Blackletter

This week Tom discusses how to love the practice of law and strategies for being a happy lawyer. A lot of these strategies apply not just to law, but apply to any job that anyone's in, but they're things that especially affect professionals who work in a high stress career. Listen to the episode for tips on improving your lifestyle through 1. establishing your boundaries, 2. taking breaks, and 3. exercise and diet.

How can we pass along wisdom gained from our professional leaders?

On the Blackletter podcast this week, host Tom Dunlap speaks once more with Mark Fava, an attorney who works as an ombudsman and Vice President for Boeing Corporation. Tom and Mark discuss how Mark leveraged the knowledge that he gained throughout his career to mentor and lead other veterans and attorneys.

He describes the lessons he learned and the knowledge he gained from working with his two great admirals during his time in the military. During his military and law career Mark picked up bits of insight and career expertise along the way that shaped his path, and the way he mentors other veterans and attorneys. He describes how he guides his mentees that he connects with through Linkedin. Finally, Mark shares the tips he learned from his own leaders throughout his career journey on his blog TheAviatorLawyer.com, and he discusses the results of his experience starting this blog.

Listen to the show to learn more about Mark’s professional experiences, and check out the upcoming episode to hear him explain his major pieces of advice for listeners looking to move forward in their careers.

On this episode of Monday Morning Minutes, Tom Dunlap pulls back the curtain on a taboo subject – why lawyers quit law. Drawing on research and personal experience, he covers the top reasons why lawyers leave either temporarily or permanently. Stress and burn out, lack of work-life balance, mental health issues and more–it can be tough being an attorney. However, Tom discusses how the legal profession is evolving and upcoming solutions.

How can legal professionals launch their careers in aviation law?

On the Blackletter podcast this week, host Tom Dunlap is joined by Mark Fava, a practicing attorney who works as an ombudsman and Vice President for Boeing Corporation. Together they speak about Mark’s career background that led to his current position and his work mentoring other veterans and attorneys.

Mark is a senior executive lawyer who experienced a lot throughout his career in aviation law. As the chief operations attorney at Delta Airlines during 9/11, Mark got a first-hand look at the litigation process for extreme airport security breaches. Since then, Mark started his aviation law practice before beginning his professional work with Boeing. Mark discusses his career path, his role as an ombudsman, and the professional experiences that contributed to his expertise in aviation law.

Check out this episode for more insight into Mark’s legal background. And tune in to the next episode to hear Mark’s advice for people looking to start their law career.

Where is the line between art, and advertising? The unresolved question is testing the direct democracy of a small New England town, where a painting of pastries has led to zoning dispute, a First Amendment lawsuit and a local vote.

The town zoning board got involved, deciding that the pastry painting was not so much art as advertising, and so could not remain as is because of its size. Faced with modifying or removing the mural, or possibly dealing with fines and criminal charges, the bakery owner sued, saying the town is violating his freedom of speech rights.

Did you know there is a naming committee in Iceland called Mannanafnanefnd and they are a governmental body that regulates the naming of children. Upon a further look, they aren't the only country to have regulated the naming of children. This week Tom discusses illegal naming from around the world and some of the strict rules to protect a child from a name which could be deemed offensive or embarrassing in that society.

How can professionals form and identify valuable business connections?

On the Blackletter podcast this week, host Tom Dunlap concludes his interview with Jason Levin, founder of Ready, Set, Launch. In this episode, Jason discusses the key themes of his book "Relationships to Infinity: The Art and Science of Keeping in Touch" and how individuals and entrepreneurs can apply its lessons to succeed in their business pursuits.

Jason's book focuses on networking and the nature of making connections with people. He discusses the importance of forming new relationships and leveraging and strengthening existing ones. Jason's book teaches readers how to identify and build upon ties with casual acquaintances that hold potential value and how to think about their connections. People can make beneficial connections by defining their relations, forming a mindset based on networking, and focusing on authentic relationship building. Jason discusses this and other insightful concepts from his book, including gratitude practices, people's "Bermuda keep in touch Triangles," and commonality. 

Tune in to this episode for more advice on networking from Jason Levin. And remember to check out episodes 4 and 5 to catch his entire interview on forming valuable business relationships!

This week on Monday Minutes, Tom Dunlap digs into the world of trial by combat – how it originated, how it evolved and how it relates to the legal profession. Tom explains how two men would face off in battle to settle charges, accusations and more. Nobles would hire a sword to stand in their place, and the practice became a complex game. Tune in to hear how trial by combat transformed to a jury of peers, and how lawyers came to be.

In today's episode, we discuss consumer privacy laws and their importance. Recently, two states, Montana and Tennessee, passed new Consumer Privacy Act laws. Along with the CCPA (California Consumer Privacy Act), a privacy law that requires businesses that collect personal information to provide certain disclosures, these newly passed laws make it are easier for you to fall into compliance. Compliance can be as easy as having a link at the bottom of your page that people visiting your website click on and it gives them the details about your privacy policy. Generally, all you have to do is disclose what information you're collecting and how you use that information. It's a good idea to talk to a lawyer about your privacy policy.

What is the best way for people to stay connected with their business contacts?

On the Blackletter podcast this week, host Tom Dunlap is joined once more by Jason Levin, author of "Relationships to Infinity: The Art and Science of Keeping in Touch" and founder of the firm Ready, Set, Launch. In this episode, Jason breaks down the importance of maintaining connections with professional contacts and the obstacles he had to face to make headway in his networking experiences.

Jason first realized the importance of making professional connections while pursuing his goal of working an internship in Paris. He explains how he moved past his discomfort of interacting with connected professionals who could help him achieve his goal. Instead, Jason developed a system for tracking his networking efforts to help him make the connections necessary to succeed. Today he swears by Excel and other tracking systems for managing his interactions and seeing positive results from business relationships.

Listen to this episode to hear more about the challenges Jason overcame in his career. And tune in next episode to hear Jason's advice to professionals looking to leverage their business relationships.