MiLawyer Podcast

Olivia Ash and Jeff Zapor discuss attorney mental health issues surrounding loneliness.

Anne Brafford offers strategies firms can implement to effectively prioritize lawyer health and well-being.

Dr. Noelle Nelson gives listeners simple techniques for connecting with all types of clients and teach lawyers how to communicate, even if they disagree with their client.

Your grandmother may have told you “if you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all”— but maybe you just need to say it the right way. Hosts JoAnne Hathaway and Tish Vincent are joined by Dr. Liane Davey, Ph. D, to discuss a better way to engage in and resolve workplace conflict, building a healthier, more productive team dynamic in the process.

In this episode, hosts Tish Vincent and JoAnn Hathaway talk to Allison Shields about how lawyers can do more in less time. They discuss the importance of setting goals and avoiding the discouraging pitfall of creating never-ending to-do lists. Lawyers who learn to prioritize tasks and manage their activities can accomplish much more in a shorter amount of time. Allison also emphasizes the need for...

How has legal education evolved, and what unique challenges do today’s law students face? In this episode, hosts JoAnn Hathaway and Tish Vincent talk to Victoria Vuletich about what the law school experience is like for the current generation of students. They discuss a broad scope of current law school issues including: restructuring trends in the legal profession, technology advancements, shifti...

The opioid crisis is deeper, broader, and more nuanced than many people realize. In this episode, hosts JoAnn Hathaway and Tish Vincent talk to Harry Nelson about the opioid crisis and his book, “The United States of Opioids: A Prescription For Liberating A Nation In Pain.” They discuss the needs for reform in healthcare laws and greater access to treatment for opioid addictions.

In this episode, guest host Darin Day talks with Judge Michelle Rick and attorney Kim Jones about Michigan’s rule changes for limited scope representation that aim to lessen the justice gap. They describe the new rules and give examples of how Michigan attorneys can provide these types of limited legal services to clients. They also encourage lawyers to check out the Limited Scope Tool Kit availab...

In this episode, JoAnn Hathaway and Tish Vincent talk to Terry Harrell about her work with the National Task Force on Lawyer Well-Being. They discuss the “Well-Being Report” created by the Task Force, which was written to be a road map forward for the profession as it shifts its mindset on lawyer well-being. They also talk about the recently developed “Well-Being Toolkit” – a resource for encourag...

Judge Joseph J. Farah of Michigan’s 7th Judicial Circuit Court shares how attorneys can prepare a proper motion. From the NEXT Conference 2018, hosts Samantha Meinke and Rob Mathis talk to Judge Joseph J. Farah about lawyers’ motions being too nebulous. Judge Farah, who spoke at the conference, also describes a game he helped create to test judge's and attorney's knowledge of the rules of evidence...

Part 2 of this installment from the State Bar of Michigan NEXT Conference 2018 holds even more wisdom from master lawyers with long years of experience. Guest hosts Samantha Meinke and Syeda Davidson of the Young Lawyers Section interview Carolyn Williams, Joseph Golden, and Susan & Ed Haroutunian about what they valued most in their careers as lawyers, their most challenging learning experien...

From the State Bar of Michigan NEXT Conference 2018, hosts Samantha Meinke and Syeda Davidson of the Young Lawyers Section interview members of the bar who reached 50 years in the practice of law in 2018. They hear valuable insight from these master lawyers about what they valued most in their careers, their most challenging learning experiences, and what work-life balance advice they have to offe...

Does work-life balance exist in the day-to-day lives of lawyers? Maybe not, and that’s okay. From the NEXT Conference 2018, host Rob Mathis gets Michigan Supreme Court Justice Bridget McCormack’s take on how lawyers can balance their careers and personal lives in a healthy way. Justice McCormack encourages lawyers to look at their career as a whole and not be too hard on themselves when some days,...

Hosts Rob Mathis and Laurin Thomas talk to Chris about the four sessions he presented at the State Bar of Michigan’s NEXT Conference 2018, all centered around law firm owner freedom. Highlighting each session, Chris discusses his expertise in impactful business planning, wise uses of time, smart money decisions, and rockstar salesmanship: all ways to help lawyers learn how to take their businesses...

At NEXT Conference 2018, hosts Rob Mathis and Laurin Thomas break down some of the complexities of immigration law with Susan E. Reed, the Managing Attorney at the Michigan Immigrant Rights Center (MIRC). Susan encourages lawyers to be educated on how immigration law relates to other areas of the law, and offers ways lawyers can partner with clients at MIRC. She feels that all lawyers, regardless...

From the NEXT Conference 2018, hosts Samantha Meinke and Robert Mathis talk to Nicole Black about artificial intelligence and other legal technology. She shares tips for automating your practice, with and without AI, and ethics advice to keep in mind when using the cloud and social media.

Michigan attorneys Tom Rombach and Odey Meroueh discuss limited scope and access to justice initiatives in their state. From the NEXT Conference 2018, Rombach, a former State Bar of Michigan president, shares with host Robert Mathis about Michigan Supreme Court rules that provide guidance regarding limited scope representation. Meanwhile, Meroueh highlights efforts by the Detroit Bar Association t...

Experiencing a legal dispute is hard enough without going through a trial, but there are ways to settle these disputes outside of a courtroom. From the NEXT Conference 2018, hosts Robert Mathis and Laurin Thomas talk to Judge Wendy Baxter and Graham Ward about the benefits of alternative dispute resolution (ADR) and how this form of practice is still evolving. They also discuss the different types...

From the NEXT Conference 2018, hosts Samantha Meinke and Robert Mathis talk to Hon. Christopher Yates, Hon. Jon Hulsing, and Hon. Tim Hicks about the right way to present summary disposition motions. From organizing your documents to knowing every detail of your case, tune in for tips directly from these judges. In their discussion, they also underscore the importance of civility and respect in th...

No matter your age, if you've just passed the bar in Michigan, you’re now a member of the Young Lawyers Section. Host Rob Mathis talks with Kara Hart-Negrich, the incoming chair to the section, about upcoming plans and events for the next year. The variety of trainings, public interest events, and networking opportunities can be very valuable experiences for new lawyers in Michigan.

From the NEXT Conference 2018, hosts Samantha Meinke and Janet Welch talk to Jennifer Grieco and Donald Rockwell about the programs and initiatives that have meant the most to them as bar leaders. They discuss the limited scope representation issue, the Professionalism and Practice Summit, and what motivated them to serve in their leadership roles.

The Legal Trends Report collects legal industry data and uses it to determine how law firms can improve their business. From the NEXT Conference 2018, hosts Rob Mathis, Samantha Meinke, and Laurence Colletti talk to Clio CEO Jack Newton about 2018 Legal Trends Report and what it reflects about the legal industry. They discuss the data that’s included in the report and how attorneys can use this in...

There’s a lot more to running a lean law firm than just cutting costs. Hosts JoAnn Hathaway and Tish Vincent talk to Larry Port about what it means to be a lean law firm, addressing common misconceptions and the core ideas that make the system successful. These include constantly striving for perfection, measuring success, and removing bottlenecks, to name a few.

While both can benefit a practice, lawyers often get marketing and business development confused. Hosts JoAnn Hathaway and Tish Vincent talk to John Reed about essential marketing strategies for lawyers and how marketing differs from business development. They discuss important marketing and business development activities that are important depending on your practice areas. Stay tuned for tips on...

Lawyers are often seen as protectors, helping others recover and attain justice after trauma. But even protectors need help sometimes. Hosts JoAnn Hathaway and Tish Vincent talk to Shawn Healy about the prevalence of depression in the legal profession, why it’s so common, and how to address depression before it reaches a crisis point. They discuss overcoming the legal industry stigma that sees men...