The premier provider of podcasts for attorneys and legal professionals. Over 15 shows on varied topics highlight important issues, current events, technology and the future of law. Legal Talk Network's shows are hosted by leading industry professionals and feature high profile guests.
Strengthening relationships between the bench and the bar is essential to the health of our legal system and the effectiveness of professional collaboration, but achieving that alignment is not always straightforward. Building on their plenary session at the NCBP Midyear Meeting, Judges Bridget Duignan and Ann Keele join us to go into greater depth on strategies for fostering stronger cooperation within bar associations among both lawyers and judges. They emphasize the importance of engaging in bar service as equals, elevating peers into leadership roles, and remaining grounded in the mission and purpose of the association. Later, drawing on their experiences as women in leadership, Bridget and Ann share their perspectives on the evolving role of women in the legal profession. They reflect on shifting attitudes, and offer practical ways to support and empower women in law. They also provide a thoughtful vision of effective leadership—one rooted in inclusivity, intentional space-making, principled neutrality, and a steadfast commitment to the oath and ideals of the profession. To learn more about NCBP or to become a member, visit ncbp.org Subscribe to Leading the Bar: https://play.megaphone.fm/kxvaphfdsnmb5ge2-7x0rw Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
In this episode of Heels in the Courtroom, Liz Lenivy, Mary Simon, Elizabeth McNulty and Katie St. John explore recent cases raising concerns about attorney-client privilege, confidentiality, and discoverability when AI tools are used. The hosts highlight the risks of exposing sensitive information as more clients use AI to draft summaries of their cases when looking to hire an attorney. The ladies also examine how AI is emerging in discovery and expert research, and what lawyers must do to stay ahead as these tools continue to reshape litigation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
In this episode of The Case Doctors, Christine tees up a lineup of legal dilemmas that range from rideshare upgrades to Instagram gotchas — while John Simon and Alvin Wolff do what they do best: separate real claims from manufactured outrage. And, a viewer wonders how to salvage their case after the defense found a workout video of an injured client. John Simon says a case he once had involving an injured wrestler was salvaged by the plaintiff's honesty on the stand even though he was on commercials jumping from the top rope. Subscribe to The Case Doctors: https://play.megaphone.fm/d8rovuhcqx6msdzgbqfaja Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
How do you rebuild a life after it was taken from you? A wrongful conviction strips a person of their agency, leaving pain and loss where there once was freedom and purpose. Healing from such a profound injustice is no easy task, and even after exoneration, the ache of what was lost remains. In this episode, Michael Semanchik sits down with Antoine Day, Eddie Lowery, and William Michael Dillon—all members of The Exoneree Band. Together, they share how music became a powerful outlet for processing their experiences, reclaiming their voices, and transforming pain into purpose. Through their performances, The Exoneree Band spreads awareness about wrongful incarceration, tells their personal stories, and educates communities about the human cost of injustice. Their message is clear: freedom is everything. Learn more and book the band at ExonereeBand.com. Listen to William Michael Dillons Story. Subscribe to For the Innocent: https://play.megaphone.fm/l674qjabrokc8uscyu76jg Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The Jury is Out explores the growing problem of discovery obstruction in litigation, where routine requests are increasingly met with blanket objections. John Simon, Erich Veith and Tim Cronin discuss how this trend impacts day-to-day legal work, and practical strategies attorneys can use to push through resistance and keep cases moving forward. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
It's time for the first official meeting of the Modern Law Library Book Club, and Lee has invited on her friend (and go-to Nixon expert) Victor Li to talk about his experience reading the 1979 bestseller The Brethren: Inside the Supreme Court. As both a lawyer and journalist, Victor gives his thoughts on how Woodward and Armstrong were able to pierce the secrecy of the Supreme Court and show the behind-the-scenes wrangling as Nixon's newly-appointed chief justice, Warren Burger, took over from famed liberal Chief Justice Earl Warren. Up next, we'll be discussing Chapter 1, the 1969 Term, and we want to hear from you! Email your comments or a voice message to modernlawlibrary@legaltalknetwork.com to appear on a future episode. Check out our discussion group on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/1285340-modern-law-library Purchase your copy of The Brethren: Inside the Supreme Court: https://amzn.to/4cRQivF Subscribe to Modern Law Library: https://play.megaphone.fm/93wtgxnatpsubsdxwklzwq Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Drop a quarter in the slot and dig into the nontraditional career of Chrissie Scelsi who specializes in the law of video gaming. Scelsi forged her own way, untangling the intersection of entertainment, marketing, technology, and law. Games aren't all fun and games. Scelsi deals with licensing, advertising, intellectual property, transactions, e-sports, content clearance, privacy law, and even influencer relations. “I lean something new every day, and that's great,” she says. Throughout her career, she's become a self-described legal Swiss army knife (and she's a master at Pokémon Go). Among the topics she encounters both in her practice and as the first woman president of the Video Game Bar Association is the impact of AI, from game development to game play. Working independently, hear how Scelsi has found her community, networks with others, and keeps current on the latest issues affecting not only legal aspects but also trends across the video gaming industry, an industry expected to approach $200 billion in annual revenue this year. Questions or ideas about solo and small practices? Drop us a line at NewSolo@legaltalknetwork.com. Topics: Have a passion? There's a legal field for that! Hear how guest Chrissie Scelsi turned her love for entertainment and video gaming into a full-time practice. Video gaming is big business not just in the U.S. but around the world, and that means a web of legal needs to help game developers and marketers navigate copyright, legal protections, liability, and intellectual property issues. In a rapidly evolving field, it's important for solo practitioners and consultants to build a community through associations, conferences, and networking to share ideas and understand ever-changing legal issues and challenges. Subscribe to New Solo: https://play.megaphone.fm/snklydceswminrbke6phsq Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
And the DOJ had an atrocious week. ------ Rapper turned First Amendment hero Afroman took his frustration over a heavy-handed police raid on his Ohio home and turned it into music. When the officers sued him for millions for hurting their feelings, a jury told them to take their $3.9 million demand and pound it like lemon pound cake. Unfortunately, what happened to Afroman happens all the time in America and there's not a lot being done to stop it. Meanwhile, the Department of Justice had a rough week, catching headlines for lowering hiring standards and running interference to protect Jeffrey Epstein's accomplices. That's before a judge literally tossed a DOJ lawyer from the courtroom over the U.S. Attorney's Office operating without any legal oversight. And Elon Musk went into court to argue that he wasn't fraudulent, he's just stupid. Jurors decided it's possible to be both. Subscribe to Above the Law - Thinking Like a Lawyer: https://play.megaphone.fm/lpff6i7nq9wlb-pkdudwtw Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
AI is more than just another tool for lawyers. It may fundamentally change how law firms make money. In episode #607 of the Lawyerist Podcast, Stephanie Everett talks with legal industry analyst Jordan Furlong about the shifting economics of law practice and what happens as AI begins doing work lawyers once billed for. Jordan explains why the traditional law firm model built on billable hours and human effort is starting to break down as legal workflows become automated. Together, they explore how AI may shift lawyers away from producing legal work and toward supervising systems, validating outcomes, and delivering the one thing machines cannot easily replicate: judgment under uncertainty. The future of law practice may depend less on expertise and more on qualities machines struggle to replicate such as judgment, character, and the ability to guide clients through uncertainty. The conversation also explores why hourly billing may no longer make sense in an AI-driven world, how firms can rethink pricing around outcomes and client experience, and why smaller firms may adapt more quickly. If the billable hour fades and AI begins handling the routine “widgets” of legal work, the real question becomes what a lawyer's value is now, and how firms should prepare for what comes next. Listen to our previous episodes on Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Legal Practice. #601 – Beyond Chatbots: Using Agentic AI in Law Firm Intake, with Matt Spiegel Apple | Spotify | LTN #590 – Innovating Without Overwhelm: Practical AI Tips for Lawyers, with Graydon Trusler Apple | Spotify | LTN #587 – Future-Proofing Your Firm in the Age of AI, with Jack Newton Apple | Spotify | LTN #577 – Rethinking Law Firm Growth in the Age of AI, with Sam Harden Apple | Spotify | LTN Links from the episode: https://jordanfurlong.substack.com. 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 01:45 – Why Everyone Is Talking About AI in Law 04:20 – Meet Jordan Furlong 06:40 – The Real Disruption AI Brings to Law Firms 09:30 – The Economics Behind the Billable Hour 12:50 – What Happens When Software Does the Work 16:05 – The Shift from Expertise to Judgment 19:20 – What Lawyers Still Do Better Than AI 22:40 – Client Value in an AI-Driven Profession 26:00 – Why Smaller Firms May Have an Advantage 29:10 – What This Means for New Lawyers 32:45 – Preparing for the Next Version of Law Practice 36:10 – Closing Thoughts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
In this jam-packed episode, host Tony Sipp welcomes four outstanding paralegal professionals and educators to share tips on balancing mindfulness, wellness, and self-care in today's world of rapid tech advancements. If it seems like the profession is bolting forward at light speed, you're not wrong. It's important to take care of yourself. Let tech work for you, not wear you down. At times, you need to plug back into yourself before you plug into the latest technology. With a race to incorporate that latest in AI, it is important to keep learning, but also to learn how to embrace “the power of the pause,” taking a moment to step back. Don't just survive, thrive! Mentioned in This Episode: American Association for Paralegal Education (AAfPE) AAfPE Legal Luminaries podcast Paralegals on Fire podcast Adam Grant, speaker Los Angeles Paralegal Association NALA, The Paralegal Association NALA Conference & Expo 2026 Subscribe to The Paralegal Voice: https://play.megaphone.fm/sq1e-saoq6ga2fue1-y_qw Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Succession planning has never been more critical for corporate legal departments. In this episode of The Legal Report from Robert Half, host Jamy Sullivan talks with Ami Rodrigues, Deputy General Counsel at Under Armour, about developing the next generation of legal leaders. They discuss why succession planning is a business imperative, how to transfer institutional knowledge and strategies for building future-ready teams. Tune in for practical insights on how legal departments can build strong leadership pipelines and prepare for long-term success. Subscribe to The Legal Report from Robert Half: https://play.megaphone.fm/taobgtzvrne014wkmbcgew Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Your smartwatch tracks your heart rate and counts your calories. Your Ring camera lets you know when a package has been delivered. The GPS in your car smoothly directs you to a restaurant you've never been to before. We've grown used to getting a technological assist for everything from finding our keys to checking where our children are at curfew. But the consumer electronics which can make our lives easier can also be used by the government to track and prosecute us–and Fourth Amendment protections haven't been keeping up. Prof. Andrew Ferguson of George Washington University Law School has long been an advocate for digital privacy, and in his new book, Your Data Will Be Used Against You: Policing in the Age of Self-Surveillance, he hopes to kick off a movement to protect Americans from government intrusion. In this episode of the Modern Law Library, Ferguson and host Lee Rawles talk about cases where people's device data wound up being used against them, how personal information is being sold by data brokers, and how the Wiretap Act could point the way forward for future data privacy protections. Ferguson also shares tips on how to sabotage your data and explains the Tyrant Test. Subscribe to Modern Law Library: https://play.megaphone.fm/93wtgxnatpsubsdxwklzwq Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
A real Olympian on our little podcast?! Athlete and lawyer Rich Ruohonen shows us all how excellence and commitment are good for business. And, more importantly, how standing up for what's right as both a citizen and a representative of the law is so necessary in our current cultural climate. ---- Okay, so maybe you can't be an Olympian, but you can grow your business by pursuing your passions, investing in your community, and showing genuine care for those around you. Gyi and Conrad are honored to welcome Rich Ruohonen, the oldest-ever American winter Olympian, to talk about his experiences with the American Curling team in the 2026 Milano Cortina Olympic Games. Oh, and for all you lawyers out there, Rich shares down-to-earth insights on how his personal injury law firm engages with their community. Later, in the wake of the killings of Renée Good and Alex Pretti, Rich was compelled to use the Olympic stage to speak out about ICE violence in his home state of Minnesota. He shares what that experience meant for him as both a lawyer and a citizen of our great country. Thank you to Rich for representing our country and the profession so well.
In this episode's Seat at the Table, let's dig into the bedrock of your business: Your identity. That's what branding is, it's defining yourself. Who are you? If you're starting a new firm, or trying to grow your existing firm, start with your brand. Do you know what it is? And is what you thought you wanted One part of your brand is easy to express and hard to deliver. Do what you say you are going to do. If you promise something, if you pitch something, live up to that. Build your business on results, on meeting clients where they are, and on meeting client demands and expectations. A slick website is meaningless if you are disappointing or even inconveniencing your clients. Should you rebrand, or refresh your brand, or invest in branding? What is a brand? What's your brand? Good intentions and hope are not a business plan. Do something tangible by defining your business and living up to your promises. In this new Un-Billable Hour series, “Seat at the Table,” we dig into helping lawyers attract clients, build the business flow, and branding, all while turning your vision into reality, profit, and success. New guest hosts Kristen David, Rob Leitner, and brothers Elliot Alicea and Erik Alicea are experienced pros in business development and marketing for law firms. With proven track records, they join host Christoper T. Anderson and dig into the real needs of growing firms. If you're getting started, hear how creating a brand – and building trust – sets you on the right path. Are you doing the things you say you're going to do? It's important to deliberately help potential new clients understand who you are and what you do (and avoid the most common branding mistakes startups trip over). Mentioned in This Episode: Michael Gerber “The E-Myth Revisited” Pragmatic Institute Clio ClioCon 2026, Oct. 26-27, 2026 Subscribe to Un-Billable Hour: https://play.megaphone.fm/qxfro4f-suekajnwe_solw Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Texas is fortunate to be home to a diverse and impressive roster of professional sports organizations, and it should come as no surprise that the demanding world of professional athletics requires highly skilled legal counsel. Host Rocky Dhir welcomes two distinguished attorneys from the Texas professional sports scene: Eunice Nakamura, Executive Vice President, General Counsel for the Texas Rangers Major League Baseball team, and James O'Sullivan, General Counsel for the Major League Soccer team, FC Dallas. Their conversation gives an inside look at the dynamic day-to-day experiences of lawyers specializing in the business of sports. Eunice and James candidly share their professional paths, detailing the opportunities and career choices that led them to their current roles. Subscribe to State Bar of Texas Podcast: https://play.megaphone.fm/_hh0l5izt4mfkr1zmxo_cg Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
For more than a decade, the Modern Law Library has been chatting with authors about their books. But there haven't been many opportunities to talk directly with our listeners, and we want that to change. We are so excited to announce that we are launching a monthly book club series, which will appear in your normal podcast feed. This year, we are going to be diving into The Brethren: Inside the Supreme Court, by Bob Woodward and Scott Armstrong. This book made waves when it was released in 1979, giving readers an unprecedented look into the U.S. Supreme Court chambers. Covering the 1969 to 1975 terms, The Brethren exposed the internal debates over matters like the Pentagon Papers and Roe v. Wade. Each month, we will be reading a section of the book and inviting on a guest to discuss the issues raised. To be ready for the first book club meeting at the end of March, read the introduction and prologue! We are hoping to hear from you, so if you have a comment about the book or want to share your experiences with it, email us a written message, video or audio recording to modernlawlibrary@legaltalknetwork.com. You can purchase a copy here and join in the discussion in our Goodreads group athttps://www.goodreads.com/group/show/1285340-modern-law-library Subscribe to Modern Law Library: https://play.megaphone.fm/93wtgxnatpsubsdxwklzwq Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
At the NCBP's Midyear Meeting in San Antonio, Amanda Arriaga sat down with conference speaker Michael Ariens, professor at St. Mary's School of Law, for a deeper discussion on law, democracy, and ways to engage with the challenges we see in both the legal profession and our society at large. They discuss the relevance of the Declaration of Independence as we celebrate its 250th anniversary and wrestle with the concepts of liberty and equality in the present day. Professor Ariens emphasized the vital role of legal professionals in strengthening the rule of law and fostering constructive, civil discourse when tackling difficult community issues. In addition, Amanda and NCBP President Patrick Palace recap the NCBP Midyear Meeting held in San Antonio. Sign the Pledge: NCBP Pledge - National Conference of Bar Presidents Subscribe to Leading the Bar: https://play.megaphone.fm/8u2l9j2_tyq9jp84okd4lg Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Meet Alyssa Vachon Daigneault, a new Massachusetts attorney who benefitted from a chat with lawyer and law coach Kellam Parks, an amazing guest from our previous podcast. Hear how Daigneault launched her law firm as a second career after years teaching high school chemistry and hear what she learned from Parks as she beefed up her technology. Daigneault launched her own firm less than two years ago in the busy Boston area, specializing in real estate, land use, and property matters, all fields she was already well versed in. A session with a coach helped Daigneault fully frame the vision and direction of her practice, craft policies, and understand onboarding new hires. Starting a new solo firm is hard, do you need help cutting through some of the steps and learning from those who went before you? Daigneault is an advocate for learning about and investing and experimenting in tech, AI, and other tools before worrying about office space. As a new solo, tech can save time, build efficiencies, and let lawyers do what they do best. Questions or ideas about solo and small practices? Drop us a line at NewSolo@legaltalknetwork.com Topics: A new solo, embarking on a second career as an attorney, took some tips from one of New Solo's earlier guests, attorney and legal practice coach Kellam Parks. Not all tech and AI are the same, it takes time and research to understand what works for you. Lining up the right tools makes a difference. In today's legal environment, tech is becoming king. But if you can manage it, the right support staff and office space can push you forward and keep you growing. Resources: Previously on New Solo, “Six To-Dos Every Firm Can Embrace in 2026,” with Kellam Parks The Real Estate Bar Association for Massachusetts QuickBooks Gusto Adobe ChatGPT Perplexity Spellbook Lexis Protégé Clio ABA Techshow 2026 Clio Cloud Conference 2026 Subscribe to New Solo: https://play.megaphone.fm/snklydceswminrbke6phsq Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Equal Justice Works CEO Verna Williams discusses her prior experience as a law dean, her work engaging law students and young lawyers in public interest and the inspiration she draws from their passion. As the nation's largest post-graduate legal fellowship program, Equal Justice Works deploys students and lawyers to legal services organizations across the country. Since its founding in 1986, Equal Justice Works has supported more than 2,700 fellows. Subscribe to Talk Justice An LSC Podcast: https://play.megaphone.fm/a3ett1fzs9a1qjipaqdufa Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
A part of the legal marketing landscape we don't talk about enough is referral marketing. Sure, we focus on digital marketing, search engines, and paid advertising. But maybe one of the best – and cheapest – forms of marketing could be referral marketing, working with other layers who know, like, and trust us. Guest John Reed is a former practicing attorney and the founder of Rain BDM, a marketing firm that helps lawyers build exceptional relationships. Hear how professionals learn and play “the referral game.” Asking for referrals may not feel natural, even a bit awkward. But like any marketing campaign, it can be planned, initiated, and tracked. And it can be fun and rewarding. Don't try to make a relationship “transactional,” just go out and meet and help people. Let it be more relaxed and natural. Hear about the “four questions” and a personalized “grid” plan that can get the ball rolling when you meet another attorney. If you've struggled with building intentional relationships with other attorneys and expanding your network, you'll want to hear this free “relationships 101” lesson from a proven, experienced pro. Mentioned in This Episode: “Endless Referrals” by Bob Burg “Never Eat Alone” by Keith Ferrazzi Subscribe to Un-Billable Hour: https://play.megaphone.fm/qxfro4f-suekajnwe_solw Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
To mark the sesquicentennial of the Texas Constitution, host Rocky Dhir is joined by two eminent Texans—Texas Supreme Court Justice Evan Young and legal historian Dr. Bill Chriss. They offer a deep dive into the foundational document's history and evolution, tracing its iterations from 1876 to the present day and exploring how its framework for self-governance continues to serve the people of Texas well. To learn more about the unique and fascinating story of our state constitution, read Dr. Chriss' book: Six Constitutions Over Texas: Texas' Political Identity, 1830–1900. Justice Evan A. Young was appointed to the Supreme Court of Texas in November 2021 by Governor Greg Abbott and later elected in November 2022 to serve through December of 2028. Dr. Bill Chriss is a self-described lifelong learner. As a lawyer, historian, and author, his work straddles the worlds of academia, family, writing, and appellate law. Subscribe to State Bar of Texas Podcast: https://play.megaphone.fm/_hh0l5izt4mfkr1zmxo_cg Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Let's talk about every lawyer's favorite subject: exams. It seems like every day, there's another threshold that generative artificial intelligence crosses. First, it was able to take a bar exam and do reasonably well. Then it was able to ace it. Same with law school exams. Right now, AI would probably graduate at the top of its class, edit law review and land a six-figure associate's job with an Am Law 50 firm. Now comes another milestone. Subscribe to ABA Journal: Legal Rebels: https://play.megaphone.fm/yo1baz8xraemljru5ra-tw Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Religious organizations and their employees fall into a murky and often-overlooked area of labor and employment law. Guests James “Jim” Paul and Michael Subit practice in employment and labor law and are versed in the world of religious employers and their workers. Title VII of the Civil Rights Act carves out some interesting exemptions in employment law regarding religion-based businesses, but some recent court rulings seem to conflict with each other. Paul and Subit join host Matt Greer to delve into what constitutes a “religious employer” and where religious beliefs and practices challenge existing employment laws. A recent appeals court ruling spells out nine questions regarding religion-based retailers, religious hospitals, and other businesses. Is it created for profit? Does it make a secular product? Do articles of incorporation state a religious purpose? All of these considerations may matter. This issue goes way beyond practicing a religion. Consider same sex marriage, certain behaviors, and reproductive rights. Hear how quickly employer and employee rights can conflict. Is a Supreme Court showdown on the horizon? Mentioned in This Episode: Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, EEOC “Ninth Circuit Rules in Favor of Employers in Two Recent Religious Discrimination Cases,” New York University School of Law “LeBoon v. Lancaster Jewish Community Center Association,” U.S. Third Circuit Court “McMahon v. World Vision,” Ninth Circuit Court “Union Gospel Mission of Yakima Washington v. Brown,” U.S. Ninth Circuit Court “Conway v. Mercy Hospital St. Louis,” Justia.com 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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Guest June Hunter is a trained paralegal professional and legal technology trainer with a 35-year career in legal services that spans the profession's growth from the days of physical, paper files to today's legal tech AI revolution. Hear how Hunter has come to feel that paralegal professionals are “the best project managers in the world,” juggling clients, lawyers, tech tools, and court schedules and deadlines. The paralegal profession is no longer limited to helping process legal documents. Technology has expanded the field into so many new areas and specialties. The best part about today's tech tools, including AI, is that in the long run, it can save clients money, increase efficiencies, and solve ethical issues involving billing. Hunter's message: be eager to embrace and master the latest technology throughout your career. The smartest person in the room is the person who's not afraid to ask questions and learn new things. Mentioned in This Episode: San Diego Paralegal Association San Diego Legal Secretaries Association Los Angeles Paralegal Association MCLE, California Minimum Continuing Legal Education A History of Microsoft's “Clippy” NALA, The Paralegal Association NALA Conference & Expo 2026 Subscribe to The Paralegal Voice: https://play.megaphone.fm/sq1e-saoq6ga2fue1-y_qw Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The process of “case budgeting” is increasingly common in complex litigation, it's the science and art of laying out the potential time and cost of trying a case. Daniel Dowd is the managing partner and the president of the Phoenix law firm Cohen Dowd Quigley. He explains how to estimate: “How much will this cost to get to the finish line?” But how do you do it? How do you react when a client brings up costs? Dowd details the labor-intensive process of understanding each aspect of the case and calculating costs, including discovery, expert witnesses, the potential for a mediated settlement, and even the nature of the court and opposing law firm. There are many variables, and as the timeline stretches out, projections can become less accurate. But if a client asks, a “best estimate” can help them understand the true cost of a case. “You build a skeleton … and then you have to estimate with your team how much time they're going to spend,” Dowd explains. “Then you get your calculator out.” Plus, a quick tip from attorney and co-chair of the ABA Mental Health & Wellness committee Maritza Rodriguez of the firm Rodriguez Family Law as she discusses “the great commitment reset.” Get a fresh start on a new year by making fewer commitments, auditing your life, and cutting back on self-scheduling. Have a question, comment, or suggestion for an upcoming episode? Get in touch at MRogson@SkywardInsurance.com and JAReeder@JonesDay.com. Resources: 2026 Women in Litigation CLE Conference American Bar Association American Bar Association Litigation Section Subscribe to Litigation Radio: https://play.megaphone.fm/rhyxdryztyy2v3itq6sdlq Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
This is likely only the beginning of the reckoning. ----- As predicted on last week's episode, Brad Karp left the top post at Paul Weiss following the disclosure of friendly correspondence with Jeffrey Epstein. But Karp wasn't the only Biglaw lawyer in the files, nor were his conversations the most troubling. A former Clifford Chance trainee drafted a sex contract with Epstein, Goldman Sachs GC Kathy Ruemmler made a joke with Epstein that normally you wouldn't make with someone who already pleaded guilty to child prostitution charges, and Alan Dershowitz managed to drag Paul Weiss into the case again when people found sex tourism legal analysis in the files from a now-Paul Weiss partner... passing along Dershowitz's thoughts. Meanwhile in Minnesota, a DOJ lawyer called out the broken immigration system before literally asking to be held in contempt so she could get some sleep. which is what happens when an administration breaks the legal system so thoroughly that even its own lawyers can't keep up with the chaos. And legal tech took a financial jolt as Anthropic announced its entry into the legal tech space. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The tensions between the practice and business of law have long been a touchy subject, but lawyers must wrestle with these challenges to thrive in the profession. Dennis and Tom welcome Chantal McNaught to discuss her work at the intersection of law, business, and technology. Chantal delves into how ethics command technology use in legal practice and offers grounded, thoughtful insights on how to develop a sense of community and support in technological pursuits. 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: AI Fluency for Lawyers | 43 Degrees Below People in Legal Podcast Connect Gemini to Multiple LM Notebooks! Personal Strategy Compass | DennisKennedy.Blog Subscribe to The Kennedy-Mighell Report: https://play.megaphone.fm/yyu1pthsr22j6_xfnb0vnq Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Starting a law firm doesn't automatically make you a business owner—designing one does. In episode #600 of the Lawyerist Podcast, Stephanie Everett and Zack Glaser kick off a four-part series on how to design a law firm intentionally, rather than defaulting into a business you didn't mean to build. They unpack the biggest myths lawyers believe when starting a firm, why being a good lawyer isn't enough to create a sustainable business, and how relying on personal heroics instead of structure quietly traps firm owners over time. Stephanie breaks down the three constraints that cause most firms to struggle, the three distinct paths law firms can take, and the key questions lawyers should ask early to align their business model with the life and career they actually want. Listen to our other episodes on Law Firm Strategy & Business Design. #583 – From Survival to Strategy: Scaling Your Law Firm Finances, with Bernadette Harris Apple | Spotify | LTN #575 – From Overwhelmed Lawyer to Strategic Law Firm Owner, with Chad Fox Apple | Spotify | LTN #570 – Uncover Your Firm's Journey with the New Small Firm Scorecard™, with Stephanie Everett Apple | Spotify | LTN #568 – How to Build a Law Firm You Can Sell, with Victoria L. Collier 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 01:15 – Why This Isn't About “Starting” a Law Firm 03:45 – The Biggest Myth Lawyers Believe About Firm Ownership 06:50 – Heroics vs. Structure 10:30 – The Three Constraints That Trap Law Firm Owners 12:45 – Every Firm Is Choosing a Business Model (Whether You Realize It or Not) 14:30 – The Three Paths Law Firms Take 18:55 – When Your Goals and Design Don't Match 20:55 – How Clients Actually Buy Legal Services 23:30 – What Breaks If Demand Doubles 25:00 – Clarity Beats Certainty 29:15 – What to Do in the First 30 Days 33:40 – Where to Go Next Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Where do you want your firm to go in the new year? Do you have a plan to get there? Intentional firm design and strategy trumps reactive growth every time. Don't let your firm run you; take charge today! Guest Kellam Parks is a partner with the metrics- and technology-driven family and cybersecurity law firm Parks Zeigler PLLC, and he runs the coaching program “The Motivated Lawyer,” helping firms craft a path to a successful future. Hear how he recently took on one new client pro bono to demonstrate how his coaching helps lawyers visualize and achieve their goals. Parks began his own Virginia Beach firm as a “paperless” entity nearly 15 years ago, incorporating emerging tech to maximize efficiencies. As the firm developed, tech tools have helped his team automate the routine and focus on the most important and demanding tasks. He is a regular speaker and provider of CLE programs for attorneys and firms and produces educational videos and a popular newsletter packed with tips. Do you need help building out your technological capacities and marketing? As Parks points out, “Nobody knows everything.” Always be learning and open to new ideas. Questions or ideas about solo and small practices? Drop us a line at NewSolo@legaltalknetwork.com Topics: Too many solos start out with no intentional plan, opting instead to gather as many clients as they can then scrambling to keep up. A recipe for stress and inefficiency. In 2026, think about what you actually want from your firm. Then create an intentional plan to get there, step by step. Technology is not an option. Use the tools available to you. But remember “technology does not fix chaos.” It all starts with your plan, your established systems, and understanding what you're doing (and why). Mentioned in This Episode: Previous appearance on New Solo, “Tech, Automation, and Cybersecurity: A Pioneering Attorney's Perspective” Previous appearance on Legal Talk Network's Digital Detectives, “Cybersecurity: Getting to Good for the Small Law Firm” Ben Glass, Great Legal Marketing Gino Wickman, “Traction” Allie K. Miller, understanding AI “Buy Back Your Time: Get Unstuck, Reclaim Your Freedom, and Build Your Empire,” by Dan Martell Clio ABA Techshow 2026 Clio Cloud Conference 2026 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The recent fatal shootings of Renee Good & Alex Pretti in Minneapolis, Minnesota shook the nation and the world. In recent months, the tactics and actions of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, better known as ICE, have reached a boiling point in communities and have come under scrutiny for the treatment of civilians. In response, many have taken to the streets to protest. With the Trump administration's mission to deport dangerous criminals, a recent internal ICE policy specifically allowed agents to go door to door without a judicial warrant, in direct contradiction to the Fourth Amendment (unreasonable searches and seizures by the government). As protestors lined the streets, an individual's First Amendment rights—freedom of speech and assembly in particular—were also under attack. Are we currently witnessing the shredding of the U.S Constitution and the rule of law? Will there be investigations into the actions of ICE? Will the legislative branch step in? On this episode of Lawyer 2 Lawyer, Craig joins David Cole, Professor in Law and Public Policy at Georgetown Law and former National Legal Director of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). Craig & David discuss the legalities behind the actions of ICE, the constitutional rights of individuals who encounter ICE agents, the recent tragedies in Minnesota surrounding ICE agents and civilians, and the overall impact these actions are having on the rule of law and the U.S. Constitution. Subscribe to Lawyer 2 Lawyer: https://play.megaphone.fm/6kyeqlhety25kgmgqdr7cw Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The world of legal technology can seem overwhelming. Fortunately, we have a guide in Chelsey Lambert, founder and author at the legal tech education, consulting, and guidance platform Legal Tech Decoded, which features articles, reviews, and opinions on the latest in legal tech. This episode is kind of about marketing, but kind of about operations, but also kind of about AI, because tech is coming for every aspect of your legal practice. What developments will drive your firm forward, and what's smoke and mirrors? Lawyers who've been in the business long enough have gone from reviewing cases on paper and in books, maybe even yellow legal pads, to the Internet revolution, to online research and filing, to today's AI revolution. Is AI remaking the practice of law, or just the next progression? (Spoiler, it's kind of a big deal.) “I don't know that we've ever trained lawyers how to buy technology in the first place,” Lambert says. Now add the complexity of AI, a tool you have to train, guide, and trust. Hear about the evolving world of legal tech, even developments you probably haven't heard of, and the evolution of the profession, including the potential for non-lawyer ownership and private equity. Don't fear or ignore the revolution, embrace it. Mentioned in This Episode: Association for AI in Legal, A4l.law CaseMark RocketLawyer LegalZoom Nolo Foundation AI Subscribe to Un-Billable Hour: https://play.megaphone.fm/qxfro4f-suekajnwe_solw Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The Case Doctors explore what legal recourse Taylor Swift fans might have when the tickets they bought for $14,000 didn't turn out to be what they paid for. Plus, John Simon and Alvin Wolff discuss strategies for an attorney contemplating how to handle a case involving 200 garden gnomes that allegedly violated Homeowners' Association rules. Subscribe to The Case Doctors: https://play.megaphone.fm/d8rovuhcqx6msdzgbqfaja Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
In the movie 1973 film Walking Tall, Sheriff Buford Pusser is a heroic law enforcement officer in small-town Tennessee whose fight against the Dixie Mafia leads to an ambush and shooting that left his beloved wife Pauline dead. The movie and its sequels and remakes made Pusser, who died in a 1974 car crash, into a folk hero. Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson played him in the 2004 Walking Tall remake. The Pusser legend became a cottage industry for Adamsville, Tennessee, where the Buford Pusser Home and Museum is based. Mike Elam, a former law enforcement officer, started researching Pusser's life as a hobby back in the 1970s. Once the internet became an avenue for exploration, "I started a social media page and I was very much a fan of Buford Pusser at that time," Pusser tells Modern Law Library host Lee Rawles. "And it was one of those things where I got to researching it and learned far too much for my own liking, because I did not like the man I saw as opposed to the one that was in the movie." Elam's decades of research and interviews with people who had encountered Pusser led to a book, Buford Pusser: The Other Story. It also led to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigations reopening the case into Pauline Pusser's murder and exhuming her body. In 2025, they announced that the investigation revealed details that pointed to one suspect: Buford Pusser himself. In this episode, Elam discusses his long investigation, tips for other true crime citizen detectives, what he thinks now about the way Buford Pusser has been memorialized–and how he found the gun that killed Pauline. Subscribe to Modern Law Library: https://play.megaphone.fm/93wtgxnatpsubsdxwklzwq Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Supreme Court hacking and the end of a Biglaw era. ------ The Biglaw world continues to watch single-tier partnerships slip away with Sullivan & Cromwell joining the income partner trend. Will the industry have any single-tier firms left by the end of the year? Also former Senator and current Hogan Lovells lawyer Kyrsten Sinema tagged with an alienation of affection tort from her former bodyguard's soon-to-be ex-wife. Come for the bad soap opera plot, stay for the MDMA-inspired psychedelic trip allegations. Finally, the Supreme Court got hacked, but federal law enforcement managed, a couple years after the fact, to track down the culprit whose social media handle was "ihackedthegovernment." Cracker jack work all around. Subscribe to Above the Law - Thinking Like a Lawyer: https://play.megaphone.fm/lpff6i7nq9wlb-pkdudwtw Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
In episode #598 of the Lawyerist Podcast, learn how Microsoft Copilot can help lawyers work more efficiently inside Microsoft 365—without compromising accuracy, security, or client trust. Zack Glaser talks with Ben Schorr, innovation strategist at Affinity Consulting Group and former Microsoft insider, about how attorneys can move past AI hype and start using Copilot for real, everyday legal work. Zack and Ben break down how Copilot helps lawyers draft and edit documents, summarize complex files, extract key deadlines, prep for meetings, and manage inbox overload—all while keeping client data protected within Microsoft's security framework. They clarify where Copilot delivers the most value, where caution is required, and why understanding its limitations is essential to using it effectively. For lawyers curious about AI but unsure where to begin, this episode offers a clear, realistic roadmap for adopting Copilot without compromising accuracy, ethics, or trust. Listen to our other episodes on AI, Legal Technology & Practical Innovation in Law Firms: Rethinking Law Firm Growth in the Age of AI, with Sam Harden Apple | Spotify | LTN Episode 550: Beyond Content: How AI Is Changing Law Firm Marketing, with Gyi Tsakalakis & Conrad Saam Apple | Spotify | LTN Episode 543: AI Ethics: What Lawyers Need to Know, with Hilary Gerzhoy Apple | Spotify | LTN Episode 497: Real Talk About Artificial Intelligence in Your Office, with Ben Schorr 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 08:43 – Meet Ben Schorr 11:08 – What Copilot Is (and Why Lawyers Care) 13:27 – Security, Privacy, and Client Data 16:47 – Drafting Legal Documents With Copilot 18:36 – Schorr's Law: Always Review AI Output 20:30 – Editing, Fact-Checking, and Improving Existing Work 23:57 – Summarizing Documents and Extracting Key Info 28:49 – Brainstorming, Personas, and Strategy Testing 34:34 – Agentic AI: What's Possible (and What Isn't) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
On January 3, 2026, the U.S. military captured Venezuela's president Nicolas Maduro and his wife and brought them back to the United States where they faced criminal charges related to drug trafficking. Many questioned the legality of the invasion and a policy from the 1800s called the Monroe Doctrine was being alluded to by the current administration. Trump's reinterpretation of the Monroe Doctrine nicknamed “The Donroe Doctrine” by Trump himself, was originally a policy created back in 1823 by then-President James Monroe to oppose European interference in the Western Hemisphere. Trump reinvoked Monroe in his decision to take over Venezuela and publicly made threats to take over other countries. On this episode of Lawyer 2 Lawyer, Craig joins Claire Finkelstein, Professor of National Security Law and faculty director of the Center for Ethics and the Rule of Law (CERL) at University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School. Craig & Claire discuss international law, the Monroe Doctrine, the legality of the Venezuela invasion, and the threats from the Trump administration of possible takeovers of other countries. Mentioned in this Episode: The Monroe Doctrine In Dispute: Why John Adams Defended the British Soldiers During the Boston Massacre Trials Subscribe to Lawyer 2 Lawyer: https://play.megaphone.fm/6kyeqlhety25kgmgqdr7cw Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
We trust the justice system to protect the innocent and prosecute the guilty, but what happens when it gets things catastrophically wrong? In 1981, 21-year-old William Michael Dillon became the focus of a murder investigation in Canova Beach, Florida. Though Dillon maintained his innocence, police coercion and unreliable witnesses rapidly steered the case toward what appeared to be a predetermined outcome. Dillon was arrested, convicted, and sent to prison for a crime he did not commit. More than 27 years later, DNA testing finally proved his innocence and set him free. In this episode, Dillon explains how he was swept into the murder investigation, how coercive interrogations and untrustworthy testimony shaped the verdict—and how his love of music helped him survive the darkest years of his incarceration. Be sure to read the full account of Dillon's story in FRAMED, written by his wife, Ellen Moscovitz. And, listen to his album on YouTube: Black Robes and Lawyers. Subscribe to For the Innocent: https://play.megaphone.fm/l674qjabrokc8uscyu76jg Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mystic for hire! Conrad dusts off the ol' prophetic orb for a look at what 2026 has in store for lawyers and legal marketers. ----- We know you're itching to hear those future fortunes, but hang on a second! First, Gyi and Conrad look back at their previous predictions to see how well they forecasted 2025. I mean, you want to know whether you can trust these guys, right? And, well, those results aside, the guys then gaze into the depths to pick out the important marketing trends to watch in 2026. More AI stuff, new law firm business structures, anybody who could do anything about fake reviews will do absolutely nothing about it… and more! Cheers to a New Year! The News: Quite the play, Google. - Official: Apple Intelligence & Siri To Be Powered By Google Gemini Better pay attention to this one, folks. Commercial environments are changing, but watching this trajectory should help us wrap our heads around it: New tech and tools for retailers to succeed in an agentic shopping era. And, Jay Ruane wrote a stellar book! - Analog Marketing in a Digital World: A Blueprint for Attorneys to Dominate Local Markets by Being Human Suggested LHLM Episodes: Conrad's Crystal Ball IV | Lawyer Marketing Predictions for 2025 - Legal Talk Network 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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dennis and Tom continue their proud tradition of pondering the panorama of timely tech happenings and sharing personal resolutions for learning and development. But first, they both take a look at last year's goals to gauge their progress (or, ahem, lack thereof). As for new resolutions—from investigative AI problem solving to streamlined tech tool usage to open-sourced writing to content creation, there's lots to do in 2026! Later, the guys are loath to make predictions in an unpredictable world, but decided to take a stab at it anyway! Listen in for their thoughts on the possible future and what technologies may become increasingly essential for lawyers. 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: Wispr Flow Speechify Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
New Texas AI legislation will take effect January 1, 2026. What will this mean for your legal practice? The Texas Responsible Artificial Intelligence Governance Act (TRAIGA) aims to regulate the development and deployment of artificial intelligence systems in the state to address issues such as discrimination, intentional harm, illegal sexual content, and the use of biometric data. Rocky Dhir welcomes Chris Schwegmann to help us unpack the nuances of TRAIGA legislation and understand its implications for the practice of law. The discussion later shifts to the effective and ethical deployment of AI within legal practice. Chris highlights its capabilities by detailing his firm's approach to AI tools. With proper use, AI has the potential to enhance your legal work and streamline processes to allow for greater attention to high-level tasks. Chris Schwegmann is managing partner at Lynn, Pinker, Hurst & Schwegmann in Dallas, Texas. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The idea that prisoners should be treated humanely was discussed by Enlightenment Era aristocrats, "but the idea that they are people who are peers is new," says Yale Law professor Judith Resnik. "As Democratic norms turned us all into equal citizens, equal persons in a jurisdiction, the question of government's relationships in courts, policing, schools and prisons changed over the last hundred years," says Resnik, author of Impermissible Punishments: How Prison Became a Problem for Democracy. In this episode of the Modern Law Library, Resnik walks host Lee Rawles through centuries of discussion about how punishments are deemed to be permissible, from a trial about whipping prisoners in Arkansas to the League of Nations' effort to develop minimum standards of treatment in prisons worldwide. "People who run prisons have a very challenging time, and there's a body of data growing that people who work in prisons, like people who live in them, have higher stress, heart attacks, blood pressure, suicide rates," Resnik tells Rawles. "These are terrible environments of concrete and metal and noise and often dirt and violence. In the United States, many people who are in detention have had mental health issues and behavioral issues of significant kinds. And when you take people with limited training, often with staffs that are too thin, interacting with overcrowded facilities of metal and concrete, with limited resources, you end up generating scary places for everybody. "So one of the kind of puzzles, if you step back, is how a thing called corrections, that promises safety, has generated institutions that are deeply unsafe for the people who live and work in them." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
High performance in law requires more than technical skill—it requires the right mindset. In episode #596 of the Lawyerist Podcast, Zack Glaser talks with Jess Sargus about applying an athlete's mindset to leadership, performance, and growth in legal practice. Jess breaks down the core pillars of athletic thinking. From growth mindset and action orientation to process focus and purpose, and explains how lawyers can apply these principles to become better leaders and perform at their best under pressure. If you want to hear more from Jess, check her out at: https://www.thelegalathlete.com/ Listen to our other episodes on Mindset & Performance: #588 – Practice Smarter, Not Harder: 411 Tips for Modern Lawyers, with Jordan Couch Apple | Spotify | LTN #585 – First Aid for the Mind: Mental Health in Law, with Soumya Palreddy & Jill Kluesner Apple | Spotify | LTN #572 – Practical Courage Skills Every Lawyer Needs, with Jim Detert Apple | Spotify | LTN #551 – Becoming the AI-Driven Leader, with Geoff Woods 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. Chapters / Timestamps: 00:00 – Introduction 03:12 – Meet Jess Sargus 04:02 – From Law to Combat Sports 08:06 – Competition, Business, and Leadership 11:15 – Why Mindset Matters 15:12 – The Athlete's Mindset Defined 17:01 – Action Orientation and Elite Performance 19:30 – Getting Comfortable with Failure 22:05 – Growth Mindset and Competitiveness 26:03 – The Five Pillars of Fierce Agency 29:21 – Process Over Outcome 34:46 – Purpose and Mission Alignment 39:48 – Where to Find Jess 40:53 – Closing Thoughts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
When family lawyer and podcaster Lee Rosen talks about referrals, he doesn't call them a network. He calls them friends. He explains why you only need about 20 trusted relationships to sustain a thriving practice, how genuine curiosity and consistency outperform traditional “networking,” and why lawyers make some of the most powerful referral partners across practice areas. Lee also shares how thoughtful gestures, not referral fees, build long-term goodwill and how social media can strengthen real-world connections when used with intention. Then, ALPS Insurance's Rio Laine joins host Adriana Linares to cover the risk-management side of referrals, including documentation best practices, appropriate thank-you gifts, when to decline referrals, and why every solo should have a backup attorney and succession plan in place. Hear the original episode with Lee Rosen Learn more about ALPS Insurance. Receive email notifications every time we release a new episode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Once you've landed your first job as a paralegal professional, what next? How do you build your career, advance into management, and leverage affiliations and activities within local and national associations as you pursue your goals? Guest Angela King is a successful paralegal manager at the national law firm of Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP. Over more than two decades, she has advanced from a law firm volunteer to a file clerk to legal assistant, then paralegal professional, and now paralegal manager at a national law firm overseeing dozens of paralegal professionals. At each step, being active with paralegal associations helped her advance her skills and network. It starts with learning, and it extends to helping and mentoring. King explores how a conscious push to improve and learn at every stage built her career and how you can create your own path to professional success. Mentioned in This Episode: National Capital Area Paralegals Association National Federal of Paralegal Association IPMA, International Practice Management Association IPMA Conference and Expo Los Angeles Paralegal Association NALA, The Paralegal Association NALA Conference & Expo 2026 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Welcome to another dumpster fire of a year. ----- We begin the year by peering into our crystal balls and issuing some predictions for 2026. Who will be fired? What's going to happen with law schools? Is a big change on the horizon for Biglaw? Our predictions will inevitably be wrong, but we'll offer them with a lot of confidence -- just like AI would. Also a whole lot of sports talk for a law podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Attorney Peter Dunne shares stories about other legendary St. Louis lawyers and the entertaining ways they handled paper correspondence in the days before email. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The Case Doctors explore what legal recourse Taylor Swift fans might have when the tickets they bought for $14,000 didn't turn out to be what they paid for. Plus, John Simon and Alvin Wolff discuss strategies for an attorney contemplating how to handle a case involving 200 garden gnomes that allegedly violated Homeowners' Association rules. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Leadership doesn't always come naturally; it is a skill developed through service, mentorship, and a deep commitment to others. In this episode, Amanda Arriaga and Patrick Palace welcome Nate Alder, a longtime leader in multiple associations, including the NCBP. Drawing on his many years of service, Nate shares insights that deepen our understanding of how to lead with humility and a genuine commitment to stewarding and elevating the next generation of leaders in the legal profession. Nate Alder is a shareholder at Christensen & Jensen, where he litigates, tries, and resolves complex civil cases. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
In episode 595 of the Lawyerist Podcast, we're revisiting Stephanie's conversation with Lawyerist financial coach Bernadette L. Harris about the financial KPIs every law firm owner should understand as a new year begins. We're bringing this episode back because it's especially timely for firms setting their strategy, goals, and financial benchmarks for the year ahead. It's important to continue finding a clear, practical approach to understanding the numbers that drive a healthy firm. Unlock a clearer view of your law firm's financial health in the latest Lawyerist Podcast. Join host Stephanie Everett as she dives into the essential key performance indicators (KPIs) that can transform how you understand your practice, guided by the expert insights of Bernadette Harris, Lawyerist Lab's finance coach. You'll gain practical knowledge about five crucial areas that directly impact your firm's success. Understand your net profit margin like never before – not just the surface numbers, but the true profitability that informs your strategic decisions. Explore utilization rate and discover how to optimize your team's time for maximum productivity. Learn the critical importance of your realization rate and practical steps to ensure you're capturing the revenue you've earned. See how mastering AR aging can directly impact your cash flow and create financial stability. Plus, uncover the strategic advantage of understanding your revenue by practice area, empowering you to make smarter choices about your firm's financial future. For straightforward, actionable insights into these vital financial indicators – the kind that can immediately help you manage your law firm more effectively – tune in to hear Bernadette Harris share her expertise. Listen to our other episode with Bernadette Harris: #457: Healthy Profits: Understanding the Story Your Numbers Tell, with Bernadette Harris Apple Podcast | Spotify | Lawyerist #523: Financial Red Flags: Are You Hiring Too Soon?, with Bernadette Harris Apple Podcast | Spotify | Lawyerist #418: More Income, Fewer Taxes, with Bernadette Harris Apple Podcast | Spotify | Lawyerist 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. Chapters: 00:00 Why We're Remastering This Episode for the New Year02:55 Law Firm KPIs and Financial Health05:21 Net Profit Margin for Law Firms09:38 Utilization Rate and Team Capacity14:35 Realization Rate and Getting Paid20:05 Accounts Receivable and Cash Flow24:19 Revenue by Practice Area27:16 Using Financial Metrics to Set Strategy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
A document dump. Disappearing evidence. And a new depo the first night of trial. Despite all this, Katie pulled off a win and shares what she learned, including how to use a snowstorm to your advantage. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Three trends dominated this year's coverage. ----- We've made it to the end of the year! And what do we have to show for it as a profession? Our most elite law firms signed deals rather than stand up for themselves in the face of illegal Trump bullying efforts. Others quietly tried to erase their history to avoid the administration's ire. But some firms did fight back and achieved consistent success in court, while the dealmakers got heckled and derided by young lawyers. And, as anyone who has ever watched Star Wars knows, deals with authoritarians just get worse all the time. The New York Times even wrote a feature on a certain publication covering this story. We also ran headlong into a constitutional crisis marked by DOJ lawyers lying to courts -- when the DOJ even bothers to field lawyers legally -- senior government officials declaring "war" on federal judges, and judges being arrested. As right-wing threats against federal judges escalated, the Supreme Court responded with disinterest, preferring to fan the flames with nakedly partisan shadow docket rulings to grease the wheels of Trump's assault on the structure of government. And, finally, we look at the year of AI in legal. Hallucinations dominated the conversation -- from law firms and judges alike -- but this was also the year legal tech made huge bets on AI and folks started to realize that the profession can't avoid the technology. The billable hour may finally be on the decline, but does AI risk making lawyers dumber? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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