Lawyerist Podcast

Bob Ambrogi has had his finger on the pulse of legal technology for a long time, and in this episode he talks about the ten trends that defined 2015. Plus, a reluctant preview of the trends that might define 2016.

Adriana Linares trains lawyers to use technology, but she often has to back up and teach basic skills. In this episode, she goes over some of those basic skills and how to master them. The second tip alone is worth the download. Before that, Aaron gushes about Making a Murderer. If you’re watching, too, discuss the show with us in the Lab.

Karin Conroy is back to talk about law firm websites. This is also, you might notice, our last podcast of 2015. Call it the end of Season 1. But don’t worry, we’ll be back in 2016, thanks in large part to your contributions.  

On today's podcast, we ask security experts Sharon Nelson and John Simek things like how hard is it, really, to hack into someone's email? And what's the greatest security threat for lawyers? Plus, our favorite posts and podcasts of 2015.

Want to automate your documents? Step one is *not* shopping for software. Barron Henley talks about how to get started — without purchasing a thing. Before that, we say goodbye to two Dropbox services we loved.

Here's why cost-cutting measures aren't catching on with firms: many clients care more about the size of the discount than the size of the bill. Plus, how do you know whether the money you are spending on online marketing is getting the results it should?

In this episode we skip the introductory banter in order to get straight to the conversation with John Suh, CEO of the legal-industry bogeyman, LegalZoom. Not only would Suh like to change that, he's got a strong argument for why lawyers should learn to love his company.

Why should you care about typography? That’s like asking why you should practice for an oral argument or wear a tie to court. If you aren’t already using Matthew Butterick’s typography guide for lawyers, you’ll snap up a copy after you listen to this podcast. Crowdfunding Lawsuits Crowdfunding is all the rage, these days, and now it includes lawsuits. We’ve written about two crowdfunding efforts,...

What does an innovative law firm look like? According to Peter Carayiannis, whose firm, Conduit Law, has been twice nominated for an innovative law-firm award, it’s less about technology and more about clients. And you know what, it’s not your fault that you can’t encrypt your email. Stop trying and just use a secure portal.

Law partners Jayne Sykora and Jennifer Santini have great advice on figuring out if you want a partner to start your practice, and how to choose one. Before that, Sam and Aaron discuss the security of If This Then That and Zapier.

Josh Camson reflects on nearly six years of law practice and the column he wrote when he was just starting out: "The Shingle Life." Plus, Sam and Aaron break down Net Promoter Score, the closest you'll get to a magic number for growing your law practice.

As a well-known lawyer and (former) law professor, Alan Dershowitz gives a lot of advice to young lawyers. At one point, he wrote it all down in Letters to a Young Lawyer. The book has been around for a while, but it is still full of good advice for young lawyers — and so is Dershowitz.

Representing low-income clients can present challenges for lawyers who are not used to it, but learning to meet those challenges is a good lesson in basic client service. While we're on the subject, what is the access-to-justice gap everyone is talking about, and can you really build a profitable law practice serving people who fall into that gap?

Brian Tannebaum’s book, The Practice: Brutal Truths About Lawyers and Lawyering, is a collection of tough-love letters to the new generation of lawyers. During our conversation with Brian about his book, we also talked about his criminal defense practice, the importance of a code of ethics, why some lawyers seem to leave ethics behind when they go online, and much more.

The Internet is a powerful tool for research that few people know how to use well. Carole Levitt and Mark Rosch are two of those people. They move through the Internet like ninjas through a moonless night. Before we talk to Carole and Mark, we argue about whether Nikki Black is right that 50% of lawyers will have an Apple Watch in 2 years.

Dennis Kennedy thinks the real promise of technology is taking away the tedious bits of law practice so lawyers can do more of what matters. And do the numbers show that law school crushed all our dreams?

Jodi Ettenberg left for a vacation, and never came back. On today's podcast, she talks about how to do the same (even if you've got a shorter timeline). But first, did Ohio just issue the dumbest ethics opinion ever?

There's so much potential for increasing access to legal information online, but only if knowledgeable lawyers are willing to contribute. Which is a challenge. Any project that requires a critical mass of lawyers to contribute is probably doomed from the outset. But somehow, Casetext seems to be thriving, and in this episode, Casetext VP Pablo Arredondo discusses what it takes to get lawyers to co...

Judge Dillard is one of a small group of judges who have an active presence on social media. In this episode, he talks about why he joined Twitter, what he gets out of it, and whether it is a good thing. Plus, Microsoft is releasing practice-management software.  

What does a law firm look like without the traditional hierarchy? Sonia Miller Van Oort's firm has a flat governance structure, transparent compensation, and offers alternative-fee arrangements to every client. Plus, why it's silly to let your hardware dictate your law-firm policy.

Shantelle Argyle has a non-profit law firm, something many people talk about but few attempt. Well, the non-profit firm Argyle co-founded doesn't just work, it's flourishing. Find out more on today's podcast after we talk about the ridiculous disconnect between law and science — and by the way, should trials be held virtually?

Agile project management is huge in software development, but lawyers can take advantage of Agile, too. John Grant explains how to adapt Agile for law practice. But first, is the legal market really experiencing "modest job gains"?

Brendan Kenny explains what every lawyer needs to know about e-discovery. But first, how to effectively disconnect your phone when you’re on a vacation.

Nicole Bradick explains what a virtual practice is and how to build one. But first, we talk about a baby who is crazy about a local personal injury lawyer, and the difficulty in combating link rot.

Omar Ha-Redeye is (among other impressive things) co-founder of Fleet Street Law, a law practice incubator focusing on innovation and increasing access to justice. In today's podcast, he talks about how the legal industry is changing and what that means for the future of access to justice. But first, we try to figure out why lawyers let receivables become a problem.