Legal Talk Network - Law News and Legal Topics

In episode 588 of the Lawyerist Podcast, discover how small shifts in mindset and management can make law practice less chaotic and more rewarding. Zack Glaser sits down with Jordan Couch of Palace Law to explore lessons from his book, 411 Tips for Solo and Small Firm Lawyers. They cover everything from client service and writing habits to creativity and innovation, offering real-world advice to help lawyers build stronger, happier firms.  Listen to our previous episodes about Law Firm Innovation & Sustainable Growth:   Rethinking Law Firm Growth in the Age of AI, with Sam Harden Apple | Spotify | LTN  #553: AI Tools and Processes Every Lawyer Should Use with Catherine Sanders Reach Apple | Spotify | LTN  #550: Beyond Content: How AI is Changing Law Firm Marketing, with Gyi Tsakalakis and Conrad Saam Apple | Spotify | LTN    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 / Timestamps:   00:00 – Introduction with Stephanie & Zack  05:52 – Meet Jordan Couch  07:12 – 411 Tips for Lawyers  09:48 – Pick Your Lane  13:51 – Client Service Matters  16:26 – Handling Client Frustration  21:12 – The Trial Is Always Happening  24:35 – Write Like a Human  34:20 – Practice Creativity  37:38 – The Future of Law  46:00 – Closing Thoughts  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When Matthew Moeller launched his New Orleans law firm, he wasn’t just becoming a solo attorney— he was stepping into entrepreneurship. He shares how he turned lessons from a high-school retail job into business instincts for running a profitable practice, why he ditched file cabinets for the cloud, and how technology and specialization keep his firm agile and client-focused. Then, ALPS Insurance’s Rio Laine joins host Adriana Linares to unpack why business training, specialization, and tail coverage matter for every new solo.   Hear the original episode with Matthew Moeller Learn more about ALPS Insurance.  Receive email notifications every time we release a new episode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ever think of hanging up a shingle and going it alone as a freelance paralegal services provider? It can be done and there is a demand. Working in a firm isn’t your only option. Guest Corrin Swintosky is a freelance paralegal professional at her own company, Lucid Legal Support LLC, who specializes in helping small and midsize law firms increase efficiencies by providing extra help with criminal law cases as needed.   A former probation officer, Swintosky’s passions include helping expunge criminal records, getting offenders back on their feet and get their lives back on track after minor offenses and missteps. Even a minor mark on a person’s record can create barriers to housing, employment, voting, and everyday life.  Hear how Swintosky as a one-person show balances tech and business skills, how she learned to work side-by-side with attorneys, and how she leans confidently into her expertise.  Mentioned in This Episode: “New York Clean Slate Act Takes Effect on November 16, 2024, With New Obligations for Employers Running Criminal Background Checks,” LawAndTheWorkplace.com  “It's Time for a Federal Clean Slate,” The Clean Slate Initiative  NALA, The Paralegal Association NALA Conference & Expo 2026 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

And Kirkland tries a little tenderness. FedSoc does not. ----- The news that Kirkland had to teach its lawyers how to stop being mean to the private equity industry is incredibly funny. We're not saying Kirkland is getting a bad rap here, but when did corporate clients become such fragile snowflakes? The Federalist Society's annual meeting brought together the leading minds of the Trump legal movement to call for a "war" to impeach the federal judges -- many of them longtime conservatives themselves -- for not appropriately facilitating the administration. And the DOJ completes its humiliation in the D.C. sandwich thrower case by failing to secure even a misdemeanor conviction.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Don Schlapprizzi discusses significant changes in the legal practice and how he endured being lead counsel on a 90-day civil jury trial…the longest in Missouri history. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jason Brown, CEO of the Association of Corporate Counsel and seasoned in-house legal expert, unveils exciting trends in generative AI usage among in-house lawyers. He reveals that over half of surveyed counsel are now utilizing AI, significantly boosting efficiency in tasks like legal research and document drafting. Brown discusses the potential shift in billing models, emphasizing the drive for cost-effective legal services. He also highlights the importance of responsible AI use to mitigate errors and ensure effective implementation in law practices.

Legal technologists discuss a recent survey that found that legal aid attorneys are adopting AI at a faster rate than other legal professionals on Talk Justice. In May of 2025, Everlaw partnered with the National Legal Aid & Defender Association, Paladin and LawSites to conduct a survey of 112 legal aid professionals. The survey formed the basis of the report, “The AI Advantage: How Technology Can Help Bridge the Justice Gap,” which was published in September. It found that 74% of the legal aid organizations surveyed are already using AI in their work, which is double the generative AI adoption rate of the wider legal profession. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode’s discussions around the Community Table, recorded in person at the October 2025 ClioCon legal tech conference: When you attend a legal tech conference such as ClioCon, how do you keep from being overwhelmed by the firehose of information and new tech tools. AI? E-discovery? Vendors? Marketing? It’s a lot. Working in a rural area, it can be difficult to find and hire new attorneys. Step up your recruiting marketing and consider that with today’s remote tools, maybe your next hire doesn’t have to live in your region.  When hiring a non-attorney salesperson, how do you prepare them? Trying to teach them “the law” can be both irrelevant and perilous. Listening to potential clients and demonstrating how your firm can solve their problems is what matters.   Ask us anything for the Community Table. Leave us a question online! Join the next Community Table discussion live! Always the third Thursday of the month at 3 p.m. Eastern. Mentioned in This Episode: Highlights from ClioCon 2025 “Who: The A Method for Hiring” by Geoff Smart and Randy Street Clio ClioCon 2026, Oct. 26-27, 2026 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Family law is emotionally charged, complex, and full of pitfalls that can undermine even the most experienced attorney. In this special episode of On the Road, veteran family lawyer Claude Ducloux shares decades of hard-earned insights for running a successful practice. He covers how to set realistic client expectations, identify high-risk clients, handle social media ethically, protect yourself with documentation, and maintain civility and professionalism throughout every case. From practical billing and office management tips to strategies for fair settlements, Ducloux provides a roadmap for navigating family law with confidence, integrity, and clarity. Claude Ducloux is a family law attorney with nearly 48 years of experience guiding clients and shaping best practices in the field. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The actions of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, better known as ICE, have divided the country. Many believe that the Trump administration's crackdown on illegal immigration and violent crime is making the country safer. On the other side, there has been a resistance across the United States with communities standing up to ICE’s intimidating tactics, which include anything from unmarked vehicles, masks concealing ICE agents' identities, to arrests outside courtrooms, and a lack of due process. This has led to controversy and legal challenges.  So do ICE’s actions go too far? Or is ICE making our country a safer place to live? And are these ICE raids protected and legal? On this episode of Lawyer 2 Lawyer, Craig joins Professor Daniel Kanstroom, founder of the Boston College Immigration and Asylum Clinic, as they spotlight immigration law and ICE. Craig & Dan take a look at the legalities behind the actions of ICE, the constitutionality of ICE raids, the lack of due process, and the impact ICE is having on citizens and non-citizens of the United States. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices