Omaha Bar Association "Bar Talk" Podcast

The OBA sits down with Dave Domina of Domina Law Group, to talk about his life, career, and what the Rule of Law and the American Dream means to him. Dave is our featured guest speaker at the 2026 Omaha Law Day Lunch. #LawDay2026 #LawDay

We sit down with Leonard Matthias and Adam Thompson of the Sarpy County Teen Court program, to talk about the work that they do. Sarpy County Teen Court is the 2026 OBA Public Service Award recipient for non-attorney/non-attorney program.

Scott P. Moore, attorney at Baird Holm, is the 2026 Omaha Bar Association's Robert M. Spire Public Service Award recipient. We sat down with Scott to talk about his life, his work, and what the American Dream means to him. #LawDay2026 #LawDay

For 2026's Valentine's Day interview, we sit down with Hon. Leigh Ann Retelsdorf, retired judge from the Douglas County District Court, and her husband Hon. Pat Heng, active judge for the 11th Judicial District Court.

Recorded Thursday, January 15, 2026. Creighton School of Law Professor Mike Kelly presented to members of the Omaha Bar Association on the legal questions surrounding the capture and prosecution of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. This is approved for 1 hour of CLE in NE and IA. For credit, please email [email protected]. Free for OBA members. $15 for non-members.

A conversation with Justice Lindsey Miller-Lerman of the Nebraska Supreme Court. Justice Miller-Lerman was the first woman to serve as an appellate judge in Nebraska (Appointed to Nebraska Court of Appeals in 1992), and first woman to serve on the Nebraska Supreme Court (Appointed in 1998, Retired in 2025). Recorded October 2025, in conversation with Omaha Bar Association Executive Director Dave Sommers.

Recorded August 2025. Hal Daub, former mayor of Omaha and former Congressman representing Omaha in the U.S. Congress, discusses his history with the late Hon. Lyle Strom, and the story behind how the Hruska Federal Courthouse came to be.

This presentation by Omaha attorney and author Larry Dwyer was recorded in front of a live audience at the Hruska Federal Courthouse in Omaha on August 25, 2025. The event was co-hosted by the Nebraska State Bar Association. Mr. Dwyer is the author of "Standing Bear's Quest for Freedom" and "Andrew J. Poppleton: Fighter for Omaha City, the Union Pacific Railroad, and Chief Standing Bear." This podcast is part of the 150th Anniversary celebration of the Omaha Bar Association in 2025.

Recorded in February 2024, this conversation is with then President of the Nebraska State Bar Association, Jason Grams. Jason is a past member of the board of the Omaha Bar Association.

We sit down with retired Nebraska Court of Appeals Judge Hon. John Irwin, to discuss his career, the history of the Court of Appeals in Nebraska, and his work in starting the Sarpy County Bar Association. This interview was done in connection with the Omaha Bar Association's 150th Anniversary in 2025.

Remarks made by Stu Dornan at the 2025 Omaha Bar Association Law Day Lunch on May, 1st, 2025.

We interview Education Rights Counsel CEO and Founder, Lauren Micek Vargas. ERC is our 2025 Robert M. Spire Award recipient and will be recognized at the Law Day Lunch on May 1, 2025.

Attorney Stu Dornan (Dornan Law Team) is the 2025 recipient of the Omaha Bar Association's Lifetime Achievement Award. We sit down with Stu to talk about his life, career, and family.

We talk with Trish Bergman and Kailey Edelman of the Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging (ENOA), our 2025 OBA Public Service Award recipient. ENOA is an agency located in Omaha that focuses on helping the aging. Most known for their popular "meals on wheels" program, ENOA also coordinates assistance for in home medical care, has a network of ombudsmen to ensure high quality of care at area nursing homes, and engages active seniors in volunteer and mentoring programs.

Judge Vernon Daniels is our 2025 Laurie Smith Camp Integrity in Service Award recipient. We sat down with him to talk about what goes on in Juvenile Court, and the importance of mentoring to him.

We sit down with Omaha Bar Association Young Lawyers Division Chair Hannah Frankel to talk about the law, law school, law practice, and overachieving know-it-all older sisters. Recorded January 2025.

Former two term Nebraska Governor and two term U.S. Senator Ben Nelson speaks on the topic of being an effective elected official while being civil towards peers and political rivals. Recorded March 4, 2025 on the campus of University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO). Conversation moderated by UNO Professor Mark Scherer. A special thank you to the American Bar Association's Cornerstones of Democracy for grant funds for this event. This presentation has been approved for one hour of CLE credit in Nebraska and Iowa.

Interview with 2024-2025 Omaha Bar Association President Angela Lennon. Angela is a partner at Koenig Dunne law firm in Omaha, Nebraska.

Presenters: Mallory Hughes, Berry Law Firm Tiffany Beerman, Dvorak Law Group David Pontier, Koenig Dunne Kyle McGinn, Hauptman O'Brien Description: One of the most important skills a lawyer can have is rarely, if at all taught in law school. Management of the relationship, communications, work, and expectations with the client is critically important. We've assembled attorneys from Criminal Law, Personal Injury, Family Law, and Business Law backgrounds to discuss their do's and don'ts of client management. Outline of Discussion: 1. Initial Consultations – Setting the Stage/Ground Rules -Client Screening and Selection -Ground Rules for Representation -Client Onboarding 2. Client Communications – The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly -Forms of Communication -Updates and Case Progress -Using technology for communication (e.g., client portals) -Client education and empowerment – help them help themselves 3. Expectations Game -Clarity in Expectations, Understanding what the Client is hearing/wanting to hear -Expect the worst, hope for the best (but don’t talk about the absolute best too much) -Managing timelines and deliverables -Dealing with client dissatisfaction 4. Case Management Systems / Retainer Agreements / Office Staff Points of Contact -Billing Practices and Systems – An important part of the relationship -Client Feedback and Satisfaction Surveys 5. Can’t Win Them All – Dealing with Difficult Clients -Strategies for managing unreasonable client demands -Conflict resolution with clients -Recognizing when to withdraw from representation

Todd Kinney, attorney at Kutak Rock in Omaha, sits down to talk about his legal career and his new book "I Didn't Believe It Either: One Dad's Discovery That Everything Is Better Without Alcohol." More info on Todd and his book can be found at https://www.toddkinney.com/.

Attorney Lisa Gonzalez of Johnson & Pekny discusses being drafted (yes drafted - that's our process in Omaha) into being a poll worker for elections in Omaha, Nebraska.

Remarks by Tom Riley, Douglas County Public Defender, at the 2024 Omaha Bar Association Memorial Service on May 22, 2024.

Nebraska Secretary of State Robert Evnen's remarks at the 2024 Law Day Lunch of the Omaha Bar Association. The 2024 Law Day Theme is "Voices of Democracy." Recorded on May 1, 2024.

Interview with Brian Kruse, Douglas County Election Commissioner, as part of our 2024 Law Day theme, Voices of Democracy. For more information go to https://www.omahabarassociation.com/page/LawDay2024.

Interview with Jennifer Gaughan and Muirne Heaney of Legal Aid of Nebraska, the Omaha Bar Association's 2024 Robert M. Spire Public Service Award recipients. For more info, go to https://www.omahabarassociation.com/page/LawDay2024.

Interview with Dianne S. Lozier, the 2024 Laurie Smith Camp Integrity in Service Award recipient from the Omaha Bar Association. More info at https://www.omahabarassociation.com/page/LawDay2024.

The Nebraska Examiner is the 2024 Omaha Bar Association's Public Service Award Recipient for non-attorneys/non-attorney organizations. Interview with Cate Folsom, Editor-in-Chief of the Nebraska Examiner.

Omaha attorney Daniel Gutman sits down to talk about Washington, D.C., Election Law, solo law practice, and his new venture - the 1st Amendment Clinic at the University of Nebraska College of Law. Recorded September 2023.

This is the audio recording of the robing ceremony for Hon. Derek Vaughn of Douglas County District Court. Recorded on February 23, 2024 at the Omaha Douglas Building's Legislative Chambers.

This is Part 2 of the "Bar Talk" Podcast from the Omaha Bar Association on #LawyerLove for Valentine's Day 2024. We ask the deep, shallow, and in between questions that count to three attorney couples who are members of the OBA. Part 2 is our conversation with Mallory Hughes and John Berry of Berry Law Firm. Enjoy!

We are back for another "Bar Talk" Podcast from the Omaha Bar Association on #LawyerLove for Valentine's Day 2024. We ask the deep, shallow, and in between questions that count to three attorney couples who are members of the OBA. Part 1 includes Hon. Shelly Stratman (Douglas County District Court Judge) and her husband Gregg Stratman (Small Business Administration, followed by Kamron Hasan (Husch Blackwell) and Jordan Hasan (Scoular Corporation). Enjoy!

Lauren Micek Vargas, attorney and Executive Director of the Education Rights Council, sits down to talk about the work her organization is doing in the area of Education Law here in Nebraska.

Hon. Stephanie Shearer, Judge of the Douglas County Court, 4th Judicial District in Omaha, Nebraska, talks with past OBA President Stu Dornan of Dornan Law Team. Recorded April 2023.

2023 OBA Memorial Service - Remarks by Judge Mike Coffey by Omaha Bar Association

Attorney Jay Jackson of Kutak Rock is the 2023 Omaha Bar Association Law Day Lunch's featured speaker, talking on the 2023 Law Day Theme of "Cornerstones of Democracy: Civics, Civility, and Collaboration." OBA Executive Director Dave Sommers sat down with Jay to talk about this theme in August 2022, soon after the release of his book "Decent Discourse."

Community Alliance is the Omaha Bar Association's 2023 OBA Public Service Award recipient for a non-attorney organization. We sit down with Community Alliance Executive Director Carole Boye to learn about the work that the organization is doing to treat mental health in our community. Join us in congratulating Community Alliance on receiving this award and recognition, and thanking them for what they do!

Recorded March 2023. We sit down with Nebraska State Bar Association's Tenant Assistance Project staff (Lia Bies, Sarah O'Neill, Ryan Sump, and Cass Ward) to discuss the work they are doing to facilitate pro bono opportunities for attorneys to assist people facing eviction, and impact the program has had in the community. TAP is the 2023 recipient of the Laurie Smith Camp Integrity in Service Award from the Omaha Bar Association. We will be recognizing them at the Law Day Lunch on May 2nd. More info at www.omahabarassociation.com.

Recorded January 2023 with David Crum, Meagan Spomer, and Greg Lake of Nebraska Legal Group. Discussing the idea of mandatory attempts at settlement facilitation in Family Law cases in Nebraska.

Have you ever noticed how many attorney couples are out there? What's the secret to their success? How does an attorney relationship/marriage vary from a non-attorney relationship? We ask the deep questions on this 2023 Valentine's Day edition of the "Bar Talk" Podcast from the Omaha Bar Association. Part 1: Kate and Patrick McNamara / Part 2: Josh and Kendra Fershee / Part 3: Jeff and Hon. Stephanie Hansen. Enjoy!

Omaha Bar Association Interview with Tom Riley, Douglas County Public Defender. Recorded October 2022.

Recorded October 18, 2022. Panelists include Josh Woolf (Douglas County Attorney's Office), Eric Anderson and Katie Figgins (ESS), and Daniel Gutman (Private Practice Attorney). Attorneys seeking CLE credit in NE and IA can email [email protected] for info. $10 for OBA Members, $25 for non-members wanting CLE credit.

Interview of Mike Mullin of Kutak Rock, mediator and past Omaha Bar Association President. The interview was recorded in June 2022. Interview conducted by OBA Executive Director Dave Sommers.

Omaha Bar Association's 2022 Law Day Lunch Featured Guest Speaker, Rebecca Begley, 8th Grade Social Studies teacher at Peter Kiewit Middle School, speaking on "The Law Through the Eyes of an 8th Grader." Recorded May 2, 2022.

The full program of the 2022 Omaha Bar Association Law Day Lunch. Speakers include: -Hon. Stephanie Hansen, OBA President -Doug Law, Law Day Committee Co-Chair -Andria Bell, Nebraska Paralegal Association -Dave Sommers, Omaha Bar Association -Steve Sieberson, Creighton School of Law -J. Scott Paul, McGrath North -Jennifer Petersen, OBA Past President -Deb Gilg, Former U.S. Attorney for District of Nebraska -Amy Longo, Ellick Jones -Rebecca Begley, 8th Grade Teacher at Peter Kiewit Middle School

Deb Gilg, former U.S. Attorney for the District of Nebraska, is the 2022 Laurie Smith Camp Integrity in Service Award recipient, and will be honored at the Omaha Bar Association Law Day on Monday, May 2, 2022. #lawday

"Bar Talk" Ep. 41: Woody Bradford of Houghton Bradford Whitted by Omaha Bar Association

The podcast version of Omaha's Law Day Lunch 2021. The video version was approved for 1 hour of general CLE credit in Nebraska. Included: (1) 5th Grade Poster Contest, (2) 8th Grade Essay Contest, (3) Lawyers in the Classroom, (4) OBA Public Service Award (Staff of the Douglas and Sarpy County Courthouses), (5) Robert M. Spire Public Service Award (Access to Justice Commission), (6) Alfred G. Ellick Lawyer Referral Service Award, (7) Laurie Smith Camp Integrity in Service Award, and (8) Featured Guest Speaker UNO Professor Mark Scherer - "Celebrating the Rule of Law in our Country"

Video chat recorded 5.4.2021, converted to podcast version on 5.5.2021. Angela Lennon, partner at Koenig Dunne law firm in Omaha, discusses her firm's online platform for pro se litigants and those wanting limited scope representation in their divorces. More info at www.untieonline.com.

Dr. Matthew Garlinghouse, UNMC Neuropsychologist, was the featured speaker at the 2020 Medical Legal Dinner, the annual joint meeting of the Omaha Bar Association and the Metro Omaha Medical Society. Dr. Garlinghouse speech was entitled, "THC, CBD, and the OPD: Can there be therapeutic use of endogenous cannabinoids in Nebraska?" Recorded 3.5.2020.

The OBA sits down with Hon. Patrick Runge, Chief Judge of the Winnebago Tribal Court and Ponca Tribal Court, and owner of Runge Law Office, to discuss Patrick's career and tribal law in Nebraska. (Recorded in July 2019)