Legal Talk Network

ICYMI: President’s Health a National Security Issue? | Video Discovery Tips | Firms Downsize ...

Fri, 23 Oct 2020 21:24:27 GMT

Hosts with the Legal Talk Network took on a wide range of topics, many touching on Covid-19-related issues.

Some notable episodes to add to your playlist cover national security and physical health, what discovery looks like in an era of Zoom meetings, and law firms looking to embrace remote work and reduce expensive real estate overhead.

Dr. Sean Conley, President Trump’s physician, gives an update on the president’s condition and his treatment for coronavirus. Screenshot from C-SPAN coverage.

On Lawyer 2 Lawyer, host J. Craig Williams speaks with healthcare lawyer Harry Nelson about what the American public deserves to know about the president’s health. The two discuss national security implications and closer to home, and the duty of employers to keep their employees, including White House staff, safe.

The State Bar of Texas Podcast dives deeper into ADA, with employment lawyer Kelli Fuqua explaining what employers need to know to comply with ADA protections and ways to help best accommodate employee needs during the pandemic.

On Digital Detectives, discovery experts Doug Austin and Brett Burney share tips and best practices for audio and video discovery when so many meetings and events are live via Zoom and other video meeting platforms.

On the Legal Rebels Podcast, ABA Journal reporter Lyle Moran speaks with real estate law expert Sherry Cushman, of Cushman Wakefield, about how law firms and looking to cut costs in part by reducing their physical property footprints.

For timely insights on the law, legal innovation, and law practice, visit Legal Talk Network and subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts.

On the Road with Clio Cloud 2020

Wed, 21 Oct 2020 16:10:44 GMT

Clio’s first-ever all-virtual event drew thousands of participants and a rockstar lineup of speakers, pro trainers, a celebrity chef, and, well, rock stars.

Headliners included civil rights attorney Ben Crump, grit expert Angela Duckworth, and marketing guru Seth Godin. Closers each day were Iron Chef Stephanie Izard, Grammy-winning singer Ben Harper, singer Nathanial Rateliff, and DJ Questlove.

Kicking off the ~~show~~ conference, Clio CEO and co-founder Jack Newton revealed key new products and integrations, including a new Clio for Clients app, and a partnership with Google to better integrate Google My Business with the Clio platform.

On the Road host, Laurence Colletti caught up with several speakers, including Newton who discussed Clio’s new distributed workforce approach, key trends, overcoming adversity, and the latest Clio news.

Clio COO George Psiharis shared highlights from the 2020 Legal Trends Report and the three things firms did with cloud technology that put them at an advantage over their competitors. Hint, one of the things successful firms did was to effectively implement e-billing options for clients.

The Legal Trends Report shows that 27% of lawyers still don’t accept electronic payments. Tom West, CEO of AffiniPay, the parent company of LawPay, talked to Colletti about the reluctance and why these firms that use electronic payments and offer payment options fare better than their competitors. He also shared what to expect from online billing in the future.

Legal Innovators CEO and Co-Founder Bryan Parker shared with Colletti why businesses will see more success if they make diversity and inclusion a business imperative, and use data to assure they’re achieving goals.

Listen to the full lineup of On The Road episodes from Clio Cloud 2020 here.

ICYMI: Three Hot Topics from Dark Money Politics to Free Speech and COVID-19

Wed, 14 Oct 2020 15:23:13 GMT

by Molly McDonough

These three episodes can help you: Take a break from the real world of nasty election politics and dive into a fictional one. Find out how to quit selling and help clients buy. Take a closer look at Covid-19 shutdowns and Ohio’s liability shield.

ONE: If the real world is taking its toll, voting rights lawyer turned novelist Steven Wright has an escape route. Modern Law Library host Lee Rawles explores the world of dark money campaigns and election chicanery in Wright’s book “The Coyotes of Carthage.” Wright shares his real-world experiences that inspired the characters, plot and location of his story. He and Rawles talk about his journey to creative writing, teaching his University of Wisconsin Law School classes remotely, and his plans for a TV series based on his book.

TWO: In the Kennedy Mighell Report, hosts Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell take on a major pain point for lawyers: selling their legal services. Their guest, business industry expert Bob Moesta, founder of The Re-Wired Group, explains how lawyers can find more sales success if they quit selling. Instead, Moesta says lawyers should walk in their client’s shoes, see what they see, feel what they feel, and learn what outcomes they need as opposed to services they’re seeking.

THREE: Legal Talk Today’s host Laurence Colletti speaks with constitutional law Professor Eugene Volokh about Pennsylvania’s COVID-19 shutdown order and what made it run afoul of free speech protections. Colletti explores another pandemic-related topic in an episode taking a look at Ohio’s COVID-19 liability shield.

For timely insights on the law, legal innovation, and law practice, visit Legal Talk Network and subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts.

Editor’s Picks: 5 Must-Listen Podcasts

Wed, 07 Oct 2020 16:12:40 GMT

by Molly McDonough

The void left by the Sept. 18 death of legal trailblazer Ruth Bader Ginsburg is the topic of conversation in two of this week’s top podcast picks.

ONE: On Above the Law’s Thinking Like A Lawyer, host Joe Patrice interviews former Acting Solicitor General Neal Katyal about his memories arguing before the justice and clerking for her when she was new to the Supreme Court.

TWO: On Lawyer 2 Lawyer, host J. Craig Williams interviews constitutional law Prof. Deborah Pearlstein about Ginsburg’s legacy and the nomination of U.S. District Judge Amy Coney Barrett, a Notre Dame law professor and former clerk to Justice Antonin Scalia, to fill the vacancy.

Pearlstein and Williams discuss Barrett’s nomination of Barrett, the nomination’s timing during an election year, and the potential impact Barrett could have on lightning-rod issues, including Roe v. Wade and healthcare reform.

For a touching tribute to RBG, listen to Legal Talk Today’s special episode featuring the stories of women whose lives and careers were inspired by the late justice.

THREE: On Law Technology Now, host Dan Linna gets a tutorial on how lawyers can evaluate whether new technology products are a good fit. Research Prof. Maura Grossman explains that machine learning is here to stay. Now that firms have realized that, they are scrambling to invest in technologies to become more efficient and competitive. Grossman offers eight questions lawyers should ask when evaluating AI-driven tech solutions for the delivery of legal services.

FOUR: Self-described New Solo fangirl Kelly Roberts gives host Adriana Linares a rundown of what she learned to do and not do when launching her solo bankruptcy practice in Florida a little over a year ago. While Roberts has had a successful start, she and Linares talk about her firm’s growing pains and the next steps for building a support team.

FIVE: In a timely episode, ABA Law Student Podcast host Meghan Steenburgh interviews high-profile lawyer Robert Barnett, a practice debate opponent for numerous Democratic presidential and vice-presidential candidates.

His client list is a Who’s Who of legal and political celebrity, including Barack Obama, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, Hillary Rodham Clinton, Michelle Obama, Laura Bush, Bob Woodward, Mary Higgins Clark, Dick Cheney, Alan Greenspan, Katharine Graham, Ben Bernanke, Nikki Haley, Tony Blair of the United Kingdom, and Queen Noor of Jordan.

For the latest insights on the law, legal innovation, and law practice, visit Legal Talk Network and subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts.

Remote Work – Keep America Moving!

Tue, 17 Mar 2020 20:00:20 GMT

Editorial

As Americans, we are usually challenged to meet a variety of hardships, whether in our midst or abroad. Today’s COVID-19 happenings are both. It is extremely important NOT to overreact. We must carry on in safe, rational, and measured ways… Panic is not our friend.

It is vital to keep as much of the economy going as possible. Obviously, we should take reasonable precautions and be mindful of the needs of others. Business is critical right now. Every job matters and supply lines must be maintained. Everyone needs a roof over their head and food on the table. The best thing we all can do is work.

Inspired by the social sharing from wonderful attorneys, bar associations, and organizations everywhere, we compiled a list of articles about remote working in this Open Document. Please forgive its simplicity. We wanted to make it super easy to share additional information as it’s discovered. Please feel free to add your favorite sources on the subject.

In case you were wondering, Legal Talk Network is already working remote with operations at 100%. We are committed to helping the legal profession stay informed.

Dear Business Leaders and Consumers… In ways that are safe and fiscally reasonable, it is important to keep business moving:
– Employees need you
– Local communities need you
– Our Country needs you #FlattenTheCurve #coronavirus #COVIDー19 pic.twitter.com/n0vXXGhDOC
— Laurence Colletti (@LaurenceEsq) March 16, 2020

ABA TECHSHOW 2020

Thu, 05 Mar 2020 01:53:48 GMT

ABA TECHSHOW 2020 kicked off with its 4th annual Start-Up Pitch Competition on February 26th. Hosted by stalwart-statesmen-of-innovation Bob Ambrogi, this growing opening night event brings a wider variety of products and services to the tech conference by inviting new or small vendors who might not otherwise be able to afford the exhibitor fees. In addition to giving fledgling companies a leg up, attendees get a sneak preview of future offerings for the profession.

This year’s winner was Billseye, founded by brothers Alcide and Armond Honore’. Their company’s objective is to streamline billing and enhance customer service during client phone calls with the single touch of a button. In so doing, the attorney activates an application that helps gather client information with ease while also integrating with existing practice management platforms. The idea is to better track for time while entering and maintaining data.

New to ABA TECHSHOW was their ‘Un-Track for Doers’. Planned by Jess Birken, Erin Gerstenzang, Ben Sessions, and Gyi Tsakalakis, this new series of sessions pulled ideas from the “unconference” model to move through more topics and encourage greater attendee participation. In addition to being geared towards practical aspects of legal practice, the unconference sessions facilitated excellent networking opportunities.

We also learned some new things about “deepfakes” and how that could affect legal practice, why litigation finance is about to get really interesting, how ODR is closing one part of the A2J gap, and why virtual reality may become a real staple in courts very soon. In addition, we heard from Clio co-founder Jack Newton how it’s possible for today’s law firm clients to walk away unsatisfied despite getting the result they wanted. And finally, we received an update from ABA president Judy Perry Martinez about her mid-tenure progress as well as recent ABA resolutions aimed at evolving the practice of law.

Below is the complete catalog of our 12 episode podcast coverage from ABA TECHSHOW 2020 including a list of its 35 participants:

Judy Perry Martinez

ABA President Judy Perry Martinez sits down with host Laurence Colletti to discuss Law Day, the importance of voting, and the ‘Value Proposition’ agenda which, among many things, is bringing a library of free CLEs to membership. Stay tuned to hear about Proposition 115 and the 19th Amendment.

Our conference coverage starts with ABA President Judy Perry-Martinez giving an update on 2020 objectives. #ABATECHSHOW pic.twitter.com/iwSvvhZJ6s
— Legal Talk Network (@LegalTalkNet) February 27, 2020

Keynote Speaker Mary Shen O’Carroll

Google Director of Legal Operations and President of CLOC Mary Shen O’Carroll joins host Patrick Palace for a conversation about the prevailing shift in legal operations. Together, they talk about external and internal pressures to modernize legal departments to provide greater value. Stay tuned to hear the three main ways law firms are responding to those mandates.

Keynote Speaker Mary Shen O’Carroll stops by for a fascinating conversation about the state of the legal profession with Patrick Palace. #abatechshow pic.twitter.com/ji8fw8ftSS
— Legal Talk Network (@LegalTalkNet) February 28, 2020

Jack Newton’s “The Client-Centered Law Firm: How to Succeed in an Experience-Driven World”

Newly minted author and co-founder of Clio Jack Newton joins host Laurence Colletti for a conversation about today’s consumer expectations for legal services and how to meet them through a “Client-Centered” approach which is laid out in his new book titled, ‘The Client-Centered Law Firm: How to Succeed in an Experience-Driven World’.

Author and Clio Co-Founder Jack Newton stops by to discuss creating a competitive advantage in modern times through a client-centric approach #ABATECHSHOW pic.twitter.com/0TKCEfHGh3
— Laurence Colletti (@LaurenceEsq) February 27, 2020

Forecast-Alytics: Understanding Litigation Analytics for Case Evaluation

Blue J Legal’s Ben Alarie and Elevate Service’s Warren Agin sit down with host Dennis Kennedy to discuss predictive analytics and how lawyers can better guide their clients by using historic data. Stay tuned to hear about potential growth in litigation finance.

The future is nigh! @BlueJLegal’s @BAlarie, Elevate Service’s Warren Agin, and Dennis Kennedy go granular about ‘Forecast-alytics’ #ABATECHSHOW pic.twitter.com/bBXSVVXXnM
— Laurence Colletti (@LaurenceEsq) February 28, 2020

Apps Apps Everywhere–Tablet and Mobile Legal Practice

Blue J Legal’s Abdi Aidid is joined by Burney Consultant’s Brett Burney and Affinity Consulting Group’s Paul Unger to talk about new and best apps for the legal profession. Stay tuned for a couple of their favorites as well as questions to ask vendors before implementing a new product.

Apps Apps Everywhere! Paul Unger and Brett Burney dish-the-deets on helpful apps for lawyers with host and Blue J Legal VP @AbdiAidid #abatechshow pic.twitter.com/ZvsGoOmaLS
— Legal Talk Network (@LegalTalkNet) February 29, 2020

Red Pill vs Blue Pill–How Deepfakes are Defining Digital Reality

More than a mere curiosity, “deepfake” technologies potentially stand to create many problems in our future digital world. Sensei Enterprises’ Sharon Nelson and Canon’s Lincoln Mead sit down with host John Simek to talk about the issues and what lawyers need to know about deepfakes when they practice law.

Sensei Enterprises’ Sharon Nelson and Canon’s Lincoln Mead join data security expert John Simek to talk about ‘Deep Fakes’, how to spot them, and what lawyers need to know. #abatechshow pic.twitter.com/GDU9C63ING
— Legal Talk Network (@LegalTalkNet) February 29, 2020

Rebels Riot Luncheon Q&A

ABA TECHSHOW Co-Chairs Catherine Sanders Reach and Heidi Alexander sit down with Filament’s Matt Homann, myFirmData’s Pegeen Turner, vLex’s Colin Lachance, and Trident Legal’s Sofia Lingos to discuss their topics presented at the Rebel Riots Luncheon.

The inaugural Rebels Riot Luncheon honoring ABA Legal Rebels is in the books! Tune in with @catherinereach and Heidi Alexander as they host this Q&A with honorees @matthomann, @pegeenturner, @colinlachance, and @SofiaLingosEsq. https://t.co/rrpUk6ywPv
— Legal Talk Network (@LegalTalkNet) February 28, 2020

Un-Track for Doers

Birken Law’s Jess Birken, EHG Law’s Erin Gerstenzang, AttorneySync’s Gyi Tsakalakis, and Sessions Law’s Ben Sessions join host Christopher Anderson for a conversation about their “unconference” track designed to cover more practical topics for legal practice while offering better opportunities to network through peer-to-peer learning.

This feisty bunch of Un-track Doers share their learned tales of expanded knowledge. #abatechshow pic.twitter.com/JJqYkyopEU
— Laurence Colletti (@LaurenceEsq) February 28, 2020

HR 101 for Lawyers – Best Practices for Hiring and Firing

Lawclerk’s Greg Garman sits down with Lawyerist’s Stephanie Everett and Inter Alia Law’s Darlene Tonelli to discuss best practices and tips for hiring and firing. Stay tuned to hear their worst firing stories.

LawClerk’s Greg Garman sits down with Stephanie Everett and Darlene Tonelli to discuss best practices for hiring and firing #ABATECHSHOW @InHouseAllies pic.twitter.com/JPR6y3vFop
— Laurence Colletti (@LaurenceEsq) February 28, 2020

Online Dispute Resolution – Changing the Status Quo and Defining the Future of Work in the Legal Profession

Civil Resolution Tribunal’s Shannon Salter and Hyphenus’ Jonathan Verk join host Patrick Palace for a conversation about online dispute resolution and the different ways it’s chiseling away at the access to justice gap.

Of Online Dispute Resolution and Changing the Status Quo with Patrick Palace, @shannonnsalter, and Jonathan Verk #ABATECHSHOW pic.twitter.com/YvpKOtHpq2
— Legal Talk Network (@LegalTalkNet) February 27, 2020

Seeing is Believing – Virtual Reality Preparedness

Harvard Law School’s Matthew Stubenberg and University of Oklahoma College of Law’s Kenton Brice sit down with host Laurence Colletti to talk about virtual reality, its decreased cost of use, and why it’s becoming more important in legal practice.

Fun presentation and later interview with Kenton Brice and Matthew Stubenberg about Virtual Reality and how/where it adds value to modern law practice. #ABATECHSHOW pic.twitter.com/fStImWSdkm
— Legal Talk Network (@LegalTalkNet) February 27, 2020

Start Up Alley Winners

Billeye’s Alcide Honore’ and Armond Honore’ sit down with Bob Ambrogi and Laurence Colletti to talk about their one-touch app that’s designed to streamline billing and enhance customer service during client phone calls. In addition, Bob Ambrogi talks about the Start-Up Pitch Competition, how it helps innovation, and what we can expect next year.

The winners (Alcide and Armond) of the Start Up Pitch Competition stop by to share how @_Billseye is helping lawyers better manage phone calls with clients. #ABATECHSHOW pic.twitter.com/GhMD4JRi4j
— Laurence Colletti (@LaurenceEsq) February 27, 2020

List of Participants (in alphabetical order):

Warren E. Agin (Elevate Services – Managing Director for Digital Strategy & Solutions)
Abdi Aidid (Blue J Legal Vice – President of Legal Research)
Benjamin Alarie (Blue J Legal – CEO)
Heidi Alexander (MassLOMAP – Director)
Bob Ambrogi (LexBlog – Publisher and Editor-in-Chief)
Christopher Anderson (Profit First for Lawyers – Co-Founder and CEO)
Jess Birken (Birken Law)
Kenton Brice (University of Oklahoma College of Law – Director of Technology Innovation)
Brett Burney (Burney Consultants LLC)
Laurence Colletti (Legal Talk Network – Executive Producer)
Stephanie Everett (Lawyerist – President)
Greg Garman (LAWCLERK – Co-Founder)
Erin Gerstenzang (EHG Law Firm)
Matt Homann (Filament – CEO)
Alcide Honoré (Billseye – CEO)
Armond Honoré (Billseye – CIO)
Dennis Kennedy (University of Michigan Law School – Adjunct Professor of Law)
Colin Lachance (vLex – General Manager)
Sofia Lingos (Trident – Managing Attorney)
Judy Perry Martinez (American Bar Association – President)
Lincoln Mead (Canon Business Process Services – Project Manager / Client Relationship Manager)
Sharon D. Nelson (Sensei Enterprises – President)
Jack Newton (Clio – CEO and Co-Founder)
Mary Shen O’Carroll (Google – Director of Legal Operations, Technology and Strategy)
Patrick Palace (Palace Law – Managing Owner)
Catherine Sanders Reach (North Carolina Bar Association – Director for the Center for Practice Management)
Shannon Salter (Civil Resolution Tribunal – Chair)
Ben Sessions (The Sessions Law Firm)
John Simek (Sensei Enterprises – Vice-President)
Matthew Stubenberg (Harvard Law School Access to Justice Lab – Associate Director of Legal Technology)
Darlene Tonelli (Inter Alia Law – Founder)
Gyi Tsakalakis (AttorneySync – Founder)
Pegeen Turner (myFirmData – Co-Founder)
Paul J. Unger (Affinity Consulting Group – Managing Partner)
Jonathan Verk (Hyphenus – Co-Founder and CEO)

Thank you to our wonderful sponsors for their support (Blue J Legal, Clio, Headnote, LawClerk, Nexa, and TimeSolv). Hope you’re having a wonderful #ABATECHSHOW pic.twitter.com/JP902hXU5K
— Legal Talk Network (@LegalTalkNet) February 28, 2020

Inspire.Legal 2.0

Sat, 22 Feb 2020 03:10:33 GMT

An extension to the New York Legal Tech Community and also held on the backside of Legalweek 2020, the Inspire.Legal un-conference made it through its second year. Although last year’s event went very well, this year’s seemed better put together and also more fun. Organized by Christian Lang and Joe Borstein with Matt Homann as master of ceremonies and help from its numerous volunteers, this un-conference with its un-panels, luminaries, and moderators took its impressive shape.

Central to purpose was the lineup of attendees. Hailing from mega law firms like Paul Hastings and Clifford Chance, huge professional service companies like Ernst & Young and PricewaterhouseCoopers, top legal publications like Thomson Reuters and Above The Law, or key vendors that serve the profession like Casetext and Net Documents, the participants were leaders in their respective fields. One element that was noticeably not present were vendors in exhibition. Sure the event was sponsored (hat tip Ernst & Young and Clifford Chance), but the organizers wanted to prevent any notion of “being sold to”. Also absent was any sort of prescribed programming or booked speakers.

What changes for the legal profession at being discussed at #InspireLegal? pic.twitter.com/NcxxqBPnWq
— Laurence Colletti (@LaurenceEsq) February 7, 2020

You might be asking yourself what’s the point of gathering all these superstars for an un-conference without an agenda? That’s where the magic happened. By removing the incentives to transact and focusing on topics important to attendees, the goal was to have open and honest discussions about ways to improve the legal profession. And that’s where the diversity of stakeholders showed its value. By inviting practitioners, service providers, educators, and yes prospective law students to the mix (shoutout Antonio Cavazos), a broader and more comprehensive set of conversations were had.

These conversations were centered around five main pre-planned themes (listed below) but the topics within were generated on-location by the attendees after the conference began. In addition to the un-panels, Inspire.Legal featured fun and fiery debates during the lunch programming as well as a legal problems forum where 20 problems styled as questions were put to paper and attendees could go table to table and discuss (also listed below).

Five Un-Panel Themes:

Technology Procurement & Adoption
Platforms & Interoperability
New Offerings & Client/Lawyer/Law Company Collaboration
Experiential Learning & Training
Collaborative Funding Models

20 Legal Problems:

How might we demonstrate & articulate value from multiple stakeholder perspectives?
How might we engage users earlier in the procurement process & maintain their engagement throughout?
How might we get all stakeholders invested in successful adoption & use outcomes?
How might we demonstrate & measure value for different technologies?
How might we create a legal community around data standards?
How might we reasonably add people to new & ongoing tech initiatives?
How might we conduct needs assessment & incorporate stakeholder input before we buy something?
How might we improve collaboration between law schools, firms, & clients to educate new lawyers on the business of law?
How might we align firm hiring process with what clients demand & adapt law school curriculum to match?
How might we prepare young lawyers to succeed as the practice fundamentally changes?
How might we teach & optimize legal service delivery to align with customer value? (effectiveness, efficiency, & experience)
How might we incentivize useful training for lawyers?
How might we help founders create their own collaboration funders in our cash-rich/collaboration-poor ecosystem?
How might we get law firms to invest in disrupting themselves?
How might we identify & assemble willing & able stakeholders to orient around a concrete problem?
How might we design new incentives and build effective change management that survives contact with lawyers & firms?
WTF is value? … A.K.A. How might we define business value delivered to the client enterprise by legal teams?
How might we help clients better communicate their needs, constraints, & expectations to their legal supply chain?
How might we help legal teams focus on collective outcomes instead of individual inputs?
How might we overcome profit-driven proprietary standards & frameworks that prevent / disincentivize open community-driven platforms?

Below is access to our four episode podcast series covering what was discussed at Inspire.Legal 2.0 and a list of those who participated. Another great source for information on this unique event comes from our friend and legendary legal tech blogger Bob Ambrogi with his post titled ‘In Search Of Innovation At 3 Legal Conferences’. We hope you enjoy!

About Inspire.Legal 2.0

Inspire.Legal organizers Christian Lang and Matt Homann join co-hosts Dan Linna and Laurence Colletti to discuss their un-conference model, what problems they are aiming to solve, and the all-stars in attendance. Stay tuned to hear about charismatic deviants.

And with that the 2nd #InspireLegal kicks off. pic.twitter.com/UppqJJTl50
— Laurence Colletti (@LaurenceEsq) February 7, 2020

Technology Procurement & Adoption

Host Nicole Bradick sits down with Haley Altman, Carlos Gamez, Sanjay Kamlani, and Lucy Endel Bassli to talk about how vendors, associates, and partners can help with law firm technology procurement while making sure to solve the right problems.

Nicole Bradick hosts (possibly trolls ) this discussion about ‘Technology Procurement and Adoption’ with guests Carlos Gamez, Sanjay Kamlani, Lucy Bassli, and Haley Altman. #InspireLegal pic.twitter.com/QwRPQ87FVk
— Laurence Colletti (@LaurenceEsq) February 7, 2020

Experiential Learning & Training

Casetext’s Laura Safdie, Latham Watkins’ John Scrudato, Stegman Elliot’s Andrea Alliston, and Univar’s Jeff Carr join host Dan Linna to discuss the impact of future automations, the value of being a life-long learner, and characteristics that lawyers of the future will need to succeed.

Host Dan Linna is joined by Jeff Carr, Andrea Alliston, John Scrudato, and Laura Safdie for a discussion about their un-panel ‘Experiential Learning and Training’. #InspireLegal pic.twitter.com/IY9nHtNzpc
— Laurence Colletti (@LaurenceEsq) February 7, 2020

New Offerings & Client/Lawyer/Law Company Collaboration

Host Ralph Baxter is joined by Microsoft’s Jason Barnwell, Ernst & Young’s Peter Krakauer, and Priori’s Basha Rubin for a conversation about legal services not keeping up with demand, new ways to deliver legal work, and selling to in-house legal departments.

Host Ralph Baxter talks with @pkrakaur, Jason Barnwell, and Basha Rubin about their un-panel ‘New Offerings and Client/Lawyer/Law Company Collaboration’. #InspireLegal pic.twitter.com/JJPJMb9gaT
— Laurence Colletti (@LaurenceEsq) February 7, 2020

List of Participants (in Alphabetical Order):

Andrea Alliston (Partner at Stikeman Elliot LLP)
Haley Altman (General Manager of Transaction Management at Litera Microsystems)
Jason Barnwell (Assistant General Counsel-Modern Legal at Microsoft)
Lucy Endel Bassli (Founder and Principal at InnoLegal Services, PLLC)
Nicole Bradick (Founder and CEO of Theory and Principle)
Ralph Baxter (Former Chairman & CEO of Orrick)
Jeff Carr (Former General Counsel at Univar)
Laurence Colletti (Executive Producer for Legal Talk Network)
Carlos Gamez (Client and Partner Lead in Legal Technology Innovation at Thomson Reuters)
Matt Homann (Founder and CEO of Filament)
Sanjay Kamlani (Managing Director of 1991 Group)
Peter Krakaur (Managing Director and Legal Operations Markets Leader with EY Law Americas)
Christian Lang (Head of Strategy at Reynen Court LLC)
Dan Linna (Professor at Northwestern Pritzker School of Law)
Laura Safdie (COO and General Counsel at Casetext)
John Scrudato (Attorney at Latham & Watkins)

Legalweek 2020

Sat, 22 Feb 2020 03:09:36 GMT

Legalweek continues to be one of the biggest and most influential conferences for the legal profession. According to Zach Warren, editor-in-chief of Legaltech News, this year’s event brought in over 8,500 attendees. Many out there will remember this conference as Legal Tech New York but it has evolved in recent years to provide a wider array of programming. Like other conferences, the organizers are constantly making adjustments to optimize the experience. One change from last year is that the main content tracks were reduced from five to three (Legal Tech, Legal CIO, and Legal Business Strategy). But that certainly didn’t seem to affect the quality of the programming nor did it ward off top-name presenters like former United States Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein as the keynote.

During the keynote, which was styled as a fireside conversation, Mr. Rosenstein addressed many key issues to the profession and our society including rule of law, faith in the judiciary, keeping politics out of our legal system, and his return to private practice after many years of government service (heavy emphasis on conflict checks). He also fielded many questions from the audience on topics like “What is the biggest threat to our democracy?”, “Why is the government hesitant to prosecute big tech companies like Google and Facebook?”, and “What do you think about President Trump’s tweets?”.

For his part, Mr. Rosenstein tried to keep political leanings out of his answers. In his view the biggest threat externally to the United States is interference in our elections. He believes that the government needs to be cautious when prosecuting big tech companies because they are so important to our country’s well-being. As for President Trump’s tweets, he understands the novelty of being able to see what the president is thinking. He does not see them as a threat to the country but is not sure if they are good or not. As for election cycles and what many perceive as chaos in that system, Mr. Rosenstein was optimistic and reminded the audience that chaos has always been part of our political system and, despite that, we always find our way through.

Fascinating fireside-style keynote about the rule of law, faith in elections, and foreign policy with Former US Deputy Attorney General @RodRosenstein. #Legalweek pic.twitter.com/ZDFxblAFzo
— Laurence Colletti (@LaurenceEsq) February 4, 2020

Although, I think it’s fair to say Legalweek is geared towards big law or at least larger firms, the information disseminated is relevant to practitioners everywhere. From our audio coverage alone, we learned about modern trends for law firm growth and the declining equity partner track. We also discovered alternative legal careers that don’t necessarily involve the practice of law. We heard about proposed regulatory changes in states like Arizona, Utah, and California that are aimed at closing the access to justice gap and potentially widening the definition of legal practice. We also learned from big firms like Orrick, Mayer Brown, and Clark Hill as well as client-sided Microsoft the whys and hows of being adaptable in a world of change. And speaking of adaptability, we also discussed the “Big Four” professional service firms (Deloitte, Ernst & Young, KPMG, and PricewaterhouseCoopers) and what attorneys can learn from their full service model.

Below is access to the complete catalog of our audio coverage from Legalweek 2020. It features nine episodes with 29 participants across all three conference tracks. Our guest lineup includes State Supreme Court Justices, CIOs from top firms, leading legal journalists, and influential entrepreneurs who are changing the landscape of legal practice.

Legalweek 2020: All About Legalweek with Zach Warren

Editor-in-chief of Legaltech News, Zach Warren sits down with host Ralph Baxter to discuss the evolution of Legalweek, the various learning tracks, CLE opportunities, and workshops focusing on specialty topics.

Legalweek 2020: 40 Years of Data – What the Data on the Industry Says About Its Future

Host Dan Linna is joined by ALM’s Gina Passarella and Patrick Fuller for a conversation about what they’ve learned through analyzing 40 years of AM Law 200 data. Together, they delve into growth trends, empirical metrics supporting diversity, modern client demands, and what firms are doing to keep their talent. Tune in to hear how big law is innovating around practice whereas smaller firms are innovating around process.

Legalweek 2020: Open Access – Utah, California, Arizona, Oh My! What Changes to Law Firm Ownership Rules Really Mean

Arizona Supreme Court’s Vice Chief Justice Ann Timmer, Utah Supreme Court’s Justice Deno Himonas, University of Illinois-Urbana Champaign’s Rebecca Sandefur, and ROSS Intelligence’s Andrew Arruda join host Ralph Baxter for a conversation about the efforts their various states are taking to close the access to justice gap and expand who can practice law. Stay tuned to hear about the 167 million new civil justice problems annually and how only 15-25% of those receive legal help.

‘Open Access and What Change in Law Firm Ownership Really Means’ …. Justice Timmer, Justice Himonas, Professor Sandefur, and Andrew Arruda join host Ralph Baxter for a deep dive discussion.NYC #Legalweek20 pic.twitter.com/61B7pVwkBT
— Laurence Colletti (@LaurenceEsq) February 4, 2020

Legalweek 2020: Robotic Process Automation – The Next Step in Legal Automation

Baker & Hostetler’s Michelle Dewey, Littler Mendelson’s Cynthia Brown, and Ogletree Deakins’ Jennifer Mendez join co-hosts Ralph Baxter and Dan Linna to talk about automating tedious practice tasks, why minimally viable products are valuable, and the innovation process at their firms. Stay tuned to hear about Carlos, the helpful chat bot with personality.

Legalweek 2020: Change Management – How to Get Lawyers and Staff to Buy-In to Change

Host Ralph Baxter sits down with Thompson Hine’s Bill Garcia, LawWithoutWalls’s Michele DeStefano, and Ari Kaplan to discuss change management and the elements that go into successfully implementing it. Stay tuned to hear why instinct eats collaboration for breakfast.

Legalweek 2020: Algorithmic Malpractice & Lawfare

Hosted by Dan Linna, this episode features Baker Hostetler’s James Sherer and New York Institute of Technology’s Jordan Thompson discussing tech competence and what lawyers are responsible for as well as what clients are demanding. Stay tuned for their talk about artificial intelligence and balancing privacy rights.

Legalweek 2020: The Path Less Followed – The Rise in Nontraditional Careers

Co-hosted by Ralph Baxter and Laurence Colletti, this episode features Above the Law’s David Lat, ReplyAll’s Zach Abramowitz, and Taylor English Duma’s Chris Wilson discussing their decisions to leave traditional legal practice for different pastures. Stay tuned to hear what jobs are available for lawyers who don’t want to practice law.

Legalweek 2020: The Big Four, ALSPs and the Law Firm Restructured

Axiom’s Karl Kong, ALM’s Nicholas Bruch, Deloitte’s Luis Fernando Guerra, and ALM’s Gina Passarella join host Ralph Baxter to talk about the “Big Four” (Deloitte, Ernst & Young, KPMG, and PricewaterhouseCoopers) and what lawyers should learn from their mixed offering of services.

Legalweek 2020: Demonstrating Agility in the Face of Constant Change

Orrick’s Wendy Butler Curtis, Mayer Brown’s Samuel Whitman, Clark Hill’s Joan Holman, and Microsoft’s Dominic Crosby sit down with host Laurence Colletti for a conversation about law firms and how they can maintain adaptability despite a constantly changing world. Stay tuned to hear about design thinking and how to successfully implement it at your firm.

Lots of fun discussing ‘Demonstrating Agility in the Face of Constant Change’ with panelists Wendy Curtis, Dominic Crosby, Joan Holman, and Sam Whitman. #Legalweek20 NYC pic.twitter.com/S8CH6DWMmU
— Laurence Colletti (@LaurenceEsq) February 4, 2020

List of Participants (in alphabetical order):

Zach Abramowitz (Co-founder of ReplyAll)
Andrew Arruda (CEO and co-founder of ROSS Intelligence)
Ralph Baxter (Former Chairman & CEO of Orrick)
Cynthia Brown (Director of Research Services for Littler Mendelson)
Nicholas Bruch (Senior Analyst at ALM Legal Intelligence)
Laurence Colletti (Executive Producer at Legal Talk Network)
Dominic Crosby (Senior Technical Program Manager at Microsoft)
Wendy Butler Curtis (CIO at Orrick)
Michele DeStefano (Founder of LawWithoutWalls)
Michelle Dewey (Legal Research Services Manager at Baker & Hostetler)
Patrick Fuller (Vice President and General Manager of ALM Legal Intelligence)
Bill Garcia (Chief Practice Innovation Officer at Thompson Hine)
Luis Fernando Guerra (Deloitte Legal’s Global Leader)
Justice Deno Himonas (Utah Supreme Court)
Joan Holman (CIO at Clark Hill PLC)
Ari Kaplan (Founder of Ari Kaplan Advisors)
Karl Kong (SVP of Product at Axiom)
David Lat (Founder/Writer at Above the Law)
Dan Linna (Professor at Northwestern Pritzker School of Law)
Jennifer Mendez (Director of Knowledge Management Firm Solutions at Ogletree Deakins)
Gina Passarella (Editor-in-Chief of The American Lawyer)
Rebecca Sandefur (Professor at the University of Illinois-Urbana Champaign)
James Sherer (Partner at Baker Hostetler)
Vice Chief Justice Ann Timmer (Arizona Supreme Court)
Jordan Thompson (Deputy GC and Privacy Officer of New York Institute of Technology)
Rose Walker (News Editor for Legal Week at ALM Media)
Zach Warren (Editor-in-chief of Legaltech News)
Samuel Whitman (Global Knowledge Management Leader at Mayer Brown)
Chris Wilson (Partner at Taylor English Duma)

Former Orrick CEO Ralph Baxter Joins the Law Technology Now Podcast

Tue, 26 Nov 2019 20:38:51 GMT

Former Orrick Chairman and CEO Ralph Baxter brings his lifetime of experience innovating law firms and advising legal technology companies at the highest level to the microphone on our Law Technology Now podcast. We are very excited to welcome him and look forward to new recordings on the way. Below is a copy of our press release with additional details and links to Ralph’s first episodes. We hope you enjoy!

— Press Release —

Legal Industry Pioneer Ralph Baxter Joins as New Co-Host of Law Technology Now Podcast

On October 23rd, Ralph Baxter premiered as the newest host for the Legal Talk Network podcast Law Technology Now. The show, which has been producing episodes since 2008, explores the latest trends in legal technology and provides advice on improving the practice of law through innovative thinking. Baxter will host alongside co-host Daniel Linna, Director of Law and Technology Initiatives and a Senior Lecturer at Northwestern Pritzker School of Law.

Baxter became synonymous with innovation in legal service during his nearly quarter century as Chairman and CEO of Orrick, leading the firm as it built on its California foundation to become one of the world’s premier global law firms, and adopted ground-breaking service, resource, abd career models. Baxter now advises law firms, legal technology companies, and others engaged in legal service as they modernize. He is on the board of directors of Intapp, the legal advisory board of LegalZoom, a fellow at CodeX, the Stanford Center for Law and Informatics, the advisory board at the Center on the Legal Profession at the Stanford Law School, the advisory board on the Center on the Legal Profession at the Harvard Law School, and the Leaders Council of the Legal Services Corporation. Baxter also served on the board of directors of Lex Machina prior to its sale to LexisNexis.

Laurence Colletti, Executive Producer of Legal Talk Network, says about Baxter’s new position, “It’s a real privilege to work with Ralph. He brings his highest caliber professionalism to every production. Not only is he a gifted communicator but he understands the legal profession and its challenges deeply.”

Law Technology Now will be released twice monthly and features influential experts who are helping to reshape the legal landscape. Three episodes featuring Ralph Baxter are currently available:

The next upcoming episode will feature guest Judy Perry Martinez of Simon, Peragine, Smith & Redfearn and the current president of the American Bar Association. For more information about Ralph Baxter and Law Technology Now, visit Legal Talk Network and ralphbaxter.com. You can also subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Play Music, other podcast apps, or download the Legal Talk Network app.

— End of Press Release —

Clio Cloud Conference 2019

Wed, 06 Nov 2019 03:07:04 GMT

This year’s Clio Cloud Conference made its way to my home town and “America’s Finest City” San Diego, California. Now in its Seventh year with over 2,000 attendees, Clio’s marquee event continues to impress with top tier speakers like keynotes Glenn Greenwald, Shaka Senghor, Deanna Van Buren, and Daniel Pink whose powerful main stage talks tug at your heart strings, challenge your preconceptions, and give you a new perspective.

Their backstay of tuned-up educational programming was designed to help practitioners run leaner more profitable law firms. This year’s conference featured five tracks to choose from (Legal Technology, Business of Law, Industry Workshops, Clio University, and Clio University Workshops). That assortment of tracks catered to a variety of lawyers in attendance, whether they wanted to enhance their use of Clio’s practice management platform or sought information on running better legal practices.

It’s happening! #ClioCloud9 pic.twitter.com/dEl7Kg6k6g

— Jack Newton (@jack_newton) October 20, 2019

Related and of particular note was the latest from the Clio Legal Trends Report, an ongoing free-to-everyone annual industry study as presented by their Chief Operating Officer George Psiharis. Along with its standard trappings of data and metrics, this year’s report focused on the client experience while seeking a lawyer for help. Among many other factors, the report revealed that 68% of prospective-client email inquiries received no reply at all whereas similar inbound phone calls were only answered live 56% of the time. The bottom-line is that attorneys are missing a lot of potential business from clients in need.

At the risk of being too editorial, if you want more profits from your legal practice, you should definitely review all editions of the Clio Legal Trends Report (2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019). The information contained within is uniquely useful and reveals many ways to reap large gains from relatively low inputs of time and energy.

The latest @goclio Legal Trends Report reveals a troubling truth about lawyers https://t.co/syEJiIn2e1 @atlblog pic.twitter.com/V4GYjNrnIp

— Bob Ambrogi (@bobambrogi) November 4, 2019

Clio shared some really big news. In their 11 years of business, they have grown from a two-man company to a nearly 500 employee operation, with 200 integration partners, and now 150,000 clients. This year, they managed to attract a 250 million dollar Series D Financing Transaction from TCV and JMI Equity which put them in the same family of investments as AirBnB, Netflix, Peloton, Expedia, and Spotify.

In addition to locking their position as an organization, Clio unveiled many new updates and stories including:

A complete reboot / rebuild of their mobile app incorporating five years of user feedback
Zapier Integrations (allowing users without coding knowledge to make their own automated processes and shortcuts)
35 New Integration Partners adding enhanced functionality (including some from our friends at Ross Intelligence, Fastcase, and Lexblog)
Winners of their 2019 ‘Launch//Code Competition’
Productivity updates like the Firm Performance Dashboard and Clio Grow Scheduler

Our audio coverage from this year’s Clio Cloud Conference highlights best practices for running and growing your law firm. We touched upon methods and recommendations for time keeping, client experience, metrics/data, and personal branding. In addition, we featured recaps from keynote speakers Shaka Senghor (reforming your life and criminal justice reform), Deanna Van Buren (spaces that de-encarcerate), and Daniel Pink (the real value of timing) as well as a game show recorded from the conference floor quizzing contestants about what they learned from the Clio Legal Trends Report.

Below are links to our complete catalogue of podcasts recorded from the 2019 Clio Cloud Conference as well as a list of the 32 participants who contributed. Thank you to all who joined us. We hope you enjoy!

Clio Cloud 2019: Jack Newton

Clio co-founder and CEO Jack Newton stops by to discuss client experience, successful leadership, and data from their Legal Trends Report. In addition, he delves into Clio’s ethos and the vital importance of empowering and supporting an entrepreneurial workforce #DTFO . Stay tuned to hear about recent updates to their practice management platform and hear why legal spend will grow from from 437 billion to 1.4 trillion. Oh, and somehow Jack found time to write a book titled The Client Centered Lawfirm.

Greater productivity, better client experience, increased access to justice–@goclio has big plans for legal industry innovations. #OnTheRoad host @Laurenceesq talks with Clio co-founder @Jack_Newton at #ClioCloud9. https://t.co/kVbUlVd3GA pic.twitter.com/bJaKU7rAgp

— Legal Talk Network (@LegalTalkNet) October 28, 2019

Clio Cloud 2019: Time Keeping 2.0: Measuring What Matters

Are you wasting valuable time in your practice day and thus losing money? How can anyone be sure? Madison Goddyn and Sarah Greig sit down with host Christopher Anderson to discuss measuring what matters while tracking time.

Clio Cloud 2019: Launch//Code Competition

Jesse Harink, Andrew Gay, and Molly McDonough sit down with host Jared Correia to talk about Clio’s Launch//Code Competition, what inspired it, the $100,000 prize, getting from 70 entrants to 5 finalists, and how the winners are helping the practice of law.

Clio Cloud 2019: Legal Trends Retort Game Show!

Hosted by George Psiharis (without a spaghetti mic ), this fun game-show styled podcast, inspired by Clio’s Legal Trends Report, features contestants Chad Burton, Erin Gerstenzang, Jennifer Reynolds, and John Strohmeyer in a bout for trivial supremacy. Spoiler: Chad is wrong a lot.

Guess what has no thumbs and is a Game Show about the Clio #LegalTrendsReport? This Episode! starring George Psiharis as host with contestants Chad Burton, Erin Gerstenzang, Jennifer Reynolds & John Strohmeyer… Stay tuned for the outtakes! #ClioCloud9 https://t.co/WGTUB6O5bL pic.twitter.com/II96ZpM2uH

— Legal Talk Network (@LegalTalkNet) October 28, 2019

Clio Cloud 2019: Personal Branding in a Changing World

Katy Goshtasbi joins host Gyi Tsakalakis for a conversation about personal branding through an individual’s unique talents and the use of personally-defined visions over external expectations.

Clio Cloud 2019: Media Panel

Hosted by Laurence Colletti, this media panel features bloggers, legal technology commentators, and fellow podcasters discussing their reasons for attending the Clio Cloud Conference as well as what they found most interesting. {participants: Keith Lee of Lawyer Smack, Gregory Pang of Legal Cut Pro, Chelsey Lambert and Cathy Kenton of Legal Tech Media Group, and Joe Patrice of Above the Law and Thinking Like a Lawyer}

Clio Cloud 2019: Shaka Senghor

Keynote speaker Shaka Senghor joins California Innocence Project’s Michael Semanchik to talk about his time behind bars and transformation through becoming a writer and speaker on criminal justice reform.

Shaka Senghor sharing his experiences in prison and then later redemption with California Innocence Project managing attorney Michael Semanchik. #ClioCloud9 pic.twitter.com/0RCgZ18lPK

— Legal Talk Network (@LegalTalkNet) October 22, 2019

Clio Cloud 2019: The Win-Win Legal Services Model

Burnout is bad and the legal profession is proficient at creating it. Erin Levine sits down with host Renee Stackhouse to talk about her win-win methods to stave off the burn, provide affordable services, and live the life you want.

Clio Cloud 2019: The Importance of the Client Experience

John Strohmeyer joins host Gyi Tsakalakis to talk about methods to provide an exceptional client experience by knowing your customers, seeking feedback, and deploying technology.

Clio Cloud 2019: Daniel Pink

We’ve all heard the expression “timing is everything” but where does that come from? Keynote speaker Daniel Pink sits down with host Patrick Palace to discuss how human cognitive abilities change throughout the day and why he believes there is a right time and a wrong time for everything. Stay tuned to hear how you can optimize your legal practice through the art of timing.

A fantastic way to close the day… Getting analytical on the biology of timing with @DanielPink and @PalaceLaw. #ClioCloud9 pic.twitter.com/H9IcE6obND

— Laurence Colletti (@LaurenceEsq) October 23, 2019

Clio Cloud 2019: Affinity Partners Workshop

An increasing number of bar associations are working with Clio to find ways to improve member benefits. Rio Peterson, Nefra MacDonald, and Jonathan Israel join host Jared Correia to talk about this process as well as tips for collaborating with vendors who serve the legal profession.

Clio Cloud 2019: Restorative Justice through Architecture with Deanna Van Buren

Can architectural spaces make a difference in how we resolve legal conflicts and help reform criminal offenders? Keynote speaker Deanna Van Buren thinks so and explains how her work is changing the way we engage criminal justice, even in cases of murder.

Clio Cloud 2019: Interview with Mark Britton

Avvo founder Mark Britton sits down with host Christopher Anderson for a conversation about making legal services easier to use, joining the Clio Board of Directors, and the importance of business principles in legal practice.

Mark Britton sounds off about joining Clio’s Board, modern challenges to the legal profession, and what clients really want. #ClioCloud9 pic.twitter.com/20K3AeNy7b

— Laurence Colletti (@LaurenceEsq) October 21, 2019

Participants (in alphabetical order):

A terrific first day of coverage from the 2019 Clio Cloud Conference… Looking forward to day two! #ClioCloud9 pic.twitter.com/RHj0gNJu45

— Laurence Colletti (@LaurenceEsq) October 22, 2019

2019 California Lawyers Association Annual Meeting

Fri, 01 Nov 2019 02:04:31 GMT

Set against the gorgeous coastline of Monterey, California at the beautiful Portola Hotel & Spa, the 2019 California Lawyers Association (CLA) Annual Meeting had a small town feel of something much bigger. In fact, this year’s annual meeting marked some major milestones as the CLA fully peeled away from the prior management of the State Bar of California in compliance with SB36 put into place January 1, 2018.

At the helm of this largest statewide voluntary bar association is CEO and executive director Ona Alston Dosunmu who left the Brookings Institute VP-GC position to help guide the CLA in its post-separation. One of her early endeavors was to rapidly hire and onboard new professionals as the on-loan State Bar employees returned to their organization early this year. That bridge-gap allowed the CLA to move forward as its new structure took shape.

Today’s CLA has 100,000 members and 17 sections, comprised of the California Young Lawyers Association and the 16 separate practice area groups. In addition, they are branching out with collaborative active partnerships which were forbidden under the former regulatory framework. This new ability allows the CLA to team up with other organizations such as the California Judges Association, Pepperdine, local bar associations, the California Legislature, the American Bar Association, and many more to create educational programs, member benefits, access to justice initiatives, and increased diversity and inclusion within the profession.

Ahhhhhh beautiful Monterey! Looking forward to covering the California Lawyers Association Annual Meeting! #CLAAnnualMeeting19 pic.twitter.com/wBPgHDEjMG

— Laurence Colletti (@LaurenceEsq) October 10, 2019

This year’s annual meeting was the second since the separation but, in many ways, it could be considered the first since the full transition of management and staffing was completed. The standard attendance was up from 600 to 800 this year, but with new found collaborations from additional organizations including the California Judges Association, there were 1,300 legal professionals gathered to participate in cross-over programming designed to benefit everyone involved.

Of special note, it was our pleasure to record podcast episodes with many of the CLA sections this year. Rather than simply being interviewed, most of the groups opted to record/host their own podcast with us. In these episodes, they discussed updates in specific areas of law as well as shared upcoming events and programs within their sections. The leadership and content creation displayed is a solid indicator that the sections are doing their part to drive the CLA’s objectives.

Last and definitely not least, we had the opportunity to catch up with my legal hero Erwin Chemerinsky, the Dean of Berkeley Law, as we discussed his topic presented at the Alexander F. Morrison lecture series entitled Closing the Courthouse Doors. During our time, we did a deep-dive on the various ways that court redress is closed off from citizens seeking relief against federal, state, and local governing bodies.

Below are links to our complete collection of podcasts recorded from the 2019 California Lawyers Association Annual Meeting as well as a list of the 45 participants who contributed. Thank you to all CLA leadership and sections who joined us. We hope you enjoy!

CLA 2019 Annual Meeting: Updates from CLA Leadership

CLA Leadership stops by to discuss progress made since separating from the State Bar of California, new programs and benefits, and the succession of leaders as the torches are passed. {Participants include: CEO & Executive Director Ona Alston Dosunmu, Immediate Past President Heather L. Rosing, Immediate Past Chair Jim Hill, President Emilio Varanini, Chair Chip Wilkins, and Vice President Jeremy M. Evans}

Getting all set up for a fun engaging interview with the Leadership of the California Lawyers Association at the #CLAAnnualMeeting19. https://t.co/rGPIe4ybRh pic.twitter.com/2Hgm5ZH6hN

— Legal Talk Network (@LegalTalkNet) October 31, 2019

CLA 2019 Annual Meeting: Dean Erwin Chemerinsky–“Closing the Courthouse Door”

Erwin Chemerinsky, dean of Berkeley Law, discusses his presentation from the Alexander F. Morrison lecture series titled, Closing the Courthouse Doors.

CLA 2019 Annual Meeting: Environmental Law Section

The Environmental Law Section hosts an episode about their CLE programming at the CLA Annual Meeting as well as their other educational programs and networking opportunities, including their very popular annual Yosemite Environmental Law Conference. {Hosted by Jennifer Novak with guests Allison Smith, Paige Samblanet, and Miles Hogan}

CLA 2019 Annual Meeting: Real Property Law–California’s Varied Short-Term Rental Regulations

The Real Property Law Section hosts an episode about legislative updates in short-term rentals, horror stories in rental property, and compliance insights under the current rules. {Hosted by Tara Burd with guests Ashley M. Peterson and Anna Liu}

Opening up our conference coverage with the fun folks from @CLARealProperty sharing recent updates in California Law. If you own rental property, you should definitely tune in. #CLAAnnualMeeting19 pic.twitter.com/XxAUoi104C

— Laurence Colletti (@LaurenceEsq) October 11, 2019

CLA 2019 Annual Meeting: Trusts & Estates Section

The Trusts & Estates Section hosts an episode about Barefoot v. Jennings and its potential legal impact. In addition, they discuss the section’s involvement monitoring legislation, drafting legislative proposals, and creating new educational programs for its membership. {Hosted by Herb Stroh with guests Ciarán O’Sullivan, Howard Kipnis, and Mary K. deLeo}

CLA 2019 Annual Meeting: Workers’ Comp Section

The Workers’ Compensation Section hosts an episode discussing emerging trends in their area of practice as well as their upcoming educational programs and member benefits. {Hosted by Maria Sager with guests Judge Sharon Velzy, Randy Pollak, and Jack Goodchild}

CLA 2019 Annual Meeting: Intellectual Property Law Section

The Intellectual Property Law Section hosts a podcast where they talk about their member benefits, publications, and their new program ‘IP Without Borders’. {Hosted by Erica Bristol with guest Heather Antoine}

Erica Bristol hosts a fun & informative discussion about Intellectual Property with the @CLA_IP’s Heather Antoine. #CLAAnnualMeeting19 pic.twitter.com/famxE2jXs0

— Laurence Colletti (@LaurenceEsq) October 11, 2019

CLA 2019 Annual Meeting: The Intersection of Criminal and Family Law in Domestic Violence Cases

Los Angeles Public Defender Albert Camacho sits down with host Laurence Colletti to talk about the Criminal Law Section’s cross-over educational programs with the Family Law Section and their discussion about protective orders and the unique impact of domestic violence in family law and immigration matters.

CLA 2019 Annual Meeting: Recent Developments in Family Law

The Family Law Section hosts their podcast episode on recent practice area developments and possible changes and trends stemming from key cases. They also discuss the section’s CLE programming from the CLA Annual Meeting. {Hosted by Stephen Montagna with guest Judge Mark A. Juhas}

CLA 2019 Annual Meeting: Antitrust Section

The Antitrust Section hosts their podcast featuring representatives from companies like Samsung Next, Microsoft, and eBay talking about GDPR, greater demand for privacy protections, and the unveiling of the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA). {Hosted by Jeewon Kim Serrato with guests Jose Lopez, Njeri Mutura, and Alisa Hall}

Jeewon Serrato, Jose Lopez, Alisa Hall, & Njeri Mutura from @CLAAntitrust stop by to give us the skinny on must know updates in their practice area. #CLAAnnualMeeting19 pic.twitter.com/kCba3YfQPa

— Laurence Colletti (@LaurenceEsq) October 11, 2019

CLA 2019 Annual Meeting: CYLA–Evidence Strategy Tips and Section Updates

The California Young Lawyers Association hosts their own podcast where they discuss evidence strategy for estate planning, trusts, and probate law. In addition, they talk about the upcoming updates for the section. {Hosted by Martin Behn with guests Lydia Lockett and Nick Oliver}

CLA 2019 Annual Meeting: Labor & Employment Law Section

Ramit Mizrahi and Adam Fiss join host Laurence Colletti for a conversation about California’s bill AB 5 relating to independent contractor designations and its impact on employers and employees. They also discuss bills SB 142, AB 9, and AB 51.

CLA 2019 Annual Meeting: Litigation Section–CLE Highlights and Section Updates

The Litigation Section hosts their own podcast featuring a discussion about how to connect and build trust with your jury. In addition, they talk about their section’s future events and projects. {Hosted by Norman Rodich with guests Jennifer Keller and US Department of Justice attorney Thomas Greene}

Norman Rodich, Jennifer Keller, & Thomas Greene from the @CLALitigation sharing tips and tricks for connecting with your jury. Episode to air soon. #CLAAnnualMeeting19 pic.twitter.com/LPst8q2CKk

— Legal Talk Network (@LegalTalkNet) October 11, 2019

CLA 2019 Annual Meeting: Solo & Small Firm Section

The Solo & Small Firm Section hosts an episode about their CLE presentation on managing both the legal and business roles in small firm life as well as current section projects and available resources from their website. {Hosted by Renee Stackhouse with guests Jeremy M. Evans and Nancy Goldstein}

CLA 2019 Annual Meeting: Business Law Section

The Business Law Section hosts a podcast about international trade practices relating to increased transaction speeds and subsequent reviews to keep policies up to date. In addition, they discuss their section’s future goals for community involvement. {Hosted by Monique Jewett-Brewster with guests Walter K. Oetzell and Corey Weber}

List of Participants (in alphabetical order):

Learning a New Language

Fri, 27 Sep 2019 20:58:12 GMT

By Rocky Dhir – Host of the State Bar of Texas Podcast and President & CEO of Atlas Legal Research, LP

Language has always fascinated me. I feel like I can learn so much about a culture and a people just by trying to understand how they speak and express themselves. I never fathomed that language can be a signal for someone in distress.

In the September, 2019 episode of the State Bar of Texas Podcast, we recognized National Suicide Prevention Month by focusing our discussion on mental health. My guests were Chris Ritter, the director of the Texas Lawyers’ Assistance Program, or TLAP, and Terry Bentley Hill, a Dallas criminal defense attorney whose personal saga with mental health and suicide led her to champion awareness of mental health issues for lawyers.

In the podcast, Terry said that her experiences familiarized her with “the language of depression.” It appears that people who battle depression speak differently. Their words reflect a black-and-white view of the world that most people might not recognize. I certainly had no idea that language even existed.

It turns out that we, as lawyers, need to learn how to recognize that language. In his work with TLAP, Chris has learned that lawyers suffer higher rates of depression than any other American occupational group. You can learn more in his article in the September 2019 issue of the Texas Bar Journal. Together, though, Terry and Chris make it abundantly clear that our profession is so busy caring for clients that we often neglect to care for ourselves—and each other.

But help is out there. If you think you might be battling depression or if you have suicidal thoughts, don’t take chances by suffering in silence. Call 800-273-8255, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. This lifeline is staffed with trained professionals and provides free and confidential support 24/7. If you’d like to learn more about the resources made available through TLAP, please contact 800-343-TLAP (8527) or go to tlaphelps.org. The calls are 100% confidential, and TLAP volunteers are singularly interested in your well-being.

Think you might know a lawyer who is depressed? Maybe a colleague or loved one has become withdrawn, has started drinking more heavily, or seems disengaged. Terry and Chris advise us to ask them how they are. In doing so, we need to open a door to dialogue and do so without judgment and in a spirit of caring and concern. You just might save a life. If you need help with that dialogue, TLAP has your back. Call TLAP at 1-800-343-TLAP (8527) and a TLAP volunteer will reach out to the lawyer for whom you are concerned.

The biggest thing I learned from my time with Terry and Chris is that I have so much to learn. Luckily, there are resources out there to help us get assistance. My ear will now be attuned to hearing the language of depression, and my mind will realize that depression is a disease, not merely a state of mind.

Please subscribe to the State Bar of Texas Podcast, and you will be alerted once the interview posts. This is a vital, potentially life-saving podcast. I hope you will tune in. Stay safe and be well.

ABA Annual Meeting 2019

Wed, 04 Sep 2019 01:33:19 GMT

If you didn’t make it to the 2019 ABA Annual Meeting in San Francisco, worry not, we’ve got you covered. Returning home with 15 episodes (linked below), it was our pleasure to interview the leadership, network news personalities, federal judges, ABA Medal winners, top presenters, singers, and more who participated in one of the legal profession’s largest gatherings.

Of particular mention was our time spent with leadership. We heard from Bob Carlson, Judy Perry Martinez, and Patricia Refo (ABA President, President-Elect, & President-Elect Nominee respectively). They discussed their “relay” approach to leading which ensures long term objectives will be completed after tenures end. We also learned about the new member benefits as well as the ABA’s work to advance the rule of law and help people in distress around the country.

So excited for our opening act of podcast interviews from the 2019 ABA Annual Meeting in San Francisco! #ABAannual pic.twitter.com/uXgUsyMbDu

— Laurence Colletti (@LaurenceEsq) August 8, 2019

On a related note, we also caught up with the American Bar Association’s Marty Balough who brought along CNN’s Joey Jackson and Sidley Austin’s John Levi as well as concert performers Robert Sims and Nancy Hays to talk about their support of the Legal Services Corporation and the type of work it funds.

This year’s meeting featured over 600 CLE programs including the CLE in the City series, which were CLEs held at the most prestigious law firms in San Francisco. From that vast lineup of educational programs, we selected the following topics to cover:

Divorce’s Common Cash Flow Mistakes
Equal Pay
Avoiding Malpractice in Family Law
Legal Education and Student Lending
Domestic & Sexual Violence and the Workplace
Immigration Courts and Due Process
Blighted Real Property Transactions
Tips for Construction Litigation
The Space Industry and Government Contracts

In addition, we included two special productions in our line up at this year’s annual meeting. First, we welcomed ABA Medal winner Dale Minami, a personal injury attorney who is best-known for his civil right’s work overturning a 1944 conviction in Korematsu v. United States, a Supreme Court case upholding the internment of Japanese-Americans during World War 2.

Finally, we visited the State Bar of California to attend its public forum associated with the regulatory proposals set forth by their Taskforce on Access Through Innovation of Legal Services (ATILS). Members of the public/profession were encouraged to give feedback regarding the proposed changes to areas like unauthorized practice of law, fee sharing, advertising/solicitation, and non-lawyer ownership of legal practices. We did a round-table panel-interview covering the public forum which included practitioners, professors, vendors, consultants, and volunteers.

Below is our complete collection of podcast interviews recorded from the 2019 ABA Annual Meeting as well as a list of the 43 participants who contributed. We hope you enjoy!

ABA Annual Meeting 2019: A Chat With ABA President, Bob Carlson

ABA President Bob Carlson stops by to discuss this year’s ABA Annual Meeting as well as the ABA’s work in wellness initiatives, pro bono for disasters, new member benefits, and immigration. Stay tuned to hear what President Carlson plans to do when his “Big Sky Presidency” comes to an end.

A great podcast interview with ABA President Bob Carlson about his "Big Sky" Presidency dedicated to wellness, disaster events pro bono, info & resources for immigration proceedings, and new membership benefits. #ABAannual https://t.co/ZKOyHzhPrn pic.twitter.com/5pbD1blwg2

— Laurence Colletti (@LaurenceEsq) August 9, 2019

ABA Annual Meeting 2019: ABA President-Elect, Judy Perry Martinez

ABA President-Elect Judy Perry Martinez sits down for a conversation about her upcoming presidency and the ABA’s role in issues like wellness, immigration, innovation & education, gun violence, and the rule of law.

ABA Annual Meeting 2019: President-Elect Patricia Lee Refo

ABA President-Elect Nominee Patricia Lee Refo joins co-hosts Ralph Baxter and Laurence Colletti to talk about the relay race vs. sprint mentality of recent ABA leadership and how they are continuing the work of their predecessors.

ABA Annual Meeting 2019: Legal Services Corporation Concert

ABA’s Marty Balough is accompanied by CNN’s Joey Jackson, Sidley Austin’s John Levi, and singers Robert Sims and Nancy Hays for a discussion about the kind of work being funded by the Legal Services Corporation, how the organization operates, and how those efforts are helping people around the country. Stay tuned for a little note of levity.

ABA’s Marty Balough along with @CNN's Joey Jackson and @SidleyLaw's John Levi as well as concert performers Robert Sims and Nancy Hays talk about their support of the Legal Services Corporation and the work it funds with host @LaurenceEsq. https://t.co/qyNtPR8PB7 pic.twitter.com/fWla5eqKui

— Legal Talk Network (@LegalTalkNet) September 3, 2019

ABA Annual Meeting 2019: ABA Medal Winner Dale Minami

ABA Medal winner Dale Minami sits down with host Michele Wong Krause for a conversation about his work overturning the conviction in Korematsu v. United States, racism, immigration, and inequality.

ABA Annual Meeting 2019: Taking a Bite Out of Blight

Amber Knee from the Division of Traffic Planning, Jessica Bacher of the Land Use Law Center, and Lin Chin of Hello Housing stop by for a conversation about problem properties, how to deal with them, and resources attorneys can turn to.

ABA Annual Meeting 2019: The Taskforce on Access Through Innovation of Legal Services (ATILS)

This power-panel interview features probate attorney Tara Burd, professor Kevin Mohr, ROSS CEO Andrew Arruda, California State Bar Trustee Joanna Mendoza, professor Daniel W. Linna, One400 co-founder Allen Rodriguez, former Orrick chair Ralph Baxter, and moderator Laurence Colletti discussing the ATILS public forum, reactions thereof, and the regulatory change proposals made to the California State Bar for areas like unauthorized practice of law, fee sharing, advertising/solicitation, and non-lawyer ownership of legal practices.

So excited that our #ATILS episode is out! Tune in to hear the recommendations from the @StateBarCA's Task Force on Access Through Innovation of Legal Services public forum. Spoiler… Things might get! https://t.co/3hKiLLlyaM pic.twitter.com/9jmEmUq8ld

— Laurence Colletti (@LaurenceEsq) August 26, 2019

ABA Annual Meeting 2019: Five Big Cash Flow Mistakes to Avoid in Divorce

Justin Miller of BNY Mellon Wealth Management stops to discuss five financial pitfalls to avoid when going through a divorce, questions clients should be asking their lawyers, and non-legal professionals that should also be involved.

ABA Annual Meeting 2019: Equal Pay – Trends in Litigation, Emerging Legislation, & Corporate Equity Initiatives

Fred Alvarez of Coblentz Patch Duffy & Bass, Jessica James of Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe, and Lori Andrus of Andrus Anderson discuss Equal Pay and the related legislation, litigation, and what questions lawyers should be asking their employer clients.

ABA Annual Meeting 2019: Protecting Employees of Domestic and Sexual Violence

Protima Pandey, director for the Office of Women’s Policy at Santa Clara County, and Jennifer Reisch, legal director of Equal Rights Advocates, talk about what employers can do when domestic and/or sexual violence issues find their way to the workplace.

Jennifer Reisch & Protima Pandey on What Every Lawyer Should Know about Workplace Laws Protecting Victims of Domestic and Sexual Violence. #ABAannual https://t.co/RTRH1DLN9M pic.twitter.com/QsRFKZppox

— Laurence Colletti (@LaurenceEsq) August 10, 2019

ABA Annual Meeting 2019: Due Process Issues Facing the U.S. Immigration Courts

Judge Dana Marks, Judge Joan Churchill, and Karen T. Grisez of Fried Frank talk about immigration courts and the due process issues faced by those in proceedings. Stay tuned to hear how lawyers can get involved.

ABA Annual Meeting 2019: Practice Tips for Construction Litigation

Judge Sweeney, Judge Wheeler, Judge Williams, and Smith Pachter McWhorter’s Kathryn Muldoon Griffin sit down to discuss construction litigation, related benefits of ADR, and resources for practitioners with clients in construction.

ABA Annual Meeting 2019: Uncomfortable Conversations About Legal Education Student Debt, Diversity, and More

Kyle McEntee, executive director of Law School Transparency, D. Benjamin Barros, Dean of the University of Toledo, College of Law, and Kyle Fry, in-house counsel, discuss law school tuition obstacles, the impact of US News Rankings, troubles in student loans, and possible fixes for a looming house of cards.

Great episode featuring Kyle McEntee, Kyle Fry, and @utoledolaw's Dean Benjamin Barros talking about legal education costs, the condition of student lending, US News Rankings, & possible long-term changes. #ABAannual https://t.co/4Kmyz52AG3 pic.twitter.com/y8koM9KTPQ

— Laurence Colletti (@LaurenceEsq) August 12, 2019

ABA Annual Meeting 2019: The Intersection of the Space Industry and Government Contracts

Danny Cook of DLA Piper, Shawn Cheadle, general counsel of Lockheed Martin Space, Kelli Hooke, corporate counsel at T-Mobile, Milton Smith of Sherman & Howard, and Sumara Thompson-King, general counsel of NASA, stop by for a conversation about the space industry, related government contracts, and the impact of international treaties.

ABA Annual Meeting 2019: Top 10 Ways for Family Law Attorneys to Avoid Malpractice

Mark Chinn of Chinn & Associates sounds off on 10 big malpractice traps for family law attorneys and how this practice area has the highest instance of malpractice claims.

Participants (in alphabetical order):

Fred Alvarez: Coblentz Patch Duffy & Bass
Lori Andrus: Andrus Anderson
Andrew Arruda: ROSS Intelligence CEO & Co-Founder
Jessica Bacher: Land Use Law Center
Marty Balogh: ABA Associate Executive Director of Meetings and Travel Group
Professor D Benjamin Barros: Dean of the University of Toledo, College of Law
Ralph Baxter: Former Orrick Chief and Legal Industry Consultant
Tara Burd: T.Burd Law Group
Robert “Bob” Carlson: ABA President
Shawn Cheadle: General Counsel of Lockheed Martin Space
Lin Chin: Hello Housing
Mark Chinn: Chinn & Associates
Judge Joan V. Churchill: United States Immigration Court (Retired)
Laurence Colletti: Executive Producer for Legal Talk Network
Danny Cook: DLA Piper
Kyle Fry: In-House Counsel
Kathryn Muldoon Griffin: Smith Pachter McWhorter PLC
Karen T. Grisez: Fried Frank
Nancy Hays: President of Nancy Hays Entertainment & Speakers, Inc.
Kelli Hooke: Corporate Counsel at T-Mobile
Joey Jackson: Analyst for CNN and HLN
Jessica James: Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe
Sumara Thompson-King: General Counsel of NASA
Amber Knee: Division of Traffic Planning
Michele Wong Krause: Wong Krause Law Firm
John Levi: Sidley Austin LLP
Daniel W. Linna Jr.: Professor at Northwestern Pritzker School of Law
Judge Dana Leigh Marks: Immigration Judge in San Francisco California
Judy Perry Martinez: ABA President-Elect
Kyle McEntee: Executive Director of Law School Transparency
Joanna Mendoza: California State Bar Trustee
Justin Miller: BNY Mellon Wealth Management
Dale Minami: ABA Medal Winner
Professor Kevin Mohr: Professor at Western State College of Law
Protima Pandey: Director for the Office of Women’s Policy at Santa Clara County
Patricia Lee Refo: ABA President-Elect Nominee
Jennifer Reisch: Legal Director of Equal Rights Advocates
Allen Rodriguez: Co-Founder of the One400
Robert Sims: Award Winning Singer
Milton “Skip” Smith: Sherman & Howard
Judge Margaret Sweeney: United States Court of Federal Claims
Judge Thomas Wheeler: United States Court of Federal Claims
Judge Mary Ellen Coster Williams: United States Court of Federal Claims

Fastcase and the 2019 AALL Annual Meeting & Conference

Wed, 07 Aug 2019 00:08:58 GMT

Legal Talk Network partnered with Fastcase to cover the 2019 American Association of Law Libraries Annual Meeting & Conference. This unique opportunity marked a special occasion for both organizations. For us, it was our first visit to the AALL Annual Meeting. But for Fastcase, it was something more.

This year is their 20th anniversary as a company. Since their beginning, they have grown from two founders (Phil Rosenthal and Ed Walters) to today’s 120 employees worldwide. Perhaps even more impressive, Fastcase is now available to more than 900,000 attorneys in the United States as part of their bar membership benefits. In addition to their anniversary, Fastcase unveiled their very first new treatise called ‘On Legal AI’ by Joshua Walker which was published by their publishing division called Full Court Press.

To have two events like this take place during the AALL Annual was fitting. As the Fastcase founders are quick to attribute, they owe much of their start and early success to the help and advice of law librarians.

So excited to be podcasting with @fastcase from the American Association of Law Libraries Annual Meeting and Conference in Washington DC! #AALL19 #aall2019 pic.twitter.com/I5f66m1Xn5

— Laurence Colletti (@LaurenceEsq) July 14, 2019

All in all, we recorded eight podcast interviews from the expo hall floor at the American Association of Law Libraries Annual Meeting & Conference. Since our friends at Fastcase seemed to know everyone at the conference, we asked them if they’d like to host the episodes. Luckily, they said yes. Not only did they do a terrific job (hat tip: Ed, Phil, Nina, and Chuck), but we had a lot of fun recording from their booth. During our production time together, we discussed many topics like:

Adventures in entrepreneurship
AALL’s State of the Profession Report 2019
Being a champion for innovation at your firm
AILA’s work and increasing their impact through technology
The future of law libraries
Artificial Intelligence
Legal Analytics

Below is our complete collection of podcast interviews recorded from the 2019 AALL Annual Meeting as well as a list of the 25 participants who contributed. We hope you enjoy!

AALL 2019: Fastcase 20th Anniversary

Award winning journalist and LawNext podcast host Bob Ambrogi returns to the microphone to interview Fastcase founders Phil Rosenthal and Ed Walters about their 20 years in business together. This light-hearted conversation highlights the adventure of entrepreneurship, overcoming disagreements, and how Fastcase has gone from two founders to employing 120 people. Stay tuned to hear their secrets for success and how democratizing the law got them involved in a SCOTUS scuffle.

A fun and nostalgic interview with @fastcase co-founders Ed Walters and Phil Rosenthal about the past and future of publishing… with returning host Bob Ambrogi. #aall2019 #AALL19 pic.twitter.com/3Trgny2wdD

— Laurence Colletti (@LaurenceEsq) July 14, 2019

AALL 2019: State of the Profession Report

Hosts Phil Rosenthal and Chuck Lowry are joined by the current and former presidents of the American Association of Law Libraries (Femi Cadmus and Greg Lambert respectively). Together, they discuss AALL’s first State of the Legal Profession Report and what information is available to academic law libraries, private firms, corporate libraries, and the government. In addition, they talk about the future prospects for law librarians and how they can continue to bring value to their institutions.

Getting the skinny on the AALL State of the Profession Report with Femi Cadmus, Greg Lambert, Phil Rosenthal, and Chuck Lowry. #aall2019 #aall19 pic.twitter.com/ZYjo48mtPr

— Legal Talk Network (@LegalTalkNet) July 14, 2019

AALL 2019: How to Build the Case for Legal Innovation

Are you trying to get your firm to buy new technologies or innovate? If you feel you’re fighting an uphill battle, fear not. Wolters Kluwer’s Dean Sonderegger, Debevoise & Plimpton’s Steve Lastres, Suffolk University’s Gabe Teninbaum, and Fox Rothschild’s Catherine Monte sit down with host Phil Rosenthal to give advice on how to make that happen. Hint: It’s not always just about the latest and greatest tech tools.

Kicking off day 2 with a power panel about legal innovation with Dean Sonderegger, Gabe Teninbaum, Catherine Monte, and Steve Lastres. #AALL19 #aall2019 pic.twitter.com/jtV2KkV5Jh

— Legal Talk Network (@LegalTalkNet) July 15, 2019

AALL 2019: “On Legal AI” Book Launch with Author Joshua Walker

Hosted by Ed Walters, this pragmatic and thoughtful episode about artificial intelligence features ‘On Legal AI’ author Joshua Walker and Fastcase’s Damien Riehl discussing the ins-and-outs of AI including what it is, what it isn’t, and how the legal profession as an industry is much bigger than most people think. Stay tuned for Cyborgs, Centaurs, and more.

At #AALL19, we hosted @LegalTalkNet 's "On the Road" podcast series at our booth, including an episode featuring our newest Full Court Press book "On Legal AI". Listen to @EJWalters, @damienriehl, and author Joshua Walker discuss the future of AI here: https://t.co/h3AXfkjPWo pic.twitter.com/HYeARh3s13

— Fastcase (@fastcase) July 24, 2019

AALL 2019: Makers in Law Libraries

Phil Rosenthal is joined by Fastcase’s Nina Jack and law librarians Cynthia Brown and Laura Chance from Littler Mendelson and Morgan, Lewis & Bockius respectively. Together they discuss what it’s like to build a law library, be a keeper of knowledge, and why law librarians will remain very valuable to their firms in the future.

Law librarians Cynthia Brown and Laura Chance sit down with @fastcase ‘s Phil Rosenthal and Nina Jack for a conversation about creating libraries and making sure lawyers have what they need to practice law. #aall2019 #aall19 pic.twitter.com/DtN7mg23nG

— Laurence Colletti (@LaurenceEsq) July 15, 2019

AALL 2019: Legal Analytics—Products & Best Practices

Knowing what you don’t know is half the battle, especially in the practice of law. Host, Ed Walters sits down with legal analytics experts Josh Becker (Lex Machina), Michael Sanders (Docket Alarm), Jean O’Grady (DLA Piper), and Diana Koppang (Neal, Gerber, & Eisenberg) to discuss new ways lawyers should be using data, the ROI associated with its analysis, and how law librarians are key contributors to this space.

Super fun discussion about Legal Analytics with expert panelists Josh Becker, Diana Koppang, Jean O’Grady, and Michael Sander (hosted by Ed Walters). #AALL19 #AALL2019 pic.twitter.com/fBuMSP7lLX

— Laurence Colletti (@LaurenceEsq) July 15, 2019

AALL 2019: Does Georgia Hold a Copyright To Its Annotated Code?

Who owns the law? At first blush, this might seem like a simple question to answer but it gets really complicated. Host Ed Walters walks us through this tricky analysis with Harvard University’s Kyle K. Courtney, Cornell Law School’s Kim Nayyer, and Fordham University School of Law’s Todd Melnick. Stay tuned to hear about the pending SCOTUS case, Georgia v. Public.Resource.Org, and its potential impact on our ability to access the law.

A high level conversation about copyrighting the law vs. open access. #AALL19 #aall2019 pic.twitter.com/TN27dsGQSv

— Legal Talk Network (@LegalTalkNet) July 14, 2019

AALL 2019: How AILA Integrates Tech into the Practice of Immigration Law

American Immigration Lawyers Association’s Torey Carter-Conneen, Reid Trautz, and Danielle Polen sit down with host Nina Jack to discuss how AILA is utilizing technology to keep its members up to speed in a rapidly changing legal environment. Tune in to hear about the value of strategic partnerships as well as AILA’s first Immigration Technologies Summit. If you’re interested in practicing immigration law, this episode is for you.

Host Nina Jack is joined by @AILANational’s Reid Trautz, Torey Carter-Conneen, and Danielle Polen for a conversation about immigration, content-publishing, and the need for technology. #AALL19 #aall2019 pic.twitter.com/7IeY9J6G8N

— Laurence Colletti (@LaurenceEsq) July 15, 2019

List of Participants (in alphabetical order):

Bob Ambrogi: Author of LawSites Blog and Host of Law Next Podcast
Josh Becker: CEO of Lex Machina
Cynthia Brown: Director of Research Services for Littler Mendelson
Femi Cadmus: President of the American Association of Law Libraries
Laura Chance: Project Manager for Research & Library Technology at Morgan, Lewis, & Bockius
Torey Carter-Conneen: Chief Operating Officer at the American Immigration Lawyers Association
Kyle K. Courtney: Copyright Advisor for Harvard University
Nina Jack: Director of Product at Fastcase
Diana Koppang: Director of Research and Competitive Intelligence at Neal, Gerber, & Eisenberg
Greg Lambert: Chief Knowledge Services Officer at Jackson Walker
Chuck Lowry: Emeritus Account Executive at Fastcase
Steven Lastres: Director of Knowledge Management Services for Debevoise & Plimpton
Jean O’Grady: Senior Director of Information, Research & Knowledge at DLA Piper
Todd Melnick: Clinical Associate Professor of Law and Director of the Law Library at Fordham University School of Law
Catherine Monte: Chief Knowledge and Innovation Officer for Fox Rothschild
Kim Nayyer: Associate Dean at Cornell Law School
Danielle Polen: Director of Publications and Online Resources at the American Immigration Lawyers Association
Damien Riehl: Managing Director the Fastcase Legal Research Platform
Phil Rosenthal: President, Chairman, and Co-Founder of Fastcase
Michael Sander: Director of Fastcase Analytics & Docket Alarm
Dean Sonderegger: SVP and General Manager of Wolters Kluwer Legal & Regulatory U.S. at Wolters Kluwer
Gabriel Teninbaum: Professor of Legal Writing at Suffolk University Law School
Reid Trautz: Director of the Practice & Professionalism Center of the American Association of Immigration Lawyers
Joshua Walker: Author of ‘On Legal AI’
Ed Walters: CEO & Co-Founder of Fastcase

Wolters Kluwer 6th Annual Leading Edge Conference

Sat, 27 Jul 2019 03:39:08 GMT

Legal Talk Network had the privilege of attending the 6th Annual Wolters Kluwer Leading Edge Conference in Riverwoods, Illinois just outside of Chicago. Nestled back into the woods at the conference center, the attendees were welcomed by the organizers from Wolters Kluwer, who could not have been nicer (please see list of organizers below). They took care of all us weary travelers, making sure we ate and were properly introduced to one another. It didn’t matter if you were shy or felt a little out of your element, they made everyone feel right at home.

The first day was really a half-day, but it was probably the most important because attendees got to pick the legal education topics for discussion. This unconference model left the attendees in the driver’s seat with one small exception… Chatham House Rules. In order to make sure everyone felt open to share contributions freely, the organizers wanted to maintain a certain amount of confidentiality. All attendees (including media) were asked to keep attributions-to-ideas a secret. Said another way, we were not allowed to discuss who said what.

It Begins… The 6th Annual Leading Edge Un-Conference from @Wolters_Kluwer… Looking forward to the discussions! #WKLeadingEdge2019 pic.twitter.com/2vnwPtv8ip

— Laurence Colletti (@LaurenceEsq) July 9, 2019

The topics were complex, abundant, and time was short. Regardless, all contributed to these energetic, passionate, and respectful discussions. The debates and exchanges were as enjoyable as the provocative topics. It was a real treat to hear everyone’s honest assessments about certain issues as presented in a constructive way. Here’s a shortlist of the many topics discussed (reworded and consolidated to avoid attribution):

Bar Exam Passage
Student Loan Debt
Economic Condition of Law Schools
New Designs for Law School Education
Free Speech on Campus
U.S. News Rankings
Curriculum and Measuring Effectiveness
Tenure and Hiring Faculty
Law School Libraries
LSAT
Diversity and Inclusion in Legal Education
Today’s Job Market
Wellness and Wellbeing
Technology and Access to Justice

There were both volunteer and assigned note takers at each session to document the discussion. At the end of each day, participants were asked to summarize an hour-long meeting down to a minute or less for the entire group.

Admittedly, the host and guest list was a little intimidating. Everyone was incredibly accomplished, extremely smart, and an excellent communicator. Be it by friendly subterfuge or subversive suggestion, I somehow found my way into moderating a session about bar passage rates. Although very curious about this subject, I was certainly the least knowledgeable in the room. But that didn’t matter. All that was needed was a quick intro with some statistics and the attendees took it from there.

It was a privilege to be the least knowledgeable in the room during the ‘Bar Passage: How Can We Improve’ session… learned so much! #WKLeadingEdge2019 pic.twitter.com/SPJ7ATRgtE

— Laurence Colletti (@LaurenceEsq) July 10, 2019

I learned a lot about our legal education system while attending these sessions. But perhaps the most enlightening was how difficult change at law schools can be. For these institutions, impediments-to-change are both externally imposed and self-inflicted.

In terms of external pressures, law schools face a variety of challenges. They are subject to accreditation requirements and rankings systems which can both impact their bottom line and limit their problem-solving options. In addition, they need to prepare students for a bar exam process that they have no control over. And if that wasn’t difficult enough, they face external market pressures screaming for overall cost decreases in legal services as well as the looming prospect of tightening in student loan lending.

Diving into a big round table about the influence of U.S. News Rankings. #WKLeadingEdge2019 pic.twitter.com/yL3aRSFa8O

— Laurence Colletti (@LaurenceEsq) July 10, 2019

Internally, law schools have inadvertently “painted themselves into a corner” with their well-intentioned tenure programs. Compensation for these high-value professors is a significant balance sheet item that can’t be readily reduced in times of trouble. Not only is it legally difficult to decrease the number of tenured professors, but it can also trigger the so-called “death spiral” where institutions fall in rank, possibly lose accreditation, and face rapidly decreasing first-year class sizes… which eventually leads to “closing the doors”. In addition, many institutions tapped their endowments to discount tuition in an effort to maintain rankings and keep high-performing students during the recent recession. As a result, many law schools find themselves vulnerable as they adjust to a “new normal” where post-graduation job prospects are not bouncing back to pre-recession levels, resulting in lower ROI for legal education.

Great conversation brewing about law school debt , attendance, and who is most impacted… Day 3 at #WKLeadingEdge2019 pic.twitter.com/o86KRnfSm0

— Laurence Colletti (@LaurenceEsq) July 10, 2019

But take heart, there was another major take away from our visit to Wolters Kluwer. Legal educators very much care for their students, not only for their academic well-being but also for their mental and financial wellness. They recognize the difficulties their students face and are making efforts to find solutions. If my group of fellow unconference attendees is any indicator, great minds and creativity are being invested to find answers.

List of Organizers from Wolters Kluwer:

Dean Sonderegger: SVP and General Manager of Wolters Kluwer Legal & Regulatory U.S. at Wolters Kluwer
Vikram A. Savkar: Vice President & General Manager International and Higher Education Markets Wolters Kluwer Legal & Regulatory, U.S.
Nicole Pinard: Executive Director, Market Development at Wolters Kluwer Legal & Regulatory, U.S.
Linda Gharib: Director, Marketing Communications & Media at Wolters Kluwer Legal & Regulatory, U.S.
Natalie Danner: Editorial Director, Legal Education at Wolters Kluwer Legal & Regulatory, U.S.
Sean Napier: Marketing Specialist at Wolters Kluwer Legal & Regulatory, U.S.
Joe Terry: Publisher at Wolters Kluwer Legal Education
Maureen Kenealy: Director, Digital Learning and Engagement at Wolters Kluwer Legal & Regulatory, U.S.
Neal Johnson: Associate Director, Integrated Marketing at Wolters Kluwer Legal & Regulatory, U.S.

“Parting is such sweet sorrow” … @vikramsavkar delivers the closer, marking the end of the 6th Annual #WKLeadingEdge2019. pic.twitter.com/hHDEDc6u30

— Laurence Colletti (@LaurenceEsq) July 10, 2019

2019 NALA Conference & Expo

Tue, 23 Jul 2019 23:50:40 GMT

Held in Scottsdale, Arizona, the 2019 NALA Conference & Expo was perhaps their hottest conference to date with temperatures clocking in at 112 degrees . But the heat didn’t keep the association from a record attendance. Paralegals were enthusiastically involved and traveled from all over the country to join in on the educational fun. This year’s billing included over 30 sessions and an opportunity to earn up to 13 CLE hours with online options-for-credit for those not able to attend in person.

Special to this year’s expo hall were representatives from the CIA (yes, that Central Intelligence Agency) as well as the United States Department of State. As for the CIA’s part, they were actively recruiting paralegals from the conference to be in the Office of General Counsel which is responsible for advising the director of the CIA. Also of notable mention was keynote speaker Judge William J. O’Neil who, since 2011, has been the presiding Disciplinary Judge of the Arizona Supreme Court.

Legal Talk Network’s conference coverage was centered around seven audio interviews recorded on location. We discussed a wide gamut of topics like eDiscovery, the Certified Paralegal Exam, learning how to lead, vehicle crash reconstruction, the importance of preserving data, and first-timers’ impressions.

We were fortunate to have a terrific lineup of guests join us for this series of interviews. From the ranks of NALA leadership, past presidents Kelly LaGrave and Vicki Kunz, as well as current CEO Greta Zeimetz, were able to stop by to discuss a variety of issues important to paralegals. In addition, Jeffrey Wolff of ZyLAB and both Anna Buchner and Kenneth Buchner of Collision Reconstruction Associates were able to share insights from many years of experience in their respective fields. Stay tuned for Carl’s fun questions asked to each of the guests. Their answers might surprise you!

To access our complete catalog of episodes and list of participants, please read on below. We hope you enjoy!

NALA Annual 2019: Opening Coverage

Host Carl Morrison gives us the primer for things to come as the 2019 NALA Conference & Expo kicks off. He shares observations about conference events, vendor swag, keynote speakers, and the dreaded dry heat.

Our very own Carl Morrison opening our coverage from the #NALAConference2019 pic.twitter.com/vRwjngmGTx

— Laurence Colletti (@LaurenceEsq) July 11, 2019

NALA Annual 2019: Benefits of Paralegal Certification

Past NALA president Kelly LaGrave sits down with host Carl Morrison for a conversation about the Certified Paralegal Exam and what it can do for a paralegal’s career. Together, they talk about tips and tricks for studying as well as the pitfalls with certain sections of the test. Stay tuned for Carl’s fun question, “swimming pool or lazy river, and why?”

NALA Past President Kelly LaGrave sits down to talk about certification and the benefits thereof. #NALAConference2019 pic.twitter.com/MbtjPZHa4D

— Laurence Colletti (@LaurenceEsq) July 11, 2019

NALA Annual 2019: Membership Engagement with NALA CEO and Executive Director Greta Zeimetz

NALA CEO and Executive Director Greta Zeimetz stops by to discuss projects she’s been working on, organizational plans for meeting today’s challenges, and predictions for the next ten years. Stay tuned for Carl’s fun question, “Greta’s funniest story?”

So great catching up with NALA’s CEO Greta Zeimetz! #NALAConference2019 pic.twitter.com/c2brnIzGih

— Legal Talk Network (@LegalTalkNet) July 12, 2019

NALA Annual 2019: A Changing Industry – New Opportunities for Paralegals

Past NALA president Vicki Kunz joins host Carl Morrison to talk about reasons to get involved with their organization, the importance of mentorship (for both mentor and mentee), and why certification is important. Stay tuned for Carl’s fun question, “If you could be a food item, what would you be?”

New #ParalegalVoice #podcast: https://t.co/mgRZhhhYI6 NALA Annual 2019: A Changing Industry—New Opportunities for Paralegals

— Legal Talk Network (@LegalTalkNet) July 15, 2019

NALA Annual 2019: eDiscovery with Jeffrey Wolff of ZyLAB

What do Amazon Echos, mobile phones, and smart concrete have in common? Find out on this episode featuring ZyLAB Director of eDiscovery Solutions & Principal Architect Jeffrey Wolff. Together with host Carl Morrison, they discuss eDiscovery, modern sources of data, what documents are part of litigation holds, and the importance of paralegals educating their attorneys on these issues. Stay tuned for Carl’s fun question to Jeffrey, “If there was a movie about you, who would play you?”

Out first guest at #NALAConference2019, Jeffrey Wolf from ZyLAB stops by to talk about #discovery and relevant evidence/documents. pic.twitter.com/XBFERd8jBI

— Legal Talk Network (@LegalTalkNet) July 11, 2019

NALA Annual 2019: Accident Reconstruction & Recording with Ken & Anna Buchner

Collision Reconstruction Associates’ Anna Buchner and Kenneth Buchner join host Carl Morrison for a discussion about motor vehicle crash reconstruction, “black box” technologies, and the biggest challenges involved with getting information to lawyers and paralegals. Stay tuned for Carl’s fun questions, “If there was a movie about your 20s… who would be the lead actress playing you?” and “What color are you from a box of Crayola Crayons?”

Talking about accident reconstruction and digital evidence with Anna Buchner and Kenneth Buchner. #NALAConference2019 pic.twitter.com/nFvqCjLuSJ

— Laurence Colletti (@LaurenceEsq) July 12, 2019

*One More Episode to be added at the end of this month

List of Participants (in alphabetical order):

Anna Buchner
Ken Buchner
Vicki Kunz
Kelly LaGrave
Carl Morrison (host)
Jeffrey Wolff
Greta Zeimetz
*More participants to be added at the end of this month

The 2019 Florida Bar Annual Convention

Wed, 03 Jul 2019 22:17:37 GMT

This year was the 69th anniversary of The Florida Bar’s Annual Convention which was held in Boca Raton, Florida at the beautiful Boca Raton Resort and Club. Attendees had a cornucopia of special events and sessions to choose from, including 83 credits worth of CLE programming and a luncheon featuring Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. The ever thoughtful convention planners even arranged to have discounted spa services and child care available for those in need.

It was a special treat to see our good friend John Stewart ascend to the presidency of the Florida Bar as another good friend Michelle Suskauer passed the gavel to him. We had the privilege of interviewing both of them about their path to leadership and investment of years volunteering for the bar association with its over 107,000 members.

All in all our convention coverage spanned 15 episode with 26 participants including Florida Supreme Court Chief Justice Charles T Canady, Florida Bar President-Elect Dori Foster-Morales, and return guests like Denis deVlaming and Kevin Johnson. Among the many topics discussed were updates to Florida Law, Blockchain, data breaches, legal education, bar admissions, prepaid legal insurance, and technology competence.

Below is our entire catalog of episodes recorded from the 2019 Florida Bar Annual Convention as well as a list of the participants who contributed.

Florida Bar Annual Convention 2019: A Year in Review with Past President Michelle Suskauer

The Florida Bar’s Immediate Past President Michelle Suskauer joins host Laurence Colletti for a discussion about her initiatives, favorite achievements, and path to leadership. Stay tuned to hear what’s next for her as she passes the gavel.

Florida Bar Annual Convention 2019: Bar President John Stewart

Florida Bar President John Stewart sits down with host Laurence Colletti for a conversation about his journey to leadership, emphasis on technology, and upcoming objectives including a new pilot program with the Supreme Court of Florida to evaluate current court rules.

So great catching up with John Stewart, the new President of the Florida Bar. #MyFloridaBar pic.twitter.com/T6FRVCwELH

— Laurence Colletti (@LaurenceEsq) June 26, 2019

Florida Bar Annual Convention 2019: Looking Ahead with President-Elect Dori Foster-Morales

Florida Bar President-Elect Dori Foster-Morales joins host Christine Bilbrey for a conversation about her role as president-elect, work-life balance, and goals for her presidency in 2020.

Florida Bar Annual Convention 2019: A Conversation with Chief Justice Charles T. Canady

The Florida Supreme Court’s Chief Justice Charles T. Canady sits down with host Renee Thompson for a conversation about recent appointments of new justices, additional funding for the court, and how they are planning to better serve the community with technology.

Florida Bar Annual Convention 2019: Anessa Allen Santos / Blockchain for Lawyers and Its Impact on the World

Hosted by Renee Thomson and Karla Eckardt, this episode welcomes Anessa Allen Santos for a discussion about Blockchain technologies and their impact on the practice of law.

And it begins… Our first interview from the 2019 Florida Bar Annual Convention featuring the ‘Cybersecurity and Data Privacy for Lawyers’ panel with Anessa Santos. #MyFloridaBar pic.twitter.com/zZlGOShO7y

— Legal Talk Network (@LegalTalkNet) June 26, 2019

Florida Bar Annual Convention 2019: Practicing Better with the Technologies of Today and Beyond

Hosted by Jonathon Israel, this episode features Janette Smith, Christine Senne, and Anessa Allen Santos discussing technology competence and the tools lawyers should use to be more efficient in their practice of law.

Florida Bar Annual Convention 2019: Chapter 9 and Prepaid Legal Insurance Plans

Host Laurence Colletti is joined by Howard M. Rosenblatt for a discussion about prepaid legal insurance, what it covers, and how it affects the delivery of legal services.

Florida Bar Annual Convention 2019: Employment Law Updates

Returning guest Kevin Johnson sits down with host Geoff Probst for a conversation about his Employment Law presentation from the Florida Law Update session. Together they discuss changes in the law, recent cases, and the impact of gig economy employees and medical marijuana.

Host Geoff Probst interviewing Kevin Johnson about his Employment Law presentation at the Florida Law Update session. #MyFloridaBar @EmployerLitig8r pic.twitter.com/Ak802yXjny

— Legal Talk Network (@LegalTalkNet) June 27, 2019

Florida Bar Annual Convention 2019: Criminal Law Updates with Denis deVlaming

Returning guest Denis deVlaming sits down with host Laurence Colletti to talk about his Criminal Law presentation from the Florida Law Update session through a rapid-fire review of pivotal Supreme Court cases.

Florida Bar Annual Convention 2019: Jason Silver on Student Education and Admissions to the Bar

Outgoing Chair of the Student Education and Admissions to the Bar Committee Jason Silver joins host Laurence Colletti for a discussion about the role of his committee, the bar exam, and recommendations to better prepare the next generation of attorneys.

Florida Bar Annual Convention 2019: Data Breach Update with Chris Dix and Ryan Bilbrey

Chris Dix and Ryan Bilbrey sit down with host Laurence Colletti for a conversation about their presentation on data breaches, the average cost thereof, what firms are at risk, and recommendations for insurance to carry.

Florida Bar Annual Convention 2019: Elder Law and Estate Planning Updates

Peggy Hoyt and Alex Douglas sit down with host Geoff Probst to talk about their presentations on Elder Law and Estate Planning from the Florida Law Update session. Stay tuned for their practice tips.

Peggy Hoyt and Alex Douglas sit down with host Geoff Probst to give their updates for Elder Law and Estate Planning. #MyFloridaBar pic.twitter.com/I6poK20HuP

— Legal Talk Network (@LegalTalkNet) June 27, 2019

Florida Bar Annual Convention 2019: Blockchain and its Role in Litigation Today and Tomorrow

Hosted by Jonathon Israel, this episode features Zachary L. Catanzaro, Daniel Maland, and Darren Spielman discussing the impact of new technologies on the practice of law.

Florida Bar Annual Convention 2019: Victim’s Rights with Stephanie Cagnet Myron

Victims’ rights attorney Stephanie Cagnet Myron joins host Laurence Colletti to talk about her area of law, the risks of online communications, and cyberbullying. Stay tuned for her advice to parents about having their kids online.

Florida Bar Annual Convention 2019: Developments in Business Law with Paige Greenlee

Paige Greenlee joins host Laurence Colletti to talk about her Business Law presentation from the Florida Law Update session. Together they delve into this year’s pivotal cases with memorable fact patterns. Some of the results might surprise you.

Great interview with Paige Greenlee following her Business Law presentation about Attorneys Fees, Unilateral Mistakes, Agency, and Arbitration at the Florida Bar Update! #MyFloridaBar pic.twitter.com/4x89X3uaB0

— Laurence Colletti (@LaurenceEsq) June 27, 2019

Participants (in alphabetical order):

Christine Bilbrey (Senior Practice Management Advisor at The Florida Bar’s Practice Resource Institute)
Ryan Bilbrey (Founder of Reckoning Consulting Partners)
Chief Justice Charles T. Canady (The Florida Supreme Court)
Zachary Catanzaro (Attorney at Law)
Laurence Colletti (Legal Talk Network Executive Producer)
Denis deVlaming (deVlaming & Rivellini)
Chris Dix (Smith Hulsey & Busey)
Alex Douglas (Shuffield, Lowman & Wilson)
Karla Eckardt (Practice Management Advisor at The Florida Bar’s Practice Resource Institute)
Paige Greenlee (Founder of Greenlee Law)
Peggy Hoyt (Hoyt & Bryan)
Jonathon Israel (Director at The Florida Bar’s Practice Resource Institute)
Kevin Johnson (Johnson Jackson)
Daniel Maland (Kozyak Tropin & Throckmorton)
Dori Foster-Morales (President-Elect of The Florida Bar)
Stephanie Cagnet Myron (Cagnet Myron Law)
Geoff Probst (Attorney at Law)
Howard Rosenblatt (Attorney at Law)
Anessa Allen Santos (Founder and Managing Attorney of IntelliLaw)
Christine Senne (Vice President of Legal and Compliance for Fluent)
Jason Silver (Outgoing Chair for The Florida Bar’s Student Education and Admissions to the Bar Committee)
Janette Smith (Attorney at Law)
Darren Spielman (Kain Spielman)
John Stewart (President of The Florida Bar)
Michelle Suskauer (Immediate Past President of The Florida Bar)
Renee Thompson (Upchurch Watson White & Max)

.@AdamCamras, the man of many talents, shows off his killer yo-yo skills. Pulling off Cat’s Cradle on the first go. All made possible by the great @LegalFuel_FL swag.#MyFloridaBar @TheFlaBar @LAWgical @LegalTalkNet pic.twitter.com/2ZncOJ2WjG

— Jeff Cox (@JeffCoxEsq) June 27, 2019

Elevate 2019

Wed, 03 Jul 2019 21:39:47 GMT

Held annually and put on by LegalShield, Elevate is a conference dedicated to connecting and empowering lawyers who strive to close the Access-to-Justice Gap. This year’s gathering was held at the Grand Hyatt in Denver, Colorado. In addition to river rafting, Elevate 2019 offered at least 10 hours of state-approved CLE for those in live attendance. The educational sessions were aimed at small to large-sized firms and covered topics like reducing costs, improving processes, artificial intelligence, analytics, utilizing data, and limited scope representation.

There were also opportunities to tune-up one’s knowledge in specific practice areas like Cannabis Law, Elder Law, and Personal Injury as well as listen to a series of Tech Talks.

For our part, we managed to record 5 episodes from the conference featuring speakers like Oklahoma Insurance Commissioner Glen Mulready, former Attorney General of Oklahoma Michael Turpen, and Clio’s CEO and founder Jack Newton. Among the issues discussed were the future of legal services, insurance, Cannabis Law, utilizing data, and access to justice. To listen to those episodes and see who participated, please continue reading below. We hope you enjoy our conference coverage!

Elevate 2019: Oklahoma Insurance Commissioner Glen Mulready

Oklahoma Insurance Commissioner Glen Mulready joins host Keri Norris for a conversation about recent weather events affecting his home state, the work he does in public service, and Oklahoma’s innovative project for insurance business transfers.

Keri Norris of @legalshield sits down with Oklahoma Insurance Commissioner Glen Mulready to discuss storms, insurance, and regulations. #Elevate2019 pic.twitter.com/2f3Dtdi0Ag

— Legal Talk Network (@LegalTalkNet) June 21, 2019

Elevate 2019: Using Data, Process Review & KPIs to Drive Growth and Productivity

Hosted by LegalShield CLO Keri Norris, this episode features distinguished speakers and industry leaders Jack Newton (CEO and founder of Clio), Mary Juetten (CEO and founder of Traklight), and Patrick Palace (Owner of Palace Law and former president of the Washington State Bar Association) talking about the use of data for growth and productivity. Stay tuned for their strategies on delivering more effective legal services.

A power packed conversation about legal trends, managing through technology, and utilizing metrics for growth with industry leaders Jack Newton, Patrick Palace, Mary Juetten, and Keri Norris. #elevate2019 #elevatebylegalshield pic.twitter.com/eC9yyl9fUP

— Laurence Colletti (@LaurenceEsq) June 21, 2019

Elevate 2019: LegalShield Provider Stories and A2J

Hosted by Red Cave CEO Jared Correia, this episode features Ben Farrow, Joy Rhyne Webb, and Kevin Almeroth discussing what it’s like to be a LegalShield provider and how their work helps those who would not otherwise have access to legal services.

Our very own @jaredcorreia jumps in to host a panel interview about #A2J and provider stories with Ben Farrow, Joy Webb, and Kevin Almeroth. #elevate2019 #ElevatebyLegalShield pic.twitter.com/0aywZcS40v

— Legal Talk Network (@LegalTalkNet) June 21, 2019

Elevate 2019: Cannabis Law

Hosted by Managing Director of Imhoff & Associates’ Vince Imhoff, this episode features Andrew Livingston, Barbara Brohl, Jason Searns, Leonard Frieling, Damon Cassens, and Amanda Ostrowitz talking about updates in Cannabis Law and the Cannabis industry. Stay tuned to hear their predictions for the future.

A big turnout for our Cannabis Law panel interview… hosted by Vince Imhoff. #ElevatebyLegalShield #Elevate2019 pic.twitter.com/UTl2MXugrM

— Legal Talk Network (@LegalTalkNet) June 21, 2019

Elevate 2019: Legal Services and the Future

Host Keri Norris sits down with former Attorney General of Oklahoma Michael Turpen and CEO of LegalShield Jeff Bell to discuss how 80% of Americans can’t afford legal services and what they are doing to help. Tune in to hear about their two factored approach of “high touch and high tech”.

Harkening #CivilGideon and closing the justice gap with former Oklahoma AG Michael Turpin, LegalShield CEO Jeff Bell, and LegalShield GC Keri Norris. #Elevate2019 #ElevatebyLegalShield pic.twitter.com/rxUN3CMGcy

— Laurence Colletti (@LaurenceEsq) June 21, 2019

Participants (in alphabetical order):

Kevin Almeroth (Deming, Parker, Hoffman, Campbell & Daly)
Jeff Bell (CEO of LegalShield)
Barbara Brohl (BJ Brohl Strategies)
Damon Cassens (Waters, Kubik, & Cassens)
Jared Correia (CEO of Red Cave)
Ben Farrow (The Anderson Law Firm)
Leonard Frieling (First Chair of the Colorado Bar Association’s Marijuana Law Committee)
Mary Juetten (CEO and Founder of Traklight)
Vincent Imhoff (Managing Director of Imhoff & Associates)
Andrew Livingston (Vicente Sederberg)
Glen Mulready (Oklahoma Insurance Commissioner)
Jack Newton (CEO and Founder of Clio)
Kerri Norris (CLO of LegalShield)
Amanda Ostrowitz (Founder of RegsTechnology)
Patrick Palace (Palace Law & Former President of the Washington State Bar Association)
Jason Searns (General Counsel for Grok)
Michael Turpen (Former Attorney General of Oklahoma)
Joy Rhyne Webb (Merritt, Webb, Wilson, & Caruso, PLLC)

State Bar of Texas Annual Meeting 2019

Wed, 26 Jun 2019 15:03:33 GMT

Set against the eclectic backdrop of Austin at the JW Marriott on 2nd Street, this year’s State Bar of Texas Annual Meeting offered a lot to attendees. The programming struck a winning balance between the educational, entertaining, and intriguing. Opportunities to receive CLE were vast, with 37 bar sections producing more credit-collecting sessions than anyone could possibly attend.

It wasn’t just the raw number of programs that impressed. The State Bar of Texas roped in some heavy hitters to share their knowledge and experience. Among the numerous notable mentions were Dan Rather (yes that Dan Rather), Wil Haygood (award-winning author and reporter), Asha Rangappa (former FBI agent and CNN Contributor), David McCraw (VP & GC of the New York Times), and Mark Shaw (Executive VP and CLO of Southwest Airlines).

During our two days of audio coverage from the meeting for the State Bar of Texas Podcast, we recorded 14 episodes and heard from 26 participants, including State Bar of Texas President Randy Sorrels, State Bar of Texas Young Lawyers Association President Victor Flores, and Houston Bar Association President Benny Agosto. In addition, we interviewed preeminent speakers like Wil Haygood, Asha Rangappa, and David McCraw. Topics included everything from opinion vs. fact based journalism and the ethics of using contract attorneys to freedom of speech and the national debt.

Featured below is our 14 episode series of interviews as well as a list of esteemed guests, hosts, and participants. As a special offer, State Bar of Texas members who listen to the episode titled “State Bar of Texas Annual Meeting 2019: Josh Team and the Adaptable Lawyer” can get one hour of self-study MCLE credit. For more details, simply click on that episode page.

So much fun covering the 2019 State Bar of Texas Annual Meeting. #SBot19 pic.twitter.com/h5Ft9C0Kq0

— Laurence Colletti (@LaurenceEsq) June 26, 2019

State Bar of Texas Annual Meeting 2019: Josh Team and the Adaptable Lawyer

Keller Williams Realty President Josh Team joins host Rocky Dhir for a Q&A in front of a “live audience.” They discuss working with large companies, disruption across industries, and why organizations like Keller Williams seek attorneys who can keep up with the fast pace of innovation. *Members of the State Bar of Texas can qualify for one hour of self-study MCLE credit for listening to this episode (please see details within the episode page).

State Bar of Texas Annual Meeting 2019: Bar Presidents Randy Sorrels and Benny Agosto, Jr.

Presidents Randy Sorrels, Benny Agosto, and Victor Flores, of the State Bar of Texas, Houston Bar Association, and State Bar of Texas Young Lawyers Association respectively, sit down with host Rocky Dhir to talk about leadership, the importance of diversity, the need for time off, and the future plans of their organizations.

State Bar of Texas Annual Meeting 2019: Conversation with Keynote Speaker Asha Rangappa

Former FBI agent and CNN analyst Asha Rangappa joins host Rocky Dhir for a conversation about disinformation vs. fake news, political polarization in the United States, and the importance of socializing with people who have different opinions.

State Bar of Texas Annual Meeting 2019: Bench Bar Breakfast with Wil Haygood

Award winning author and journalist Wil Haygood stops by to discuss the people and events surrounding the nomination and later confirmation of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall. Tune in to hear the touching story of an inspirational letter that went unanswered for decades.

State Bar of Texas Annual Meeting 2019: Ted Boutrous and Tom Leatherbury on Open Government Law and Fake News

Vinson & Elkins’ Appellate Practice Group Co-Leader Tom Leatherbury and Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher Partner Ted Boutrous sit down with host Rocky Dhir to talk about “fake news,” opinion bias in reporting, the value of the First Amendment, and the impact of public perceptions.

State Bar of Texas Annual Meeting 2019: ‘Get Paid and Have a Life’ with Judge Audrey Moorehead

Judge Audrey Moorehead joins guest hosts Sally Pretorius of Kooners Fuller and Baili Rhodes of West Webb Allbritton & Gentry to talk about the importance of getting paid, having a life, and joining your local or specialty bar.

“Get paid and have a life”, words of wisdom from Judge Moorehead about doing the most for your clients and yourself with hosts Sally Pretorious & Baili Rhodes. #sbot19 (spoiler… no BOGOs) @BailiRuth pic.twitter.com/vIsNnzcTE2

— Legal Talk Network (@LegalTalkNet) June 14, 2019

State Bar of Texas Annual Meeting 2019: Ethical Use of Contract Lawyers with Penny Robe

Sometimes good help is hard to find, especially when it comes to your law practice. On this episode of the State Bar of Texas Podcast, attorney Penny Robe and host Rocky Dhir discuss the proper use of contract attorneys, fee splitting, and resources practitioners can turn to.

State Bar of Texas Annual Meeting 2019: The U.S. National Debt with Larry Gibbs

The U.S. national debt is a subject that terrifies many. After all, how long can the world’s richest nation go without repaying its rapidly growing financial obligation? Miller & Chevalier senior counsel and former IRS commissioner Larry Gibbs sits down with host Rocky Dhir to discuss the dangers of running a large deficit and how other nations are trying to unseat the U.S. as the world’s reserve currency. Tune in to hear what citizens can do to reverse this trend.

State Bar of Texas Annual Meeting 2019: What Kanye Can Teach Us About Litigation

Can Kanye West teach lawyers a thing or two about litigation? Well, DHD Films’ Elliot Mayén and Bell Nunnally & Martin Senior Associate Brent Turman think so. Tune in as they reveal what they’ve gleaned from one of the world’s most iconic performers and his journey to the top.

We all know @KimKardashian will be a lawyer soon but what can Kayne West teach us about litigation? Episode coming #sbot19 pic.twitter.com/WasSqAJ0S7

— Laurence Colletti (@LaurenceEsq) June 13, 2019

State Bar of Texas Annual Meeting 2019: Free Press and the First Amendment with David McCraw

David McCraw, vice president and deputy general counsel of the New York Times, joins host Rocky Dhir and producer Laurence Colletti for a conversation about the First Amendment, opinion vs. fact-based reporting, and the dangers associated with delegitimizing the press.

State Bar of Texas Annual Meeting 2019: A View from the Bench with Judge Roy Ferguson

Judge Roy Ferguson of the Texas 394th Judicial District sits down with host Rocky Dhir to discuss common procedural mistakes that attorneys make that can potentially hurt their clients.

State Bar of Texas Annual Meeting 2019: Representing Diverse Clients

Disability Rights Texas Senior Litigation Attorney Lia Davis and Monty & Ramirez Managing Attorney Jake Monty stop by for a conversation about the Americans with Disabilities Act and related legal obligations as well as advice for communicating with people who have disabilities. Additionally, they discuss diversity in hiring and issues that frequently come up.

State Bar of Texas Annual Meeting 2019: The Science of Speaking with Noah Zandan

Have you ever wanted to be one of those dynamic presenters everyone raves about? Zoah Zandan, CEO and co-founder of Quantified, drops in to provide his best pointers for public speaking. Tune in to hear where even the most prepared presenter gets it wrong (hint: focus on the audience).

Kicking things off at the ‘Adaptable Lawyer’ track from #SBOT19, @nzandan shares the science behind effective communications. pic.twitter.com/QkIVXpaxqf

— Legal Talk Network (@LegalTalkNet) June 13, 2019

State Bar of Texas Annual Meeting 2019: Fooding in Austin

They may not agree on barbecue or doughnuts, but the dedicated staff members of the State Bar of Texas do a wonderful job and are fun to hang out with. Tune in to hear Public Information Director Amy Starnes, Pro Bono Programs Administrator Hannah Allison, Web Content Specialist Jennifer Dunham, and Texas Bar Journal Assistant Editor Eric Quitugua dish on Austin food trucks, eclectic eateries, and hot spots with host Rocky Dhir.

List of Participants (in alphabetical order):

Benny Agosto (Houston Bar Association President)
Hannah Allison (State Bar of Texas Pro Bono Programs Administrator)
Ted Boutrous (Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher Partner)
Laurence Colletti (Legal Talk Network Executive Producer)
Lia Davis (Disability Rights Texas Senior Litigation Attorney)
Rocky Dhir (Atlas Legal Research President & CEO)
Jennifer Dunham (State Bar of Texas Web Content Specialist)
Victor Flores (State Bar of Texas Young Lawyers Association President)
Judge Roy Ferguson (394th Judicial District)
Larry Gibbs (Miller & Chevalier Senior Counsel and Former IRS Commissioner)
Wil Haygood (Award-winning Author and Journalist)
Tom Leatherbury (Vinson & Elkins’ Appellate Practice Group Co-Leader)
Elliot Mayén (DHD Films Films and Marketing Consultant)
David McCraw (New York Times Vice President and Deputy General Counsel)
Jake Monty (Monty & Ramirez Managing Attorney)
Judge Audrey Moorehead (Dallas County Criminal Court 3)
Sally Pretorius (Texas Young Lawyers Association Immediate Past President and Koons Fuller Associate Attorney)
Eric Quitugua (Texas Bar Journal Assistant Editor)
Asha Rangappa (CNN Analyst and Former FBI Agent)
Baili Rhodes (West Webb Allbritton & Gentry Partner)
Penny Robe (Robe Law Firm President)
Randy Sorrels (State Bar of Texas President)
Amy Starnes (State Bar of Texas Public Information Director)
Josh Team (Keller Williams Realty President)
Brent Turman (Bell Nunnally & Martin Senior Associate)
Noah Zandan (Quantified CEO & Co-Founder)

All ready to go! We are looking forward to our coverage of the @statebaroftexas Annual Meeting #SBOT19 pic.twitter.com/FyMWDqeppF

— Laurence Colletti (@LaurenceEsq) June 13, 2019

ABA Antitrust Update 2019

Wed, 15 May 2019 19:12:00 GMT

The ABA Section of Antitrust Law recently recorded a series of podcasts covering the latest developments in competition and consumer protection law. This 12-part installment features some of the specialty’s biggest names discussing the most pressing issues in this practice area today. Among the many topics covered are the following:

67th Antitrust Law Spring Meeting
Big Data
Brexit
Cartel Penalties
Corporate Counseling Tips
Pro Bono
Social Media
Updates from Asia
Updates from Latin and South America
Women of Antitrust

ABA Section of Antitrust Law March 2019 – Updates from the Spring Meeting Co-Chairs

The Spring Meeting is the largest gathering of the competition and consumer protection bar globally with over 3,500 attendees. The Spring Meeting co-chairs Adam Biegel and Renata Hesse provide insight into how the conference introduces new subject matters in both antitrust & consumer protection, the happenings of spring dinner, the who’s who in attendees, and how the section features content for all levels of experience. Tune in to hear why enforcers, practitioners, and newbies come from all over the world to attend.

‘Twas the night before Spring Meeting and not a lawyer was stiring… but we’re looking forward to seeing our friends at the ABA Section of Antitrust Law. #ATSpring pic.twitter.com/7KGSNMCeIl

— Laurence Colletti (@LaurenceEsq) March 27, 2019

ABA Section of Antitrust Law March 2019 – Women of Antitrust

Hosted by Gabrielle Kohlmeier and Jodie Williams, this podcast features a conversation with Mika Clark, Deona Kalala, and Tara Isa Koslov about what it’s like to be a woman in antitrust and consumer protection and the challenges they face. In addition, they give advice for others wishing to enter the area like finding good mentors, demanding good work, and allowing yourself to not be perfect. Finally, they share goals they want for the ABA Section of Antitrust Law.

ABA Section of Antitrust Law March 2019 – Social Media

Host Danielle Haugland sits down with Steve Cernak, Alicia Downey, and August Horvath to discuss the proper and professional use of social media as well as talk about the advantages of the different platforms (e.g. Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, & LinkedIn). The panel encourages lawyers to be bold and reach out by sharing both professional and personal aspects of their lives to engage the next generation online.

ABA Section of Antitrust Law March 2019 – Antitrust Developments in Asia

In panel interview format, host Ken O’Rourke talks to Kala Anandarajah, Ninette Dodoo, Kalyani Singh, and Brent Snyder about recent antitrust developments in Asia. Together they discuss regional enforcement, important cases, big tech competition matters, and E-Commerce in their regions of Singapore, China, India, and Hong Kong. The subtle reasons for big differences in the treatment for companies like Uber might surprise you. Stay tuned as the panel makes regional predictions for cartels, leniency, and abuse of market dominance.

ABA Section of Antitrust Law March 2019 – Corporate Counseling Tips

Host Natalie Hayes welcomes guests Saralisa Brau, Stacy Frazier, and Andrew King to discuss how antitrust lawyers can transition to in-house roles and the differences between working for a corporation and a law firm. They also talk about their individual paths to in-house as well as give key recommendations such as getting involved with investment bankers early, putting in auto controls, and learning about the different business units.

Natalie Hayes (left) Stacy Frazier, Saralisa Brau, and Andrew King (top-down)

ABA Section of Antitrust Law March 2019 – Antitrust Updates from Latin & South America

Hosted by Kail Jethmalani, Krisztian Katona, and Elizabeth Kraus this podcast features guests Oscar Cardoze, Alexandre Cordeiro Macedo, and Pablo Trevisan giving regional updates in competition law and consumer protection law as they pertain to Latin America. Together they discuss regulatory structures, public procurement, enforcement, mergers, leniency, and many more developments in Argentina, Brazil, and Panama.

ABA Section of Antitrust Law March 2019 – Cartel Penalties

Host Adam Hemlock is joined by Emrys Davis, Barbara Rosenberg, Federico Rossi, Sally Southwell, and Toshiaki Tadai for a discussion about cartel penalties as well as related fines in different parts of the world. The panel highlights the differences in both how the penalties are calculated and enforced against those who would break the law in places like Canada, Brazil, Argentina, Europe, and Japan.

ABA Section of Antitrust Law March 2019 – Pro Bono Perspective

Tune in as Jesse Beringer and Anora Wang chat with Allan Van Fleet about the benefits of pro bono work. Allan recaps early experiences which led him to a career-long commitment to helping others. If Pro Bono is of interest to you this is a great way to learn more about the benefits of being involved.

Allan Van Fleet, Anora Wang, and Jesse Beringer (from left to right)

ABA Section of Antitrust Law March 2019 – Pro Bono Initiatives

In this AT/CP podcast, the Section teams up with ABA Pro Bono to discuss the legal profession’s increase in pro bono work and what drives the trend. Host Jana Seidl is joined by Marissa LaVette, Meredith Linsky, and Richard Parker who have recommendations for lawyers who want to get involved. Tune in to hear about Richard’s death penalty defense work and why he believes “talent develops best when given away”.

ABA Section of Antitrust Law March 2019 – Developing Antitrust Agencies

Co-hosts Sarah Bartels, Russ Damtoft, and William Caldwell Harrop are joined by guests Marcos Palma, Chufya Sampa, and Han Li Toh for a conversation about competition law, its impact in their countries, and opposition to needed reforms. The panel delves into the motivational factors for updating the laws in Zambia, Singapore, and Guatemala as well as the importance of advocacy first and then picking the right case to enforce the law. Stay tuned for their success stories and hear what they would have done differently if they had to do it all again.

ABA Section of Antitrust Law March 2019 – Big Data Task Force

This AT/CP podcast from the ABA Section of Antitrust Law features a discussion with Anna Aryankalayil, Deon Woods Bell, Aaron Burstein, Vandy Howell, and Sheng Li about the section’s Big Data Task Force and upcoming report. The group, which includes economists, discusses the pros and cons of utilizing big data and highlights some pragmatic limitations in their report. Although much work needs to be done, the group is excited about the Section’s leadership centralizing this much needed information and making it available to the legal profession.

ABA Section of Antitrust Law March 2019 – Brexit and GDPR

In this AT/CP podcast, the Section’s Consumer Protection Officer Alysa Hutnik is joined by Matthew Hall from London to discuss impending issues related to Brexit and GDPR. They start with a historical context of the Brexit movement and then catch us up with current events including possible agreement paths forward and potential impact on businesses moving data in and out of the European Union. Stay tuned for key predictions. Will they get it right?

Matthew Hall and Alysa Hutnik

The following is a list of participants in this series of podcasts created in conjunction with the ABA Section of Antitrust Law:

Podcasting with the ABA Section of Antitrust Law