Legal Talk Network - Law News and Legal Topics

Shakespeare and law school might not be as far apart as you thought. Guest Len Niehoff is a professor of law at the University of Michigan Law School and the author of the recent book Meeting Shakespeare at the Bar: Reading the Bard Through the Lens of the Law, a book written for both lawyers and non-lawyers offering practical insights into how Shakespeare’s works illuminate the questions of law, ethics, and advocacy. As an innovative professor and a lifelong fan of the Bard, Niehoff began studying, and encouraging students to study, Shakespeare’s interest in the rule of law, what puts the rule of law at risk, personal responsibility, and how law can be twisted into the unlawful. “It was kind of a natural transition to turn to Shakespeare,” he says. Indeed, Measure for Measure and The Merchant of Venice have trials at their heart. But Niehoff and his students look at how the law works it into other plays, such as Julius Caesar, MacBeth and Hamlet. Now imagine a group of lawyers meeting up with Shakespeare one evening at a local bar, sharing war stories, funny moments, and issues of ethics, and morality and the law. That’s the book. Niehoff’s fascinating examination of Shakespeare’s work and the law may have you thinking about the human condition differently. Have a question, comment, or suggestion for an upcoming episode? Get in touch at [email protected] or [email protected]. Resources Mentioned:  “Meeting Shakespeare at the Bar: Reading the Bard Through the Lens of the Law,” by Leonard M Niehoff “Tanner v. United States”, Justia  “Cattle: Related Cases,” AnimalLaw.info Twombly and Iqbal, “Twiqbal,” Wikipedia “The Crucible,” by Arthur Miller “Shakespeare Unlimited Podcast,” Folger Shakespeare Library “Macbeth,” Shakespeare, full play “Titus Andronicus,” Shakespeare, full play “Henry VI, Part 2,” Shakespeare, full play “Othello,” Shakespeare, full play “Hamlet,” Kenneth Branagh, full movie, free, YouTube American Bar Association American Bar Association Litigation Section Subscribe to Litigation Radio: https://play.megaphone.fm/rhyxdryztyy2v3itq6sdlq

We’re long overdue for a classic Gyi and Conrad mess-around. Let’s poke fun at Scorpion’s new AI marketing guide, shall we? Later, the guys highlight your juicy LinkedIn comments about discount pricing in the personal injury market. ----- While we can see some merit here and there, is too much of Scorpion’s Not All Ai is Created Equal: How to Evaluate AI for Law Firm Marketing guide just so-so? The guys talk through the elements of both its questions and recommendations to help you understand its hits and misses.   Some personal injury lawyer in Indiana is pitching discount pricing to undercut competitors, but is that actually a good idea? His LinkedIn commenters aren’t impressed—stick around to get Gyi and Conrad’s take. The News: Major eyeroll moment here for the Google overlords – Google: Reddit Gets No Special Preference In Google Search Rankings. We wouldn’t recommend FirmPilot, but we have immensely enjoyed watching it fall on its face. LinkedIn has added a “Seems like AI Slop” Button, and we’re totally here for it.    Hey, you! Send us a question and we might just feature it on the show.  Ask us a question!  Listen Next:  Clio’s All-In with Scorpion – Who Gets Stung? Connect: Leave Us an Apple Review  Lunch Hour Legal Marketing on YouTube  Lunch Hour Legal Marketing on TikTok r/LHLM Subscribe to Lunch Hour Legal Marketing: https://play.megaphone.fm/boagdxq4tr2wawseaj104w

Naturalized citizens have served as federal judges, including as Justices of our Supreme Court, for more than two centuries, many with great distinction. Recently Representative Nancy Mace introduced a joint resolution calling for an amendment to our Constitution that would require that federal judges, alongside members of Congress, be born in the United States. Previously, Representative Pete Stauber proposed legislation requiring that all American judges be “natural born citizens” and require sitting judges with dual citizenship to renounce foreign ties. On this Lawyer 2 Lawyer episode, Craig welcomes Judge Jeremy D. Fogel, formerly of the United States District Court for the Northern District of California, as they discuss these proposals that would require federal judges to be born in the United States or qualify as “natural born citizens, and the opposition by a group of bipartisan judges,  Keep Our Republic's Article III Coalition, who are leading the charge against these proposals which create hateful rhetoric and go against the framers of our Constitution’s ideals.   Mentioned in this Episode: Keep Our Republic's Article III Coalition  Subscribe to Lawyer 2 Lawyer: https://play.megaphone.fm/6kyeqlhety25kgmgqdr7cw

In this episode of the Un-Billable Hour’s Seat at the Table: A law firm’s culture. What is it? Your firm has a culture even if you’ve never identified it. The problem is, if you don’t create an intentional culture, an identity, you may slip into a culture you didn’t want to be part of Start with what you want to be, how you want to be known, who you want to work with. Understanding your culture can help your firm come together, move as a team, and even keep you from making a hire that’s doomed from the start. “Everybody on the same train, moving in the same direction, with the same values” matters. Develop the workplace you want to work in. Communicate it. Live it everyday.  First, what is “firm culture?” The personality and backbone of the firm? Is it what happens when the boss isn’t around? Is it what people say about your firm when you’re not in the room? Every firm has a culture, whether you know it or not.  Guests Lori Brown-Simmons, Hannah Hembree Bell, and Ben Hockema are experienced professionals who share their thoughts with host Christopher T. Anderson on building a healthy firm culture.  For a lot of firms, “culture,” is an afterthought, if it’s thought about at all. But every firm develops a culture, either by accident or intentionally. (Intentionally is better). Understanding your firm’s culture, its mission, values, and goals helps everyone work together, collaborate, and even helps your firm from making a hire that may look good on paper but “wasn’t a good fit.” Do you have the right people in the right seats? Do your clients represent you and your goals? You can be a team with a recognized reputation, or you can be an office with a bunch of lawyers chasing billable hours. An intentional culture is the difference.   Mentioned in This Episode: Clio ClioCon 2026, Oct. 26-27, 2026 Legal Talk Network Unbillable Hour Subscribe to Un-Billable Hour: https://play.megaphone.fm/qxfro4f-suekajnwe_solw

To run a thriving legal business, you need your prospective clients to easily find and connect with your law firm. Rocky Dhir welcomes marketing professionals Amanda Sexton and Zack McKamie to discuss effective marketing strategies for law firms. They discuss SEO tactics and what lawyers need to know about developing an advertising approach that makes sense for their individual law firm. Later, they also dig into the ethics of lawyer marketing, AI considerations, social media usages, and much more. Subscribe to State Bar of Texas Podcast: https://play.megaphone.fm/_hh0l5izt4mfkr1zmxo_cg

Adriana has trained lawyers through legal tech developments for decades, so she’s pretty much seen it all! Dennis and Tom pick her brain on the trajectory of AI tools, technology competence, collaboration, and much more. Adriana offers deep insights into lawyers’ commonly underutilized tools in Microsoft and Adobe, pointing out that they may already be paying for the solutions they need. Later, they also discuss Adriana’s career path and dig into the advantages of using practice management platforms in today’s midsize and small firms.  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: UPS Devices Subscribe to The Kennedy-Mighell Report: https://play.megaphone.fm/yyu1pthsr22j6_xfnb0vnq

As an attorney, you do great work, you get results for your clients, but do you ever feel invisible? Getting your name out there and letting people know what you do is still important, no matter how good you are, and it doesn’t have to be expensive or take up all your time. Guest Karen Korr is a veteran legal communications professional and an expert in legal media relations, public relations, marketing, and branding who helps lawyers get their name out there, build relationships, and make a lasting impression.   Of course, it starts with being consistent and being human. But it’s been said most of us don’t remember something until we see it 15 times. So, making your firm visible is important, whether that’s in a news release, or social media, or sponsorships, or advertising. The secret is, it’s not that time consuming or costly. It just takes some knowhow. Hear Korr’s tips for letting your light shine, tips you can start using today to make your firm top of mind. Visibility lets clients know about the great work you do and the problems you solve. Questions or ideas about solo and small practices? Drop us a line at [email protected].  Topics: It’s not enough to do good work. If nobody knows, how does that build your business? Guest Karen Korr is a legal communications pro who gets legal professionals the attention and recognition they deserve. Awards, rankings, social media, advertising, and networking do matter. Many lawyers avoid that part of building a business because they think it’s too time consuming or expensive. The secret? It’s not. How do you write an effective news release? What do reporters and influencers want to know in the first paragraph. What does using a generic (hint, “Gmail”) email address say about your firm?   Resources: Super Lawyers Best Lawyers LinkedIn Bluesky X Eventbrite Reddit Businesswire PR Newswire ABA Techshow 2026 Subscribe to New Solo: https://play.megaphone.fm/snklydceswminrbke6phsq Special thanks to our sponsors CallRail, ALPS Insurance, Wyzer Staffing, and LEX Reception.

Privacy is not just about keeping secrets. It is about protecting your power. In episode 629 of the Lawyerist Podcast, Zack Glaser talks with Oxford professor and author Carissa Véliz about how personal data gives companies, governments, and technology platforms the ability to influence our choices and shape our lives.  Carissa explains why seemingly harmless information, from the music you enjoy to the way your phone battery drains, can be used to identify, categorize, and predict you. They explore how AI has made surveillance cheaper and more powerful, why predictions should never be treated as facts, and how automated scores can affect important decisions without giving people a meaningful way to challenge them.  The conversation also offers practical ways to reclaim control without abandoning technology entirely. From choosing more private digital tools to questioning the predictions presented as inevitable, Carissa shows why every decision to protect your privacy matters.  If you have ever clicked “accept” without thinking about what happens next, this episode will change the way you think about your data, your autonomy, and who gets to shape your future.  Listen to our previous episodes on AI, Privacy & Legal Ethics.  #618: AI and Legal Ethics: Protecting Client Privacy in a Changing Legal System, with Sunny Eaton Apple | Spotify | LTN  #612: AI for Lawyers: What You Need to Know Before Your Clients Do, with Cat Casey Apple | Spotify | LTN  #582: Deepfakes, Data, and Duty: Navigating AI Ethics in Law, with Merisa Bowers Apple | Spotify | LTN  #543: What Lawyers Need to Know About the Ethics of Using AI, with Hilary Gerzhoy Apple | Spotify | LTN  #486: How to Safely Include AI in Your Legal Tech Stack, with Will Anoh Apple | Spotify | LTN  Have thoughts about today’s episode? Join the conversation on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and X!   If today's podcast resonates with you and you haven't read The Small Firm Roadmap Revisited yet, get the first chapter right now for free! Looking for help beyond the book? See if our coaching community is right for you.   Access more resources from Lawyerist at lawyerist.com.   Subscribe to Lawyerist Podcast: https://play.megaphone.fm/xrm0mqp4tqwi0ozntiu41g Chapters / Timestamps  00:00 – Introduction  00:55 – The Future of Law Firm Leadership  05:00 – The Four Cornerstones of Leadership  09:00 – Be a Next Level Leader  10:45 – Meet Carissa Véliz  11:45 – Why Privacy Is Power  13:30 – How Personal Data Limits Your Autonomy  15:50 – Who Decides What Your Data Says About You?  17:50 – How Companies Exploit Personal Vulnerabilities  20:10 – The Data You Never Realized Was Personal  21:15 – The Connection Between Surveillance and Prediction  22:30 – Applying Fiduciary Duties to Personal Data  24:15 – Why You Cannot Contest a Prediction  26:20 – Banning the Sale of Personal Data  28:25 – Predictions Are Power Plays, Not Facts  30:30 – AI and the Expansion of Digital Surveillance  33:25 – How to Take Back Your Digital Privacy  37:30 – Why Every Privacy Choice Matters  40:00 – The Future Is Not Predetermined  41:25 – The Most Private Way to Read a Book 

The hosts unpack what ego really means in the legal profession and why female attorneys especially need a healthy dose of it. They trace the word's negative connotations alongside its necessary flip side: the confidence to stand in front of a jury and believe what you're arguing whether that's a damages number or a case strategy. Stories range from convincing a jury of a dollar amount you have to actually believe, to colleagues questioning why you're on a case, to the TikTok-fueled discourse about young female attorneys feeling embarrassed to even say "I'm a lawyer" out loud. The throughline: ego isn't about arrogance, it's competence-backed confidence and it's something you build over time. Subscribe to Heels in the Courtroom: https://play.megaphone.fm/lpqcuasdqrkvtile7bx6ng

This election season is bringing a major hike in ad rates. What’s a lawyer to do? Later, service and gifts give every member of your law firm the opportunity to level up client experiences.  ----- Massive political ad spends are pushing expenses higher than ever in the lead-up to November 6, impacting your branded advertising economics both online and off. Do you need to make changes to your firm’s marketing campaigns? Should you take a break from branded advertising or push through? Conrad and Gyi debate tactical options to help you make informed decisions with your advertising budget.  And, if you do decide to cut back on digital media buys, where are those extra marketing dollars going to go? A gift budget is an excellent way to help your team members get involved in marketing. The guys explain how gifting promotes a more thoughtful mindset, helping your team connect more deeply with clients and creating opportunities to build affinity for your law firm.    The News: Depending on where you’re located—Elections advertising spend for 2026 expected to reach record high, outpacing presidential years.  Local positioning in action, folks: Michigan roofer bets on community over private equity. Imaging running a carefully worded ad just to have an AI summary screw it all up. Thanks, Google…bleh. – Google tests AI-generated summaries in Search ads And, here’s a real life example from Darcy Burk. Shout out to Michigan Auto Law for this cool campaign: Get Up To $3,000 Free. How do we teach young lawyers to function in an AI world without relying on AI in the learning process? – UChicago Law Unveils New AI Strategy   Make Summer More Fun:  Come see us in Nashville 8/11-8/13 at the LHLM Super Summit! Listen Next: Mindful Gifting || Resolutions Past and Future Connect: Leave Us an Apple Review  Lunch Hour Legal Marketing on YouTube  Lunch Hour Legal Marketing on TikTok r/LHLM  Subscribe to Lunch Hour Legal Marketing: https://play.megaphone.fm/boagdxq4tr2wawseaj104w In This Episode 00:00 Intro & The Trophy Story 03:05 News: Election Ad Spend Record Highs 03:40 News: Local Positioning Lessons from a Roofer 05:35 News: Google Testing AI Summaries in Ads 06:19 News: Michigan Auto Law Campaign Shout-out 07:13 News: UChicago Law’s New AI Strategy 09:43 Should Lawyers Pause Ads During Mid-terms? 11:15 Strategy: Location-Specific Ad Planning 13:16 The Debate: Branding Consistency vs. Ad Spend 15:52 Direct Response vs. Brand Awareness 23:18 Employee Gifting Programs for Law Firms 27:10 Logistics: Using Gifting Platforms 28:32 The Power of Personalized Client Gifts 31:40 Incentivizing Employee Engagement 34:10 Operationalizing Marketing Efforts 38:34 Aligning Firm Growth with Staff Goals

In January 1800, Elma Sands's dead body was found in a New York City well. The case has captivated people ever since, not least because in the resulting trial, defendant Levi Weeks was represented by Alexander Hamilton, Aaron Burr, and a future Supreme Court justice. The Girl from Greenwich Street: A Novel of Hamilton, Burr and America's First Murder Trial is a historical fiction novel by Lauren Willig. On this episode of the Modern Law Library, she explains how four years before their fatal duel, Hamilton and Burr came to be co-counsels on a murder case. "The New York Bar was perishingly small in 1800. And in fact, Burr and Hamilton were co-counsel on a complex commercial litigation at the exact time," says Willig. "So people were constantly–it's like swing your partners, do-si-do. They were always working together, working against each other. It was just the way the bar worked in 1800." The defendant, Levi Weeks, lived in the same boarding house as Sands, a hatmaker whose cousin owned the house. The prosecution contended that Weeks had seduced Sands with a promise of marriage, then dumped her body in the Manhattan Well. His trial was the first murder trial in America to have a court transcript, thanks to a clerk who'd recently learned shorthand. This transcript gave Willig a wealth of witness testimony to draw on when fleshing out her characters. "One of the things that drove me nuts when I was researching this case was how little attention has been expended over the years in trying to figure out anything about Elma Sands, the murdered woman," Willig tells Rawles. "There are some big personalities and really big names involved in the trial itself. And people are so eager to get into the courtroom with Hamilton and Burr that they just trample over Elma. And she gets flattened into one of two archetypes. Either she's the innocent young maiden who's been seduced and betrayed, which is how the prosecution portrays her in the trial, or she's a melancholy laudanum-addicted nymphomaniac, which is how the defense tries to portray her." "And I think the reality of Elma was a lot more complicated than those flat depictions would have us believe." Willig and Rawles also discuss her time at Harvard Law, where she signed a contract to write her popular Pink Carnation series as a 1L, and then her time at Cravath, Swain & Moore, trying to balance being a published romance writer and lawyer. "I had to make a choice, try to continue to juggle or go all in on being an author. And I left Cravath and my partner mentor came up to me and said, 'Well, what took you so long? I would've left sooner.' "  Subscribe to Modern Law Library: https://play.megaphone.fm/93wtgxnatpsubsdxwklzwq

Social media is everywhere today. Ever wonder how the role social media plays into the employer/employee relationship? In this episode, guests Aaron Holt and SaNni M-K Lemonidis, both experienced labor and employment attorneys, join host Matt Greer for a deep dive into the murky waters of who said what where and to whom. Can employers regulate what an employee says on a social media channel – say Facebook or X? It depends. The “manner and method” of our free speech outside of work still matters. It’s about content and context. Harassment and discrimination matter still matter. Try the “water cooler principle,” if  a comment was made on social media, ask if the same comment was made at work around the water cooler, would the boss feel obligated to act. If the answer is yes, then action is likely required. This is a fascinating field, nuanced and sometimes dependent on the size of a company and capacity for control as well, as the company’s own use of social media in outreach and marketing. The laws, and EEOC guidance, haven’t changed. But the environment we live and work in has. Basic principles still apply. For employees, be nice to each other. For employers, do your best to ensure no one is being harassed or bullied. If someone says there’s a problem, employers can protect themselves by investigating complaints and developing and adhering to consistent policies. REFERENCES MENTIONED:  Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 NLRB v. Pier Sixty, Justia Law Equal Employment Opportunity Commission  Okonowsky v. Garland, Justia Law  Connick v. Myers, Justia Law  The ABA Labor and Employment Law Section 2026 Annual Conference is scheduled for Nov. 4-7, 2026 in Washington, DC ABA Labor and Employment Law Section Subscribe to ABA Labor and Employment Law Podcast: https://play.megaphone.fm/jzfpgfsst3wnyevnhvs9cq

Talk Justice explores American’s desire to “age in place” amidst rising housing instability among seniors and how civil legal services can help.  An AARP expert and the Executuve Director of their affiliate, Legal Counsel for the Elderly (LCE), join to discuss.  AARP found that 75% of people 50 and older want to stay in their homes and communities as they age, though 44% expect to move due to challenges like cost, accessibility and natural disasters. LCE helps seniors avoid evictions through social work and legal representation in Washington, D.C. Subscribe to Talk Justice An LSC Podcast: https://play.megaphone.fm/a3ett1fzs9a1qjipaqdufa

Parental alienation isn't just a buzzword. It's a real problem that can completely change the dynamics of a family going through divorce. Family law attorney and divorce mediator Adam Little discusses what parental alienation looks like, why it can be so difficult for courts to distinguish from ordinary family conflict, and what can happen when allegations get out of hand. Together, they examine the warning signs attorneys and parents should recognize, the role of expert witnesses and child advocates, and the evidence that can strengthen or undermine a case. Their conversation explores the legal, emotional, and practical realities behind these high-stakes custody disputes, along with the difficult decisions courts face when a child's best interests are at stake. Subscribe to Confessions of a Divorce Assassin: https://play.megaphone.fm/yddxa_zfqjimbgjtoqzijw

AI integration is rapidly reshaping how legal work gets done, but many organizations are finding that technology alone is not enough. In this episode of The Legal Report from Robert Half, host Jamy Sullivan speaks with Sunny Sanghani, Managing Director and Legal Consulting Segment Lead at Protiviti, about what it really takes to navigate AI integration successfully. They explore the growing gap between technology investment and workforce readiness, the rising importance of hybrid talent and AI governance, and the critical role legal operations play in driving adoption. Tune in for real-world strategies on how legal leaders can align talent, technology and risk to build more effective, future-ready teams. Subscribe to The Legal Report from Robert Half: https://play.megaphone.fm/taobgtzvrne014wkmbcgew

Jump into a grab bag of legal issues, a “law salad” of ideas that have lately been on the minds of hosts Jim Reeder and Mic Rogson. Law may teach you to think like a lawyer, but does it also teach the practice of law? Hear what Mic and Jim walked away with on graduation day and how it applied to their careers and decades of experience. Practicing law after law school sometimes produces surprises, like learning to mix linear thinking with creativity. You can prepare all you want, but sometimes you need to be “as flexible as Gumby,” Mic says. In the real world,  Jim says, practicing lawyers learn to be comfortable. Comfortable with creativity, comfortable with reacting to surprises, and comfortable admitting to the judge, and themselves, that they don’t know everything and may need time to review unfamiliar case law when it crops up in the courtroom. Intimidation and anxiety are the enemy, and young lawyers must learn to relax and react. Then, forget “real life” as Mic and Jim share their favorite courtroom dramas and comedies. What’s your guilty pleasure, and which productions capture how you feel about the law? Everything from the gravity of “Judgment at Nuremberg” to the lighthearted “Legally Blonde” to the surprisingly accurate portrayal in “My Cousin Vinny.” What’s your favorite? Have a question, comment, or suggestion for an upcoming episode? Get in touch at [email protected] or [email protected]. Resources Mentioned: “Top 10 Movies Every Law Student Must See - Best Legal Drama Movies,” YouTube “Top 10 Most Accurate Law Movies,” YouTube American Bar Association American Bar Association Litigation Section Subscribe to Litigation Radio: https://play.megaphone.fm/rhyxdryztyy2v3itq6sdlq

Strong bar leadership begins with strong governance, and the Washington State Bar Association has set an example of both. Amanda Arriaga and Patrick Palace welcome Francis Adewale and Terra Nevitt to celebrate the WSBA's accomplishments and reflect on the leadership, collaboration, and strategic vision that have shaped their organization. Together, they discuss what makes effective bar governance, the importance of serving members and the public, how they encourage unity across political divides, and the lessons other bar associations can take from Washington State's success. To learn more about NCBP or to become a member, visit ncbp.org Subscribe to Leading the Bar: https://play.megaphone.fm/kxvaphfdsnmb5ge2-7x0rw

Still on the fence about AI? You might not have a choice if you want your firm to succeed. Guest Craig Ball is a lawyer, law professor, special master, author, and above all a tireless student of all things electronic. AI, he says, may be the most transformative legal tool to hit the profession ever. Bigger than word processing, online research, even the internet.  Ball explains how AI is emerging from hype and headlines to real world applications such as drafting documents and sifting through gigabytes of e-discovery. Learning the art of AI prompting and developing the skepticism to evaluate AI powered product isn’t an option. This is the future of the practice of law, Ball says. But AI isn’t a free pass and it’s not magic. If you want quality legal work through AI, it’s going to cost you. “Free” AI platforms probably won’t cut it. Be prepared to spend not just the time, but also the money to incorporate your own voice and the particular expertise of your firm into pay-to-play AI programs.  If you’ve been reading the headlines and wondering how AI applies to your practice, this episode will fill in a lot of the gaps. And here’s the thing, you’re not “too old” to dive in and resistance can hurt you. As Ball says, “It’s an AI enabled world.”    Questions or ideas about solo and small practices? Drop us a line at [email protected]   Topics: If you thought you could ignore AI, continue your practice without it, and scoff at lawyers who use it, you may be wrong. AI is here to stay and it’s transforming the legal profession. Guest Craig Ball – a lawyer and law professor – shares how AI is already performing real tasks and making real, experienced lawyers better. You’re not “too old” or too set in your ways to plug AI into your practice (and to understand how opposing counsel is already using it). Mastering AI isn’t free and it won’t come without effort. But if you invest the time and money, it can return exponential rewards in productivity and efficiency. Get excited about AI today.   Resources: Microsoft Copilot AI Claude AI Harvey AI Microsoft Word ABA Techshow 2026 CraigBall.com  “Leery Lawyer’s Guide to AI,” by Craig Ball Ball in Your Court blog “Forensic Tells: The Litigator’s Guide to Detecting Deep Fakes,” by Craig Ball Subscribe to New Solo: https://play.megaphone.fm/snklydceswminrbke6phsq

Summer is upon us and the Supreme Court of the United States is set to rule on a number of landmark cases including birthright citizenship, transgender athletes, campaign finance limits, and mail-in ballots. On this Lawyer 2 Lawyer episode, Craig welcomes Steven D. Schwinn, professor of law at the University of Illinois Chicago School of Law, as they spotlight the summer of  SCOTUS. Craig & Steve discuss the major SCOTUS decisions happening this summer and the potential impact of these rulings. Subscribe to Lawyer 2 Lawyer: https://play.megaphone.fm/6kyeqlhety25kgmgqdr7cw

Can paralegal professionals really strike out on their own and set up a paralegal business outside the confines of a law firm or government agency? Guest Rashida Forbes did just that. She’s a veteran paralegal professional who turned her early boots-on-the-ground early experiences into her own firm wrangling the legal process in the high-stakes world of foreclosure and eviction. Forbes was working in a traditional law firm framework when she grew frustrated with the status quo and struck out on her own, forming the Atlanta-based freelance paralegal firm RF Legal Support. Her inspirational journey is proof that “the way it’s always been” doesn’t have to be the only way.  Being a business owner isn’t easy, she explains. It can gobble up your day, take time away from family and friends, and through it all, it’s your money at risk and your commitment that will be tested.  Hear how Forbes made the leap and learned to incorporate the legal tools her firm needed to prosper and grow. Plus, how owning her own business allows her and her team to shake up the world of legal fashion, experiencing the freedom to dress for success with a little extra flair (and host a fashion show). Mentioned in This Episode: Stylish Paralegal Fashion Show NALA, The Paralegal Association NALA Conference & Expo 2026 Subscribe to The Paralegal Voice: https://play.megaphone.fm/sq1e-saoq6ga2fue1-y_qw

Supreme Court ignores Judge Newman's rights. ----- All the news that's fit to print agrees that Todd Blanche isn't fit to head the Department of Justice. Something about the whole transforming the DOJ into a weaponized arm of Donald Trump's political grievances thing. The Supreme Court dodged the ongoing Judge Pauline Newman debacle in the Federal Circuit. Her fellow judges have performed an end run around the Constitution, and the rest of the judiciary seems content to just look the other way. And as more folks use AI to brush up their resumes, its biases keep coming out. But does it really produce different legal resumes for men and women? Subscribe to Above the Law - Thinking Like a Lawyer: https://play.megaphone.fm/lpff6i7nq9wlb-pkdudwtw

You just received $100,000 from the Marketing Fairy. Now, how do you turn that into clients? With a smart marketing budget guided by Gyi and Conrad’s keen-witted tactics, of course! And later, the guys explain how to invest in community events and grow your brand affinity. ------ To continue to gain more clients and profits, you need to spend your marketing budget wisely. Now, while we know the size of your firm will affect the size of your budget, let’s take a careful look at how Gyi and Conrad would advise you to deploy a $100K marketing spend over the course of 12 months. From direct response to networking to SEO to content creation and more, the guys talk about what’s important, what’s not, and how to prioritize your magical marketing dollars over the course of a year. Later, a listener asked a question about sponsoring a rodeo! Gyi and Conrad have plenty of insights into how investing in events and sharing your passions helps your law firm become a well-known, appreciated business in the community. Yee haw! The News: Well, Conrad sure is surprised—Reddit continues to be a major search choice for the masses: Google May 2026 Core Update: Reddit Up, YouTube Down.  This just dropped: Legal Client Experience Report 2026 | Case Status, and while lots of folks are satisfied with their legal outcomes, far less would actually recommend their lawyer. What gives? CX Summit 2026, we applaud you for not accepting pay-to-pitch speakers at your conference. Keep on keeping it classy.  In contrast to the meager AI search data from Google, Bing appears to be offering a much more robust set of insights: New AI Visibility Insights in Bing Webmaster Tools: Intents, Topics, Citation Share, Compare. Make Summer More Fun:  Come see us in Nashville 8/11-8/13 at the LHLM Super Summit! Listen Next:  How Much Marketing is Enough?   Connect: Leave Us an Apple Review  Lunch Hour Legal Marketing on YouTube  Lunch Hour Legal Marketing on TikTok r/LHLM  Subscribe to Lunch Hour Legal Marketing: https://play.megaphone.fm/boagdxq4tr2wawseaj104w

And a new ranking of top law schools. ------ Above the Law's Top 50 Law School rankings are out and a new school tops the list. But a number of other high prestige law schools have slipped out of the top 10... and it's mostly a matter of cost. Meanwhile, we have two federal judges out of control. Judge Ryan Nelson faces misdemeanor criminal charges over a parking lot altercation, which would be a bad look for a federal judge, but not nearly as egregious as his parking job. And we have more on the Eleanor Ross drama, after her initial "apology letters" went public and prompted the Eleventh Circuit to find a new opportunity to look the other way. Subscribe to Above the Law - Thinking Like a Lawyer: https://play.megaphone.fm/lpff6i7nq9wlb-pkdudwtw

Environmental law in the United States can be a double-edged sword. "I think that when people think about environmental law, very frequently what they mean is environmental protection, and what that misses is the other side of the coin, that there is a whole lot of law that is meant to exploit the environment," says law professor Brig Daniels. When Daniels and his writing partner Alejandro Camacho looked at the literature available on the development of environmental law in the United States, they found it lacking. "Most sort of focus only on environmental protection laws emerging from the 1970s or possibly the progressive era, missing frankly centuries of legal history that drove exploitation," says Camacho. They hope to remedy this with their new book, Lessons for a Warming Planet: A Vital History of US Environmental Law. From colonial expansion that deprived Native Americans of their ancestral lands to modern day battles over the Clean Air Act, Lessons for a Warming Planet offers a broad history of how environmental law has been developed. Change can happen gradually, or all at once. Camacho and Daniels have identified five different eras with dominant ideologies, some pushing towards protection and others towards exploitation. But in all eras, there were elements of both, the authors say. "It isn't just a black and white sort of binary of any of these eras," Camacho tells host Lee Rawles in this episode of the Modern Law Library. "And of course, what often happened is that an undercurrent in any given era becomes the dominant era in a subsequent era." The latest era of environmental law is one of contention, without a dominant force yet emerging. Lessons for a Warming Planet warns that either exploitation or protection could hold sway in the next era. "The thing that I hope that people understand is that looking back, one of the things that is so prevalent is that we didn't get the history that we had due to luck," says Daniels. "A big chunk of way we got our history was due to effort." In this episode of the Modern Law Library, Camacho, Daniels and Rawles discuss the Homestead Act, Cuyahoga River fires, and what Nixon really thought of pesky environmentalists. Subscribe to Modern Law Library: https://play.megaphone.fm/93wtgxnatpsubsdxwklzwq

This episode of Talk Justice  explores an Ohio county’s efforts to bring service providers together to ensure that families in crisis receive the help they need. The “No Wrong Door” model is already making big impacts in Washington County, Ohio, where the Family and Children First Council (WCFCFC) is building partnerships that raise awareness of community resources. Legal Aid of Southeast and Central Ohio (LASCO) partners in the effort to help local families. Subscribe to Talk Justice An LSC Podcast: https://play.megaphone.fm/a3ett1fzs9a1qjipaqdufa

As an attorney, are there ever circumstances where you may counsel your clients to waive their Fifth Amendment rights? Rocky Dhir talks with experienced trial lawyers Rachael Jones and Jay Ethington to gain a deeper understanding of the Fifth Amendment, particularly as it pertains to client testimony. Drawing from their many years of trial experience in both prosecution and defense, Rachael and Jay explain the intricacies of a person’s right to remain silent—avoiding self-incrimination either in trial, when speaking with law enforcement officers, or in a variety of other scenarios. Their conversation digs deep into the nuances of the Fifth Amendment to help lawyers best serve their clients, educate jurors, and be thoroughly prepared for the rigors of trial.  Become a member: State Bar of Texas Join us in Houston on June 11 & 12: 2026 State Bar of Texas Annual Meeting Read the latest edition of the Texas Bar Journal: texasbar.com/tbj  Subscribe to State Bar of Texas Podcast: https://play.megaphone.fm/_hh0l5izt4mfkr1zmxo_cg

Google Search Console is serving up AI search impressions… and we’re not impressed. But first, good ol’ email marketing campaigns are more effective than you might think! ------ Email marketing is often pretty underrated, but, with the right finesse, it’s a great way to stay in touch with your people and grow your business. Gyi And Conrad share email best practices and key business objectives to help you make good use of this inexpensive, but advantageous, marketing tool. Later, some data is better than no data right? Right? Or, is AI search sliding down the slippery slope to minimal marketing accountability? Zeroing in on today’s first news item, the guys dig deep into the ways AI features track impression data, taking a particularly hard look at its imperfections. But, is there still hope? Gyi and Conrad share practical ways to analyze the data available to you to attempt to shine some light on the efficacy of your law firm marketing in AI search.    The News: Google’s newest offering really wants to sound like it’s giving some helpful AI search segmentation, but it’s pretty embarrassingly basic. – Introducing Search Generative AI performance reports in Search Console Win a trip to the LHLM Super Summit!!! Learn how: The Lunch Hour Legal Marketing FIFA Pool || FIFA World Cup 2026 Contest Our good friends at Lawyerist are doing their annual Website Competition, and they’ve found that new AI-created sites are pretty substandard and—shocker—dealing with security issues. Don’t forget!  Google is opting you in for call recordings on JULY 1 if you currently have that as ‘unselected’. Take appropriate action, folks.    Podcast Appearances:  Un-Billable Hour – Seat At The Table: Getting an “A+” in Client Satisfaction Lawyerist – AI for Law Firm Growth: Building Smarter Systems and Better Business Decisions, with Conrad Saam Championing Justice: A Personal Injury Podcast – PART 1: Why Legal SEO Isn’t Dead, But Most Law Firm Marketing Is and PART 2: Why Legal SEO Isn’t Dead, But Most Law Firm Marketing Is Answering Legal – Lunch Hour Except the Law? Conrad & Gyi on How Clients ACTUALLY Find Your Firm   Make Summer More Fun:  Come see us in Nashville 8/11-8/13 at the LHLM Super Summit!   Listen Next: What is AI Visibility, Anyway?   Connect: Leave Us an Apple Review  Lunch Hour Legal Marketing on YouTube  Lunch Hour Legal Marketing on TikTok r/LHLM  Subscribe to Lunch Hour Legal Marketing: https://play.megaphone.fm/boagdxq4tr2wawseaj104w

This episode moves from the philosophy of improv into its specific mechanics and direct parallels to the craft of trial law. Guest Ashley Rube breaks down what she actually teaches: starting with being a great teammate, then building active listening, presence, and scene mechanics from there. The principle that your job is to make your scene partner look incredible reframes how Tim Cronin thinks about direct examination: rather than ticking through an outline, the attorney's role is to set up the witness to shine. Ryan Myers draws the same parallel from his years in sales: the best client conversations happen when you stop following a script and start genuinely listening for what the other person needs. Research shows that stress narrows lateral thinking and produces tunnel vision. Improv, the guests argue, doesn't replace a lawyer's skills, it quiets the parts of the nervous system that get in the way of those skills. Subscribe to The Jury Is Out: https://play.megaphone.fm/td_bgp7ytmwvduhtrxauqq

Back in 2025, the Department of Justice issued a legal opinion stating that presidents may have authority not only to create but also to revoke national monuments established by prior presidents. So what does this mean for protections for national monuments and public lands like the Grand Staircase and Bears Ears National Monument? On this Lawyer 2 Lawyer episode, Craig welcomes professor of law, Mark Squillace from the University of Colorado Law School, as they spotlight national monuments, public lands, and presidential power. Craig & Mark discuss the DOJ’s legal opinion on national monuments, monument and public land protections, Congressional authority, the Antiquities Act of 1906, conservation law, and federal land management. Subscribe to Lawyer 2 Lawyer: https://play.megaphone.fm/6kyeqlhety25kgmgqdr7cw

A federal judge carried on a two-year affair with a high-ranking law enforcement officer by having sex in chambers and lying about it to investigators. The Eleventh Circuit responded with a private reprimand, concealing the judge's identity. But the judges didn't think through their anonymization strategy nearly well enough and AI cracked the case in minutes, revealing Judge Eleanor Ross of the Northern District of Georgia. Meanwhile, in lawyer ethics, a bar complaint in New York focuses on Todd Blanche, citing the ruling out of Tennessee finding a presumptively vindictive prosecution of Kilmar Abrego Garcia. And down in Florida, the scores of former judges and other professionals behind the complaint against Pam Bondi -- that Florida previously punted, claiming that it couldn't investigate a sitting Attorney General -- renewed the call, noting that Bondi may be many things, but she's definitely not the Attorney General anymore. Subscribe to Above the Law - Thinking Like a Lawyer: https://play.megaphone.fm/lpff6i7nq9wlb-pkdudwtw

In certain capacities, artificial intelligence is quite capable of doing quality legal work. It may enhance a lawyer’s workflows, provide new opportunities for access to justice, assist in legal research—the possibilities seem innumerable. So, should we be fearful of its potential? Are we all out of a job? Amanda Arriaga and Patrick Palace welcome Ed Walters to talk through the ethics and opportunities lawyers must consider in the age of AI. Ed focuses on the important role bar associations should play in the lives of all attorneys and highlights the need for thoughtful leadership for AI use as we move into the future. Ed Walters is Vice President of Legal Innovation and Strategy at Clio.  To learn more about NCBP or to become a member, visit ncbp.org Subscribe to Leading the Bar: https://play.megaphone.fm/kxvaphfdsnmb5ge2-7x0rw

On July 4th, 2026, the United States will celebrate its  250th anniversary. Americans will reflect not only on our history, but on the institutions that have carried us through. Among the most important of those institutions are our courts and the justice system. On this Lawyer 2 Lawyer episode, Craig welcomes Judge Jeremy D. Fogel, the first Executive Director of the Berkeley Judicial Institute. Craig & Judge Fogel discuss the Department of Justice’s recent overall actions, threats to the judiciary, judicial independence, and why this all matters as we approach our nation's 250th. Mentioned in this Episode: Keep Our Republic Subscribe to Lawyer 2 Lawyer: https://play.megaphone.fm/6kyeqlhety25kgmgqdr7cw

Listen in as performers, teachers and corporate workshop facilitators from The Improv Shop in St. Louis explain how improv skills map directly into the courtroom, deposition room and any high-stakes conversation where the unexpected is guaranteed to happen. Hosts Erich Veith and Tim Cronin reflect with Ashley Rube and Ryan Myers on one of the most common failure modes they observe in young trial lawyers: rigid adherence to a prepared outline even when a witness hands them something better. The instinct to follow the script, they argue, is trained into law students from day one and it takes real effort to unlearn. Full disclosure: nobody is here to turn lawyers into comedians, but rather how to apply the discipline of presence, collaboration and responsive decision-making of improve to the legal profession. Subscribe to The Jury Is Out: https://play.megaphone.fm/td_bgp7ytmwvduhtrxauqq

Money, profit, probably isn’t the only reason you own a law firm. But it is an important part of it. Guest Ben Hockema is a financial planner who specializes in helping business leaders focus on long-term profits and understand why focusing on, and delivering, profit is so important. Hockema’s company, Illuminate Wealth Management, works closely with law firms and their owners. Perhaps no one told you owning a law firm is owning a business. But the reality is you can’t effectively serve clients without focusing on your business and making it work. Law school may teach you the law, but no firm functions without profits. It’s important that you build a firm that pays you first.  A profitable firm starts with your mindset. If you’re distracted by financial insecurity, if your firm isn’t delivering the profits that allow you to practice without worry, you aren’t doing your best work. The profit-first mindset isn’t about being selfish, it’s about eliminating distractions. Hear how Hockema helps law-firm owners reshape their understanding of how a firm works. Generating sustainable profit is a leadership decision, a conscious goal, not simply what’s left over at the end of the month. Consider these vital tips that can change your thinking (and understand the biggest mistake law firms make). Mentioned in This Episode: “Profit First,” by Michael Michalowicz Clio legal software Legal Talk Network Subscribe to Un-Billable Hour: https://play.megaphone.fm/qxfro4f-suekajnwe_solw

An honest discussion about imposter syndrome, rejecting societal timelines, and redefining work-life balance with the newest member of the Heels in the Courtroom cast Sydney Marino gives listeners a relatable and inspiring look at the early stages of a legal career and the mindset it takes to thrive. Marino also opens up about navigating burnout through daily walks and leaning on family support and discusses embracing “change” as her defining theme for 2026. Subscribe to Heels in the Courtroom: https://play.megaphone.fm/lpqcuasdqrkvtile7bx6ng

In a timely episode, host Jim Reeder is joined by attorney, experienced poll worker, and current president of the ABA Michelle Behnke to discuss the American election system and the role of lawyers in that system. It might seem we’re a long way from the notorious practice of voting from the cemetery, but are we? (Spoiler: we are).  It seems like many Americans are becoming more skeptical about our current election system. And, as Behnke says, whenever there are humans in a process, there’s always a chance for error. But today’s technology and redundancies have made voting more secure than ever, even if allegations of cheating creep into the news cycle. Not only is she a business attorney, but Behnke has served as a poll worker and watched the system work as designed.  Hear about Behnke’s personal experience and how it built her confidence in the registration and voting process.  So where do lawyers fit in? And how can you get involved and inspire confidence? Get out there as a poll watcher or even an election official. The system needs you. As Behnke bites, “As lawyers, we are made for serving in that role.”  Also in this episode, quick tips from Lauren Williams as she discusses centering yourself. Have a question, comment, or suggestion for an upcoming episode? Get in touch at [email protected] or [email protected].  Resources Mentioned:  “Become a Poll Worker,” United States Election Assistance Commission American Bar Association American Bar Association Litigation Section Subscribe to Litigation Radio: https://play.megaphone.fm/rhyxdryztyy2v3itq6sdlq

Wrongful convictions and AI privacy may seem like separate issues, but both raise the same uncomfortable question: what happens when the legal system relies on old assumptions in a changing world? In episode 618 of the Lawyerist Podcast, Zack Glaser talks with Sunny Eaton about conviction review work, evolving science, and why lawyers should not be so quick to surrender privacy expectations in the age of AI.  Sunny shares how her work in the Nashville District Attorney’s Office focuses on reviewing old convictions, identifying new evidence, and helping correct cases where the system may have gotten it wrong. She explains why changing science, including advances in DNA, trauma research, and bias studies, can matter deeply when reviewing criminal convictions.  The conversation then turns to AI, attorney client privilege, client data, and the growing role of data brokers. Zack and Sunny explore whether information shared with AI tools should automatically lose privacy protection, and why lawyers may need to make stronger arguments before courts accept that assumption.  If you are concerned about AI in law firms, client confidentiality, or the future of privacy rights, this episode challenges lawyers to think harder about what should remain private and why it is our job to make the government work for it.   Listen to our previous episodes on AI, Privacy & Legal Ethics.  #612: AI for Lawyers: What You Need to Know Before Your Clients Do, with Cat Casey Apple | Spotify | LTN  #582: Deepfakes, Data, and Duty: Navigating AI Ethics in Law, with Merisa Bowers Apple | Spotify | LTN  #543: What Lawyers Need to Know About the Ethics of Using AI, with Hilary Gerzhoy Apple | Spotify | LTN  #486: How to Safely Include AI in Your Legal Tech Stack, with Will Anoh Apple | Spotify | LTN  Have thoughts about today’s episode? Join the conversation on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and X!   If today's podcast resonates with you and you haven't read The Small Firm Roadmap Revisited yet, get the first chapter right now for free! Looking for help beyond the book? See if our coaching community is right for you.   Access more resources from Lawyerist at lawyerist.com.    Subscribe to Lawyerist Podcast: https://play.megaphone.fm/xrm0mqp4tqwi0ozntiu41g Chapters / Timestamps:  00:00 Introduction  01:25 Pruning Your Practice  04:15 When Loyalty Gets in the Way  06:25 Meet Sunny Eaton  08:45 Conviction Review Units  09:50 Reviewing Old Cases  11:25 Building Trust  12:40 What Cases Qualify  14:35 Changing Science  16:00 DNA, Trauma, and Bias  18:05 Case by Case Review  19:25 Bad Science and Old Convictions  20:40 AI and Privacy  22:00 Lawyers, Therapists, and Privacy  23:20 Giving Up Too Quickly on AI Privacy  25:30 Reasonable Expectations of Privacy  26:15 Client Data and AI Risk  29:15 What Email Teaches Us  31:00 Attorney Client Privilege and AI  33:20 Personal vs. Workplace AI Use  34:00 Old Rules, New Technology  35:45 Make the Government Work for It

Guest Jaclyn Foster was a paralegal struggling to make ends meet in rural Wisconsin with a new baby when she started her own paralegal services business, online only, out of her home and out of desperation. It took off, generating six-figure revenue and ultimately being acquired just three years later by a larger company, giving her the breathing room to pursue her passions. She founded the Paralegals in Business Society, dedicated to helping others in the field start and run their own paralegal businesses while serving a market that needs those services. Foster is watching and navigating a sea change in the paralegal profession. E-filing, remote work, and new systems are driving the field forward along with the entire legal industry. The COVID-19 pandemic turned the paralegal industry upside down, and for those who adapted, it’s for the better. For freelance paralegals ready to level up, hear how there’s a better way to specialize, solve problems, and get out there. Go beyond resumes and office politics and take charge of your career. Hear how Foster taught herself the business, from marketing to scope-of-work contracts and built her life outside the traditional confines of the law firm paralegal practice. Yes. You. Can. As she says, “There is always a way to figure this out, and paralegals are the best at doing this.” If you’ve ever asked yourself, “Who am I to start a business,” ask yourself instead “Who am I not to.” Mentioned in This Episode: “Paralegals Should Be Millionaires: Stop Settling. Break Boundaries. Create the Life You Deserve,” by Jaclyn Foster, on Amazon NALA, The Paralegal Association NALA Conference & Expo 2026

The rise of artificial intelligence has created new legal challenges around identity and consent, especially for public figures like Taylor Swift. In response, Taylor has recently taken matters into her own hands by filing trademark applications to protect her voice and image from AI. On this Lawyer 2 Lawyer episode, Craig welcomes Attorney Daliah Saper, Principal at Saper Law Offices. Craig & Daliah discuss spotlight trademark law, AI, trademarking voice and image, and how AI has changed the game when it comes to trademark protection for celebrities and non-celebrities. Mentioned in this Episode: Legal Issues Surrounding Social Media Featuring Daliah Saper (2010) Attorney Daliah Saper is Principal at Saper Law Offices. Daliah’s practice focuses on a number of practice areas including trademark, copyright, and entertainment law. Subscribe to Lawyer 2 Lawyer: https://play.megaphone.fm/6kyeqlhety25kgmgqdr7cw

An honest discussion about imposter syndrome, rejecting societal timelines, and redefining work-life balance with the newest member of the Heels in the Courtroom cast Sydney Marino gives listeners a relatable and inspiring look at the early stages of a legal career and the mindset it takes to thrive. Marino also opens up about navigating burnout through daily walks and leaning on family support and discusses embracing “change” as her defining theme for 2026. Subscribe to Heels In The Courtroom: https://play.megaphone.fm/lpqcuasdqrkvtile7bx6ng

AI is changing legal marketing faster than most law firms realize. In episode 617 of the Lawyerist Podcast, Stephanie Everett talks with Conrad Saam, founder of Mockingbird, about what law firms need to understand as AI begins reshaping marketing, reporting, decision making, and the business of running a firm.  Conrad shares why AI may give smaller, more entrepreneurial law firms a new way to compete against larger firms with bigger budgets and more data. He explains how firms can use AI to build smarter internal systems, improve reporting, and rethink the tools they rely on every day.  The conversation also explores leadership under pressure through Conrad’s volunteer work in ski patrol and search and rescue. From staying calm in high stress situations to debriefing after things go wrong, he shares practical lessons law firm owners can apply when managing clients, teams, campaigns, and business decisions.  If you are trying to understand what AI really means for law firm growth, legal marketing, and the future of small firms, this episode offers a grounded look at what is changing, what is overhyped, and what law firm owners should pay attention to next.  Listen to our previous episodes on Legal Marketing, AI & Smarter Law Firm Growth.  #603: Turn Expertise into Clients: Building Authority That AI Recognizes, with Karin Conroy Apple | Spotify | LTN  #584: How to Stay Human in the Age of AI Driven Law Firm Marketing, with Conroy Creative Apple | Spotify | LTN   #580: Smarter Law Firm Marketing: AI Tools That Actually Work, with FirmPilot Apple | Spotify | LTN  #577: Rethinking Law Firm Growth in the Age of AI, with Sam Harden Apple | Spotify | LTN   #550: Beyond Content: How AI is Changing Law Firm Marketing, with Gyi Tsakalakis and Conrad Saam Apple | Spotify | LTN  Apple | Spotify | LTN  Have thoughts about today’s episode? Join the conversation on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and X!   If today's podcast resonates with you and you haven't read The Small Firm Roadmap Revisited yet, get the first chapter right now for free! Looking for help beyond the book? See if our coaching community is right for you.   Access more resources from Lawyerist at lawyerist.com.   Subscribe to Lawyerist Podcast: https://play.megaphone.fm/xrm0mqp4tqwi0ozntiu41g   Chapters / Timestamps:  00:00 – Introduction  00:25 – Lawyer Mental Health and Well Being02:45 – Meet Legal Marketing Expert Conrad Saam03:35 – The Early Days of SEO for Lawyers04:00 – What Search and Rescue Teaches About Business06:40 – Why Law Firm Owners Struggle to Disconnect08:45 – Calm Leadership in Stressful Moments09:55 – How Leaders Shape Law Firm Culture12:05 – Using Checklists to Make Better Business Decisions13:00 – Preparing for Problems Before They Happen14:20 – Why Outcomes Don’t Tell the Whole Story16:05 – The Value of Legal Marketing Content17:40 – AI and the Future of Legal Marketing18:25 – What ABA Tech Show Revealed About AI19:35 – Why Law Firms May Build Their Own AI Tools20:35 – Can AI Level the Playing Field for Small Firms?23:35 – Replacing Expensive Reporting Systems with AI26:25 – Why AI Rankings Can Be Misleading28:45 – Tactical Marketing for Law Firm Owners31:10 – Rethinking Leadership as a Law Firm CEO32:20 – Closing Thoughts

In this episode, learn about the intersection of animal protection and cruelty, domestic violence, and family law with two leaders in the field. Guests Maricarmen Garza is chief counsel for the American Bar Association Commission on Domestic & Sexual Violence and Megan Senatori is the executive director of the Center for Animal Law Studies at the Lewis & Clark Law School. The field of animal law is emerging as states, courts, and lawyers recognize how animal law and animal abuse plays into domestic violence and family law. Progress is being made, but this critical field isn’t fully recognized or understood. In many cases, victims of domestic violence are forced into difficult situations, caught between their own safety and the safety of beloved animal family members. The American Bar Association recently recognized the issue through both its Animal Law Committee and the Commission on Domestic & Sexual Violence. ABA’s recently approved Resolution 504 calls for laws and judicial processes that protect domestic violence survivors and their pets through civil protection orders, domestic relations proceedings, and expanded access to safe housing. Litigators play a vital role in developing this area of law. Hear what you can do and where you can find legal guidance when protecting victims of domestic violence and their pets, from dogs and cats to horses and others. Have a question, comment, or suggestion for an upcoming episode? Get in touch at [email protected] or [email protected]. Resources Mentioned:Five Ways Attorneys Can Support Domestic Violence Clients with Pets Sheltering Animals of Abuse Victims – Start Up Guide ABA Tort Trial & Insurance Practice Section Animal Law Committee ABA Resolution 504 “ABA House Adopts Policy to Protect Domestic Violence Survivors and Their Pets” American Bar Association Commission on Domestic & Sexual Violence American Bar Association Animal Law Committee American Bar Association American Bar Association Litigation Section Subscribe to Litigation Radio: https://play.megaphone.fm/rhyxdryztyy2v3itq6sdlq

In an effort to serve more legal needs, Harris County has created LAWPods (Legal Access Workspace Pods) to provide accessible legal help for people from all walks of life. Users can access free legal support within LAWPods, which includes state-of-the-art legal databases, the ability to book free appointments with law librarians, and connections to legal aid and lawyer referral services. Andre Davison, director of the Harris County Law Library, joins Rocky Dhir to discuss the development of this project and stories of positive impacts since the first pod opened in May 2024. Later, they also dig into future opportunities for LAWPods, including location and staff expansion, and sharing their knowledge to help other areas replicate the LAWPod model to provide greater access to justice in more Texas communities.  To learn more about LAWPods, visit: LAWPod — Harris County Robert W. Hainsworth Law Library  Subscribe to Andre’s Podcast: AALLIn Podcast Subscribe to State Bar of Texas Podcast: https://play.megaphone.fm/_hh0l5izt4mfkr1zmxo_cg

The ladies leading Weigl Jackson share the emotional and legal complexities of discrimination claims, including managing client expectations, confronting difficult truths about the legal system, and balancing empathy with objectivity. Krystal Weigl, managing partner and trial attorney, shares her philosophy of representing “good people and good causes.” Olivia Weigl, the firm’s practice manager, discusses her transition from high school biology teacher to law firm leader, highlighting how her background in education shapes her approach to communication, organization, and client care. The group also explores the power of family dynamics in business, the importance of complementary skill sets, and how a strong internal team directly impacts client outcomes. The discussion sets the stage for part two, where the conversation turns to the business of running a law firm. Subscribe to Heels In The Courtroom: https://play.megaphone.fm/lpqcuasdqrkvtile7bx6ng

What happens when the best lawyer in the office becomes the boss? In episode 615 of the Lawyerist Podcast, Zack Glaser sits down with Debbie Foster and Stephanie Everett to talk about the leadership gap inside most law firms and why technical skill does not automatically translate into great leadership.  They explore why so many firms rely on “figure it out as you go” leadership, how that creates burnout and frustration, and why so many leaders end up becoming the bottleneck in their own business.  Debbie and Stephanie introduce their four leadership cornerstones and explain how law firm leaders can shift from solving every problem themselves to creating teams, systems, and workflows that work without constant intervention.  If you are tired of putting out fires all day, this episode is your reminder that leadership should feel more strategic and a lot less exhausting.  Listen to our previous episodes on Law Firm Leadership & Building Better Teams.  #600: Designing a Law Firm You Actually Want to Run, with Stephanie Everett Apple | Spotify | LTN  #597: What Lawyers Get Wrong About Teaching Clients and Teams, with Danielle Hall Apple | Spotify | LTN  #575: From Overwhelmed Lawyer to Strategic Law Firm Owner, with Chad Fox Apple | Spotify | LTN  #568: How to Build a Law Firm You Can Sell, with Victoria L. Collier Apple | Spotify | LTN  Links from the episode:  https://beanextlevelleader.com/  Subscribe to Lawyerist Podcast: https://play.megaphone.fm/xrm0mqp4tqwi0ozntiu41g   Chapters / Timestamps:  00:00 – Introduction  00:30 – Using AI as a Thought Partner  02:00 – Better Prompts, Better Leadership Decisions  05:30 – Meet Debbie Foster and Stephanie Everett  06:40 – What Are Next Level Leaders?  08:15 – Why Most Law Firms Don’t Train Leaders  10:05 – Learning Leadership the Hard Way  12:10 – The Four Cornerstones of Leadership  17:20 – From Heroics to Architecture  18:45 – Why Leaders Become the Bottleneck  20:10 – From Problem Solver to Multiplier  21:30 – Building Sustainable Leadership Systems  23:00 – Who This Program Is For  25:30 – The Book, Workbook, and Leadership Cohorts  28:00 – Leadership Is a Skill, Not a Title  29:00 – Closing Thoughts

It’s never funny when a worker is injured on the job, but some cases do raise eyebrows. In their annual look into some “unusual” Workers’ Comp cases, Jud and Alan uncover some incidents that challenged the system, some by just being so weird. Where did my ladder go? A worker on a rooftop was stuck when others removed the ladder and left the job. Desperate to get down, he jumped, suffering back and foot injuries. Is the worker to be blamed for intentionally jumping, or was he left with no choice?  The falling clipboard case. From the Supreme Court of Idaho, a helicopter pilot died in a crash when a passenger dropped a clipboard that struck the tail rotor and damaged it. Who’s liable? What’s an accident, and where does civil liability intersect with Workers’ Comp? A tryst in France, during a work trip, and the ensuing heart attack? Squeezing an oversized customer into a tiny mermaid-style wedding dress? Messing around with a flammable can of tire glue (at work)? Just as workers do unusual things, the courts also rule in unexpected ways. We can all learn from cases like these. If you have thoughts on Workers’ Comp law or an idea for a topic or guest you’d like to hear, contact us at [email protected] or [email protected].  Mentioned in This Episode: Thomas A. Robinson, WorkCompWriter.com “Krinitt v. Dept of Fish and Game,” Justia.com “The Surprisingly Broad Scope Definition of Workplace Accidents in France,” Proskauer “Lea v. David Bridal of Greensboro, Inc. (2019)” Findlaw “Zerofski's Case,” Massachusetts, 1982 “Employee Loses Testicle to Boss's Golf Swing: Court Affirms Boss's Liability,” FindLaw Subscribe to Workers Comp Matters: https://play.megaphone.fm/uzqas4ukq4ysdntrvbgvgg

Talk Justice explores the legal battle of a Colorado-born woman with no birth certificate, the roadblocks people without identification and other vital documents experience and how attorneys at civil legal services organizations can help. Legal services attorneys from Louisiana and Colorado discusses how this work supports veterans, survivors of domestic violence, unstably housed people and those impacted by natural disasters. Subscribe to Talk Justice An LSC Podcast: https://play.megaphone.fm/a3ett1fzs9a1qjipaqdufa

And is Alito really going to retire? ----- The 2026 Super Rich list has 37 firms clearing $1.45M RPL and $625K PPL thresholds after Am Law had to raise because last year's bar was too easy. Then Kirkland proved what super rich really means by dropping a guaranteed $80M over three years to snatch a star lawyer from Wachtell. The PAC Trump uses to pay lawyers is nearly $500K in the red and owes roughly $1.6M to 12 firms. When will lawyers learn that he's never going to pay his bills... at least with money. Will Sam Alito retire to cheer on insurrections as a private citizen? If he does, Senate Republicans are ready to embrace the hypocrisy and ram through a replacement. Could it be Ted Cruz? Subscribe to Above the Law - Thinking Like a Lawyer: https://play.megaphone.fm/lpff6i7nq9wlb-pkdudwtw

Why is it SO difficult to track success in AI search? You want to rank, AI is a beast, your agency might be full of it, and we want to help. Then, we know people are going to lose their jobs to AI, but whose heads will be the first to roll? --- If the chaos of AI search is making your head spin, let’s see if we can get you off the merry-go-round. The lack of understanding and transparency from digital marketing agencies is bonkers right now, so you might be getting bad info about your AI search data. Gyi and Conrad get into the realities of how these AI results really work and how to approach your law firm growth tactics in this environment.  Later, it was fascinating to see the heavily AI-centric startup alley pitches at ABA Techshow. Tons of law firms are building their own tools with AI, so what does this mean for legal tech, marketers, agencies, etc.? Let’s discuss whether we’re all losing our jobs…   The News: Smokeball and Thomson Reuters are dating. Is it love, or do they just want each other for their data? –  Smokeball and Thomson Reuters Partner to Create the Premier Legal Technology Ecosystem  Wanna chat about the ins and outs and heres and theres of the private equity landscape? Join us at A Seat at the Table May 6-7 at the Baltimore ballfields.  You know what they say, Astroturfing is the best form of flattery. Also, come hang out at r/LHLM! Listicles have never been classy, but did you know that they could also be illegal? Lily Ray explains it well:  Promotional listicles: in some cases, they may actually be *against the law,* according to FTC rules. Come to the LHLM Summit! Join us 8/11-13 for some killer talks on law firm growth. Lee Rudin will be there to tell you why your merch sucks, and we know you don’t want to suck. Kerri Coby White is gracing us with an in-depth talk intake, and we know you need that, too! So much good stuff—be there.  Listen Next:  How to Rank in Google AI Mode Connect: The Bite - Lunch Hour Legal Marketing Newsletter! Leave Us an Apple Review  Lunch Hour Legal Marketing on YouTube  Lunch Hour Legal Marketing on TikTok r/LHLM  Subscribe to Lunch Hour Legal Marketing: https://play.megaphone.fm/boagdxq4tr2wawseaj104w Chapters 00:00 Go Blue! 01:51 Legal Marketing News 02:05 Smokeball and Thomson Reuters Getting Cozy 03:21 Private Equity in Legal: "A Seat at the Table" Event 04:18 We Got Astroturffed! 04:50 Promotional Listicles May Be Illegal (FTC Rules) 08:23 LHLM Summit: Your Merchandise Sucks (Lee Rudin) 09:07 LHLM Summit: In-Depth Intake Talk (Kerri Coby White) 09:38 How to REALLY Rank in AI Search & ABA Tech Show Recap | Segment 1 11:13 The Impossibility of Tracking AI Search Success (Why Agencies Lie) 18:26 Tactical AI Search Optimization: Data Infrastructure & Tracking 24:01 Why It’s Still a "Google Most World" & The Importance of Digital PR 37:21 Who Will Lose Their Jobs to AI? (ABA Tech Show Startup Alley) | Segment 2 42:56 The Race to Bespoke AI Software and Headcount Reduction 48:56 Join us for Office Hours

Every once in a while, it’s nice to examine the smaller issues affecting our lives as litigators that might not merit a full episode on their own but are important just the same. Hosts Jim Reeder and Mic Rogson dig into the everyday issues that affect us, even if we don’t notice them at first. Call it a “Mic and Jim Miscellany.”   First up: Does being a litigator affect how you handle your own everyday issues? Probably—it’s who we are and how we see the world. But it can be hard to recognize our own behaviors and how our training and careers affect us. Sometimes, an everyday interaction doesn’t call for a full-blown argument, just a pleasant interaction or conversation. When is it time to put on your war face, and when is it time to extend a hand, listen, and just … talk? And then there’s that moment when a friend or family member, in a casual conversation, starts bringing up some legal issue and starts asking for advice. Legal advice. It’s hard to say no, but sometimes, that’s the answer.  And what is it they say about the lawyers who represent themselves? But sometimes, you do it anyway, and sometimes you learn something from the experience. And sometimes, it’s just exhausting. Where’s the line? Have a question, comment, or suggestion for an upcoming episode? Get in touch at [email protected] or [email protected].   Resources Mentioned:  American Bar Association American Bar Association Litigation Section Subscribe to Litigation Radio: https://play.megaphone.fm/rhyxdryztyy2v3itq6sdlq