Legal Talk Network - Law News and Legal Topics

You’ve opened your firm, hung out the shingle, and taken the leap. Now that you’ve made it a year or two, what’s next? There’s no step-by-step guide for small and solo practitioners, but you can learn from those who established a solo practice and made it through the first few years and how they’re moving forward. Hear guest Joanne Martin’s story, how she learned to hire, add relevant tech, and build on her success. Martin is the founder, managing director, lawyer, and accredited mediator at Align Family Law, a boutique law practice based in Victoria and Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Hear how she joined professional organizations, expanded her marketing, and drove her practice to the next step. As you grow, you can build a network of like-minded professionals, ask clients for a Google review, manage and improve your branding and website, and hire a pro when you need technical help (and even personal coaching). You’ll learn as you go, but you can also learn from others. Once you get your feet under you, it can be tempting to be overly cautious with your emerging practice, but growth is essential. Spend the money when you need to, hire when the practice demands. Get better and bigger. Questions or ideas about solo and small practices? Drop us a line at [email protected] Topics: Launching a solo firm is hard. But so is taking that firm to the next level. Hear tips for growing beyond a one person show Adding associates and support staff may sound challenging, but making the right additions builds your business and takes routine tasks off your shoulders. It’s OK to spend on the tools and professionals you need, such as legal and practice management software and professional help optimizing your tech, even professional coaching. Mentioned in This Episode: Collaborative Family Separation Professionals Legends Legal Marketing AlignFamilyLaw.ca Clio (Grow, Manage, Documents, and Payments) Microsoft 365 DivorceMate Adobe Melissa Shanahan, Velocity Work coaching Previous appearance, “A Second Career: Building a Solo Law Practice Later in Life” Previous episode, “Productivity Boost: Real Uses of AI in the Software You Already Have” Previous episode, “Google, Maps, And Business? This is YOUR Episode” Previous episode, “A Better AI, Built For Lawyers: Results You Can Finally Trust?”

One of former President Trump’s criminal cases, the hush money trial, is currently underway in a New York City courtroom. Jury selection for this case was a lengthy and controversial process which included Trump’s lawyers scrutinizing potential jurors’ social media, Judge Merchan giving Trump a warning for reacting to a potential juror in court, and the dismissal of one seated juror due to their concerns over the intense media coverage of the trial. In this episode, Craig is joined by Betty L. Dunkum, Esq., Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Victory Trial Consulting, as they spotlight jury selection. Craig & Betty discuss the process, strategy, and what attorneys should look for in a juror.

Stephanie catches up with the original Lawyerist podcast host, Sam Glover. In addition to a brief walk down memory lane, hear how Sam is working to make our court systems more accessible to the public and how lawyers could think differently about the value they provide. Additionally, Zack talks with Joyce Brafford from TimeSolv about project management, budget tracking, and determining the value of your cases and your time. Links from the episode:  Increase your billable hours with Timesolv-start your free trial today! If today’s podcast resonates with you and you haven’t read The Small Firm Roadmap Revisited yet, get the first chapter right now for free!

Environmental law is a dynamic field that evolves rapidly with new challenges as they emergebut also against the backdrop of the politics of state and federal administrations. Regulatory focus shifts from administration to administration and crisis to crisis, creating a challenging area of law for those who practice it. Our guest, David Mandelbaum,is a shareholder with the firm of Greenberg Traurig and has practiced environmental law since 1984. He’s seen a lot, from focusing on solid waste landfills decades ago to today’s challenges created by a changing climate. Legal procedures vary from state to state in addition to how the federal government oversees environmental issues, challenging practitionerstounderstand the law and the issues and the procedural process. Laws and statutes are in constant flux. For newer lawyers, Mandelbaum says the constant changes in the field of environmental law level the playing field between experienced attorneys and those getting out of law school. Changes come so fast that a new lawyer who has studied the latest regulations and cases can be on equal footing with someone who has practiced in the field for decades. In this field, it’s never “the way we’ve always done it.” If you’ve ever considered a career in environmental law, this discussion may open your eyes to new opportunities. Resources: “SEC Adopts Rules to Enhance and Standardize Climate-Related Disclosures for Investors,” SEC.gov Superfunds and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency “EPA Imposes First National Limits On 'Forever Chemicals' In Drinking Water,” NBC news Pennsylvania Environmental Law Forum 2024 Different Career Paths in Environmental Law Nurturing the Future of Animal Law American Bar Association on Environment, Energy, and Resources American Bar Association American Bar Association Young Lawyers Division

What happens when forensic science is later found to be false? ----- Forensic science is a cornerstone of our criminal justice system. Unfortunately, not all sciences used to prosecute people are reliable. So what happens when forensic science is later debunked? Does that mean everyone convicted by it goes free? The short answer is no. Tune in to hear why.

Let's see if it pays off as well as a billionaire covering up an affair. ----- Donald Trump's hush money trial kicks off after a week of Trump alienating everyone involved in the process by refusing to respect basic decorum and attempting to skirt the gag order by arguing that RTs aren't endorsements. The Am Law 100 is also out and we talk through some of the key takeaways and Judge Ho tried to defend his take on forum shopping and it's... not good.

Checklists help us avoid mistakes and allow our brains to focus on higher thinking. Follow along as we use pro tips from a checklist expert to create a fail-safe prep list for mediations.

Your competitor is using YOUR name to promote themselves, and you’re totally ticked, but what can you do? Later, learn the very best ways to spend your marketing budget to grow your business. Generating clients for yourself by mentioning your competitor is sketchy, right? Or, is it? In the words of every lawyer ever, “It depends.” Gyi and Conrad analyze a particular instance of an aggressive brand practice Ben Glass highlighted in a recent LinkedIn post. A very questionable strategy used by one of his competitors could easily have misled consumers, so, ick, but is there an okay way to use a brand conquest strategy? The guys unpack the philosophy and ethics behind this type of marketing approach. Pop quiz, hot shot. You’ve got $5,000 for your marketing budget. What do you do?The possibilities could run in a variety of directions, and Gyi and Conrad share several creative takes on what kind of impact can be made with your investment. The News: Everybody is in the digital media business—maybe even your bank! Yep, JP Morgan has started an ad agency… What do we think about this? - JPMorgan Creates Marketing Agency Built on Purchase Data Paid search is still king, but is regicide coming? - U.S. search ad revenues hit record $88.8 billion in 2023 Mentioned in this Episode: The Next LHLM Office Hours will take place on May 3rd. Join us on LinkedIn! Mockingbird Legal Marketing 2024 Review Gladiator Law Marketing Agency Review 2024 The Bite - Lunch Hour Legal Marketing Newsletter! You Asked, We Answered || A Line in the SPAM - LHLM Episode Leave Us an Apple Review Lunch Hour Legal Marketing on YouTube Lunch Hour Legal Marketing on TikTok

Bestselling author and lawyer John Grisham joins LSC Board Member Robert Grey for a conversation on how his journey from small-town lawyer to big-time author influenced his philanthropic priorities and made him an advocate for access to justice. Grey, who serves as president of the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity, interviewed Grisham at a D.C. forum for LSC’s 50th anniversary on April 9.

Litigators are used to being in front of a jury. But have you ever wondered what it’s like to be in that jury? What are jurors watching? What do they notice? Guest Chauntis Jenkins-Floyd – an experienced litigator – recently served on a jury. And what she learned, as a juror, is eye opening. Jenkins-Floyd describes her experiences in the selection process, intake, and ultimately deliberation. Like most of us, Jenkins-Floyd has been called to serve and been dismissed each time. This time was different. As a litigator, Jenkins-Floyd took it all in. She learned about the job and childcare pressures jurors have. She saw what goes on in the jury room. “All of my senses were tingling. As a trial lawyer, I never get to see this part,” she explains. What she learned may change how you present your next case. Hear how important your moves are to a jury, starting the moment you enter the courtroom. Eye contact, body language, and even where people sit matters. How prepared and confident do you look? How friendly and comfortable are you with your client? Jenkins-Floyd explains what jurors were watching. How you ask questions, starting with voir dire, sets up jurors and helps them subconsciously put themselves in your client’s place, even without saying it. Jurors watch and see everything you do. Get an inside peek. Resources: American Bar Association American Bar Association Litigation Section