Legal Talk Network - Law News and Legal Topics

The virtual world of NFTs and Web3 is developing rapidly, and within this space, intellectual property disputes are now cropping up at a similarly rapid pace. Diane Littlejohn, Kristen Roberts, and Jessica Neer McDonald talk through their TECHSHOW presentation on trademark and copyright issues arising from NFTs and Web3 and share how to assess goals and uses for virtual content to decide what protections a creator may need. Diane Littlejohn is an attorney currently serving as the Executive Director of the Technology Law and Policy Center at North Carolina Central University School of Law. Kristen G. Roberts, Founder & Managing Attorney at Trestle Law, APC is a California-based intellectual property attorney who helps business owners build a bridge from their brands to their bank accounts. Jessica Neer McDonald is founder of intellectual property law firm Neer McD PLLC, based in Miami, Florida. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

And a pop quiz: do you know what 'bofadeez' is? Judge Roger Benitez of the Southern District of California decided to use his marshal to take a 13-year-old girl out of the audience and handcuff her in the jury box. Apparently, he didn't realize arbitrary acts of psychological torture upon children was frowned upon in this establishment. Now the Ninth Circuit is looking into a formal complaint. Also, those Dr. Rick commercials scold people turning into their parents for trying to leave voicemails, but it might be worth checking to see what the voicemail greeting you set 10 years ago says. Because for one aspiring lawyer it wasn't great. Finally, the Fifth Circuit's Judge Ho thinks it's wrong to prosecute political rivals on made up charges and frighteningly he's in the minority on this question. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When Lauren Stiller Rikleen was approached in 2020 by the ABA Judicial Division to help compile autobiographical stories from women judges in America, a powerful motivating factor for her was to capture stories of the barriers the judges overcame in their own words. Rikleen, a former law firm partner and consultant who writes and speaks about the importance of cross-generational communication, tells the ABA Journal’s Lee Rawles that she hopes millennial and Gen Z readers will benefit from the reflections of women judges from the Silent Generation, baby boomers and Gen X. Some of the challenges they faced will not similarly impede younger generations, but other obstacles are familiar, formidable and still present. “[E]ven as gains are made, biases are deep and systemic, requiring the vigilance of every generation to continue the difficult work of achieving full equity for all,” Rikleen writes in her introduction to Her Honor: Stories of Challenge and Triumph from Women Judges. Bookended by essays about the former Justice Sandra Day O’Connor and the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Her Honor compiles reflections by the living jurists or essays about the lives of judges who have passed on. The 25 women jurists are all honorees of the Margaret Brent Women Lawyers of Achievement Awards, selected by the Commission on Women in the Profession. Rikleen herself has received a Margaret Brent award, and says it was a fair-handed way to narrow down participants. Past Margaret Brent honorees who also contributed to Her Honor include previous guests of the Modern Law Library podcast, Judge Bernice Bouie Donald and Judge M. Margaret McKeown. The judges write about the paths they took to the judiciary; their struggles to balance their work and personal lives; the people who mentored and encouraged them; and their triumphs and regrets. “They are different in every particular, yet what unites them in the aggregate is profound: This is a book about imagination, and what it took and still takes for women, and by extension other minorities invisible to the Constitution and the law, to imagine themselves into a structure that didn’t include them,” Dahlia Lithwick, senior legal correspondent at Slate, wrote in the forward to the book. In addition to discussing Her Honor, Rikleen and Rawles get into another project to which Rikleen has devoted her time. She is the executive director of Lawyers Defending American Democracy, a nonprofit, nonpartisan group that works to uphold democratic norms and the rule of law. They also discuss the “three Cs” promoted by ABA President Deborah Enix-Ross: civics, civility and collaboration. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Getting the documents your client requests is the primary reward of Sunshine Law litigation, but can you also be reimbursed for your time? In our final episode on Sunshine Laws, we discuss settlements, misconceptions about attorney/client privilege, and our personal observations that judges are becoming more eager to rule on these cases to ensure government entities are transparent and act to serve people, not politics. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You clearly gave your focus group jurors all the facts in your case. Most understood your message, but a few folks went completely off the deep end and jumped to a conclusion you can’t even comprehend. We often forget that jurors don’t share our legal knowledge and that the responsibility of decision-making in a legal setting can be overwhelming. Tune in to hear some of the crazy comments we’ve heard in focus groups and what they can teach us. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The day has finally come: Conrad and Gyi are live from ABA Techshow! F.O.P’s Allison Johs and Rukayatu “Ruky” Tijani share the importance of investing in marketing and authentic branding and purpose. (1:46) You may be surprised at how few small firms and solo practices have a true budget, never mind a specific marketing budget. So how do these firms know how much money they have and how to use resources effectively? In our first segment Allison Johs of Legal Ease Consulting gets right into the results from the latest ABA Tech survey with tips on how to deploy your resources to grow your business. (12:38) Being intentional and goal oriented starts with knowing yourself, your clients, and your goals. Consider Rukayatu “Ruky” Tijani, a shining example of how lawyers can build their brand and create meaningful connections with real people. Hear how Tijani sets goals, creates routines, and thrives as her authentic self. Resources from This Episode: ABA Techshow Check out Alison Joh’s book, “How to Do More in Less Time: The Complete Guide to Increasing Your Productivity and Improving Your Bottom Line, Second Edition” Canva Groove app Lunch Hour Legal Marketing now on YouTube Lunch Hour Legal Marketing on TikTok Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Change is difficult, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t needed. So, what might we need to do to change the way we conceive of legal services? Lynda Shely, Darth Vaughn, Jayne Reardon, and Ed Walters share highlights from their keynote—a fictional public hearing—debating the idea of modifying attorney Rules of Professional Conduct to address challenges in access to justice and legal service delivery. Lynda Shely, of The Shely Firm, PC, Scottsdale, Arizona, provides ethics and risk management advice to lawyers and law firms. Darth Vaughn serves as Litigation Counsel and leads the Legal Innovation & Technology Operations team for Ford Motor Company’s Office of General Counsel. Jayne Reardon is the former executive director of the Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Professionalism. Ed Walters is the CEO and co-founder of Fastcase. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

ChatGPT’s ability to work at the level of language is already catching the attention of litigators around the world. Pablo Arrenondo and Stephen Embry recap their talk at TECHSHOW on how ChatGPT and other AI can be used as tools to aid attorneys in legal practice. They discuss concerns with accuracy and bias and also explore the many positive opportunities presented by this burgeoning tech. Pablo Arredondo is co-founder and chief innovation officer at Casetext. Stephen Embry is a member of Frost Brown Todd LLC and part of the firm’s class action, privacy, and mass tort groups. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As Web3 and the metaverse continue to grow in their reach, more and more people are using cryptocurrency—even to pay their legal fees. What do lawyers need to know about these new forms of payment? Jessica Neer McDonald and Jamie Szal give an overview of blockchain, cryptocurrency, and Web3 payment sources and explain their legal and ethical implications for law firms. Jessica Neer McDonald is founder of intellectual property law firm Neer McD PLLC, based in Miami, Florida. Jamie Szal is a partner at Brann & Isaacson, where she focuses her practice on assisting businesses in all aspects of state and local tax controversy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The newest market for legal professionals may not exist in the physical world, but legal matters in the metaverse are very real, opening up a host of opportunities for attorneys. Kristen Roberts, Diane Littlejohn, and Mathew Kerbis talk us through the basics of the metaverse and its expanding need for legal services. Kristen G. Roberts, Founder & Managing Attorney at Trestle Law, APC is a California-based intellectual property attorney who helps business owners build a bridge from their brands to their bank accounts. Diane Littlejohn is an attorney currently serving as the Executive Director of the Technology Law and Policy Center at North Carolina Central University School of Law. Mathew R. Kerbis is an associate attorney at Condon & Cook, LLC focusing his practice in civil litigation defense of first-party and third-party insurance and personal injury matters. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Professor Joel Rogers describes the rise of American Legislative Council (ALEC), the organization responsible drafting model bills introduced across the country with devastating impacts upon public education, voting rights, and environmental protections, to name a few. He also outlines a strategy for reversing these efforts and provides a message of hope. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Professor Joel Rogers describes the rise of American Legislative Council (ALEC), the organization responsible drafting model bills introduced across the country with devastating impacts upon public education, voting rights, and environmental protections, to name a few. He also outlines a strategy for reversing these efforts and provides a message of hope. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

AI is one of the hottest topics in digital marketing and content creation at the moment – and deservedly so. There is so much power in the technology and what it’s capable of, and it can bring you a lot of ease to your firm. But will it replace traditional jobs? Is it still necessary to hire out certain roles? And how can you leverage this AI technology as part of your marketing strategy? How do you identify where in your content creation process makes the most sense to use AI? Joining me for this conversation is Simon Kingsnorth. Simon is a global marketing expert and best selling author. He is also a keynote speaker and CEO of SK, a global strategic marketing agency. If you’ve been wanting to test out AI and realize its power within your own practice, you will take away a ton of value from our conversation. Simon gives listeners actionable tips on: [2:10] Why everyone is talking about AI right now [2:50] Why is ChatGPT specifically getting so much attention [6:30] Will ChatGPT replace traditional jobs? [10:40] What happens when Google recognizes something was created by AI? [16:10] The most prominent AI tools to try [25:00] The costs associated with AI technology [28:30] How to integrate AI into your marketing strategy [34:15] Is there a risk of plagiarism? [35:55] Simon's book recommendation [40:50] One aspect of business Simon knows always works Resources mentioned in this episode: Sustainable Marketing by Michelle Carville Connect with Simon here: Instagram Twitter LinkedIn www.simonkingsnorth.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

How do institutions of higher education handle allegations of student-on-student sexual misconduct? Sean Flammer joins Rocky Dhir to talk through this legal process as outlined in his article in the March edition of the Texas Bar Journal. Sean explains how new Title IX regulations beginning in August 2020 have affected cross-examination requirements in misconduct hearings and what concerns around due process that have arisen in the wake of these changes. Sean offers insights on how the current system works and whether it effectively balances the needs and rights of complainants and respondents. Sean Flammer specializes in Title IX, student affairs disputes, employment issues, constitutional litigation, and general litigation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If you’ve run into a problem that you can’t seem to solve in-house, it might be time to seek out an integration partner. Tressa Schultze and Catherine Stock talk with Laurence Colletti about the benefits of these partnerships and how they help lawyers streamline processes and develop efficient, profitable legal practices. Tressa Schultze leads product and integration strategy at MyCase. Catherine Stock is partnerships manager at InfoTrack US. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Following their keynote panel, Laurence Colletti sits down with Jazz Hampton, Erin Levine, Kimberly Bennett, and Jack Newton to hear their thoughts on the current state of technology in legal practice. They talk about dealing with fast-paced change, the pursuit of vision in the face of adversity, and engaging with technology to craft a better future. Jazz Hampton is CEO and general counsel at TurnSignl. Erin Levine is a certified family law specialist, owner of Levine Family Law Group, and founder of Hello Divorce. Kimberly Bennett is the Co-Founder of Fidu, a client experience platform. Jack Newton is the CEO and co-founder of Clio, a pioneer in cloud-based legal technology. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On February 3, 2023, a Norfolk Southern freight train carrying hazardous materials derailed in East Palestine, Ohio starting a fire which spewed toxic fumes into the air, driving surrounding residents out of their homes. Since then, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency issued a legally binding notice ordering Norfolk Southern to handle and pay for all necessary cleanup after this freight train derailment led to an intentional release of vinyl chloride. So what could be the long-term impact on residents? What about the air, soil, and water? And what needs to change in our laws to prevent another environmental disaster like this from happening again on our railroads? In this episode, host Craig Williams joins guest David Raack to discuss the train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio and the potential environmental legal issues that could stem from this disaster. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Have you heard? We released a new edition of our book! Our goal has always been to help lawyers better manage their firms. Now we have new strategies and stories to help in that journey. Today Jennifer sits down with co-authors of The Small Firm Roadmap Revisited, Aaron & Stephanie. They dive into the reframing they have done since writing the first edition and the major differences in our new book. Links from the episode: https://lawyerist.com/book/ If today’s podcast resonates with you and you haven’t read The Small Firm Roadmap Revisited yet, get the first chapter right now for free! Looking for help beyond the book? Check out our coaching community to see if it’s right for you. Thanks to Posh Virtual Receptionists, Clio, & Gavel for sponsoring this episode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

And Sidney Powell drew the judge she needed at the right time. It may tickle the search engine algorithms, but the phrase "quiet quitting" seems out of place among lawyers. A firm sued one of its former attorneys for "quiet quitting" on them and now she's hired Wigdor to countersue, which is about as loud as lawyers can get. Meanwhile, the Texas judge hearing the state bar's complaint against Sidney Powell was a tad too quiet with a sparse summary judgment order kicking the case citing confusion about exhibit numbering. Finally, Wikipedia tried to stand up for the Constitution... the federal government told it to sit down. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Wouldn’t you love to know what jurors are thinking about your case? Focus groups provide valuable insights into case strategy and potential damages issues. They can also reveal issues you never considered or indicate where clarification or visuals might be needed to help the jury understand complex information. We’ll discuss the pros and cons of online and in-person focus groups, how to prep and present the case, and what you can learn from your results in Part One of our intro to focus groups for trial attorneys. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You’ve made a timely request for public governmental records but all you get are excuses. Under the law, you have to prove the delay is knowing and purposeful. How do you prove it and whom do you sue? Find out in our in-depth conversation about handling violations of your state’s Sunshine Laws. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hanging up a shingle takes more than a law degree. Today’s legal tech and software helps solo and small practices be more productive and organized than ever. “Good enough” isn’t good enough. Know what you need, and get it! Adriana runs through the tech foundation of a successful firm: from the computers to the office software to the case management software and add-ons that can streamline your practice and better serve your clients. Adriana names names, provides recommendations, and answers the questions she hears from clients regularly. This is the personal consultation you have wanted … for free! Got questions or ideas about solo and small practices? Drop us a line at [email protected] Topics: PC or Mac? Does it matter? Office management tools? Make sure everything integrates, from your accounting software (hint, most accountants use QuickBooks) to your PDF creation tools. Don’t be cheap! Case management tools and “add-ons” save time and organize your practice. And when it comes to labeling files, don’t be clever, be clear and concise. You have 256 characters to name a document, use them all so you can share work. Mentioned in This Episode: Microsoft Office 365 Google Workspace Adobe Acrobat Pro QuickBooks Clio Clio Integrations ABA Legal Technology Resource Center Mycase Rocket Matter CosmoLex Zolasuite Actionstep Centerbase Microsoft OneDrive Dropbox Loom.com Law Firm Autopilot Netdocuments Fastcase Casetext Textexpander.com TextexpanderforLawyers Vonage Nextiva Dialpad RingCentral Ruby Abby Connect Smith.ai Back Office Betties New Solo Back Episode Library A Listener’s Guide to the New Solo Back Catalog Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Suffolk Law Professor Quinten Steenhuis discusses his team’s successful collaboration with legal aid orgs to use technology to scale help for the courtformsonline.org project and the potential to use tech to extend the reach of legal services. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Should reparations be given, and if so, who should get reparations and what form should they take? These are questions the U.S. has been pondering since General Sherman made the largely unanswered call for 40 acres and mule to be allotted to emancipated slaves during the Civil War. In this episode, hosts Maggie Mendenhall Casey and Jennifer Byrne are joined by the Mayor of the City of Evanston, Illinois, Daniel Biss, to discuss how Evanston has sought to implement the country’s first-of-its-kind reparations program, which seeks to distribute reparations to Black residents who were impacted by the city’s historical housing discrimination using revenue from cannabis taxation. Mayor Biss discusses the challenges the program has raised and how it may serve as a model for other U.S. cities looking to implement similar programs. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This episode’s discussion around the Community Table: Is hiring a temp I’ve already worked with previously a mistake? “It’s not personal,” it’s personnel. I need a body, even if s/he won’t stay with me. Is this reasonable? Sometimes, a contractor (even one you already know and know won’t stay with you) is the answer. Mr. Right vs. Mr. Right Now. How do you test the “seriousness” of a job candidate? Are you dealing with a real job candidate or just a person out fishing and wasting your time? Or is this 007 work from a competitor checking you out? Should I be overlapping an exiting employee with their replacement? Trying to squeeze out a bad employee while simultaneously onboarding a good employee – can this be done? And will keeping a less-than-perfect employee onboard, while offboarding and bringing in a new person, help? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Why does email marketing work for law firms? And is it truly necessary to have an email marketing funnel set up? Joining me for this conversation is Jeff Felten, and we dive in to why you need email marketing for your firm, and how to leverage it in many scenarios – from onboarding, to closing a case. As you’ll hear in our conversation, email marketing is an extension of who you are as a person, with the goal of warming up your lead pool and converting them into buyers. Jeff is an email marketing strategist and copywriter who helps service-based professionals hustle less for leads and build armies of loyal fans. In 10 yrs of marketing experience, Jeff has worked with 40+ brands, written thousands of marketing emails and written hundreds of web pages. Jeff gives listeners actionable tips on: [1:20] How Jeff decided to focus and narrow in on email marketing [4:10] Why Jeff's approach to email marketing is different and personalized [6:20] Defining 'generosity' and 'social proof' [9:00] How to balance being corporate and professional vs. relatable [12:30] How email marketing is different than a blog you'd put on a website [13:35] How to collect emails and bring them into an email sequence [14:40] What is an email welcome sequence [24:30] Email sequences you can run once a case has been closed [30:55] Jeff's book recommendation [38:00] One thing Jeff knows works when it comes to email marketing Resources mentioned in this episode: Obviously Awesome by April Dunford Connect with Jeff here: Instagram Twitter LinkedIn www.contentremedy.co 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

Jessica Bednarz has spent much of her career representing people, researching access-to-justice issues and using that knowledge to try to find better ways to deliver legal services. That includes using what’s known as “design thinking” for developing client service programs. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With ChatGPT splashing across headlines pretty much everywhere, what’s left for us to know about this new and almost ridiculously hot tech? Dennis and Tom give their two cents on all the buzz that is ChatGPT, discussing thoughts on its many exciting and (possibly) concerning capabilities and its potential within the legal world. Later, have you ever felt like no one bothers to read your emails? The guys offer up their strategies for drafting quick, efficient, and attention-grabbing communications. 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 answers to your most burning tech questions. Mentioned in This Episode: A Segment: ChatGPT: What Else is Left to Say? OpenAI B Segment: How To Draft Emails People will Read Parting Shots: Use Your iPad with Stream Deck to Run Teams Meetings Center for Law, Technology & Innovation 10 Best ChatGPT Examples, Prompts and Use Cases Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Cyber attacks are almost entirely responsible for today’s data breaches, and, increasingly often, the details of these breaches are vague—leaving security experts with a growing list of questions. Sharon Nelson and John Simek talk with James Lee about the Identity Theft Resource Center’s latest Data Breach Report. They discuss current trends, the challenges of nebulous data breach notices, and what all organizations should be on the lookout for in the coming year. James E. Lee is Chief Operating Officer at the Identity Theft Resource Center. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This time on The Legal Toolkit, Jared forgoes his monologue to give more time to his conversation with Chris Stock. Tune in as this duo dig into criminal justice reform, ChatGPT’s future in legal and the world at large, legal tech business outlooks, Chris’s new venture as founder of a consulting firm, and more. Later, stick around for “Shit Australians Say” on the Rump Roast. You’ll learn what “fair dinkum” means and can decide for yourself whether our usage in the title was correct or just silly. Cheers! Chris Stock is CEO and founder of CGS Advisory. ----- Since we talked with notable Australian, Chris Stock, let's count down Australia's Greatest Hits! ----- Our opening track is Two Cigarettes by Major Label Interest. Our closing track is Scrappy by Famous Cats. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Have you considered moving abroad full time? Have you wondered what it would take to make that a reality? Lawyerist Lab Coach Bernadette Harris moved herself and her business to Mexico and today she shares her journey with Stephanie. They discuss why, how, the challenges, and the surprising health benefits that came along with the decision. Links from the episode: Trust Bernadette If today’s podcast resonates with you and you haven’t read The Small Firm Roadmap 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

Where does Corporate America stand today in terms of public perception, and how does this impact individual corporate clients? All persons, including corporations, are supposed to be equal before the law; however, individual jurors may have had experiences that lead them to harbor negative feelings towards companies - especially large corporations. Oftentimes, this bias can follow corporations into the courtroom. So what can companies do to combat anti-corporate bias in the jury pool? To explore this issue, two experienced commercial litigators, Mitch Edwards and Katherine Savage join the show to discuss what litigators and companies can do to combat anti-corporate bias in the courtroom. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this week's podcast, we discuss a North Dakota law firm sued its associates and won, seeking to clawback paychecks for failing to meet billing requirements during the pandemic. Wasn't there a program to protect employers from cutting salaries during the downturn, you might ask? There was! And the firm took gobs of it. Also, Clarence Thomas is likely getting a statue in his honor, because as they say in Unforgiven, "deserve's got nothing to do with it." Finally, the one simple trick to $100 million in billables that the Third Circuit doesn't want Jones Day to know about. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Some American patriotic myths are harmless; George Washington may have chopped down a cherry tree at some point in his life, but the popular story told to children where young George fesses up to the deed by saying “I cannot tell a lie” is made up from whole cloth. However, there are much more pernicious lies and misinformation circulated about our past as a country, and that misinformation is used for political ends. Princeton University historians Kevin M. Kruse and Julian E. Zelizer say they have been alarmed about this uptick in misinformation, censorship and rewriting of history. Having previously co-written Fault Lines: A History of the United States Since 1974, they decided to partner as editors of a book responding to this wave of false history. They commissioned a number of other prominent historians to contribute, and the result is Myth America: Historians Take On the Biggest Legends and Lies About Our Past. In this episode of the Modern Law Library, Kruse and Zelizer speak with the ABA Journal’s Lee Rawles about how their project began and what they see as the greatest challenges facing modern historians. They offer tips on how to evaluate claims about history as a non-historian. They also discuss one of the most pervasive myths in the legal community: the true importance of Federalist Paper No. 10. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Do you know when and why a public governmental meeting can close its doors to you? What recourse do you have to find out what they are discussing out of the public presence? Part Two of our continuing discussion on Sunshine Laws addresses the laws covering attending and recording meetings, redactions to meeting minutes, deleted text messages, and ways to get around roadblocks designed to keep you from obtaining the records you have a right to see. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Say you go on vacation and your condo reservation gets canceled just before you arrive, but you are promised a full refund. But after a gazillion texts, emails, and phone calls, you still don’t have your money. Now what? It happened to one of us and it turned out to be a great lesson in the basics of small claims court. You won’t want to miss this one….cuz when you try to cheat Amy Gunn, you get 4 highly-motivated attorneys coming after you. This means you, Randy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A rundown of what Conrad and Gyi will be talking about at the March ABA Techshow. Plus, Google Ads are so dang expensive, amiright? ----- Oh, boy! ABA Techshow is really, really soon, and the guys can’t contain their excitement. On the pod, Gyi and Conrad give you a preview of their sessions and what you can expect; including branding and positioning, a data-driven section on the future of legal marketing, and using LinkedIn for brand acceleration. I mean, you ARE going to Techshow aren’t you? Ha, of course you are. Be sure to bring all of your homemade #LHLM gear, hunt down the guys, and share your undying love for all things Lunch Hour Legal Marketing. Then, Conrad tries to make Gyi’s head explode with the question, “Are Google Ads too expensive?” So, are they? Maybe, just maybe, you’re asking the wrong question. If the only thing you are measuring is cost-per-click, you might be a little bit off-base. Learn from the best on how to analyze the true cost and benefit of your digital ad spend. The News: A.I. saw a $100 billion market cap loss. What happened? And how did Google react? DoNotPay is in the news again, and it could mean legal troubles are brewing. Using fruit snacks to generate good reviews from jurors. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

To settle or not to settle, often a question. Our guest, Jim Anderson, is a well-known Workers’ Comp attorney and a leader in the field in Mississippi. His input about “settlements” are respected, and he has led the field in helping both sides reach a solution. The best claim is a closed claim. Is it sometimes better to simply settle a case fairly, to reach an accord, than let it linger and get worse. When a significant injury is involved, going before a judge can be risky. Seeking a settlement that is fair can be a better solution. But how are settlement values calculated? This is the complicated part. Best case, worst case, and the fair target range. At what point do you make an offer? Every case is different, and there is no “standard.” By talking with each other, maybe we can understand what the worker needs and what the company is responsible for. This is Workers’ Comp, not tort cases. There is no “pain and suffering” as in a civil case, but that can be hard for workers to understand. And with older workers injured on the job, Medicare eligibility adds a whole new twist. It’s a major factor easily overlooked. A settlement isn’t always just between the insured and the worker, there are other parties to think about. This is an eye-opening episode full of insights into the fine art of settlements. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this SideBar episode, California Assemblymember, Buffy Wicks discusses the power of state legislatures to protect fundamental constitutional rights and the importance of diverse representation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How can a law firm grow with systems? Which systems are necessary when it comes to scaling your business? Joining me for this conversation is Mitch Beinhaker, who explains why lawyers should consider setting up systems within their firms, and how to do so in a way that is sustainable and supports their reputation and continued growth. Mitchell C. Beinhaker, Esq. is a business lawyer and estates attorney who runs a solo legal & consulting practice representing business owners, entrepreneurs, executives, and professionals. Through his 29+ years of experience, Mitchell has handled business development, marketing, firm management, along with business transactional work for clients of the firm. He has extensive experience with corporate governance, commercial transactions, real estate, and risk analysis. Using his years of practical experience, he drafts contracts, negotiates purchases, and can manage outside counsel for any corporate situation. For business owners and executives, he creates and implements estate plans, along with succession plans to help companies continue for future generations. Mitch gives listeners actionable tips on: [1:25] The role systems play in marketing [3:45] Why not having systems can damage your reputation [5:20] Examples of systems you can create within your firm [10:45] The elements of email marketing [15:50] The basics when it comes to setting up automations and systems [20:15] Mitch’s book review [23:30] How to set up an email funnel campaign [31:30] One thing Mitch knows works when it comes to marketing and automation Resources mentioned in this episode: The Referral of a Lifetime by Tim Templeton Connect with Mitch here: Instagram Twitter LinkedIn Facebook https://beinhakerlaw.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

This year, we have created a new Environmental Law series on Lawyer 2 Lawyer, where we will cover cradle to grave treatment of chemicals and our laws on environmental biology. In this episode, host Craig Williams joins LeRoy (Lee) C. Paddock, former associate dean for environmental law studies at George Washington University Law School, as they discuss the Pollution Prevention Act, the Clean Water Act, & the Clean Air Act, their intended impact on our environment, and a look ahead to future legislation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this special episode of Young Lawyer Rising, host Montana Funk is joined by law firm owner and adjunct professor, Karen Lapekas, to discuss the ins and outs of pro bono work. The two cover a wide range of topics, including: What is Pro Bono? Why Does it Matter? When to Take a Case? How to Get Involved? Pro Bono Burnout, Benefits of Pro Bono Work, and Common Misconceptions. Don't miss this great episode! By Karen Lapekas 5 (Good) Reasons Not to Do Pro Bono Work Additional Resources Stepping Up to Your 50 Hours Get Out There and Provide Pro Bono Develop Your Legal Skills by Supporting Disaster Survivors Participate in Meaningful Pro Bono from Your Home: ABA Free Legal Answers ABA Standing Committee on Pro Bono and Public Service ABA Young Lawyers Division Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It sounds obvious, but it may need to be stated: your law firm needs a website. Today Stephanie talks with our own Legal Tech Advisor Zack Glaser about the importance of your online presence. He gives advice on how to set goals with clear CTAs, nurture leads, and offers suggestions to get started with your content marketing strategy. Links from the episode: Best Law Firm Websites If today’s podcast resonates with you and you haven’t read The Small Firm Roadmap yet, get the first chapter right now for free! Looking for help beyond the book? Check out our coaching community to see if it’s right for you. Thanks to Posh Virtual Receptionists, Clio, & Gavel for sponsoring this episode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Is ChatGPT ready to pass the bar? Maybe not quite, but it’s learning rapidly and might just become a tool lawyers use on a daily basis in the future. Sharon and Jim are joined by Julie Bays to find out ChatGPT’s current capabilities in answering questions about legal practice and the law. Listen in to find out what ChatGPT has to say about access to justice, legal ethics, growing your law firm, and more. Julie A. Bays is the practice management advisor of the Oklahoma Bar Association. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

James Barbieri from independent adjusting company Claims Advantage discusses the complexity of handling negligent security claims. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On the latest episode of Thinking Like A Lawyer, Kathryn and Chris ponder the need for a rule against Confederate flagsin courtrooms in the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA the year of our Lord 2023. Speaking of bold stances on things that should be obvious, the American Bar Association would really like a Supreme Court ethics rule, but we know that's not happening. Plus if you want your full bonus this year at Perkins Coie, you're going to have to bill more hours. Which is a crappy move, but still better than the layoffs slow-moving through Biglaw. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s one thing both sides can agree upon...government transparency is a good thing. But getting access to government information isn’t easy. In Part One of our in-depth discussion on Sunshine Laws, Attorneys Mark Pedroli and Joseph Martineau explain the basics of Sunshine Law and Freedom of Information Act requests and why they should be part of your discovery if your case involves a government entity. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

One of the biggest and longest-running legal technology shows in the country, the ABA Techshow, is right around the corner. From March 1 to 4, thousands of lawyers, legal professionals and vendors will descend upon Chicago to talk about technology. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Texas Two-Step isn’t just a country music line dance. It’s a controversial legal maneuver a company can use to avoid exposure to potential legal claims, and it could derail your case. We’ll examine the potential impact of bankruptcy on litigation and explain why you should always discuss bankruptcy with your client, how to seek relief if an insurance company claims financial insolvency, and offer clarification on judicial estoppel. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Experts discuss how plain language can help courts expand access to the courts on the latest episode of LSC's “Talk Justice” podcast, released today. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices