Legal Talk Network - Law News and Legal Topics

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

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

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

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

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

Water is our most precious resource, but water, statewide and worldwide, is becoming scarce. According to the World Health Organization, an estimated 55 million people globally are affected by droughts every year, and water shortages are the most serious hazard to livestock and crops in nearly every part of the world. By 2025, two-thirds of the world’s population may face water shortages, and by 2030, as many as 700 million people are expected to be at-risk of being displaced. In this episode, host Craig Williams joins guest Rhett Larson, the Richard Morrison Professor of Water Law at Arizona State University’s Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law, as we spotlight water law. We discuss droughts, erratic climate events, and what is being done to eradicate these water centric issues through laws and policy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If you could work from anywhere in the world, where would it be? What if we told you it could be possible with a little planning? In this episode, Sara talks with attorney and Lawyerist Lab Member Chrystan Carlton about being a legal nomad. Chrystan recently spent a month living and working in Spain without interrupting her practice. They dive into how she made it happen and the tools and preparation you need for success. Chrystan also details a working day in the life of a legal nomad. 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

It's not 2009 all over again, but it's not great. Layoffs are continuing to percolate through the legal industry. Will they stay contained to a few firms with hard hit clients or are we seeing the beginning of widespread firings. Meanwhile, Jones Day has another brush with the Streisand Effect, leading the panel to have to explain who Barbra Streisand is to our youngest member. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Simon Law Firm has earned over $1 billion in verdicts and settlements since the firm’s founding in 2000, so these attorneys obviously know how to close. John Simon and Tim Cronin offer 49 tried and true tips for strengthening your closing argument, such as how to handle life care plans and ways to make your issues more personal for jurors. Part One covers the first 25 tips which will help young lawyers and seasoned pros craft more effective closing arguments. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There hasn’t been much progress when it comes to driverless cars. Most major car manufacturers have sunk hundreds of billions into developing and testing driverless cars; yet the finish line seems to be nowhere in sight. So what happened? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Yes, you are a counselor, but does that mean you have to be a therapist too? Our clients may expect more compassion from us because we are women, but how do we protect our delicate sense of compassion when our jobs bombard us with pain and injustice? Can we compartmentalize and have compassion too? It’s a tough topic…..grab some grace and tune in. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Gyi and Conrad talk about gorgeous data dashboards and the gorgeous-er data behind them. Then, the guys dig into how your clients really feel about fees and billing. Plus, book club! ----- Straight from the YouTubes: Gyi and Conrad answer a listener question regarding metrics dashboards. Plot twist, it’s less about the tools you use to display your data, and more about the integrity of the data you put into it. Get your data, keep it clean, and make it actionable for your law firm. Throwing money at a pretty dashboard may make you feel more on top of things, but getting down and dirty with the raw numbers will put you more in touch with your business. Next, you’ve heard this a million times: your clients want alternative billing methods. And yet, according to the Clio Legal Trends Report, only 37% of law firms offer flat fee pricing. We know change is hard, but seriously, why aren’t you listening to what clients say about fees and billing? And then, back to the business bookshelf for David C. Baker’s “The Business of Expertise.” Selling expertise is exactly what attorneys do, even if you aren’t allowed to say you're an expert. “Five Stars” - Gyi Tsakalakis. The News: Google is changing Similar Audiences, the algorithm for finding ad targets. Plus, some Google spam updates. Be in the know. And a mystery CRM product coming in January, we know nothing … nothing! Finally, some talk about SEO, rankings, and reviews. This never gets old. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How To Decide A Timeline For Firing An Employee How To Craft A Good Job Package to Attract Better Quality Applicants How To Give An Employee An Ultimatum Before Firing Them Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What are privacy policy best practices? What are the differences between privacy policies, cookie policies and terms and conditions? How can you ensure you’re compliant with the correct policies in your country? Donata Stroink-Skillrud is an attorney licensed in Illinois and a Certified Information Privacy Professional. She is the President and Legal Engineer behind Termageddon, a SaaS that has generated thousands of website policies and kept them up to date with changing legislation. Donata is the Chair of the American Bar Association's ePrivacy Committee, SciTech Liaison to the ABA Cybersecurity Legal Task Force and Chair of the Chicago Bar Association's Privacy and Cybersecurity Committee. Donata gives listeners actionable tips on: [2:10] Best practices when it comes to privacy policies [4:25] The difference between terms and conditions, cookies and privacy policies [7:10] The standards when it comes to cookie policies [13:05] Why you should never copy and paste someone else’s privacy policy [15:40] What’s at risk when you don’t have the correct privacy policies in place [22:10] Donata’s book review Resources mentioned in this episode: The Everything Store by Brad Stone Connect with Donata here: Instagram Twitter LinkedIn Facebook https://termageddon.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

It’s the Statehouses. Stupid. So says David Pepper, the author of Laboratories of Autocracy: A Wake-Up Call from Behind the Lines. State legislatures, often ignored, play a significant role in deciding our rights, including the right to vote. Join SideBar co-hosts law school deans Jackie Gardina and Mitch Winick as they discuss current challenges to the American political system and Constitutional rights with author, lawyer, and politician David Pepper as the podcast’s inaugural guest. {Part 1 of 2} Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Even though the concept of digital twin technology has been around for several decades, it has recently started to make waves in the world at large. Businesses of all types are using real-world data to figure out how their systems and products will perform in a simulation. The guys delve into the many uses of digital twin tech, from testing building products to supply chain mapping and much more, and then discuss how it might be implemented in the legal profession. Later, Elon Musk now owns Twitter, and reactions are ranging from uproar to “who cares?” amongst the Twitter populace. Dennis and Tom share their thoughts on the change and what they plan to do with their accounts. 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: Are You Expecting Digital Twins? B Segment: Elon Musk Owns Twitter - Now What? Parting Shots: What’s That Charge? macOS 13 Stage Manager Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

People have been alternately ticked, thrilled, and confused since the Biden Administration rolled out its loan forgiveness program. So, what’s the deal? Jared gets insights from student loan lawyer Adam Minsky on the many moving parts of this program, who qualifies/how to apply, and the program’s current hold due to legal challenges under consideration in a federal appeals court. In the Rump Roast, Jared and Adam play “Forgive Me,” where Adam must choose which historical blunders to erase in a variety of categories. Will he choose Kevin Costner’s appearance in Waterworld? Russia selling Alaska to the US for 4.2 million? Those publishers who rejected Harry Potter? Eesh. Blunders, indeed. And, Coldplay’s Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends wins a spot on Jared’s list of perfect albums! Since Jared’s a bit of a music aficionado, it really says something that he’s picked an album by a band many music snobs love to (pretend to?) hate. Tune in for his take on this triumphal offering from well-loved, well-hated Coldplay. Adam S. Minsky is one of the nation’s leading authorities on student loan law. ----- Just because we talked about Coldplay's 'perfect' album - 'Viva La Vide or Death and All His Friends' doesn't mean we can't go beyond. MORE COLDPLAY! ----- 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 Ethereal Morning by Drew Henmi. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In a negotiation, each party wants something. Discovering how to make it a win-win situation, aka finding the sweet spot, is the key. Today, Stephanie talks with author and professor Leigh Thompson about how to work a negotiation in everyone’s favor, boldly state the outcome you’d like, and not settle for anything less! 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

On an October morning in 2017, Lisa Torry Smith was walking her son to school when they were struck by a car while in a crosswalk. Lisa died at the scene, her son was badly injured, and the driver was only ticketed for the incident. Lisa’s family fought for change after this tragic event, seeking real consequences for negligent driving and greater driver awareness and care across the state. Brian Middleton, now District Attorney in Fort Bend County, Texas, drafted the Lisa Torry Smith Act, which was passed into law in June of 2021. Tune in with State Bar of Texas podcast host Rocky Dhir as he talks with Brian about the implications of this new law and its aim to create accountability for driver negligence in crosswalks. Read Brian Middleton’s article in the Texas Bar Journal: The New Stop and Yield Law: The Death of Lisa Torry Smith Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Also, hybrid work models show strain. While Ye (née Kanye West) continues to bring new meaning to his song Black Skinhead with a flurry of antisemitic remarks, Biglaw firms are being Heartless and leaving his stable of representation a Ghost Town. But are they Stronger for making the move? Meanwhile, work from home policies remain in their infancy, but firms are already frustrating associates with tweaks. Cravath's originally announced policy has added a wrinkle and Ropes & Gray has folks positively grumpy. How long will the growing pains last? We also discuss Slaughter & May's new late night policy, the challenges facing Magic Circle firms. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You’ve been trial prepping day and night for weeks, totally focused, running on adrenaline and honestly, kinda loving the rush. Suddenly, the case settles and you’re adrift. When the waves of litigation rock your boat…how do you ease back into your routine? We’ve got tips on how to steady your emotions, give yourself permission to resume the rest of your life, and how boundaries can help you get back to smooth sailing. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Are you using your close to restate the obvious or educate on the unknown? Jurors may already know how they are going to rule in your case, but they probably don’t know how to apply the law, assign damages, or wade through 40 pages of instructions. You can help. Today’s episode discusses three keys to a winning close: arm the jurors to argue on your behalf, explain the law, and engage their interest. Tune in and turn your next close into a persuasive legal education that helps jurors better understand their role when deciding your case. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With just a week until the 2022 midterm elections, several voters are already hitting the polls; and conversations surrounding election laws, voter protection and election integrity have once again been brought to the forefront of many news outlets. Election laws, including voting rights laws, have undergone significant change in many states over the last several years. We've seen the growth of election law litigation in the U.S.; starting with George W. Bush's victory in the 2000 presidential campaign; continuing with more recent litigation over changes to election rules due to the pandemic, and former President Trump's lawsuits related to the 2020 U.S. presidential election. In this episode, host Dave Scriven-Young speaks with experienced election law litigator, Allegra Lawrence-Hardy, about the good, the bad, and the alarming when of election law litigation - and what lawyers can do to get involved and support election security. Allegra Lawrence-Hardy is a Founding Partner and Litigator at the Lawrence-Bundy law firm. Lawrence-Hardy is an accomplished litigator, known for her skill in trying cases, negotiating complex settlements, and finding creative solutions. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What story should you tell? What makes you a great storyteller and communicator? How do you get your story across while keeping your audience’s interest and speaking to what they want to hear from you? Joining me for this conversation is Karen Eber. Karen Eber is an international consultant, author, and keynote speaker. Her talk on TED.com: How your brain responds to stories – and why they’re crucial for leaders, has almost 2 million views. As the CEO and Chief Storyteller of Eber Leadership Group, Karen helps companies reimagine and evolve how they build leaders and teams, transform culture, and tell stories. Karen works with Fortune 500 companies and universities like General Electric, Microsoft, Facebook, Kate Spade, MIT and London School of Business. She has inspired many through her articles published in Fast Company. Karen has 20+ years of experience and has been a Head of Culture, Chief Learning Officer and Head of Leadership Development at General Electric and Deloitte. She is a four-time American Training and Development winner. She is writing a book on storytelling, to be published with HarperCollins in 2023. Karen gives listeners actionable tips on: [2:10] Is there a stigma around the word ‘story’? [3:50] The difference between telling a story and presenting information, and Karen’s Five Factory Settings of the brain [11:10] Our goals when telling stories [13:05] How to tell stories without creating assumptions [16:25] Why your stories can’t be all about you [25:30] The ‘lazy brain’ of storytelling [26:40] Karen’s book review Resources mentioned in this episode: Immersion by Paul Zak Karen’s Ted Talk Connect with Karen here: Instagram Twitter LinkedIn www.kareneber.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 we head into the holiday season, consider what you want your celebrations to look like, rather than meeting everyone else’s expectations, says Laurie Besden, a lawyer who has been sober for almost two decades. 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 Lifelong Learning with attorney Kelli Proia. In this episode, we move on to the next rung of the ladder: Money Management. Host Craig Williams is joined by L.J. Jones, CPA, founder of Developing Financial to discuss money management for lawyers. Craig & L.J. explore common money management problems, and how lawyers can take steps to manage their money inside and outside of the law firm. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Is our democracy at risk? How do we balance competing constitutional rights? How do we battle disinformation and still maintain free speech? If these are questions you grapple with, this is the show for you! Hosts (and law school deans) Jackie Gardina and Mitch Winick proudly present ‘SideBar’, a podcast dedicated to discussing rights, self-governance, and the fabric of our society... the law. Tune in twice a month as Jackie and Mitch speak plainly about these complicated topics with amazing guests! And now, onto the teaser :) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Guest Joanne Martin is an inspiration to anyone considering a career change later in life. She’s a family law attorney in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. While she vigorously represents her clients, she strives to create a respectful and collaborative environment when settling family law issues, including divorce and separation, especially when children are involved. Martin had a successful career in film and television, as well as a husband and four children, when she returned to school to earn her law degree. It can be done. Second careers do happen. After law school and working with a firm, Martin launched her solo practice, Align Family Law. Hear how she built a firm based on her values and understanding of the family dynamic, striving to help divorcing clients work toward respectful solutions. She also offers valuable insights into how she set up her office, built a website, developed written content, selected practice management software, developed a transparent pricing model, and learned to establish virtual video client consultations that work. As a bonus, even established solo practitioners may pick up some tips from Martin’s innovative approach to initial consultations, client intake, retainers, and avoiding potential conflicts. Got questions or ideas about solo and small practices? Drop us a line at [email protected] Topics: Later-in-life career changes can and do happen. Hear from an attorney who went to law school and established a solo practice after building a family and a successful career. A thorough, honest intake process not only keeps potential clients from wasting time, but also helps you weed out clients who may not appreciate your values and approach. Plus, learn why you should NOT buy Microsoft 365 through a third party, such as GoDaddy (you may need a pro to undo that misstep). Mentioned in This Episode: New Solo, “A Short Primer on Microsoft Accounts, OneDrive, and SharePoint” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Shawn Holahan knows how disasters can affect your practice first hand. Experiencing the effects of Hurricane Katrina, she learned that when a disaster happens, confusion reigns, but having a disaster plan in place can help your law firm survive. Jim Calloway and Sharon Nelson get Shawn Holahan’s top tips for disaster planning in legal practice. Shawn emphasizes the importance of keeping your plan simple and explains “No Tech” Binders and the pre-disaster steps all lawyers should take. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What is an integrator? What does an integrator do? Does your team need one? Sara Muender talks with Jasmine Jowers Prout, Operations Director of The Gober Group, about the importance of having an integrator on your team. They discuss why and when to hire an integrator. And detail how an integrator can streamline, improve, and strengthen all areas of your law firm. 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

Donald Trump is threatening a dumb lawsuit against the Pulitzer committee, but is it dumb like a fox? Because the right certainly has New York Times v. Sullivan in their crosshairs. There's still no information about the Supreme Court's investigation into the Dobbs leak. Color me utterly unsurprised. Steve Bannon is heading to jail, but that might not be the end of his legal woes. Maybe that federal pardon wasn't all that and a bag of chips. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Trial attorneys win and lose every day, and that roller coaster can be intellectually and emotionally exhausting. Learn how to become more resilient by processing quickly, letting go, and giving yourself permission to spend as much time on the positive as you did on the negative. What does that have to do with being a goldfish? Tune in and find out. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Duc Nguyen, managing partner of digital forensics and cyber claims at United Litigation Discovery, talks about recent changes in cyber claims and what insurance carriers need to focus on regarding risk management. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Are you creating self-defeating typography by using underlines, caps, and fonts that make your argument less inviting to your reader? Author and attorney Matthew Butterick shares key points from his book Typography for Lawyers on how to make your next brief or email easier to read, which helps your reader stay focused longer and reduces annoyance. Matthew believes that small positive mental shift could sway a decision in your favor. Once you recognize that you are a legal publisher, you’ll see why font matters. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For any plaintiff who's been injured or any young attorney just starting out in the field of tort law, it can be daunting to calculate what monetary damages–and nonmonetary damages like pain and suffering–they should be asking for if they win a civil trial or are evaluating a settlement offer. Estimating what the future would have looked like if an accident had never occurred can seem more like a thought experiment than a scientific process. But there is a science behind it, says Dr. Michael Shahnasarian, and he has written a book, The Valuation of Monetary Damages in Injury Cases: A Damages Expert's Perspective, to explain the methodology. Shahnasarian has a PhD in psychology, and he's focused his practice on vocational rehabilitation and life care planning. As an expert witness, he's participated in at least 5,000 cases, he tells Lee Rawles in this episode of the Modern Law Library podcast. The Valuation of Monetary Damages in Injury Cases walks through the forensic process he and others use to estimate what someone's earning potential might have been without an accident, as well as the amount of money it may take to cover the person's living and healthcare expenses in the future. In this episode, Shahnasarian offers advice to young lawyers interested in tort cases; gives his expert-witness opinion on how best to reach jurors with information without overwhelming them; and shares with listeners his core beliefs about the value and dignity of work. Listeners of this podcast can get a 20% discount on The Valuation of Monetary Damages in Injury Cases: A Damages Expert's Perspective by entering the code VMDCDEP22 at checkout at the ABA store. The discount code is valid until 8/31/2023. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Conrad and Gyi take an early look at Clio’s foray into website design and the connection between lawyers and ramen noodles. Plus, some quick takeaways from the brand new 2022 Clio Legal Trends Report. ----- Continuing its effort to be your law firm’s one-stop shop, Clio is now entering the website design and hosting arena. Is Clio’s new offering, which specializes in sites for lawyers and seamlessly integrates with the Clio universe, going to be the answer to getting your firm out there on the web? Will all its bells and whistles get you noticed, get you to the top of SEO rankings, and bring in clients? The guys share their appreciations and hesitations on Clio’s new service, and how it compares to website builders in general. And then, it’s time to get Econ nerdy. We all see what’s going on with the markets these days, and all feel the rising costs. Maybe you haven’t quite yet started swapping out your nice flank steak for a can of Spam and your linguine alle vongole for a bowl of ramen, but you’re feeling that grocery bill just a bit more. The guys get into how lawyers should be thinking about their pricing as buying power goes down and the demand for legal services, counterintuitively, goes up. Plus, important insights from the new, 2022, Clio Legal Trends Report. What are the most important things to a potential client? Survey says: you’ll have to listen to find out! The News: Updates from Clio Cloud Conference 2022 Gonzalez v. Google, the struggle over Section 230 and liability on the Internet. The Supremes may be poised to engage. Google business profiles are still getting penalized. Conference season is upon us, Crisp and Great Legal Marketing events are coming soon. AAJ Winter Convention 2023 is in February, and the ABA Techshow is in March. Justice For Me legal financing startup raises $10 million in funding. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tech tools can minimize tedious, routine legal work, allowing attorneys more time to dedicate to higher-level strategic tasks and their clients. Tech also enables unrepresented people to better navigate complex legal systems. This is how streamlining repetitive processes improves the efficiency of legal services organizations and promotes increased access to justice. Ransom Wydner, Vice President of Pro Bono and Social Impact at SixFifty Sam Flynn, Chief Operating Officer and Co-founder at Josef Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Acquisition, getting new clients “from contact to contract,” is vital to your success. So why are so many firms struggling at the most basic levels? Guest Adam Reiman, director of coaching and live events at Lawyer.com, explains. Signing a prospective client starts the instant you pick up the phone. Clients are won or lost in those critical first moments. If you’re waiting to respond to calls or putting people on hold, you may be bleeding contracts. Prospect interest drifts away in minutes, while the average law firm takes more than three days to return an initial call. Is that your firm? It’s not just getting prospects to call, it’s about converting them to clients. Reiman, says, “Treat your leads like Fabergé Eggs.” They are precious and fragile. Reiman, a leader in legal coaching and law firm development, helps firms efficiently manage leads and turn an inquiry into a signed, paying client. In this episode: The art of being “nice.” The caller is in a tough spot. Respond quickly and show empathy. The value of in person appointments and appointment reminders. Explaining why you’re the right lawyer. What makes you special. How much follow up contact is too much, and too little. The right time to explain your fee (and how to ask for the money). Bonus: Reiman urges firms to give him a call (602-828-4415) for a free “secret shopper” experience where he’ll call as a prospective client, then provide tips and areas for improvement. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Are you looking at your software as if it’s a partner in your firm? In this episode, Zack is joined again by Joyce Brafford, lawyer and practice management guru. They talk all-in-one practice management software vs integrators, and dive into the benefits of CosmoLex by ProfitSolv, a true all-in-one software. And for more about CosmoLex, Zack spoke with Erica Birstler at CosmoLex. Check out that conversation 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! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What does ecommerce look like for lawyers? Can you be in ecommerce without a product-based business? Kathryn Smith is an ecommerce consultant based outside of Atlanta, GA. She helps entrepreneurs and small businesses launch and grow successful websites and ecommerce stores. Kathryn gives listeners actionable tips on: [1:25] How e-commerce applies to law firms and law firm websites [3:05] Website requirements for non product-based ecommerce [9:00] The mistakes people make when it comes to ecommerce [11:40] The best ecommerce platforms [16:55] Kathryn’s book recommendation Resources mentioned in this episode: Girly Drinks by Mallory O'Meara Connect with Kathryn here: Instagram Twitter LinkedIn https://waltonbirch.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

The votes are in (all two of ‘em!), and Dennis and Tom agree that Microsoft Teams wins the best collaboration software award by a landslide. It’s been awhile since the guys have highlighted Teams tips and tricks, so tune in for up-to-date, magical insights that can turn you into a Teams wizard in no time. Later, in keeping with the spooky season, Dennis and Tom creep through the Google product graveyard. The Big G is well known for snuffing out its own creations, much to the dismay of users, so the guys examine the whys and wherefores of these murders and whether you should hesitate to invest your time into new Google offerings. 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: Tips to Make You a Microsoft Teams Wizard The Lawyer’s Guide to Collaboration Tools & Technologies: Work From Home Edition Mike Tholfson on YouTube Microsoft Teams Adoption B Segment: The Google Graveyard Killed by Google Parting Shots: 7 Mesh Router Mistakes to Avoid 2022 LTN Tech Survey Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Women in the criminal justice system continue to face a number of different challenges and career barriers; especially as it relates to hiring, retention, and promotion. So, why are women lawyers underrepresented in criminal justice? Why do so many women leave the practice of criminal law? And, what can we do about it? Joining the podcast to discuss these issues is law professor and author, Maryam Ahranjani. Maryam Ahranjani is an experienced law professor at the University of New Mexico (UNM), where she teaches in the areas of constitutional, criminal and education law. She is also a textbook author, rule of law and human rights consultant, program manager and evaluator, and curriculum designer. By Maryam Ahranjani Why Are Women Lawyers Underrepresented in Criminal Justice? Additional Resources ABA Task Force: Women in Criminal Justice ABA Criminal Justice Section ABA Young Lawyers Division Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices