Legal Talk Network - Law News and Legal Topics

Acquisition, getting new clients “from contact to contract,” is vital to your success. So why are so many firms struggling at the most basic levels? Guest Adam Reiman, director of coaching and live events at Lawyer.com, explains. Signing a prospective client starts the instant you pick up the phone. Clients are won or lost in those critical first moments. If you’re waiting to respond to calls or p...

Are you looking at your software as if it’s a partner in your firm? In this episode, Zack is joined again by Joyce Brafford, lawyer and practice management guru. They talk all-in-one practice management software vs integrators, and dive into the benefits of CosmoLex by ProfitSolv, a true all-in-one software. And for more about CosmoLex, Zack spoke with Erica Birstler at CosmoLex. Check out that co...

What does ecommerce look like for lawyers? Can you be in ecommerce without a product-based business? Kathryn Smith is an ecommerce consultant based outside of Atlanta, GA. She helps entrepreneurs and small businesses launch and grow successful websites and ecommerce stores.   Kathryn gives listeners actionable tips on: [1:25] How e-commerce applies to law firms and law firm websites [3:05] Website...

The votes are in (all two of ‘em!), and Dennis and Tom agree that Microsoft Teams wins the best collaboration software award by a landslide. It’s been awhile since the guys have highlighted Teams tips and tricks, so tune in for up-to-date, magical insights that can turn you into a Teams wizard in no time. Later, in keeping with the spooky season, Dennis and Tom creep through the Google product gra...

Women in the criminal justice system continue to face a number of different challenges and career barriers; especially as it relates to hiring, retention, and promotion. So, why are women lawyers underrepresented in criminal justice? Why do so many women leave the practice of criminal law? And, what can we do about it? Joining the podcast to discuss these issues is law professor and author, Maryam...

Rapid changes in cybercrime and the security that keeps it at bay have left many lawyers’ heads spinning. With so much continuous change, how do you keep up with ethical cybersecurity needs for your firm? To help lawyers understand current best practices, Sharon Nelson and John Simek talk through the must-have measures legal ethicists deem essential for all law firms and offer tips for finding cyb...

How much growth is the right amount? How will you know when your business has grown enough? In this episode, Stephanie talks with Paul Jarvis, author and co-founder of Fathom Analytics, about escaping the growth-for-growth’s-sake mentality. They discuss the expectation of hyper-growth for business owners, and if that actually serves your needs, both professionally and personally.  Listen now to le...

In this special Halloween episode, @theBar gets into the spooky spirit with author-historian, podcaster and tour guide Adam Selzer of Mysterious Chicago. Adam regales hosts Trisha Rich and Maggie Mendenhall Casey with tales of Chicago's haunted past from graveyard ghosts to notorious serial killers. Learn about the Chicago resident who had his house legally declared haunted, the truth behind the C...

Guest Rachel Bailit is not an attorney, she’s an actor. So why is she a guest on a show about lawyers and legal issues? As an experienced acting teacher – in addition to an accomplished actor in movies, television, and live stage – Bailit specializes in teaching acting skills to public speakers, politicians, and attorneys. Telling your story in court is acting. It’s important to use your story, yo...

Also lawyers don't make enough money... maybe. An anonymous Illinois bar applicant took to Reddit to confess to cheating on the exam. Perhaps "anonymous" should be placed in quotes because the author proceeded to provide a ton of identifying details triggering a bar examiner investigation. Also, new data suggests lawyers should raise rates, but is that really true? And merger mania is back in Bigl...

The metaverse is all the rage these days. Users can enter a virtual world where they can interact with people from all parts of the physical world, play games, engage in commerce and do a lot of other things. Some law firms have also seen the potential. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You filed your notice. You defined the topics. And after countless emails and months of waiting, the corporate rep is finally in the chair ready to answer your questions. But wait…..they canceled the night before. They don’t know what you’re talking about. The documents disappeared. And counsel is objecting to every question you ask. If you haven’t faced this yet, you probably will, and today’s ti...

If you’re looking for wise words from a respected mentor, this episode is for you. Through 33 years of trial experience and years as a mediator, George Fitzsimmons has distilled his cases to their essence and established basic tenets on how to treat experts, colleagues, and clients in ways that build credibility for you and your client. George also reminds us that the most important thing you brin...

Easy math: if you can get through more work, more quickly, you’ll make more money. And document assembly software can help you do it! Jared Correia talks with Tony Thai and Ashley Carlisle on how to put document assembly tech to work in your law firm. It’s trivia time on the Rump Roast. Jared quizzes Tony and Ashley on famous and/or obscure documents in a new game called “Documentary History.” And...

Is balance realistic for lawyers?   How can lawyers create space in their lives for work, family, vacations, and living fully, with clients and scaling their practice?   Joining me for this conversation is Steve Fretzin.   Driven, focused and passionate about helping attorneys to reach their full potential, Steve Fretzin is regarded as the premier coach, skills trainer and keynote speaker on busin...

Last month at a judicial conference in Colorado Springs, two judges from the Denver-based 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals interviewed Chief Justice John Roberts on all things SCOTUS, in which he decried attacks on the court’s legitimacy following the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health ruling. Roberts said "If the court doesn't retain its legitimate function of interpreting the constitution, I'm no...

Joe went to a conference... here's what went down. The crew couldn't convene this week because of the Clio Cloud Conference, but here's Joe's interview with Pamela Smith talking about lawyer public relations. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Record numbers of workers have quit their jobs, fueled in part by their desire for better work-life balance, burnout or limited growth opportunities. How can employers in the legal field stem attrition? Learn essential strategies to enhance your recruitment, engagement and retention of legal professionals in today’s workplace. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Legal Talk Network wants to hear from you! Complete their Listener Survey and help them (and us!) improve your favorite legal podcasts and create new shows you’ll love. Complete the survey by October 14, 2022, and be entered to win great prizes! https://legaltalknetwork.com/survey/ Do the lessons learned while owning a small law firm translate to life in a larger firm? In today’s episode, Sara cha...

The world of lawyering has surged in spite of the pandemic, but new adversity looms. Fears over inflation, war, hiring markets, and a recession have left many attorneys wondering how to prepare for the coming months. Jack Newton discusses the concept of anti-fragility and its place as a mental model for law firms as they face an uncertain future. Jack outlines how deliberate preparation can help y...

No matter your practice area, smart planning can help you grow your business. Co-hosts Christopher Anderson and Laurence Colletti talk with Tim Parlatore about the panel he participated in at ClioCon which focused on scalable legal services. Tim shares his firm’s journey from solo to over 30 attorneys and offers time-tested tips for steady growth.  Timothy C. Parlatore is the founder and Managing...

Lack of communication and surprisingly large bills are often major sources of complaint for law firm clients, but it doesn’t have to be that way! Attorneys Shreya and Colin Ley share their simple strategies for managing client expectations and providing a better customer experience. Shreya Ley is a Lawyer-Human with LayRoots. Colin Ley is an asset protection attorney with LayRoots.  Learn more abo...

Love it or hate it, social media is where you need to be to get noticed by modern consumers. Gyi Tsakalakis chats with Michelle Fonseca-Kamana and Adam Juratovac about their session on developing your online presence to strengthen your credibility and reach new clients. Tune in for their thoughts on crafting entertaining, educational, and empowering content. Michelle Fonseca-Kamana is the Founder...

How much can we really get done in a day? Christopher Anderson talks with Clio presenter Olivia Vizachero about how to become a consistent, confident manager of your schedule. Olivia explains why we so often struggle to plan a realistic schedule and gives tactics for proactive, accurate planning techniques that help you achieve your goals. Olivia Vizachero, a former BigLaw commercial litigator and...

“A great client experience should be at the core of what you do.” – Geeta Daswani, winner of the Excellence in Client Service Reisman Award, talks with podcast host Patrick Palace about her firm’s best practices for thoughtful and efficient client interactions. Geeta explains how careful listening and good communication can help any business provide a great customer experience.  Geeta Daswani is f...