Legal Talk Network - Law News and Legal Topics

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 fo...

In our latest chat, we discuss Biglaw strip club outings, Jeff Clark taking time away from his indictment to be an idiot online, and associates unhappy with a law firm's office tracker. ----- Gunderson Dettmer got a lot of flack on Reddit from folks accusing the firm of hosting a summer event at a strip club. It wasn't a strip club, but it was a nightclub with scantily clad go-go dancers, which do...

Made you look! It’s hard to stand out in a sea of lawyer billboards, but, for better or for worse, some lawyers really make a splash. Later, a performance and brand advertising romance.  ----- Let’s take a look at a few lawyers’ arguably tacky billboard tactics. Gyi and Conrad examine the case of Morgan & Morgan and their recent “graffitied” billboards stunt. The legal community has pegged this as...

You’ve probably made lists of how to win your case, but Alvin Wolff suggests it may be more beneficial to consider 20 ways to lose. Hear the rest of Alvin’s tried and true rules from real life courtroom experiences in Part Two of our discussion. We’re pretty sure at least one of these tips will help you be a better attorney. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Whether you are in college or considering a mid-life career change, choosing to go to law school is a big decision. We’ll share some of the pros and cons of our profession and offer a few questions you should ask yourself before you decide to join us in this noble and sometimes gnarly career. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic, working from home and communicating and collaborating via real-time communication tools has become the norm for many law firms and offices. The benefits of such arrangements are obvious. However, some firms, including several of the largest in the country, have begged to differ. Citing a need to maintain or preserve office culture and strengthen personal connection...

Experts discuss disaster preparedness and the role of civil legal aid in recovery on LSC’s “Talk Justice” podcast. September is National Disaster Preparedness Month. Since 2022 the federal government has issued more than 75 major disaster declarations across the U.S. and its territories. Yet even with the increasing frequency and ferocity of natural disasters, the overwhelming majority of American...

Learn to manage the data your law firm already creates to make better business and strategic decisions. Zack talks with Joyce Brafford, from CosmoLex, about how internal analytics can drive your marketing decisions, firm growth, and processes.  Links from the episode: Grow Your Law Firm with Data-Drive Decisions 10 Metrics Law Firms Should Track Identify Key Metrics to Determine Your Law Firm's Su...

In this episode’s discussions around the Community Table:   Our first topic is how to use vacations – including your own breaks – to affirm company culture. How do you get away without fully abandoning ship and leaving your team to fend for itself? You encourage team members to take vacations to renew and regroup, but what about you as the leader of the firm? Company culture starts at the top.  Pr...

In this episode, Ross McDaniel shares his insights on growing your firm through local SEO. Ross McDaniel is a dynamic strategist with a rich history of amplifying both local stores and mega brands. Ross is an advocate for the prosperity of local businesses, believing they are the heart and soul of thriving communities. As the founder of Fencepost and the Local Growth Formula, Ross connects quality...

The legal profession places an enormous premium on getting judicial clerkships, which usually offer both valuable learning experiences and a major boost to a young lawyer’s future prospects. But, are there potential downsides to clerkships? Some law clerks have a wonderful experience, but too many have had an experience marked by harassment and mistreatment at the hands of an abusive judge. Molly...

Is our current approach to legal tech education helping or hurting lawyers? Dennis and Tom think through this question out loud, pondering whether lawyers can truly learn what they need to know through the typical legal tech conference session or CLE class. The guys might not agree, but they hash out their thoughts on learning opportunities, tech engagement, new approaches to tech-ed resources, an...

A new set of laws has just been enacted by the 88th Texas Legislature, and the September 2023 edition of the Texas Bar Journal is chock full of informative articles on these changes. To look at some of these laws in greater detail, Rocky Dhir welcomes Kristal Thomson and Jerry Bullard to discuss their articles on the areas of family law and civil litigation/appellate law, respectively. Tune in to...

Stephanie talks with our new Lawyerist Lab business coach, Leticia DeSuze, about what is holding most business owners back and how working with a business coach can help. They also explore why it is time to be radically honest with ourselves about what we are—and aren’t—willing to do.    Links from the episode:   If today’s podcast resonates with you and you haven’t read The Small Firm Roadmap Rev...

Also, how to create a culture that welcomes Biglaw vacations. ------ Amy Coney Barrett recently spoke publicly about how she longs for the days when most Americans couldn't recognize Supreme Court justices, highlighting that justices don't have to be there long for a culture of unaccountability to set in. Speaking of which, the majority of Clarence Thomas's former clerks signed an open letter shru...

It’s infuriating when opposing counsel refuses to pick depo dates, makes excuses to delay proceedings or just plain ghosts you. We believe justice delayed is justice denied, and hope today’s tips can help you push your case forward when the other side digs in with common delay tactics. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“A client who has been through several lawyers is probably a client you wish you didn’t have.” St. Louis plaintiff Attorney Alvin Wolff has been practicing for over four decades and his entertaining tips offer wit and wisdom for any attorney. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As both an attorney and judge, Thomas Moukawsher has spent the majority of his career dealing in complex litigation. And the Connecticut Superior Court judge would like to make the legal system—well, less complex.   In this episode of the Modern Law Library, Moukawsher and the ABA Journal's Lee Rawles discuss his ideas and his new book, The Common Flaw: Needless Complexity in the Courts and...

What’s up at the U.S. Supreme Court, which has rocked the legal world with a conservative majority rolling back rights the rights of minorities, including 2023 rulings against affirmative action for college admissions and affirming the rights of business owners to deny service to LGBTQ patrons based on religious beliefs.  Guest Stephen Vladeck is a professor of law, nationally recognized expert on...

Supreme Court Correspondent Nina Totenberg discusses her fifty-year career as a reporter covering some of the most important Supreme Court decisions of our time. As a front-row witness to history, with unique access to Supreme Court Justices and Washington D.C. policymakers, Nina joins SideBar cohosts Jackie Gardina and Mitch Winick to discuss the importance of building relationships - with the Co...

In this episode, Marcus Ohanesian joins me to teach lawyers and law firms how to reduce the visual strain of cluttered websites. Meet Marcus, the proud owner of Perfect Evolution, a seasoned branding and web designer who's equally passionate about sipping craft beer, savoring coffee, and relishing sandwiches. With extensive experience in the realm of visual design and project management, Marcus sp...

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, hi...

With primaries set to start in spring of 2024, an upcoming presidential election, and a number of federal & state indictments against former President Trump, including the January 6th indictment, section 3 of the 14th amendment has taken center stage. It reads "no person who has taken an oath as an officer of the United States can hold office if they “have engaged in insurrection or rebellion agai...

Business owners often hear the advice: “hire help and delegate!” In this episode, Stephanie talks with entrepreneur Dan Martell about why you should hire to buy back your time.  Learn how small shifts in how you think as a business owner can make big impacts on your business—and your happiness! To start, Dan shares why it’s time for lawyers to let go of their inboxes and calendars. We know why you...

Lee Sale from Expert Service Provider S-E-A discusses the investigations of crane-related accidents and the impact on claims. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices