Legal Talk Network - Law News and Legal Topics

As 2023 draws to a close, the Legal Rebels Podcast looks at the top stories in legal technology for the year. Between the explosion in popularity of ChatGPT and other generative artificial intelligence tools, the continued use of virtual or hybrid working arrangements and the underwhelming mergers and acquisitions market, it was certainly an eventful year. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Google ad prices keep increasing, but a lot of lawyers feel like their Google marketing isn't getting them where they want to go. Later, should you keep content that brings in plenty of web traffic but no new customers?_______________________Is Google engaging in some sneaky tactics? Ad prices continue to rise, but many lawyers are feeling like their Google ads are less and less effective. What’s going on here? Gyi and Conrad talk through the increasingly convoluted ad space and how to actually reach your target clients.Later, a listener asks a question that merits its own segment—what do you do when you have a web page that generates a lot of organic traffic but doesn’t convert to clients? The guys discuss whether all traffic is good traffic and what you should do with a weirdly performing page from a variety of marketing perspectives. The News: Once again, Elon’s employing some seriously questionable tactics against his naysayers, and it’s hard to imagine he’s accomplishing anything other than shooting himself in the foot: Elon Musk to advertisers who try to blackmail him: 'Go f**k yourself' Danny Sullivan, Google's Search Liaison, says major changes are coming to search rankings, so buckle up, folks. We may be experiencing some turbulence. Also from Google—structured data changes. Check out these articles from Search Engine Journal: Google Highlights Forums & Profiles With New Structured Data and Google Search Central: New in structured data: discussion forum and profile page markup.  And, well, Google’s definitely monopolizing the news (again): Jerry Dischler of Google Ads has Resigned. 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

Experts discuss building tools, running experiments and sharing information to help legal professionals better understand uses for generative artificial intelligence (AI) in the legal field on this episode of Talk Justice. Host Cat Moon is joined by Sam Harden, program manager at Pro Bono Net, and Shellie Reid, manager of Legal Services National Technology Assistance Project. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode’s discussions around the Community Table:  A firm owner needs a computer policy for employees both in-office and working from home. What policies should she have for damage to the firm’s computers and client security? There’s insurance for physical damage. More important is protecting client data if a laptop is stolen or hacked. How can you protect client confidentiality, both for staff in the office and working from home? Is a contract IT team the answer? How do you split tasks between two admins? Hear how you can divide tasks to match each employee’s area of excellence. Carving out niches so each employee delivers maximum value creates a foundation for growth.  You’ve hired a new employee, but they aren’t catching on. How much time do you allow before you know it’s not working, and you need to let them go? There is a reasonable period to expect results. It’s OK to be patient and retrain as needed, but don’t carry dead weight. Mentioned in this Episode:Join the next Community Table live. What’s on your mind?Previous appearance on the Community Table “Community Table: Using Vacations to Strengthen Company Culture” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There’s no way to take a pass on tech competence. In your future as a lawyer, you have an ethical responsibility to understand and use technology in your practice, and today’s fastest growing tech is AI. Whether you’re an AI fan or perhaps a little scared of a robot takeover, this podcast will help you understand many of the latest AI trends and their impacts in the legal world. Leah Haberman interviews Professor Orly Lobel, author of “The Equality Machine: Harnessing Tomorrow’s Technologies for a Brighter, More Inclusive Future”, to discuss AI, algorithms, current tools, and how to make sense of them all. There are and always will be positive and negative implications for AI uses, and our goal should be to use it for good. Orly Lobel is the Warren Distinguished Professor of Law at the University of San Diego, the founding director of the Center for Employment and Labor Policy (CELP), and the award-winning author of several books and numerous articles. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Clio’s Legal Trends Report has given us a whole new perspective on many aspects of the profession since its inception in 2016, and the latest report has new insights in store. JoAnn Hathaway and Molly Ranns talk with Joshua Lenon about the 2023 findings and what they tell us about the current state of legal business and technology. They discuss rates and billing across different areas, tech features that improve legal businesses, notable findings in access to justice, AI tools in legal practice, and more. Peruse the report here: 2023 Legal Trends Report - Clio Joshua Lenon is Clio’s Lawyer in Residence, and has worked on the front lines of legal technology innovation for more than a decade. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Last month, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), released a report on U.S. life expectancy. Keren Landman, senior reporter from Vox, wrote an excellent piece on this report, detailing the takeaways including the impact of COVID 19, the rise of infant mortality, and how the States compared to other countries on life expectancy. In this episode, host Craig Williams is joined by guest Michael Ulrich, Assistant Professor of Health Law, Ethics, & Human Rights at Boston University’s School of Public Health and School of Law, to discuss the recent CDC Report on U.S. life expectancy. Craig & Michael explore the possible legal implications of this report, and the political, environmental, and social influence on U.S. life expectancy.Mentioned in this Episode:Provisional Life Expectancy Estimates for 2022US Life Expectancy No Longer Catastrophic, Now Merely Bad By Keren Landman Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

George Floyd was murdered on May 25, 2020, during a brutal arrest by Minneapolis police in public view. His death sparked protests across the country—a call for an end to police brutality. Officer Derek Chauvin was convicted of second-degree murder and pleaded guilty to federal charges, and the three other officers were convicted of state and federal charges. The city of Minneapolis paid George Floyd’s family $27 million. Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison joins this episode to discuss his oversight of the prosecution and conviction of Derek Chauvin, as well as his book, Break The Wheel: Ending the Cycle of Police Violence, a reflection on that trial and lessons learned. Attorney General Ellison explores the findings of his book and his experience representing victims of police violence. He walks us through Chauvin’s prosecution, the trial strategy, jury selection, and how the infamous video shot by a 17-year-old bystander was used in the trial.Can we change policing and rebuild trust between police and communities? What steps can be taken in the fight against police violence?Attorney General Ellison also shares his career path from law school to U.S. Congress, and then becoming the first African American and Muslim America elected to Minnesota statewide office. It’s an inspiring story and proof that following your passion can make a difference.Plus, in our Quick Tip segment: Incorporating storytelling into your legal writing. Resources:George Floyd Justice and Policing Act“Break The Wheel,” by Attorney General Keith Ellison2024 Environmental & Energy, Mass Torts, and Products Liability Litigation Committees' Joint Regional CLE ProgramAmerican Bar AssociationAmerican Bar Association Litigation Section Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Picture this: an estate planning attorney with a twist—owning a law firm by day and conjuring up imaginative, offbeat celebrations for the dearly departed by night. In this intriguing episode, Sara interviews Jolene Blackbourn, Labster and trailblazing estate planning attorney and entrepreneur, who has taken a distinctive approach to end-of-life celebrations. Learn how Jolene blends her passion with her profession with her unique method of infusing her love for Halloween culture into the traditional landscape of estate planning. We invite you to challenge your notions about end-of-life planning while celebrating the magic of honoring individuality and explore ways to seamlessly blend law and creativity into your practice.  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! Thanks to Posh Virtual Receptionists, NetDocuments & LawPay. for sponsoring this episode.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Payable sometime in 2024... of course.________________________Milbank got the ball rolling several weeks ago with a round of raises. Cravath has now upped the ante for more senior associates and the Biglaw landscape has finally decided to pile on. Where is all this going and what does it all mean? We've got thoughts. Meanwhile Amy Wax went ahead and invited a white nationalist back to campus and one of her students is disappointed that people weren't nicer about it. Finally, a new lawsuit presents an ethics issue spotter involving Trump lawyer Alina Habba. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices