Legal Talk Network - Law News and Legal Topics

Most people facing legal problems don’t see them as legal at all—they see them as life problems with landlords, employers, or benefits agencies. That disconnect leaves millions without meaningful help, even when lawyers or courts are available.  In this episode, Zack Glaser talks with Professor Rebecca Sandefur (Arizona State University, American Bar Foundation) and Matthew Burnett (Georgetown Law, ABF) about their research on community justice workers and why people-centered solutions may be the key to closing the justice gap.  They explore how community justice workers operate in Alaska and beyond, why legal help doesn’t always have to come from lawyers, and how rules around unauthorized practice of law are evolving. You’ll hear evidence that trained non-lawyers can be just as effective—sometimes more so—than attorneys in resolving critical issues like housing or benefits.  Rebecca and Matthew also discuss what “success” really means: scalable, sustainable programs that meet people where they are, in their own communities, in their own language. And they argue that broadening access to justice isn’t just about legal services—it’s about strengthening democracy itself.  This episode is for lawyers, policymakers, and innovators who want to reimagine how legal help is delivered—and build a justice system that actually works for the people it’s meant to serve.  Additionally, Zack and Stephanie talk about the upcoming ClioCon 2025 in Boston, MA. Check out the conference and get your tickets at cliocon.com. Use the code “LawyeristxClioCon” for a $300 discount on your ticket.    Listen to our other episodes on Access To Justice:  #129: The Business of Public Access to Law, with Tim Stanley   Apple | Spotify | LTN  #228: The Real Access-to-Justice Problem and How We Might Solve It, with Rebecca Sandefur  Apple | Spotify | LTN  #423: Bridging the Access to Justice Gap with Technology, with Sateesh Nori  Apple | Spotify | LTN  #440: A Path to Meaningful Regulations, with Rebecca Sandefur  Apple | Spotify | LTN  If today's podcast resonates with you and you haven't read The Small Firm Roadmap Revisited yet, get the first chapter right now for free! Looking for help beyond the book? See if our coaching community is right for you.    Access more resources from Lawyerist at lawyerist.com.    Chapters/Timestamps:  00:00 – Fall & ClioCon in Boston05:24 – Meet Rebecca Sandefur & Matthew Burnett06:50 – A People-Centered Justice Approach11:08 – Community Justice Workers Explained15:55 – Legal Help Without Lawyers20:31 – What Success Really Looks Like25:23 – State Models & Next Steps34:30 – Scaling Justice & Strengthening Democracy38:49 – Final Takeaways  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If you just prep your client an hour before their depo, you are doing them a disservice. Tune infor our final tips on how to improve your client’s depo. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Law firms get some worrying numbers from last quarter. ----- The new D.C. folk hero who threw a sandwich at Trump's surge publicity stunt turned out to be a DOJ attorney. He's been fired because this administration will not stand for disrespecting law enforcement... unless they're trying to kill Capitol police officers on January 6. Meanwhile, the legal industry enjoyed a muted quarter. Are they preparing to batten down the hatches for a recession? Supreme Court begins moving the pieces into place to tear down Obergefell. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As summer winds down and school beckons, we’re looking back in our archives and assigning some back-to-school reading—grown-up style. In this episode, Judge Robert Bacharach shares insights from his book on the science of persuasive legal writing and why judges love to talk about language. —-- There’s plenty of conventional wisdom about what makes a good legal brief or court opinion. Judge Robert E. Bacharach of the Denver-based 10th Circuit Court of Appeals says that when judges socialize, their conversations often devolve into discussions about language and pieces of writing they enjoy or revile. But Bacharach decided he wanted to dive deeper, to see what the science of psycholinguistics could teach lawyers and judges about how written words persuade an audience. The result was his new book, Legal Writing: A Judge’s Perspective on the Science and Rhetoric of the Written Word, published by the ABA. Legal Writing is a slim volume, but it’s packed with tips. It considers details as microscopic as a serif on a letter and as macroscopic as how to create an outline for an argument. In this episode of the Modern Law Library podcast, Bacharach chats about his own writing process; shares his top takeaways from the psycholinguists he consulted; and offers his advice for young litigators looking to hone their skills.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this special episode of Leading the Bar, we celebrate 75 years of the National Conference of Bar Presidents with outgoing president Dan Cotter and incoming president Patrick Palace. Host Amanda Arriaga leads a conversation about the evolving role of bar associations and the enduring mission of NCBP to empower, connect, and inspire legal leaders. They explore the evolving challenges and opportunities facing bar leaders today—from defending the rule of law amid growing politicization to bridging generational divides and embracing innovation. Dan and Patrick share candid insights on leadership, community-building, and how bar associations can remain vital in our rapidly changing legal landscape.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Learn how to overcome busyness, start meaningful conversations, and build lasting adult friendships that enrich both your personal and professional life. In this episode, Stephanie Everett talks with Kat Vellos, author of We Should Get Together: The Secret to Cultivating Better Friendships, about practical ways to form new connections, deepen existing relationships, and create a sense of community. You’ll discover strategies for moving beyond small talk, making the most of your time, and using Kat’s four “seeds of connection” framework to help relationships thrive.  Kat shares research-backed insights on why friendships matter for well-being, how to integrate connection into your daily life without adding more to your to-do list, and ways to authentically connect with neighbors, colleagues, and acquaintances. Whether you’re looking to expand your circle, reconnect with old friends, or foster deeper ties in your professional network, this conversation offers actionable ideas you can start using today.  Listen to our other episodes on Careers & Professional Development.    Episode #572 – Practical Courage Skills Every Lawyer Needs, with Jim Detert (leadership and professional growth) Apple | Spotify | LTN  Episode #567 – From Quiet to Confident: Redefining Success as an Introverted Lawyer, with Heidi Brown (confidence-building for career success) Apple | Spotify | LTN  Episode #564 – The Gift in the Struggle: Leveraging Emotional Intelligence for Growth Apple | Spotify | LTN  Episode #520 – The Truth About Lawyer Self‑Care: Prioritize or Suffer (personal well-being integral to professional longevity) Apple | Spotify | LTN    If today's podcast resonates with you and you haven't read The Small Firm Roadmap Revisited yet, get the first chapter right now for free! Looking for help beyond the book? See if our coaching community is right for you.  Access more resources from Lawyerist at lawyerist.com.    Links from the episode:    Learn More about LabCon  We Should Get Together: The Secret to Cultivating Better Friendships    Chapters:  00:56 – Lab Con: Hands-On Business Building for Lawyers  04:43 – Meet Kat Vellos: Author & Friendship Expert  08:47 – Why Adults Have Fewer Close Friends Today  13:44 – Finding Time for Friends & the “Seeds of Connection”  16:20 – How to Meet Neighbors and Build Local Ties  18:53 – Moving Beyond Small Talk with Meaningful Questions  22:49 – Using Conversation Prompts to Connect at Work  26:30 – Committing to Local Friendships & Staying Connected  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When is the right time to rebrand your legal practice and how do you actually pull it off? In this episode of New Solo’s First Flight series, Adriana Linares talks with Kristen Rizzo, a former employment litigator who built a thriving solo practice before making a bold, calculated shift to mediation and impartial workplace investigations. Kristen shares how she planned her transition from Rizzo Law to Rizzo Resolution, the value of becoming a subject-matter expert, and how she used branding, visibility, and pro bono work to launch a neutral practice with intention. Adriana is later joined by ALPS Insurance’s Rio Laine to explore how preparation, professional boundaries, and proper coverage help lawyers lower risk during big career pivots.   Hear the original episode with Kristin Rizzo  Learn more about ALPS Insurance.  Receive email notifications every time we release a new episode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For decades, the Uniform Bar Examination has been old school, with bar candidates using paper-and-pencil exam books. But starting with the first administration of the NextGen UBE next year, the test will be entirely conducted on the examinees’ personal computers. The ABA Journal’s Julianne Hill talks with Kara Smith, the National Conference of Bar Examiners’ chief product officer. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Estate planning attorney Katie Krispin discusses how to protect and preserve your client’s settlement, and your own future. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode’s discussions around the Community Table: Growth is the big issue firms repeatedly face. Set reasonable expectations and know what you want. Is it revenue growth? Why? Is it a lifestyle? What does that look like? Growth without a destination in mind is a fool’s errand. As Christopher says, “Clarity of purpose aligns everything.” It’s vital to start planning for the future when you know your firm is at capacity, but you just can’t justify hiring more staff (yet). You feel pressure to expand, but you’re afraid of overextending. Make a detailed plan, don’t guess, and trust the process. Burnout. There’s no reason or excuse for it. Burnout stems from unreasonable expectations for yourself and others. Know your limits. Running yourself into the ground to meet unreasonable demands helps no one. Not you, and not your clients. Mentioned in This Episode: Ask us anything for the Community Table. Leave us a question online Join the next Community Table live. What’s on your mind? InfoTrack InfoTrack Legal Up 2025 Clio Legal Trends Report Cliocon 2025 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices