Legal Talk Network - Law News and Legal Topics

Does the new Texas social media law banning platforms from moderating content really require you to listen to this episode? Well, it's on Twitter so now you're compelled! Frustratingly, this reasoning is just as stupid as the Fifth Circuit's crayon-scratched opinion rubber stamping the statute. It's an opinion so bad that Justice Alito immediately swooped in to get the appeal rolling. Meanwhile, w...

Part Two of our depo discussion offers 15 additional tips on strategy and goal-setting during prep, including opening the door to admit evidence, preparing exhibits, and doing your homework on your witness. We also discuss how to improve your depo outline (yes, you should have one!) and what you should add to keep your focus on the witness and not on your legal pad. Learn more about your ad choice...

Facial recognition software is becoming a greater part of our everyday lives. But the technology is controversial and not without its critics. Questions about its accuracy—especially relating to recognizing minority faces—remain. Special thanks to our sponsors, Alert Communications and Smokeball. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Her house is bigger. He did an expert depo and you haven’t. She’s got four trials in the next two months and you only have one. Does it really matter? Will attaining that thing actually make you happy? And why do we compare ourselves to others and suck the joy out of our own accomplishments? Prepare to examine your own vulnerabilities as we discuss upward and downward comparisons, personal priorit...

Half-assed marketing plans not really working for you? Jared’s got Cady Darago here to nudge (or shove, nicely, if needed) you in the direction you actually need to go. They chat about effective, fun approaches to marketing your law firm, customizing plans for a niche practice, and how CRM software will seriously change your life for the better. Then, Jared has come up with yet another new game: “...

What does it mean to serve at the pleasure of the President? Just because a lawyer works for the Executive Branch does not mean they are suddenly relieved of professional responsibilities. Former U.S. Attorney General Michael Mukasey stops by to discuss his time with the Department of Justice, dealing with the press, and the critical importance for attorneys to maintain independent judgment. Learn...

Cybercrime, particularly ransomware, has skyrocketed over the past few years, leading to data breach lawsuits, regulatory actions, and significant business losses. Attorneys are often the first line of defense and have to advise clients on notice obligations; working with law enforcement; mitigating losses; leveraging insurance; and defending and prosecuting related negligence and data privacy cla...

Some say that the only predictable part of litigation is knowing that the unpredictable will happen. What do you do during a hearing or trial when these unexpected events arise? Experienced trial lawyers, Hon. Judge Carroll J. Kelly, Marc Zucker, Jennifer Seme and Mark A. Romance sit down with host, Dave Scriven-Young, to discuss Tips for Preparing for the Unexpected; and How to Handle the Unexpec...

The Section Annual Conference is the premier event for litigators. It brings together top litigation professionals from across the country to discuss timely legal issues and the latest in trial advocacy, litigation strategy, and case management. Hear highlights from this year’s 2022 Litigation Section Annual Conference with special guests Beth Kaufman, Rick Gross and Harout Samra. Learn more about...

Are you building an empire or a kingdom?  My guest, Travis Fox, shares this insightful analogy with us when it comes to building a firm that brings you fulfillment every single day. It comes down to how you show up as the leader of the firm, and also how you stay in your integrity when things get challenging. Dr. Travis W. Fox is an Actor, Producer, Director, Author & Keynote Speaker. He is a Holl...

It has been nearly fifty years since the US Supreme Court's ruling in Roe v. Wade established that the Constitution protects a woman's liberty to choose to have an abortion. But in the last two weeks, the issue has once again become the center of nationwide controversy as a leaked draft opinion in the matter of Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization indicates the Court is prepared to overtur...

Stephanie talks with the Student Loan Lawyer, Stanley Tate, about leveraging tech instead of staff and having a fixed mindset vs a growth mindset. 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! Thanks to LawPay, MyCase, and Posh Virtual Receptionists for sponsoring this episode.  Learn more about your ad choices. Vis...

Why bother to become a board certified attorney? As it turns out, there are tons of advantages for your legal practice. The State Bar of Texas Podcast host Rocky Dhir welcomes Leo Figueroa to discuss the process of board certification and debunk common misconceptions.  Leo Figueroa is executive director of the Texas Board of Legal Specialization.   Special thanks to our sponsor, LawPay.   Learn mo...

A leaked draft opinion informed the world that the far-right wing of the Supreme Court has broken from Chief Justice Roberts and intends to overrule Roe v. Wade outright based on... "we've got five votes now, so suck it." The gang discusses the opinion, the demise of stare decisis, the obsession with the leaker, and a law professor's problematic response to it all. Joe didn't even use the sound bo...

Whether you’ve taken hundreds of depos or just a handful, you can always use a few tips to save time, better prepare your deponent, or clarify your argument for the jury. Part One of our three-part series on deposition tips addresses 13 specific suggestions for depo preparation and planning, when to take a depo and how to frame your questions more effectively. Learn more about your ad choices. Vis...

Location, location, location. Strategic attorneys know where you file your lawsuit has a big impact. Today’s discussion covers important considerations such as damage caps, jury pool, and what to do if your case is removed from state to federal court. We also clarify some tricky details on multi-state filings, snap removals, and the pros and cons of hiring local counsel to assist. Learn more about...

On the cover of Brian Hochman's book The Listeners: A History of Wiretapping in the United States is a martini cocktail, complete with skewered olive. Someone attempting to judge a book by its cover may think this is a riff on James Bond and his brethren in espionage. But international espionage is not the primary use of wiretapping in the United States; it's a longer, stranger tale than that. Hoc...

You want to boost your conversions but only have so much bandwidth doing it all yourself. Stop thinking that tech equals cold and impersonal. Simple technologies like auto-response emails and text messages (done right!) can afford a personal touch for your clients, bring more prospects into your funnel, and convert those opportunities you’re currently missing out on. And has Google ended the era o...

This episode’s discussion around the Community Table: How do I promote an employee to a part-time position without upsetting the current full-time coworker? Did I make a mistake hiring a friend? How do I overcome my reluctance to hand over the drag-in duties to a new hire?   Special thanks to our sponsors LawClerk, Alert Communications, LawYaw, and Scorpion. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit...

How do you leverage the power of LinkedIn as a lawyer?   LinkedIn is a powerful tool when it comes to networking and establishing yourself as a thought leader. There are many great features that my guest Allison Nunes goes into in our conversation.   Allison is the Director of Global Events for LinkedIn's sales org and has been with the company since 2013. In addition to her day job at LinkedIn, s...

Choices can be complicated, but decision-making tools can help! Dennis and Tom talk through the concept of “decision trees” and explain a variety of methods for modeling out choices and outcomes to help you make better decisions.  Then, the guys revisit their “Hot or Not?” segment to hash out their thoughts on the Apple Watch.  As always, stay tuned for the parting shots, that one tip, website, or...

Stephanie Everett talks with Energy Lawyer, Author, Blogger & Legal Innovation Influencer Carolyn Elefant about her newest book, Solo by Choice: How to Be the Lawyer You Always Wanted to Be. 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! Thanks to LawPay, MyCase, and Posh Virtual Receptionists for sponsoring this epi...

If you're tuning in today to hear our thoughts on the leaked Dobbs opinion and what that means for the future of both reproductive rights and the entire superstructure of the 14th Amendment going forward... well, you'll have to wait a week. Putting together a quality show takes time and that means we recorded this before that revelation. But that doesn't mean there wasn't a lot to cover! We have a...

Mediation poses unique challenges and isn’t always successful. In order to present your most persuasive case, what facts or documents should you prepare for the mediator? If you think the mediator is being biased, what can you do? And when the final offer is on the table and you’re not happy, should you stay or should you go? Get pro tips on preparing your client and your case for mediation in thi...

Don’t let inexperience hinder you. Use it as an excuse to ask, learn and be creative. Part Two covers considerations on hiring experts, creative ways to get “experience”, the power behind creating social capital, and an eye-opening exercise you probably didn’t learn in class; prepare an opening argument for your opposition before you go to court to illuminate key issues and figure out how you will...