Legal Talk Network - Law News and Legal Topics

Conrad and Gyi hit the hardwood as the top marketing channels square up for the Big Dance.It’s March Madness… Marketing Madness that is! Gyi and Conrad fill out their tournament brackets, not with their favorite teams, but rather the top marketing channels and tools. Then it’s a battle to the end as the guys pit these tactics head-to-head to see which will come out on top. From the Sweet 16 to the final matchup, the action never stops! Tune in to see which marketing powerhouse reigns supreme.The News:  ChatGPT 4 launched this month. Now it’s taking standardized tests such as the LSAT … and it’s beating most humans. The new March Google Core update is out. TikTok is under fire again amid threats to ban the video app from the U.S. Conrad made a special appearance as a guest on The Game Changing Attorney podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Professor Charles Geyh, an expert in judicial conduct, discusses the ethical obligations of judges and the options available (or not) when judges break the rules - including the U.S. Supreme Court justices. He also weighs the pros and cons of electing vs. appointing judges. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Guest Robert “Bob” Wilson is a leader at Work Comp College, created to offer a deeper dive into workplace protections for employees. He’s not a lawyer or an academic type, but he’s long held an interest in the programs designed to protect workers and employers.The field of helping workers recover from workplace injuries can get better, through training, tech, and, most importantly, through a renewed focus on recovery.Wilson asks how can we bring the human element back. For attorneys representing both the injured worker and employers – even insurers – it seems we’ve forgotten about people, injured people the families who depend on them. Maybe it’s time to focus on restoring lives, not “processing claims.”Dive into the world of making injured workers whole. Go beyond “compensation” and focus on “recovery,” getting to the right doctors, the right treatment, and getting back to feeling independent and enjoying meaningful work. Workers’ Comp is there to provide financial resources when workers are injured, but Wilson believes we go beyond “comp” and get to “recovery.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With the rising attacks on cybersecurity, AI technology evolving, and significant advances to our technology, why do you need to be secure with technology?And better yet, HOW do you do it?Keith Conrad joins me on Counsel Cast this week to discuss the ways in which we can become safer and more secure with technology. Keith is a recovering Washington insider who has been at the forefront of aligned business transitioning for legal operations. He worked in Washington DC as a Strategic Legal Business Consultant and Transition Specialist for more than two decades. His clients include multinational AmLaw firms and government regulatory and intelligence agencies. He left Washington to help smaller law firms become more efficient, competitive, and profitable. His legal and regulatory experience means that he doesn't just know the buzzwords; he understands the business of law. Keith has acquired a depth of expertise in the business of small law firms, which gives him a rare insight into streamlining performance and moving firms away from inefficient “siloed” legal operations. He specializes in translating complex legal processes and technology into efficient and highly effective law firm operational strategies and capturing business value via strategic performance. He cost-effectively transitions legal operations, the legal value dialog, and the lawyer/client/staff relationship.Keith gives listeners actionable tips on: [3:05] How outdated policies keep you vulnerable  [6:00] The importance of having SOPs and knowing where to find them [7:05] Costs associated with securing your data [9:35] The differences in security for small and big firms  [11:20] How long security updates take [14:30] Why 'quick updates' don't always work [18:30] Keith's book recommendation Resources mentioned in this episode:The Small Firm Roadmap by Aaron StreetConnect with Keith here: LinkedIn www.verbatimdata.com  Connect with me Instagram Pinterest Facebook Twitter Karin on Twitter Karin on LinkedIn Conroy Creative Counsel on Facebook https://conroycreativecounsel.com  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

More and more legal professionals are becoming familiar with blockchain technology, whether in advising clients on the legal implications of potential blockchain initiatives, dealing with an evolving regulatory landscape, or handling disputes involving blockchain-based technologies and assets. There are many powerful and exciting use cases for blockchain technology and cryptocurrency, but there are also legal and other challenges.In this episode, we’ll examine what blockchain technology is, what legal professionals need to know about it, and we’ll take a look at some of the legal hurdles blockchain and crypto projects have to overcome. Usman Sheikh, Chair of the Blockchain & Fintech Practice and Transactional Partner in Baker McKenzie's Toronto office, joins us to cover some of these issues and provide some insight. In this Episode: A description of blockchain technology How blockchain works The legal challenges facing blockchain Privacy and regulatory issues What legal professionals need to know about blockchain technology Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This year, we have created a new Environmental Law series on Lawyer 2 Lawyer, where wewill cover cradle to grave treatment of chemicals and our laws on environmental biology.In this episode, host Craig Williams joins Mark Squillace from the University of Colorado Law School, to discuss the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), wetlands protection, and habitat conservation plans. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Stephanie interviews Affinity’s Barron Henley and they dive into how lawyers can maximize their use of Microsoft Word. From formatting to footnotes, Barron offers his insights, tips, and strategies for making Word work for any law firm.Links from the episode: Workshop | Beyond the Budget: Why You Need a Financial ProjectionMicrosoft Word for Legal ProfessionalsMicrosoft Word Digital CourseBarron’s Pinterest Page for Vegan RecipesInterested in hearing about personalized training for your firm? Contact sales@affinityconsulting.comIf 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!Thanks to Posh Virtual Receptionists, Clio, & Gavel for sponsoring this episode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Turning a legal service into a product has already been proven to be both profitable for lawyers and a huge help in increasing access to justice. So, how do you join this new wave and productize your services? Sharon Nelson and Jim Calloway talk with Dorna Moini about strategies for creating a legal product for your target market, pricing recommendations for today’s clients, and future outlooks as legal products change the way we deliver services in the profession.Dorna Moini is the CEO and founder of Gavel, a no-code platform for building document automation and client-facing legal products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Our justice system is changing as demand for access to court services grows. Are specially trained paralegal professionals the answer?Across the country, states are looking for ways to grant special licenses so paralegal professionals can handle some issues that have traditionally required an attorney. New programs with names including “allied legal professionals, “limited licensing,” and “legal paraprofessionals” are opening ways to offer access to justice and, at the same time, opening pathways for paralegals to expand their roles and embrace new opportunities.This is important stuff that affects us all, even if the stereotype is that “legal aid” projects are for indigent cases, studies find up to 40% of the legal needs of middle-class people go unaddressed due to high demand and costs. There has to be a better way. The medical community developed new ways to provide care (nurse practitioners instead of an M.D.), so why can’t we build a new tier of legal service providers?It's been a long slog as states individually decide how tiers of limited licensures can ensure access to justice. And it’s been contentious, maybe because the issue isn’t fully understood. Get educated and get involved with this informative episode of the Paralegal Voice.Resources from This Episode:The Landscape of Allied Legal Professional Programs (Report)North Carolina Justice For All Project’s legislative proposal, “Looking Beyond Lawyers To Bridge The Civil Access To Justice Gap”NALANFPAAAFPELimited License Legal Technicians, Washington State BarArizona Legal Paraprofessionals (limited licensing)N.C. Justice Richard DietzAmerican Bar Association, access commissionsMinnesota Legal Paraprofessionals Pilot Program Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Communication often happens because we are simply reacting to something, but how often do we react with a thoughtful, impactful response? Jared welcomes Jessica Chen to hear her strategies for leveling up your professional communications. They talk through some of the ways communications training can elevate your influence in the workplace and discuss ways to connect with professional peers through social media.Later, has anyone named Oscar ever won an Oscar? Find out whether Jessica knows the answer in Jared’s Rump Roast quiz featuring historic Academy Awards trivia.And, HBO’s “The Last of Us” is the best show Jared’s seen in a looong time, so if you like gut-wrenching, poetic, and a little bit disturbing storytelling, you’d better check it out.Jessica Chen is an Emmy-Award Winner and the founder and CEO of Soulcast Media.-----Since we talked about the Academy Awards, let's keep awards season rolling: here's our list of the best Best Original Song category winners!-----Our opening track is Two Cigarettes by Major Label Interest.Our closing track is Yellow Letter by Sam Barsh. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices