Legal Talk Network - Law News and Legal Topics

The legal profession as a whole now has a heightened awareness of the fact that wellbeing is a critical piece in the life of a lawyer, but rates of addiction, depression, anxiety, and other mental health struggles are still high. How can we support fellow attorneys, judges, students, and ourselves when dealing with a crisis? Molly Ranns and JoAnn Hathaway welcome Bree Buchanan to discuss her personal addiction and recovery story and learn about her work with the National Task Force on Lawyer wellbeing. Bree describes strategies and resources for reducing stigma and encouraging those who are struggling to seek the help they need. Lawyers & Judges Assistance Program - State Bar of MichiganBree Buchanan is co-founder of the National Task Force on Lawyer Wellbeing and co-author of its 2017 groundbreaking report that launched the Wellbeing in Law Movement. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The first bar examination in the United States was administered in oral form in the Delaware Colony in 1783, and in 1885, Massachusetts became the first state to employ a written version of the bar exam. Over time, the bar examination process has become more standardized, but there's no one test. One example of a standardized test is the Uniform Bar Examination (UBE), created back in 2011, and first administered that year by Missouri and North Dakota.So what is NEXT in standardized tests? According to the National Conference of Bar Examiners’ website, the NextGen Bar Exam, set to debut in July 0f 2026, will “test a broad range of foundational lawyering skills, utilizing a focused set of clearly identified fundamental legal concepts and principles needed in today’s practice of law.”Will the transition from a standardized test like UBE to NextGen be an easy one? And what can law students & faculty expect? In this episode, host Craig Williams is joined by guest Dennis C. Prieto, an Associate Professor and Reference Librarian at ­Rutgers Law School, who served on the National Conference of Bar Examiners’ NextGen Content Scope Committee and is a member of the NextGen Tasks and Rubrics Advisory Committee. Craig & Dennis explore the specifics of the exam, how law students and faculty can transition to preparing for the new exam, and what students can expect from the exam in 2026.Mentioned in this episode: NextGen Bar ExamFrom My Perspective: Essays on the NextGen Bar Exam and Legal Education By Dennis C. Prieto, Susan Landrum, Timothy J. McFarlin, and Wanda M. TemmCorrection: In the podcast, Professor Prieto mentioned 'NCBE member Beth Kennedy,' but the correct name is Beth Donohue. We apologize for any confusion and appreciate your understanding. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When it comes to your business development goals, guest (and rainmaker) Merrick “Rick” Gross explains the two biggest pools for new clients: internal and external.Internal client development is often overlooked, but it’s as important as finding external clients. Build your book of business through other attorneys at your own firm, especially if you work at a large firm with multiple offices across the country. The principles of internal client development are surprisingly simple. Talk to your colleagues. Be a nice person. Take time to visit your coworkers and listen to them. You can use “cross-marketing” and internal team building to find new clients.Then there are external clients—new business outside your firm. Not surprisingly, the principles are the same. Get out there. Develop personal relationships. Write for publications. Seek out speaking engagements at industry and trade conferences. Join organizations and even have a little fun getting to know people.Nothing replaces being a great lawyer. But these valuable tips provide new tools for building your career and your business.Resources:American Bar AssociationAmerican Bar Association Litigation SectionCarlton Fields law firm Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Think it’s impossible for an "old" firm to learn "new" tricks? Think again!  After more than three decades in practice, Lawyerist Lab member and firm owner Jennifer Hawkins knew she had to make some changes to take her firm to the next level. In today's episode, Stephanie chats with Jennifer to hear how her firm transformed when she identified core values and rethought the hiring and onboarding processes. Links from the episode:  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!  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The highs and mostly lows from the year that was.__________________________________________As we turn the page to 2024, we reminisce over the top stories at Above the Law over the past year. Layoffs, salary hikes, ethical quagmires at the Supreme Court, Donald Trump's criminal cases... the legal industry provided a lot of fodder for Above the Law this past year. Join Thinking Like A Lawyer as we discuss all the big stories of the year and ask the question: can it get any worse than this year? (Hint: it can). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If you’ve never put much thought into gifts, maybe it’s time to ponder the influence and effect of a perfectly personalized present. And, how did the guys’ resolutions go last year? Eh… you’ll see. _____________________________________________________________________Unexpected, unnecessary gifts can be pretty darn impactful, and they might just be an awesome way to express your esteem for a valued professional peer. Gyi and Conrad encourage listeners to forgo the pears and apples and consider a thoughtful, personalized gifting strategy that truly shows others you care.Next, the guys answer a listener question on Google SGE. What are its long-term prospects? Will it play a role in Search? Gyi and Conrad hash out their prognostications. It seems we love to hate ourselves for failing miserably at New Year’s resolutions. The guys share their successes and lack thereof on 2023’s personal, professional, and podcast goals, and talk about their bright, shiny hopes for 2024. The News: Take that, robocallers/texters! The FCC has adopted new rules closing 'lead generator" loopholes. Is print coming back? Great Legal Marketing has an excellent print newsletter, so maybe, just maybe, you should consider one as well.  Mentioned in this Episode:Ask a question—get some swag!Leave Us an Apple Review Lunch Hour Legal Marketing now on YouTube Lunch Hour Legal Marketing on TikTok Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We are seeing more deadlocked juries in which jurors refuse to discuss the facts of the case. Today’s discussion addresses not only the legal implications of a refusal to engage in productive discourse and compromise, but the implications to our government’s function if verdicts cannot be reached in the courtroom. What can we do? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

SideBar cohosts and law deans Jackie Gardina and Mitch Winick look back over the 29 episodes and 25 guests featured in SideBar's incredibly successful first season. If you have been a listener, this episode will highlight key moments from our discussions with expert guests, authors, lawyers, and judges on critical issues facing democracy, the legal system, the Supreme Court, and society. If you haven't been a listener yet, start with this special episode to get a head start on selecting topics and guests to listen to from season one . . . every episode as relevant and important today as when originally discussed with SideBar's expert guests. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, Rich Haik, the owner of Alpha Social Media and host of the 'Let's Talk Social' podcast, joins me to explore the significance of digital media and social platforms for businesses. With over a decade of experience in digital media and social media marketing, Rich shares an insider's view on the evolution of social media and its influence on various industries. The discussion revolves around the importance of building an effective online presence, the changing dynamics of LinkedIn for legal marketing, reasons behind the limited effectiveness of certain automated outreach tactics, and tips for creating impactful content. Rich emphasizes the need to consider one's audience when choosing a social media platform and discusses the future of Artificial Intelligence in content creation and the workspace.Coming from a deeply entrepreneurial background, Rich Haik developed a passion for technology and social media early in life, influenced by his dynamic exposure to the business world. This interest became the driving force behind his decision, at the age of 23, to establish his own agency specializing in social media and web design. Beyond mere entrepreneurship, this endeavor aimed to integrate his skills and interests, creating a space where he could provide value to others. Now, five years into the venture, Rich's agency has evolved into a hub for innovation and creativity in the digital realm, offering comprehensive marketing solutions and standing as a testament to the convergence of passion and profession in the fast-paced digital landscape.Rich gives listeners actionable tips on: [0:00] Intro [2:00] Why lawyers should not be afraid of getting on social platforms [11:17] How to post better [15:35] Staying up to date on what we should be posting [17:07] Creating a system for planning for growth especially with holidays [24:30] Leveraging paid ads on LinkedIn effectively [27:47] Getting leads from people you know, and leveraging in person leads [29:40] QR code from your linkedin profile [32:33] His take on AI [37:25] How to use ChatGPT in terms of social media [38:55] Book review [43:36] One big takeaway from this episode Resources mentioned in this episode: The Culture Code by Daniel Coyle QR Code Connect with Rich here: https://www.instagram.com/letstalksocialpod/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/lets-talk-social-podcast https://www.facebook.com/letstalksocialpod/ https://ltspod.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

Debbie Foster, leading legal tech expert, joins Dennis and Tom for their yearly Pardon the Interruption episode. They debate legal tech issues, fill-in-the-blank on trending tech topics, and categorize the coolness of 2023's legal tech trends. They discuss collaboration technology, platform preferences, unlearning for lawyers, cybersecurity, technology in law firms, and the popularity and implementation of legal tech.