Episodes Archive - Legal Talk Network

Litigation Radio: The Toll It Takes: Litigation, Substance Abuse, And (Maybe) You

Fellowships that Turn Young Lawyers’ Passion into Service

Ally Kvidt — Tue, 24 Feb 2026 12:00:25 +0000

Equal Justice Works CEO Verna Williams discusses her prior experience as a law dean, her work engaging law students and young lawyers in public interest and the inspiration she draws from their passion. As the nation’s largest post-graduate legal fellowship program, Equal Justice Works deploys students and lawyers to legal services organizations across the country. Since its founding in 1986, Equal Justice Works has supported more than 2,700 fellows.

Networking and Referrals, the Forgotten Marketing Channel

Ally Kvidt — Tue, 24 Feb 2026 12:00:15 +0000

A part of the legal marketing landscape we don’t talk about enough is referral marketing. Sure, we focus on digital marketing, search engines, and paid advertising. But maybe one of the best – and cheapest – forms of marketing could be referral marketing, working with other layers who know, like, and trust us.

Guest John Reed is a former practicing attorney and the founder of Rain BDM, a marketing firm that helps lawyers build exceptional relationships. Hear how professionals learn and play “the referral game.”

Asking for referrals may not feel natural, even a bit awkward. But like any marketing campaign, it can be planned, initiated, and tracked. And it can be fun and rewarding. Don’t try to make a relationship “transactional,” just go out and meet and help people. Let it be more relaxed and natural.

Hear about the “four questions” and a personalized “grid” plan that can get the ball rolling when you meet another attorney. If you’ve struggled with building intentional relationships with other attorneys and expanding your network, you’ll want to hear this free “relationships 101” lesson from a proven, experienced pro.

Fresh Voices on Legal Tech with Megan Morrison and Laith Quasem

Ally Kvidt — Fri, 20 Feb 2026 12:00:48 +0000

Being curious and adaptable is essential for legal professionals in today’s quickly changing technology landscape. For extra-fresh tech perspectives from young attorneys, the guys welcome two of Dennis’ former students to the podcast, data privacy analyst Megan Morrison and second-year associate Laith Quasem. Their discussion covers a wide range of topics, including technology competence, their budding careers, advancements in AI, concerns regarding tech safety and privacy, and practical advice for adopting new tools.

As always, stay tuned for the parting shots, that one tip, website, or observation that you can use the second the podcast ends.

Have a technology question for Dennis and Tom? Call their Tech Question Hotline at 720-441-6820 for the answers to your most burning tech questions.

Show Notes:

RemixAI

Meet the ‘inscrutable’ SCOTUS justice who made the Nuremberg trials possible

Ally Kvidt — Thu, 19 Feb 2026 16:30:14 +0000

Robert H. Jackson was not an easy man to know, but “I found being in Robert Jackson’s company on the whole a great pleasure,” says G. Edward White, author of the new biography Robert H. Jackson: A Life in Judgement.

A longtime ally of Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Jackson served as both Solicitor General and Attorney General before FDR nominated him to the U.S. Supreme Court. However, he often pined for his previous life as a small-town litigator in Jamestown, New York. A solitary worker by nature, Jackson did not relish the collegiate aspects of the court, and his influence was therefore limited.

“Jackson was nominally gregarious, active, fun-loving, witty pleasant–but at the same time, he was remote,” White tells Modern Law Library’s host Lee Rawles. “In some ways, his gregariousness was a barrier to maybe a closer understanding of him.”

But as a litigator and as a justice, Jackson made important historical contributions.

One major such contribution was in establishing the format and location of the post-World War II international military tribunals of Nazi leaders, now known as the Nuremberg Trials. Jackson took a leave of absence from the U.S. Supreme Court to be the country’s lead negotiator as the United States, Great Britain, France and the Soviet Union debated how tribunals would take place. He then served as the United States’ chief prosecutor.

White and Rawles also discuss the roadblocks that have prevented Jackson from being better known in legal history; how Justice Felix Frankfurter tried to protect Jackson’s post-death legacy; and Jackson’s controversial cross-examination of Nazi politician Hermann Goering.

In honor of the Olympics, White (who has written books on baseball and soccer) also shares his perspective on the benefits that athletics brings to lawyers.

A Texas-Sized Look at Our Constitution on its 150th Birthday

Ally Kvidt — Thu, 19 Feb 2026 12:00:52 +0000

To mark the sesquicentennial of the Texas Constitution, host Rocky Dhir is joined by two eminent Texans—Texas Supreme Court Justice Evan Young and legal historian Dr. Bill Chriss. They offer a deep dive into the foundational document’s history and evolution, tracing its iterations from 1876 to the present day and exploring how its framework for self-governance continues to serve the people of Texas well.

To learn more about the unique and fascinating story of our state constitution, read Dr. Chriss’ book: Six Constitutions Over Texas: Texas’ Political Identity, 1830–1900.

Justice Evan A. Young was appointed to the Supreme Court of Texas in November 2021 by Governor Greg Abbott and later elected in November 2022 to serve through December of 2028.

Dr. Bill Chriss is a self-described lifelong learner. As a lawyer, historian, and author, his work straddles the worlds of academia, family, writing, and appellate law.

Healing the High-Achieving Lawyer: Rethinking Sobriety and Success, with Melissa Silverstein

Ally Kvidt — Thu, 19 Feb 2026 12:00:10 +0000

In episode 604 of Lawyerist Podcast, discover how addressing alcohol and mental health can unlock greater clarity, confidence, and long-term success in your legal career. Stephanie Everett sits down with IP attorney and recovery coach Melissa Silverstein to talk about alcohol, achievement, and the hidden pressures inside the legal profession.

Melissa shares her personal journey from high-achieving “functioning” lawyer to long-term sobriety, and explains why so many attorneys struggle silently while still appearing successful on the outside. Together, they explore law firm drinking culture, client expectations, stigma around asking for help, and why recovery does not have to mean labels or all-or-nothing thinking.

If you’ve ever felt burned out, anxious, or not quite like your best self, this episode offers practical insight, reassurance, and a path toward building a healthier, more sustainable legal career without shame.

Listen to our previous episodes on Lawyer Well Being & Recovery.

469: Lawyers in Crisis: Navigating Addiction and Mental Healthy, with Brian Cuban Apple | Spotify | LTN

#477 Controlling Alcohol with Annie Grace Apple | Spotify | LTN

#506: Managing Stress & Avoiding Burnout, with Emily Nagoski Apple | Spotify | LTN

#533 The Alcohol Experiment, with Annie Grace Apple | Spotify | LTN

#535 Lawyer Burnout: 5 Hidden Signs You’re About to Crash, with Natasha Evans Apple | Spotify | LTN

Have thoughts about today’s episode? Join the conversation on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and X!

Access more resources from Lawyerist at lawyerist.com.

Chapters / Timestamps:

00:00 – Intro & Conference Recap

08:30 – Melissa’s Story

10:00 – Achievement as a Mask

12:10 – Rethinking Abstinence

14:30 – Harm Reduction & Personal Choice

15:50 – Warning Signs in Law Practice

16:30 – The Role of the Bar

17:50 – Leadership & Language

20:00 – Rethinking Firm Events

23:10 – Career Growth After Recovery

26:00 – De-Stigmatizing Help

29:00 – Closing Thoughts

Generative AI is now capable of grading law school exams; what’s next?

Ally Kvidt — Wed, 18 Feb 2026 16:00:22 +0000

Let’s talk about every lawyer’s favorite subject: exams. It seems like every day, there’s another threshold that generative artificial intelligence crosses. First, it was able to take a bar exam and do reasonably well. Then it was able to ace it. Same with law school exams. Right now, AI would probably graduate at the top of its class, edit law review and land a six-figure associate’s job with an Am Law 50 firm. Now comes another milestone.

AI Takes The Blame, Epstein Takes The Careers

Ally Kvidt — Wed, 18 Feb 2026 15:15:47 +0000

With a Biglaw firm officially blaming staff layoffs on AI, what is it going to look like if and when layoffs come for lawyers? It’s unlikely to look the same for every Biglaw business model. And it could look even more different for boutiques. Embattled Goldman Sachs chief legal officer Kathryn Ruemmler announced that she’d be leaving her role after her Jeffrey Epstein connections came out in the last file dump. And we found out that the late Ken Starr thought of Epstein as a brother, which tracks. We also saw the first majr firm strike a blow against the expedited law school recruiting cycle.

EP 704- Meet the Case Doctors

Ally Kvidt — Wed, 18 Feb 2026 12:00:13 +0000

The Jury is Out hands this week’s episode over to The Case Doctors, John Simon, and Alvin Wolff. With more than 80 years of combined legal experience, Simon and Wolff have seen it all—and now, they’re sharing their insights into real-world legal questions submitted by fellow attorneys. News of a corndog recall sparks hilarious memories for Wolff of a case he once handled. And attorneys ask the Case Doctors how they keep their sanity and ethics intact when a client has a history of suing and firing previous attorneys.

Religious Employers and Employment Law: Whose Rights?

Ally Kvidt — Tue, 17 Feb 2026 16:30:17 +0000

Religious organizations and their employees fall into a murky and often-overlooked area of labor and employment law. Guests James “Jim” Paul and Michael Subit practice in employment and labor law and are versed in the world of religious employers and their workers.

Title VII of the Civil Rights Act carves out some interesting exemptions in employment law regarding religion-based businesses, but some recent court rulings seem to conflict with each other. Paul and Subit join host Matt Greer to delve into what constitutes a “religious employer” and where religious beliefs and practices challenge existing employment laws.

A recent appeals court ruling spells out nine questions regarding religion-based retailers, religious hospitals, and other businesses. Is it created for profit? Does it make a secular product? Do articles of incorporation state a religious purpose? All of these considerations may matter.

This issue goes way beyond practicing a religion. Consider same sex marriage, certain behaviors, and reproductive rights. Hear how quickly employer and employee rights can conflict. Is a Supreme Court showdown on the horizon?

Turn Expertise into Clients: Building Authority That AI Recognizes, with Karin Conroy from Conroy Creative

Ally Kvidt — Tue, 17 Feb 2026 12:00:06 +0000

In episode 603 of Lawyerist Podcast, Zack Glaser sits down with Karin Conroy to examine how AI is changing the rules of law firm marketing and what that means for lawyers who want to stand out for the right reasons.

Karin explains why expertise, not automation, is what rises to the top in an AI filtered world. As large language models reshape how potential clients search for answers, shortcuts like keyword stuffing and mass produced content are quickly losing their impact. What stands out instead is real authority built through credibility, third party validation, media appearances, and consistent messaging across platforms.

The conversation also challenges the idea that your website is your first impression. In today’s landscape, visibility often starts elsewhere. Zack and Karin unpack how referral systems support a larger authority strategy and what it truly means to move from building, to stabilizing, to growing your marketing in a deliberate and sustainable way.

Listen to our previous episodes with Karin:

#559: The Imitation Trap: Lessons from 15 Years of Top Law Firm Websites , with Conroy Creative Counsel (Sponsored) Apple | Spotify | LTN

#546: Unlock Law Firm Growth: AI marketing Secrets with Karin Conroy Apple | Spotify | LTN

#584: How to Stay Human in the Age of AI-driven Law Firm Marketing, with Creative Conroy Apple | Spotify | LTN

Links from the episode:

https://conroycreativecounsel.com/

Have thoughts about today’s episode? Join the conversation on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and X!

Access more resources from Lawyerist at lawyerist.com.

Chapters / Timestamps:

00:00 – Meet Karin Conroy
02:30 – AI, Agents & The Content Explosion
04:15 – The M Dash as a Trust Tell
07:00 – Why Google Isn’t the Front Door Anymore
09:00 – Knowledge Panels & Online Authority
12:30 – You Can’t Fake Expertise
15:00 – Stop Chasing SEO Tricks
17:30 – Authority Through Media & PR
21:00 – Who Needs a Media Kit
23:00 – Referrals Are a Marketing Strategy
25:00 – Build Before You Scale
28:00 – AI Rewards Real Experts
32:30 – Closing Thoughts

Mental Health & the Legal Profession

Ally Kvidt — Fri, 13 Feb 2026 14:40:29 +0000

The legal profession can be a stressful one. Whether its workload, the demands of clients, financial pressure or long days and nights, it can be overwhelming to many.

So what kind of toll is this stress having on lawyers? And where can you get help?

On this episode of Lawyer 2 Lawyer, Craig joins Attorney Jason Ward, public speaker on mental wellness and addiction, as they discuss mental health & the legal profession. Craig & Jason talk about the stressors that come with the profession, the impact, how to alleviate the day-to-day stress of the occupation, and where to get help.

Mentioned in this Episode:

ABA’s Well Being Toolkit

How a 22-Stop “Listening Tour” Improves Justice Across Colorado

Ally Kvidt — Thu, 12 Feb 2026 18:30:23 +0000

The leader of the Colorado Access to Justice Commission discusses their “Listening Tour” initiative on the latest episode of Talk Justice. Elisa Overall shares about the wide-reaching 22-stop tour and its findings, which were published in a December 2025 report.

Ethics, Judgment, and Trust in a World of Legal AI, with Damien Riehl

Ally Kvidt — Thu, 12 Feb 2026 12:00:17 +0000

Lawyers have always relied on tools—but AI is different. It doesn’t just assist with tasks; it makes decisions, applies judgment, and shapes outcomes. In episode #602 of the Lawyerist Podcast, Stephanie Everett talks with Damien Riehl about what ethical responsibility looks like when AI starts doing legal work on its own.

Their conversation examines how AI systems embed values, why verification matters more than transparency, and how lawyers can responsibly use tools they don’t fully understand. They also explore what legal expertise looks like in an AI-powered future—and why intuition, trust, and integrity may matter more than ever as machines take over the “widgets” of legal work.

Listen to our other episodes on Ethics and Responsibility in AI.

EP. 582 Deepfakes, Data, and Duty: Navigating AI Ethics in Law, with Merisa Bowers Apple | Spotify | LTN
EP. 543 What Lawyers Need to Know About the Ethics of Using AI, with Hilary Gerzhoy Apple | Spotify | LTN

Have thoughts about today’s episode? Join the conversation on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and X!

Access more resources from Lawyerist at lawyerist.com.

Chapters / Timestamps:

00:00 – Introduction

05:55 – Meet Damien Riehl

08:10 – Why AI Is a Different Kind of Legal Tool

11:05 – When AI Starts Doing Legal Work

14:30 – Ethics, Values, and AI Judgment

18:45 – Foundation Models vs. Legal-Specific AI

21:15 – The “Duck Test” and Trusting AI Output

24:45 – Trust but Verify: Reviewing AI Work

28:40 – What Lawyers Are Underestimating About AI

31:10 – What Still Requires Human Judgment

34:30 – Intuition, Trust, and Integrity in Law

37:40 – What This Means for Billing and the Future

40:40 – Closing Thoughts

The Smartest Person in the Room? The One Who Asks and Learns

Ally Kvidt — Thu, 12 Feb 2026 12:00:10 +0000

Guest June Hunter is a trained paralegal professional and legal technology trainer with a 35-year career in legal services that spans the profession’s growth from the days of physical, paper files to today’s legal tech AI revolution.

Hear how Hunter has come to feel that paralegal professionals are “the best project managers in the world,” juggling clients, lawyers, tech tools, and court schedules and deadlines. The paralegal profession is no longer limited to helping process legal documents. Technology has expanded the field into so many new areas and specialties.

The best part about today’s tech tools, including AI, is that in the long run, it can save clients money, increase efficiencies, and solve ethical issues involving billing. Hunter’s message: be eager to embrace and master the latest technology throughout your career. The smartest person in the room is the person who’s not afraid to ask questions and learn new things.

Epstein Fallout Rocks Legal As Admin Tries To Deflect From ICE

Ally Kvidt — Wed, 11 Feb 2026 16:00:44 +0000

As predicted on last week’s episode, Brad Karp left the top post at Paul Weiss following the disclosure of friendly correspondence with Jeffrey Epstein. But Karp wasn’t the only Biglaw lawyer in the files, nor were his conversations the most troubling. A former Clifford Chance trainee drafted a sex contract with Epstein, Goldman Sachs GC Kathy Ruemmler made a joke with Epstein that normally you wouldn’t make with someone who already pleaded guilty to child prostitution charges, and Alan Dershowitz managed to drag Paul Weiss into the case again when people found sex tourism legal analysis in the files from a now-Paul Weiss partner… passing along Dershowitz’s thoughts.

Meanwhile in Minnesota, a DOJ lawyer called out the broken immigration system before literally asking to be held in contempt so she could get some sleep. which is what happens when an administration breaks the legal system so thoroughly that even its own lawyers can’t keep up with the chaos. And legal tech took a financial jolt as Anthropic announced its entry into the legal tech space.

EP 1002- Lifting While You Climb: Part One with Imani Maatuka

Ally Kvidt — Wed, 11 Feb 2026 12:00:23 +0000

What’s it like to go from a big law firm to opening a boutique law firm in partnership with your mother in the first five years of your career? Listen in as Imani Maatuka shares the experience and lessons learned along the way with Liz Lenivy and Elizabeth McNulty.

The One Where Gyi and Conrad Rock the Boat

Ally Kvidt — Wed, 11 Feb 2026 09:00:06 +0000

Hey, friends. The hard truth of it is—It’s bad for business if there’s no rule of law. We’re grateful for the voices in the profession that have shown a willingness to defend our nation’s laws in the midst of uncertainty. Later, Conrad shares tips for making friends.

We’ve been heartened to see a variety of voices standing up for the rule of law in recent weeks, and working in legal, we know the pressures firms feel as they consider how to engage in our current political climate. But, on this we can all agree: The rule of law is essential for the health and prosperity of our nation. Gyi and Conrad take a moment to share stories and amplify the voices of those who have shown their commitment to uphold the Constitution.

Next, Conrad really opened a can of worms on Facebook this week. Come for the drama, stay for the tactical tips on standing out in a world of private equity-backed agencies. Grab some popcorn.

The News:

Bob Ambrogi digs into the hopeful thought that legal-specific tech platforms can do a better job for lawyers’ AI needs – Anthropic’s Legal Plugin for Claude Cowork May Be the Opening Salvo In A Competition Between Foundation Models and Legal Tech Incumbents
Multiple clients have seen a 40% drop in their local visibility. Seems shady, eh?
If you don’t control your WordPress site, there’s a problem, folks. Gyi & Conrad explain how to own your stuff from the get-go.
Announcing the Lunch Hour Legal Marketing Summit in Nashville, Tennessee! It’s gonna be a great time, everyone. Get your tickets before they’re all gone!

Mentioned:

NCBP discusses the rule of law: Presidential Check-In – A Conversation with Patrick Palace
Sign the Pledge!

Listen Next:

Local Love, Review Realities, and the Truth about Google’s PMax Campaigns

Connect:

2026 Women in Litigation CLE Conference

Community Table: Explaining the Process to a New Client The Correct Way

Ally Kvidt — Tue, 10 Feb 2026 15:30:53 +0000

In this episode’s discussions around the Community Table, explaining to clients what to expect, marketing, and getting your tech up to speed.

With new clients, take the time to set expectations and explain the process. Assumptions and miscommunication can lead to lower satisfaction when a client’s uninformed expectations don’t meet reality, even with a successful outcome
Starting with a clear explanation of the process can lead to more favorable outcomes. Will the case go to trial, our would a settlement be better? How much would one route cost vs. another? Give clients the big picture. Real life is not a television TV drama.
Is your marketing attracting the clients you want? Casting the widest net isn’t always the best choice. Explain who you are and what you do honestly. And then live up to those promises. (And for Heaven’s sake, get your tech in order. Clients today expect at least that: Hear the common tech shortfalls that turn clients off.)

The “Magellans” Navigating Workers’ Comp Care: Nursing Case Managers

Ally Kvidt — Tue, 10 Feb 2026 12:00:41 +0000

Recovering from a workplace injury takes time, patience, and in many instances, professional case management. Guests Cindy Bourbeau and Annie Barach with Massachusetts-based Medical and Life Care Consulting Services explain how nursing case management professionals help injured workers through recovery and the Workers’ Compensation program.

Misconception that they are “spies” for insurers in claims cases. In reality, medical case management professionals help patients understand and work through Workers’ Comp, advocating for them and helping insurance companies understand necessary care to ensure a full recovery.

Licensed case managers help with medical evaluations programs of care that help injured workers return to their jobs and get on with their lives. At times, our guests explain, there are complications in the system that are akin to “untangling a web.”

Hear how professional case managers help coordinate care, medicines, logistical concerns, insurance, treatment approvals, and therapy, helping patients maximize recovery and return to the best lives they can.

If you have thoughts on Workers’ Comp law or an idea for a topic or guest you’d like to hear, contact us at JPierce@ppnlaw.com or APierce@ppnlaw.com.

The Art of Case Budgeting

Ally Kvidt — Tue, 10 Feb 2026 12:00:33 +0000

The process of “case budgeting” is increasingly common in complex litigation, it’s the science and art of laying out the potential time and cost of trying a case. Daniel Dowd is the managing partner and the president of the Phoenix law firm Cohen Dowd Quigley. He explains how to estimate: “How much will this cost to get to the finish line?”

But how do you do it? How do you react when a client brings up costs? Dowd details the labor-intensive process of understanding each aspect of the case and calculating costs, including discovery, expert witnesses, the potential for a mediated settlement, and even the nature of the court and opposing law firm.

There are many variables, and as the timeline stretches out, projections can become less accurate. But if a client asks, a “best estimate” can help them understand the true cost of a case. “You build a skeleton … and then you have to estimate with your team how much time they’re going to spend,” Dowd explains. “Then you get your calculator out.”

Plus, a quick tip from attorney and co-chair of the ABA Mental Health & Wellness committee Maritza Rodriguez of the firm Rodriguez Family Law as she discusses “the great commitment reset.” Get a fresh start on a new year by making fewer commitments, auditing your life, and cutting back on self-scheduling.

Have a question, comment, or suggestion for an upcoming episode? Get in touch at MRogson@SkywardInsurance.com and JAReeder@JonesDay.com.

Resources:

American Bar Association

American Bar Association Litigation Section

Beyond Chatbots: Using Agentic AI in Law Firm Intake, with Matt Spiegel from Lawmatics

Ally Kvidt — Tue, 10 Feb 2026 12:00:00 +0000

Lawyers are understandably cautious about AI—but the real risk may be using it the wrong way. In episode 601 of the Lawyerist Podcast, Zack Glaser sits down with Matt Spiegel of Lawmatics to explore how agentic AI is changing the way law firms handle intake and evaluate potential clients.

Matt breaks down why surface-level AI tools fall short, how agentic AI can make informed recommendations instead of opaque scores, and what it takes to build trust in automated decision-making. They also discuss how better intake systems can reduce wasted time, improve lead quality, and support more intentional firm growth.

Listen to our other episodes on Artificial Intelligence in Legal Practice.

#497: Real Talk About Artificial Intelligence in Your Office, with Ben Apple | Spotify | LTN

#543: What Lawyers Need to Know About the Ethics of Using AI, with Hilary Gerzhoy Apple | Spotify | LTN

#546: Unlock Law Firm Growth: AI marketing Secrets with Karin Conroy Apple | Spotify | LTN

Links from the episode:

https://www.lawmatics.com/

Have thoughts about today’s episode? Join the conversation on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and X!

Access more resources from Lawyerist at lawyerist.com.

Chapters / Timestamps:

00:00 – Introduction

01:28 – Meet Matt Spiegel

03:55 – From the Cloud to AI in Legal Tech

05:38 – Why Lawyers Are Cautious About AI

06:50 – Moving Beyond Surface-Level AI

08:51 – Why Lead Scoring Misses the Point

11:14 – What Makes Agentic AI Different

14:10 – Generative AI vs. Agentic AI

15:57 – Teaching Software to Make Decisions

17:17 – Automating Outcomes, Not Steps

20:10 – Why Lawmatics Was Already Agentic

21:47 – Trust, Guardrails, and Client Data

24:20 – What Qualify AI Does Differently

25:33 – Closing Thoughts

Fresh Voices on Legal Tech with Chantal McNaught

Ally Kvidt — Fri, 06 Feb 2026 12:00:51 +0000

The tensions between the practice and business of law have long been a touchy subject, but lawyers must wrestle with these challenges to thrive in the profession. Dennis and Tom welcome Chantal McNaught to discuss her work at the intersection of law, business, and technology. Chantal delves into how ethics command technology use in legal practice and offers grounded, thoughtful insights on how to develop a sense of community and support in technological pursuits.

As always, stay tuned for the parting shots, that one tip, website, or observation that you can use the second the podcast ends.

Have a technology question for Dennis and Tom? Call their Tech Question Hotline at 720-441-6820 for the answers to your most burning tech questions.

Show Notes:

AI Fluency for Lawyers | 43 Degrees Below
People in Legal Podcast
Connect Gemini to Multiple LM Notebooks!
Personal Strategy Compass | DennisKennedy.Blog

Designing a Law Firm You Actually Want to Run, with Stephanie Everett

Ally Kvidt — Thu, 05 Feb 2026 12:00:59 +0000

Starting a law firm doesn’t automatically make you a business owner—designing one does. In episode #600 of the Lawyerist Podcast, Stephanie Everett and Zack Glaser kick off a four-part series on how to design a law firm intentionally, rather than defaulting into a business you didn’t mean to build.

They unpack the biggest myths lawyers believe when starting a firm, why being a good lawyer isn’t enough to create a sustainable business, and how relying on personal heroics instead of structure quietly traps firm owners over time. Stephanie breaks down the three constraints that cause most firms to struggle, the three distinct paths law firms can take, and the key questions lawyers should ask early to align their business model with the life and career they actually want.

Listen to our other episodes on Law Firm Strategy & Business Design.

#583 – From Survival to Strategy: Scaling Your Law Firm Finances, with Bernadette Harris Apple | Spotify | LTN

#575 – From Overwhelmed Lawyer to Strategic Law Firm Owner, with Chad Fox Apple | Spotify | LTN

#570 – Uncover Your Firm’s Journey with the New Small Firm Scorecard, with Stephanie Everett Apple | Spotify | LTN

#568 – How to Build a Law Firm You Can Sell, with Victoria L. Collier Apple | Spotify | LTN

Have thoughts about today’s episode? Join the conversation on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and X!

Access more resources from Lawyerist at lawyerist.com.

Chapters / Timestamps:

00:00 – Introduction

01:15 – Why This Isn’t About “Starting” a Law Firm

03:45 – The Biggest Myth Lawyers Believe About Firm Ownership

06:50 – Heroics vs. Structure

10:30 – The Three Constraints That Trap Law Firm Owners

12:45 – Every Firm Is Choosing a Business Model (Whether You Realize It or Not)

14:30 – The Three Paths Law Firms Take

18:55 – When Your Goals and Design Don’t Match

20:55 – How Clients Actually Buy Legal Services

23:30 – What Breaks If Demand Doubles

25:00 – Clarity Beats Certainty

29:15 – What to Do in the First 30 Days

33:40 – Where to Go Next

The Help: What labor rights do domestic workers have

Ally Kvidt — Thu, 05 Feb 2026 12:00:58 +0000

A foundational principle of Anglo-American law is that “a man’s house is his castle.” It establishes rights ranging from privacy to justifiable homicide. But what about when your castle is another person’s workplace? What rights do they have?

In Bringing Law Home: Gender, Race and Household Labor Rights, Katherine Eva Maich examines the history of labor protections for nannies, housecleaners and other household employees, and compares how domestic workers fare under the laws in New York City and Lima, Peru.

In this episode, Maich and the Modern Law Library’s host Lee Rawles discuss human trafficking, worker rights and responsibilities, the impacts of slavery and colonialism on the Global South, and the real human relationships that develop between employees and employers within the home.

Revisiting a Justice’s Legacy: A Conversation with The Honorable Nathan Hecht

Ally Kvidt — Thu, 05 Feb 2026 12:00:19 +0000

The Honorable Nathan L. Hecht was the longest‑serving member in the history of the Supreme Court of Texas and the longest‑tenured Texas judge in active service. As he approached his well‑deserved retirement, Rocky Dhir welcomed The Honorable Hecht to the podcast to reflect on his many years of service to the Texas legal system. They discussed his career path, the behind‑the‑scenes work judges performed within the courts, his efforts to improve access to justice, his advice for lawyers, and much more.

Nathan L. Hecht served as the 27th Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Texas. He was elected to the Court seven times, first in 1988 as a Justice and later in 2014 and 2020 as Chief Justice.

Accountability In An Age Of Unaccountability

Ally Kvidt — Wed, 04 Feb 2026 17:45:25 +0000

A flurry of stories hit the legal world all at once last week, with the government responding to another ICE killing in Minnesota by… arresting journalists and dumping Epstein files. And while the Epstein files don’t represent the entire universe — or, perhaps, even the most relevant — files about Epstein’s dealings, they have set off downstream shockwaves in the legal industry. Meanwhile, another judge learns that we frown upon judges arbitrarily handcuffing lawyers. Finally, it’s time for the profession to come together behind helping our self-regulators hold Trump administration lawyers accountable. The ethical breaches keep adding up and while there’s never going to be the warranted criminal law reckoning, we can at least make sure our profession is protected by disbarring all these administration lawyers getting caught affirmatively lying to courts… and worse.

EP 703- Trial Wisdom From a Texas Legend

Ally Kvidt — Wed, 04 Feb 2026 12:00:47 +0000

In this episode of The Jury is Out, Tim Cronin and John Simon pick the brain of Thomas R. Conner, a fourth-generation retired trail lawyer who spent 45 years fighting high stakes litigation in Houston. Tom shares practical trial preparation tips and what he believes young lawyers aren’t taught in law school about resilience, long-term career satisfaction, and emotional endurance. In his upcoming book, From Cotton Fields to Courtrooms: A Texas Lawyer’s Memoir, Tom reflects on his journey from a childhood in rural West Texas to the emotionally charged world of courtroom litigation.

Six To-Dos Every Firm Can Embrace in 2026

Ally Kvidt — Tue, 03 Feb 2026 16:00:29 +0000

Where do you want your firm to go in the new year? Do you have a plan to get there? Intentional firm design and strategy trumps reactive growth every time. Don’t let your firm run you; take charge today!

Guest Kellam Parks is a partner with the metrics- and technology-driven family and cybersecurity law firm Parks Zeigler PLLC, and he runs the coaching program “The Motivated Lawyer,” helping firms craft a path to a successful future. Hear how he recently took on one new client pro bono to demonstrate how his coaching helps lawyers visualize and achieve their goals.

Parks began his own Virginia Beach firm as a “paperless” entity nearly 15 years ago, incorporating emerging tech to maximize efficiencies. As the firm developed, tech tools have helped his team automate the routine and focus on the most important and demanding tasks. He is a regular speaker and provider of CLE programs for attorneys and firms and produces educational videos and a popular newsletter packed with tips.

Do you need help building out your technological capacities and marketing? As Parks points out, “Nobody knows everything.” Always be learning and open to new ideas.

Questions or ideas about solo and small practices? Drop us a line at NewSolo@legaltalknetwork.com

Topics:

Too many solos start out with no intentional plan, opting instead to gather as many clients as they can then scrambling to keep up. A recipe for stress and inefficiency.
In 2026, think about what you actually want from your firm. Then create an intentional plan to get there, step by step.
Technology is not an option. Use the tools available to you. But remember “technology does not fix chaos.” It all starts with your plan, your established systems, and understanding what you’re doing (and why).

EP10: The Client and the Corndog

Ally Kvidt — Tue, 03 Feb 2026 12:00:18 +0000

News of a corndog recall spark hilarious memories for Alvin Wolff of a case he once handled involving misuse of a corndog. And attorneys ask the Case Doctors how they keep their sanity and ethics intact when a client has a history of suing and firing previous attorneys.

Presidential Check-In – A Conversation with Patrick Palace

Ally Kvidt — Mon, 02 Feb 2026 12:00:58 +0000

Six months into his presidency, Patrick Palace joins host Amanda Arriaga for a candid check-in on his leadership, priorities, and vision for the future. Patrick reflects on the path that led him to the practice of law and the values that continue to shape his work, especially his dedication to preserving the independence and integrity of the legal profession.

The conversation explores his efforts to create engaging, meaningful programs that make learning enjoyable for lawyers, as well as the mission behind the Leading the Bar podcast as a platform for thoughtful leadership. Patrick also discusses the Pledge to Preserve the Independence of the Legal Profession and the Judicial System and why this oath matters now more than ever.

Looking ahead, Patrick shares what’s next for the remainder of his term, including his hope to support regulators with resources and guidance, and preparing for the NCBP’s two upcoming conferences—the Midyear and Annual meetings.

Learn more:

The Legalities Behind ICE, The Constitution, Minnesota, & the Impact on the Rule of Law

Adam Lockwood — Fri, 30 Jan 2026 16:30:23 +0000

The recent fatal shootings of Renee Good & Alex Pretti in Minneapolis, Minnesota shook the nation and the world. In recent months, the tactics and actions of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, better known as ICE, have reached a boiling point in communities and have come under scrutiny for the treatment of civilians. In response, many have taken to the streets to protest.

With the Trump administration’s mission to deport dangerous criminals, a recent internal ICE policy specifically allowed agents to go door to door without a judicial warrant, in direct contradiction to the Fourth Amendment (unreasonable searches and seizures by the government). As protestors lined the streets, an individual’s First Amendment rights—freedom of speech and assembly in particular—were also under attack.

Are we currently witnessing the shredding of the U.S Constitution and the rule of law? Will there be investigations into the actions of ICE? Will the legislative branch step in? On this episode of Lawyer 2 Lawyer, Craig joins David Cole, Professor in Law and Public Policy at Georgetown Law and former National Legal Director of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). Craig & David discuss the legalities behind the actions of ICE, the constitutional rights of individuals who encounter ICE agents, the recent tragedies in Minnesota surrounding ICE agents and civilians, and the overall impact these actions are having on the rule of law and the U.S. Constitution.

Why Mentorship Matters More Than Ever for New Lawyers, with Joseline Hardrick

Ally Kvidt — Thu, 29 Jan 2026 12:00:04 +0000

Law school prepares students to think like lawyers, but it often leaves them without a clear picture of what comes next. Zack Glaser sits down with Jocelyn Hardrick to explore how mentorship, pipeline programs, and practical guidance can help first-generation and nontraditional students bridge the gap between legal education and real-world practice.

They unpack the challenges students face when they lack exposure to legal careers, the importance of writing and bar preparation support, and how community and accountability shape confidence during the transition into the profession. The episode highlights how intentional mentorship and community support can reduce uncertainty, build confidence, and create clearer pathways into the legal profession.

Listen to our other episodes on mentorship, mindset, and professional development.

Episode #596 — The Athlete’s Mindset for Lawyers, with Jess Sargus Apple | Spotify | LTN

Episode #592 — Client Care, Culture, and Character: A Framework for Great Leaders, with William O’Neal Apple | Spotify | LTN

Episode #588 — Practice Smarter, Not Harder: 411 Tips for Modern Lawyers, with Jordan Couch Apple | Spotify | LTN

Episode #576 — How Sponsorship, Empathy, and Failure Shape Great Leaders, with Michael Cohen Apple | Spotify | LTN

Have thoughts about today’s episode? Join the conversation on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and X!

Access more resources from Lawyerist at lawyerist.com.

Links from the episode:

https://www.journeytoesquire.com/

Chapters:

00:00 – Introduction

01:45 – Why the Path Into Law Isn’t Clear

06:10 – Meet Jocelyn Hardrick

08:25 – What Journey to Esquire Does

12:40 – First-Generation and Nontraditional Barriers

17:30 – Mentorship vs. Sponsorship

21:55 – Writing, Bar Prep, and Practical Skills

26:40 – Building Confidence Through Community

31:20 – Advice for New and Aspiring Lawyers

34:10 – Closing Thoughts

Trump’s Cook Case Looks Cooked

Adam Lockwood — Wed, 28 Jan 2026 21:00:36 +0000

After taking a hacksaw to nearly a century’s worth of congressionally approved independent agencies, the Supreme Court appeared to hit a wall during oral argument over Trump’s attempted firing of Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook. The Unitary Executive Theory is all fun and games until the justices start worrying about their personal finances. Meanwhile, the Department of Justice now takes the position that the text of the Alien Enemies Act would have authorized the unilateral deportation of the Beatles and the Rolling Stones for being part of the “British Invasion.” Finally, Willkie Farr hit with massive lawsuit alleging the firm helped out a former client’s fraud.

Local Love, Review Realities, and the Truth about Google’s PMax Campaigns

Ally Kvidt — Wed, 28 Jan 2026 16:30:57 +0000

As you advertise locally, advertise your localness! Then, what’s a small firm to do in the sea of reviews? And, we really hate Google’s Performance Max nonsense.

Lots to cover today, folks! Being connected to your community matters, and consumers respond with notable positivity to ads that emphasize all the local feels. Gyi and Conrad have plenty of insights on making the most of where you’re planted.

Next, fake reviews keep pouring in, and you need a clear strategy to rise above the flood. The guys share tactical tips for directing your resources to become a strong competitor in your marketplace.

And, lastly, Google’s PMax campaigns are a mighty unfunny joke. Ugh. The data is in, and—surprise, surprise—Google might not have your best interest at heart. Gyi and Conrad pick apart the latest data to help you understand what these campaigns are (not) doing for your law firm.

The News:

OpenAI put this out there: Our approach to advertising and expanding access to ChatGPT. And, just to remind you all, at one point they told us ads were definitely not in the game plan. But… qué será, será, eh?
Near Media’s “Near Memo” podcast welcomed our very own Gyi for a chat you should definitely go listen to: AI Is Breaking Local Search—But Google Still Decides Who Gets Chosen

Mentioned:

Al Ludwig’s LinkedIn post

Listen Next:

Conrad’s Crystal Ball V: Lawyer Marketing Predictions for 2026

Connect:

Previous appearance on the Legal Talk Network, “NCBP 2021: Shaping the Future in the Legal Profession”

Encore – Marketing Is More Than Billboards And Blogs

Ally Kvidt — Wed, 28 Jan 2026 12:00:40 +0000

This week, the ladies of Heels in the Courtroom are bringing back on one of the most popular episodes of The Jury is Out, which explores how your most effective marketing tool is y our own genuine interest in the people you interact with every day. Heels will be back next time with new guests and new topics for 2026!

South Dakota Chief Justice on State Courts’ Challenges, Public Service and Rural Access

Ally Kvidt — Tue, 27 Jan 2026 12:00:39 +0000

Chief Justice Steven R. Jensen appears on Talk Justice with LSC President Ron Flagg. They speak about his path to South Dakota’s Supreme Court, the national Conference of Chief Justices, efforts to promote public interest law, access to justice initiatives and the challenges facing state courts. Jensen, who is currently serving his second term as chief justice, was first appointed to the South Dakota Supreme Court in 2017.

What Can Today’s Tech and AI Do for You? Expert Insights (and Predictions)

Ally Kvidt — Tue, 27 Jan 2026 12:00:11 +0000

The world of legal technology can seem overwhelming. Fortunately, we have a guide in Chelsey Lambert, founder and author at the legal tech education, consulting, and guidance platform Legal Tech Decoded, which features articles, reviews, and opinions on the latest in legal tech.

This episode is kind of about marketing, but kind of about operations, but also kind of about AI, because tech is coming for every aspect of your legal practice. What developments will drive your firm forward, and what’s smoke and mirrors?

Lawyers who’ve been in the business long enough have gone from reviewing cases on paper and in books, maybe even yellow legal pads, to the Internet revolution, to online research and filing, to today’s AI revolution. Is AI remaking the practice of law, or just the next progression? (Spoiler, it’s kind of a big deal.)

“I don’t know that we’ve ever trained lawyers how to buy technology in the first place,” Lambert says. Now add the complexity of AI, a tool you have to train, guide, and trust. Hear about the evolving world of legal tech, even developments you probably haven’t heard of, and the evolution of the profession, including the potential for non-lawyer ownership and private equity. Don’t fear or ignore the revolution, embrace it.

Can We Make the Profession Better? Leaders of the ABA House of Delegates Speak Out

Ally Kvidt — Tue, 27 Jan 2026 12:00:10 +0000

In this episode, host Mic Rogson leads an in-depth conversation with leading representatives of the American Bar Association House of Delegates, Jonathan Cole and Laura Farber. Why do busy lawyers get involved in these demanding roles? The rewards are countless. Hear how you can get involved and make a real difference both in the law and in society.

Hear how (and why) you can get involved. It’s your association, and every member can make a difference. Plus, involvement helps you meet and network with attorneys from across the country, even outside your area of focus. The House of Delegates wants your input, and includes tips on its website for getting involved and even drafting resolutions.

If you’ve ever wondered how ABA policies, rules, and opinions are crafted, you’ll hear it all on this episode of Litigation Radio. You don’t need to be an experienced attorney with a long resume to get involved. All are welcome. Why not start today?

Plus, a quick tip from Elizabeth Kelley, a criminal defense lawyer with a nationwide practice focused on representing people with mental disabilities. She shares the importance of “lowering the temperature,” how to maintain civility and professionalism even if you feel you’ve been disrespected. Grace under pressure will serve you well.

Have a question, comment, or suggestion for an upcoming episode? Get in touch at MRogson@SkywardInsurance.com and JAReeder@JonesDay.com.

Resources:

American Bar Association House of Delegates

“ABA Passes Strong Resolutions on Enforceable Ethics, Judge-Shopping,” Fix the Court

Attorney Elizabeth Kelley

2026 Women in Litigation CLE Conference

American Bar Association

American Bar Association Litigation Section

Why Being Right Won’t Set You Free — Hard Knox with Amanda Knox

Ally Kvidt — Tue, 27 Jan 2026 12:00:01 +0000

In this episode of Hard Knox, now airing on For the Innocent, Amanda Knox sits down with Michael Semanchik and exoneree Scott McMahon. Scott is an American who endured more than five years of imprisonment in the Philippines for a crime he did not commit. Together, Amanda, Mike, and Scott confront the deep flaws of the Philippine justice system, examining how delay and corruption turned an unfounded accusation into a years-long, life-altering ordeal for Scott and his family.

Listen to more of Amanda’s episodes: Hard Knox with Amanda Knox

Learn more about Scott’s case: Scott McMahon – The Innocence Center

Workplace Mental Health: Employee/Employer Perspectives Can Differ.

Ally Kvidt — Tue, 27 Jan 2026 12:00:00 +0000

Mental health plays a big role in workplace efficiency and safety, but it seems employers and employees view the topic differently. Guest Joseph Toppe, a longtime journalist and managing editor of the insurance news website PropertyCasualty360.com shares an interesting study from Pie Insurance.

In recent years, employee mental health has become a more prominent issue. You don’t see the physical injury, but the injury may be there just the same. Where do employers see the risks of mental health, and how does that compare to workers’ needs? Employers and employees don’t agree.

There’s a disconnect over workplace mental health that needs to be addressed. There needs to be a discussion. You can’t see a mental health injury the way you see a physical injury, but those injuries are real. And the evolution of AI and automation is only adding to the employee stress.

In small businesses, especially, claims for mental health injuries are on the rise. Do you understand this new frontier? Workers’ Comp doesn’t end with “slips, trips, and falls.”

If you have thoughts on Workers’ Comp law or an idea for a topic or guest you’d like to hear, contact us at JPierce@ppnlaw.com or APierce@ppnlaw.com.

Resources:

Articles by Joe Toppe

“Most U.S. Employers Say Mental Health Issues Contribute to Worker Absences,” by Joe Toppe

“New Report From Pie Insurance: Small Businesses Safety Priorities Shifting as Employee Needs Evolve, Survey Show”

Pie Insurance

This is Your Second Brain on AI | Rebroadcast

Ally Kvidt — Fri, 23 Jan 2026 19:00:28 +0000

Are the guys on the verge of a major Second Brain breakthrough, hand in hand with AI? Dennis and Tom reexamine their ongoing Second Brain projects, discussing nagging questions about the efficacy of their current systems and how they plan to move forward with their personal knowledge management.

Later, a listener and long-time iPhone user wonders—are Android devices actually far superior? Tom has some major thoughts on the issue.

As always, stay tuned for the parting shots, that one tip, website, or observation that you can use the second the podcast ends.

Have a technology question for Dennis and Tom? Call their Tech Question Hotline at 720-441-6820 for the answers to your most burning tech questions.

Show Notes – This is Your Second Brain on AI

A Segment: This is Your Second Brain on AI

Notebook LM – https://notebooklm.google.com

B Segment: Should iPhone Users be Jealous of Android’s Obvious Superiority?

Google Pixel 10 https://store.google.com/category/phones?hl=en-US

Parting Shots:

Cold case investigation into ‘Walking Tall’ sheriff uncovers murder

Ally Kvidt — Fri, 23 Jan 2026 15:15:59 +0000

In the 1973 film Walking Tall, Sheriff Buford Pusser is a heroic law enforcement officer in small-town Tennessee whose fight against the Dixie Mafia leads to an ambush and shooting that left his beloved wife Pauline dead.

The movie and its sequels and remakes made Pusser, who died in a 1974 car crash, into a folk hero. Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson played him in the 2004 Walking Tall remake. The Pusser legend became a cottage industry for Adamsville, Tennessee, where the Buford Pusser Home and Museum is based.

Mike Elam, a former law enforcement officer, started researching Pusser’s life as a hobby back in the 1970s. Once the internet became an avenue for exploration, “I started a social media page and I was very much a fan of Buford Pusser at that time,” Pusser tells Modern Law Library host Lee Rawles. “And it was one of those things where I got to researching it and learned far too much for my own liking, because I did not like the man I saw as opposed to the one that was in the movie.”

Elam’s decades of research and interviews with people who had encountered Pusser led to a book, Buford Pusser: The Other Story. It also led to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigations reopening the case into Pauline Pusser’s murder and exhuming her body. In 2025, they announced that the investigation revealed details that pointed to one suspect: Buford Pusser himself.

In this episode, Elam discusses his long investigation, tips for other true crime citizen detectives, what he thinks now about the way Buford Pusser has been memorialized–and how he found the gun that killed Pauline.

From Hype to Practice: Using Microsoft Copilot in Your Law Firm, with Ben Schorr

Ally Kvidt — Thu, 22 Jan 2026 12:00:52 +0000

In episode #598 of the Lawyerist Podcast, learn how Microsoft Copilot can help lawyers work more efficiently inside Microsoft 365—without compromising accuracy, security, or client trust. Zack Glaser talks with Ben Schorr, innovation strategist at Affinity Consulting Group and former Microsoft insider, about how attorneys can move past AI hype and start using Copilot for real, everyday legal work.

Zack and Ben break down how Copilot helps lawyers draft and edit documents, summarize complex files, extract key deadlines, prep for meetings, and manage inbox overload—all while keeping client data protected within Microsoft’s security framework. They clarify where Copilot delivers the most value, where caution is required, and why understanding its limitations is essential to using it effectively. For lawyers curious about AI but unsure where to begin, this episode offers a clear, realistic roadmap for adopting Copilot without compromising accuracy, ethics, or trust.

Listen to our other episodes on AI, Legal Technology & Practical Innovation in Law Firms:

Rethinking Law Firm Growth in the Age of AI, with Sam Harden Apple | Spotify | LTN

Episode 550: Beyond Content: How AI Is Changing Law Firm Marketing, with Gyi Tsakalakis & Conrad Saam Apple | Spotify | LTN

Episode 543: AI Ethics: What Lawyers Need to Know, with Hilary Gerzhoy Apple | Spotify | LTN

Episode 497: Real Talk About Artificial Intelligence in Your Office, with Ben Schorr Apple | Spotify | LTN

Have thoughts about today’s episode? Join the conversation on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and X!

Access more resources from Lawyerist at lawyerist.com.

Chapters / Timestamps:

00:00 – Introduction

08:43 – Meet Ben Schorr

11:08 – What Copilot Is (and Why Lawyers Care)

13:27 – Security, Privacy, and Client Data

16:47 – Drafting Legal Documents With Copilot

18:36 – Schorr’s Law: Always Review AI Output

20:30 – Editing, Fact-Checking, and Improving Existing Work

23:57 – Summarizing Documents and Extracting Key Info

28:49 – Brainstorming, Personas, and Strategy Testing

34:34 – Agentic AI: What’s Possible (and What Isn’t)

How Podcasting Can Change Your Business || LHLM Takeout

Ally Kvidt — Thu, 22 Jan 2026 09:00:04 +0000

How did our delightful little pod become what it is today? Gyi and Conrad chat with Ben & Brian Glass at The Great Legal Marketing Summit about their respective entrances into the legal marketing world and the story of the podcast’s growing-up years. They discuss what podcasts can & can’t do as a marketing tool for your business and how to create a conversation worth listening to.

Father-Son duo Ben and Brian Glass are prominent personal injury lawyers and business partners at BenGlassLaw in Fairfax, Virginia. They are known for their trial work, business acumen, and innovative marketing.

Alienating Our Affections

Ally Kvidt — Wed, 21 Jan 2026 16:00:43 +0000

The Biglaw world continues to watch single-tier partnerships slip away with Sullivan & Cromwell joining the income partner trend. Will the industry have any single-tier firms left by the end of the year? Also former Senator and current Hogan Lovells lawyer Kyrsten Sinema tagged with an alienation of affection tort from her former bodyguard’s soon-to-be ex-wife. Come for the bad soap opera plot, stay for the MDMA-inspired psychedelic trip allegations. Finally, the Supreme Court got hacked, but federal law enforcement managed, a couple years after the fact, to track down the culprit whose social media handle was “ihackedthegovernment.” Cracker jack work all around.

EP 702- Home Alone: A Personal Injury Quagmire

Ally Kvidt — Wed, 21 Jan 2026 12:00:33 +0000

In Home Alone, young Kevin McCallister tries to protect himself from two bungling burglars. But could Kevin be held liable for their injuries? Join us for a lighthearted legal look at this holiday classic.

Discussion with Kathleen Wilkinson of the Pennsylvania Bar Association

Ally Kvidt — Tue, 20 Jan 2026 12:00:47 +0000

This bonus episode of Leading the Bar features a special installment from the Council of Firsts series, which spotlights trailblazing leaders who were the “first” to break barriers in their bar associations.

In the next episode of the Council of Firsts, Amanda Arriaga, first Latina president of the Austin Bar, talks to Kathleen Wilkinson, past president of the Pennsylvania Bar Association and past chancellor of the Philadelphia Bar Association. She was also the first female president of the Villanova J. Willard O’Brien Inn of Court. This episode was recorded at the American Bar Association/National Conference of Bar Presidents meeting in Louisville, Kentucky.

You can find Kathleen in the Philadelphia office of Wilson Esler.

To learn more about NCBP, visit https://ncbp.org

YouTube https://youtu.be/wuKaCJ-N1EU

Where Immigration and Employment Laws Collide, A Global Perspective

Ally Kvidt — Tue, 20 Jan 2026 12:00:26 +0000

Coming to us from the November ABA Labor and Employment Section’s annual conference, we bring together two employment law experts with unique perspectives on the nexus of immigration and employment law. Representing workers, guest Monica Guizar works with the Service Employees International Union, while Marcia Longdon of the firm Kingsley Napley brings an employer – as well as an international – perspective.

Dramatic policy shifts crafted by the Trump Administration’s immigration policies are shaking up both immigration and employment law. Recently, Guizar says, we’ve seen immigration raids at workplaces, along with mass deportations. In some cases, the U.S. government has even removed legal status from workers who previously had permission to work. Even workers on skilled labor visas are impacted.

Based in the United Kingdom, Longdon sees some similarities in policy shifts both there and in the U.S. as politics plays a role in immigration and labor issues. She explains international guidelines for hiring workers across borders to fill specific needs.

One thing is clear, workers, employers, and employment lawyers are left to untangle swirling regulations and enforcement policies. Now throw in individual state laws and union representation issues. It’s a new world.

The Venezuela Invasion, the Monroe Doctrine, International Law, and Trump Takeovers

Ally Kvidt — Fri, 16 Jan 2026 12:00:54 +0000

On January 3, 2026, the U.S. military captured Venezuela’s president Nicolas Maduro and his wife and brought them back to the United States where they faced criminal charges related to drug trafficking. Many questioned the legality of the invasion and a policy from the 1800s called the Monroe Doctrine was being alluded to by the current administration. Trump’s reinterpretation of the Monroe Doctrine nicknamed

“The Donroe Doctrine” by Trump himself, was originally a policy created back in 1823 by then-President James Monroe to oppose European interference in the Western Hemisphere. Trump reinvoked Monroe in his decision to take over Venezuela and publicly made threats to take over other countries.

On this episode of Lawyer 2 Lawyer, Craig joins Claire Finkelstein, Professor of National Security Law and faculty director of the Center for Ethics and the Rule of Law (CERL) at University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School. Craig & Claire discuss international law, the Monroe Doctrine, the legality of the Venezuela invasion, and the threats from the Trump administration of possible takeovers of other countries.

Mentioned in this Episode:

The Monroe Doctrine

In Dispute: Why John Adams Defended the British Soldiers During the Boston Massacre Trials

Conrad’s Crystal Ball V: Lawyer Marketing Predictions for 2026

Ally Kvidt — Thu, 15 Jan 2026 15:20:51 +0000

Mystic for hire! Conrad dusts off the ol’ prophetic orb for a look at what 2026 has in store for lawyers and legal marketers.

We know you’re itching to hear those future fortunes, but hang on a second! First, Gyi and Conrad look back at their previous predictions to see how well they forecasted 2025. I mean, you want to know whether you can trust these guys, right?

And, well, those results aside, the guys then gaze into the depths to pick out the important marketing trends to watch in 2026. More AI stuff, new law firm business structures, anybody who could do anything about fake reviews will do absolutely nothing about it… and more! Cheers to a New Year!

The News:

Quite the play, Google. – Official: Apple Intelligence & Siri To Be Powered By Google Gemini
Better pay attention to this one, folks. Commercial environments are changing, but watching this trajectory should help us wrap our heads around it: New tech and tools for retailers to succeed in an agentic shopping era.
And, Jay Ruane wrote a stellar book! – Analog Marketing in a Digital World: A Blueprint for Attorneys to Dominate Local Markets by Being Human

Suggested LHLM Episodes:

Conrad’s Crystal Ball IV | Lawyer Marketing Predictions for 2025 – Legal Talk Network

Connect:

Hear the original episode with Lee Rosen

What Lawyers Get Wrong About Teaching Clients and Teams, with Danielle Hall

Ally Kvidt — Thu, 15 Jan 2026 12:00:48 +0000

Lawyers spend a surprising amount of time teaching clients, team members, and other lawyers, but most are never taught how adults actually learn. In episode 597 of the Lawyerist Podcast, Stephanie Everett talks with Danielle Hall about adult learning principles and why they matter in legal practice.

Danielle explains how adult learners differ from students in traditional classrooms and what this means for client communication, team training, and CLE presentations. They explore why information overload backfires, how focusing on the “why” improves understanding, and simple ways to design learning experiences that actually stick without making things more complicated.

Listen to our other episodes on client communication and understanding:

Episode #539 – This VOICE HACK Will Transform Your Legal Career!, with Rena Cook Apple | Spotify | LTN

Episode #384 – Delivering Bad News to Clients, with Marjorie Aaron Apple | Spotify | LTN

Episode #338 – Reframing Your Client Experience, with Spencer Keys Apple | Spotify | LTN

Have thoughts about today’s episode? Join the conversation on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and X!

Access more resources from Lawyerist at lawyerist.com.

Chapters / Timestamps:

00:00 – Introduction

03:12 – Why Lawyers Are Always Teaching

08:37 – Meet Danielle Hall

10:49 – How Adults Learn Differently

14:57 – Information Overload and Client Confusion

17:01 – Teaching Clients and Teams More Effectively

21:52 – Why Most CLEs Don’t Work

25:28 – Applying Adult Learning in Your Firm

31:46 – Closing Thoughts

Minnesota Becoming A Constitutional Law Issue-Spotter

Ally Kvidt — Wed, 14 Jan 2026 16:00:40 +0000

With polls showing more Americans now favor abolishing ICE than keeping it, a lot of people will be disappointed to learn that the law is set up to make it almost impossible to hold anyone accountable for killing Renee Good. From sovereign immunity, to the Federal Officer Removal Statute, to the decline of Bivens, to qualified immunity, the whole system is arrayed to shield federal agents from legal redress. Speaking of the Minnesota ICE surge, we moved a step closer to a genuine Third Amendment case after the Department of Homeland Security pressured Hilton Hotels into dropping a franchisee that had refused to rent rooms to DHS. And finally, Judge James Ho published a broadside against fellow judges in his bid to reach the top of the Trump administration’s Supreme Court wishlist. And all he had to do was mock judges receiving violent threats and dishonor a judge’s murdered son.

What’s on tap for 2026 when it comes to generative AI?

Ally Kvidt — Wed, 14 Jan 2026 12:00:49 +0000

In 2025, we saw greater adoption of generative artificial intelligence tools across all areas of the legal industry. Will 2026 bring more of the same? Or will there be a backlash or reaction of some sort? What about the regulatory landscape for AI? Will 2026 bring federal guidelines, or will we have to wait for 2027 or beyond?

EP 1001- Celebrate Yourself

Ally Kvidt — Wed, 14 Jan 2026 12:00:00 +0000

Take a moment to reflect on 2025 and recognize your personal and professional accomplishments. And rather than setting lofty resolutions for the new year, we find it’s more helpful to focus on a single word to guide you through the year…..hear our picks for 2026.

Presumed Guilty: The Framing of William Michael Dillon

Ally Kvidt — Tue, 13 Jan 2026 20:15:02 +0000

We trust the justice system to protect the innocent and prosecute the guilty, but what happens when it gets things catastrophically wrong? In 1981, 21-year-old William Michael Dillon became the focus of a murder investigation in Canova Beach, Florida. Though Dillon maintained his innocence, police coercion and unreliable witnesses rapidly steered the case toward what appeared to be a predetermined outcome. Dillon was arrested, convicted, and sent to prison for a crime he did not commit.

More than 27 years later, DNA testing finally proved his innocence and set him free. In this episode, Dillon explains how he was swept into the murder investigation, how coercive interrogations and untrustworthy testimony shaped the verdict—and how his love of music helped him survive the darkest years of his incarceration.

Be sure to read the full account of Dillon’s story in FRAMED, written by his wife, Ellen Moscovitz. And, listen to his album on YouTube: Black Robes and Lawyers.

What’s Next in Justice Tech: ITC and LSC’s New Tech Report

Ally Kvidt — Tue, 13 Jan 2026 15:45:24 +0000

Guests discuss hot topics expected at the upcoming 26th Innovations in Technology Conference (ITC) and findings from a new justice tech report. Themes of navigating the changing tech landscape, expanding self-help resources, innovating with artificial intelligence (AI) and knowledge-sharing between organizations emerged in the guests’ discussion of ITC and the report, “The Next Frontier: Harnessing Technology to Close the Justice Gap.”

Community Table: Getting Teams on Track and On the Same Page

Ally Kvidt — Tue, 13 Jan 2026 12:00:10 +0000

In this episode’s discussions around the Community Table, getting a worrisome associate, and the entire team, on track. Plus, communicating with clients and assuring them you have their back:

A manager struggles to help an associate manage tasks and produce work on time, could tools help through redundancies and accountability.
Daily “standups” or “scrums” can help legal teams clear logjams and stay on track. Christopher offers a concise explanation of how time management and accountability systems drive productivity.
Assuring clients you have their best interests at heart is vital, especially when they think you’re “part of the system.” What are “The Four Agreements” and how can they help you understand clients and communicate? Ask, listen, and explain.

Dennis & Tom’s 2026 Tech Resolutions

Ally Kvidt — Fri, 09 Jan 2026 18:00:39 +0000

Dennis and Tom continue their proud tradition of pondering the panorama of timely tech happenings and sharing personal resolutions for learning and development. But first, they both take a look at last year’s goals to gauge their progress (or, ahem, lack thereof). As for new resolutions—from investigative AI problem solving to streamlined tech tool usage to open-sourced writing to content creation, there’s lots to do in 2026!

Later, the guys are loath to make predictions in an unpredictable world, but decided to take a stab at it anyway! Listen in for their thoughts on the possible future and what technologies may become increasingly essential for lawyers.

As always, stay tuned for the parting shots, that one tip, website, or observation that you can use the second the podcast ends.

Have a technology question for Dennis and Tom? Call their Tech Question Hotline at 720-441-6820 for the answers to your most burning tech questions.

Show Notes:

Beyond the Algorithm: How TRAIGA Will Rewrite AI Governance in Texas

Ally Kvidt — Thu, 08 Jan 2026 17:05:57 +0000

New Texas AI legislation will take effect January 1, 2026. What will this mean for your legal practice? The Texas Responsible Artificial Intelligence Governance Act (TRAIGA) aims to regulate the development and deployment of artificial intelligence systems in the state to address issues such as discrimination, intentional harm, illegal sexual content, and the use of biometric data. Rocky Dhir welcomes Chris Schwegmann to help us unpack the nuances of TRAIGA legislation and understand its implications for the practice of law.

The discussion later shifts to the effective and ethical deployment of AI within legal practice. Chris highlights its capabilities by detailing his firm’s approach to AI tools. With proper use, AI has the potential to enhance your legal work and streamline processes to allow for greater attention to high-level tasks.

Chris Schwegmann is managing partner at Lynn, Pinker, Hurst & Schwegmann in Dallas, Texas.

What place do prisons have in democracies?

Ally Kvidt — Thu, 08 Jan 2026 16:00:28 +0000

The idea that prisoners should be treated humanely was discussed by Enlightenment Era aristocrats, “but the idea that they are people who are peers is new,” says Yale Law professor Judith Resnik.

“As Democratic norms turned us all into equal citizens, equal persons in a jurisdiction, the question of government’s relationships in courts, policing, schools and prisons changed over the last hundred years,” says Resnik, author of Impermissible Punishments: How Prison Became a Problem for Democracy.

In this episode of the Modern Law Library, Resnik walks host Lee Rawles through centuries of discussion about how punishments are deemed to be permissible, from a trial about whipping prisoners in Arkansas to the League of Nations’ effort to develop minimum standards of treatment in prisons worldwide.

“People who run prisons have a very challenging time, and there’s a body of data growing that people who work in prisons, like people who live in them, have higher stress, heart attacks, blood pressure, suicide rates,” Resnik tells Rawles. “These are terrible environments of concrete and metal and noise and often dirt and violence. In the United States, many people who are in detention have had mental health issues and behavioral issues of significant kinds. And when you take people with limited training, often with staffs that are too thin, interacting with overcrowded facilities of metal and concrete, with limited resources, you end up generating scary places for everybody.

“So one of the kind of puzzles, if you step back, is how a thing called corrections, that promises safety, has generated institutions that are deeply unsafe for the people who live and work in them.”

Creating a Referral Network That Actually Works with Lee Rosen | First Flight #12

Ally Kvidt — Thu, 08 Jan 2026 12:00:50 +0000

When family lawyer and podcaster Lee Rosen talks about referrals, he doesn’t call them a network. He calls them friends. He explains why you only need about 20 trusted relationships to sustain a thriving practice, how genuine curiosity and consistency outperform traditional “networking,” and why lawyers make some of the most powerful referral partners across practice areas. Lee also shares how thoughtful gestures, not referral fees, build long-term goodwill and how social media can strengthen real-world connections when used with intention. Then, ALPS Insurance’s Rio Laine joins host Adriana Linares to cover the risk-management side of referrals, including documentation best practices, appropriate thank-you gifts, when to decline referrals, and why every solo should have a backup attorney and succession plan in place.

Learn more about ALPS Insurance.

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The Athlete’s Mindset for Lawyers, with Jess Sargus

Ally Kvidt — Thu, 08 Jan 2026 12:00:36 +0000

High performance in law requires more than technical skill—it requires the right mindset. In episode #596 of the Lawyerist Podcast, Zack Glaser talks with Jess Sargus about applying an athlete’s mindset to leadership, performance, and growth in legal practice.

Jess breaks down the core pillars of athletic thinking. From growth mindset and action orientation to process focus and purpose, and explains how lawyers can apply these principles to become better leaders and perform at their best under pressure.

If you want to hear more from Jess, check her out at: https://www.thelegalathlete.com/

Listen to our other episodes on Mindset & Performance:

#588 – Practice Smarter, Not Harder: 411 Tips for Modern Lawyers, with Jordan Couch Apple | Spotify | LTN

#585 – First Aid for the Mind: Mental Health in Law, with Soumya Palreddy & Jill Kluesner Apple | Spotify | LTN

#572 – Practical Courage Skills Every Lawyer Needs, with Jim Detert Apple | Spotify | LTN

#551 – Becoming the AI-Driven Leader, with Geoff Woods Apple | Spotify | LTN

Have thoughts about today’s episode? Join the conversation on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and X!

Access more resources from Lawyerist at lawyerist.com.

Chapters / Timestamps:

00:00 – Introduction

03:12 – Meet Jess Sargus

04:02 – From Law to Combat Sports

08:06 – Competition, Business, and Leadership

11:15 – Why Mindset Matters

15:12 – The Athlete’s Mindset Defined

17:01 – Action Orientation and Elite Performance

19:30 – Getting Comfortable with Failure

22:05 – Growth Mindset and Competitiveness

26:03 – The Five Pillars of Fierce Agency

29:21 – Process Over Outcome

34:46 – Purpose and Mission Alignment

39:48 – Where to Find Jess

40:53 – Closing Thoughts

Building a Successful Paralegal Career, Step by Step. Yes You Can.

Ally Kvidt — Thu, 08 Jan 2026 12:00:21 +0000

Once you’ve landed your first job as a paralegal professional, what next? How do you build your career, advance into management, and leverage affiliations and activities within local and national associations as you pursue your goals?

Guest Angela King is a successful paralegal manager at the national law firm of Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP. Over more than two decades, she has advanced from a law firm volunteer to a file clerk to legal assistant, then paralegal professional, and now paralegal manager at a national law firm overseeing dozens of paralegal professionals.

At each step, being active with paralegal associations helped her advance her skills and network. It starts with learning, and it extends to helping and mentoring. King explores how a conscious push to improve and learn at every stage built her career and how you can create your own path to professional success.

2026 Prediction Time!

Ally Kvidt — Wed, 07 Jan 2026 16:30:21 +0000

We begin the year by peering into our crystal balls and issuing some predictions for 2026. Who will be fired? What’s going to happen with law schools? Is a big change on the horizon for Biglaw? Our predictions will inevitably be wrong, but we’ll offer them with a lot of confidence — just like AI would.

Also a whole lot of sports talk for a law podcast.

EP 701- Peter Dunne Part Two

Ally Kvidt — Wed, 07 Jan 2026 12:00:38 +0000

Attorney Peter Dunne shares stories about other legendary St. Louis lawyers and the entertaining ways they handled paper correspondence in the days before email.

EP09: Exploring the Taylor Swift ticket case

Ally Kvidt — Tue, 06 Jan 2026 12:00:43 +0000

The Case Doctors explore what legal recourse Taylor Swift fans might have when the tickets they bought for $14,000 didn’t turn out to be what they paid for. Plus, John Simon and Alvin Wolff discuss strategies for an attorney contemplating how to handle a case involving 200 garden gnomes that allegedly violated Homeowners’ Association rules.

Leading with Purpose: Nate Alder on Service and Stewardship

Ally Kvidt — Mon, 05 Jan 2026 12:00:09 +0000

Leadership doesn’t always come naturally; it is a skill developed through service, mentorship, and a deep commitment to others. In this episode, Amanda Arriaga and Patrick Palace welcome Nate Alder, a longtime leader in multiple associations, including the NCBP. Drawing on his many years of service, Nate shares insights that deepen our understanding of how to lead with humility and a genuine commitment to stewarding and elevating the next generation of leaders in the legal profession.

Nate Alder is a shareholder at Christensen & Jensen, where he litigates, tries, and resolves complex civil cases.

KPIs for Lawyers: Measuring Your Law Firm’s Financial Health, with Bernadette L. Harris (Remastered)

Ally Kvidt — Thu, 01 Jan 2026 12:00:52 +0000

In episode 595 of the Lawyerist Podcast, we’re revisiting Stephanie’s conversation with Lawyerist financial coach Bernadette L. Harris about the financial KPIs every law firm owner should understand as a new year begins. We’re bringing this episode back because it’s especially timely for firms setting their strategy, goals, and financial benchmarks for the year ahead. It’s important to continue finding a clear, practical approach to understanding the numbers that drive a healthy firm.

Unlock a clearer view of your law firm’s financial health in the latest Lawyerist Podcast. Join host Stephanie Everett as she dives into the essential key performance indicators (KPIs) that can transform how you understand your practice, guided by the expert insights of Bernadette Harris, Lawyerist Lab’s finance coach.

You’ll gain practical knowledge about five crucial areas that directly impact your firm’s success. Understand your net profit margin like never before – not just the surface numbers, but the true profitability that informs your strategic decisions. Explore utilization rate and discover how to optimize your team’s time for maximum productivity. Learn the critical importance of your realization rate and practical steps to ensure you’re capturing the revenue you’ve earned. See how mastering AR aging can directly impact your cash flow and create financial stability. Plus, uncover the strategic advantage of understanding your revenue by practice area, empowering you to make smarter choices about your firm’s financial future.

For straightforward, actionable insights into these vital financial indicators – the kind that can immediately help you manage your law firm more effectively – tune in to hear Bernadette Harris share her expertise.

Listen to our other episode with Bernadette Harris:

#457: Healthy Profits: Understanding the Story Your Numbers Tell, with Bernadette Harris Apple Podcast | Spotify | Lawyerist

#523: Financial Red Flags: Are You Hiring Too Soon?, with Bernadette Harris Apple Podcast | Spotify | Lawyerist

#418: More Income, Fewer Taxes, with Bernadette Harris Apple Podcast | Spotify | Lawyerist

Have thoughts about today’s episode? Join the conversation on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and X!

Access more resources from Lawyerist at lawyerist.com.

Chapters:

00:00 Why We’re Remastering This Episode for the New Year
02:55 Law Firm KPIs and Financial Health
05:21 Net Profit Margin for Law Firms
09:38 Utilization Rate and Team Capacity
14:35 Realization Rate and Getting Paid
20:05 Accounts Receivable and Cash Flow
24:19 Revenue by Practice Area
27:16 Using Financial Metrics to Set Strategy

EP 925- Tips on a Slip and Fall Win

Ally Kvidt — Wed, 31 Dec 2025 12:00:49 +0000

A document dump. Disappearing evidence. And a new depo the first night of trial. Despite all this, Katie pulled off a win and shares what she learned, including how to use a snowstorm to your advantage.

A Look Back At The 2025 Dumpster Fire

Ally Kvidt — Wed, 31 Dec 2025 12:00:33 +0000

We’ve made it to the end of the year! And what do we have to show for it as a profession? Our most elite law firms signed deals rather than stand up for themselves in the face of illegal Trump bullying efforts. Others quietly tried to erase their history to avoid the administration’s ire. But some firms did fight back and achieved consistent success in court, while the dealmakers got heckled and derided by young lawyers. And, as anyone who has ever watched Star Wars knows, deals with authoritarians just get worse all the time. The New York Times even wrote a feature on a certain publication covering this story.

We also ran headlong into a constitutional crisis marked by DOJ lawyers lying to courts — when the DOJ even bothers to field lawyers legally — senior government officials declaring “war” on federal judges, and judges being arrested. As right-wing threats against federal judges escalated, the Supreme Court responded with disinterest, preferring to fan the flames with nakedly partisan shadow docket rulings to grease the wheels of Trump’s assault on the structure of government. And, finally, we look at the year of AI in legal. Hallucinations dominated the conversation — from law firms and judges alike — but this was also the year legal tech made huge bets on AI and folks started to realize that the profession can’t avoid the technology. The billable hour may finally be on the decline, but does AI risk making lawyers dumber?

Pardon the Interruption: 2025 Edition

Ally Kvidt — Fri, 26 Dec 2025 12:00:45 +0000

Another year gone! With 2025 rapidly bidding us adieu, Dennis, Tom, and their good pal Debbie Foster send us off with their annual Kennedy-Mighell edition of Pardon the Interruption. They argue different sides of popular tech topics in “Toss-Up”, play legal tech Mad Libs in “What’s the Word?”, and take the temp on 2025 trends in “Hot or Not?”. And, we know the question on everyone’s minds—Can Tom keep up his yearslong winning streak? Listen in to find out.

As always, stay tuned for the parting shots, that one tip, website, or observation that you can use the second the podcast ends.

Have a technology question for Dennis and Tom? Call their Tech Question Hotline at 720-441-6820 for the answers to your most burning tech questions.

Have JD, Will Work Remotely. Contract Attorneys Fill Gaps When Firms Have Short-Term Needs.

Ally Kvidt — Fri, 26 Dec 2025 12:00:43 +0000

Let the record show, records were meant to be corrected. In this episode, we revisit something we mentioned that might not have been the full story, the role of the remote attorney and the freelance attorneys provided by LAWCLERK.

Guest Kristin Tyler is a lawyer and co-founder and chief brand officer at LAWCLERK, which supplies contract attorneys for growing, busy law firms under an arrangement where freelance attorneys work under the supervision of a client’s in-house attorneys.

From discovery to document review to deposition management, contract attorneys can manage routine tasks at rates designed to be affordable for growing firms. Why hire a part-time paralegal when you can hire an actual attorney at a comparable rate?

Whether you’re a growing firm or an attorney looking for part-time work, hear why this could be the solution you’ve been looking for.

Questions or ideas about solo and small practices? Drop us a line at NewSolo@legaltalknetwork.com.

Topics:

Contract and part-time remote attorneys can help busy, growing firms find affordable legal assistance when things get hectic.
Why hire a remote paralegal when you can hire an actual, licensed attorney at a comparable cost? Do your best and outsource the rest! Special for our listeners, for your first hire from LAWCLERK, use the promo code NewSolo25 for a $100 rebate.
Hear how the arrangement works, including ethical and licensing policies, confidentiality, state-specific availability, and even hiring attorneys who are experts in the exact area of law you need.

Resources:

Previous appearance on Legal Talk Network, “Clio Cloud 2022: Hire for Success – Best Practices for Growing Your Team”

Previously on New Solo, “Checking In! Four Years Later, Solo Practice Aloha Divorce Is Thriving”

Clio

ABA Techshow 2026

Clio Cloud Conference 2026

Our Favorite Lawyerist Episodes of the Year, with Stephanie Everett & Zack Glaser

Ally Kvidt — Thu, 25 Dec 2025 12:00:07 +0000

As the year comes to a close, Stephanie Everett and Zack Glaser look back at the Lawyerist Podcast episodes that stood out most to them in episode 594 of the Lawyerist Podcast. From practical AI workflows and ethical guidance to mental health, communication, and leadership, this episode highlights the conversations that sparked new thinking and delivered real value.

Stephanie and Zack revisit standout moments, share why certain episodes resonated, and reflect on the themes that shaped the year—while inviting listeners to share which episodes made the biggest impact and what topics they’d like to hear more about in the year ahead.

Listen to some of the episodes highlighted this year:

Episode #585 – First Aid for the Mind: Mental Health and the Law, with Sumia and Jill — Apple | Spotify | LTN

Episode #577 – Rethinking Law Firm Growth in the Age of AI, with Sam Harden — Apple | Spotify | LTN

Episode #565 – Becoming the AI-Driven Leader, with Geoff Woods — Apple | Spotify | LTN

Episode #553 – AI Tools and Processes Every Lawyer Should Use, with Catherine Sanders Reach — Apple | Spotify | LTN

Episode #579 – Knee Deep in Escheating: Intricacies of Lawyer Trust Accounts, with Amy Woods — Apple | Spotify | LTN

Episode 539 – This VOICE HACK Will Transform Your Legal Career!, with Reena Cook — Apple | Spotify | LTN

Episode 554 – Competence and Diligence in Light of Changing Laws and Regulations, with Craig Dobson — Apple | Spotify | LTN

Have thoughts about today’s episode? Join the conversation on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and X!

Access more resources from Lawyerist at lawyerist.com.

Chapters / Timestamps:

00:00 – Introduction & Year-End Reflection

01:35 – Why These Episodes Stood Out

01:56 – AI Tools and Practical Tech Takeaways

02:59 – Building Community and Adult Friendships

04:28 – Mental Health First Aid for Lawyers

07:06 – Ethics, Flat Fees, and Changing Scope

09:14 – Voice, Presence, and Communication Skills

11:46 – Becoming an AI-Driven Leader

14:36 – Rethinking Growth in the Age of AI

18:00 – Trust Accounting and Compliance Essentials

20:03 – Listener Feedback & Looking Ahead

21:07 – Closing Thoughts and Thanks

EP 626- Attorney and Professor Peter Dunne Part One

Ally Kvidt — Wed, 24 Dec 2025 12:00:44 +0000

With over 40 years of courtroom experience, attorney Peter Dunne is still learning by teaching. Hear some of his favorite lessons from the classroom and the courtroom.

Closing Out The Year With Mergers And Attacks On The Rule Of Law

Ally Kvidt — Wed, 24 Dec 2025 12:00:10 +0000

A critical analysis of the best variety of Coca-Cola product gives way to a conversation about law this week. Cadwalader ends its tumultuous year — involving a Trump administration capitulation and a series of defections — with a big quasi-transatlantic merger announcement with cross-Pond Hogan Lovells. Christmas came early — to the extent anyone thinks of U.S. News law school rankings as “Christmas” — with a prediction about the new law school pecking order. And it looks like garbage at a time when those rankings may be more important than ever. Also, ICE appears to be publishing an enemies list? That doesn’t seem great. All that and some thoughts on Alan Dershowitz writing a new book suggesting Trump might be able to get a third term despite the clear text of the Constitution.

What Would the Brand Do? Marketing Without a Big-Firm Budget

Ally Kvidt — Tue, 23 Dec 2025 12:00:53 +0000

Every firm knows it should be marketing. But go deeper. How should you be thinking about your firm’s own individual goals, brand, and budget?

If you’re at a smaller or mid-size firm, you don’t get a pass on marketing. You still need to reach potential clients. But you’ll have to do it on a smarter, scaled level. Guest Erika Steinberg spent decades developing marketing strategies for large firms, then she formed her own company, CMO2go, which helps smaller and mid-size firms develop and execute marketing strategies that fit their budgets.

Don’t feel overwhelmed by the word “strategy” or be intimidated by the very idea of marketing. Strip it down to the essentials and take it step by step. A good marketing brainstorming can help you not only focus your strategies but also understand your firm’s goals and target audience.

Are you committing the sin of “random acts of marketing?” Find out on this episode of the Un-Billable Hour.

Ask us anything for the Community Table. Leave us a question online!

Join the next Community Table discussion live! Always the third Thursday of the month at 3pm Eastern.

Connecting with Faith Communities to Serve Those in Need

Ally Kvidt — Tue, 23 Dec 2025 12:00:32 +0000

Leaders from faith organizations and mission-driven nonprofits discuss the connections between faith communities and legal services on Talk Justice. For many, faith provides guiding principles, like the instruction to help those in need. The Salvation Army recently launched their Faith and Community Based Organizations’ Disaster Training. LSC developed a Faith Community Outreach Toolkit to help faith leaders understand the role of legal services.

Roasting Buckeyes || If You Screw Up the Honeymoon, You’re Headed for Divorce

Ally Kvidt — Tue, 23 Dec 2025 09:00:42 +0000

First—watch out, Ohio. The guys are sore losers, so they’re taking it out on one of your websites. Later, what should law firms be doing during the honeymoon phase with new clients?

Sour grapes, for sure: Following Michigan’s painful loss to Ohio State, Gyi and Conrad take revenge on Ohioans with a teardown of the Buckeye Law Group’s pathetic website. (Eesh—harsh, guys.) From ineffectual “Buckeye” branding to affinity-building misses to a phone number that leads to SOMEONE ELSE’S LAW FIRM, it’s not great. So, basically, Ohio drools, Michigan rules.

Later, Gyi and Conrad want you to have a long and happy marriage with your clients, so you’d better not bungle the honeymoon. During this new, formative time, there are certain things you should and shouldn’t do! The guys talk about building trust through great first impressions, exceptional communication, clear expectations—all the things that create a delightful customer experience for your new clients.

A Wee Bit o’ News:

Huh, Google is now allowing anonymous reviews. So, we’re wondering hard about whether this might encourage a mass influx of fake reviews… ya think? A few silver linings might exist, but let’s all just plan for the worst, shall we?

LHLM’s Top 5 Episodes of 2025!

Listen Next:

Does My Website Suck? | Law Firm Website Teardown

Connect:

Lunch Hour Legal Marketing Newsletter! – The Bite