Legal Talk Network - Law News and Legal Topics

A reminder that every case is different. Injuries occur in unusual situations that challenge how we think about Workers’ Compensation and how every state and jurisdiction applies the law differently. The “Skiing Chaperone Case,” is about a teacher who accompanies a school ski club as a chaperone. Is she eligible for Workers’ Comp if injured while skiing? Is this a work injury, or did her volunteer...

In this episode, we learn how to do profit-driven marketing with Hannah Smolinski.   How do we ensure our marketing efforts are actually profitable? Are there ways in which we should be paying attention to our numbers to increase profitability?   Hannah is a CPA and the founder of Clara CFO Group, a virtual CFO agency providing small businesses with financial clarity and profit maximization strate...

In Part II, we continue our discussion with David Noll, co-author of "Vigilante Federalism", who warns how the spread of private subordination laws thwarts our democratic system and undermines longstanding constitutional rights. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After years of investment in the Twitter platform, Dennis and Tom have mixed feelings about what they want to do with their accounts under Musk’s so-far tumultuous reign. Is it time to say goodbye? The guys consider the pros and cons of sticking with it and whether an alternative platform like Mastodon or Post could fill the void. Later, the guys want your help! Learn how to support the podcast by...

No one likes change, but your law firm will be more profitable and organized if you keep up with the latest tools for streamlining workflows. Jared talks with Marisa Portuondo about her expertise in helping lawyers prioritize efficiency and thrive in legal practice. Later, Marisa sticks around for the Rump Roast! In Jared’s latest game, “Shit Miamians Say,” Marisa gives an insider’s perspective on...

Cyber criminals aren’t taking time off for the holidays. In fact, Sharon and John had a surprise Thanksgiving morning when they learned that hackers had attacked their own company over 400 times throughout the night. Thankfully, their security wasn’t breached, but this experience highlighted for them once again the increased risk we all face as the holiday season approaches. To keep you from getti...

Attorney Al Goldberger examines the potential impact on athletics of the C.R.O.W.N Act, which seeks to address discrimination based on natural hair, and how insurers can prevent and respond to claims. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How well do you know your team? Do they know you care about them? Did you know your relationship with your team can actually impact your bottom line?  In this episode, Sara talks with Lawyerist Lab member Spencer Schmidt about his journey to becoming a great boss. He’s learned that keeping employees engaged and accountable (even if you’re non-confrontational!) is one of the best ways to care for h...

Also the country may have dodged a constitutional bullet. If Ebeneezer Scrooge ran a law firm, he would probably bill associates for his own lack of work. It turns out, there's a law firm in North Dakota doing that right now. Also, the Supreme Court heard argument on the independent state legislature theory, a tortured reading of the Constitution designed to give Republicans a permanent federal el...

Legal operations handle a lot of the business and technological stuff that many lawyers either aren’t trained to handle or don’t want to deal with. All so lawyers can focus on practicing law and representing their clients to the best of their abilities. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Zig Ziglar once said, “Humility will open more doors than arrogance ever will.” This often-overlooked virtue distinguishes a boss from a leader and allows you to re-center and learn after a loss. Today’s episode discusses how to cultivate humility in the workplace, and reminds us that when we act with humility, we can give up our pride and still retain our dignity. Learn more about your ad choices...

Filing dozens of pretrial motions shows the judge you are well-versed in the law and is sure to impress the court, right? Wrong. You earn credibility with the judge by carefully choosing your most important issues, crafting well-written briefs with citations, and reading the room. We’ve got some great courtroom experiences to share that will help solidify your case and your credibility before tria...

Welcome, A.I. overlords! ChatGTP, the rise of artificial intelligence content creation, and why your law firm needs to make more cat videos. The guys have a new best friend: ChatGPT. Well, maybe not best friend, but it’s pretty damn cool and maybe, fills us with just a wee bit of existential dread. Recent, high profile advances in AI-driven content generation have painted us (literally?) a vision...

This episode’s discussion around the Community Table: How to Determine if a New Hire Is a Success in the First 90 Days How To Master the Process of Employee Contract Negotiations How To Improve Your Job Offer to a Potential Candidate Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Cat Moon and Lagniappe Law Lab Executive Director Amanda Brown discuss a legal access points research project headed up by Amanda which illustrates how collaboration and modern data methods can support important strategic A2J goals. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Is the secret to your law firm’s success a triangle? Guest Christopher T. Anderson is a law practice management consultant (and host of the Legal Talk Network’s Un-Billable Hour). Anderson shares the “triangle” of a successful law firm: Acquiring clients; Producing the results you promised; and Achieving and Measuring the impact and success of your firm. Anderson’s unique take on law firm manageme...

What can you expect when trying for a spot at one of the much coveted summer associateships? DeMario Thornton talks with Craig Savitzky of Law360 about the insights gleaned from the 2022 Summer Associates Survey. This two-part survey looks at law students’ approaches to the application and interview processes and then revisits students after their associateships to assess their program experiences...

Lawyers spend a lot of time gathering data and creating content in the course of legal practice, and losing that data could prove disastrous or even catastrophic to their firm and clients. Molly Ranns and JoAnn Hathaway talk with John Simek to learn about the types of backups all attorneys need for preserving and recovering information. They discuss the many scenarios lawyers should be prepared fo...

On the last episode of our The Life of a Lawyer Start to Finish series, we discussed Retirement with Ida Abbott. In this episode, we move on to the final rung of the ladder: The Aging Lawyer: Exiting Gracefully.   Host Craig Williams is joined by Tish Vincent, LMSW, Esq., Chair of the ABA Commission on Lawyers Assistance Programs, as they spotlight the aging lawyer. Craig & Tish discuss senior law...

You’re no longer in start-up mode for your firm. You’ve grown and stretched and you’re ready to level up. So what’s next?  In this episode, Stephanie talks with Karen Graves, Lawyerist’s newest Lab coach, about how to navigate your business’s teenage phase. Karen explains this phase and how to find support for your firm. She details how to reconnect to your genius, renew your identity as a leader,...

In our annual Year in Review episode, Lee Rawles speaks to her ABA Journal colleagues Blair Chavis, Julianne Hill and Stephanie Francis Ward to find out how they spent their downtime in 2022. We cover the usual lineup of our favorite books, movies and TV shows, but each participant also provides more niche content. Hill, who recently joined the Journal full-time after freelancing for the magazine,...

But they caught me with some contemporaneous third-party emails? We discuss the crackerjack investigation the Supreme Court performed into allegations that Justice Sam Alito has a history of leaking decisions. After a religious leader confessed to lobbying efforts that included leaks from Alito concerning key decisions, Alito told the Court "it wasn't me" and, remarkably, they just accepted that a...

Office parties. Co-worker gifts. Corporate giving. Hosting events. When do you possibly find time for making holiday feasts, visiting family, and preparing for that upcoming trial? The holidays can be a blur unless you get in the spirit of “get to” instead of “have to.” Join this jolly pre-holiday episode for hints on staff gift-giving, attitude adjustment, and making time to recharge for the new...

What price should we put on a life lost? Whether it’s a father, mother, or child, jurors need guidance, context, and motivation when deciding damages. John Simon and Tim Cronin offer several examples of powerful ways to present damages in wrongful death cases and share Tim Cronin’s moving closing argument in a recent case regarding the tragic death of a five-year-old girl. Learn more about your ad...

For lawyers looking to expand and grow their law practice, their first thought may be to broaden their marketing efforts and client base. Offer more services to more people and your practice is bound to grow, right? Wrong.  You can’t be all things to all people. Intead, lawyers should dig deeper, narrow their focus, work to develop their relationships, grow their expertise, and establish their nic...