Legal Talk Network - Law News and Legal Topics

Execution by lethal injection is seen by many Americans as a less barbaric alternative than older methods like hanging, firing squads and electrocution. It is easy to assume that the process must resemble euthanasia procedures for terminally ill people or pets. The reality is very different, says Corinna Barrett Lain, a law professor and death penalty expert. Lain didn’t initially intend to make the death penalty her primary area of study, she tells the ABA Journal’s Lee Rawles in this episode of the Modern Law Library. A former prosecutor in Virginia, Lain did not begin her work out of opposition to the death penalty. But the more she discovered about the realities of the administration of lethal injections, the more she was compelled to demystify the process. In Secrets of the Killing State: The Untold Story of Lethal Injection, Lain upends a lot of conventional wisdom about lethal injections. For example, the three-drug protocol used by most states was not a drug cocktail arrived at through scientific research. Rather, in 1977, after the U.S. Supreme Court allowed executions to resume after a 10-year hiatus, Oklahoma medical examiner Dr. Jay Chapman was asked by a state legislator to come up with an alternative to the state’s rickety electric chair. Though Chapman admitted he was “an expert in dead bodies but not an expert in getting them that way,” he proposed combining sodium thiopental, pancuronium bromide and potassium chloride. “You wanted to make sure the prisoner was dead at the end, so why not add a third drug,” the book quotes Chapman as saying. “Why does it matter why I chose it?” In contrast, an overdose of a single drug, pentobarbital, is what is commonly used by veterinarians in animal euthanasia. “Lethal injection is not based on science,” Lain writes. “It is based on the illusion of science, the assumption of science.” In this episode, Lain and Rawles also discuss botched executions, shady sources used by states to procure the drugs used for lethal injections, and how Lain’s scholarship has impacted her views of capital punishment as a whole. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There’s a new pair of Heels in the Courtroom. Get to know Katie St. John and hear about her path to plaintiff’s law and recent trial success stories. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dan Lear talks with Jordan Turk of Smokeball about her career and how she moved on from her work as an attorney to get involved in legal tech companies. Jordan offers realistic tips for lawyers on how to be creative in your career path and venture into new arenas. Later, they chat about Jordan’s many CLE class offerings for lawyers and which topics are currently top of mind, including AI, fee agreements, cross-examinations, and much more.  Jordan Turk is Director of Education and Attorney Development at Smokeball. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Experts discuss improving housing stability through collaboration between landlords, legal aid and other partners on Talk Justice. This panel discussion was recorded at LSC’s April 9 Access to Justice forum. LSC recently released a research brief on this topic, “Beyond Eviction: Landlords as Essential Partners in Housing Stability.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jim Garrett, Chief Technology Officer at Assembly Software, discusses the balance between AI tools and the necessary human touch in law practice. He emphasizes the importance of experimentation with AI for legal professionals, advocating for cautious, small-scale integration to build confidence. With a humorous twist, he draws parallels between teenagers and AI, underscoring effective communication. Listeners pick up tips on becoming AI-literate, ensuring that while technology evolves, the human element remains paramount.

Copilot is a powerful tool for lawyers, but are you making the most of it within your Microsoft apps? Tom Mighell is flying solo at ABA TECHSHOW 2025 and welcomes Microsoft’s own Ben Schorr to the podcast. Ben shares expert insights into how lawyers can implement Copilot’s AI-assistance to work smarter, not harder. From drafting documents to analyzing spreadsheets to streamlining communication, Copilot can handle the tedious tasks so you can focus on what really matters. Ben shares numerous use-cases and capabilities for attorneys and later gives a sneak peek at Copilot’s coming enhancements. As always, stay tuned for the parting shots, that one tip, website, or observation you can use the second the podcast ends. Have a technology question for Dennis and Tom? Call their Tech Question Hotline at 720-441-6820 for answers to your most burning tech questions. Ben Schorr is Senior Content Program Manager at Microsoft.  Show Notes:Microsoft CopilotCopilot Prompt Gallery Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What if the key to better legal work isn’t just smarter tools but more inclusive ones? Susan Tanner, Associate Professor at the University of Louisville Brandeis School of Law, joins Zack Glaser to explore how AI and universal design can improve legal education and law firm operations. Susan shares how tools like generative AI can support neurodiverse thinkers, enhance client communication, and reduce anxiety for students and professionals alike. They also discuss the importance of inclusive design in legal tech and how law firms can better support their teams by embracing different ways of thinking to build a more accessible, future-ready practice. The conversation emphasizes the need for educators and legal professionals to adapt to the evolving landscape of AI, ensuring that they leverage its capabilities to better serve their clients and students. Links from the episode:  NetDocumentsNetDocuments Demo RequestListen to our other episodes about diversifying learning strategies and the AI revolution: #405: The Diverse Way People Think, with Temple Grandin: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Lawyerist #551: Becoming the AI Driven Leader, with Geoff Woods: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Lawyerist #550: Beyond Content: How AI is Changing Law Firm Marketing, with Gyi Tsakalaki and Conrad Saam: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Lawyerist Have thoughts about today’s episode? Join the conversation on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and X!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: 00:00 – Intro and Lawyerist's New Programs 03:50 – NetDocuments with Patric Thomas 10:49 – Meet Dr. Susan Tanner 12:30 – AI and Legal Ethics 13:30 – What is Universal Design for Learning? 20:59 – Applying Universal Design in Legal Practice 24:45 – Using AI to Support Diverse Thinkers 29:33 – AI as a Communication Partner 34:01 – Law Students and AI Adoption 38:04 – AI for Lawyer Productivity and Mental Health 44:00 – Enhancing Critical Thinking with AI 46:00 – Wrap-Up and Final Thoughts  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If the post-conference blues are taking hold, fear not! InfoTrack’s Legal Up conference is right around the corner with plenty to look forward to. Lisa Kirkman welcomes Alex Braun of InfoTrack to discuss Legal Up 2025, the largest FREE virtual conference available for legal professionals. The conference strives to be people-centric, offering sessions for individuals with diverse life experiences in a wide variety of practice areas. If you’re looking to enhance your career, gain new insights, and network with peers, register now! Legal Up 2025 takes place April 23-24.Learn more: Legal Up 2025Alex Braun is Product Marketing Manager at InfoTrack US. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

US News and World Report released its most recent law school rankings with a side of chaos, but the big takeaway is the scrambling and erosion of the "T14" as an organizing concept. Is it time to dismiss the rankings as arbitrary? At least until law schools agree to cooperate again. Also, Surrendergate continues and the "we'll do some pro bono for veterans" deal has turned dramatically, with the White House now claiming the authority to "assign" Biglaw firms to work on administration projects. Sound familiar? Along the way, firms are starting to lose senior lawyers fulfilling critical firm roles while the most recent defectors alienate the overwhelming majority of their team. Finally, the Supreme Court has issued some unanimous rebukes in defense of due process and the administration does not seem to care. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"May you live in interesting times." For immigration lawyers, that old proverb is now a reality. Ever since the start of the second Trump administration, immigration lawyers have been busier than ever, and they have plenty on their plates. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices