Legal Talk Network - Law News and Legal Topics

SideBar guest Chris Hearsey has spent over ten years working in international space collaborations, space exploration technologies, and other aerospace applications. His work has contributed to advancements in space law, policy, and technology. Chris is known for his visionary approach and commitment to pushing the boundaries of space capabilities, developing sustainable space technologies, and fostering an economic ecosystem conducive to innovation and growth. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Technology and automation are vital when it comes to helping a new firm blossom in today’s environment. Guest Kellam Parks started out in a relatively large firm after law school, but his desire to go paperless and incorporate technology drove him to launch a solo practice that has grown to a three offices in the Virginia Beach area. The firm, Parks Zeigler PLCC, incorporates technologies from case preparation to presentation and to create seamless communication channels among attorneys, staff, and clients. Parks and his partner grew the firm and expanded into new locations and specialties by inviting like minded attorneys with a book of business who may not be happy in their current situation to join the firm. Learn how a practice management system and outside professionals can help you manage and direct your success. Your time is best used practicing law, don’t be afraid to reach out to professionals for help, from tech administration to financial management, to coaching.Don’t be afraid to join professional groups, get involved, and learn from other attorneys who have been there and done that. If you’re a new solo interested in growing your firm, you can’t miss this episode. Questions or ideas about solo and small practices? Drop us a line at NewSolo@legaltalknetwork.com  Topics: Technology can be a critical part of your firm. It creates efficiencies, encourages collaboration, improves cybersecurity, and builds your business (and yes, you can do this) Pay for professional help when you need it. You might be a great attorney, but you can’t do everything. Recognize when you’re doing so well that you need a professional, whether that’s a technology consultant or a financial officer or tax pro. When you’ve done all you can getting your firm up and running and don’t know how to take the next step, consider hiring a business coach, someone who can help you recognize opportunities and chart your path forward.   Mentioned in This Episode:Previously on Legal Talk Network, Digital Detectives, “ Cybersecurity: Getting to Good for the Small Law Firm”“Traction: Get a Grip on Your Business,” by Gino WickmanStephanie Everett, “The Lawyerist”The LawyeristAffinity ConsultingEOS WorldwidePreviously on New Solo, guest Debbie Foster, “Winning the Battle: When It’s Time to Modernize but There’s One Holdout”Previously on New Solo, guest Ernie “The Attorney” Svenson, “Ernie The Attorney: A Tech Whisperer Shares His Legal Tech Secrets”Ernie’s Inner CircleErnie The AttorneyCaret LegalMicrosoft 365 for BusinessLawmaticsAdobeHotDocs legal documentsDialpad VoIPLawyer on the Beach, Facebook1Password, password managerSentinelOne cybersecurityVirginia State Bar Special Committee “Technology and the Future Practice of Law”Florida Bar AssociationClio Cloud Conference 2025Clio Legal Trends Report Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Guest Michael C. Duff, professor at the St. Louis University School of Law, explores the evolving field of mental health injuries in the Workers’ Comp world. Stress and workplace trauma is real, and recognition of these injuries is developing, but there are still complicating factors. Did workplace stress cause a heart attack, or was there underlying heart damage? What constitutes post-traumatic stress, and at what point did that stress occur on the job? There’s a lot to unpack. Daily on-the-job stress versus something truly unusual at the workplace; cumulative versus traumatic stress; faking versus real injury; causation; and privacy (HIPAA) all factor into a decision regarding compensation.We all know a broken arm when we see it. But understanding a damaged mind can be tricky. First responders, air traffic controllers, and factory workers all face stresses, but not all stress is the same. Hear how jurisdictions differ in their view of psychological injury Workers’ Comp claims. 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. Mentioned in This Episode:Agis v. Howard Johnson Co.Previous Appearance on Workers Comp Matters, “For Every Wrong, A Remedy? When A Workplace Event Harms A Family” Previous Appearance on Workers Comp Matters, “Presumptions in the Age of Covid-19” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Happy Black Friday, everyone! Time to join in on the shopping frenzy, and fill up your cart with tech tools that meet every conceivable need. If you’re not sure what to get, Dennis and Tom are at the ready with a carefully curated list of the best tech on the market in 2024. They share their recommendations for which phone/tablet upgrades are worth your while, utilitarian and luxury gadgets that make life run a little more smoothly, charging stations for every possible use-case, cognition boosters, and more!As always, stay tuned for the parting shots, that one tip, website, or observation that 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 the answers to your most burning tech questions. Show Notes - Kennedy-Mighell Report #379A Segment: Phones and Gadgets and Gizmos, Oh My! Pixel 9 Pro Fold  Pixel 9 Pro iPhone 16 The 12 best tech gadgets that solve real-world problems in 2024  iPad mini - Apple reMarkable Paper Pro Introducing Amazon Kindle Colorsoft Signature Edition (32 GB) – With color display  WARRKY Ethernet Splitter WALKINGPAD A1 Pro Folding Treadmill OpenRun Pro 2 Bone Conduction Sports Headphones- Shokz PureZone Mini Portable Air Purifier - Cordless True HEPA Filter  WYZE Smart Scale X for Body Weight Charging Table - Allen Rectangular Tiered End Table Satechi Multi Device Charging Station with Wireless Charging Magtame Tangle-Free Charging Cable Gemini Pro - Google DeepMind  Govee RGBIC Floor Lamp, LED Corner Lamp Works with Alexa Smart Water Bottle - LARQ  Eight Sleep Anker SOLIX F2000 Portable Power Station  Meta smart glasses 2024 | Ray-Ban® USA Apple Vision Pro  Jackary Portable Power Stations  DJI Mini 3 Pro Drone with 4K Video Prinker S Tattoos B Segment: Gadgets for Cognitive Performance Brain.fm Parting Shots: deck.blue Skeets Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s become a holiday tradition to re-air this important and enlightening episode of The Lawyerist Podcast.  Listen in as Sam Glover and Annie Grace dive into sobriety and mindful drinking. Annie shares her insights and strategies learned in her book, “The Alcohol Experiment.”  Discover the potential harms of the legal profession's drinking culture and learn how to navigate social events without alcohol. This is a must-listen for any lawyer rethinking their relationship with alcohol.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Selecting jurors that are open to really hearing the facts of your case is the foundation of a winning trial strategy. Simon Law Firm Trial Attorney Patrick McPhail shares his insights on how to better engage with the jury panel in your next voir dire. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

'Hey, please don't open this' is not a policy.-----A law firm left its confidential internal documents with juicy information unprotected and was shocked, SHOCKED to find out attorneys read them. Pam Bondi is next at bat for the Attorney General job. While her decision to drop an official investigation into Trump University conveniently after he started supporting her will get a lot of attention, don't sleep on the TAIL of her fight over another family's dog. And, finally, we have an un-bear-ably wild tale of a "bear" attack on luxury cars.00:00 Small Talk03:10 Happy Thanksgiving07:00 Biglaw Associates Caught Reading Private Emails14:03 Goodbye Matt Gaetz, Hello Pam Bondi17:26 Pam Bondi’s Dog Drama23:04 The Bear That Attacked Luxury Cars Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If the bio pic you chose for your website shows you standing in front of a shelf of law books… you might be in need of a website teardown.-----Folks, we have a volunteer! As promised, the guys devote this episode to an in-depth diagnostic of a law firm website—one that might just look a whole heck of a lot like yours. Paul Robinson of Paul Robinson Law, PLLC offered up his personal injury law firm site to the merciless scrutiny of Gyi and Conrad. So if you, too, have been wondering whether your site is up to snuff, take a listen to the guys’ detailed teardown. From the first Google search to the nitty-gritty details of Paul’s site pages, they discuss both the failings and successes and explain smart, effective strategies all lawyers can employ to improve web presence and reach target clients. Watch on YouTubeSuggested LHLM Episodes:Ring, Ring! What to Expect When You Call Up a Marketing Agency  Does My Website Suck? | Law Firm Website Teardown Local SEO 2024: How to Rank AND Expand Your Law Firm Connect:The Bite - Lunch Hour Legal Marketing Newsletter!Leave Us an Apple Review Lunch Hour Legal Marketing on YouTube Lunch Hour Legal Marketing on TikTok Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What gives, America? Jared shares his take on Trump’s unexpectedly decisive re-election and what he expects/fears in the upcoming presidential term. Here’s hoping democracy survives the next 4 years. Next up, Alan Klevan has used technology to create a better work-life balance for decades, and you can too! Jared and Alan talk through how to leverage technology in your workflows to create a legal practice that aligns with your values and goals as an attorney. Alan shares his favorite tech tools and his strategies for maintaining balance in your personal and professional life.Last, Alan dodges the usual Rump Roast trivia by having a weird hobby! We bet you’ve never heard of a lobster roll connoisseur, but, well, now you have. Jared questions Alan on his unique experiences consuming lobster rolls in extensive and varied locales. -----Are mixtapes still a thing? Jared says so.-----Alan Klevan has been an attorney since 1990, concentrating in the fields of workers' compensation law, automobile tort law, and general negligence law.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What can you do to attract more business to your firm? Let’s talk about acquisitions through networking. Guest Janet Falk, Ph.D., is a communications professional with more than 30 years of experience helping small and solo firms get better at finding (and signing) more clients. Falk is the chief strategist at Falk Communications and Research. This is a free lesson in media and public and personal relations, from being the “go-to” for news reporters, mastering marketing communications, and acquiring new clients through personal relationships. This is all about meeting and exceeding your business goals. Falk is a frequent author, speaker, and an industry-leading communications consultant. How do you shape a news story that boosts your case? Who are you trying to reach in the media, and how do you get out front? How do you keep your firm top-of-mind? How do you present yourself at networking events? Even if you’re a secret introvert, this episode is for you. You can “get out there” and build your business, make connections, attract referrals, and tell your story. Learn techniques to prepare and benefit from networking events from the minute you walk in the door. These are valuable tips you won’t find anywhere else (hint, it includes the two things you must bring to any event).Mentioned in This Episode:The 2024 Clio Cloud Conference in ReviewFive Fast Tips to Maximize a Media Interview, by Janet FalkJoin the next Community Table live. What’s on your mind? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices