Legal Talk Network - Law News and Legal Topics

The holidays can be stressful but sharing the joy of traditions like making memory books, traveling home and tying the hugest tree you can find on the mini-Cooper make it all worthwhile. Join our holiday party as we share our family traditions and plans to make this holiday season our best yet. Wishing you the happiest of holidays from all of us at Heels in the Courtroom. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In Part Two of our discussion with Employment Law Attorney Ferne Wolf, we take an in-depth look at rule 30B6, issues regarding designating corporate witnesses and how to handle refusals to disclose insurance coverage. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There are lawyers who love the practice of law so much, they’ll only leave it feet first, in a box. But for those who’d prefer to exit the bar before closing time, Kevin McGoff has advice on planning that next chapter.In his book, Finding Your Landing Zone: Life Beyond the Bar, McGoff describes his dawning realization that he was missing out on experiences while his life was dominated by his legal practice. He approached his law firm management team with a proposal to gradually decrease his hours and hand off his client work to younger successors.A big believer in purposeful planning, McGoff offers a series of worksheets to help readers kickstart their own plans for what a life after the practice of law might look like. For McGoff, one of the big dreams of his life—which began while he was stationed in Europe with the U.S. Army—was to spend more time traveling, and to one day live in France. He studied French and even sponsored a club at his children’s school to promote the French language. He and his wife, Patty, loved their trips to France. So when they discussed what the next chapter of their lives would look like, they decided to finally make it happen. A major goal for McGoff in writing Finding Your Landing Zone is to help readers identify what their own equivalent dream would be, and how to find their own France.In this episode of the Modern Law Library, McGoff and the ABA Journal’s Lee Rawles discuss his motivation to write the book, his advice for planning a financial future, the importance of mentoring younger attorneys, and how he and Patty finally made their dream of living in France happen. He shares tips on building a succession plan and getting your firm on board, and how to actually (mostly) cut down on your hours. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Laura Kaminski, an expert in cloud-based technologies for document management in law firms, discusses the challenges of document management in law firms and the benefits of using cloud-based technologies. The podcast covers topics such as client-centered collaboration, enhancing client portals, security risks of using ShareFile, and the importance of client onboarding for cloud-based document access.

HIPAA, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, is 27 years old. For better or worse, it was designed to protect patients. But in reality, it has also hampered attorneys in their quest for medical records critical to ensuring fair compensation for injured workers.Guest Jared Vishney is the founder and CEO of the medical record retrieval technology company Arctrieval. He says most firms wait more than three months for medical records, some as much as four months or more. HIPAA regulations (and penalties) have turned medical record holders so risk averse that it’s hard for patients to get their own records. The rules around HIPAA and medical records are murky. How much time do institutions have to turn over requested records? How can attorneys and clients push providers to turn over records faster? Workers’ Comp attorneys may find themselves caught in a disconnect between medical record technology and a web of legislation that is supposed to oversee electronic health record systems and rates for copies of those records. It’s hard for clients and attorneys to know they’re getting the full picture, and costs can run into the thousands of dollars. Hear about tips and tricks for getting the records you need. If you’ve been frustrated by a tangled medical records system, this episode of Workers’ Comp Matters is for you.Mentioned in this Episode:“Health Insurance and Portability and Accountability Act,” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention“Section 164.524 - Access of individuals to protected health information,” Legal Information Institute, Cornell University“Medical Records: Fees and Challenges Associated With Patient Access,” GAO report to Congress Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

David Pepper, author of Saving Democracy: A User’s Manual for Every American, returns to SideBar to sound the alarm that democracy remains under attack. Although there were shocking lowlights in 2023, David reminds us that there are also signs of hope. Our final SideBar episode of Season One is a reminder that we all have a critical role to play in the battle for democracy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Litigators face a variety of intense stressors including tight deadlines, conflicts with opposing counsel, traumatic issues facing clients, and the competitive nature of litigation. It’s a daily battle. What can lawyers do to maintain their mental and physical well-being, and how can courts engage, recognize, and help address these problems?Host Dave Scriven-Young welcomes three professionals who are actively seeking better methods for lawyers to care for themselves and for the legal system and firms to deliver assistance. Guests Shawn Healy, Ph.D., and attorneys Mala Rafik and Gavin Alexander are deeply involved in lawyer well-being programs. Their work has confirmed that there is a greater need for mental health support and care for lawyers, and also that many in the profession are either unaware of available services or are unwilling to seek help for fear of stigma. The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court has been a leading voice in the struggle to support those in the legal profession who are struggling with mental illness, anxiety, substance abuse, and suicidal thoughts. More support is needed.Litigation is a difficult profession. Are you yourself—or is someone you know—struggling? You are not alone. It is OK to ask for help. Learn about available resources and services. And share this episode of Litigation Radio.Mentioned in this Episode:“The Full Weight of the Law: How Legal Professionals Can Recognize and Rebound from Depression,” by Shawn Healy and Jeffrey FortgangMassachusetts Supreme Judicial Court Standing Committee on Lawyer Well-BeingLawyer Well-Being MassachusettsLawyers Concerned for LawyersAmerican Bar Association, “Well-Being in the Legal Profession”“Mental Health Initiatives Aren’t Curbing Lawyer Stress And Anxiety, New Study Shows,” ABA Journal“Making It Back: Bruce Simpson Tried To Take His Own Life, Then He Started Healing,” ABA Journal (ABA membership required)988 Suicide And Crisis Hotline, Free Confidential Support For People In CrisisAmerican Bar AssociationAmerican Bar Association Litigation Section Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Digital marketing strategist Philippa Gamse shares insights on leveraging website analytics to improve marketing strategies. She emphasizes the importance of understanding business goals and tracking analytics to achieve desired outcomes. Topics discussed include analyzing website numbers, leveraging video content, measuring customer journey success, credibility issues, and tips for engaging clients with content.

Learn about hiring trends, in-demand skills, and tips to stand out in your job search. Understand the importance of career planning, setting goals, and continuous learning. Discover how hiring managers are adapting to heavy workloads and the rise of legal digitization. Get tips for creating a standout LinkedIn profile and making a good first impression.

Catherine Bamford, expert in document automation and legal practice automations, discusses the challenges of implementing document automation, the state of lawyer competence in using technology, the role of AI in legal tech, and the importance of change management and exploring non-traditional law paths.