Legal Talk Network - Law News and Legal Topics

Why does your website need maintenance? Do you take the time to look at your website every few months or at least once per year to make sure your terms and conditions are still relevant, your site is safe, and everything is running smoothly? We’re talking about exactly why this is so important on the podcast today with David Forman. We joke that David was writing code in the womb, but the truth is...

There are still significant issues surrounding law student mental health, and the pandemic added even more layers to these wellness concerns. Molly Ranns and JoAnn Hathaway welcome David Jaffe and Janet Stearns to discuss their research and advocacy for law student well-being. They talk listeners through the latest statistics, emphasize the importance of continuing to destigmatize mental health st...

Law school is tough, but you’re not alone! DeMario Thornton welcomes fellow law student Sarah Atkinson to talk through the highs and lows of law school. They share their struggles and discuss the ways they have navigated the stresses and uncertainties of legal education, summer internships, job-hunting, bar prep, and more. Sarah Atkinson is a 3L at the University of Alabama School of Law Learn mor...

In a brand new interview series, Dennis and Tom welcome Kristen Sonday to hear her perspectives on the latest developments in the legal tech world. Kristen talks about her platform at Paladin connecting lawyers to pro bono work; weighs in on ChatGPT, AI, tech adoption, and more; and shares her top tip for using technology in legal practice. As always, stay tuned for the parting shots—that one tip,...

So you think your firm is tech forward, but do you have a strategy behind that? Today Zack Glaser talks with Lawyerist Lab member, author, and fellow legal tech guru, Greg Siskind. They dive into the ways AI is transforming the legal industry and how law firms can leverage technology to stay ahead of the curve.   Links from the episode:  Visalaw.com If today’s podcast resonates with you and you ha...

The virtual world of NFTs and Web3 is developing rapidly, and within this space, intellectual property disputes are now cropping up at a similarly rapid pace. Diane Littlejohn, Kristen Roberts, and Jessica Neer McDonald talk through their TECHSHOW presentation on trademark and copyright issues arising from NFTs and Web3 and share how to assess goals and uses for virtual content to decide what prot...

And a pop quiz: do you know what 'bofadeez' is? Judge Roger Benitez of the Southern District of California decided to use his marshal to take a 13-year-old girl out of the audience and handcuff her in the jury box. Apparently, he didn't realize arbitrary acts of psychological torture upon children was frowned upon in this establishment. Now the Ninth Circuit is looking into a formal complaint. Als...

When Lauren Stiller Rikleen was approached in 2020 by the ABA Judicial Division to help compile autobiographical stories from women judges in America, a powerful motivating factor for her was to capture stories of the barriers the judges overcame in their own words. Rikleen, a former law firm partner and consultant who writes and speaks about the importance of cross-generational communication, tel...

You clearly gave your focus group jurors all the facts in your case. Most understood your message, but a few folks went completely off the deep end and jumped to a conclusion you can’t even comprehend. We often forget that jurors don’t share our legal knowledge and that the responsibility of decision-making in a legal setting can be overwhelming. Tune in to hear some of the crazy comments we’ve he...

Getting the documents your client requests is the primary reward of Sunshine Law litigation, but can you also be reimbursed for your time? In our final episode on Sunshine Laws, we discuss settlements, misconceptions about attorney/client privilege, and our personal observations that judges are becoming more eager to rule on these cases to ensure government entities are transparent and act to serv...

The day has finally come: Conrad and Gyi are live from ABA Techshow! F.O.P’s Allison Johs and Rukayatu “Ruky” Tijani share the importance of investing in marketing and authentic branding and purpose. (1:46) You may be surprised at how few small firms and solo practices have a true budget, never mind a specific marketing budget. So how do these firms know how much money they have and how to use res...

Change is difficult, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t needed. So, what might we need to do to change the way we conceive of legal services? Lynda Shely, Darth Vaughn, Jayne Reardon, and Ed Walters share highlights from their keynote—a fictional public hearing—debating the idea of modifying attorney Rules of Professional Conduct to address challenges in access to justice and legal service delivery. L...

ChatGPT’s ability to work at the level of language is already catching the attention of litigators around the world. Pablo Arrenondo and Stephen Embry recap their talk at TECHSHOW on how ChatGPT and other AI can be used as tools to aid attorneys in legal practice. They discuss concerns with accuracy and bias and also explore the many positive opportunities presented by this burgeoning tech. Pablo...

As Web3 and the metaverse continue to grow in their reach, more and more people are using cryptocurrency—even to pay their legal fees. What do lawyers need to know about these new forms of payment? Jessica Neer McDonald and Jamie Szal give an overview of blockchain, cryptocurrency, and Web3 payment sources and explain their legal and ethical implications for law firms. Jessica Neer McDonald is fou...

The newest market for legal professionals may not exist in the physical world, but legal matters in the metaverse are very real, opening up a host of opportunities for attorneys. Kristen Roberts, Diane Littlejohn, and Mathew Kerbis talk us through the basics of the metaverse and its expanding need for legal services. Kristen G. Roberts, Founder & Managing Attorney at Trestle Law, APC is a Californ...

Professor Joel Rogers describes the rise of American Legislative Council (ALEC), the organization responsible drafting model bills introduced across the country with devastating impacts upon public education, voting rights, and environmental protections, to name a few. He also outlines a strategy for reversing these efforts and provides a message of hope. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit me...

Professor Joel Rogers describes the rise of American Legislative Council (ALEC), the organization responsible drafting model bills introduced across the country with devastating impacts upon public education, voting rights, and environmental protections, to name a few. He also outlines a strategy for reversing these efforts and provides a message of hope. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit me...

AI is one of the hottest topics in digital marketing and content creation at the moment – and deservedly so. There is so much power in the technology and what it’s capable of, and it can bring you a lot of ease to your firm. But will it replace traditional jobs? Is it still necessary to hire out certain roles? And how can you leverage this AI technology as part of your marketing strategy? How do y...

How do institutions of higher education handle allegations of student-on-student sexual misconduct? Sean Flammer joins Rocky Dhir to talk through this legal process as outlined in his article in the March edition of the Texas Bar Journal. Sean explains how new Title IX regulations beginning in August 2020 have affected cross-examination requirements in misconduct hearings and what concerns around...

If you’ve run into a problem that you can’t seem to solve in-house, it might be time to seek out an integration partner. Tressa Schultze and Catherine Stock talk with Laurence Colletti about the benefits of these partnerships and how they help lawyers streamline processes and develop efficient, profitable legal practices. Tressa Schultze leads product and integration strategy at MyCase. Catherine...

Following their keynote panel, Laurence Colletti sits down with Jazz Hampton, Erin Levine, Kimberly Bennett, and Jack Newton to hear their thoughts on the current state of technology in legal practice. They talk about dealing with fast-paced change, the pursuit of vision in the face of adversity, and engaging with technology to craft a better future. Jazz Hampton is CEO and general counsel at Turn...

On February 3, 2023, a Norfolk Southern freight train carrying hazardous materials derailed in East Palestine, Ohio starting a fire which spewed toxic fumes into the air, driving surrounding residents out of their homes. Since then, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency issued a legally binding notice ordering Norfolk Southern to handle and pay for all necessary cleanup after this freight train...

Have you heard? We released a new edition of our book! Our goal has always been to help lawyers better manage their firms. Now we have new strategies and stories to help in that journey. Today Jennifer sits down with co-authors of The Small Firm Roadmap Revisited, Aaron & Stephanie. They dive into the reframing they have done since writing the first edition and the major differences in our new boo...

And Sidney Powell drew the judge she needed at the right time. It may tickle the search engine algorithms, but the phrase "quiet quitting" seems out of place among lawyers. A firm sued one of its former attorneys for "quiet quitting" on them and now she's hired Wigdor to countersue, which is about as loud as lawyers can get. Meanwhile, the Texas judge hearing the state bar's complaint against Sidn...

Wouldn’t you love to know what jurors are thinking about your case? Focus groups provide valuable insights into case strategy and potential damages issues. They can also reveal issues you never considered or indicate where clarification or visuals might be needed to help the jury understand complex information. We’ll discuss the pros and cons of online and in-person focus groups, how to prep and p...