Legal Talk Network - Law News and Legal Topics

On the last episode of our The Life of a Lawyer Start to Finish series, we discussed Retirement with Ida Abbott. In this episode, we move on to the final rung of the ladder: The Aging Lawyer: Exiting Gracefully. Host Craig Williams is joined by Tish Vincent, LMSW, Esq., Chair of the ABA Commission on Lawyers Assistance Programs, as they spotlight the aging lawyer. Craig & Tish discuss senior lawyers, possible warning signs of cognitive decline to look out for if a co-worker is suffering, how to approach, and where to go for help if you or a colleague are experiencing warning signs. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You’re no longer in start-up mode for your firm. You’ve grown and stretched and you’re ready to level up. So what’s next? In this episode, Stephanie talks with Karen Graves, Lawyerist’s newest Lab coach, about how to navigate your business’s teenage phase. Karen explains this phase and how to find support for your firm. She details how to reconnect to your genius, renew your identity as a leader, and learn to let go. 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, Berkshire Receptionists, & Lawyerist Lab for sponsoring this episode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In our annual Year in Review episode, Lee Rawles speaks to her ABA Journal colleagues Blair Chavis, Julianne Hill and Stephanie Francis Ward to find out how they spent their downtime in 2022. We cover the usual lineup of our favorite books, movies and TV shows, but each participant also provides more niche content. Hill, who recently joined the Journal full-time after freelancing for the magazine, has a background in film, and she shares her favorite documentary projects she watched in 2022. Chavis, a dedicated home cook, shares her favorite recipe sources for making meals with her partner. Ward, the host of the Journal's Asked & Answered podcast, has podcast picks for those who like a little gossip and spice to their stories. And Rawles, who has been on a mystery kick, shares the series of audiobooks she's been listening to for the past few months. Do you have own favorites, or suggestions for what the Modern Law Library should be reading in 2023? Email them to us at [email protected], and you may hear them featured in a future episode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

But they caught me with some contemporaneous third-party emails? We discuss the crackerjack investigation the Supreme Court performed into allegations that Justice Sam Alito has a history of leaking decisions. After a religious leader confessed to lobbying efforts that included leaks from Alito concerning key decisions, Alito told the Court "it wasn't me" and, remarkably, they just accepted that and called it a day. Speaking of decisions, the Eleventh Circuit finally put a stop to Judge Aileen Cannon's string of zany decisions in the Trump seized documents case. Also, a former Biglaw partner thrust herself in the spotlight to bemoan her firm for enforcing the bare minimum of anti-harassment policies and a pair of law schools controversially announces a merger. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Office parties. Co-worker gifts. Corporate giving. Hosting events. When do you possibly find time for making holiday feasts, visiting family, and preparing for that upcoming trial? The holidays can be a blur unless you get in the spirit of “get to” instead of “have to.” Join this jolly pre-holiday episode for hints on staff gift-giving, attitude adjustment, and making time to recharge for the new year. Happy Holidaze! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What price should we put on a life lost? Whether it’s a father, mother, or child, jurors need guidance, context, and motivation when deciding damages. John Simon and Tim Cronin offer several examples of powerful ways to present damages in wrongful death cases and share Tim Cronin’s moving closing argument in a recent case regarding the tragic death of a five-year-old girl. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For lawyers looking to expand and grow their law practice, their first thought may be to broaden their marketing efforts and client base. Offer more services to more people and your practice is bound to grow, right? Wrong. You can’t be all things to all people. Intead, lawyers should dig deeper, narrow their focus, work to develop their relationships, grow their expertise, and establish their niche. In this episode of 'Litigation Radio', host Dave Scriven-Young sits down with litigation attorney, Matthew Zorn, to discuss how building a niche practice is one of the best ways to develop a profitable law practice and better serve your clients. (Matthew Zorn is a partner at the firm Yetter Coleman LLP, where he represents plaintiffs and defendants in a variety of commercial litigation matters with an emphasis on IP, patent and regulatory litigation). -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Quick Tip from the ABA Litigation Section: Indemnification and its Interplay with Insurance Provisions and Third Party Contracts Insurance provisions are some of the most important provisions in third party contracts. In this "Quick Tips" segment from the ABA Litigation Section, Latosah Ellis shares one of the easiest ways to avoid litigation and effectively manage contractual risk. Hint, it involves continually reviewing and improving your third party contract language, including the alignment of insurance policy terms with contractual obligations. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Zack sits down with Wouter IJgosse from DecisionVault to learn more about how their platform can streamline client intake for attorneys. DecisionVault takes a portal approach, making intake an iterative process for your clients. Learn more about DecisionVault here! 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, Berkshire Receptionists, & Lawyerist Lab for sponsoring this episode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What makes for the most successful website copy? Is the text on your website actually that important? What makes your website copy stand out vs. your competitors? Joining me for this conversation about writing successful website copy is Erin Ollila. Conversion copywriter. Copy Coach.Wing Woman. Word slinger. No matter what you call her, Erin Ollila believes in the power of words and how a message can inform—and even transform—its intended audience. When she’s not working with big brands and small businesses to marry strategy, storytelling, and SEO, you can find her hosting the Talk Copy to Me podcast or exploring southeastern MA with her family and friends. Erin graduated from Fairfield University with an M.F.A. in Creative Writing and then co-founded Spry Literary Journal, which celebrates undiscovered and established writers' concise, experimental, hybrid, modern, vintage or just-plain-vulnerable writing. Erin gives listeners actionable tips on: [0:50] Why websites are the most important marketing asset to keep updated [2:20] Why good website copy is necessary [5:50] Creating a cohesive marketing strategy [11:00] SEO and keyword stuffing your website copy [22:00] What lowers your ranking on Google [24:55] Why SEO is so important [34:20] Erin’s book review [39:10] This episode’s biggest takeaway Resources mentioned in this episode: Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott Connect with Erin here: Instagram Twitter LinkedIn Facebook https://erinollila.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

David Noll, co-author of "Vigilante Federalism", is a lawyer, columnist, and Rutgers law professor who warns how the spread of private subordination laws thwarts our democratic system and erases longstanding constitutional rights. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Efficient back-and-forth communication in law firms has always been a necessity, but it’s not always easy to do it well. Finding the right collaboration tech is a critical step in modern law firms, so Jared talks with Ryan Anderson of Filevine about the unique needs of lawyers and the future of documents and communication in legal practice, including upcoming .vine. Later on in the Rump Roast, Jared has Ryan rank himself against his fellow ‘Ryan Andersons’ out there in the ether, and then quizzes him on famous ‘Ryans’ and ‘Andersons’ in pop culture. And, after lamenting the R-rated comedy drought, Jared’s looking forward to the release of horror-comedy “Cocaine Bear” in February 2023. Tune in for an overview of this upcoming gem–if you’re into the idea of a drug-fueled bear on a murderous rampage. Sounds fun, eh? Ryan Anderson is the founder and CEO of Filevine, a project management and collaboration tool for lawyers and consumer professionals. ----- Since we're all excited for the upcoming forthcoming film, 'Cocaine Bear' - so, here are some songs about bears . . . and, cocaine. ----- Our opening track is Two Cigarettes by Major Label Interest. The music for the Legal Trends Report Minute is I See You by Sounds Like Sander. Our closing track is Riled Up by Divisioner. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This year, instead of spreading Christmas Cheer, the guys offer a resounding “Bah, humbug!” to all the tech stuff that irks them. So, tech giants, listen up – don’t mess with Dennis’s defaults; make your operating systems smart enough listen to Tom’s every need; quit with the ads, already; make bluetooth actually work… bleh; etc., etc., and etc. Humph. Later, after an apparent visit from some Christmas Spirits, the guys’ hearts grow three sizes and they’re ready to talk about tech products they’re excited about this gift-giving season. So, Happy Holidays, after all! 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: Bah, Humbug to All the Annoying Tech Stuff in the World Today B Segment: Gifts We’d Like to Give (or get) Ember Mug Schlage Smart Lock Elgato Facecam Pro Insta360Link Elgato Wave Microphone Logitech Brio Webcam Helix Geometry Template Echo Show AirPods Pro Calendly Parting Shots: Zoom Spots and other new features Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Even though bankruptcy touches so many areas of the law, many attorneys outside bankruptcy practice lack an adequate understanding of how it all works. Rocky Dhir brings on experts Catherine Curtis and Robert Vanhemelrijck to get an overview of what all lawyers should know about this area of legal practice. They discuss different types of bankruptcy, outline filing and court processes, and share pro tips for things to look out for when working with clients in bankruptcy proceedings. Catherine Curtis is an Associate Attorney at Wick Phillips, where she represents clients in a broad range of insolvency and bankruptcy matters. J. Robert Vanhemelrijck is the founding and managing partner of Vanhemelrijck Law Offices, LP in San Antonio, Texas. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Is your to-do list never-ending? When was the last time you really felt productive? When we are constantly trying to get things off our list, the list seems to only grow longer. In this episode, Stephanie talks with author Oliver Burkeman about this myth of productivity. They dive into different ways to be productive and actually get stuff done. 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, Berkshire Receptionists, & Lawyerist Lab for sponsoring this episode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

ABA poised to eliminate standardized testing requirement... but should it? Taking the LSAT is the first step in the law school journey. But it doesn't have to be. The ABA is considering dropping its requirement that accredited schools employ standardized testing as part of admissions. Some argue that the LSAT is a critical tool in promoting diversity in both law school and the profession. Others claim that the test's value as part of the process is overemphasized and that affording admissions more flexibility is a better tool. We also discuss the tale of a judge who questioned if a lawyer was faking a stroke. Spoiler alert: he was not. And we talk about rising Biglaw rates in an era of economic uncertainty. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The ABA Techshow isn’t just for tech wizards; rather, it should be a vital part of every solo lawyer’s networking plan! Guests Jeannine Abukhater Lambert and Gyi Tsakalakis are co-chairs of the upcoming ABA Techshow, the home of all things tech and your opportunity to see what’s new, and what you’re missing. Both guests serve unique corners of the legal world and found their paths through different methods. Lambert covers large policy areas through academia, and Tsakalakis is a leader in employing tech into legal marketing, making the most out of any firm. No matter what area of the legal world your career leads you to, knowing how to network and market effectively is vital to your success. What’s frightening is how many lawyers, across the field, say “tech competence” isn’t relevant. Not only is it relevant, it’s table stakes. If you aren’t confident of your firm’s – or your own – tech know-how, the ABA Techshow can open your eyes, open new pathways, and help you better serve your clients. Got questions or ideas about solo and small practices? Drop us a line at [email protected] Topics: Not everyone who graduates from law school ends up practicing law. There are many little corners of the legal world. The upcoming ABA Techshow is your gateway to catching up and latching on to the latest in legal tech AND building your network. Gyi offers listeners some advice on how to start thinking about marketing, even from a young point in one’s career. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

@theBar wishes to honor the career of retired Cook County judge William J. "Bill" Kunkle Jr. after his recent passing by re-broadcasting our interview with him about his experience as the chief trial prosecutor on the John Wayne Gacy case. The episode originally aired on February 6, 2019. The Killer Clown Edition: The Prosecution of John Wayne Gacy American serial killer and rapist, John Wayne Gacy, Jr., became notorious for the mass murder of at least 33 teenage boys and young men in the late 1970s. December 2018 marked the 40th anniversary of the discovery of the mass grave beneath his home, which shocked the American public and shattered the image of the safe suburban community. This episode provides a rare, behind-the-scenes look at the crimes and prosecution of the man dubbed the “The Killer Clown” by William “Bill” Kunkle, the lead prosecutor who took him on and sent him to his eventual execution. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Miriam Aroni Krinsky worked as a prosecutor in Los Angeles County in the 1980s and 1990s as the War on Drugs was waged. Mandatory minimum sentences and tough-on-crime laws sent prison populations soaring and ripped apart families and communities. Krinsky believed that change was needed–and that it could come from prosecutors themselves. In 2016, she tells the ABA Journal's Lee Rawles, there was enough of a political movement behind the idea of reform prosecutors that the nonprofit Fair and Just Prosecution was founded to help elected local prosecutors promote "a justice system grounded in fairness, equity, compassion and fiscal responsibility." Krinsky became its executive director. Over the course of two years, Krinsky interviewed 13 elected prosecutors from a variety of different backgrounds who share the dream of reforming the criminal justice system. These oral histories were then paired with portraits of those prosecutors created by formerly incarcerated artists thanks to a partnership with Mural Arts Philadelphia. It became the bookChange From Within: Reimagining the 21st-Century Prosecutor. In this episode, Krinsky discusses insights from the election cycles FJP has observed; the difficulty of producing a book like Change From Within during the COVID-19 pandemic; and some of her favorite anecdotes she learned from the prosecutors she interviewed. She also responds to critics of the concept of reform prosecutors from both the tough-on-crime advocates and abolitionists who object to the carceral system entirely. Krinsky explains how prosecutors' discretionary power can be used to avert injustice in the system, and urges young lawyers and law students to consider that career path in addition to public defense positions to battle injustice. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Female attorneys are still being asked to get the coffee. Will that ever change, and what can we do to make it change? Ladies, we need to find camaraderie and courage to speak out, stand together and share a little grace when the going gets tough. That starts with each of us taking small steps toward positive change that benefits all of us. Get a little inspiration for your personal journey in the final episode of our Arizona roundtable. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Significant physical injuries may be visible to the jury, but emotional harms are not. Are you doing everything you can to help the jury understand and compensate your client’s emotional damages? This episode addresses ways to communicate emotional harm and strategies to diffuse defense challenges to your claims in closing. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Why is having a marketing strategy so important? Do you take the time to think about the marketing strategy you want to implement for yourself or your firm? What are the tactics most lawyers get wrong when it comes to marketing? We’re talking about it in this episode with Sara Nay. Sara Nay is the COO at Duct Tape Marketing, Founder of Spark Lab Consulting, Scalable Business Advisor and host of the Agency Spark Podcast. With 11+ years working in the small business space, it is her passion to install marketing and operating systems for small business owners so they can get more clarity and freedom in their lives. Outside of work, Sara tries to spend as much time as possible outdoors with her daughters and husband - from skiing to hiking to biking to camping. Sara gives listeners actionable tips on: [1:50] The start of Duct Tape Marketing [2:50] How marketing has changed [5:35] Starting with strategy to get the results you’re looking for online [7:35] What ‘pain points’ are [13:55] The Marketing Hourglass [17:55] How simplicity, being clear and direct leads to more growth [20:30] The wrong metrics to pay attention to [23:30] Sara’s book review [28:15] What people get wrong about marketing [32:45] One key takeaway from this episode Resources mentioned in this episode: The Ultimate Marketing Engine by John Jantsch Connect with Sara here: Instagram LinkedIn http://www.ducttapemarketing.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

While 2022 was a phenomenal year for attorneys and “anyone with a pulse” and a law license could find work, 2023 might “go back to normal,” says Valerie A. Fontaine, a founding director of the legal search company SeltzerFontaine. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On the last episode of our The Life of a Lawyer Start to Finish series, we discussed Money Management for Lawyers with L.J. Jones. In this episode, we move on to the next rung of the ladder: Retirement. Host Craig Williams is joined byIda O. Abbot, founder of Ida Abbott Consulting, as they tackle retirement. Ida & Craig take a look at when to start thinking about retiring as a lawyer, steps attorneys can take to prepare for retirement, and ultimately life post-retirement. Mentioned in This Episode: Retirement by Design: A Guided Workbook for Creating a Happy and Purposeful Future by Ida Abbott Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Launching your legal career after law school is exciting, energizing, and—let’s face it—discombobulating. And no matter how long you’ve been practicing, there's always something new to learn. In this episode of the 'Young Lawyers Rising' podcast, host Montana Funk is joined by litigation attorney, Erin Rhinehart to discuss: Ways to standout in the workplace as a junior associate How to successfully jump start your legal career How to balance expectations after coming out law school and entering the legal profession Tips to achieving your personal and professional goals as a new lawyer Erin Rhinehart is the Co-Managing Partner of Faruki PLL, and has been repeatedly recognized as one of America’s Top 100 Bet the Company Litigators. Her litigation practice focuses on class action defense, media and communications law, breach of contract, non-compete, tortious interference, and healthcare and environmental litigation matters. By Erin Rhinehart Pulling Back the Curtain on Partnership Your Ability to Lead Is Vital to a Successful Legal Career Additional Resources How to Think Like a Lawyer 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 Building a Career You Love as a Young Lawyer ABA Young Lawyers Division ABA Career Center Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The end of the year is upon us and whether we like it or not, it’s time to think about wrapping up our finances. Do you have a plan in place for your financial strategy? Do you know why it matters? Join Stephanie as she talks with Lawyerist Lab financial coach Bernadette Harris about finding the levers to systemize your firm finances and get ready for tax season. Plus, she shares some tips on how to increase your income but NOT your tax liability! 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! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Your favorite nerdy-lawyer wishlist is back yet again! Tune in for Jim Calloway and Sharon Nelson’s top picks for the gift-giving season. Happy Holidays! Tech Toys 2022: FlexiSpot EN1 Standing Desk Pixel, World’s First Lego-compatible Mechanical Keyboard Apple AirTag Raptic Link + Lock for AirTag Slide | Portabl Technics EAH-A800 Wireless Noise-Canceling Headphones SanDisk 64GB iXpand Flash Drive Luxe Anker PowerConf S330 USB Speakerphone Conference Speaker Microphone LED Rechargeable Book Light for Glasses Solar Power Bank Ember Mug 2 GoPro HERO10 Black Timbuk2 Closer Laptop Briefcase Pocketalk Classic Language Translator Device Bird Buddy with Solar Roof UBeesize 67'' Phone Tripod Stand & Selfie Stick Tripod TEAMOR Full-Body Shiatsu Massage Chair Nemo Personal Submarine Unitree Go1 MoonBikes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Elite law schools are withdrawing from the U.S. News & World Report rankings one by one, but what does it all mean? We've never loved the USNWR methodology, but the reasons these schools cite for departing the rankings don't seem all that great. Maybe the schools would like to help a certain alternative ranking get better results! And the Biglaw bonus cycle has kicked off even amid an uncertain business environment. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When you ask for damages, you expect jurors to put a tangible number on an intangible loss. How can you help them decide upon a full and fair amount? In our continuing series on closing arguments, we offer a framework for presenting damages that provides a compelling rational basis for damages, shows what the law requires, and puts the client’s losses in perspective the jury can understand. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Even though you are a successful female attorney, do you ever feel like this career is not for you? You’re not alone. Women attorneys are twice as likely to make an early exit from their practices as men and they continue to disappear even after making partner. There are a lot of reasons, but one might be the fact that male equity partners make 27% more than female equity partners. Women of color represent nearly 20% of all first- and second-year associates who left their firms in 2018. What can you do to hold on to your career and keep other women in the field with you? We’ve got a few suggestions and some facts to arm and inspire you when you feel like moving on. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How setting boundaries when working from home can make you happier, plus knowing the difference between building brand recognition and building brand affinity. ----- Like it or not, the pandemic opened Pandora's box of WFH, but does it feel like you’re working from home or living at work? The lines have certainly blurred. However, that doesn’t mean you have to be on call 24/7 waiting by the phone to meet a client’s every beck and call. Gyi and Conrad are here to help you find the right balance of flexibility, technology, and boundaries to meet your client’s needs and still keep your sanity. You’ll just need to find some other time to listen to podcasts since you fired your commute. *wink* There are three parts to branding: Know, Like, and Trust. Sure, you can put up a billboard easily enough, but how do you get people to actually LIKE you? That, dear friends, is the difference between brand awareness and brand affinity. The guys tell you why you’ve woefully bungled your Veteran’s Day messaging, spank you on the bottom, and implore you to get out there and do better. Maybe the best segment Conrad and Gyi have ever done? You be the judge. The News: Battle of the industry reports. Does it seem like every legal directory is putting out a “State of the Industry” report? Maybe it’s because they are. Lawmatics announces new integration with MyCase. Is there a hint of a decline in the prevalence of Google local search results? References mentioned: Lunch Hour Legal Marketing now on YouTube Lunch Hour Legal Marketing on TikTok LawSites, “Small Firm Lawyers Are Awash With Optimism About Their Practices, Thomson Reuters Survey Finds,” Martindale-Avvo, “Understanding the Legal Consumer 2022” Lawmatics Integrates With MyCase A Glitch in the Google Local System? Morris Lilienthal YouTube Levinson & Stefani YouTube Derrick Law Office on YouTube Chris Walker, Refine Labs Clio Legal Trends Report Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act (LHWCA) is a federal law that grants workers’ compensation for employees disabled from on-the-job injuries that occur on navigable waters within the U.S. or in adjoining areas (typically areas used for loading, unloading, crafting, and repairing a sea vessel). In this episode of 'Workers Comp Matters,' attorney Norman Cole joins the show to discuss the Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act (LHWCA), who it covers and the benefits it offers to injured workers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Let’s talk about practice management, tech, and production. How do you find and apply the right tech tools that help you deliver what you’ve promised to your clients? Acquiring new clients, moving cases through the process, reaching successful outputs, and applying the right business metrics that help you understand your business performance all require the right technologies. Did you know, even the simple habit of waiting until the end of the day to enter your billable time can cost you money? There’s a tech solution for virtually every aspect of your legal business. Tech is racing forward. The COVID-19 pandemic changed the way we work. Maybe you are being left behind. It’s more important than ever to understand what changed. Payments, marketing data, key points, cloud tech, it’s all a new game. Practice management and success today is about data, how you understand your value, your pricing, key performance indicators, and, ultimately, your profitability. From intake to case management to corporate success, tech is what’s driving the legal profession. Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it – Ferris Bueller Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How is speaking a marketing strategy? How can you leverage speaking to grow your presence, your reputation, your firm, and bring on new clients? As founder and CEO of The Speaker Lab, Grant Baldwin has helped thousands of people build successful and sustainable speaking businesses. Over the last 15 years, Grant has become a sought-after speaker, podcaster, author, and accomplished entrepreneur. Featured on the Inc. 5000 list, Forbes, Inc. Entrepreneur, and The Huffington Post, he has committed his expertise and insight to equip others to share their meaningful message with the masses. His leadership and dedication to creating a one-of-a-kind organizational culture are evidenced by the impact of the team he leads. Grant lives near Nashville, Tennessee with his wife, Sheila, and their three daughters. For more, visit thespeakerlab.com. Grant gives listeners actionable tips on: [1:50] Two questions to ask yourself before you start booking speaking engagements [7:15] Speaking to potential clients vs. referral sources [9:10] What ‘promise’ are you delivering? [9:55] Establishing yourself as the expert [16:20] Knowing when to scale [17:40] How to know where speaking fits in your marketing strategy [23:10] Keeping people engaged in what you’re doing [28:50] Tweaking your message as you go [37:40] Grant’s book recommendation Resources mentioned in this episode: Rework by Jason Fried Connect with Grant here: Instagram Twitter LinkedIn Facebook www.thespeakerlab.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

Many business leaders are mis-educated about what diversity is, and, as such, lack the ability to support it in their organizations. Jared brings on diversity coach Dr. James Rodgers to learn about his research and training strategies for effectively managing diversity in business, with particular tips for lawyers and law firms. On an all-new Rump Roast, Jared introduces the Legal Toolkit Law Review Hour–full of a plethora of fascinating lawyer-related factoids and hosted by some guy called Randy Lemon. And, Jared catches us up on the state of things in legal tech and what solutions firms need for today’s tech-forward legal practice. Dr. James O. Rodgers is president and principal consultant of The Diversity Coach. Learn more about Dr. Rodgers at jamesorodgers.com. ----- Since we're talking about diversity in the legal profession, here's a diverse list of musical suites for your sole enjoyment! ----- Our opening track is Two Cigarettes by Major Label Interest. The music for the Legal Trends Report Minute is I See You by Sounds Like Sander. The music for this week's Rump Roast is El Girasol by Hola Hola Our closing track is Loose Tension by Reel Life. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Uh-oh, the robots are gunning for your jobs again. Or… are they? Generative AI has the ability to analyze existing knowledge and then produce its very own creative content, with varying results thus far. Dennis and Tom talk through what’s happening in this sphere of technology, recommend tools to try out, and examine whether real live content creators need to worry about losing work to these AI usurpers. With the possible self-destruction of Twitter, is a return to RSS a viable alternative? Listen in as the guys run RSS through their “Hot or Not?” filter. 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: Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In March 1960, Illinois Starved Rock State Park became the site of the brutal murder and possible sexual assault of three middle-aged women who were visiting the park from nearby Chicago. Authorities quickly identified Chester Weger as the primary suspect, and he promptly confessed and was locked away for life. However, in the decades since, Weger has steadfastly maintained his innocence. Weger was paroled in 2020 after spending almost six decades in prison. Now, Weger is seeking to use DNA evidence to clear his name. His defense attorneys Andy Hale and Celeste Stack join Jonathan Amarilio and Trisha Rich to discuss the background and most recent revelations in Weger’s case and make the argument for Weger’s innocence. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Communicating with clients is essential to good lawyering, but doing so without proper precautions could set you up for trouble. Sharon Nelson and John Simek discuss the ethics of lawyer communications with Daniel Siegel, an attorney and current chair of the Pennsylvania Bar Association Committee on Legal Ethics and Professional Responsibility. They talk through the new guidance issued by this committee and best practices for secure communications through email, smartphones, and more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For some small law firm owners, growth isn’t the goal. In this episode, Sara talks with former Lawyerist Lab member Katie Roe about how and why she built her firm with the intention of staying small. They discuss the steps Katie took and the boundaries she created to find balance while running her thriving business and being a working mother of two. 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, Berkshire Receptionists, & Lawyerist Lab for sponsoring this episode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the summer of 2020, when the murder of George Floyd was igniting protests in Minneapolis and around the country, it occurred to Margaret A. Burnham that “George Floyd” was a common-sounding name. Burnham is the founder and director of the Civil Rights and Restorative Justice Project at the Northwestern University School of Law, where she is also a professor. She went into the CRRJ’s archive of Jim Crow racial homicides, and a search revealed another George Floyd. The account of the jailhouse death of this first George Floyd appeared in a 1945 letter to Thurgood Marshall from a Floridian chapter of the NAACP. Floyd, a 46-year-old turpentine worker, was arrested in St. Augustine, Florida, accused of public intoxication. When Floyd protested a second search of his person at the local jail, he was beaten to death by the arresting officer. Aside from a coroner’s report, Burnham and her colleagues could find no evidence that the officer who killed Floyd in 1945 faced any investigation. “It was not entirely unforeseeable that we would find this name-fellow in our archive, pleading to be exhumed and put in conversation with the iconic inspiration for what would come to be known as the 2020 ‘reckoning’ with Black death at the hands of the state,” writes Burnham in her new book,By Hands Now Known: Jim Crow’s Legal Executioners. “We count, and contest, because George Floyd counted. Number 1. And Number 2.” InBy Hands Now Known, Burnham looks at three interrelated themes: The way the federal government enabled the subjugation of Black Americans through both action and inaction; the relationship between racial violence and political power; and community resistance to Jim Crow that predates the “official” Civil Rights Era from 1954 to 1967. Burnham’s first chapter examines one such area that shows elements of all three themes: Rendition cases gave attorneys the opportunity to try to prevent the extradition of Black men and women to jurisdictions where they faced lynching or other violence. William Henry Huff, a Black lawyer in Illinois, successfully handled 77 such cases, Burnham found in her research. In this episode of the Modern Law Library, Burnham discusses her book with the ABA Journal’s Lee Rawles. She describes talking to family members of victims who never thought the full story of their loved ones’ deaths would ever be told; the way shopkeepers or bus drivers were essentially deputized to violently enforce rules against Black people in the South; and how her work in 1990s South Africa with truth and reconciliation efforts impacts her view of the potential for reparations efforts in the United States. She also contends that the lack of enforcement made the kidnapping of Black people by white people not a criminal offense, regardless of what laws were on the books. Burnham, along with her partner Melissa Nobles of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, has also made her research available through the CRRJ’s Burnham-Nobles Digital Archive. Primary source documents such as FBI interviews, news articles and jury inquests into anti-Black killings in the American South during the early to mid-20th century are available, as well as more than 900 case pages for individual incidents. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In Episode 2, Reclaiming Democracy, David Pepper, the author of Laboratories of Autocracy: A Wake-Up Call from Behind the Lines, provides a stark wake-up call for the steps he believes are necessary to move from a competitive autocracy back to a democracy. Pepper insists that reclaiming our democracy requires a sustained and persistent effort at the local, state, and federal levels. With a view to the future, he highlights the steps he believes are necessary to defend democracy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Annual gathering aims to silence woke heretics... misses spectacularly. The Federalist Society national convention kicked off with Judge William Pryor mocking Above the Law for insinuating that the organization is a bunch of ideological hacks in a monologue that was "funny" to the extent it amounted to a quarter hour of self-owns. A day later, FedSoc proved its hackery when the Board voted to bar its founder and co-chair from identifying himself to the media as either a "founder" or "co-chair" -- a move that backfired when Steven Calabresi's immediate response was to tell the media that the Board had voted to bar him from calling himself the founder or co-chair. Please do not let these people write your contracts! We also discuss "Paul Clement's Lament" that law firms care more about money than his passion project of making America objectively worse and more dangerous. And more news of bubbling layoffs! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Decades of research tells us why women leave their legal careers; it's the same story on repeat. So what is the difference between women who love their legal careers and those struggling to hang on? At different stages of their careers, the ladies of The Simon Law Firm have created a podcast based on answering that question. Starting with the basics, the hosts of “Heels in the Courtroom” will share the wisdom they’ve gained from experience, each other, and overcoming adversity as women in a fast-paced litigation practice with little room for error. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dr. Steven Wood, litigation consultant at Courtroom Sciences, Inc., discusses the benefits of early case management in the litigation process. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Part Two of John Simon and Tim Cronin’s 49 Tips for Closing Arguments examines a range of issues including whether your close should suggest a range for damages vs asking for a specific number, strategies to make the jury’s job easier, and case framing that helps jurors feel better about taking money from the defendant if they are having a hard time giving it to the plaintiff. Take a tip from the pros and help the jury rule in your favor with a more persuasive closing argument. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Are you looking to jump-start your career in the legal field? Whether you are a recent law school graduate, researching summer associate opportunities, exploring entry-level paralegal or legal support positions, or an experienced professional aspiring to transition to the field of law, listen to this program to learn about hiring trends, in-demand skills, search strategies, and career tips to find the ideal legal job. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Many areas of the law require attorneys to meet and confer, meaning lawyers must communicate the basis for their disagreement on a legal issue and make a meaningful attempt to reach a resolution. You may be surprised to learn that lawyers rarely agree on anything, but the law still mandates they try. So how can litigators encourage more meaningful and productive “Meet and Confer” sessions? And what strategies should litigators implement to protect their clients? To answer these questions and more, Dave welcomes trial lawyer and experienced litigator, Rob Shapiro, to the show. Rob is a partner at Barack Ferrazzano Kirschbaum & Nagelberg, LLP. in Chicago, and has more than 40 years of experience in Commercial Litigation and Litigation - Intellectual Property. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Quick Tip from the ABA Litigation Section Mental Health & Wellness Task Force: Dr. Diana Uchiyama, Executive Director of the Illinois Lawyer Assistance Program, shares tips to help lawyers cope with the extra stress and pressures that come with the Holiday season. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Michigan Chief Justice Bridget Mary McCormack joins LSC President Ron Flagg to discuss access to the courts in the wake of the pandemic, lessons learned from the bench and her next chapter in access-to-justice advocacy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How do you dominate local search? How has Google My Business changed drastically over the years? Is it really enough to try and rank organically? Joining me for this conversation is Stormy Knight. With 27 years experience in search engine optimization, you would think that Stormy Knight would have a mumbo jumbo pile of technical complexity to share. But instead she has distilled all of her experience down to the simple basics that any small business person can understand and implement. Having worked as a speaker for the launch program for Google My Business, Stormy knows what small business owners want to hear. Make it understandable and make it implementable is her motto. Stormy gives listeners actionable tips on: [0:50] Stormy’s experience working with Google on the launch of Google My Business [8:15] How Google My Business works today [10:30] What the ‘three pack’ is [13:00] Putting virtual offices on Google My Business [21:50] Why bad reviews are not a bad thing, and how to handle them [32:30] tips for asking for reviews [34:20] Stormy’s book review Resources mentioned in this episode: Atomic Habits by James Clear Connect with Stormy here: Twitter LinkedIn Facebook https://5starsfast.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 a mother and a professional, Lori Mihalich-Levin experienced the many challenges of working parents firsthand and discovered that there is all too often very little support for parents transitioning back to the workplace after the birth of a child. So, Lori created Mindful Return to empower parents with knowledge and a supportive community. Molly Ranns and JoAnn Hathaway talk with Lori about valuable strategies for both parents and employers that encourage a mindful approach to working parenthood—helping parents to be present for their children while remaining engaged in their careers. Lori K. Mihalich-Levin is an attorney and the CEO and founder of Mindful Return, a program that guides new parents through the transition back to work after maternity and paternity leave. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Minority lawyers operating in white-dominated spaces face unique challenges as they navigate careers in the legal profession. As negative stereotypes assault them from without, self-doubt and imposter syndrome can develop within. DeMario Thornton welcomes Michael Nava, a gay, Mexican-American author and attorney, to gain insights from his remarkable career and hear his thoughts on overcoming discrimination and supporting diversity in the legal world. Michael Nava is the author of an acclaimed series of seven crime novels featuring gay, Latino criminal defense lawyer Henry Rios. Michael spent many years working as an attorney in California and retired from the law in July 2016. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices