Legal Talk Network - Law News and Legal Topics

Zack sits down with Wouter IJgosse from DecisionVault to learn more about how their platform can streamline client intake for attorneys. DecisionVault takes a portal approach, making intake an iterative process for your clients.  Learn more about DecisionVault here! If today’s podcast resonates with you and you haven’t read The Small Firm Roadmap yet, get the first chapter right now for free! Than...

What makes for the most successful website copy?   Is the text on your website actually that important? What makes your website copy stand out vs. your competitors?   Joining me for this conversation about writing successful website copy is Erin Ollila.   Conversion copywriter. Copy Coach. Wing Woman. Word slinger. No matter what you call her, Erin Ollila believes in the power of words and how a m...

David Noll, co-author of "Vigilante Federalism", is a lawyer, columnist, and Rutgers law professor who warns how the spread of private subordination laws thwarts our democratic system and erases longstanding constitutional rights. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Efficient back-and-forth communication in law firms has always been a necessity, but it’s not always easy to do it well. Finding the right collaboration tech is a critical step in modern law firms, so Jared talks with Ryan Anderson of Filevine about the unique needs of lawyers and the future of documents and communication in legal practice, including upcoming .vine. Later on in the Rump Roast, Jar...

This year, instead of spreading Christmas Cheer, the guys offer a resounding “Bah, humbug!” to all the tech stuff that irks them. So, tech giants, listen up – don’t mess with Dennis’s defaults; make your operating systems smart enough listen to Tom’s every need; quit with the ads, already; make bluetooth actually work… bleh; etc., etc., and etc. Humph. Later, after an apparent visit from some Chri...

Even though bankruptcy touches so many areas of the law, many attorneys outside bankruptcy practice lack an adequate understanding of how it all works. Rocky Dhir brings on experts Catherine Curtis and Robert Vanhemelrijck to get an overview of what all lawyers should know about this area of legal practice. They discuss different types of bankruptcy, outline filing and court processes, and share p...

Is your to-do list never-ending? When was the last time you really felt productive? When we are constantly trying to get things off our list, the list seems to only grow longer.   In this episode, Stephanie talks with author Oliver Burkeman about this myth of productivity. They dive into different ways to be productive and actually get stuff done.  If today’s podcast resonates with you and you hav...

ABA poised to eliminate standardized testing requirement... but should it? Taking the LSAT is the first step in the law school journey. But it doesn't have to be. The ABA is considering dropping its requirement that accredited schools employ standardized testing as part of admissions. Some argue that the LSAT is a critical tool in promoting diversity in both law school and the profession. Others c...

The ABA Techshow isn’t just for tech wizards; rather, it should be a vital part of every solo lawyer’s networking plan! Guests Jeannine Abukhater Lambert and Gyi Tsakalakis are co-chairs of the upcoming ABA Techshow, the home of all things tech and your opportunity to see what’s new, and what you’re missing. Both guests serve unique corners of the legal world and found their paths through differen...

Significant physical injuries may be visible to the jury, but emotional harms are not. Are you doing everything you can to help the jury understand and compensate your client’s emotional damages? This episode addresses ways to communicate emotional harm and strategies to diffuse defense challenges to your claims in closing. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Miriam Aroni Krinsky worked as a prosecutor in Los Angeles County in the 1980s and 1990s as the War on Drugs was waged. Mandatory minimum sentences and tough-on-crime laws sent prison populations soaring and ripped apart families and communities. Krinsky believed that change was needed–and that it could come from prosecutors themselves.  In 2016, she tells the ABA Journal's Lee Rawles, there was e...

Female attorneys are still being asked to get the coffee. Will that ever change, and what can we do to make it change? Ladies, we need to find camaraderie and courage to speak out, stand together and share a little grace when the going gets tough. That starts with each of us taking small steps toward positive change that benefits all of us. Get a little inspiration for your personal journey in the...

@theBar wishes to honor the career of retired Cook County judge William J. "Bill" Kunkle Jr. after his recent passing by re-broadcasting our interview with him about his experience as the chief trial prosecutor on the John Wayne Gacy case. The episode originally aired on February 6, 2019. The Killer Clown Edition: The Prosecution of John Wayne Gacy American serial killer and rapist, John Wayne Gac...

Why is having a marketing strategy so important?   Do you take the time to think about the marketing strategy you want to implement for yourself or your firm?   What are the tactics most lawyers get wrong when it comes to marketing? We’re talking about it in this episode with Sara Nay.   Sara Nay is the COO at Duct Tape Marketing, Founder of Spark Lab Consulting, Scalable Business Advisor and host...

While 2022 was a phenomenal year for attorneys and “anyone with a pulse” and a law license could find work, 2023 might “go back to normal,” says Valerie A. Fontaine, a founding director of the legal search company SeltzerFontaine. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Launching your legal career after law school is exciting, energizing, and—let’s face it—discombobulating. And no matter how long you’ve been practicing, there's always something new to learn. In this episode of the 'Young Lawyers Rising' podcast, host Montana Funk is joined by litigation attorney, Erin Rhinehart to discuss: Ways to standout in the workplace as a junior associate How to successfull...

On the last episode of our The Life of a Lawyer Start to Finish series, we discussed Money Management for Lawyers with L.J. Jones. In this episode, we move on to the next rung of the ladder: Retirement.  Host Craig Williams is joined byIda O. Abbot, founder of Ida Abbott Consulting, as they tackle retirement. Ida & Craig take a look at when to start thinking about retiring as a lawyer, steps attor...

Your favorite nerdy-lawyer wishlist is back yet again! Tune in for Jim Calloway and Sharon Nelson’s top picks for the gift-giving season. Happy Holidays! Tech Toys 2022: FlexiSpot EN1 Standing Desk Pixel, World’s First Lego-compatible Mechanical Keyboard Apple AirTag Raptic Link + Lock for AirTag Slide | Portabl Technics EAH-A800 Wireless Noise-Canceling Headphones  SanDisk 64GB iXpand Flash Drive...

The end of the year is upon us and whether we like it or not, it’s time to think about wrapping up our finances. Do you have a plan in place for your financial strategy? Do you know why it matters?  Join Stephanie as she talks with Lawyerist Lab financial coach Bernadette Harris about finding the levers to systemize your firm finances and get ready for tax season. Plus, she shares some tips on how...

Elite law schools are withdrawing from the U.S. News & World Report rankings one by one, but what does it all mean? We've never loved the USNWR methodology, but the reasons these schools cite for departing the rankings don't seem all that great. Maybe the schools would like to help a certain alternative ranking get better results! And the Biglaw bonus cycle has kicked off even amid an uncertain bu...

Even though you are a successful female attorney, do you ever feel like this career is not for you? You’re not alone. Women attorneys are twice as likely to make an early exit from their practices as men and they continue to disappear even after making partner. There are a lot of reasons, but one might be the fact that male equity partners make 27% more than female equity partners. Women of color...

When you ask for damages, you expect jurors to put a tangible number on an intangible loss. How can you help them decide upon a full and fair amount? In our continuing series on closing arguments, we offer a framework for presenting damages that provides a compelling rational basis for damages, shows what the law requires, and puts the client’s losses in perspective the jury can understand. Learn...

How setting boundaries when working from home can make you happier, plus knowing the difference between building brand recognition and building brand affinity. ----- Like it or not, the pandemic opened Pandora's box of WFH, but does it feel like you’re working from home or living at work? The lines have certainly blurred. However, that doesn’t mean you have to be on call 24/7 waiting by the phone...

Let’s talk about practice management, tech, and production. How do you find and apply the right tech tools that help you deliver what you’ve promised to your clients? Acquiring new clients, moving cases through the process, reaching successful outputs, and applying the right business metrics that help you understand your business performance all require the right technologies. Did you know, even t...

The Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act (LHWCA) is a federal law that grants workers’ compensation for employees disabled from on-the-job injuries that occur on navigable waters within the U.S. or in adjoining areas (typically areas used for loading, unloading, crafting, and repairing a sea vessel). In this episode of 'Workers Comp Matters,' attorney Norman Cole joins the show to discus...