Legal Talk Network - Law News and Legal Topics

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

Another year gone! With 2025 rapidly bidding us adieu, Dennis, Tom, and their good pal Debbie Foster send us off with their annual Kennedy-Mighell edition of Pardon the Interruption. They argue different sides of popular tech topics in “Toss-Up”,  play legal tech Mad Libs in “What's the Word?”, and take the temp on 2025 trends in “Hot or Not?”. And, we know the question on everyone's minds—Can Tom keep up his yearslong winning streak? Listen in to find out.  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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Let the record show, records were meant to be corrected. In this episode, we revisit something we mentioned that might not have been the full story, the role of the remote attorney and the freelance attorneys provided by LAWCLERK.  Guest Kristin Tyler is a lawyer and co-founder and chief brand officer at LAWCLERK, which supplies contract attorneys for growing, busy law firms under an arrangement where freelance attorneys work under the supervision of a client's in-house attorneys.  From discovery to document review to deposition management, contract attorneys can manage routine tasks at rates designed to be affordable for growing firms. Why hire a part-time paralegal when you can hire an actual attorney at a comparable rate?  Whether you're a growing firm or an attorney looking for part-time work, hear why this could be the solution you've been looking for.  Questions or ideas about solo and small practices? Drop us a line at NewSolo@legaltalknetwork.com.  Topics: Contract and part-time remote attorneys can help busy, growing firms find affordable legal assistance when things get hectic. Why hire a remote paralegal when you can hire an actual, licensed attorney at a comparable cost? Do your best and outsource the rest! Special for our listeners, for your first hire from LAWCLERK, use the promo code NewSolo25 for a $100 rebate. Hear how the arrangement works, including ethical and licensing policies, confidentiality, state-specific availability, and even hiring attorneys who are experts in the exact area of law you need. Resources: Previous appearance on Legal Talk Network, “Clio Cloud 2022: Hire for Success – Best Practices for Growing Your Team” Previously on New Solo, “Checking In! Four Years Later, Solo Practice Aloha Divorce Is Thriving”  Clio ABA Techshow 2026 Clio Cloud Conference 2026  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As the year comes to a close, Stephanie Everett and Zack Glaser look back at the Lawyerist Podcast episodes that stood out most to them in episode 594 of the Lawyerist Podcast. From practical AI workflows and ethical guidance to mental health, communication, and leadership, this episode highlights the conversations that sparked new thinking and delivered real value.  Stephanie and Zack revisit standout moments, share why certain episodes resonated, and reflect on the themes that shaped the year—while inviting listeners to share which episodes made the biggest impact and what topics they'd like to hear more about in the year ahead.  Listen to some of the episodes highlighted this year:  Episode #585 – First Aid for the Mind: Mental Health and the Law, with Sumia and Jill — Apple | Spotify | LTN  Episode #577 – Rethinking Law Firm Growth in the Age of AI, with Sam Harden — Apple | Spotify | LTN  Episode #565 – Becoming the AI-Driven Leader, with Geoff Woods — Apple | Spotify | LTN  Episode #553 – AI Tools and Processes Every Lawyer Should Use, with Catherine Sanders Reach — Apple | Spotify | LTN  Episode #579 –  Knee Deep in Escheating: Intricacies of Lawyer Trust Accounts, with Amy Woods — Apple | Spotify | LTN  Episode 539 – This VOICE HACK Will Transform Your Legal Career!, with Reena Cook —  Apple | Spotify | LTN  Episode 554 – Competence and Diligence in Light of Changing Laws and Regulations, with Craig Dobson — 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 & Year-End Reflection  01:35 – Why These Episodes Stood Out  01:56 – AI Tools and Practical Tech Takeaways  02:59 – Building Community and Adult Friendships  04:28 – Mental Health First Aid for Lawyers  07:06 – Ethics, Flat Fees, and Changing Scope  09:14 – Voice, Presence, and Communication Skills  11:46 – Becoming an AI-Driven Leader  14:36 – Rethinking Growth in the Age of AI  18:00 – Trust Accounting and Compliance Essentials  20:03 – Listener Feedback & Looking Ahead  21:07 – Closing Thoughts and Thanks      Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With over 40 years of courtroom experience, attorney Peter Dunne is still learning by teaching. Hear some of his favorite lessons from the classroom and the courtroom. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ho ho ho...gan Lovells merging. ----- A critical analysis of the best variety of Coca-Cola product gives way to a conversation about law this week. Cadwalader ends its tumultuous year -- involving a Trump administration capitulation and a series of defections -- with a big quasi-transatlantic merger announcement with cross-Pond Hogan Lovells. Christmas came early -- to the extent anyone thinks of U.S. News law school rankings as "Christmas" -- with a prediction about the new law school pecking order. And it looks like garbage at a time when those rankings may be more important than ever. Also, ICE appears to be publishing an enemies list? That doesn't seem great. All that and some thoughts on Alan Dershowitz writing a new book suggesting Trump might be able to get a third term despite the clear text of the Constitution. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Leaders from faith organizations and mission-driven nonprofits discuss the connections between faith communities and legal services on Talk Justice. For many, faith provides guiding principles, like the instruction to help those in need. The Salvation Army recently launched their Faith and Community Based Organizations' Disaster Training. LSC developed a Faith Community Outreach Toolkit to help faith leaders understand the role of legal services. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Every firm knows it should be marketing. But go deeper. How should you be thinking about your firm's own individual goals, brand, and budget? If you're at a smaller or mid-size firm, you don't get a pass on marketing. You still need to reach potential clients. But you'll have to do it on a smarter, scaled level. Guest Erika Steinberg spent decades developing marketing strategies for large firms, then she formed her own company, CMO2go, which helps smaller and mid-size firms develop and execute marketing strategies that fit their budgets.  Don't feel overwhelmed by the word “strategy” or be intimidated by the very idea of marketing. Strip it down to the essentials and take it step by step. A good marketing brainstorming can help you not only focus your strategies but also understand your firm's goals and target audience.  Are you committing the sin of “random acts of marketing?” Find out on this episode of the Un-Billable Hour.   Ask us anything for the Community Table. Leave us a question online! Join the next Community Table discussion live! Always the third Thursday of the month at 3pm Eastern. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Fewer lawyers are gaining real courtroom experience, and the future of trial advocacy is at risk. In this special episode of On the Road, veteran trial attorney and educator Michael Schwartz examines why trial lawyers are becoming harder to find and what it takes to develop the skills true advocacy requires. Drawing on decades of experience trying hundreds of cases, Schwartz breaks down the foundations of effective trial lawyering, from witness examination and jury selection to professionalism, ethics, and strategy. He shares lessons from pivotal courtroom moments and explains why trials remain essential to the pursuit of justice and the search for truth. Michael Schwartz is a trial lawyer, legal educator, and founder of Trial Advocacy Group, where he trains lawyers nationwide in trial advocacy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On December 1, 2025, the Supreme Court of the United States heard oral arguments in the landmark copyright case, Cox Communications, Inc. v. Sony Music Entertainment.  This case centers on whether Cox, an internet service provider, can be held legally liable for copyright infringement committed by its subscribers when those users downloaded and shared thousands of copyrighted songs without permission.  On this episode of Lawyer 2 Lawyer, Craig joins Professor Christopher Jon Sprigman, Co-Director of the Engelberg Center on Innovation Law and Policy at NYU Law,  as they spotlight Cox Communications, Inc. v. Sony Music Entertainment. Craig & Chris discuss this SCOTUS case, oral arguments, the friend-of-the-court brief, copyright law, and the potential impact of a future ruling.   Mentioned in this Episode: Cox Communications, Inc. v. Sony Music Entertainment Brief of Amici Curiae ACLU et al. in Support of Petitioners Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Not all clients are created equal—and some quietly drain your firm's time, energy, and profits. In episode 593 of the Lawyerist Podcast, Stephanie Everett talks with Affinity Consulting's Jeff Krause about the hidden cost of bad clients and how law firms can use data to make better decisions about who they serve.  Jeff breaks down his Moneyball-inspired profit formula to show how client quality impacts leads, conversion rates, revenue, and margins. They explore why discount-seeking clients create compounding damage, how setting clearer expectations can improve client behavior, and when it makes sense to let certain clients walk away. A closer look at the tension between profitability and access to justice, and how intentional business models can support both.    Listen to our previous episodes about Client Experience & Law Firm Profitability:  Episode #384 – Delivering Bad News to Clients, with Marjorie Aaron — Apple | Spotify | LTN  Episode #462: Designing an Empathetic Client Experience, with Kirk Simoneau — Apple | Spotify | LTN  Episode #474: Moneyball for Lawyers, with Jeff Krause — Apple | Spotify | LTN  Episode #560 – Stop Doing Everything Yourself! Unlock Your Law Firm's True Potential, with Leticia DeSuze — 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  05:12 – Meet Jeff Krause  06:51 – What “Moneyball for Lawyers” Really Means  09:08 – The Profit Formula That Drives Firm Growth  12:46 – How Bad Clients Damage the Numbers  15:30 – The Compounding Cost of Discounts  18:21 – Raising Rates vs. Chasing More Clients  19:45 – Can You Improve Mid-Tier Clients?  21:58 – Profitability vs. Access to Justice  24:19 – Building Intentional Service Models  26:48 – Trusting Your Data—and Your Gut  27:43 – One Step Firms Should Take Right Now  28:23 – Closing Thoughts  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Looking for something to occupy yourself over the holidays, or to kick off your 2026? Lee Rawles is joined by her fellow Legal Talk Network hosts Stephanie Everett of the Lawyerist podcast and Conrad Saam and Gyi Tsakalakis of Lunch Hour Legal Marketing to share what books, TV shows and movies they enjoyed this year. They also share some of their own resolutions for 2026–and reveal a special new project for the Modern Law Library, coming soon to your podcast feed. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If you want 2025 in a nutshell, it doesn't get much better than a blundering Secretary of Defense bragging that the Pentagon bought an expensive, bespoke AI bot and it immediately started calling out the Trump administration for committing war crimes. As the legal industry ventures into a hallucinatory AI frontier, it's worth remembering that sometimes the bots outperform the human lawyers. At the Supreme Court, Justice Sotomayor tries to convince her colleagues not to blow up the federal government over a theory concocted in the 1970s. Sadly, she's fighting the wrong fight. And in a world of mergers -- especially cross-border mergers -- we have a reminder that sometimes it doesn't work out. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The failure rate of our prison systems is staggering, with recidivism exceeding 70% in nearly every state. What should this tell us about the success—or lack thereof—of our criminal justice system? And, how can those who are incarcerated survive the harshness of prison and avoid becoming part of the large percentage who seem to inevitably return?  This time on For the Innocent, Michael Semanchik welcomes Matthew Cooke, writer and director of Survivors Guide to Prison, a documentary exploring life in United States prisons from the perspectives of two wrongfully convicted men, Bruce Lisker and Reggie Cole. Drawing from his extensive research, Matthew reveals a system plagued with fundamentally misaligned incentives that do little to create pathways for inmates to succeed on the outside.  Michael and Matthew discuss new shifts in criminal justice reform and offer their thoughts on how to continue to bring this issue to the forefront of public discourse. The system is broken, but change is possible.  Listen to our episode about Bruce Lisker's story:  A Deceitful Detective & Manipulated Evidence – The Wrongful Conviction of Bruce Lisker. Learn more about Matthew Cooke and his film projects on IMDB: Matthew Cooke - IMDb Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We're so proud to have won a $10 million verdict for our client in a battle that took seven years and two trials. Mary Simon shares her courtroom story, including how she handled losing her carefully prepared outline and what she learned through this team effort. Tune in and celebrate with us! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Live from Denver and the ABA Labor and Employment Law Section Annual Conference, a conversation with guest Charlotte Burrows on gender discrimination and the status of the EEOC (Equal Employment Opportunity Commission).  Host Matt Greer talks in person with Burrows, the former chair of the EEOC and a fellow at both the University of California Berkeley's Applied Technology Policy group and the New York University School of Law.  When most people spend the majority of their adult lives working, Burrows says there's nothing more important than workplace protections against discrimination, sexual harassment, and abuse, regardless of sex and gender identity.  Today, recent attempts to roll back many protections have brought the mission of the EEOC into the spotlight. Hear from a lifelong fighter for workers' rights about how the tug of war over conflicting interpretations of the law, along with staffing cutbacks and shortages at the EEOC, are impacting workplace rights, protections, and case processing.  Also, a few minutes with Salomon Chiquiar-Rabinovich Ph.D., 2025 winner of the ABA Labor and Employment Law Section's Honorable Bernice B. Donald Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the Legal Profession Award. Chiquiar-Rabinovich came to the US from Mexico and shares his inspiring story of immigration, his thirst for knowledge, and overcoming challenges and a disability in his service to others. Live from Denver and the ABA Labor and Employment Law Section Annual Conference, a conversation with guest Charlotte Burrows on gender discrimination and the status of the EEOC (Equal Employment Opportunity Commission).  Host Matt Greer talks in person with Burrows, the former chair of the EEOC and a fellow at both the University of California Berkeley's Applied Technology Policy group and the New York University School of Law.  When most people spend the majority of their adult lives working, Burrows says there's nothing more important than workplace protections against discrimination, sexual harassment, and abuse, regardless of sex and gender identity.  Today, recent attempts to roll back many protections have brought the mission of the EEOC into the spotlight. Hear from a lifelong fighter for workers' rights about how the tug of war over conflicting interpretations of the law, along with staffing cutbacks and shortages at the EEOC, are impacting workplace rights, protections, and case processing.  Also, a few minutes with Salomon Chiquiar-Rabinovich Ph.D., 2025 winner of the ABA Labor and Employment Law Section's Honorable Bernice B. Donald Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the Legal Profession Award. Chiquiar-Rabinovich came to the US from Mexico and shares his inspiring story of immigration, his thirst for knowledge, and overcoming challenges and a disability in his service to others. Mentioned in This Episode: Equal Employment Opportunity Commission Meritor Savings Bank v. Vinson, Wikipedia EEOLeaders.org  EEOC Title VII 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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Neurodivergence is far more common in the legal profession than many realize and when supported thoughtfully, it can be a powerful asset. In this special episode of On the Road, legal professional and advocate Christina Hough shares practical insights on working more effectively with neurodivergent attorneys, paralegals, clients, and colleagues. Drawing from both personal experience and decades in the legal field, Hough explores how conditions such as ADHD, autism, PTSD, and other neurodivergent traits can influence communication, learning styles, sensory processing, and collaboration. From inclusive meeting practices and clearer communication strategies to simple workplace accommodations that improve focus and outcomes, this episode offers a roadmap for building more inclusive, productive legal environments while recognizing the unique strengths neurodivergent professionals bring to the practice of law. Christina Hough is a neurodivergent legal professional, speaker, and advocate with more than 23 years of experience in the legal field. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This bonus episode of Leading the Bar features a special installment from the Council of Firsts series, which spotlights trailblazing leaders who were the “first” to break barriers in their bar associations. In the next episode of the Council of Firsts, Amanda Arriaga, first Latina president of the Austin Bar, talks to Melissa Johnson, Past President of the San Diego Bar Association and Executive Council member of the National Conference of Bar Presidents (NCBP). This episode was recorded at the American Bar Association/ National Conference of Bar Presidents meeting in Louisville, Kentucky. To learn more about NCBP, visit https://ncbp.org Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of The Legal Report from Robert Half, host Jamy Sullivan sits down with Imani Maatuka, Commercial Litigation Managing Associate at Sidley Austin LLP. Imani shares insights on what leadership and development look like for early-career attorneys in Big Law, the role of mentorship and feedback in professional growth, and ways law firms can invest in culture and meaningful development to retain high-performing talent. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices