Legal Talk Network - Law News and Legal Topics

In episode 587 of Lawyerist Podcast, discover how your firm can stay competitive, efficient, and future-ready by embracing artificial intelligence. Stephanie Everett talks with Jack Newton, CEO and founder of Clio, about how small firms can leverage AI to streamline workflows, make smarter decisions, and outpace slower-moving competitors.  Jack explains how Clio’s new AI-powered platform, Clio Work, is transforming the way lawyers practice—by integrating intelligent automation directly into everyday tasks. Together, they explore what it means to become an “AI-native” law firm, how to balance innovation with ethics, and why small firms are uniquely positioned to lead the legal industry’s next big shift.  Learn how to use AI as a force multiplier in your practice—and why adaptability, not size, will define tomorrow’s most successful law firms.    Listen to our previous episodes about AI & Law Firm Growth:   Episode #584: “How to Stay Human in the Age of AI-Driven Law Firm Marketing, with Conroy Creative” Apple | Spotify | LTN   Episode #577: “Rethinking Law Firm Growth in the Age of AI, with Sam Harden” Apple | Spotify | LTN  Episode #565: “Becoming the AI Driven Leader, with Geoff Woods” Apple | Spotify | LTN   Episode #562: “Beyond ChatGPT: The AI Revolution Happening Inside Your Firm, with Charreau Bell” 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:   0:00 – Introduction & ClioCon Recap  2:00 – Growth Stages of Small Firms  5:10 – Clio for Enterprise Explained  7:45 – Why Small Firms Have the Advantage  10:30 – How AI Is Changing Legal Work  13:15 – Making AI Adoption Effortless  16:00 – Trust, Data & the Hallucination Problem  20:00 – Building the AI-Native Law Firm  22:30 – Staying Competitive in the Age of Change  24:40 – Closing Thoughts    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Take One campaign is a statewide initiative encouraging Texas lawyers to take on one pro bono case a year for a veteran in need. Rocky Dhir sits down with Major General Alfred Valenzuela and past State Bar President Terry Tottenham to discuss the campaign’s mission to bridge the gap between lawyers and veterans. Their conversation highlights the challenges veterans often face when transitioning back to civilian life and the vital role legal support can play in that process. Through Take One, attorneys in every practice area can use their expertise to handle cases that align with their specialties while meeting the diverse legal needs of those who have served our nation. To learn more about serving our veterans, visit the Texas Lawyers for Texas Veterans website, and read about the Take One campaign in the November Issue of the Texas Bar Journal. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

DOJ punishing lawyers, the future of the billable hour, and dark times for public interest work. ----- We talk about the DOJ lawyers suspended by the White House for calling January 6 a riot in a sentencing memo. and the conversation veers down a rabbit hole about the proper role of pardons. For years, the billable hour seemed like the cockroach of law firm management, but after surviving numerous brushes with death, AI might finally force firms to look into alternative fee structures. And if you're in law school and thinking about serving the public interest, expect it to be a lot more expensive unless your future employer is blessed by the Trump administration. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s election week in the U.S., and while many eyes are on the polls, we’re revisiting a conversation that reminds us why voting matters in the first place. In this rebroadcast, Yale Law professor Owen Fiss reflects on his work enforcing the Civil Rights and Voting Rights Acts, the courts’ role in protecting democracy, and why casting a ballot remains both a privilege and a duty. ----- After 50 years as a professor at Yale Law School, Owen Fiss says his students are still idealistic and passionate about the rights won in the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Voting Rights Act of 1965. As a young lawyer in the late 1960s, Fiss worked with the Department of Justice to implement those laws. A classroom discussion in the spring of 2020 prompted him to draw upon his legal expertise and decades of experience to produce his new book, Why We Vote.  In this episode of The Modern Law Library podcast, Fiss speaks with the ABA Journal’s Lee Rawles about the paradox of the court system–the least democratic branch of government–having the responsibility of safeguarding the right to vote. He looks back on his work with the DOJ in southern states, and his time as a clerk for Justice Thurgood Marshall (then on the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New York) and Justice William Brennan.  Rawles and Fiss also discuss recent threats to the electoral system and right to vote, including the insurrection on Jan. 6, 2021. Fiss shares his thoughts about Section 3 of the 14th Amendment, and whether former President Donald Trump should be removed from the ballot on that basis.  While every book he writes is for his students, Fiss says, he hopes Why We Vote can impress upon a broader audience the privilege and duty of voting and participating in a democracy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Pop star sensationalism aside, we can learn a lot from watching other attorneys perform in the courtroom, and this trial gave us plenty to talk about. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In 1998, a retired NYPD officer was shot and killed inside an illegal gambling parlor. Angry cops wanted speedy justice for one of their own, and an overzealous, incautious investigation ensued. A witness to the shooting with a criminal past was put under intense pressure to deliver a suspect. After hours of questioning and over 1800 mugshots, he picked one at random—one that should never have been on the table in front of him. The man in the photo, Jon-Adrian “JJ” Velazquez, was accused, arrested, and labeled a cop killer—despite the fact that there was a complete lack of physical evidence linking him to this terrible incident. JJ was convicted of murder and sentenced to life in prison for a crime of which he had no knowledge or connection.  JJ, along with friend and investigative journalist Dan Slepian, tells the story of his 27-year fight to gain his freedom and clear his name. They dig into the failures of the system that led to JJ’s conviction and how his tenacious advocacy finally led to his exoneration.    Jon-Adrian “JJ” Velazquez is an American actor and activist who exemplifies resilience and dedication to legal reform. JJ is the founder of MONUMENTAL MEDIA based in NYC, a mission-driven creative agency and talent incubator dedicated to reshaping the narrative around incarceration and social justice issues. JJ now serves his community locally as the Co-founder and Executive Director of Voices from Within based in New York, and nationally as the Program Director at the Frederick Douglass Project for Justice. Dan Slepian is a Pulitzer Prize finalist and Emmy winning investigative journalist at NBC News whose reporting has helped solve cold cases, exonerate the innocent, and spark legal reform.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This is a fun one. As we know, Litigation Radio said goodbye to longtime host Dave Scriven-Young this summer. But what do we know about our new hosts, Michal “Mic” Rogson and James “Jim” Reeder? Believe it or not, they didn’t know each other well before agreeing to cohost the show. That’s a surprise. But they knew “of” each other professionally through ABA Litigation Section circles. In this episode, they interview each other. Not the resume stuff, but rather: What makes them tick? Who knew both hosts, while successful litigators, shared a passion for entertainment, even Broadway? (Hello, any agents out there!) While those dreams may never be reached, they agree being an attorney provides that creative outlet. Find out how an African American radio station, childhood dreams, and religion shaped the careers of Mic and Jim. Taking a moment to reflect on your own life journey can help shape the future of your career. What did you want to be, and where are you going? Have a question, comment, or suggestion for an upcoming episode? Get in touch at MRogson@SkywardInsurance.com and JAReeder@JonesDay.com. Resources:  The American Leadership Foundation American Bar Association 2026 Women in Litigation CLE Conference American Bar Association Litigation Section Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Case Doctors explore questions from viewers about how best to select an expert witness for a case and ponder whether lawyers really need law school. Plus, John recalls how one client’s baton death march in court played with the jury. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The best payment experiences are transparent and simple, but far too many law firms struggle with awkward payment barriers for their clients. Stephanie Everett welcomes A.J. Axelrod of Clio to discuss modern and secure billing practices for law firms. They consider common errors and archaic methods that may lead to profit losses, share insights from the Legal Trends Report, and talk about how Clio’s billing software can help you ensure best practices in client payments.  A.J. Axelrod is Clio's Vice President of Payments and Financial Services. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Strong governance keeps a bar association thriving through generations of leadership. In this episode, host Amanda Arriaga sits down with leaders from the Allegheny County Bar Association to explore how their thoughtful leadership, strategic planning, and commitment to mission and values has brought lasting success. Executive Director Dave Blaner, Assistant Executive Director Thomas Petropoulos, President Amy Coco, Immediate Past President Regina Wilson, and President-Elect Daniel Fitzsimmons share how their organization has built a culture of stability and innovation. As Mr. Blaner prepares to retire in the summer of 2026, he, Mr. Petropoulos and the leadership of the Bar association discuss the multi-year leadership transition process that has prepared the association for seamless continuity as they move into the future. From maintaining financial health to deeply investing in legal community relationships, this conversation highlights how the ACBA continues to grow and adapt while staying true to its mission—proving that effective governance is both an art and a long-term investment in the bar’s legacy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices