporating Interpersonal Skills in Everyday Law Practice The Client in the Next Office The Importance of Asking "Why?" Get Into the Big Client Meetings and Important Hearings Some Advice for the New or Soon-to-Be New Lawyer Top Tips for Young Lawyers: How to Survive and Thrive in Your Legal Career ABA Young Lawyers Division ABA Career Center Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Labster Rebecca Ritchey from Sibus Law Group joins Sara to talk about how she has built a healthy business strategy in her firm—including a flat fee model, a flexible workplace, and opportunities to give back to her community. They delve into how Rebecca makes it work, costs and benefits, and suggestions she has for firms looking to do the same. Links from the episode: To learn more about Lab Legacy, email Stephanie: [email protected] 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, & Gavel for sponsoring this episode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

AI is already changing the legal profession, and law schools have a responsibility to stay on the cutting edge of this technology to equip future lawyers with all they need to know about its impacts and uses. Sharon Nelson and John Simek talk with Dean Andy Perlman about the current landscape of AI in legal practice and education. They discuss ChatGPT’s debut, shaping ethical and socially responsible uses of AI, the importance of embracing AI in legal education, and much more. Andrew Perlman is the dean of the Suffolk University Law School and the inaugural chair of the governing council of the ABA Center for Innovation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Attorneys Mary Kate McGrath and Adam Fulginiti, shareholders from the law firm Marshall Dennehey, discuss the public health emergency (PHE) and how it impacts telemedicine. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In November, when OpenAI unleashed the newest, most advanced version of its chatbot, ChatGPT, it immediately captured the imagination. So far, it’s been a hit. Casetext launched CoCounsel earlier this month, and it functions as a legal assistant, helping users draft all sorts of legal documents. Users can utilize CoCounsel to help draft briefs, compose research memos, draw up contracts and analyze them, and write correspondence—all by typing their questions or requests into a prompt. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Your trial team determines you need an expert to explain a vehicle’s structural defects. Do you need a metallurgist, a mechanical engineer, or both? How do you know and where do you find them? Part Two of our conversation on selecting experts includes expert research services, questions to ask when interviewing experts, and how you should examine your own expert before they take the stand. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Inspiring women are at work around the globe and we can learn a lot from their experience. Amy Gunn had the opportunity to speak with former Canadian Supreme Court Justice Marie Deschamps on Amy’s ACTL podcast, Trial Tested. Justice Deschamps continues to champion social causes even after stepping down from the bench and shares candid thoughts about her career, landmark decisions, and advice for attorneys of all ages about handling responsibility, dissent, and social evolution. Don’t miss this. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Conrad and Gyi hit the hardwood as the top marketing channels square up for the Big Dance. It’s March Madness… Marketing Madness that is! Gyi and Conrad fill out their tournament brackets, not with their favorite teams, but rather the top marketing channels and tools. Then it’s a battle to the end as the guys pit these tactics head-to-head to see which will come out on top. From the Sweet 16 to the final matchup, the action never stops! Tune in to see which marketing powerhouse reigns supreme. The News: ChatGPT 4 launched this month. Now it’s taking standardized tests such as the LSAT … and it’s beating most humans. The new March Google Core update is out. TikTok is under fire again amid threats to ban the video app from the U.S. Conrad made a special appearance as a guest on The Game Changing Attorney podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Guest Robert “Bob” Wilson is a leader at Work Comp College, created to offer a deeper dive into workplace protections for employees. He’s not a lawyer or an academic type, but he’s long held an interest in the programs designed to protect workers and employers. The field of helping workers recover from workplace injuries can get better, through training, tech, and, most importantly, through a renewed focus on recovery. Wilson asks how can we bring the human element back. For attorneys representing both the injured worker and employers – even insurers – it seems we’ve forgotten about people, injured people the families who depend on them. Maybe it’s time to focus on restoring lives, not “processing claims.” Dive into the world of making injured workers whole. Go beyond “compensation” and focus on “recovery,” getting to the right doctors, the right treatment, and getting back to feeling independent and enjoying meaningful work. Workers’ Comp is there to provide financial resources when workers are injured, but Wilson believes we go beyond “comp” and get to “recovery.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Professor Charles Geyh, an expert in judicial conduct, discusses the ethical obligations of judges and the options available (or not) when judges break the rules - including the U.S. Supreme Court justices. He also weighs the pros and cons of electing vs. appointing judges. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With the rising attacks on cybersecurity, AI technology evolving, and significant advances to our technology, why do you need to be secure with technology? And better yet, HOW do you do it? Keith Conrad joins me on Counsel Cast this week to discuss the ways in which we can become safer and more secure with technology. Keith is a recovering Washington insider who has been at the forefront of aligned business transitioning for legal operations. He worked in Washington DC as a Strategic Legal Business Consultant and Transition Specialist for more than two decades. His clients include multinational AmLaw firms and government regulatory and intelligence agencies. He left Washington to help smaller law firms become more efficient, competitive, and profitable. His legal and regulatory experience means that he doesn't just know the buzzwords; he understands the business of law. Keith has acquired a depth of expertise in the business of small law firms, which gives him a rare insight into streamlining performance and moving firms away from inefficient “siloed” legal operations. He specializes in translating complex legal processes and technology into efficient and highly effective law firm operational strategies and capturing business value via strategic performance. He cost-effectively transitions legal operations, the legal value dialog, and the lawyer/client/staff relationship. Keith gives listeners actionable tips on: [3:05] How outdated policies keep you vulnerable [6:00] The importance of having SOPs and knowing where to find them [7:05] Costs associated with securing your data [9:35] The differences in security for small and big firms [11:20] How long security updates take [14:30] Why 'quick updates' don't always work [18:30] Keith's book recommendation Resources mentioned in this episode: The Small Firm Roadmap by Aaron Street Connect with Keith here: LinkedIn www.verbatimdata.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

More and more legal professionals are becoming familiar with blockchain technology, whether in advising clients on the legal implications of potential blockchain initiatives, dealing with an evolving regulatory landscape, or handling disputes involving blockchain-based technologies and assets. There are many powerful and exciting use cases for blockchain technology and cryptocurrency, but there are also legal and other challenges. In this episode, we’ll examine what blockchain technology is, what legal professionals need to know about it, and we’ll take a look at some of the legal hurdles blockchain and crypto projects have to overcome. Usman Sheikh, Chair of the Blockchain & Fintech Practice and Transactional Partner in Baker McKenzie's Toronto office, joins us to cover some of these issues and provide some insight. In this Episode: A description of blockchain technology How blockchain works The legal challenges facing blockchain Privacy and regulatory issues What legal professionals need to know about blockchain technology Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This year, we have created a new Environmental Law series on Lawyer 2 Lawyer, where wewill cover cradle to grave treatment of chemicals and our laws on environmental biology. In this episode, host Craig Williams joins Mark Squillace from the University of Colorado Law School, to discuss the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), wetlands protection, and habitat conservation plans. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Turning a legal service into a product has already been proven to be both profitable for lawyers and a huge help in increasing access to justice. So, how do you join this new wave and productize your services? Sharon Nelson and Jim Calloway talk with Dorna Moini about strategies for creating a legal product for your target market, pricing recommendations for today’s clients, and future outlooks as legal products change the way we deliver services in the profession. Dorna Moini is the CEO and founder of Gavel, a no-code platform for building document automation and client-facing legal products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Stephanie interviews Affinity’s Barron Henley and they dive into how lawyers can maximize their use of Microsoft Word. From formatting to footnotes, Barron offers his insights, tips, and strategies for making Word work for any law firm. Links from the episode: Workshop | Beyond the Budget: Why You Need a Financial Projection Microsoft Word for Legal Professionals Microsoft Word Digital Course Barron’s Pinterest Page for Vegan Recipes Interested in hearing about personalized training for your firm? Contact [email protected] 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, & Gavel for sponsoring this episode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Our justice system is changing as demand for access to court services grows. Are specially trained paralegal professionals the answer? Across the country, states are looking for ways to grant special licenses so paralegal professionals can handle some issues that have traditionally required an attorney. New programs with names including “allied legal professionals, “limited licensing,” and “legal paraprofessionals” are opening ways to offer access to justice and, at the same time, opening pathways for paralegals to expand their roles and embrace new opportunities. This is important stuff that affects us all, even if the stereotype is that “legal aid” projects are for indigent cases, studies find up to 40% of the legal needs of middle-class people go unaddressed due to high demand and costs. There has to be a better way. The medical community developed new ways to provide care (nurse practitioners instead of an M.D.), so why can’t we build a new tier of legal service providers? It's been a long slog as states individually decide how tiers of limited licensures can ensure access to justice. And it’s been contentious, maybe because the issue isn’t fully understood. Get educated and get involved with this informative episode of the Paralegal Voice. Resources from This Episode: The Landscape of Allied Legal Professional Programs (Report) North Carolina Justice For All Project’s legislative proposal, “Looking Beyond Lawyers To Bridge The Civil Access To Justice Gap” NALA NFPA AAFPE Limited License Legal Technicians, Washington State Bar Arizona Legal Paraprofessionals (limited licensing) N.C. Justice Richard Dietz American Bar Association, access commissions Minnesota Legal Paraprofessionals Pilot Program Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Communication often happens because we are simply reacting to something, but how often do we react with a thoughtful, impactful response? Jared welcomes Jessica Chen to hear her strategies for leveling up your professional communications. They talk through some of the ways communications training can elevate your influence in the workplace and discuss ways to connect with professional peers through social media. Later, has anyone named Oscar ever won an Oscar? Find out whether Jessica knows the answer in Jared’s Rump Roast quiz featuring historic Academy Awards trivia. And, HBO’s “The Last of Us” is the best show Jared’s seen in a looong time, so if you like gut-wrenching, poetic, and a little bit disturbing storytelling, you’d better check it out. Jessica Chen is an Emmy-Award Winner and the founder and CEO of Soulcast Media. ----- Since we talked about the Academy Awards, let's keep awards season rolling: here's our list of the best Best Original Song category winners! ----- 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

Loyal Heels in the Courtroom listeners know Amy Gunn also hosts a podcast for the American College of Trial Lawyers. On her Trial Tested podcast, Amy spoke with Joan Lukey, one of the top female litigators in the country and the first female President of the ACTL. This extraordinary episode is a great opportunity to take notes on Joan’s philosophy for success and her ongoing commitment to compassion in every aspect of her life. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Don’t assume that an impressive CV from a prestigious university means you’ve found the perfect expert for your case. We think someone with down-to-earth communication skills and real-life experience may be a better choice. Tune in for our discussion of what to look for when hiring an expert witness, strategies to defend your expert’s testimony when your opponent presents multiple experts against you, and tips on expert prep so your best asset doesn’t become your worst nightmare. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Also, Elon Musk really needs legal counsel. Judge Stuart Kyle Duncan is the latest speaker to cry foul that an audience of law students heckled him to death. He's received an apology from Stanford Law School already, but the videos released from the event and the witness accounts appear to show the judge playing the role of wrestling heel. Taking the honest if probing questions from the audience and obstinately refusing to answer to further frustrate the students. Elon Musk fired up his Twitter machine to lurch the company into a potentially massive liability before someone -- presumably a lawyer -- told him about wrongful termination. Maybe he shouldn't be too quick to ditch the requirement that he run every Tweet by a lawyer first. Finally, Merrick Garland is taking heat for the fact that it's 2023 and Donald Trump has yet to be charged for anything stemming from the Capitol riot. But Garland's right. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Civil legal aid providers noted an increase in illegal evictions during the height of the pandemic, as some landlords pursued avenues outside the court system for forcing tenants out. Legal experts discuss the problem of illegal eviction and its role in housing instability on the latest episode of LSC's “Talk Justice” podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This episode’s discussion around the Community Table: Sometimes when it comes to your brand and marketing, doing everything is doing nothing. What is it you want to be known for? On the fence about hiring support staff? Do the math. Would more staff create more business, better reviews, and happier clients? The next step could be more profit. Gamification – cash rewards for individual and team goals (even promotions) – can energize your team. Retain your best players. And what about offshoring some tasks? Mentioned in This Episode: Calendly Accuity Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Why does your website need maintenance? Do you take the time to look at your website every few months or at least once per year to make sure your terms and conditions are still relevant, your site is safe, and everything is running smoothly? We’re talking about exactly why this is so important on the podcast today with David Forman. We joke that David was writing code in the womb, but the truth isn’t that far off. He started building websites in middle school, before the internet was even a thing. Even while he was pursuing other career paths, that passion never subsided. Though he had a full-time job in retail, David started and ran Clarity Creative Group on nights and weekends. After attending a Coding Boot Camp at the University of Central Florida, David was inspired to jump into digital marketing full-time and that’s when Clarity really took off! Today, David’s focus is no longer on SKUs or holiday displays, but on helping small- and mid-sized businesses grow through digital marketing. David’s unique skill allows him to identify and jump on new opportunities. It’s tough to keep up in a world of constantly changing algorithms and standards, but he manages it flawlessly. David gives listeners actionable tips on: [1:45] What website maintenance is and means [3:00] Why you need to do website updates [4:50] What is at risk when you don't make website updates [10:15] Defining being on a shared server [15:00] ​​Can you lose clients from having a bad website? [17:00] Ongoing maintenance to consider [22:10] David's book recommendation Resources mentioned in this episode: The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz Connect with David here: Instagram Twitter LinkedIn Facebook https://www.iwantclarity.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

There are still significant issues surrounding law student mental health, and the pandemic added even more layers to these wellness concerns. Molly Ranns and JoAnn Hathaway welcome David Jaffe and Janet Stearns to discuss their research and advocacy for law student well-being. They talk listeners through the latest statistics, emphasize the importance of continuing to destigmatize mental health struggles, and offer many strategies for advocating for wellness throughout the entire legal profession. David B. Jaffe is the Associate Dean of Student Affair at American University Washington College of Law. Janet Stearns is Dean of Students and Lecturer in Law at the University of Miami Law School. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Law school is tough, but you’re not alone! DeMario Thornton welcomes fellow law student Sarah Atkinson to talk through the highs and lows of law school. They share their struggles and discuss the ways they have navigated the stresses and uncertainties of legal education, summer internships, job-hunting, bar prep, and more. Sarah Atkinson is a 3L at the University of Alabama School of Law Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In a brand new interview series, Dennis and Tom welcome Kristen Sonday to hear her perspectives on the latest developments in the legal tech world. Kristen talks about her platform at Paladin connecting lawyers to pro bono work; weighs in on ChatGPT, AI, tech adoption, and more; and shares her top tip for using technology in legal practice. As always, stay tuned for the parting shots—that one tip, website, or observation 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. Kristen Sonday is the Co-Founder and CEO of Paladin, an online platform to help lawyers and law firms find pro bono work. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

So you think your firm is tech forward, but do you have a strategy behind that? Today Zack Glaser talks with Lawyerist Lab member, author, and fellow legal tech guru, Greg Siskind. They dive into the ways AI is transforming the legal industry and how law firms can leverage technology to stay ahead of the curve. Links from the episode: Visalaw.com 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, & Gavel for sponsoring this episode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices