Legal Talk Network - Law News and Legal Topics

You've got to know when to hold 'em. Know when to fold 'em.------Supreme Court litigator Tom Goldstein, co-founder of SCOTUSblog, is on the wrong side of the law facing a multi-count indictment related to the alleged fallout of a hard-core gambling lifestyle. All while routinely arguing multiple cases in front of the Supreme Court. Legen...wait for it...dary. Also Proskauer proves that every rose has its thorn and Yale stares down on of the most epic downgrades in law school history. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dissecting a $535 million verdict in sexual assault case Attorneys Tim Cronin, John G. Simon and Nathan Perlmutter discuss the strategies and approach they took to a case involving a 13-year-old victim of sexual assault that led to the one of the largest plaintiff’s verdicts in Illinois history. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The infamous McMartin Preschool trial epitomized the daycare abuse hysteria of the 1980s. What began with unsubstantiated allegations by a mentally ill parent spiraled into a seven-year legal battle, costing $16 million and leaving lives shattered—without a single conviction. Through flawed investigations, suggestive interviews, and sensational claims, the case raised critical questions about justice, credibility, and the power of mass panic. Join us as we explore the events, the fallout, and the lessons learned from one of America’s most controversial trials. SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR VOICE ACTORS:Frank Pira as Police ChiefLee Rawles as Kee MacFarlaneKen Sutherland as 9th Circuit AppealsConrad Saam as Professor Douglas LinderDoreen Wiley as Attorney Lael RubinJon Enge as Attorney Dean Richard GitsEvan Dicharry as Attorney J. Daniel DavisGyi Tsakalakis as Dr. Michael MaloneyGeorgia Well as Peggy Buckey Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Robert Mattson, a seasoned corporate communications leader and founder of Intrigue Communications, emphasizes the art and science of storytelling in law. He argues that effective storytelling transforms legal arguments into relatable narratives, enhancing persuasion and retention for jurors. Mattson highlights how lawyers can humanize their clients to create emotional connections, making cases more compelling. Plus, he reveals the three crucial words that can elevate any story, underscoring the importance of clarity and audience engagement in legal communication.

John Echohawk has served as Executive Director of the Native American Rights Fund (NARF) since 1977. Under John's inspired and continuing leadership, NARF has successfully asserted and defended the most important rights of Indians and tribes in hundreds of major cases, and has achieved significant results in such critical areas as tribal sovereignty, treaty rights, natural resource protection, voting rights, and Indian education. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Four years ago, on January 6th, 2021, our U.S. Capitol was under siege by supporters of Donald Trump who tried to stop a joint session of Congress from certifying the electoral votes of the 2020 presidential election. Fast forward to 2025, Donald J. Trump is about to take office as President and the fate of those convicted of January 6th crimes lies in his hands.In this episode, Craig is joined by Kimberly Wehle, professor of law at the University of Baltimore School of Law and author of the book, Pardon Power: How the Pardon System Works—and Why. Craig & Kim take a look back at January 6th, the possibility of Trump pardoning those convicted of federal crimes stemming from January 6th, and the implications this could have on our society and our legal system.Mentioned in This Episode:Los Angeles Times: Hundreds of Capitol Riot Prosecutions in Limbo as D.C. Court Awaits Trump’s White House Return By Alanna Durkin Richer and Michael Kunzelman  Pardon Power: How the Pardon System Works—and Why by Kimberly Wehle Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It was the 80s, man! The Xennial microgeneration (born between 1977 and 1983) is, arguably, the best generation, but growing up in the magical, tech-free 80s wasn’t actually entirely happy-go-lucky. TV and movies of the era loved inflicting psychological scars on children, so Jared takes a therapeutic moment to get all that emotional damage off his chest.  Next—what you’re actually here for—insights on legal technology, conferences, products, and more! Jared welcomes Jobst Elster of InsideLegal to get his take on the latest trends. They discuss technology use in law firms and spend time hashing out why legal tech conferences are still a pretty essential part of tech education and making connections with progressive, reputable vendors. And, lastly, the Rump Roast! As it turns out, Jobst has a serious barbeque hobby, so, in homage to the name of this segment, he and Jared talk about the literal roasting and smoking of delicious meats.-----A playlist full of...meat?-----Jobst Elster is the Head of Content/Legal Marketing Strategy at InsideLegal.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Digital information management is a delicate balancing act, connecting the moving parts of a busy legal operation with the information technologists who manage the data. How do you pull an entire office together and manage and leverage all that information? Guest Stephanie Clerkin is the Director of Litigation Support at Korein Tillery and a 2024 recipient of the Gayle O’Connor Spirit Award, which celebrates e-discovery and legal technology leaders who make noteworthy contributions to the fields of e-discovery, legal tech, information governance, cybersecurity, and data privacy. The award is named for the late Gayle O’Connor. Hear some of the secrets of bringing people together around technology (even dragging along some of the stragglers who have “always done it this way”). You’ll learn to adapt to different styles, demonstrate the value of efficient data management, and sometimes do more with less. Legal tech and data management never sleeps. Helping everyone – from support staff to senior attorneys – keep up is a challenge. Finding a mentor, establishing a work life balance, and mastering technology test us all, but Clerkin has tips you can put to work now. Mentioned in This Episode:Gayle O’Connor Spirit Award announcementRelativity e-discovery platformRelativity certificationsMake-A-Wish Young ProfessionalsNALA Conference & Expo 2025NALA, The Paralegal Association Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, Stephanie talks with Michael Bungay Stanier, the author of The Coaching Habit, about his new book How to Work with (Almost) Anyone. They discuss how successful law firm leaders know how to effectively coach teammates and how to foster what Stanier calls the ‘Best Possible Relationships’ (BPRs). This discussion emphasizes the importance of curiosity over advice-giving, and the need for psychological safety in both client and employee relationships. The discussion is rich with practical insights and actionable strategies for improving workplace dynamics and fostering better communication, including how to have a Keystone Conversation and build better self-awareness in leadership. Links from the episode:  Check out Michael's books MBS Works Women & AI Summit Chapters00:00 - Women + AI Summit 04:08 - Michael Bungay Stanier Insights 11:34 - Understanding BPR (Best Possible Relationship) 15:30 - Keystone Conversations Explained 19:53 - Qualities of a Great Team Member 23:20 - Getting Started with Effective Practices 26:31 - Importance of the "Read Me" Document 28:50 - Finding Michael Bungay Stanier Online 29:10 - Exploring More of Stanier's Work 29:45 - Outro  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Attorneys yearn for the commute.-----Sullivan & Cromwell are bringing attorneys back to the office five days a week. The stated reason is to mirror "normal business hours" which is a cruel joke in an abnormal business hour industry. Democratic Party superlawyer Marc Elias faces an uprising at his firm after staff proposed a mandatory arbitration agreement despite many of his top clients openly campaigning on... banning mandatory arbitration agreements. Finally, Wilson Sonsini hands out bonuses but pulls a fast one with special payments. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices