Legal Talk Network - Law News and Legal Topics

You’ve made a timely request for public governmental records but all you get are excuses. Under the law, you have to prove the delay is knowing and purposeful. How do you prove it and whom do you sue? Find out in our in-depth conversation about handling violations of your state’s Sunshine Laws. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hanging up a shingle takes more than a law degree. Today’s legal tech and software helps solo and small practices be more productive and organized than ever. “Good enough” isn’t good enough. Know what you need, and get it! Adriana runs through the tech foundation of a successful firm: from the computers to the office software to the case management software and add-ons that can streamline your pra...

Suffolk Law Professor Quinten Steenhuis discusses his team’s successful collaboration with legal aid orgs to use technology to scale help for the courtformsonline.org project and the potential to use tech to extend the reach of legal services.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Should reparations be given, and if so, who should get reparations and what form should they take? These are questions the U.S. has been pondering since General Sherman made the largely unanswered call for 40 acres and mule to be allotted to emancipated slaves during the Civil War. In this episode, hosts Maggie Mendenhall Casey and Jennifer Byrne are joined by the Mayor of the City of Evanston, Il...

This episode’s discussion around the Community Table:  Is hiring a temp I’ve already worked with previously a mistake? “It’s not personal,” it’s personnel. I need a body, even if s/he won’t stay with me. Is this reasonable? Sometimes, a contractor (even one you already know and know won’t stay with you) is the answer. Mr. Right vs. Mr. Right Now. How do you test the “seriousness” of a job candidat...

Why does email marketing work for law firms? And is it truly necessary to have an email marketing funnel set up? Joining me for this conversation is Jeff Felten, and we dive in to why you need email marketing for your firm, and how to leverage it in many scenarios – from onboarding, to closing a case. As you’ll hear in our conversation, email marketing is an extension of who you are as a person, w...

Jessica Bednarz has spent much of her career representing people, researching access-to-justice issues and using that knowledge to try to find better ways to deliver legal services. That includes using what’s known as “design thinking” for developing client service programs. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With ChatGPT splashing across headlines pretty much everywhere, what’s left for us to know about this new and almost ridiculously hot tech? Dennis and Tom give their two cents on all the buzz that is ChatGPT, discussing thoughts on its many exciting and (possibly) concerning capabilities and its potential within the legal world. Later, have you ever felt like no one bothers to read your emails? Th...

Cyber attacks are almost entirely responsible for today’s data breaches, and, increasingly often, the details of these breaches are vague—leaving security experts with a growing list of questions. Sharon Nelson and John Simek talk with James Lee about the Identity Theft Resource Center’s latest Data Breach Report. They discuss current trends, the challenges of nebulous data breach notices, and wha...

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 “fa...

Have you considered moving abroad full time? Have you wondered what it would take to make that a reality? Lawyerist Lab Coach Bernadette Harris moved herself and her business to Mexico and today she shares her journey with Stephanie. They discuss why, how, the challenges, and the surprising health benefits that came along with the decision.   Links from the episode:  Trust Bernadette If today’s po...

Where does Corporate America stand today in terms of public perception, and how does this impact individual corporate clients? All persons, including corporations, are supposed to be equal before the law; however, individual jurors may have had experiences that lead them to harbor negative feelings towards companies - especially large corporations. Oftentimes, this bias can follow corporations int...

On this week's podcast, we discuss a North Dakota law firm sued its associates and won, seeking to clawback paychecks for failing to meet billing requirements during the pandemic. Wasn't there a program to protect employers from cutting salaries during the downturn, you might ask? There was! And the firm took gobs of it. Also, Clarence Thomas is likely getting a statue in his honor, because as the...

Say you go on vacation and your condo reservation gets canceled just before you arrive, but you are promised a full refund. But after a gazillion texts, emails, and phone calls, you still don’t have your money. Now what? It happened to one of us and it turned out to be a great lesson in the basics of small claims court. You won’t want to miss this one….cuz when you try to cheat Amy Gunn, you get 4...

Some American patriotic myths are harmless; George Washington may have chopped down a cherry tree at some point in his life, but the popular story told to children where young George fesses up to the deed by saying “I cannot tell a lie” is made up from whole cloth. However, there are much more pernicious lies and misinformation circulated about our past as a country, and that misinformation is use...

Do you know when and why a public governmental meeting can close its doors to you? What recourse do you have to find out what they are discussing out of the public presence? Part Two of our continuing discussion on Sunshine Laws addresses the laws covering attending and recording meetings, redactions to meeting minutes, deleted text messages, and ways to get around roadblocks designed to keep you...

A rundown of what Conrad and Gyi will be talking about at the March ABA Techshow. Plus, Google Ads are so dang expensive, amiright? ----- Oh, boy! ABA Techshow is really, really soon, and the guys can’t contain their excitement. On the pod, Gyi and Conrad give you a preview of their sessions and what you can expect; including branding and positioning, a data-driven section on the future of legal m...

To settle or not to settle, often a question. Our guest, Jim Anderson, is a well-known Workers’ Comp attorney and a leader in the field in Mississippi. His input about “settlements” are respected, and he has led the field in helping both sides reach a solution. The best claim is a closed claim. Is it sometimes better to simply settle a case fairly, to reach an accord, than let it linger and get wo...

In this SideBar episode, California Assemblymember, Buffy Wicks discusses the power of state legislatures to protect fundamental constitutional rights and the importance of diverse representation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How can a law firm grow with systems? Which systems are necessary when it comes to scaling your business? Joining me for this conversation is Mitch Beinhaker, who explains why lawyers should consider setting up systems within their firms, and how to do so in a way that is sustainable and supports their reputation and continued growth. Mitchell C. Beinhaker, Esq. is a business lawyer and estates at...

This year, we have created a new Environmental Law series on Lawyer 2 Lawyer, where we will cover cradle to grave treatment of chemicals and our laws on environmental biology. In this episode, host Craig Williams joins LeRoy (Lee) C. Paddock, former associate dean for environmental law studies at George Washington University Law School, as they discuss the Pollution Prevention Act, the Clean Water...

In this special episode of Young Lawyer Rising, host Montana Funk is joined by law firm owner and adjunct professor, Karen Lapekas, to discuss the ins and outs of pro bono work. The two cover a wide range of topics, including: What is Pro Bono? Why Does it Matter? When to Take a Case? How to Get Involved? Pro Bono Burnout, Benefits of Pro Bono Work, and Common Misconceptions. Don't miss this great...

It sounds obvious, but it may need to be stated: your law firm needs a website. Today Stephanie talks with our own Legal Tech Advisor Zack Glaser about the importance of your online presence. He gives advice on how to set goals with clear CTAs, nurture leads, and offers suggestions to get started with your content marketing strategy. Links from the episode:  Best Law Firm Websites If today’s podca...

Is ChatGPT ready to pass the bar? Maybe not quite, but it’s learning rapidly and might just become a tool lawyers use on a daily basis in the future. Sharon and Jim are joined by Julie Bays to find out ChatGPT’s current capabilities in answering questions about legal practice and the law. Listen in to find out what ChatGPT has to say about access to justice, legal ethics, growing your law firm, an...

James Barbieri from independent adjusting company Claims Advantage discusses the complexity of handling negligent security claims. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices