The Legal Toolkit

If you haven't heard, there's a new GenAI tool on the block, and the other neighborhood kids aren't too happy about it. The newbie, DeepSeek, is stirring up a major rivalry with OpenAI over some alleged and oh-so ironic data “theft”—ha. So, what does Jared think? Well, he's here for the drama, AND for the AI ethics admonitions all you lawyers need to hear.  Later, even more ethics! Jared welcomes April McMurrey to hear about the problematic things lawyers do to get themselves into ethical trouble. From iffy (or nonexistent) fee agreements to tech incompetence to communication breakdowns, and more, April dishes on common reasons attorneys are reported for ethics violations. And, don't worry, she also offers sage advice on how to keep your clients happy and your practice on the up and up. Finally, April sticks around for some Rump Roast trivia dedicated to Colorful Colorado. Just wait til you hear about Blucifer—yikes.  ----- Think your life might be better if you lived in Colorado? Listen to this episode's playlist to set the scene. ----- April M. McMurrey is Deputy Regulation Counsel for the intake division of the Colorado Supreme Court Office of Attorney Regulation Counsel. Mentioned in this episode: ABA 50th National Conference on Professional Responsibility

Jared may be too busy to write personalized Valentines for each member of the Legal Toolkit community, so, instead, he's gifting you with a special rebroadcast of an excellent episode from our friends over at Lawyerist. In this episode, Stephanie Everett sits down with Matthew Hunt on Lawyerist Podcast to break down the art of creating high-impact, snackable content for LinkedIn. Because let's face it—if you're not using LinkedIn to boost visibility, generate leads, and build real connections, you're leaving opportunities on the table. Matthew shares his best strategies for turning LinkedIn into a powerful tool for growing your law firm, attracting referrals, and making sure you stay top of mind in your network. Get ready to rethink how you use LinkedIn!

It was the 80s, man! The Xennial microgeneration (born between 1977 and 1983) is, arguably, the best generation, but growing up in the magical, tech-free 80s wasn't actually entirely happy-go-lucky. TV and movies of the era loved inflicting psychological scars on children, so Jared takes a therapeutic moment to get all that emotional damage off his chest.   Next—what you're actually here for—insights on legal technology, conferences, products, and more! Jared welcomes Jobst Elster of InsideLegal to get his take on the latest trends. They discuss technology use in law firms and spend time hashing out why legal tech conferences are still a pretty essential part of tech education and making connections with progressive, reputable vendors.  And, lastly, the Rump Roast! As it turns out, Jobst has a serious barbeque hobby, so, in homage to the name of this segment, he and Jared talk about the literal roasting and smoking of delicious meats. ----- A playlist full of...meat? ----- Jobst Elster is the Head of Content/Legal Marketing Strategy at InsideLegal.com.

Reminder: In this day and age, attorney tech competence absolutely includes keeping up with the rapidly evolving AI landscape. So, we all know lawyers typically suck at tech adoption, but how are they doing since the advent of the AI renaissance? Surprisingly better than usual! Jared expounds upon the latest data and enlightens us on how lawyers are engaging with AI tools.  Next, Jared welcomes Judge Marty McGee to explore AI in legal at even greater depths. Judge McGee talks through his personal experience with AI technologies, before going into the specifics of a recent AI court order regarding the appropriate use and responsibilities lawyers must bear as they interact with and implement AI in their legal practice. They touch on permissible GenAI uses, AI evidence, deepfakes, and more.  Finally, the Rump Roast! Jared gets to know Judge McGee by learning his top picks amongst movie trilogies, breads, fonts, North Carolina barbeque, and lots more, in a game called “My Favorite Things”. ----- Feeling festive? So are we. ----- Marty McGee serves as the Senior Resident Superior Court Judge in Cabarrus County.  

Jared reminisces on the frustrations (and sweet joys) of the Correia family legacy of dedicated Boston sports fandom. But, in spite of the ups and downs, his message is clear—never give up.  Are you looking to hire or be hired? The legal job market is pretty darn hot, but what are the best ways for law firms and potential hires to connect? Jared Correia welcomes Erin Andersen to discuss the latest employment trends in the legal industry. With insights from both sides of the hiring market, Erin talks through career transitions, ways to optimize your web presence, effects of firm culture on hiring, and yes—AI impacts in job candidate searches!  And, this time on the Rump Roast, Jared and Erin play Workin' for a Livin'––showcasing unusual jobs for Erin to rank according to their appeal. Would she like to be a professional cuddler? An egg peeler? A reindeer minder? That's for us to know and you to find out.  ----- Let's Play(list) Ball!  

What gives, America? Jared shares his take on Trump's unexpectedly decisive re-election and what he expects/fears in the upcoming presidential term. Here's hoping democracy survives the next 4 years.  Next up, Alan Klevan has used technology to create a better work-life balance for decades, and you can too! Jared and Alan talk through how to leverage technology in your workflows to create a legal practice that aligns with your values and goals as an attorney. Alan shares his favorite tech tools and his strategies for maintaining balance in your personal and professional life. Last, Alan dodges the usual Rump Roast trivia by having a weird hobby! We bet you've never heard of a lobster roll connoisseur, but, well, now you have. Jared questions Alan on his unique experiences consuming lobster rolls in extensive and varied locales.  ----- Are mixtapes still a thing? Jared says so. ----- Alan Klevan has been an attorney since 1990, concentrating in the fields of workers' compensation law, automobile tort law, and general negligence law. 

What's the next big thing coming in AI? Autonomous agents, that's what! Currently, you have to drive the process of genAI by honing the iterations of your prompt. But, an autonomous agent can do that stuff without you worrying your pretty little head, dear lawyer. So, what's there to know about this latest tech evolution? Jared's here to talk about attorney use cases and whether this tech may be used for good or ill. Later, the AI apocalypse isn't upon us yet, so let's enjoy some awesome music. Jared welcomes Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Richie Furay who, among other accomplishments, was a member of the great American bands Buffalo Springfield and Poco. Jared and Richie talk through his history, digging into many colorful moments from his experiences in the music industry. Richie performs live on the podcast, and he and Jared discuss his upcoming documentary.  ----- Need more Richie? Jared's got you covered.  ----- Mentioned in this Episode: Spellbook Associate, effectively acting as a junior associate in a law firm.  Spellbook Launches Gen AI Agent that Can Plan and Execute Complex Transactional Workflows | LawSites by Bob Ambrogi LawNext Podcast: Ep 256: All About Spellbook's New AI Agent, Capable of Performing Complex Legal Tasks, with CEO Scott Stevenson Richie Furay  Documentary — Richie Furay

Dear lawyers, software integrations exist to help you make life easier, make work faster, and much more. So, get on board as Jared takes us on a magical journey of understanding, helping lawyers everywhere grasp the versatile, customizable integration possibilities in legal practice. Jared explains the differences between direct, indirect, and DIY integrations, and gives real-life, legal-centric examples of how to amp up the usefulness of your software in almost innumerable ways.  Next, there are definitely some issues with our current legal ethics rules, but is there really any way to clear up the confusion? Jared welcomes legal ethics expert Jayne Reardon to talk about some of the inconsistencies at play, antiquated rules, inconsistent enforcement, and all sorts of other ethics questions worth examining in view of the current climate of the profession and needs of consumers. While Jared wants to burn it all down, Jayne offers constructive criticism vital to the future of legal ethics. And, finally, the Rump Roast, of course! Jared and Jayne play a round of trivia called “Questionable Ethics”. Which philosopher had a penchant for being swaddled like a baby? Yikes. Jayne R. Reardon is a Partner and Deputy General Counsel at FisherBroyles LLP, a distributed global law firm. ----- This week, Jared shares the playlist he turns to for help making the "right" choice. Proceed with caution. ------ Our opening song is Two Cigarettes by Major Label Interest. Our closing song is Something Else by Nu Alkemis$t.

If you're not marketing your law firm well, you're sitting on a whole lot of untapped potential for income and growth. Jared talks to Ashley Robinson of Green Cardigan Marketing about the need she saw in the legal world for honest, straightforward marketing tactics that help law firms bring in new clients and greater profits. She explains engagement strategies, effective intake processes, essential marketing technology, and more.  Later on in the Rump Roast, Jared and Ashley play “Don't Sweat It!”––a delightful round of sweater-related trivia.  And, it might seem like Sheryl Crow got a late start to her music career, but she was deeply involved in the music industry for many years before her breakthrough solo album, “Tuesday Night Music Club” rocketed her to fame at age 31. That first album was pretty fun, but Sheryl's perfect album came later with “The Globe Sessions.” Jared digs into the exceptional appeal of this deliciously hard-edged pop/rock album. ----- Yes, Jared does have a playlist of his favorite Sheryl Crow songs. ----- Our opening song is Two Cigarettes by Major Label Interest. Our closing song is Golden Light by Reveille

Too many law firms aren't great at being productive, and downfalls in efficiency are often traced to attorneys using the wrong software, or none at all. Jared outlines six productivity-boosting software tools all lawyers should have in their toolkit.  Later, what's going to happen to your law firm if something happens to you? Don't wait until late in your career to establish your succession plan. Start early and communicate well to make a plan that protects your legacy and those you care about. Jared welcomes Ivy Slater to learn the ins and outs of succession planning.  And, last but not least, what past Olympic event involved two opponents whacking each other with canes? It's that time of the quadrennial again—so “The Shitty Olympics” returns to the Rump Roast! Jared describes a variety of absurd former competitions, and Ivy must guess the events.  Ivy Slater is CEO of Slater Success, a consulting and coaching company focused on sustainable growth and leadership development for high level service-based businesses.  6 Under-The-Radar Software Tools Project Management Notion Taskade Trello Asana Basecamp AI Notetaker Zoom AI Companion Fireflies AI Fathom  Otter AI Features in Your Existing Software Duet AI for Google Workspace Copilot for Microsoft Teams Passive Timekeeping Apps Clockify Toggl Chrometa WiseTime Memtime (formerly TimeBro) Expense Tracking Expensify Automated Client Communications: Hona Case Status  ----- If these software tools aren't enough to give your productivity a boost, try listening to this playlist. ------ Our opening song is Two Cigarettes by Major Label Interest. Our closing song is In Your Head by Reveille.

Were the Beach Boys once on track to become America's version of the Beatles? Surprisingly, maybe. Disney recently put out a less-than-stellar Beach Boys documentary, so Jared takes on the task of dishing on the true talent, grit, beauty, and tragedy of the group's career.  Next, We all have connections that carry the potential to be valuable in our professional lives, but if those connections are difficult to maintain, possibilities may slip away. How can attorneys deepen relationships and strengthen their business opportunities? Just like everything else—with AI, of course! Jared talks with Jody Glidden about new AI-fueled software that helps attorneys with front-office tech geared toward nurturing your network. And last, Jared hands over the Rump Roast to Real Housewives superfans Ally Kvidt and Lindsey Egan! As it turns out, Jody is a regular on Real Housewives of Miami (gasp!). So, now it's their turn to dish on the talent, grit, beauty, and vapidity of the RHOMers. Plus, you'll finally find out whether Jody and Lisa really stole that waffle iron. ------ Good, good, good, good vibrations (oom-bop-bop). This episode's playlist is all about the inventors of the California sound: The Beach Boys. ----- Our opening song is Two Cigarettes by Major Label Interest. Our closing song is Kokobongo by Alessandro Gugel.

Nowadays, all the cool kids are using customer relationship management (CRM) software, and you should too. It's not new technology, but if you've missed the boat or need a refresher—Jared's here to fill you in on CRM technology and what it can do for you. He explains different types of CRMs in detail to show you its potential for creating seamless intake experiences and optimizing your workflows. Speaking of CRMs, Jared welcomes Matt Spiegel of Lawmatics to learn about his story as a tech founder and his methods and means for solving problems for attorneys. Matt offers his perspectives on CRM functionality and its latest developments, and also offers hints at how AI will affect this tech in the future. Last, but not least, Bobby Orozco joins Jared for the Rump Roast to flex his rap knowledge, unpack the Drake/Kendrick Lamar feud, and talk about the best diss tracks in rap history.  Matt Spiegel is the co-founder and CEO of Lawmatics, an attorney-client relationship management platform. Bobby Orozco is director of sales at Lawmatics. ----- Our opening song is Two Cigarettes by Major Label Interest. Our closing song is Grime by Ghost Beatz.

Getting in front of an audience to communicate on camera certainly doesn't come naturally to all (most?) attorneys, but if you're feeling embarrassed by your lackluster video presence, there are ways to overcome those on-camera nerves. Jared talks with Kerry Barrett about how she helps professionals sharpen media skills to increase their visibility and present confidence and credibility to their audience. In the Rump Roast, they play “Candid Camera”, where Jared asks Kerry questions on the history of all things video. What was the last truly silent film? What band played the first-ever music video on MTV? Listen in to find out if Kerry's up to the trivia challenge. And, lastly, hating on Caitlin Clark is utterly ridiculous. Jared expounds upon the many reasons why WNBA players (including Caitlin's own teammates) need to take advantage of the hype and bask in all that Caitlin Clark is bringing to women's basketball.  ----- Since Video Killed The Radio Star, here's a playlist featuring songs that had some of the best music videos. ----- Our opening song is Two Cigarettes by Major Label Interest. Our closing song is Just Like Me by Thruline.

Jared kicks it off by exploring the biggest players in productivity software you should be using, well, be more productive. But no productivity suite is perfect. So, get to know the strengths and weaknesses of each so you can make the right choice for you. Then, back in the day, lawyers often got their IT services from some independent techie who took care of stuff on an as-needed basis, but that sort of break/fix model is problematic if your tech strategy is only reactive instead of proactive. Jared talks with Michael Doherty about what it looks like for lawyers to engage IT services through a managed service provider (MSP). Michael walks attorneys through modern realities and ethics for technology use in their law firms and the potential for better outcomes when working with an MSP.  Later on—the Rump Roast, of course! The guys play “Hard Choices”, where Jared poses difficult Boston-themed scenarios and Michael must educate the masses on what a true Bostonian would do.  ----- Let's keep this Boston train going. Next stop: some of Boston's greatest musical hits. ----- Our opening track is Two Cigarettes by Major Label Interest. Our closing track is Take a Ride With Me by The Revolution.

AI's prime directive is to give you answers, buuuut… it might just be telling you what it thinks you want to hear—with no concern over providing actual verifiable facts. This issue (and oodles of others) have initiated a trickle of case law/guidance/opinions/etc. in the legal AI scene, and you, dear lawyer, want to be on the right side of legal ethics on this one. Jared breaks down the latest developments on this topic to give you a better understanding of where things are headed.  Next, some of us are, admittedly, BS-ing our way through all this AI stuff, but Josh Noffke really and truly uses AI as much as he possibly can in his law firm. Since the rest of us are still muddling through, Jared welcomes Josh to give attorneys tool recommendations and pointers on use-cases for AI in their law firms. Later, it turns out that Josh played as a walk-on for the University of Michigan's football team, so the Rump Roast is dedicated to team trivia! The guys play “Michigan Man” to test both Josh's knowledge and reputation as a former Wolverine. Serious stuff.  ----- Ah, Michigan. The the mitten shaped state that gave us Motown. ------ Our opening track is Two Cigarettes by Major Label Interest. Our closing track is Renegade by The Revolution. Mentioned in This Episode: Notion Scribe Loom Videos Rocket Typist TextExpander

Bored with your run-of-the-mill marketing campaigns? Maybe it's time for you to make a musical! Jared brings on Jacob Sanders to learn all about the recent release of NinjaCat's Big Data Day – a corporate musical. They talk about the history of these sorts of marketing ventures and their uniquely fun and tactical advantages. They also dig into how super effective use of your data will help you run a better, more profitable business.  Next, the Rump Roast! In a new trivia game called “Large Fathers”, Jacob must answer questions about big daddies of historical pop culture.  ----- Also in this episode—Jared, in general, hates musicals (Sorry, Jacob). No spoilers here, but a very select few did make Jared's remarkably minuscule shortlist. ----- Our opening track is Two Cigarettes by Major Label Interest. Our closing track is Sepulveda by Midnight Daydream.

So much of our communications and societal existence is housed online, so e-discovery is the major way we gather evidence. Jared talks with Cat Casey about the AI spectrum within the e-discovery world, explaining the many ways varying elements of machine learning and AI have created more powerful tools for attorneys. They also discuss the promising future of AI in e-discovery and the legal profession.  This time on the Rump Roast, Jared quizzes Cat on cat-themed song lyrics. Is Cat an expert on feline musical appearances? We shall see.  Everybody keeps asking about AI, so Jared's delivering! There are quite a few budding AI softwares tailor-made for attorneys, so what tools are worth your attention? Jared reminds everyone—lots of the things you already use have had AI baked in for a long time, so use it. Security is important, folks, so picking vetted technology over an unknown/free tool could definitely keep it from coming back to bite you in your ethically questionable ass.  Cat Casey is Chief Growth Officer at Reveal Brainspace, helping lead innovation and direction for their legal technology solutions. ----- Since you're listening to Cat on the mic this episode, the logical next step is to listen to this cat inspired playlist. ------ Our opening track is Two Cigarettes by Major Label Interest. Our closing track is Banksy by Lunareh. Links Mentioned: Women in eDiscovery Operation Safe Space SPLASH Pledge Law Rocks!

Sometimes, legal tech is the perfect solution for the needs of your law firm, but sometimes, lawyers need to look outside the legal tech world at other technologies that can serve their legal practice better. Emily Gordon has always been a tech-forward attorney, and she's got tons of recommendations for non-legaltech tech tools that have become the most effective solutions for her law firm.  Then, Emily sticks around for the Rump Roast! The “Amara” in Emily's firm, Amara Law, is actually her middle name, so Jared devised a middle-name trivia game: “Stuck in the Middle With You”.   And, dear listener, get ready for a hot take from Jared: SNL sucks, and… you know what? Maybe it always has. But, there's something better out there—”I Think You Should Leave” on Netflix is worth watching again and again. Have fun! _____ Since we talked about middle names coming first, I've put together what is, perhaps, our most middling playlist ever. Links Mentioned: Front Twilio PandaDoc Stripe

Adjusting to the new and persistent presence of AI in the legal world isn't easy, but it is necessary. Jared welcomes brothers Justin and Luc Cary, an attorney and software engineer, respectively, to unpack the current state of AI in business and legal uses. They discuss current safety issues, emerging guardrails, best practices for research, AI in legal tech software, and more.  Later on in the Rump Roast, the guys play “Brother Up”, where Justin and Luc must identify famous brothers in history and pop culture.  And, should you be entering confidential information into generative AI tools? Well, there are layers, folks, but in the current AI environment, lawyers should never assume their data is secure. That being said, Jared doesn't want to throw a wet blanket on the AI revolution, he just wants you to know the three simple things that will enable you to use these tools safely and ethically.  Justin Cary is an attorney at Drummond Woodsum. Luc Cary is associate director of machine learning at Invitae. _______________________________________________________ Since we have the Cary brothers with us this week, here's a playlist all about siblings! _______________________________________________________ Our opening track is Two Cigarettes by Major Label Interest. Our closing track is Promised Land by Brian Brown

Backsliders are the worst, and if you're making your employees come into the office after years of successful remote work, then, well… you're the worst. Jared weighs in on the remote/in-office work debate to help you take a hard look at why you're doing what you're doing—and whether your reasoning is utter bullshit. Next, Jared welcomes first-time guest Rob Joyner to talk about how technology adoption is the means to the end of future-proofing your law firm. To some lawyers, new tech may feel like the great unknown, but failing to learn and implement it will make you fall behind your competitors. Jared and Rob talk about the latest in AI and other essential legal tech and the best ways for law firms to stay current. In the Rump Roast, Jared forgoes his typical torturous games, because Rob has a legit cool hobby to talk about. You can learn more about it at paintedjoyner.com. Rob Joyner is Senior Vice President of Business Development at Centerbase. ----- Since we talk about artwork - a departure for us, for sure - here are some songs related to art. ----- Our opening track is Two Cigarettes by Major Label Interest. Our closing track is Spoken Word by Renderings.

Why is it that law firms are a frequent target for data breaches? Make no mistake, attorneys, you've got a lot of sensitive, valuable data that a threat actor would love to get their hands on. If your cybersecurity isn't effective, you're opening yourself up to a whole lot of ethical and legal issues. Jared chats with David Aaron about preventative measures lawyers should employ, what to do if you suffer a breach, and current cybersecurity trends. Later on in the Rump Roast, the guys play “Doubling Up”––where Jared quizzes David on trivia devoted to people blessed with a first-name first name and first-name last name. You get it, right? And, is anything more annoying than email? Not in Jared's estimation. He shares his thoughts (read: rants) on the vexing email follow-ups people tend to send with irritating regularity. ----- This episode, we covered some annoying email tactics, so we made the playlist all about the proper messaging. ----- Our opening track is Two Cigarettes by Major Label Interest. Our closing track is Christmas Time is Lambs Farm by Sam Barsh.

If your firm is experiencing operational challenges you just can't seem to overcome, you might be in need of some C-suite help. Lawyers don't necessarily want to take on the business responsibilities of running a practice, and there are many flexible ways to get the business guidance you need. Jared talks with Seth Tuman of 2GO Advisory Group about how either fractional or full-time C-suite professionals can help attorneys take their law firms to the next level. Later, you're in for a holiday treat on the Rump Roast with the return of Correia Family Stories! Jared's mom and brother, Pat, share some of their favorite holiday memories. Was it Jared or his sister who was responsible for the pine needle in Pat's eye? And, who knew Scattergories could be so delightfully awkward? Listen in for more. And, last but not least, if you've always wanted to elevate your holiday entertainment aficionado status, Jared has all the little-known titles you need to watch to become a truly well-versed movie snob. ----- The holiday's are a good time to connect with your roots, so in honor of my mother and brother joining, here's a playlist of Portuguese music to honor my family's native land. ----- Our opening track is Two Cigarettes by Major Label Interest. Our closing track is Christmas Time is Coming by Moments.

Searching for state court data used to be a huge pain in the ass, but data analytics has almost entirely fixed it, giving attorneys searchable databases in just about every state. What else has data analytics done for the profession? Plenty. Jared talks with Nicole Clark about how the aggregation of legal data has given us a much deeper understanding of courts, judges, and law firms—and even gives lawyers an edge in the courtroom. Trigger warning: they also give a nod to AI and its major contributions to legal data analytics. It's almost Christmas, but let's take a look back at Thanksgiving! Jared and Nicole play “Overrated, Underrated, Properly Rated—Thanksgiving Edition” to determine whether beloved Thanksgiving traditions like stuffing, football, and uncomfortable political conversations are given their due. Though controversial in its day, Paul Simon's “Graceland” is a perfect album. After a run of personal and professional disappointments, Simon hit upon some pretty fortuitous inspiration that led to this pristine collection of musical craftsmanship. Jared unpacks the surprising and varied Americana-meets-world-music vibe of “Graceland”, the most popular album of Simon's career. Nicole Clark is co-founder and CEO at Trellis Research Inc. ----- We celebrate Paul Simon's perfect album 'Graceland', with our episode + this playlist. ----- Our opening track is Two Cigarettes by Major Label Interest. Our closing track is Life of the Party by Dr. Delight.

As lawyers, you constantly assess the risks of your clients, whether in their business practices, court cases, personal relationships, or a multitude of other things. So, managing risk for your clients is what you do, but when was the last time you took a hard look at your own liabilities? Jared welcomes Mark Bassingthwaighte of ALPS Insurance to chat about common risks in modern legal practice. Mark's approachable take on insurance could help just about anybody understand what they need for their law firm, and he and Jared also talk through current ethics considerations around AI and cybersecurity. Then, in the Rump Roast, Jared tests Mark's expertise on authentic blunders in a game called “Historic Mistakes.” Did the Titanic sink because of a sleepy watchman? Was Archduke Franz Ferdinand's assassination the result of a forgotten fancy hat? Listen in to find out. And, lastly, everybody's rolling out their AI tools/extras/whatever, and pricing for these things is truly all over the place. Jared ponders this issue—as a lawyer, you need to be able to keep up with the other guy, but how much should all this cost you? Mark Bassingthwaighte has been a Risk Manager with ALPS, the nation's largest direct writer of lawyers' malpractice insurance, since 1998. ----- Since we talked about mistakes - those lawyers make + historical ones, have a listen to our playlist featuring songs about fucking up. ----- Our opening track is Two Cigarettes by Major Label Interest. Our closing track is Night Whispers by Dr. Delight.

Whether there's a generational divide, unhelpful technology, a lack of emotional intelligence, or, really, a whole bunch of other issues—communication is hard. And, when communication breaks down, your business just doesn't operate like it should. Is there any way to bridge all these gaps and interact effectively in your workplace? Jared talks with Rachael Bosch about her strategies for helping both individuals and teams understand each other better and overcome challenges in their professional lives. In the Rump Roast, Jared and Rachael play “A Rose By Any Other Name”—a game entirely focused on… deodorant! Jared tries to stump Rachael with a variety of real and made-up slogans. And, speaking of deodorant, Jared's monologue took a deep, unpleasant dive into what is apparently acceptable on network TV commercials these days. It's pretty revolting. Has Jared gone too far this time? Probably. Rachael Bosch is the founder of Fringe PD. ----- We talked about how to cover up for your stankiness, and so we put together some songs about smells. ----- Our opening track is Two Cigarettes by Major Label Interest. Our closing track is I'm Drowning by Dr. Delight.

Document management is a must in legal, and Microsoft 365 has plenty of ways to organize and process your documents for you. So, what do you need to know about it? Jared welcomes Keith Vallely to talk through the uses of SharePoint, OneDrive, and other Microsoft features to help attorneys understand the nuances of Microsoft's methods for document management. The Rump Roast digs deep into tricky Star Wars trivia in a game Jared likes to call “Star Tours.” Do you know what language is written on Darth Vader's chest plate? Does Keith know? Listen in to find out. And, Jared taps into his unapologetically nerdy side to analyze the current sci-fi offerings in the multiverse and beyond. So, if you're in need of some excellent escapism, Jared has plenty of recommendations for the sci-fi movies and shows you should watch. Keith Vallely is Vice President and Senior Consultant at Epona USA. ----- Since we talked about a lot of different sci-fi IP - including Star Wars - let's enjoy a list of the best sci-fi movie needle drops of all-time. ----- Our opening track is Two Cigarettes by Major Label Interest. Our closing track is Tenderness of You by Cast of Characters.

Women attorneys are intelligent and brave, but they still face particular challenges in the legal profession. Jared chats with Rachel Clar of Interconnected Us about her mission to create safe environments for women in law to get the support they need to grow their influence and flourish in legal practice. Later, in perhaps the most uniquely named Rump Roast game yet, Jared and Rachel play “Town in Upstate NY, Town in Rural Alabama, or Discontinued Household Cleaner?” And, yeah—the name is pretty self-explanatory. And, we know you're sick of hearing about AI, but Jared still has a few things that need to be said. First, don't be a moron and believe everything AI tells you, and second, *do* save yourself time by using AI for contracts, emails, and generating workflows. Rachel Clar is founder and CEO at Interconnected Us. ----- We talked about how law firms can use generative AI tools right now, so here's a playlist about AI, designed by AI. Hey, we had a nice run. ----- Our opening track is Two Cigarettes by Major Label Interest. Our closing track is Night Whispers by Dr. Delight.

Chuki Obiyo has made a science of growing law firm businesses, with plenty of research to back up his time-tested strategies. Jared talks with Obiyo about how to form deeper connections with your network, tips for start-up firms, and leveraging social media and other technology to promote business growth. Later, who knew September had so many stupid holidays? Apparently, Jared did, so you're in for a treat on the Rump Roast. Jared and Chuki play “Fake-Ass Holidays" to showcase September's plethora of silly celebrations. And, Jimmy Buffet had a life well-lived. Jared pays homage to the late musician, highlighting his greatest songs, memorable collaborations, and more. Chuki Obiyo is managing director of business development at Vedder Price. ----- We talked about the recent passing of Jimmy Buffett. So, let's pour out a little rum for our fallen homie. ----- Our opening track is Two Cigarettes by Major Label Interest. Our closing track is Kokobongo by Alessandro Gugel.

It's been 563 days, but we're finally back in the Playroom with musical guest Mark Oblinger. Mark holds the double distinction of being an Emmy-winning/Grammy-nominated musician AND having a longtime connection with this very podcast! Tune in for Jared and Mark's chat about his colorful career in music and audio. Mark highlights his time playing with bands like Firefall and Pure Prairie League, his successful stint in the tv-music world, and his current budding career as a solo artist. And then, the good stuff! Mark performs two of his songs live, including his slightly darker, melancholy version of the classic hit “Amie” by Pure Prairie League. Learn more about Mark and his upcoming tours and projects at: https://markoblinger.com/ ----- Mark's done us the kindness of putting together an absolutely stellar playlist for our enjoyment. Check out some of the songs that inspire his work and maybe become inspired as well. ----- Our opening track is Two Cigarettes by Major Label Interest. Our closing track is Little Bird from Mark's 2019 album High Water Line.

Lawyers, you really actually do need to use KPIs—that's Key Performance Indicators for those of you who *still* haven't kept up with good business practices. Do it! And, Jared's here to help with a breakdown of the 5 KPI categories you need to start keeping track of, like, yesterday. Next, software demos! If you're paralyzed with indecision about what software to use, a demo could help, but only if you ask good questions throughout the process. Jared welcomes Andreas Becker to talk about the importance of planning and strategizing to gain the knowledge you need to solve problems and increase productivity with new software. And, the Rump Roast takes yet another new turn, this time leaving us with Jared & Andreas dreaming about the songs they'd love to use in their podcasts if royalties weren't a thing. Andreas Becker is director of business development of Lawyaw at Clio. ----- If we had no limit on the money we could spend for music, can you just imagine what music we'd use on this show. Well, IMAGINE NO MORE! Andreas and I share our dream picks for podcast music. ----- Our opening track is Two Cigarettes by Major Label Interest. Our closing track is Chillabye by Midnight Daydream.

Integrations, integrations, integrations. You've probably heard about integrations for years, but lots of people still struggle to understand just how this stuff is going to change their workflows. Jared explains the whole concept, gives some of the first integrations you need to be using, and warns you away from some missteps. Next, Emil Ali stops by chat with Jared about the unique challenges and worrying trends in IP ethics. Oh, what's that? You're not an IP attorney? Well, you'd be surprised how many non-IP attorneys get hit with these very much not trivial penalties. Finally, the stars have aligned! Welcome to the era of Barbenheimer! Jared and Emil look back at past movie release days to debate other great film pairings that have paved the way for this “momentous” occasion. Emil Ali is a partner at McCabe & Ali, LLP. ----- Since it's Barbenheimer weekend, we've mixed some serious + silly songs together, in the spirit of the moment. (Though, I hear 'Barbie' is pretty deep, too.)

Why would a law firm hire a PR agency? Well, if you've ever wished your firm was known for its expertise and thought leadership, a PR agency might be just the thing. Jared brings on Michelle Calcote King to talk through the lawyer/PR relationship and its potential for improving your credibility, furthering your reach, and growing your business. The rest of the show is a total Succession-fest. Jared's monologue spoils the entire beginning, middle, and end of the series, so listeners beware. And, later on in the Rump Roast, Jared welcomes his own kids for dramatic readings of some favorite Succession quotes. Michelle Calcote King is principal and president of Reputation Ink. ----- We have fun on this show, but today it's all business - Succession style. ----- Our opening track is Two Cigarettes by Major Label Interest. Our Rump Roast song is Macbeth by JeesGuy. Our closing track is Lucky Day by SPARKZ.

Adding value for bar association members is always a good idea. Jared chats with Rio Peterson, who has just about seen it all when it comes to bar programming—from cool events to tech offerings to stellar educational programs and more. Listen in for her thoughts on improving bar culture and providing more for members. Jared and Rio also talk about how lawyer side hustles are more common than you might think and just might provide the little extra something you need in your life. This time on the Rump Roast—you don't often use Simon Le Bon heads as your rating mechanism, but today is the day! Jared has Rio rate the annoyance level of a variety of “Name Songs” pulled from the archives of popular music. Also, does Rio like it when you ask her if she “dances on the sand”? If the answer to that one isn't obvious, tune in to find out. Circling back—since you're a lawyer, your side hustle has to be seriously legit. You don't want to find yourself in the middle of a legal ethics violation, so Jared explains the best ways to keep your extra gigs on the up and up. Learn more about this topic in Christa Arcos' article: Wearing Two Hats: Dual Practices and Ancillary Businesses. Rio Peterson is Bar and Affinity Partnerships Strategist at ALPS Lawyers Malpractice Insurance. ----- We talked about songs titled after girls' name and how annoying that must be if you happen to share that name, so here's a playlist highlighting that occasion! ----- Our opening track is Two Cigarettes by Major Label Interest. Our closing track is Jewels by Falls.

Even if you're a great lawyer, your top-notch skills might be holding you back when it comes to running your business. Jared talks with Steve Seckler about his recent article in the ABA's GPSolo eReport, Stop Thinking (and Acting) Like a Lawyer, in which he outlines the typical attorney characteristics that work great in legal matters, but kinda suck when you're trying to network, grow your firm, get referrals, manage your employees, and more. Listen in to learn how to suppress those lawyer instincts when needed. Later, time to Roast some Rumps! Jared has crafted a brand new game for today's special guest, titled “Deep Cuts with Steve Seckler” and featuring obscure trivia from the world of popular music. And, if you haven't noticed, most law firm logos are terrible. Tune in to hear Jared's list of what not to do when you design your logo—we're looking at you, Doric columns, books, boring stuff, etc—and learn how to make something that's actually appealing. Stephen Seckler is president of Seckler Legal Recruiting and Coaching. ----- It's time to get deep - DEEP - into Steve's musical tastes. That's right, we've got some deep cuts here. ----- Our opening track is Two Cigarettes by Major Label Interest. Our closing track is Tenderness of You by Cast of Characters.

Fastcase and vLex have merged to form the world's largest law library, containing the law from over 100 countries and more than a billion documents. One platform with all these resources means attorneys around the world will have bigger, better, faster access to everything they need to do legal research. Jared chats with Ed Walters of Fastcase about their goals for democratizing the law and what plans they have to continue developing this global library and legal AI for easier use. This time on the Rump Roast, Jared and Ed play “Wack-Ass Responses from AI to Completely Reasonable Prompts,” but that title seems a bit unwieldy, so you can just think of it as: “ChatGPT Jeopardy!” And, since AI will probably take over the world eventually, let's prove our superiority while we still can. Jared's found the clincher: we're funny, and AI's sense of humor is decidedly lame. We win. Ed Walters is the CEO and co-founder of Fastcase, an online legal research software company. Read more about the merger: Legal tech disruptors vLex and Fastcase merge to form world's largest global law library ----- Legal research is all about searching, but there's a lot of other stuff you can look for, too. ----- Our opening track is Two Cigarettes by Major Label Interest. Our closing track is Yellow Letter by Sam Barsh.

Randa Prendergast takes a “June Cleaver” approach to running a law firm, making every little thing run smoothly without breaking a sweat. Jared and Randa talk through how to identify your workflow needs and develop processes that make it easy for employees old and new to know exactly how to keep things rolling. Later on in the Rump Roast, Jared's fellow Bostonian Dan Winslow joins to talk about the great equalizer of the food world (beans, obviously) and the real reason Boston has long been known as “Beantown.” Dan also discusses the first-ever Beantown Beanfest, coming up on June 24, 2023! And, finally, 1974's “Sundown” album by Gordon Lightfoot is perfect. In Jared's words, the title track is “…maybe the most quietly menacing pop song ever written.” That description alone is pretty damn intriguing, so tune in for Jared's thoughts on the whole album—and RIP Gordon Lightfoot (November 17, 1938 – May 1, 2023). Randa Prendergast is the Attorney Whisperer at Mrs. June Legal, LLC. Daniel B. Winslow is President of the New England Legal Foundation. ------ In honor of the late, great Gordon Lightfoot, here is a smattering of some of that Yukon gold! ----- Our opening track is Two Cigarettes by Major Label Interest. Our closing track is Night Whispers by Dr. Delight.

If you know exactly how all your clients found you, then you know exactly how to market your firm to keep driving more growth. But, a whole lot of firms aren't tracking the process from need to lead to paying client. Jared chats with Patrick Carver about how collecting the right data on leads eventually converts into more clients and bigger profits. Later, Patrick sticks around for the Rump Roast and a new take on the much-loved antics of the Florida Man—but this time, just a bit north! Jared's latest quiz asks the question,“What Would Georgia Man Do?” And, The perfect intake form isn't as elusive as you might think. Jared's got tips for hitting the Goldilocks zone with each and every potential client to make sure you're not wasting your time or theirs. Patrick Carver is CEO and owner of Constellation Marketing. ----- We talked with Patrick Carver about, among other things, the great state of Georgia. So, here are some of our favorite Georgia songs! ----- Our opening track is Two Cigarettes by Major Label Interest. Our closing track is Night Whispers by Dr. Delight.

How do you get your best clients to hire you? Jared welcomes Bruce La Fetra, a real, live client whisperer, to chat about how to flip your usual script and market to the clients you actually want. Later, the guys play “Technical ‘Knox' Out,” a trivia round highlighting Knoxville, TN, facts—past and present. And, who knew? Apparently, Jared's devotion to flip phones rivals that of the Laguna Beach teen scene in 2004. But, Jared's relationship with his beloved, flippy phones has been riddled with angst as of late. Tune in for the drama. Bruce La Fetra is a consultant at Eastwood Strategy Advisors. ----- We talked about Knoxville - which is in Tennessee; so, here are some Nashville (also in Tennessee) artists! ----- Our opening track is Two Cigarettes by Major Label Interest. Our closing track is This is Love by Alsever Lake.

Where do expert witnesses come from, exactly? Jared welcomes guests Allison Muller, Nick Briscoe, and Nick Rishwain—an experienced and knowledgeable panel discussing the ins and outs of expert witnessing. They share how professionals come into this field and offer advice for attorneys looking to engage an expert witness for a case. Later on in the Rump Roast, guest Rachael Ziegler joins to talk about yet another of Jared's favorite TV series—HBO's reboot of the classic lawyer show, Perry Mason. And, lawyers of all ages and stages benefit from mentors in legal practice, but many don't know how to tap into the expertise they need. Jared offers his tips for seeking out mentors and explains how multiple connections with differing knowledge bases can help attorneys thrive. Dr. Allison Muller is a board-certified toxicologist with expert witness experience in cases involving alcohol, drugs of abuse, carbon monoxide, medication errors, and postmortem toxicology. Nicholas Briscoe is Chief Economist at Briscoe Economics Group, Inc. and has provided consulting and expert witness testimony in a wide variety of economic and financial matters. Nick Rishwain is Vice President of business development and relations at Experts.com, assisting attorneys in locating a wide variety of expert witnesses and consultants for their litigation support needs. Rachel Ziegler is the founder of Ziegler Legal Services, where her practice focuses on estate planning, estate administration, trust administration, and health care advocacy. ----- Since we talked about with no less than 4 experts, here are some songs about being smart. You'll listen, if you know whats good for you! ----- Our opening track is Two Cigarettes by Major Label Interest. Our closing track is Lucky Day by SPARKZ.

Communication often happens because we are simply reacting to something, but how often do we react with a thoughtful, impactful response? Jared welcomes Jessica Chen to hear her strategies for leveling up your professional communications. They talk through some of the ways communications training can elevate your influence in the workplace and discuss ways to connect with professional peers through social media. Later, has anyone named Oscar ever won an Oscar? Find out whether Jessica knows the answer in Jared's Rump Roast quiz featuring historic Academy Awards trivia. And, HBO's “The Last of Us” is the best show Jared's seen in a looong time, so if you like gut-wrenching, poetic, and a little bit disturbing storytelling, you'd better check it out. Jessica Chen is an Emmy-Award Winner and the founder and CEO of Soulcast Media. ----- Since we talked about the Academy Awards, let's keep awards season rolling: here's our list of the best Best Original Song category winners! ----- Our opening track is Two Cigarettes by Major Label Interest. Our closing track is Yellow Letter by Sam Barsh.

This time on The Legal Toolkit, Jared forgoes his monologue to give more time to his conversation with Chris Stock. Tune in as this duo dig into criminal justice reform, ChatGPT's future in legal and the world at large, legal tech business outlooks, Chris's new venture as founder of a consulting firm, and more. Later, stick around for “Shit Australians Say” on the Rump Roast. You'll learn what “fair dinkum” means and can decide for yourself whether our usage in the title was correct or just silly. Cheers! Chris Stock is CEO and founder of CGS Advisory. ----- Since we talked with notable Australian, Chris Stock, let's count down Australia's Greatest Hits! ----- Our opening track is Two Cigarettes by Major Label Interest. Our closing track is Scrappy by Famous Cats.

If you're a lawyer, you need a break. Tune in with Jared, his lovely wife Jessica, and her fellow travel agent Samantha Hedges to learn a thing or two about escaping the daily grind. They share tips for vacation bookings, highlight some favorite destinations, and even chat about social media marketing tactics you just might be able to use in your law firm. During the Rump Roast, the trio play “Travel Etiquette”, where Jessica and Sam reveal the real truth about which airplane armrest you're actually entitled to. And, Jared basically took the week off, so Jessica offers up a monologue on the iconic and evolving career of Taylor Swift. Jessica Foster Correia and Samantha Hedges are travel agents with InTouch Vacations and podcasters on Fab 5 Travel Podcast and Escape: A Travel Podcast. Find out more on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/VacationswithJess/ and https://www.facebook.com/travelplanwithsam ----- Since we talked about travel, let's, uh - do some Taylor Swift deep(ish) tracks, curated by my wife, the ultimate Swiftie! ----- Our opening track is Two Cigarettes by Major Label Interest. The music for the Legal Trends Report Minute is I See You by Sounds Like Sander. Our closing track is Apollo by Transmuter.