Legal Talk Network - Law News and Legal Topics

We’re at an interesting and dynamic point in time for immigration law, with Supreme Court rulings and presidential executive orders reshaping the field and challenging the system’s status quo.  The administrative area of immigration law is especially difficult for legal professionals. In an immigration hearing, the judge is essentially on the same “team” as the prosecutor, and because immigration policies are largely under the federal executive branch, the rules seem to shift every four years with a new presidential term.  Guest Nikki Mehrpoo is a former judge, a scholar, and the first and only California dual certified legal specialist in immigration and Workers’ Compensation law. She is a lawyer as well as a professor of law at West Los Angeles College. She recently created the  MedLegal Professor, a project dedicated to the ethical use of AI technologies in the field of law and medicine.  In this timely episode of Paralegal Voice, Mehrpoo unpacks recent Supreme Court rulings, executive orders, and even the use of AI facial recognition that are reshaping the field of immigration law. As a legal professional, what we think we know may be subject to change day by day, ruling by ruling.  Mentioned in This Episode: Previous appearance on Paralegal Voice, “Digging Into California Workers’ Compensation (Plus, Career Advice From a True Pro)”  LAPA Noem v. Perdomo, SCOTUSblog coverage “Immigration Officers Intensify Arrests in Courthouse Hallways on a Fast Track to Deportation,” Associated Press “ICE Awards Clearview AI $9.2M Facial Recognition Contract,” Biometric Update “Nevada Judge Takes Creative and Unusual Approach to Combat AI-Generated Fictitious Citations,” LawNext “The EU Artificial Intelligence Act” Clearview AI NALA, The Paralegal Association NALA Conference & Expo 2026 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Guest Andrew Schierberg is a former police officer and a police chief who opened his own solo law firm two years ago and has been growing it ever since. What does he miss from his first career, and what has he learned as a lawyer?  As the firm has evolved, there has been some rebranding and the addition of new attorneys, employees, and tech tools. Today, Schierberg specializes in elder law at his firm Stages Elder Care Law.  Hear how Schierberg has learned to hire associates so he can focus on “buying back his time” to grow the business. Understand your strengths, find areas where your time is wasted, and delegate or apply tech solutions to make your firm run more efficiently.  Schierberg picked a niche – elder care law – and has made it his home. It’s what he cares about, helping seniors and families create estate and care plans and address all of those “what ifs” as they arise. Hear how he adapts everything from his corporate colors to his daily wardrobe to make clients comfortable and create a strong, memorable, and trusted brand. Questions or ideas about solo and small practices? Drop us a line at NewSolo@legaltalknetwork.com     Topics: We’re checking in on Andrew Schierberg who finished his first career as a police chief and then opened his own law firm two years ago. Time wasting pinch points can siphon off your energy and productivity. Identify those areas and address them. Finding a niche service area can set your firm apart and create a sense of satisfaction that keeps you focused and helps you work on important, big picture goals. Resources: The Gap and the Gain: The High Achievers’ Guide to Happiness, Confidence, and SuccessLawmaticsABA Techshow 2026Gyi Tsakalakis legal marketingLunch Hour Legal Marketing with Gyi Tsakalakis and Conrad SaamMycase“How to Buy a Domain Name,” CloudflareLife Care Planning Law Firms AssociationActionstep legal softwareClio Cloud Conference 2025Clio Legal Trends ReportMicrosoft Lift Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Megan Phillips is a federal law clerk and passionate advocate for improving the working lives of Missouri attorneys.  Get to know her and some of the important work she’s done in part one of our conversation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Order in the court! Introducing a new series of TYLA’s Young Gunners podcast, spotlighting all nine justices of the Supreme Court of Texas! In these special episodes, TYLA President Hisham Masri, TYLA Immediate Past President Laura Pratt, and TYLA President-Elect Alyson Martinez speak with the SCOTX bench about their respective path to the high court, judicial philosophy, and advice for young attorneys navigating the legal profession. We kick off this series with an interview with Justice Jimmy Blacklock, who was elevated to chief justice on January 6, 2025. In this episode, Chief Justice Blacklock shares how the principles of fatherhood and his deep-rooted faith have influenced not only his path to the judiciary but also the way he approaches leadership, decision-making, and the responsibilities of public office. Tune in for a thoughtful exploration of character, calling, and the intersection of personal conviction with professional duty. You can access this episode and our other episodes here: https://tyla.org/resource/young-gunners-podcast/ And tune in soon for our second episode where we speak with Senior Justice Debra Lehrmann, the longest-serving member on the court!  #tyla #younggunners #scotx #legalpodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Law firm fires lawyer over Kirk comments and law school announces new scholarships. ----- Perkins Coie cut ties with an attorney over Charlie Kirk comments on social media. The remarks were measured and reasonable, but the firm is still fighting the Trump administration in court and -- seemingly -- does not want any distractions or mere appearance of bias. But is that a worthy excuse? A Pillsbury partner received a benchslapping over what the judge considered unchecked entitlement. A Biglaw partner? Entitled? No! Also, a law school responds to the new federal loan caps with guaranteed scholarships to cover the gap. Is this the start of a trend? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Let’s talk about associate retention, keeping those young lawyers you’re recruited and mentored at your firm. It shouldn’t be a given that every associate will take what you’ve taught them to another firm in two or three years. Guest Ben Dachepalli is a veteran lawyer and a partner in the Tampa office of firm Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP specializing in construction law. As a senior member of his firm, Dachepalli says retaining young associates is more than a transactional activity, it’s building the firm and developing the next generation of leaders. As he says, when he’s interviewing prospective hires, “I’m not interviewing my next associate, I’m interviewing my future partners.” Don’t think of young lawyers as associates who will move on, develop them so they not only want to stay but also want to become leaders in your firm.  For Dachepalli, the “secret sauce” is an inclusive, team-based approach. Ensure associates are involved and invested in the firm’s success, not simply completing assigned and rote tasks. Communicate with associates as peers, give them responsibilities, and show them they are valued.  Involving associates in multiple levels of a case and asking for their input from the start not only shows them you value their skills, it can also help senior attorneys spot unexpected angles and see a case from a different perspective. (And remember, today’s young lawyers grew up with today’s technology, they might even teach you something). Resources: ⁠American Bar Association⁠ ⁠American Bar Association Litigation Section⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Lawyers discuss how to keep legal services human-centered in the age of artificial intelligence (AI) on Talk Justice. In May, Amanda Brown authored the piece “Using Technology to Maximize Human Interaction." She wrote that while legal services organizations are increasingly looking to AI to lower the burden of certain tasks, human interaction between attorneys and clients must not be lost for the sake of efficiency. She also discusses the new Louisiana Legal Navigator website. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Workers’ Compensation has traditionally been a bargain, a “deal” workers and employers agree to. Workers injured on the job are compensated quickly and in exchange they don’t sue their employers. But when it came to a Virginia school teacher shot and seriously injured by a young student, was there an exception to the rule?  Recent law graduate Katie Jean won the Workers’ Compensation Lawyers John F. Burton Jr. Law Student Writing Competition with her entry “Rethinking the Intent Exception in the Case of Teacher Violence in Our Public Schools Modifying to Include Willful and Wanton Misconduct.” In it, she examines the case of teacher Abby Zwerner, shot by a 6-year-old with a documented pattern of disciplinary issues and had been seen at school with a gun. Jean questions whether every school shooting can be ruled an accident for the purpose of Workers’ Compensation or if a known threat, with lack of corresponding action, entitles the injured teacher to sue for damages.  It’s an interesting issue, and at least one prior case involving a teacher injured by a student the school knew about was unsuccessful. Does a teacher “assume risk” by taking a job? This is a timely discussion and a sign of our times. Listeners who would like a copy of Jean’s award-winning paper to review may email the hosts at the addresses below. If you have thoughts on Workers’ Comp law or an idea for a topic or guest you’d like to hear, contact us at JPierce@ppnlaw.com or APierce@ppnlaw.com.  Mentioned in This Episode: “Virginia Teacher Shot by 6-Year-Old Student Can Proceed With $40M Lawsuit, Judge Rules,” NBC News “Charge in Abby Zwerner's $40M Lawsuit Will Go to Jury Trial,” 13NewsNow “Vallandigham V. Clover Park Sch. Dist.,” Casemine Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How you appear on camera is how you appear to future clients. And today, you’re pretty much always on camera. Guest Kerry Barrett, an Emmy Award-winning television journalist, helps attorneys present their best self on camera, whether that’s on a Zoom call, on YouTube, or when being interviewed by a TV crew. Project authority, build trust, and attract high value clients through video.  As Barrett says, that “little red light” can seem like the devil. It’s hard to avoid looking camera shy and stiff. But she taps into 20 years of on-camera experience to coach and guide attorneys. Being on camera doesn’t come naturally, it takes training and practice.  Barrett’s lessons apply across the board, whether you’re a lawyer offering an expert opinion, a law firm marketer producing content, or an attorney coaching clients to appear on video in recorded depositions.  Think it’s not important? The reality is that today we’re all pretty much on camera all day. You are how you look, and connecting with your audience matters. When the camera turns its eye on you, do you look genuine and engaging, or do you look like you’re reading a hostage note? Improving your video skills is no longer an option. Ask us anything for the Community Table. Leave us a question online Join the next Community Table discussion live! Always the third Thursday of the month at 3pm Eastern Mentioned in This Episode: “'I’m not a Cat': Lawyer Gets Stuck on Zoom Kitten Filter During Court Case,” The Guardian Previous appearance on the Legal Talk Network “The Caitlin Clark Experience; Being a Camera-Ready Professional; and ‘Candid Camera,’” on The Legal Toolkit podcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

To this day, some still believe Amanda Knox is guilty of the horrific murder of Meredith Kercher in 2007. However, this belief appears to stem entirely from the wildly sensational media coverage surrounding her supposed involvement. Thorough examination of the facts of the case have clearly shown that Amanda was wrongfully convicted of this terrible crime. This time on For the Innocent, Michael Semanchik welcomes a panel of experts to explore how Amanda Knox’s case gained such incredible notoriety and how the truth was obscured by a series of mistakes, assumptions, and media distortion. Michael is joined by Martina Cagossi, Justin Brooks, and Mark Olshaker to walk listeners through the facts of the case, explain the prevalence of false confessions in high-stress situations, and discuss how Amanda’s “trial by media” ultimately overshadowed clear evidence that should have set her free. Martina Cagossi is a criminal lawyer based in Milan, Italy. She is the co-founder and Program Manager of the Italy Innocence Project. Justin Brooks is a Professor at University of San Diego School of Law. He is a board member of The Innocence Center and co-founder of the California Innocence Project. Mark Olshaker is a writer and Emmy-award winning filmmaker. He authored the international bestseller MINDHUNTER, the basis for the acclaimed Netflix series.   🎧 Listen Amanda’s Story on Apple, Spotify, Youtube, or your favorite podcast app. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices