If you want to make more money in legal, we’ve got a podcast for you! Counsel Cast is a show dedicated to excellence and law firm profitability. Hosted by marketing guru Karin Conroy, this podcast breaks down key strategies to earn new clients and provide top notch customer service.

Each episode features notable guest experts who share the latest tips and tricks for taking your firm to the next level. Whether it’s optimizing SEO and brand personality or evaluating PR and social media trends, this show has something for every lawyer and law firm. Tune in to hear the how-now with the who’s-who!

Enjoy responsibly 

Top 5 Episodes by downloads:

Subscribe for free at the following services or better yet your podcasting app

Lead generation can be one of the most challenging obstacles for both law firms and lawyers. Lead generation involves the process of attracting potential clients or customers to your business, with the goal of then converting these leads into actual legal clients. However, the lawyer lead generation space is highly competitive, so developing high-quality lead generation processes and strong inbound marketing strategies is essential to the success of your law firm.

How to Beat Your Competition at Law Firm SEO

Believe it or not, there are over 439,740 law firms in the United States. That’s a lot of competition – especially when it comes to competing for shared SEO keywords and limited online space. Fortunately (and unfortunately), there are only so many terms you can use to describe legal services (i.e. there are only so many ways you can phrase something like “personal injury lawyer”).   

This is the double-edged sword of SEO. As a law firm, you can narrow down your list of key search terms that prospective clients might use; however, you are then competing with the same keywords that thousands of other law firms also aim to rank for. This is one of the main reasons why SEO is so competitive for lawyers. 

So how can you beat your competition, level up your marketing and increase your law firm leads? 

Have an Effective Law Firm Content Marketing Strategy

When everyone is doing essentially the same thing, you have to compete by doing it better. One of the best ways to do this (and cut through the noise) is by meeting prospective clients where they’re at.  

Understanding the different phases people go through when hiring an attorney is essential to generating more law firm leads. Long before an individual makes a call to a lawyer or looks for legal services, they conduct research online. Helping prospective clients through this research phase could be the difference between law firm leads and qualified conversions. 

The internet is oftentimes the first place people go for expert advice or to find an answer to their questions. Google alone receives over four billion search queries per day; with roughly 8% of these search queries being question-related. So, if you want to connect with prospective clients…you need to answer their questions. 

How can you do this, though? 

Create Content That Engages and Attracts Prospective Clients

Create the content you know prospective clients are already searching for. Google and other search companies want to deliver the best information possible to their users; and having high-quality content on your website that matches the questions and concerns potential clients have is a great way to get your law firm noticed and improve your search rankings. 

Optimizing your website for question keywords also puts the power of SEO back into your law firm’s hands. Who knows more about what your prospective clients need and/or are looking for than you do? What are the problems they have? What are the questions they are asking? You are the expert in your field, and you understand the unique needs of the clients in your area of practice. A great way to connect with these prospective clients and generate more leads, is through helping them through the research phase and offering them valuable information/ expertise. 

A recent survey suggests that approximately 95% of consumers prefer to hire the company that helped them research the problem; and provided them with ample information to navigate through each stage of the hiring process. 

Tips:

• Sites such as Answer the Public, Ask Socrates, and Ubersuggest offer great insights into the specific keywords and questions that prospective clients may be searching. 
• Short-form content such as blog articles, newsletters, and video are all great ways to provide answers to consumer questions and set your law firm apart.
• Prove you can help prospective clients by actually helping them in their research phase. 

In Summary

To find lasting success in a crowded legal market, it’s all about being in the right place at the right time and staying on top of your law firm’s lead generation processes. Meeting prospective clients where they’re at and helping them through the research phase will not only help to increase your law firm lead opportunities, but it will also help to set your law firm apart and build trust with prospective clients early on. 

It is all about doing the little things in your lead generation now, to reap the big benefits in your law firm leads down the road. 

Too often, law firms underestimate the importance of consultations. Too many firms look to increase their marketing and advertising spend, long before they take a hard look at the conversion rates of their initial consults and client intake process. 

New client consultations are key to the growth and success of any law firm. And knowing how to convert initial consultations into clients is essential. 

Here are 6 Tips to Increase Law Firm Conversions and Turn Interested Prospects into Committed Clients:

1. Be Clear about Any Consultation Fees

One of the most important steps to successful client consultations is clear communication. This includes being clear about any initial consultation fees, as well as what a client can expect from a lawyer consultation. If your firm does opt to charge a fee for the initial consultation, this should be made clear both before the meeting, and again when starting the consultation. 

2. First Impressions Count

As with most things in life, first impressions count. Meeting clients for the first time and making a good first impression is essential to building strong, long-lasting client relationships. During an initial consultation, a client is trying to decide whether or not you and/or your firm are the right choice to represent them in their case. Initial client consultations are a great opportunity for you to earn a client’s confidence and establish a basis for working together. Good ways to do this include coming prepared for new client consultations – have an outline for the meeting; gather as much information as possible prior to meeting with the client; be on time, and be professional and courteous. A few simple steps can go a long way and make a lasting impression in a client’s mind.

3. Build Rapport with Potential Clients

The ability to build rapport with new clients may be the one factor that sets you apart from all of the other lawyers and law firms a client may consult with. Clients are far less likely to shop around if they feel they’ve made a personal connection with a firm, and have built a good rapport with them. 

Part of building rapport with new clients is the ability to cultivate curiosity and demonstrate a genuine interest in a client’s situation and their legal needs. Taking the time at the beginning of a consultation to get to know the client, better understand their legal needs, and listen to their questions and concerns is essential to building good rapport. Building rapport is key to a successful client intake process, increases client retention, helps you better understand the client and their case, and improves the reputation and referral network for your business.

Tip: It is more important to sell you over your services – especially if there are other competitors that have comparable services in place.

4. Provide a Road Map

Apart from seeking out answers and advice for their case, one of the biggest reasons potential clients engage in legal consultations is to better understand how the process will generally work. Therefore, an important step in initial client consultations is to explain how the consultation works. Explain the purpose of the meeting, what will be discussed; and provide reassurance that you are there to help answer any questions the client may have, as well as provide clarification on any issues. Remember that for most people this is the first attorney they’ve ever hired. Make it easy on them by providing some structure.

Tip: Do not be overly concerned about educating potential clients all at once about the process used to solve their specific problem. Simply tell them the basics of what they need to know right now. And, instead, focus on building a relationship with them and asking the questions you need to qualify them as a good client.

5. Ask Clarifying Questions to Control the Conversation

Client consultations are an important step in the client intake process; and having the skills and ability to ‘control’ the conversation during an initial consultation is pivotal. Listen more than you talk during an initial consult. It is important to thoroughly understand a client’s situation and their unique legal needs before offering your thoughts and advice. 

Use thoughtful and targeted clarifying questions to control the conversation and identify the clients needs… “So what you’re saying is….” “Let me make sure I understand…” Good, clarifying questions help get at the heart of the issue, as well as help lawyers better understand the client’s concerns, overall goals and unique legal needs. In addition, clients often don’t know the right questions to ask. You, as a lawyer, need to be able to ask questions to the client that elaborate on the issue. Remember, most purchasing decisions are made emotionally, then justified rationally. Connect with your clients, listen to their concerns, ask them questions – and your client conversions will increase.

Top Tips for Lawyer Referral Marketing

Attracting new clients is an essential component for any law firm or business. And the easiest – most cost effective – way of attracting new clients is through referral marketing. Lawyers and law firms rely on referrals for new business, but getting referrals isn’t always easy. Creating a strong referral network requires reaching out to other attorneys, connecting with clients, building relationships, and asking for law firm referrals. While all of this may seem challenging, there are a key steps you can take to easily and effectively gain new clients and grow your law practice – fast. 

The Three R’s of Referral Marketing

Building and nurturing referral sources is an extremely effective way to grow your law firm, but what does that look like for lawyers? Here are three ways for you to start generating more referrals for your law firm:

1. Be Referable

If you want to receive more law firm referrals, people must know you, like you and trust you; and you must deliver a level of service that’s worth referring to. People want to know that the customers they are referring to you are in good hands. It is important to be the kind of person that someone trusts to send potential clients and cases to. This means being reliable, credible and a good communicator. 

Tip: Another key component in being referable is making it easy for clients and/or other attorneys to refer you business. This could be as simple as making sure your contact information is easily available, adding a form on your website, or having a process that asks for referrals at the end of a case. Make the referral process as straightforward and easy as possible. 

2. Remind People You Exist

A large misconception most lawyers have is that they think other attorneys already have deep referral networks – but that is not the case. Staying top-of-mind with former clients, colleagues and other business professionals is essential to effective referral marketing. Five fundamental strategies to staying engaged with your current referral network and gaining more referral sources are:   

Be Visible as a Lawyer – Sometimes, the biggest part of being top-of-mind is just being visible. A great way of doing this is by getting involved in your local community and legal sphere. Show up at Bar Association Events. Attend local Chamber of Commerce meetings. Get involved in projects you are passionate about. Get in the practice of letting people in your day-to-day life know what you do. And look for opportunities to put yourself out there as a lawyer, and more often than not…unexpected referrals will follow. Being visible as a lawyer doesn’t always mean face-to-face interaction, either. Maintaining your professional profile on social networks like LinkedIn and Facebook help to build your brand awareness and put yourself out there as a legal professional. 

• Nurture Existing Referral Relationships – Existing clients and colleagues are your best source for new referrals and revenue. Therefore, it is important to stay in touch. Sending a text, email, card or quick phone call are all great ways to let your current connections know that you are thinking of them – and staying top-of-mind. 

• Engage with Other Professionals in Your Community and Legal Sphere – Perhaps one of the easiest ways to grow your referral network is through engaging with other business and legal professionals. This can be done via email, social media or in-person. It can be as easy as congratulating other attorneys on their victories; publishing your own victories online and much more. Think about building relationships with other non-attorney professionals as well, who might be looking for a lawyer to refer to. 

Remind Regularly – Along with nurturing existing referral relationships and engaging with other prospective referral partners, it is important to remind people regularly about yourself and your legal services. An easy way to do this is through seasonal gifts, periodic newsletters or social media postings. 

Use Social Proof – This is the foundation of effective referral marketing for lawyers: Seeing that other clients have had a good experience with you makes other attorneys more likely to refer more clients and cases to you. It is also good practice to share when you or your firm receive client referrals. If your firm is getting a lot of business from referrals, then that speaks volumes to the good work your practice provides. Not only is it important for your firm share when you receive referrals, but it is also important to thank your referrers! Referrals seem to have a compounding interest effect – and public gratitude over referrals goes a long way.

3. Build Lasting Referral Relationships

Let’s be honest. Without referrals, where would your law practice be? Good referral sources are essential to any successful law firm. That’s why building long-lasting referral relationships is key to earning a steady stream of referrals. So how do you do this? 

The best way to build a lasting referral business is through embracing the mantra that “it’s better to give than to get.” Good referral marketing should never be a “me, me” mentality; but rather, a focus on what you – or your law firm – can give to those in the local and legal community. Focus on how you can provide value to potential referrers, before asking for referrals. Simple thank-you notes, thoughtful promotional items, or a quick phone call are all great ways to connect with others and positively foster referral relationships. 

Conclusion

Statistically, there are no better clients or customers in business than those who are referred to you. That’s why an intentional effort towards lawyer referral marketing is important to growing your practice and your firm. Lawyer referral marketing does not need to be difficult. A strong referral base takes time; and is based on continually cultivating long-term, meaningful relationships with those around you.

For more on How to Improve and Increase Lawyer Referrals, listen to: 

The State Bar of Texas 2022 Annual Meeting was truly one for the books.  This year’s meeting featured a handful of extraordinary keynote speakers, engaging session topics, dozens of CLE opportunities, and a great lineup of vendors and entertainment. 

Hosted at the Marriott Marquis Houston, this year’s State Bar venue offered plenty for participants and guests to do; including the hotel’s infamous rooftop pool and lazy river, as well as Houston’s incredible downtown dining and entertainment scene. After a nearly two year hiatus, the entire State Bar Meeting was buzzing with people glad to be in-person again and reconnecting with close colleagues, partners, industry professionals and friends.

State Bar of Texas Podcast – Featured Episodes:

The Legal Talk Network was proud to be a part of this event, and had the opportunity to chat with some of this year’s amazing keynote speakers and guests. Listen to all you might have missed at the 2022 State Bar Meeting on the State Bar of Texas Podcast. 

State Bar of Texas 2022 Annual Meeting Episodes: 

• Should We Be Able to Reclaim a Racist Slur – as a Registered Trademark? Author, Musician and Activist Simon Tam weighs in and shares his Supreme Court experience.

• Susanna Rychlak Allen discusses what we can expect from SCOTUS in its last leg of a highly controversial term.

• What Are the Legal Implications of the Astroworld Aftermath? Guests Saba Syed, Brent Turman and Barrett Robin discuss the latest on Litigation and Its Impact on the Live Events Industry.

• Judge Emily Miskel, Chief Justice Tracy Christopher, and Tom Leatherbury discuss Courtroom Transparency – How the COVID-19 Pandemic Altered Court Accessibility and What Transparency Looks Like in a Post – COVID World

• Special guest Corban Addision joins to discuss his most recent legal thriller “Wastelands”; and how lawyers can leverage the power of storytelling in their legal writing and client advocacy

• Judge Janice Berg, Judge Gloria E. López, Jacob D. Cohen, and Alicia Palmer share their thoughts on What Every Young Lawyer Needs to Know about Family Law: Including a Perspective from the Bench.

• Lea A. Ream and Karen Fitzgerald discuss Best Practices Employers should Follow to Properly Respond to and Investigate Harassment Claims

• The 2022-2023 State Bar year marks a new chapter as Texas lawyers emerge from the pandemic and a sense of normalcy returns. Laura Gibson and Michael Ritter share their plans for the coming year.

• Tony Campiti and Lawrence Morales discuss the latest trends and changes in employment law and what Texas lawyers, employers, and employees need to know.

• Jeremy Evans talks about the pros and cons of athletes’ new control over marketing their names, images, and likenesses and discusses some of the legal and ethical issues that have arisen.

• The Face of Houston’s Diverse Dining Scene shares Work, Life and Overall Wellness Advice

• David Margulies and Bradley Adams are experts in crisis management and share what they’ve learned and how attorneys work with public relations teams both before and after a crisis erupts.

• Laura Graham and Jason Bloom give their thoughts on Gen Z: What Kind of Colleagues Will They Be? Jury Decision – Making and the Gen Z Juror

For so many law firms, SEO seems like the golden ticket to attract new clients and get your law firm noticed. And while SEO remains one of the most effective ways for law firms to grow their business, how do you play the SEO game successfully?

In the early days of search engine optimization (SEO), keywords were everything. Many search engines, including Google, relied heavily on matching keywords and phrases in a user’s search query. However, SEO has come a long way since then – and with new algorithms and semantic search capabilities, Google has started looking at the context of content, rather than simply scanning for keywords. So what does this mean for your law firm’s SEO? Are keywords still relevant? And how can you implement the best content marketing and SEO strategy for your law firm?

In this article, we’ll discuss:

• The fundamentals of law firm SEO.
• Why focusing on keywords is the wrong approach for the SEO battle.
• How to best optimize your law firm’s SEO strategy.
• What Google wants from a law firm’s website.
• Creating content that answers questions 
• How to build authority and trust.
• The most effective law firm content.

What is SEO?

Search engine optimization (SEO) is simply the process – or processes – of attracting  more prospective clients to your law firm’s website by increasing your website’s position in Google’s search results. This requires in-depth keyword research, onsite optimization, link building, content development and more. 

Tip: According to a report by the Search Engine Journal, 75 percent of Web users never scroll past the first page of search results.

Why Keywords Still Matter in SEO (But They Aren’t Everything)

Contrary to popular belief, while keywords are still useful in SEO, they are not the most important factor. This is because SEO is far more complex than simply putting keywords on a page. 

Google has continued to optimize their search engine algorithms by focusing more and more on the consumer experience and the context of content, rather than just keywords. This has required SEO and content marketing strategies to shift away from a keyword-density focus, to more of a human focus. And while this may seem like just another step to have to master in the SEO battle, it is actually a benefit for lawyers and law firms looking to improve their website’s ranking. 

How to Best Optimize your Law Firm’s SEO Strategy?

When it comes to SEO, lawyers lose sight of the fact that they are not trying to win the Google race – they are trying to win the client race. At the end of the day, you’re really trying to capture the clients attention, not Google’s attention. So how do you do this? 

Creating Content that Answers Questions

Perhaps one of the best ways to capture clients’ attention and increase client conversions is through providing them with the best content possible. Ask yourself: ‘What is it that your clients want to know?’ ‘What are the questions potential clients want answered?’

Starting with questions is the best place to start when re-thinking your law firms’ SEO strategy.  Instead of optimizing for a keyword, you’re optimizing for your clients’ questions – and at the end of the day, it’s the clients that matter (and paying you) not Google. 

By taking this approach to SEO, your law firm is simply taking the questions of potential clients, then answering them through high-quality content posted on your firm’s website. This approach to SEO not only provides value for potential clients, but it also helps build rapport and translates well across Google’s platform. 

It is also easier than trying to optimize for keywords! When you are optimizing for keywords on your website, you are competing against every other law firm out there that is trying to optimize for the same keywords. And because people search so differently and the search phrases that clients put in can vary so much, you can’t always optimize for certain keywords. But…you can optimize for client questions. You can optimize your website content to  sustainable online business.

Tip: Question-related searches are a significant part of the overall searches Google receives each day. Recent studies suggest that of the roughly 3.5 billion searches per day, approximately 8% of search queries are phrased as questions. And with more and more people using voice search commands on their phones, this number is ever increasing. So now, more than ever, optimizing your law firm’s website for question keywords can make a huge difference to your overall SEO strategy. 

Improving Customers’ Experience on Your Website

Keywords and quality content are only a small piece of your overall SEO score. While good content on your website is key, how you deliver this information is just as important. 

Companies often spend a lot of time (and money) on keywords, and not a lot of time on the consumer experience when customers actually come to the website. You are way better off spending more time, money and research on the customer experience than you are on your website’s keywords. So how do you improve the customer experience on your website, and – in turn – improve your overall SEO performance?

University of Michigan Coach Jim Harbaugh joins Legal Service Corporation's Ron Flagg & John Levi to discuss the 2022 #JusticeGap Report and the inadequate #accesstojustice plaguing most low-income Americans https://t.co/fJbDbsNCSe pic.twitter.com/Q3f5bUc8MU

— Laurence Colletti (@LaurenceEsq) May 11, 2022

Serving at the Pleasure of the President:

What does it mean to serve at the pleasure of the President? Former U.S. Attorney General Michael Mukasey stops by to discuss his responsibilities with the Department of Justice, dealing with the press, and the critical importance for attorneys to maintain independent judgment.

Highlights from the ABA Litigation Section: 2022 Annual Conference

The Section Annual Conference features top litigation professionals from across the country discussing timely legal issues and the latest in trial work. Hear highlights from this year’s gathering with special guests Beth Kaufman, Rick Gross and Harout Samra.

How to Handle the Unexpected in Court

What happens when unexpected events arise during trial? Judge Carroll J. Kelly, Marc Zucker, Jennifer Seme and Mark A. Romance join host Dave Scriven-Young to discuss what to do when things don’t go according to plan.

Ransomware and Cybersecurity Attacks: How to Better Protect your Clients:

Helping your clients with cybercrime, ransomware, and data breaches can be a heavy lift and attorneys are often the first line of defense. Latosha Ellis joins Dave Scriven-Young to discuss the successful navigation of these issues.

Participants:

• Latosha M. Ellis
• Rick L. Gross
• Beth L. Kaufman
• Michael B. Mukasey
• Mark A. Romance
• Harout J. Samra
• Jennifer L. Seme
• Marc J. Zucker

LinkedIn really is the premier platform for lawyers and law firms looking to grow their business and build their brand. According to the American Bar Association’s 2020 Legal Technology Survey, nearly 76% of law firms and legal professionals use LinkedIn. 

While LinkedIn for lawyers is one of the most powerful networking tools available, many lawyers are missing out on the opportunities LinkedIn has to offer. So, how can lawyers best leverage the power of LinkedIn?

Below are carefully crafted tips of “LinkedIn Best Practices” to help lawyers (and law firms): grow their business, increase their visibility, expand their reach, and build their brand.  

Optimizing Your LinkedIn Profile. 

The first step in leveraging LinkedIn and building your brand is to have a great profile. A good way to do this is to consider: “What do I want out of LinkedIn’s professional platform?” And…“What do I want others to know about me or my business?” 

Your objective may be to gain new customers, grow your network, build your brand or find a new job. Whatever you’re in it for, LinkedIn is that space and community that gets you where you want to go. And your profile is where you need to start. 

1. Personality and Authenticity

While LinkedIn lends itself as more of a professional networking tool, it is important to show authenticity and personality in your LinkedIn profile. People don’t just want to know about your professional background and experience, but they also want to know about who you are. Two ways to showcase your personality on LinkedIn include your “Profile Photo”/ “Header Image” and “About Section”. 

Your LinkedIn profile picture and header image set the tone for how your target audience and professional contacts should think of you—it is your first impression online. 

Tip: Another way to make a distinct impression on your profile is through LinkedIn’s new “cover story” feature. This new feature enables users to embed a 30-second, mini-introduction video into their profiles—offering another great way to stand out and personalize your brand. 

2. Write a Compelling Headline

After your photo, your profile’s headline is the second thing that people see on LinkedIn. Currently, LinkedIn’s default setting is to populate your headline with your current employment details. However, letting LinkedIn choose your headline for you is a mistake! 

With a customized headline, you’ll instantly distinguish yourself, give prospects a reason to click on your profile, and start building the case for your brand or business.

Tip: To boost the amount of searches your profile generates, include legal industry related keywords and search terms in your headline, e.g. ‘family lawyer’ or ‘personal injury attorney’.

3. Invest Time in Writing your Summary

Having a great LinkedIn summary is essential. It’s one of the most important areas of your entire LinkedIn profile. It is where you get to lay down a compelling first impression to potential clients and business connections, as well as showcase your professional history and personality.

Keep your summary clear and concise—make sure to include pertinent milestones, minimize buzzwords, and be sincere.

4. Use Skills, Endorsements, and Recommendations to Validate Your Expertise

LinkedIn recommendations are a great form of reference and credibility. Recommendations let other potential clients or connections know that other professionals value your work and are willing to put their name behind yours. Recommendations can significantly boost your profile, and are beneficial for network-building. 

Tip: Just as important as it is to get LinkedIn recommendations, it is also equally important to give recommendations. 

Overall LinkedIn Strategy. 

LinkedIn is perhaps the most powerful tool when it comes to establishing yourself as a thought leader in the professional, legal realm. Done well, building your thought leadership can help you foster trust and credibility with customers, become a go-to voice in the legal industry, and open up amazing opportunities. 

5. LinkedIn Articles and Posts

LinkedIn articles are a great tool to incorporate into your marketing efforts. They add an extra dimension to your profile account, showcase your experience and expertise, and demonstrate professional focus. 

When you publish articles or content to your LinkedIn profile, it is important that you are the author of the content you share; and that the content you’re sharing is valuable to your target audience and communicates your brand narrative effectively. 

Another benefit of LinkedIn articles or posts is that posts published on LinkedIn can easily be shared by your connections. Lastly, consider the SEO benefit to your law firm or partner website. Articles written on LinkedIn are indexed by Google, meaning that they will appear in search results for related keywords. By including a link to your website within your LinkedIn article content, you can create an extra stream of traffic to your website.

6. Consistency

Not only is the type of the content you share important, but how you share this content is also essential to your overall LinkedIn strategy. It is good to be consistent in the topics you share and consistent in the cadence in which you share them. 

7. Share Quality Content that is Valuable to your Audience 

Great ways to build trust and professional connections on LinkedIn is through credibility and quality in the content you share. People do not want to be sold to. Providing valuable content – of meaningful interest – to your target audience not only helps to set you apart as a thought leader, but it also helps to build your personal brand and grow your overall audience. 

Tip: People use hashtags on LinkedIn and other social sites to follow conversations and topics. Leveraging the most relevant and popular hashtags helps to better promote your account content and expand your reach. You can research the frequency of popular hashtags through LinkedIn’s search tool.   

Conclusion

YOU CAN LEARN MORE ABOUT LINKEDIN FOR LAWYERS IN THE FOLLOWING PODCAST EPISODES:

“Do unto others as you would have them do unto you” – Luke 6:31

Believe it or not, wrongful convictions can happen to anyone. Innocent people go to prison all the time for crimes they didn’t commit. All anyone has to do is be in the wrong place at the wrong time. Some of the most common reasons for wrongful conviction are eyewitness misidentification, junk science, indirect DNA transfers, and false accusations. As incredible as it might sound, there are hundreds of people who have been freed from wrongful convictions. And we only know about the lucky cases that made it to innocence projects with enough evidence for a second look. But tragically, for an alarming number of real people, actual justice didn’t occur until they lost 20, 30, or 40 years of their lives.

At base level, is there anything more important than our freedom? As Americans, we have the luxury of not worrying about it… but truth be told… Most people take freedom for granted until it’s gone. During my visit to the Innocence Network’s Annual Conference, I talked with exonerees, defense attorneys, prosecutors, forensic scientists, fellow podcasters, volunteers, and of course famous anti-death penalty nuns from the Catholic Church. For those not familiar, the Innocence Network is an informal coalition of independent innocence organizations dedicated to combating wrongful convictions. To date, there are 69 member organizations with 57 of those in the United States.

Not only do these innocence organizations fight for freedom but they also help exonerees when they get out of prison. As you can imagine, it can be jarring to return to civilization after being behind bars for decades. Experiences like hailing an Uber or setting up a laptop can be very difficult for people who haven’t had access to technology. On top of that, virtually all exonerees have no financial support upon release and their job prospects are extremely limited. Needless to say, such a transition can be quite debilitating.

In attendance at this year’s annual conference were over 200 freed/exonerated people who served a total of 6,030 years behind bars for crimes they didn’t commit. And they would still be rotting in prison but for the good people who work for and give to innocence projects. If you want proof that the legal profession does good, you should definitely follow their work online. The amount of persistence, hard work, and strength-of-spirit that goes into each innocence case is simply inspirational. 

‘The Moth Storytellers‘

And speaking of inspiration… The famed storytellers from The Moth put on a special workshop to help exonerees share their stories live on stage in front of cameras and a large audience. For most, this would have been a nerve racking experience but with The Moth’s help, everyone sounded like seasoned public speakers. These true life accounts were incredibly moving and transformational. They seemed to both heal the exoneree and inspire the weary exonerator, reminding them of why they got involved in the first place. 

Thanks to the kindness of both the Moth Storytellers and exonerees, I had the distinct privilege of getting a behind-the-scenes look at these workshops. As a general rule, the workshops are closed to outsiders to facilitate the creative process but the participants agreed to make an exception for me. And I’m so glad they did (much appreciated). This year’s exoneree storytellers were:

• Ronald Simpson-Bey (lost 27 years)
• Edward Dumbrique (lost 23 years)
• Perry Lott (lost 30 years)
• Juan Roberto Melendez (lost 18 years)
• Greg Mingo (lost 40 years)
• Jerome Morgan (lost 20 years)
• Gilbert Pool (lost 32 years)

‘Sister Helen Prejean‘

One of the highlights from the annual conference was getting an opportunity to interview Sister Helen Prejean. Our host Michael Semanchik talked with her about criminal justice, the importance of life, and the spiritual value of volunteer work. Sister Prejean is known worldwide for her work in criminal justice and anti-death penalty advocacy. In addition to her work in criminal justice reform, she wrote ‘Dead Man Walking’ which was adapted into a movie starring Susan Sarandon and Sean Penn. Michael’s interview with Sister Prejean can be heard here {player link coming in a day or two}

‘Exonerees in Person‘

Through my years at Legal Talk Network, we’ve had several exonerees on our various shows. It was wonderful to finally meet a few of them in-person:

Amanda Knox is an exoneree, journalist, podcaster, and author of the New York Times best-selling memoir, Waiting to Be Heard. Between 2007 and 2015, she spent nearly four years in an Italian prison and eight years on trial for a murder she didn’t commit. She now advocates for the wrongfully convicted, and is the co-host, alongside her partner Christopher Robinson, of the podcast Labyrinths. I had the pleasure of meeting her and her mother Edda. Here’s an episode featuring Amanda’s story:

William Michael Dillon served 28 years of a life sentence for a murder he did not commit. The State of Florida set him free when DNA testing proved he was not linked to a key piece of evidence. He is now a singer and songwriter whose work was inspired by his long incarceration in one of the nation’s most dangerous prisons. Bill regularly plays in the Exoneree Band which headlines at innocence conferences around the country. Here’s an episode featuring Bill’s story:

Ronald Keine is an exonerated death row inmate who was just 9 days from his execution when the actual murderer confessed to the crime. Today, he is on the Board of Directors for Witness to Innocence, an anti-death penalty organization whose leading voice is that of exonerated death row survivors. You’ll see him comfortably on stage advocating for the cause. Here’s an episode featuring Ronald’s story:

“This is a healing place” – Dr. Roger A. Mitchell Jr.

Dr. Roger A. Mitchell Jr. called the annual conference a healing place during his keynote address. Although this was my first time there, I completely agree. From what I saw, exonerees often remain traumatized for many years after their release. This unique conference provides a safe place for exonerees and their families. I observed numerous emotional conversations. Some had tears and others had anger. 

Perhaps the best part of the conference is the immense support everyone receives. If you need to talk, there are plenty of kind souls to talk to. If you need encouragement, there’s always a round of applause at the ready. If you need legal resources, there are facilitators everywhere. 

“The better part of one’s life consists of his friendships.” – Abraham Lincoln

It was really great to catch up with our friends at the California Innocence Project. We have been working with them to create a new podcast (soon to launch). This new show, hosted by Michael Semanchik, will be about how innocent people get ensnared in our criminal justice system as well as what it takes to free them. The show will also feature exoneree stories in their own voices. This project has been an enlightening experience. Thank you to everyone who has lent their time and expertise.

Our Friends from CIP:

• Justin Brooks – Director
• Michael Semanchik – Managing Attorney
• Alex Simpson – Associate Director
• Alissa Bjerkhoel – Litigation Coordinator
• Raquel Cohen – Staff Attorney and Volunteer Coordinator
• Audrey McGinn – Staff Attorney
• Jasmin Harris – Associate Director of Development and Policy
• Claudia Salinas – Staff Fellow
• Sydnie Mitchell – Staff Fellow
• Jan Stiglitz – Co-Founder Emeritus

It is no secret that being a lawyer is stressful. Lawyers face multiple stressors every day. From long hours, managing challenging client personalities, overwhelming caseloads, and constant industry pressures, being a lawyer is not easy. “Lawyers also deal with a lot of negative perspectives on their career and profession.” According to wellness coach and instructor, Dawn Kulongowski, DDS, lawyers not only have to deal with the day-to-day pressures of the job, but they must also deal with the negative preconceptions of it. And all of this stress can eventually lead to significant mental and physical health issues, as well as lawyer burnout. 

So how can lawyers better handle stress?

How to Manage Stress as a Lawyer?

Being a lawyer doesn’t mean you’re doomed to live a life of stress. And while you can’t avoid the demands and stress entirely, you can develop a more balanced approach to stress and how you think, feel, and experience life.

In the following podcast, the State Bar of Michigan takes a deeper look into why being a lawyer is so stressful and how meditation and mindfulness can help lawyers cope with stressors and develop a more positive mindset.

Tips to Manage Lawyer Stress: Meditation and Mindfulness

“What we know about stress is that it is not the stressor that is damaging to us mentally, emotionally and physically, but it is how we react to stress that [can be harmful],” says Dawn. “Our ability to cope with stress is what makes or breaks us.”

You can’t eliminate stress, but you can change how you respond to it. This is why mindfulness and meditation are so powerful. 

In essence, mindfulness is a quality and meditation is a practice. Meditation is a tool that can help lawyers and professionals become more mindful. And mindfulness – or learning to focus on the present moment – helps lawyers become more productive, creative and decisive in their work, and less overwhelmed throughout their day. 

Practicing law can be rewarding but challenging. With all of the demands lawyers face, in addition to the negative perspectives and pressures of the industry, lawyer burnout is real. Encountering stress is inevitable in the legal profession. But the way you handle it can make a big difference. 

Meditation and mindfulness are just two steps lawyers can take to improve the way they process stress, and create more peace and fulfillment in their everyday lives.

You can learn more about Lawyer Wellness and Stress Management in the following podcast episodes:

Listen to more tips on How to Manage Stress, Lawyer Wellness, Avoiding Legal Burnout and more on the Legal Talk Network.

Mentioned in this Episode:

• 5 High-Paying Jobs That Will Make You Miserable
• The Peaceful Practice
• Creative Smiles Dental Group
• “Rising – Falling” Meditation Technique

After nearly two years apart, ABA TechShow 2022 marked a ‘re-introduction’ into the real world as lawyers, legal professionals and legal tech leaders once again gathered together.

For many attendees, this year’s legal tech gathering was their first in-person industry conference since before the COVID pandemic began. And while this year’s TechShow presented some of the best in diverse session topics, notable guest speakers and good exhibitor attendance, perhaps the greatest takeaway for everyone was simply the reconnection. 

After two long years apart, the excitement and energy at this year’s conference was almost tangible. It was an opportunity to reconnect with colleagues, partners, industry professionals and friends; and the feeling of being together again was truly second-to-none. 

The pandemic seemingly made us forget how fulfilling it is to network in-person with aligned industry professionals. Being back at this year’s TechShow helped remind everyone that there’s really no substitute to fostering new face-to-face community relationships, generating new business through impromptu conversations or obtaining invaluable learning through genuine discussions with other like-minded business leaders.

In addition to the inexplicable joy of reconnecting, another notable component of ABA TechShow 2022 was its incredible programs agenda and diverse roster of speakers. This year’s conference featured several prominent speakers and hosts, as well as a wide range of engaging session topics. Session topics centered around the most useful and practical technologies available to legal professionals to help maintain, grow and advance their practices. 

Overall, this year’s TechShow was all about reconnecting…and remembering the importance and value these conference connections bring. (If you weren’t able to make this year’s show, Legal Talk Network has a range of great episodes available with highlights from this year’s speakers and sessions. Listen to all of the episodes on our “On The Road” podcast!)

“On The Road” Podcast – Highlights from ABA TechShow 2022:

• What Legal Can Learn from Other Industries – Jack Newton ( CEO and Founder of Clio) and Kimberly Bennett (founder of K Bennett Law LLC) chat about improving law firm businesses by analyzing innovations in adjacent realms of industry. – host Joe Patrice (Senior Editor at Above the Law and Managing Director at RPN)

• Executing Your Marketing Plan – Jeana Goosman (Founder, CEO and Managing Partner of the Goosmann Law Firm) and Conrad Saam (Founder of Mockingbird Marketing) share tips for developing the right marketing plan for your law firm. – host Gyi Tsakalakis (Founder of AttorneySync)

• 60 in 60 –  Gyi Tsakalakis (Founder of AttorneySync) and Jeannine Lambert discuss the best of “60 Sites,” “60 Tips,” and latest hot tech for legal. – host John Strohmeyer (Founder and Attorney of Strohmeyer Law)

• Modernizing Court Technology with Judge Scott Schlegel – Judge Scott Schlegel shares essential technology tips for facilitating virtual court proceedings, how they’re doing now and what tech was most helpful along the way. – host Joe Patrice (Senior Editor at Above the Law and Managing Director at RPN)

• Come Play in the Sandbox – How to Advance Legal Services Through Regulation – Lori Gonzalez (Founder and CEO of Rayna Corp.) and Damien Riehl (technology lawyer and VP of Fastcase) share highlights from their presentation on regulatory reform and its potential impacts for longstanding access to justice concerns. – host Laurence Colletti (producer at Legal Talk Network)

• Utilizing Tech to Replace or Improve Admin Work – Ivy Grey (VP of Strategy and Business Development for WordRake) and Jon Tobin (Founder and Partner of Counsel for Creators) discuss admin efficiencies all lawyers need. – host John Strohmeyer (Founder and Attorney of Strohmeyer Law)

[ ESTIMATED READ TIME : 7 MIN ]

Many good appeals have been lost because of counsel’s failure to preserve the record. It is essential to understand how best to preserve issues for appellate review and which issues have a greater chance of reversal. In this week’s episode of “The Jury is Out” host, John Simon, sits down with experienced industry professionals Richard Finneran (partner with the BCLP Law Firm) and Joan M. Lockwood (attorney with Gray Ritter Graham) to discuss just this and more. 

PRESERVING THE RECORD FOR APPEAL

The first step in preserving legal issues for appellate review is to be thinking about it. “I think it’s an important thing to think about throughout any stage of litigation. [It is important] to be looking out for those issues that could become appellate issues, and making sure you’re preserving them successfully for appeal,” says Richard Finneran. Even the sharpest minds and best honesd rhetoric cannot revive a great argument that has not been properly preserved for appellate review. So, how best can counsel anticipate and preserve issues for appeal? 

In their discussion, Finneran and Lockwood explain, generally, to preserve an issue or argument for appeal, trial counsel must both:

• Raise the argument or objection on the record or formally in writing
• Provide specific and precise reasons for the argument or objection, so that the trial court may rule on it

The key I think is to be prepared to take the necessary steps to make sure that you’ve got your objections on the record in a concise and businesslike way, and that you’ve made the appropriate offers of proof. – Joan Lockwood

One of the most fundamental adages of appellate review is “if it’s not on the record, it doesn’t exist.” Without a record, there is simply nothing to review. It is essential, therefore, to make sure that the case record is full and complete.

Creating a strong record and appropriately preserving all potential issues for appeal is challenging, however. This record-keeping becomes especially challenging in complex litigation when trial counsel is focused on winning a trial, rather than preparing for an appeal. According to Lockwood, two good rules of thumb to remember during the trial phase is to: 

1. Object to the evidence when it comes in, and 
2. Make your offers of proof 

“…because your record on appeal relies on those components.” 

Preservation is not always easy, but without careful attention to creating and preserving the record, a future appeal may be lost before it begins. One strategy many firms implement, particularly where the likelihood of appeal is high, is to retain specialized appellate counsel at the onset of litigation. Having special, separate appellate counsel enables greater opportunity to:

• Identify and evaluate key legal issues
• Ensure that errors are preserved for appeal
• Select the most persuasive arguments for appellate review
• Refine proposed jury instructions and verdict forms

Regardless of whether separate appellate counsel is retained, trial counsel should be mindful of an appellate strategy throughout all stages of litigation and adjust it as needed. 

WRITING AN EFFECTIVE APPELLATE BRIEF

Once you’ve reached the appeal stage, though, and are filing an appellate brief, what is the most effective way to do this? 

There are several strategies to keep in mind when writing a brief – and several mistakes many lawyers make when submitting an appeal. “…One of the most common mistakes [trial lawyers] make [when filing for appeal] is [including too many different points]. And by doing that, you’re taking away from your ability to really place the emphasis on the top 1 – 2 issues that have a genuine chance of getting a reversal,” says Rich Finneran.

It is important to be selective regarding the legal arguments that you include in your brief. Weak arguments can detract from your overall credibility, and the credibility of your brief and strength of your arguments. “Your credibility can vanish if you go in with too many issues to argue – whether it’s an appellate brief or something you’re doing in the trial court,” says John Simon. And credibility is important – especially when it comes to convincing a judge on appeal.

“You have to present yourself as someone who is giving the judges a genuine explanation of why there was an error [in the lower court] or why there wasn’t…And if you are perceived as someone that is just throwing [the kitchen sink at them] to see what sticks, then you’re not going to be effective in convincing the judges on your most important points.”

In addition to focusing your brief on the top 1 -2 major issues, Rich, Joan and John provide some other insightful key strategies to writing an effective and impactful appellate brief.

1. Know your audience

Most appeals are read and analyzed by more than one judge, in addition to their research staff. It is helpful, therefore, to put yourself in the judges’ shoes and focus on the information the judges want (and need) to hear in order to make the best decision possible. Because judges will not spend as much time on the case as you and will likely not know the legal topic as well as you, it is important that the brief educates while also persuading.

2. Keep it simple

Judges are extremely busy, and are often reviewing several briefs a day. Thus, it is important to keep the issue and arguments simple – regardless of the complexity of a case. The issue(s) and arguments in a brief should be presented in a clear and concise manner, and in a way that is easily understandable.

3. Make it compelling

When writing an effective and persuasive appellate brief, you must earn your audience’s attention. One of the best ways to do this is by structuring a persuasive statement of facts. 

Statement of Facts

“The statement of facts is the best place to win your case and there are a couple reasons for that: 1) It’s a chance to tell the story and 2) it reduces cognitive blow to the judge…When you tell a good story, it makes the important issues become more vivid and easier to remember and understand.”

The statement of facts should not simply be a recited dry list described in chronological order, but rather a compelling, narrative of the facts. “You’ve got to tell the story, you’ve got to make it interesting, you’ve got to capture the reader’s attention and engage them with your statement of facts.” – Joan Lockwood

4. Know the rules

“[The] first rule of appellate brief writing is to study those rules,” says Joan. Be sure to know the standard of review that the court will use to decide your case. 

“There’s a technical component and nontechnical component to brief writing…[while not exciting] the rules of brief writing are critical. Noncompliance can result in the loss of an argument or dismissal of the appeal.” – Joan. As such, your arguments should always be drafted in light of the relevant standard of review.

5. Be honest and acknowledge unfavorable law and facts
6. Provide solid legal support, but do no overwhelm the court with needless legal authority
7. Have a strong, clear conclusion 

CONCLUSION

There are several components that go into filing a successful appeal. From effectively preserving the record to writing a persuasive brief, the ‘road to reversal’ is not an easy one for trial counsel. Not to mention, the overall industry statistics for case appeals are low. According to an Emory University study approximately: 

• 6.6% of Criminal Cases are reversed on Appeal
• 11% – 14% Civil Cases are reversed on Appeal

Given this, it’s good to keep in mind that ‘reversal is a rare thing to occur’. And while reversal may be difficult, effectively preserving the record and writing a thoughtful and persuasive brief greatly increases these chances of a successful appeal.

For more information and expert advice on appellate law, be sure to listen to the second episode in this two part series:

Miriam Ingber (Dean of Admissions at Yale Law School) and Kristi Jobson (Dean of Admissions at Harvard Law School) discuss the admissions process and tips to getting into law school in its newest episode series “Life of a Lawyer, Start to Finish” on the Lawyer 2 Lawyer podcast.

In its newest series “Life of a Lawyer, Start to Finish”, the Lawyer 2 Lawyer podcast explores the experience of becoming and being an attorney. From applying to law schools, navigating the profession, all the way up to retirement, this new series takes a deep dive into all aspects regarding the ‘life of a lawyer’. 

Aimed at offering great advice for lawyers at all stages of their career, the series’ initial episode takes a look at the first big hurdle all aspiring lawyers face – “How to Get into Law School?” 

Podcast host Craig Williams sat down with guests, Miriam Ingber (Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid at Yale Law School) and Kristi Jobson (Dean of Admissions and Chief Admissions Officer at Harvard Law School) to discuss the admissions process, standing out in the crowd, and preparing for your first year. 

THE LAW SCHOOL ADMISSIONS PROCESS

‘You don’t have to be a “unicorn” to get into top-tier law schools like Yale or Harvard’, says Miriam. So many applicants get deterred by the rankings of schools such as Yale or Harvard, that they don’t even apply, and – in effect – self-select out before even throwing their hat in the ring. However, what many students do not realize is that the rankings are only a small part of the actual admissions process.

I think both of our institutions have a lot of really, really amazing students who might not have even considered Yale or Harvard when they were at the early applicant stage. – Kristi Jobson 

According to Miriam and Kristi, several factors go into consideration when selecting new law school applicants. Law schools are not just looking at a student’s academic record or their GPA and LSAT scores, because these numbers don’t always tell the full story. 

Perhaps one of the biggest factors admissions councils weigh in admitting a new student is: What contributions to the profession might an aspiring law school applicant make in the future?  

I always say to applicants that it’s really good to show not tell. The best way to see future contribution is to look at what people have done so far. Were they involved in their college community, their home community? What kind of work have they been doing since they graduated? How did they think about it and talk about it in their application? How do they explain to us what their plans are for a law school and for afterwards? – Miriam Ingber

While LSAT scores and GPAs give an indication of a student’s overall academic acumen, schools want students who they believe will make a difference in the legal field, and will bring a sense of collaboration and contribution to the profession. 

You just have to be a really smart, kind, community-contributor. That’s what we’re looking for at the core, really nice people who we think are going to come to our school, contribute here and go off and have interesting, fun careers afterwards. – Miriam Ingber

One’s background also plays a unique part in the selection process. While this criterion may not hold as much weight as others, it is one that admissions committees consider. Law schools want a variety of perspectives represented in a class, and one’s unique background or ‘walk of life’ plays a big part in this.

HOW TO MAKE YOUR LAW SCHOOL APPLICATION STAND OUT

Show Good Judgment in your Application Submission

In addition to the admission process, many law school applicants wonder how they can stand out and get noticed—in a good way—by an admissions committee. But one of the key components of standing out in a good way in your application, is first not standing out in a bad way. 

One of the key things we’re looking for is people with good judgment and things that display bad judgment are red flags. says Miriam. 

An inordinate number of typos, talking about touchy subjects in an unprofessional manner, and/or going into too much detail about personal issues are often all indicators of bad judgment when it comes to law school applications. 

Read Application Instructions Carefully – Then Follow Them

Another seemingly simple, but important, “red flag” item to avoid in the application process is not reading application instructions carefully. 

If we are asking for a personal statement that’s two pages double spaced with standard margins and 11-point font, this is what we’re asking for….I read a personal statement earlier today that was one page single-spaced. Now, it sounds like a really small thing. Obviously, it’s the same words. I could get the message, but it showed me that the candidate had either not bothered to read the instructions or had even worse, disregarded them. [That is key for a lawyer]. – Kristi Jobson

And while none of these things are disqualifying, it’s always better to be careful and thoughtful. A typo or two is okay, sometimes people miss an instruction, but they accumulate and they’re not a good look in a law school application. 

Red Flags

• Too Many Typos
• Too Much Personal Detail
• Touchy Subjects 
• Disregard for Application Instructions

A SUCCESSFUL LAW SCHOOL PERSONAL STATEMENT

What do admissions committees want to hear in a personal statement?

Where have you been? Where are you at? and Where are you going?

In addition to carefully crafting your application, deciding what to say in the law school personal statement can be one of the most challenging parts of the admissions process for some applicants. 

An effective personal statement can sometimes mean the difference between a letter that begins with “Congratulations!” and one that starts “We regret to inform you…” So what does an admissions committee want to hear in your personal statement?

For me, what I am really hoping to hear in your personal statement is how you plan to use your law degree and what is motivating you to pursue law in the first place….[and] I think it’s most effectively done in a show not tell manner rather than I want to go to law school because. – Kristi Jobson

A ‘Where you’ve been’; ‘Where you’re at’, and ‘Where you’re going’ line of thinking seems to be the most effective – and impactful – format when it comes to writing your personal statement, according to Miriam and Kristi. 

It’s nice to have some movement through the essay. So, rather than focusing on a single…light bulb moment when [you] knew [you] wanted to be a lawyer, which I think is – for most people – not really the way real life works, talk to me a little bit about your past and some things that motivated…your desire to go to law school. What are you doing now and how does that connect to your past? And then…show me how that leads into the future and what you hope to accomplish. – Miriam Ingber

Two key components to also keep in mind when writing your personal statement include:

1. Focus on you – Avoid spending your entire personal statement talking about other people. Your personal statement needs to be about you. Not about the people or work that influenced you. And while these things may be great to include, your personal statement is your opportunity to address the law school admissions committee directly and showcase the qualities that set you apart from and what makes you a great fit for the school.
2. Tell us something new – Your personal statement is not a recap of other information that is already available to an admissions committee, but rather, a chance to tell the committee something new and unique about yourself. When writing your essay, be sure that there’s something new you’re providing – something that an admissions committee couldn’t find anywhere else. 

PREPARING FOR LAW SCHOOL

Simple steps to get ahead your first few months of law school

You’ve gone through the work of applying to law school, nervously awaited a response and recently received your acceptance letter! Now what? 

According to Miriam and Kristi, there are a few small, yet highly helpful, things 1Ls can do to make that first semester of law school a little easier.

1. Get any and all ‘personal admin’ items out of the way

Any doctor’s visits, dentist appointments and/or eye exams that you’ve been putting off, try and get all of those taken care of in the months before heading to law school. 

2. Spend quality time with family and friends

3. Understand that it’s going to be hard

“I think no matter what you do to prepare, that first semester feels like drinking from a fire hose… it just feels really hard…But I think also just really accepting that it’s going to be hard and really sort of preparing yourself mentally that this is going to be tough and that’s okay…[it’s] tough for everybody.” – Miriam Ingber

4. Remember WHY you want to go to law school

While this bit of advice may seem simple, it is essential in your first few months of law school – especially when coursework and academic loads get hard. Before heading to school, both Miriam and Kristi advise to take a  Post-It note, piece of paper or a journal and write down WHY you are going to law school; then when you have a moment – like all new law students do – where you’re thinking, “Why am I doing this?” You can go back and be reminded of the thing(s) that drew you to law school in the first place. 

A ‘life of a lawyer’ is certainly a process, and getting into law school is just the first step. Tune into more episodes of the new series, “Life of a Lawyer, Start to Finish”, every other week on the Lawyer 2 Lawyer podcast – only on the Legal Talk Network.

Podcast Notes: Miriam and Kristi also hosts the highly acclaimed and highly recommended ‘Navigating Law School Admissions’ podcast where they share candid, accurate and straightforward advice about law school admissions. Get in touch with Miriam and Kristi by emailing miriamandkristi@gmail.com or visiting 

Remote Work

Job Type: Fulltime

ABOUT LEGAL TALK NETWORK

Legal Talk Network has been a trusted premier resource for legal-related podcasts since 2005. Currently, LTN has over 25 active podcasts covering legal news, access to justice, law school, industry events, legal technology, and the future of law. We are a growing network of experts that hail from the American Bar Association, State Bar Associations, Legal Publications, Corporations, and Law Schools. Our shows feature notable guests like Marcia Clark from the O.J. Simpson trial, Erin Brockovich, Dean Strang from Making a Murderer, and general counsels from major corporations including American Express, Verizon, and Google.  

JOB BRIEF

Do you want to be challenged, focus on career growth, continually learn, and work in a collaborative, culture-focused environment? Legal Talk Network is seeking a highly creative Marketing Manager with experience in identifying target audiences and devising multi-channel campaigns that engage, inform, and motivate. The Marketing Manager will report to the Executive Producer and consult with the Director of Marketing for our affiliate brands (e.g. ServerManager, ServeNow.com & CourFiling.net).  

Learn more about us at http://corp.lawgical.com

Meet the team: http://legaltalknetwork.com/about/ 

RESPONSIBILITIES & REQUIREMENTS

• Must love podcasts.

• A self-starter who takes ownership but still works well on a team.

• Able to identify and execute on opportunities to grow the LTN listener base. 

• Ability to create professional graphics to promote our shows and network.

• Able to write engaging copy that will attract attention.

• Ability to manage our marketing, promotional, and advertising objectives. This will include developing key strategies and campaigns with team members. 

• Able to analyze metrics to help us make informed decisions.Must have a Marketing Degree or work-experience equivalent with an undergraduate degree.

• 3+ years of graphic design experience. Ideally, you know Adobe’s Creative Cloud products. 

• 3+ years of professional work with social media including but not limited to Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and Linkedin.

• Marketing Experience:
  • 3+ years working marketing
  • Deep understanding of the digital advertising channels like Google and Facebook. 
  • Experience working with CRM and marketing automation software.
  • Knowledge of the Google suite of tools (Analytics, Tag Manager, Ads, Search Console, Sheets, etc.).
  • Understanding of HTML/CSS.
  • Knowledge of SEO best practices.
  • Experience working with email marketing platforms such as Mailchimp.

• Bonus Skills:
  • Experience with podcast publishing platforms.
  • Production experience in audio and/or video.
  • Experience working with legal professionals.
  • Knowledge of WordPress.
  • Knowledge of smart speakers 

BENEFITS PACKAGE:

• Excellent Health, Dental, and Vision options.
• 401k match.
• 20 days of paid time off.
• The chance to work in a culture obsessed with learning, personal development, and career growth. 
• An opportunity to make a difference in a dynamic and growing company and collaborate with a smart, fun, and hard-working team.

COMPENSATION:

$60,000 – $67,000 annual salary

HOW TO RESPOND:

​​To be considered for this position, please submit your resume to lcolletti@legaltalknetwork.com and leave our Executive Producer a voicemail by calling (720) 496-4449. Tell us why you think you are a great fit for this role.