Legal Talk Network - Law News and Legal Topics

Good decisions help lead us where we want to go, but that doesn’t mean it’s easy to make the best determination when faced with a choice. Patrick Palace talks to Nika Kabiri at the NCBP Virtual Midyear Meeting about the scientific research behind decision-making processes and how bar leaders can implement this multi-disciplinary knowledge to optimize choices and experience successful leadership. Patrick Palace is NCBP Program Committee member and past Executive Council member, and managing owner at Palace Law.Nika Kabiri is founder and owner at Kabiri Consulting.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Storytelling is a powerful tool for building influence and trust. Joe Sullivan talks with Ann Marie Houghtailing and Laura Fink about their talk at the NCBP Virtual Midyear Meeting and its takeaways for bar leaders on leveraging personal stories to forge authentic connections with others. Joe Sullivan is NCBP President-Elect and Executive Council Member, and a partner at Davis, Hatley, Haffeman, & Tighe, P.C. Ann marie Houghtailing is co-founder and CEO at Story Imprinting. Laura Fink is founder and CEO at Rebelle Communications. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Promoting lawyer wellness is critical to the future of the profession, and bar associations are uniquely positioned to affect culture change within their communities. From the NCBP Virtual Midyear Meeting, Robin Wolpert hosts Bree Buchanan and Chris Newbold to discuss what bar leaders can do to support wellness efforts and help legal professionals prioritize both physical and mental health. As Board members for the Institute for Well-Being in the Law (IWIL), they also offer that IWIL can assist bar organizations -- free of charge -- to set up their wellness programs.Robin Wolpert, JD, PhD is NCBP Treasurer and Executive Council member, Institute for Well-Being in Law Treasurer, and an attorney at Sapientia Law Group in Minneapolis.Bree Buchanan is board president and acting executive director at the Institute for Well-Being in Law. Chris Newbold is executive vice president at ALPS Lawyers Malpractice Insurance.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As we all know, “Quantum Leap” was Jared’s favorite TV show as a kid, but his current favorite is… “Bluey!” What’s that, you ask? Tune in for Jared’s take on why this Australian children’s program should take priority on your watchlist.Next up, could learning about legal contracts actually be fun? Well, sure! Jared chats with Laura Frederick of How to Contract about her training program and top tips for legal pros looking to draft better contracts for their clients.This time on the Rump Roast, Jared welcomes Jane Kuhuk, a longtime fan of the show, to play “Legal Toolkit Trivia!” Also known as “Shameless Promotion of the Show Archives”— go have a listen! Laura Frederick is the founder of How to Contract and managing attorney at Laura Frederick Law, PLLC.Jane Kuhuk is senior public relations manager at Esper Bionics and How To Contract.------Since we talked about the delightful Heeler family - the stars of 'Bluey', I have a playlist for you that's all about animals.https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0jHwxwHcVwdA1ljCO2ATvB?si=8d8c5f6e1f324f23------Our opening track is Two Cigarettes by Major Label Interest.The music for the Legal Trends Report Minute is I See You by Sounds Like Sander.Our closing track is Sweet Coffee by Ian Kelosky Special thanks to our sponsors TimeSolv, Clio, Scorpion, and Alert Communications. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How does your style attract your ideal client? What makes you stand out among your competitors? How do you want your clients to feel when they first meet you, and how do you want them to remember you after your meeting?These are all questions that we’re exploring in this podcast episode with Melanie Lippman.Melanie is an image consultant and believes that confidence is a woman’s most important asset – because when you’re feeling fabulous, you’re ready to take on the world. Melanie has always been passionate about helping people express their confidence with style. From taking classes at the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) as a teenager to studying fashion merchandising and cosmetic and fragrance marketing in college, she has immersed herself in the fashion world.After becoming a mom, she decided it was time to create the career she’s always wanted – to teach women how to style their best lives. Melanie give listeners actionable tips on: How your style may be costing you clients  Changing the mindset around our predisposed beliefs of having a personal shopper Why having help with your style will save you time and money The importance of first impressions  Resources mentioned in this episode:Playing Big by Tara Mohr Connect with Melanie here: Instagram LinkedIn https://www.melanielippman.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

Although the Americans with Disabilities Act is decades-old, many businesses, including law firms, continue to treat it as a suggestion, rather than federal law, according to Eve Hill and Jason Turkish, two lawyers who represent plaintiffs in disability cases.Special thanks to our sponsor, LawPay. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

News stories of late have been riddled with concerns over international infrastructure attacks that indicate a growing potential for cyber war. Should you be worried? Dennis and Tom discuss some of the most recent events in this arena and bring their conversation around to what legal professionals should do to prepare for this eventuality.Later, the guys talk about text-to-speech technology and whether its current generation of tools are worth your while.Special thanks to our sponsors, Posh Virtual Receptionists, Colonial Surety Company, and ServeNow. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Guest attorney Ruth Carter is nothing if not transparent. A client’s failure to plan should not be a cause for crisis to an attorney!Carter talks openly and honestly with host Adriana Linares about being clear with clients. Tell them your rates up front, even put them on your website. And set “rush rates” for any work that suddenly pops up, it sets expectations and encourages clients to think ahead and plan accordingly. Is your firm incorporating “rush rates” into client contracts?Plus, we have a special upcoming mailbag edition on Office 365 and all things Microsoft. Got a question? Contact us at newsolo@legaltalknetwork.com.Topics: Using simple, plain language to help clients understand what they are signing and what they are accomplishing. It’s OK to be transparent about your rates and that those rates increase when a matter is suddenly urgent! Being honest about what you do and what clients should expect. New InsightsIn a brand-new series of New Insights, veteran attorney Jennifer Smith Thomas answers questions from new attorney Jennifer Townsend about the challenges of working with her father in her small family-owned firm.Question 1: “My dad has given me a lot of freedom to redesign all the firm’s systems. How do I present my ideas without having him reject all of my plans?”  Got a question or suggestion? newsolo@legaltalknetwork.com Special thanks to our sponsors, Lawclerk, Alert Communications, Abby Connect, and Clio. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

By default, many paralegal professionals serve as project managers, keeping cases on track and knowing when the next filing is due. But is traditional, linear project management best for all cases? Agile project management has been around in other business sectors for 20 years, but the legal field has been cautious and slow to adopt. Guest Alicia Mitchell-Mercer is an expert in applying the modern Agile project management philosophy to legal cases and how the Scrum processes fit. Scrum team? Product owner? ScrumMaster? If you’ve been curious, even baffled, by these terms, you won’t get a better 30-minute introduction. Learn how modern project management fits today’s legal needs. From start to finish, Agile project management can help track legal projects and review results, then apply lessons learned to future projects. Mitchell-Mercer explains how applying these principles could help your firm work more efficiently, improve outcomes, and better serve clients. As a bonus, there isn’t a high barrier to entry for ScrumMaster certification (and it could add to your personal market value). Plus, some insights on how COVID’s push to remote meetings has changed, perhaps forever, legal project management. Special thanks to our sponsors NALA, ServeNow, and InfoTrack. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

TECHSHOW is coming up March 2-5 in Chicago! Sharon Nelson and Jim Calloway welcome this year’s co-chairs Brooke Moore and Ivan Hemmans to learn more about the in-person and virtual offerings for conference-goers. Visit techshow.com to register! Brooke Moore is the legal editor for Legal Templates LLC and founding attorney of MyVirtual.Lawyer, an online, limited scope representation law firm model.Ivan Hemmans is a senior manager of technical development at O'Melveny & Myers LLP and has extensive experience with information technology.Special thanks to our sponsors, Alert Communications, Blackletter Podcast, Scorpion, and Smokeball. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices