Legal Talk Network - Law News and Legal Topics

Succession planning is critical for ensuring the protection of lawyers, clients, and the public; but does every lawyer need a plan? Molly Ranns and JoAnn Hathaway talk with Alecia Chandler about how to figure out what type of plan you need and the resources available on the State Bar of Michigan’s website. Check out the Planning Ahead Handbook, as well as many other checklists and forms designed to help you create a comprehensive plan for your law firm. Alecia Chandler is Professional Responsibility Programs Director for the State Bar of Michigan. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Time to be honest with yourself. Are you, quite possibly, wasting other people’s time with meandering, life-sucking meetings? Or, is your inbox full of languishing emails, much to the frustration of your coworkers? Dennis and Tom certainly hope not, but, just to be safe, they’ve got a whole show devoted to helping you understand the nuances of both synchronous and asynchronous collaboration modalities. Learn how to pick the right tools for each scenario and curate purposeful, effective communication with coworkers and clients. Later on, the guys share their personal recommendations for improving the VR experience for those with prescription glasses. 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. Special thanks to our sponsors, Posh Virtual Receptionists, Clio, and Colonial Surety Company. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Stephanie Everett talks with Lawyerist Lab coach and finance expert, Bernadette Harris, about law firm expenses, when it’s okay to spend money on your business, and when debt might even be a good thing. 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 LawPay, MyCase, and Posh Virtual Receptionists for sponsoring this episode. Check out the winners of this year’s Best Law Firm Websites contest! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

US News and World Report released its annual law school rankings last week and delivered chaos upon the legal world, dropping Harvard from its top three perch. As we break down some key insights from the rankings, we remind everyone not to get too hung up on these numbers. Speaking of numbers that lawyers should get hung up on, it looks like a lawyer screw up cost a bank around $600M so that's not great. And speaking of being the opposite of great, unhinged text messages from Ginni Thomas raise questions about the fitness of Clarence Thomas to serve on the Supreme Court. Don't worry, no one will end up doing anything about it. Special thanks to our sponsor, Posh Virtual Receptionists, LLC. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Consider the courtroom as a live drama unfolding before you. How can you direct the characters to tell their most authentic story and utilize breathing, dramatic structure, voice control, and more to make that story as persuasive as possible? The conclusion of our fascinating two-part discussion with Andrew Caple-Shaw and Alexandra Wright of ACT of COMMUNICATION will change the way you prep and practice and leave you laughing with two instructive stories about termites and the best witness in the world. Don’t miss this episode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In August 2020, contract attorney Laura Frederick accepted a challenge: Post to LinkedIn once a day, every day, for a month. Frederick thought she might be able to keep up a string of several days in a row. Instead, her daily posts became a way to connect with colleagues, build business, create a brand identity, and have a social lifeline during the isolation of the pandemic. A selection of those posts also found their way into her self-published book, Practical Tips on How to Contract: Techniques and Tactics from an Ex-BigLaw and Ex-Tesla Commercial Contracts Lawyer. Frederick says that she's never been the sort of person who enjoyed the cocktail party circuit way of rainmaking. When she launched her own law practice after years of working in BigLaw and as an in-house attorney for companies including Tesla, she relied for the first year entirely on referrals. But the connections she was able to make through LinkedIn has rapidly expanded opportunities for her legal practice and for her training and skill-development company, How to Contract. Frederick tells the ABA Journal's Lee Rawles that one of her driving motivations for posting daily tips to LinkedIn has been her desire to pass along knowledge gained over the course of her career to younger attorneys. When she was a beginning attorney in the 1990s, she says she gained tremendously by being able to shadow more experienced attorneys at her firm, learning at the side of longtime contract attorneys. The same opportunities are not available now, particularly when so many young attorneys are launching their own solo or small firm practices. She hopes that both Practical Tips on How to Contract and her continuing daily posts to LinkedIn–she's now written more than 400–can help fill that gap. She adds that engaging with her commenters has also taught her lessons that improved her own legal work. In this episode, Frederick talks about the practical steps to building a brand and self-publishing; how she expanded into creating legal cartoons; and what it was like to be an attorney for Tesla. Special thanks to our sponsor, Posh Virtual Receptionists. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Opposing counsel's expert’s report raises doubts in your mind about scientific methodology or adherence to industry-standard practices….do you file a Daubert motion to seek to exclude the presentation of that expert’s testimony to the jury? You may not deal with Daubert motions every day, but they can play a key role in your case, so it’s worth a few minutes of your time to learn when to file a Daubert motion, what strategies can strengthen your motion, and why the savvy play may be to not file the motion at all. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Litigators face distinct challenges when it comes to business development. Unlike their transactional counterparts, clients often only need a litigator once. That means the process of developing business for a litigator is ongoing. Because of this unsteady workflow, identifying a prospective client list, bringing in business and growing your litigation practice can be difficult. In this episode, special guests, Sharla Frost and Angela Steffen Meyer, provide litigators with a practical guide to getting more clients and advancing their legal careers through simple and effective business development strategies. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Zack talks with Knackly.io’s CEO, Kim Mayberry, about how lawyers can build apps using document automation platforms. Who is Knackly? They are the fastest, most-powerful document automation software available. They’re already saving other firms over 90% of the time they spent creating, drafting, proofing, editing, and producing legal documents and correspondence. Knackly.io: https://knackly.io Lawyerist Product Spotlight with Knackly: https://youtu.be/0WRKWUgA8Ng 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

Ever wanted to watch a dark, oddball love story about a death-obsessed couple with a 60-year age gap? Jared’s got just the thing! The 1971 film, “Harold and Maude” is a cult classic and has a Cat Stevens-centric soundtrack, so, obviously, a total win-win for your next movie night. Next, Jared welcomes Shaun Buck to chat about the surprising ways that traditional newsletters can grow your business. Shaun shares insights on how a useful, entertaining piece of mail can impact consumers and bring them to your law firm. And, last but not least, what’s cool about Idaho? Jared and Shaun are on a quest to find out in the new Rump Roast game: “Idaho? YOUdaho!” Shaun Buck is founder and CEO of Newsletter Pro based in Boise, Idaho. ----- In honor of the long-delayed release of the "Harold and Maude" soundtrack, it's time for y'all to make sure you've totally caught up on Cat Stevens. https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7F02Lp2J2ovTHfo2eHl2YL?si=6e693f3a6cad4998 ------ 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 Canoe Journey by Andy Ellison. Special thanks to our sponsors TimeSolv, Clio, Scorpion, and Alert Communications. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What is an intrapreneur and how can it help your firm? Truthfully, when it comes to your firm, anyone can be an intrapreneur. It’s up to the leaders of the firm to foster and encourage the team to explore and support new ideas and ventures. We talk about what intrapreneurship can do for your firm in this episode with Art Bell. Art is a writer and former media executive known for creating, building, and managing successful cable television channels. His memoir, published by Ulysses Press, Constant Comedy: How I Started Comedy Central and Lost My Sense of Humor was recently honored as a finalist in the 2020 Best Book Awards for memoir. While working at HBO, Art pitched the idea of a 24-hour comedy network and helped develop and launch HBO’s The Comedy Channel, which became Comedy Central. He went on to hold senior executive positions in both programming and marketing. After leaving Comedy Central, Art became President of Court TV, where he was a guiding force behind one of the most successful brand evolutions in cable television. In addition to writing, Art plays piano and drums, and co-hosts “The Constant Comedy Podcast with Art Bell and Vinnie Favale.” Art gives listeners actionable tips on: What an intrapreneur is How being an intrapreneur allowed Art to start up the very first comedy network, which we now know as Comedy Central The impacts of going through a merger Why it’s important for lawyers at any firm to operate as intrapreneurs The two things that go into research Resources mentioned in this episode: The Dawn of Everything by David Graeber and David Wengrow Germs, Guns and Steel by Jared Diamond Constant Comedy: How I Started Comedy Central and Lost My Sense of Humor by Art Bell Connect with Art here: Instagram Twitter LinkedIn Facebook https://www.artbellwriter.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

Time to meet your candidates! On March 10, Joe Escobedo and Cindy Tisdale participated in a live, virtual forum hosted by Rocky Dhir. Get to know Joe and Cindy as they share their priorities for the State Bar of Texas and answer audience questions. Register to join their next live forum on April 5! Joe Escobedo is a partner at Escobedo & Cardenas, LLP, in Edinburg, Texas, where he devotes his practice to tort litigation and mediations. Cindy Tisdale is a small firm attorney in Granbury, Texas, where she dedicates her practice to family law. She is also Of Counsel with Lynch, Chappell & Alsup in Midland. Special thanks to our sponsor, LawPay. 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 How to Succeed in Law School. In this episode, we move on to the next logical step: How to Find a Job After Law School. We’re pleased to be joined by someone who wrote the playbook on how to do just that! Host Craig Williams is joined by trial attorney Rachel Gezerseh, author of The Law Career Playbook: The Guerrilla Guide to Getting a Legal Job You Actually Like, which is the leading networking guide for law students and new lawyers. Special thanks to our sponsor, Posh Virtual Receptionists. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Host Carl Morrison is joined by guest Ben Hengels of Ligl.io for a deep dive into the Evidence Lifecycle Management (ELM), e-discovery, and data flow management that law practices run on. With so many moving parts, taking proper stock of every component – from email and cloud systems to legacy on-site servers – is crucial. So is working with providers who understand how each piece works with the other. Recognize early warning signs of common problems, mistakes that find their way into the process and grow. Avoid inefficiencies and costly snafus. E-discovery and data management are not static processes. Technological advances continue yearly. Learn to collect, produce, and preserve the data you need to keep up with a busy caseload. Plus, “The Listener’s Voice.” Your content, comments, and questions matter. In this episode, tips and tricks on making the leap from paralegal to legal operations careers. What’s on your mind? Drop us a line at [email protected] Special thanks to our sponsors NALA, ServeNow, and Infotrack. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Stephanie talks with Spill’s founder, Calvin Benton, about the importance of mental health check-ins for your team and providing them access to licensed therapists. Spill is a great tool for that! 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 LawPay, Postali, and Posh Virtual Receptionists for sponsoring this episode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Free speech is rarely pretty. But there was no shortage of hand-wringing last week over Yale Law students who -- checks notes -- protested an event and then left promptly when asked by faculty. If that doesn't sound bad, but that's because you're not vested in the ongoing effort to redefine free speech as protecting the people with microphones and punishing dissent. We also talk about a wildly inappropriate in-house counsel and the story of a town that ticketed an elderly couple to the tune of $30K and the federal judge who was not pleased about it. Special thanks to our sponsor, Posh Virtual Receptionists, LLC. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Our guest is law student Simon X. Cao, winner of this year’s College of Workers’ Compensation Lawyer’s John F. Burton Jr. Student Writing Award. His essay, “Fighting The Tide – Overcoming The Rebuttable Presumption of Intoxication In The Age of Marijuana,” examines a common Workers’ Comp defense arguing an injured worker was somehow culpable in his own injury by virtue of intoxication. Cao examines to what extent – if any – evidence of prior marijuana consumption can be used against injured workers, as a growing number of states legalize marijuana both for recreation and medical use. The nexus of marijuana and injury compensation is a sticky issue. Evidence of marijuana can be detected in an injured worker’s system for weeks after use, unlike alcohol, but it can be present without indicating intoxication. How reliable is testing? How consistent are the rules across states? And what about presumed consent for a drug test after a workplace accident? All interesting topics that could affect your clients. Special thanks to our sponsor PInow.com, Posh Virtual Receptionists, and MerusCase. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As a lawyer, you may think you are a good listener. But could you listen more effectively, and in turn, be heard more clearly? With tips from the Heels in the Courtroom trial attorneys and insights from Kate Murphy’s book, You’re Not Listening: What You’re Missing and Why It Matters, you can improve your listening skills. Better communication will advance your practice, enhance your relationships and make your next obligatory cocktail party a little less painful. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Detroit has been the site of many civil rights and labor rights battles, and many notable Black attorneys have called the city home. The first Black president of the ABA, Dennis Archer, came from the Detroit legal community, as does the current ABA president, Reginald Turner. But the full story of one of the city's pioneering legal figures has not been told–until now. In No Equal Justice: The Legacy of Civil Rights Icon George W. Crockett Jr., co-authors Edward J. Littlejohn and Peter J. Hammer have filled in this blank with an absorbing history of Crockett's Floridian childhood, his law school years at the University of Michigan, his defense of Communist activists at the height of the Red Scare, his harrowing search for the murdered Freedom Riders in 1964, his time as a judge on Detroit's Recorder Court, and his election to the U.S. House of Representatives. For this episode of the Modern Law Library, Hammer joined the ABA Journal's Lee Rawles to discuss the research that went into the book, some of Crockett's most high-profile cases, how Crockett ended up serving four months in prison for contempt of court, and to explain why Crockett was one of the Detroit police department's most-hated public figures. Special thanks to our sponsor, Posh Virtual Receptionists. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Listen to the first-ever mailbag episode of CBA's @theBar! Host Jonathan Amarilio is joined by co-hosts Trisha Rich, Maggie Mendenhall Casey and Jennifer Byrne for a conversation that is even more unscripted than usual. Be a fly on the wall of an @theBar podcast production meeting as the group discusses letters from the audience and potential topics for future episodes. If you have comments, questions or ideas for future episodes, write in to [email protected]. Special thanks to our sponsors: InfoTrack, Posh Virtual Receptionists, LLC, and Smokeball. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A trial is a contest of competing stories and the jury is your audience. Prepare your witness for their best performance with tenets from acting and theater explained by Andrew Caple-Shaw and Alexandra Wright of ACT of COMMUNICATION, a unique litigation consulting group. Their powerful and highly effective communication techniques, such as identifying non-verbal micro-expressions, harnessing the power of metaphor, and strengthening sensitivity and listening skills, will help your witnesses tell the essence of their story more effectively and help you command center stage in the courtroom. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Can you attract an ideal client with your brand personality? Most lawyers don’t get to learn the branding, marketing and content creation piece of their business while in law school. The challenge is, in order to be relevant in today’s digital economy, you have to have a presence online. When it comes to brand personality, it’s so much deeper than the colors you pick or the fonts you use. It’s the psychology behind it, and how it creates deep and lasting connections with your potential clients. Joining me for this episode is Kaye Putnam, the psychology-driven brand strategist for entrepreneurs. Through work with hundreds of clients from international corporations to solo-entrepreneurs, she developed her signature Clarity Code™ method. She believes that business should be more human and that all entrepreneurs have an inner-genius they can use to impact the world. She works with students in her Brand New Brand incubation program and with clients 1-on-1. When she’s not transforming brands, she’s exploring the world with her husband and two little ones. Kaye gives listeners actionable tips on: Why thinking about your brand personality is necessary Decoding brand archetypes The impact emotional connection has on your brand Why branding is deeper than colors and fonts Resources mentioned in this episode: Psycho-Cybernetics by Maxwell Maltz Connect with Kaye here: Instagram Twitter LinkedIn Facebook http://kayeputnam.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

For young litigators who want to be considered “a lawyer’s lawyer,” careers spent mostly working from home may not get you to where you want to be, according to Robert Giuffra and Evan Chesler, two Wall Street partners who have been trying cases for more than 30 years. Special thanks to our sponsor, LawPay. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Information and disinformation campaigns are centuries old, but our social media era has given new and rapid thrust to the sharing of ideas, both for good and ill intent. Meg Steenburgh and Peter W. Singer discuss his book, LikeWar: The Weaponization of Social Media, which analyzes the poisonous effects of disinformation on politics, war, and social issues worldwide. They look at the role of governments, laws, and individuals; and our collective responsibility to support digital literacy and engage in positive digital citizenship. Peter Warren Singer is strategist at New America, a Professor of Practice at Arizona State University, and founder and managing partner at Useful Fiction LLC. Thank you to our sponsor NBI. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What are non-fungible tokens, and why should you care? Dennis & Tom break down the definition of these unique digital objects (art, video, and much more) and outline the issues surrounding their current hype and value in the real world. NFTs have the potential to engage a surprising variety of legal angles, so lawyers in any area of the law need an understanding of this new trend in virtual property. Later on, the guys chat about the established tradition of tech announcements and whether they are still necessary or useful for consumers. Special thanks to our sponsors, Posh Virtual Receptionists, Clio, and Colonial Surety Company. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nick Mahoney from expert service provider S-E-A discusses how smart home data is utilized in fire scene losses for liability defense. Special thanks to our sponsor, AM Best Company, Best’s Insurance Professional Resources, including Qualified Member attorneys, adjusters and expert service providers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Is there potential for a mass exodus of women from the legal profession? Multiple studies have shown that the pandemic was harder on women, with increased home responsibilities falling disproportionately upon them and often leading to a continued need to work remotely, even after their law firms reopened. These shifts have had major impacts on gender parity in workplaces. Sharon Nelson and Jim Calloway welcome Roberta Tepper to discuss these issues of inequality and what law firms should do to support women in the profession. Roberta Tepper is the Chief Member Services Officer at the State Bar of Arizona. Special thanks to our sponsors, Alert Communications, Blackletter Podcast, Scorpion, and Smokeball. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Stephanie talks with Lawyerist’s Operations Director, Paige Atkins, about how lawyers and leaders can avoid burnout and stay engaged in their most important work. They also talk about how to keep your team engaged and avoid overwhelm altogether. 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 LawPay, Postali, and Posh Virtual Receptionists for sponsoring this episode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Before its fight with AT&T is over, One America News will owe Vedder Price a good deal in billables. But is it worth it for Vedder Price? The gang discusses the pros and cons of taking on civil work -- especially questionably winnable work -- for unpopular clients when other clients are begging for a squeaky clean counsel reputation. Meanwhile, law enforcement routinely pushes probable cause to the limit, but arresting 64 people for an ounce of weed proved too far. Finally, remember to vote in the annual Above the Law bracket! Special thanks to our sponsor, Posh Virtual Receptionists, LLC. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“What matters most to us is effecting change.” That’s the philosophy of renowned trial attorney Charla Aldous and her firm Aldous\Walker. Charla Aldous is a trailblazer who also founded Athea Trial Attorneys, an innovative all-female virtual law firm. Join the spirited and inspiring encore conversation with guest host Amy Gunn of the Simon Law Firm as Charla reveals how she affects change in and out of the courtroom with kindness, commitment, and a passion for justice. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As a young personal injury litigator in Georgia, Gino Brogdon Jr. says he was accustomed to using different technology tools to manage his practice. But when Brogdon began working as a mediator, he realized that there were limited tech options to assist him in the alternative dispute resolution realm. Special thanks to our sponsors, Alert Communications and Smokeball. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The pandemic has changed the way pro bono legal services are delivered. A new report from the Association of Pro Bono Counsel examines the most positive developments and recommends which ones should be retained. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Should you be hiring a SEO specialist for your firm, or is SEO dead? Also, millions of people are suffering as a result of the war in Ukraine. Is this an opportunity to market your law firm? Spoiler Alert: No. No, it is not — but the right answer for you may be more nuanced. The guys tackle these big subjects as well as answer questions from ABA TECHSHOW and the impending change to Google Analytics. Special thanks to our sponsors Alert Communications, LawYaw, Posh Virtual Receptionists, and Clio. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We all know the feeling…your heart starts racing, your stomach starts turning and your palms are getting sweaty…. This episode of Heels in the Courtroom focuses on how to reduce negative nervousness and turn apprehension into motivation. But if you’re still afraid you might sweat through your silk blouse, tune in for a surprising pro tip. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For guest Jason Levin – author of “Relationships to Infinity” and founder of the firm Ready, Set, Launch – keeping in touch with past connections, friends, and mentors is a lifelong passion and the bedrock of networking and relationship development. Through his work, Levin has developed an intense interest in helping people develop and maintain personal and business relationships. Business, after all, truly comes down to who you know. Levin’s firm Ready Set Launch applies corporate brand management principles to personal and corporate relationships. It’s the stuff they don’t teach in law school but is a pillar of any successful law firm. Hate networking? Learn to overcome. Think you are doing a great job at networking? Maybe you aren’t. Levin helps professionals make new and maintain lifetime connections. Keeping in touch is foundational. “Let’s do lunch” and “keep in touch” have become meaningless phrases, but the art of maintaining relationships has never been more important. Go beyond social media, events, and transactions and start getting real with steps you can take right now. Today is the day. Special thanks to our sponsors LawClerk, Alert Communications, LawYaw, and Scorpion. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Do you love being a lawyer, but can’t stand the sales hat that comes with it? It’s no secret that sales plays a vital role in securing new clients and growing your firm. What do we do when we want to close the business, but don’t want to use pushy, oldschool sales tactics? My guest, Merit Kahn, shares the four words that can transform your sales in this episode. Merit Kahn, CSP, is the CEO of SELLect Sales Development, author of Myth Shift: Challenging The Truths That Sabotage Success, co-host of The Smarter Sales Show, Certified Emotional Intelligence Coach and Certified Speaking Professional. Since 1998, Merit has worked with salespeople, entrepreneurs, professionals and business leaders who are frustrated because their ideal prospects were not receptive to their offers so they struggled to reach their aggressive sales goals while the pace of change meant always being in catch up mode and there was never time for creating innovative ideas especially while profit margins were slowly shrinking. Merit gives listeners actionable tips on: Why the word sales has such negative connotations and how to reframe it for yourself The three key components to sales The four magic words to transform your sales conversations How emotional intelligence plays a key role in the sales process Resources mentioned in this episode: Guide: Launch Your Podcast in 8 Weeks Guide: Podcast Recording Equipment Happiness Happens Podcast FREE MASTERCLASS: Three Simple Steps to Launch Your Podcast in 8 Weeks Atlas of the Heart: Mapping Meaningful Connection and the Language of Human Experience by Brené Brown Connect with Merit here: Instagram Twitter LinkedIn Facebook https://meritkahn.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 Central Intelligence Agency, better known as the CIA, is the principal foreign intelligence and counterintelligence agency of the U.S. government. The CIA's primary job is collecting and analyzing foreign intelligence and conducting covert action, and U.S. policymakers, including the President of the United States, make policy decisions based on the information provided by the CIA. On this very special episode of Lawyer 2 Lawyer, host Craig Williams is joined by Ric Prado, a decorated hero and CIA shadow warrior, who spent years fighting to protect the nation and home that welcomed him as a child from a communist repression. Craig and Ric discuss Ric’s book, BLACK Ops: The Life of a CIA Shadow Warrior, what the CIA does, how our laws as a country apply, and how they apply in foreign situations. Special thanks to our sponsor, Posh Virtual Receptionists. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Lawyers need to stay up on cybersecurity news to understand both the current threats and the mistakes made by others. Failure to keep up could eventually result in a breach! Sharon Nelson and John Simek discuss this topic with Lucien Pera to learn more about lawyers’ ethical responsibilities for technology and cybersecurity competence and why failures could result in a lawyer facing disciplinary action. Lucian T. Pera is a partner at Adams and Reese LLP in Memphis, Tennessee, where he focuses his practice on commercial litigation, media law, and legal ethics work. Special thanks to our sponsors CaseFleet, Clio, and PInow. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We’re joined by author and TV correspondent, Alicia Menendez where we talk about the concept of likeability in the workplace, especially as women attorneys. 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 LawPay, Postali, and Posh Virtual Receptionists for sponsoring this episode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Guest Tom L. Drew is a longtime attorney in Des Moines, Iowa. He reached out to New Solo and host Adriana Linares for help modernizing his practice and getting the most out of today’s tech. Drew is comfortable with computers, but he’s always looking for newer, better, more efficient methods. As a long-time paperless operation, Drew’s office was in a good place when it went remote during the COVID-19 pandemic. As his office went to a work-from-home environment, Drew was quick to incorporate training sessions and provide the necessary tools to help his team set up comfortable, efficient home offices. He found that money spent on tech is money well spent, and speed and efficiency matters more than cost. Hear how Drew upgraded software and replaced an on-site server with the cloud for a faster, on-the-go setup. Still unsure about cloud technology, OneDrive, Office 365, remote access, and document sharing? Learn how and where these pieces fit in a modern office. Plus, we have a special upcoming mailbag edition on Office 365 and all things Microsoft. Got a question? Contact us at [email protected]. Topics: Guest Tom Drew, longtime solo practitioner, talks about his recent tech makeover and moving from a server to the cloud. It’s not about cost, it’s about productivity and efficiency. In today’s work-from-home environment, being able to collaborate, schedule, and share information is more important than ever. Tech isn’t only for new solos, it’s for established firms too. New Insights In our series New Insights, veteran attorney Jennifer Smith Thomas answers questions from new attorney Jennifer Townsend about the challenges of working with her father in a small, family-owned firm. Question 2: “I work on cases with my Dad. In the South, it is uncommon to address your parents by their first name. How should I introduce myself and explain our relationship to new clients while being respectful of my Dad and not undermining myself as a new attorney?" Special thanks to our sponsors, Lawclerk, Alert Communications, Abby Connect, and Clio. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Joe and Chris discuss the latest nonsensical efforts to derail Ketanji Brown Jackson's nomination and ask the audience to guess which baseless attack comes next. They also breakdown the happenings between ABA TECHSHOW and Legalweek 2022, which marked Chris's first foray into the wild world of legal technology. And Joe has a nasty non-COVID cold that he caught at these shows so don't let that throw you off. Special thanks to our sponsor, Posh Virtual Receptionists, LLC. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Retired judge and bestselling novelist Martin Clark had to deal with his fair share of rejection before he finally broke in more than two decades ago with his debut novel, The Many Aspects of Mobile Home Living. After several false starts, that book got Clark’s career up and running. In this episode, the ABA Journal's Matt Reynolds finds out what made the difference for Clark, and gets tips for other lawyers itching to write their first book. Special thanks to our sponsor, Posh Virtual Receptionists. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mentorship isn’t just giving work advice to a younger attorney. It’s a professional and personal relationship built on trust and mutual respect that benefits the mentor and the mentee. And you shouldn’t stop with just one! Learn how to find mentors, why you’ll benefit from building multiple relationships at various levels of experience and how to ignite effective mentorships in your firm on today’s Heels in the Courtroom. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If it’s a cause worth fighting for, Texas trial attorney Charla Aldous is ready. Ranked as one of the top attorneys in America for over two decades, Charla’s authentic, no-nonsense strategy for case framing continues to convince juries, even in cases no one expects her firm to win. Tune in to this encore podcast with guest host Amy Gunn to hear the creative narratives from some of Charla’s biggest cases, and why taking a case she knows she won’t win has provided some of the most satisfying results in her prestigious career. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jared thinks all y’all need a talking-to about outsourcing. Lawyers, as high-achievers, think they can do everything on their own, but they’re probably just wasting time and money. Jared explains the profitability of outsourcing work outside your area of expertise so you can focus on what really matters. Next, ever had an idea for great content for your legal website/blog/video/social media account, but just don’t have time to flesh it out? Jared chats with writer Mike Feldman about how ghostwriters help businesses put their thoughts into words to create great online content. And, lastly, Jared and Mike are joined by their wives, Jessica and Kathleen for the Rump Roast! Jared’s newly developed quiz, “The Town,” seeks the perspectives of all four players on how the quintessential townie should act in a variety of scenarios. Michael Feldman is the founding CEO of Chalkbridge Ghostwriting & Content. Kathleen Feldman is an accountant with NFS Leasing and a city councilor in Beverly, Massachusetts. Jessica Correia works at a law firm, puts up with Jared, and has two podcasts: Escape: A Travel Podcast and Fab 5. ----- For our latest Rump Roast, we got in touch with our surroundings—well, MY surroundings specifically—but maybe it’s worth exploring the world beyond Beverly, Massachusetts. So here’s a playlist about places - the more local, the better! https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2U9Xh80e5rr0lB5ZLeSsPo?si=f1faf71d941c4523 ----- 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 Ent Her Stel Luh by Cast of Characters. Special thanks to our sponsors TimeSolv, Clio, Scorpion, and Alert Communications. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There are so many podcast episodes out there that talk about how to launch a podcast, but what happens after you launch? How do you make real money off of having a podcast? Is it even possible? In this episode, we’re focusing on how to monetize a podcast with Simona Costantini, our podcast producer. Simona is the Founder and CEO of Costantini Productions, a full-service podcast production agency. She is also the Executive Producer and Host of the Happiness Happens Podcast. She helps six-figure entrepreneurs in the intuitive space bring their personality, brand and passion to the mic by helping them launch, manage and grow their podcasts. Simona gives listeners actionable tips on: Why podcasting is part of your marketing strategy Some of the costs you need to know before getting started 7 ways to monetize your podcast Ad rates based on ad placement How to use more than one monetization method in your strategy Resources mentioned in this episode: Guide: Launch Your Podcast in 8 Weeks Guide: Podcast Recording Equipment Happiness Happens Podcast FREE MASTERCLASS: Three Simple Steps to Launch Your Podcast in 8 Weeks Atlas of the Heart: Mapping Meaningful Connection and the Language of Human Experience by Brené Brown Connect with Simona here: Instagram Twitter LinkedIn www.simonacostantini.com Connect with me Instagram Pinterest Facebook Twitter Karin on Twitter Karin on LinkedIn Conroy Creative Counsel on Facebook https://conroycreativecounsel.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There are so many podcast episodes out there that talk about how to launch a podcast, but what happens after you launch? How do you make real money off of having a podcast? Is it even possible? In this episode, we’re focusing on how to monetize a podcast with Simona Costantini, our podcast producer. Simona is the Founder and CEO of Costantini Productions, a full-service podcast production agency. She is also the Executive Producer and Host of the Happiness Happens Podcast. She helps six-figure entrepreneurs in the intuitive space bring their personality, brand and passion to the mic by helping them launch, manage and grow their podcasts. Simona gives listeners actionable tips on: Why podcasting is part of your marketing strategy Some of the costs you need to know before getting started 7 ways to monetize your podcast Ad rates based on ad placement How to use more than one monetization method in your strategy Resources mentioned in this episode: Guide: Launch Your Podcast in 8 Weeks Guide: Podcast Recording Equipment Happiness Happens Podcast FREE MASTERCLASS: Three Simple Steps to Launch Your Podcast in 8 Weeks Atlas of the Heart: Mapping Meaningful Connection and the Language of Human Experience by Brené Brown Connect with Simona here: Instagram Twitter LinkedIn www.simonacostantini.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

Negative perspectives on the legal profession can sometimes affect lawyers more than they realize, as unrealistic expectations, pressure for perfection, and even tacky lawyer jokes work against their mental health. In this On Balance podcast, Molly Ranns and JoAnn Hathaway talk with Dawn Kulongowski about how meditation and mindfulness can help lawyers cope with stressors and develop a positive mindset. Dawn Kulongowski is owner of The Peaceful Practice and Creative Smiles Dental Group. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The real world has been a bit too much for Dennis and Tom lately, so tag along as they take a little trip to the metaverse! They discuss what exactly this expansive virtual environment is, possible personal and professional uses, and what the future may hold for this growing technology. And, for all you lawyers out there, they consider how this tech could be applied to the profession. This time on the “Hot or Not?” segment, the guys air their opinions on the return to in-person conferences. Special thanks to our sponsors, Posh Virtual Receptionists, Clio, and Colonial Surety Company. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We’re joined by Lawyerist Lab member, Russell Farbiarz, as he discusses what it looked like to take over his practice. We discuss how he got there and what to think about if you’re interested in doing the same. 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 LawPay, Postali, and Posh Virtual Receptionists for sponsoring this episode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices