Legal Talk Network - Law News and Legal Topics

The first image conjured in your mind by the word “sheriff” might be the protagonist of a Wild West movie or Robin Hood’s foe, the Sheriff of Nottingham. But unless you’re a resident of Alaska, Connecticut, Hawaii and Rhode Island, there’s likely an elected law-enforcement official in your area who holds that title.In The Highest Law in the Land: How the Unchecked Power of Sheriffs Threatens Democracy, lawyer and journalist Jessica Pishko takes a deep dive into the history of this position in American life, and at a far-right movement hoping to co-opt the role of sheriff to advance extreme conservative policies.There are some 3,000 sheriffs in the United States, one per county (or county equivalent). In this episode of The Modern Law Library, Pishko and the ABA Journal's Lee Rawles discuss how the rural/urban divide impacts the demographics of sheriffs. Ninety-seven percent of the land area in the United States is considered rural, but only 20% of the people live in those rural areas. In the 2020 census, Greene County, Alabama, had 7,730 residents and one sheriff. Cook County, Illinois, which contains the city of Chicago, had 5,275,541 residents and one sheriff. This leads to a larger proportion of sheriffs representing a rural and more conservative demographic, Pishko says.Pishko explains the “constitutional sheriff” movement, including its similarities to other fringe movements like the sovereign citizens. Adherents claim that sheriffs alone have the power to interpret how the Constitution and the first 10 Amendments should be enforced in their counties. They claim that state governments, the federal government, the president and the U.S. Supreme Court have no power over sheriffs, and that as elected officials, sheriffs are answerable only to their constituents.In this episode, Pishko also describes the large role sheriffs have in incarcerations, how their enforcement powers differ or overlap with police, and what disciplinary or oversight measures are available when a sheriff abuses their office. Pishko and Rawles also discuss the roles sheriffs might have in local elections, and whether they might have an impact on the 2024 presidential election. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Stephanie sits down with Lawyerist Labster and law firm owner Allyson Kitchel as she shares the challenges and triumphs of establishing her practice in a competitive market.  Discover how Allyson found her niche in personal injury law by focusing on cyclists, a unique approach that set her apart and helped grow her client base and hear about her remarkable victory in a landmark wrongful death case. You’ll also get practical insights on leveraging digital platforms and remote work to enhance your firm's marketing strategy, even on a shoestring budget. Links from the episode: Collbox: Lawyerist's go-to Solution for Getting Law Firms Paid   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In August, the city of Chicago welcomed the 2024 Democratic National Convention, and delegates formally selected Kamala Harris as the nominee for President following President Biden’s departure from the race. But, let’s back up a second. Where exactly did those nominating delegates come from? Chicago attorney Aurora Austriaco joins Maggie Mendenhall Casey and Tracy Brammeier to discuss her experience serving as an elected delegate at the 2024 DNC. Aurora outlines the process and responsibilities involved in becoming a delegate and shares highlights and impactful moments from the convention. Aurora Austriaco is a Shareholder with Valentine Austriaco & Bueschel P.C., an all women owned law firm concentrating in the areas of commercial litigation, business litigation and real estate. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Learn how to exceed expectations and thrive as a new lawyer from a panel of seasoned attorneys who are open and honest about what it takes to make partner, navigate your career, and excel in the legal field. Special thanks to our friends over at Litigation Radio, ABA's Section of Litigation and Podcast Host Dave Scriven-Young for sharing this special episode with us. For more conversations with top litigators, judges, and experts, subscribe to Litigation Radio on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.-----Newly admitted lawyers can feel overwhelmed and intimidated. Law schools can’t teach everything, and there’s a lot of on-the-job learning. Some of the work is difficult and complicated. Some of what’s required is as simple as showing up on time and doing work that looks perfect and is free of typos (yes, that matters, even for internal communications).With each task, the best new lawyers progress from competence to excellence. Start with the goal of being a “superstar associate” by being the best lawyer you can be. When new lawyers take on tasks and do good work, others will notice and will mentor you. What any new lawyer makes of their earliest experience in any firm will drive them to the next level, no matter their career path.This episode shares tips for standing out and learning how to be a lawyer from two attorneys who have excelled in their careers and have made partner at their respective firms.Resources:What New Lawyers Must Know on Their First Day on the JobEarly Career Success for Attorneys Can Come from Developing Your "Ownership Mindset"Great Lawyers Don't Only Point Out Problems—They Offer SolutionsSuccess in the Legal Profession Is Not Achieved Through Participation TrophiesBuilding a Career you Love as a Young LawyerSome Advice to the New or Soon-to-be LawyerTop Tips for Young Lawyers: How to Survive and Thrive in Your Legal CareerAmerican Bar AssociationAmerican Bar Association Litigation SectionAmerican Bar Association Young Lawyers Division Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The republican party of the 1990s must be turning over in its grave because the modern GOP is arguing teen pregnancy is a good thing. Equity partnership in Biglaw is a financial windfall, unless you're in the 10-30% of partners getting a compensation cut. And do you like messy, I mean MESSY, legal drama? The latest from the Texas bankruptcy court romantic scandal is eye popping. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Setting a clear vision for your law firm can be challenging for many attorneys. Lawyers are highly educated and intelligent professionals, but they may not have the business knowledge to maximize their success. Dan Lear welcomes Mark Britton and Alex Shipillo to hear about their session on practical business strategies for modern, competitive law firms. They talk about developing fundamental values, identifying key performance indicators, effective collaboration, and other operational principles for transforming your legal practice.Mark Britton is the founder of the legal marketplace, Avvo.com. Alex Shipillo is the Vice President of Growth Marketing at Clio. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Disbursing settlements can be challenging. Today’s discussion covers claims on the settlement, special needs trusts and structured settlement annuities. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Your underutilized, underappreciated marketing directors are writing quite the sob stories in their journals every night. Is your law firm worthy of their complaints? -----Today, we’re picking the heart-shaped lock of every law firm marketing director’s innermost desires and disappointments. Gyi and Conrad unpack the age-old issues between marketers and those they serve to (hopefully) broaden understanding for both sides. They outline some of the common mistakes made by each party—lawyers v. marketers—and give tactical advice for collaboration that encourages the bloom of efficiency and profitability. They pick apart the faulty ideology around referrals, search, and marketing budgets that could be stunting your firm’s growth and your marketer’s potential.Later, which should you pick—Ahrefs or Semrush? The guys answer a listener question on which, if either, of these tools is best, but not without a few caveats. The News: Search Engine Land Acquired by Semrush – Eh, this probably isn’t great for Search Engine Land’s readers.  There’s got to be some sort of stupid Type-A ego B.S. going on with this whole situation: WP Engine asks court to stop Matt Mullenweg from blocking access to WordPress resources - The Verge.  Allison McKeen, Ryan McKeen, and Brittany Green launched a great new book (and may, or may not, be Mando fans)! – The Way: A Simple Roadmap for Leading a Healthy Law Firm Suggested Episodes:Dear State Bar Regulator - South Carolina EditionConnect: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

Experts discuss the professionalization of pro bono legal services on Talk Justice. Pro bono work is often thought of as a side project that lawyers perform, but legal aid organizations that can rely on full-time staff have increased opportunities to expand services and provide more intensive client service through pro bono. A growing number of people and firms are making pro bono their full-time occupations and bringing professionalism to this area of legal practice.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, Jonathan Steele, a Chicago-based divorce attorney and partner at Behrman LLP, shares crucial insights on cybersecurity tailored for law firms. The discussion covers prevalent digital threats like phishing attacks, business email compromises, and domain security issues. Jonathan stresses the importance of identifying suspicious emails, employing preventive measures such as DMARC, DKIM, and SPF records, and the vital role of modern techniques like pen testing. The conversation highlights the generational challenges in adopting security practices such as zero trust and multi-factor authentication, emphasizing the need for constant vigilance, updated security systems, and proper training. Practical advice on protecting sensitive client data and personal information from identity theft and data brokers is offered, alongside a recommendation for Michael Basil's 'Extreme Privacy' book. This episode provides a well-rounded approach to maintaining robust cybersecurity in the evolving digital landscape.Jonathan gives listeners actionable tips on: 00:00 Intro 01:50 Common Cyber Threats to Law Firms 02:59 Recognizing and Handling Phishing Attempts 08:18 Email Security and Domain Protection 12:47 Updating IT Practices for Modern Security 14:07 Challenges with Legacy IT Systems 17:34 Legal Implications of Cybersecurity 18:15 Personal vs. Business Cybersecurity 19:04 Reputation and Legal Risks 21:25 Evolving Threat Landscape 23:34 Book Recommendation 29:58 Ongoing Cybersecurity Practices 31:17 Final Takeaways and Conclusion Resources mentioned in this episode:Extreme Privacy by Michael BazzellConnect with Jonathan here: Instagram Twitter LinkedIn Facebook https://steelefamlaw.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