Legal Talk Network - Law News and Legal Topics

Rapid changes in cybercrime and the security that keeps it at bay have left many lawyers’ heads spinning. With so much continuous change, how do you keep up with ethical cybersecurity needs for your firm? To help lawyers understand current best practices, Sharon Nelson and John Simek talk through the must-have measures legal ethicists deem essential for all law firms and offer tips for finding cyber-insurance at an affordable price. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How much growth is the right amount? How will you know when your business has grown enough? In this episode, Stephanie talks with Paul Jarvis, author and co-founder of Fathom Analytics, about escaping the growth-for-growth’s-sake mentality. They discuss the expectation of hyper-growth for business owners, and if that actually serves your needs, both professionally and personally. Listen now to learn why more growth isn’t always better. 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. Your Opinion Matters Help us make this podcast better by completing the 2022 Listener Survey. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this special Halloween episode, @theBar gets into the spooky spirit with author-historian, podcaster and tour guide Adam Selzer of Mysterious Chicago. Adam regales hosts Trisha Rich and Maggie Mendenhall Casey with tales of Chicago's haunted past from graveyard ghosts to notorious serial killers. Learn about the Chicago resident who had his house legally declared haunted, the truth behind the Candyman urban legend, the lore surrounding H.H. Holmes and his alleged "Murder Castle," and much more in this spine-tingling edition. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Guest Rachel Bailit is not an attorney, she’s an actor. So why is she a guest on a show about lawyers and legal issues? As an experienced acting teacher – in addition to an accomplished actor in movies, television, and live stage – Bailit specializes in teaching acting skills to public speakers, politicians, and attorneys. Telling your story in court is acting. It’s important to use your story, your voice, and your body in concert to create a relationship with your “audience,” whether that’s a jury or a judge. It’s about effective communication. Law school may prepare you for reading, interpreting, and writing the law. But what about performing? Authenticity and confidence create your courtroom presence. Get beyond explaining your case in legal terms to making your audience “feel” your story. Learn about “getting off book,” taking your eyes off the printed page and looking into the eyes of the jury or judge. It takes practice. Rehearsal is not just for stage and screen! Understand how to recognize and replace old habits and crutches – be aware of your every word, gesture, and movement. Just like the practice of law, the art of acting requires study and effort. But you might even enjoy it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Also lawyers don't make enough money... maybe. An anonymous Illinois bar applicant took to Reddit to confess to cheating on the exam. Perhaps "anonymous" should be placed in quotes because the author proceeded to provide a ton of identifying details triggering a bar examiner investigation. Also, new data suggests lawyers should raise rates, but is that really true? And merger mania is back in Biglaw with two top-tier mergers. All that and a brief aside about Liechtenstein admiralty law. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You filed your notice. You defined the topics. And after countless emails and months of waiting, the corporate rep is finally in the chair ready to answer your questions. But wait…..they canceled the night before. They don’t know what you’re talking about. The documents disappeared. And counsel is objecting to every question you ask. If you haven’t faced this yet, you probably will, and today’s tips will help you avoid frustration, preserve your record and use evasive testimony to build your case around corporate rep roadblocks. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If you’re looking for wise words from a respected mentor, this episode is for you. Through 33 years of trial experience and years as a mediator, George Fitzsimmons has distilled his cases to their essence and established basic tenets on how to treat experts, colleagues, and clients in ways that build credibility for you and your client. George also reminds us that the most important thing you bring to your case is your reputation. Wise words indeed. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The metaverse is all the rage these days. Users can enter a virtual world where they can interact with people from all parts of the physical world, play games, engage in commerce and do a lot of other things. Some law firms have also seen the potential. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Easy math: if you can get through more work, more quickly, you’ll make more money. And document assembly software can help you do it! Jared Correia talks with Tony Thai and Ashley Carlisle on how to put document assembly tech to work in your law firm. It’s trivia time on the Rump Roast. Jared quizzes Tony and Ashley on famous and/or obscure documents in a new game called “Documentary History.” And, Jared’s gonna beat this into your consciousness eventually—people are pretty freaked out by the unknowns of legal costs, so you really, really need to provide clarity on what your clients will pay. Tune in for tips on killing that billable hour and providing better options for your clients. Tony Thai is CEO and chief engineer at HyperDraft. Ashley Carlisle is head of marketing at HyperDraft. ----- Our guests, for some reason, REALLY love LA. So here's a playlist of songs to express that love for the Best Coast. (But, yea, I still hate LA). ----- 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 Highways by Falls. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Is balance realistic for lawyers? How can lawyers create space in their lives for work, family, vacations, and living fully, with clients and scaling their practice? Joining me for this conversation is Steve Fretzin. Driven, focused and passionate about helping attorneys to reach their full potential, Steve Fretzin is regarded as the premier coach, skills trainer and keynote speaker on business development for attorneys. Over the past 17 years, Steve Fretzin has devoted his career to helping lawyers master the art of business development to achieve their business goals and the peace of mind that comes with developing a successful law practice. In addition to writing four books on legal marketing and business development, Steve has a highly rated podcast BE THAT LAWYER and has been featured in the Chicago Tribune, Crain’s and Entrepreneur.com. He has appeared on NBC News, WGN Radio and has written articles for Legal Business World, Attorney at Law Magazine, the National Law Review, the American Bar Association, and the Illinois State Bar Association. You can also find his monthly column in the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin. Steve gives listeners actionable tips on: [1:55] Business development vs. marketing [4:40] Why sales can feel so icky [7:40] How to find balance between all of the moving pieces of being a lawyer and running a firm [12:40] How to re-plan and re-evaluate as business changes [16:40] Putting systems and programs in place to create more balance [22:55] The power of delegating Resources mentioned in this episode: Getting Things Done by David Allen Connect with Steve here: Twitter LinkedIn Facebook www.fretzin.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

Last month at a judicial conference in Colorado Springs, two judges from the Denver-based 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals interviewed Chief Justice John Roberts on all things SCOTUS, in which he decried attacks on the court’s legitimacy following the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health ruling. Roberts said "If the court doesn't retain its legitimate function of interpreting the constitution, I'm not sure who would take up that mantle. You don't want the political branches telling you what the law is, and you don't want public opinion to be the guide about what the appropriate decision is…” In a later response to Roberts comments, Justice Elena Kagan declared “Judges create legitimacy problems for themselves when they don’t act like courts” and “when they instead stray into places that look like politics.” So does the Supreme Court of the United States have a legitimacy problem? In this episode, host Craig Williams joins guest Douglas Keith, counsel in the Brennan Center’s Democracy Program, as they spotlight the legitimacy of the Supreme Court. Craig and Doug take a look at the public's reaction to recent SCOTUS decisions, the justices reaction to a legitimacy problem in the High Court, and what the new term will bring. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Joe went to a conference... here's what went down. The crew couldn't convene this week because of the Clio Cloud Conference, but here's Joe's interview with Pamela Smith talking about lawyer public relations. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Record numbers of workers have quit their jobs, fueled in part by their desire for better work-life balance, burnout or limited growth opportunities. How can employers in the legal field stem attrition? Learn essential strategies to enhance your recruitment, engagement and retention of legal professionals in today’s workplace. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Legal Talk Network wants to hear from you! Complete their Listener Survey and help them (and us!) improve your favorite legal podcasts and create new shows you’ll love. Complete the survey by October 14, 2022, and be entered to win great prizes! https://legaltalknetwork.com/survey/ Do the lessons learned while owning a small law firm translate to life in a larger firm? In today’s episode, Sara chats with long-time Lawyerist Lab member Nick Pleasants about how stayed entrepreneurial even after joining a bigger firm. He details how Lab helped him grow his small law firm (even before he launched), how he’s applied those skills after moving on to a new role, and offers some advice to solo and small firm owners. 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

The world of lawyering has surged in spite of the pandemic, but new adversity looms. Fears over inflation, war, hiring markets, and a recession have left many attorneys wondering how to prepare for the coming months. Jack Newton discusses the concept of anti-fragility and its place as a mental model for law firms as they face an uncertain future. Jack outlines how deliberate preparation can help your law firm thrive in the midst of opposition. Jack Newton is CEO and co-founder of Clio. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

No matter your practice area, smart planning can help you grow your business. Co-hosts Christopher Anderson and Laurence Colletti talk with Tim Parlatore about the panel he participated in at ClioCon which focused on scalable legal services. Tim shares his firm’s journey from solo to over 30 attorneys and offers time-tested tips for steady growth. Timothy C. Parlatore is the founder and Managing Partner of Parlatore Law Group. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Lack of communication and surprisingly large bills are often major sources of complaint for law firm clients, but it doesn’t have to be that way! Attorneys Shreya and Colin Ley share their simple strategies for managing client expectations and providing a better customer experience. Shreya Ley is a Lawyer-Human with LayRoots. Colin Ley is an asset protection attorney with LayRoots. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Love it or hate it, social media is where you need to be to get noticed by modern consumers. Gyi Tsakalakis chats with Michelle Fonseca-Kamana and Adam Juratovac about their session on developing your online presence to strengthen your credibility and reach new clients. Tune in for their thoughts on crafting entertaining, educational, and empowering content. Michelle Fonseca-Kamana is the Founder and Principal Attorney at West Coast Lemons APC, a law firm specializing in California lemon law. Adam S. Juratovac is a California employment law attorney. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How much can we really get done in a day? Christopher Anderson talks with Clio presenter Olivia Vizachero about how to become a consistent, confident manager of your schedule. Olivia explains why we so often struggle to plan a realistic schedule and gives tactics for proactive, accurate planning techniques that help you achieve your goals. Olivia Vizachero, a former BigLaw commercial litigator and criminal defense attorney, runs The Less Stressed Lawyer, a boutique life coaching practice for lawyers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“A great client experience should be at the core of what you do.” – Geeta Daswani, winner of the Excellence in Client Service Reisman Award, talks with podcast host Patrick Palace about her firm’s best practices for thoughtful and efficient client interactions. Geeta explains how careful listening and good communication can help any business provide a great customer experience. Geeta Daswani is founder at The Daswani Law Co. Ltd., providing legal support to ethical and sustainable businesses. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Reisman Award winner Andrew Rudder talks with host Patrick Palace about his path to becoming a lawyer, including some of the unique experiences and challenges he has faced as a black attorney. Andrew shares his passion for social justice and his hope to provide greater access to justice for people of color. Andrew Rudder is founder of Rudder Law, a Canadian firm focused on Catastrophic Impairment Law. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Bad decision making is a very human problem, but that doesn’t mean we can't override our natural tendencies and make successful choices. Host Stephanie Everett taps into Nika Kabiri’s insights on science-based decision strategies. They discuss Nika’s work at Clio and run through helpful decision making tactics for both your personal and professional life. Stephanie Everett leads the Lawyerist community and Lawyerist Lab. Nika Kabiri is Senior Director of Decision Science at Clio. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If you’re working way more hours than you want to, it’s time to hire someone new! Hiring another lawyer for your firm lightens your load, lessens the likelihood of burnout, and makes you more money. Sounds like a win all around. Kristin Tyler shares insights on current hiring trends and outlines how to connect with the right talent for your team. Kristin Tyler is co-founder and chief brand officer at LAWCLERK, where attorneys go to hire freelance lawyers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The pandemic was a driver for change in justice systems around the globe, but one court’s innovative and inexpensive approach is worth a closer look. Judge Scott Schlegel manages what may be one of the most advanced courts in the United States for delivering justice online. Tune in for his tips on how any jurisdiction in the country can modernize its justice system for under a thousand dollars. Go to https://www.onlinejudge.us/ for all of Judge Schlegel’s recommendations. Judge Scott U. Schlegel was elected to the 24th Judicial District Court in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana in May 2013. He currently serves as the President of the Louisiana District Judges Association and Chair of the Louisiana Supreme Court Technology Commission. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

George Fitzsimmons has tried more than 250 jury cases on both sides and handled more than 500 mediations. His experience spans decades and his wisdom has schooled dozens of prominent attorneys, including John Simon. Tune in for classic courtroom stories, tips on why you should consider taking bad cases, and what remains the same in the courtroom from one of the Midwest’s most respected attorneys. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Strategic messaging helps your community understand why they want you to be their lawyer. Tune in to Laurence Colletti’s conversation with Camille Moore and Phillip Millar to learn how to take the plunge into online content creation and grow your brand. They discuss the pitfalls of unapproachable marketing and share tactics for sharing your authentic self through social media, video, podcasts, and more. Camille Moore is president of Third Eye Insights. Phillip Millar is an attorney and senior strategic consultant at Third Eye Insights. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Author and lawyer Scott Turow’s latest legal thriller Suspect reintroduces readers to Clarice “Pinky” Granum, the granddaughter of attorney Sandy Stern—a character from the author's novels The Last Trial and his blockbuster debut Presumed Innocent. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Your expert’s role is to teach the facts and science of your case to the jury. To be their most effective, you need to help them help you. Today’s discussion covers whether or not to share your outline, how to use demonstratives effectively, tips for in-person prep, and how to fire up your expert. Because if you want to win, your expert needs to be as passionate about your case as you are. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

First things first: it’s about time you got your annual plan together for next year. Then, Gyi and Conrad help you build your metrics dashboard into a pro-level thing of beauty. And, book review—what you need to add to your Business Bookshelf. ----- It’s that time of year again, time to grab your pumpkin spice lattes and start your firm’s marketing planning for the upcoming year. You do have a plan, don’t you? Well, it’s not too late to get started (but it’s getting there). Gyi and Conrad share their insights into setting business goals, tracking them, and nailing your execution. Last episode, Gyi and Conrad warned you about the metrics to avoid. This time, the guys focus on what you NEED to pay attention to. They rank the five most important metrics you need on your marketing dashboard. Don’t waste your time with unnecessary noise. Learn how to track your business like a boss. And, to wrap things up, as promised, Conrad shares his selection for this episode’s new segment, Business Bookshelf. The News: BREAKING: Don’t touch your Google Business Profiles (GBP). Businesses are getting suspended for really weird, silly reasons. Marketing in an economic downturn: what to do and how to win. Google Search On: take-aways for law firms Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Creating a happy path from intake to invoice makes firm processes easy and efficient, but how do you get there? Hosts Laurence Colletti and Stephanie Everett talk with Adrian Francis and Raquel Trinidad about getting paid without the hassle. They outline the importance of meeting clients where they’re at, embracing flexible billing strategies, and using online billing for quick and easy payments. Adrian Francis is a Group Product Manager across Oil & Gas, Supply Chain, and Legal at Clio. Raquel Trinidad is Manager of Product Marketing at Clio. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Avoiding busywork should be at the top of your to-do list, and automation is the best solution. Foojan Shabrang and Scott Hamilton offer tips for getting started with Zapier to smooth out your workflows. Foojan Shabrang is a Junior IT Specialist at Clio. Scott Hamilton is a Data Migration Specialist at Clio. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This episode’s discussion around the Community Table: How can a law firm effectively use the non-attorney salesperson in a way that meets client expectations? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tips abound for both seasoned and beginner legal bloggers! Tune in for Teresa Matich, Iffy Ibekwe, and Kevin O’Keefe’s discussion on how blogging can help attorneys broaden their reach and promote firm growth. They share advice for understanding your audience, dispel common myths about writing, and give practical tips on crafting engaging, useful blog posts for readers. Teresa Matich is senior content strategist at Clio. Iffy Ibekwe is a trust wealth advisor at Arvest Wealth Management. Kevin O’Keefe is the founder and CEO of LexBlog, a pioneer company that helps lawyers with online marketing and blogs. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Data contributed by tens of thousands of legal professionals has given us new insights into the workings of today’s law firms. Laurence Colletti talks with Joshua Lenon and Rio Peterson of Clio to learn more about the findings of the 2022 Legal Trends Report. They discuss how trends have changed between their pre- and post- pandemic data and examine how current events (i.e. a potential recession, changing work styles, hiring trends, etc.) are affecting law firm operations across all areas of the profession. Joshua Lenon is Lawyer in Residence & Data Protection Officer at Clio. Rio Peterson is Senior Affinity Partnerships Manager at Clio. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Why start your own law firm? –Freedom, a creative business model, providing a unique client experience… and the list goes on! Sharing highlights from their panel discussion, Austin Pantaleo, Lindsey Egan, and Joe Gibson talk through vital lessons learned while starting up their law firms and give their top strategies for success as a solo attorney. Austin Pantaleo is manager of Demand Generation at Clio. Lindsey E. Egan is the founder of Egan Law Center in Manchester-by-the-Sea on the north shore of Massachusetts. Joe Gibson is founder and managing attorney of the Employment Law Center of Maryland. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Martha Minow joins LSC President Ron Flagg to discuss access to justice, law schools and her new role as the McArthur Foundation’s board chair on the latest episode of LSC's “Talk Justice” podcast. Martha Minow, 300 th Anniversary Professor, Harvard Law School; Co-chair of the Access-to-Justice Board at the American Academy of Arts and Sciences; Former Harvard Law School Dean; Former LSC Board Member. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Could a project management tool be the missing key in your law firm’s arsenal? In this episode, Zack talks with Joyce Brafford, a North Carolina attorney with over a decade of experience in the legal tech industry. She and Zack dive into the benefits of project management for law firms, how workflows and automations (even imperfect ones) can eliminate common woes, and how Rocket Matter legal practice management software can help. 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! About Rocket Matter Rocket Matter is legal practice management software that makes the lives of lawyers a whole lot easier Schedule a Personal Demo Webinar: How to Get Paid Faster Top of Funnel: Guide for those looking to become more efficient as a practicing attorney Mid Funnel: eBook that is for those looking to buy practice management software. A must-read before buying. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What measures of success matter most when it comes to marketing efforts and lead conversion? How do lawyers know which metrics they should be paying attention to, and which ones simply aren’t worth worrying about? Joining me for this conversation is Mark Graban. Mark is an author, speaker, consultant, and podcaster. His podcasts include “Lean Blog Interviews,” “Habitual Excellence,” and “My Favorite Mistake.” He’s also affiliated with the technology company KaiNexus and the healthcare advisory firm Value Capture. His books include his most recent, titled “Measures of Success: React Less, Lead Better, Improve More.” He has a BS in industrial engineering from Northwestern University and an MS and an MBA from MIT. Mark gives listeners actionable tips on: [2:00] The traditional definition of performance metrics and the clean operational experience [5:15] The Japanese Kaizen Model [10:40] What we should be measuring and why it matters [14:55] Using intake forms to measure success rates [24:35] The statistics you don’t need to pay attention to [37:45] Mark’s book review Resources mentioned in this episode: Understanding Variation by Donald Wheeler Book Yourself Solid by Michael Port Connect with Mark here: Instagram Twitter LinkedIn Facebook http://markgraban.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

Addressing fear and anxiety with societal mantras like “fake it ‘til you make it” or “face your fears” isn’t all that helpful, and might even be harmful to many of us. Tune in as Molly Ranns and JoAnn Hathaway talk with Heidi K. Brown about her book, “Untangling Fear in Lawyering: A Four-Step Journey Toward Powerful Advocacy.” Rather than stigmatizing fear, Heidi discusses ways to equip attorneys with the skills to work through fear responses and then physically and mentally recalibrate to meet the challenges of legal practice. Episode Links: Untangling Fear in Lawyering: A Four-Step Journey Toward Powerful Advocacy, by Heidi K. Brown https://www.viacharacter.org/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Returning guest Omarosa Newman joins Demario Thornton to go into deeper detail about her educational journey through multiple Historically Black Colleges and Universities and why she chose to attend Southern University–also an HBCU–for law school. Since their inception, HBCUs have focused on educating brilliant young minds. Tune in to learn more about the unique experience students find at these institutions. Check out Omarosa’s book, Unhinged: An Insider's Account of the Trump White House. Omarosa Newman is a reality tv star, a communications professional, and a 1L at Southern University Law Center. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dennis and Tom’s new book, “The Lawyer’s Guide to Collaboration Tools & Technologies: Work From Home Edition,” is available now! Debbie Foster hosts this episode to chat with Dennis and Tom about their writing process for this new edition and specific tools lawyers need to make the most of modern legal practice. 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. Show Notes - Kennedy-Mighell Report #323 A Segment: Debbie Foster Interviews Dennis and Tom The Lawyer’s Guide to Collaboration Tools & Technologies: Work From Home Edition https://www.americanbar.org/products/inv/book/424883450/ B Segment: Interview, Part II Parting Shots: Calendly - https://calendly.com/ Law Department Innovation Library - https://www.ldilibrary.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

No matter if you’re new to the profession or a seasoned vet, paralegal professionals can never know too much. Guest Cathy L. Davis is an assistant professor and department chair of the criminal justice and legal studies programs at Alabama’s Faulkner University. She’s a champion of continuing education and the lifelong pursuit of new skills. Make your job your passion, and make learning your passion. Lexus, Clio, Mycase, Microsoft Office, local paralegal associations, and others all offer opportunities to learn and demonstrate competencies. Get every certification you can. For those new to the business, start with: Professionalism: Be organized, manage time, and listen. Writing matters: Hone your skills. Really work on your writing. Research skills: Go beyond traditional sources, even social media counts. Preserve and protect data: Evidence and research are crucial. Offer to attend hearings or assist at the courthouse, even if some tasks are outside your scope. Consider volunteering at a legal aid office, neighborhood associations, and community causes. Ever thought about teaching or speaking at a local college? Never stand still. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A surprising shift has swept through Texas courts since COVID-19, likely traceable to the public’s collective new awareness of suffering due to pandemic-era hardships. In recent months, there has seemed to be a marked change in jurors’ thoughts on awarding non-economic damages, resulting in larger damages verdicts in many courts. To discuss this phenomenon, Rocky Dhir talks with Randy Sorrels about his article, Fully Acknowledging Human Damages, which appeared in the October issue of the Texas Bar Journal. Randy Sorrels is a partner at Sorrels Law in Houston, Texas, and holds board certifications from the Texas Board of Legal Specialization and the National Board of Trial Advocacy, including: Personal Injury Trial Law, Civil Trial Law, and Civil Trial Advocacy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

People don’t connect with brands, they connect with people. Could a publicist help you tell your story in a way that truly resonates with potential clients? In this episode, Stephanie talks with Pam Perry, communications and PR professional, about the importance of being authentically “you” in your branding. They delve into how to tell your story to build connections and the role PR (or a publicist) can play to help you meet your ideal client. Listen now! 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 Berkshire Receptionists, Lawyerist Lab, and Posh Virtual Receptionists for sponsoring this episode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

But it might make you a sociopath. Ginni Thomas testified to the January 6 committee that she still believes the election was stolen from Donald Trump. They wouldn't call it the "big" lie if it went down easy! But she also testified that she and Clarence don't talk about work, which might be even less believable than her stolen election claim. Also, an attorney billed 277 hours to review 20 documents... that seems like something the firm should've stopped earlier. And Judge James Ho is trying to help conservative Yale students by announcing he'll never hire them. And you thought Ginni wasn't making sense. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“Don’t stomp your little last season Prada shoes at me, honey.” Can you name that movie? It’s one of the top three legal movies on our list, and if you can’t name it, you’d better listen to this episode. If you can name that film, you’ll love our spirited discussion of the classic legal films that inspire us, make us laugh, and teach us to be humble. And should you choose to disagree with our picks, you may invoke the classic line from My Cousin Vinny…..”Everything that guy just said is……” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In Part Two of our unfiltered discussion with legendary plaintiff attorney Tom Keefe, you’ll learn Tom’s strategy to “housebreak” a witness and how to handle a highly-coached expert. You’ll also hear Tom’s most embarrassing moment in trial when a common statement of surprise actually occurred in the courtroom. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A lot of law firm intake processes are a bit painful to look at, if we’re honest, but they don’t have to be! Jared and guest McKay Ferrell share how a little tracking and better workflows can make your intake as smooth as butter. In lieu of a Rump Roast grilling, Jared delves into McKay’s passion for craft brewing, learning about hybrid IPAs and what led him into the seemingly saturated world of brewery businesses. And, Jared’s latest streaming pick might freak you out, but he thinks watching Netflix’s Dahmer series has left him with some solid tips for not getting murdered, so, tune in for those! McKay Ferrell is the vice president of product management at Assembly Software. ----- Since we talked with a brewery owner, here are some of our favorite songs about boozin'. (Lots of country songs here, obvi.) ----- 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 Big Bags by Ghost Beatz. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The U.S. Supreme Court had a historic last term; including welcoming a new justice, striking down Roe versus Wade, the unprecedented leak of a draft opinion, an assassination plot, and questions from many in the public about the legitimacy of the court. With the court's new term beginning October 3rd, the court will take up additional major cases on issues such as affirmative action, voting, access, LGBTQ rights, immigration and much more. To give us a preview of the upcoming SCOTUS term, host Dave Scriven-Young welcomes special guest and appellate attorney, Mary-Christine ('M.C.') Sungaila to the show. M.C. is a Shareholder in the Buchalter's Orange County and San Diego offices. Ms. Sungaila is a highly regarded appellate attorney who has briefed and argued appeals raising cutting-edge and fundamental business issues for over two decades. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Why are smart lawyers so bad at conversation? What makes one person excellent at conversation and another terrible? Does it come down to listening? And are there ways to develop these skills? Joining me for this conversation is Celeste Headlee, an internationally recognized journalist and radio host, professional speaker and author of bestselling book We Need To Talk: How To Have Conversations That Matter and Do Nothing: How to Break Away from Overworking, Overdoing, and Underliving. Her latest is Speaking of Race: Why Everyone Needs to Talk About Racism and How to Do It. Her TEDx Talk, 10 Ways to Have a Better Conversation, has been viewed over 34 million times. In her 20-year career in public radio, Celeste has been the Executive Producer of On Second Thought at Georgia Public Broadcasting and anchored programs including Tell Me More, Talk of the Nation, Here and Now, All Things Considered, and Weekend Edition. She also served as co-host of the national morning news show, The Takeaway, from PRI and WNYC, and anchored presidential coverage in 2012 for PBS World Channel. Celeste is a regular guest host on NPR and American Public Media. She is the host of Newsweek’s “Debate” podcast, and hosts a podcast for the National Gallery of Art called “Sound Thoughts on Art.” She is also the host of “Women Amplified,” a podcast from the Conferences for Women, the largest network of women’s conferences in the nation, drawing more than 50,000 people to its annual events. Celeste is also the president and CEO of Headway DEI, a non-profit that works to bring racial justice and equity to journalism and media through targeted training and interventions, and she serves on the board for the National Center of Race Amity. Celeste is the granddaughter of composer William Grant Still, known as the Dean of Black American Composers and she is a trained operatic soprano. She lives in the DC area with rescue dog, Samus. Celeste gives listeners actionable tips on: [1:25] Are we born as ‘conversationalists’? [2:40] Why the smartest people are often the worst at conversation [4:05] The different types of conversations [14:40] The three components of compassion [17:10] Why having good conversation matters [24:30] Top tips to become a better listener [28:25] How to get other people to trust you [30:30] Celeste’s book review Resources mentioned in this episode: Mindwise by Nicholas Epley Connect with Celeste here: Instagram Twitter LinkedIn Facebook https://celesteheadlee.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