Legal Talk Network - Law News and Legal Topics

An Nguyen from Expert Service Provider S-E-A discusses how Human Factors Analysis is typically conducted and how it is used in forensic investigations.

As Halloween swiftly approaches, we’ve conjured up a classic from the Modern Law Library crypt. What do zombies and pirates have to do with the law? Grab your candy and find out as host Lee Rawles is joined by Paul Golden, author of Litigating Adverse Possession Cases: Pirates v. Zombies. 

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“Trespassing plus time equals adverse possession,” Paul Golden writes in his new book, Litigating Adverse Possession Cases: Pirates v. Zombies. When someone has occupied or used a piece of property as though they own it for long enough, a court could determine that they are the rightful owner—regardless of what the paperwork says. It’s a concept more popularly discussed as squatter’s rights.

In this episode of The Modern Law Library, Golden speaks with the ABA Journal’s Lee Rawles about the ancient concepts underlying modern adverse possession law; some quirky state laws; and why societies would allow land to be transferred in this way. They also discuss how the plain meaning of terms like “hostile” are changed when used in adverse possession cases, and Rawles raises a hypothetical—taken from real life—of a neighbor’s crooked fence.

During Golden’s first appearance on The Modern Law Library, he explained how the lack of a written contract could be navigated by a savvy lawyer. In his new book, Golden guides attorneys and their clients through the finer points of arguing for and against adverse possession claims. He shares some of the errors he’s seen pop up in adverse possession cases, and offers advice for how to avoid common pitfalls.

Leaders of nonprofit law firms discuss their disaster response work for major storms and floods in Texas, North Carolina and Louisiana on Talk Justice. The conversation was recorded at a briefing for the U.S. House of Representatives, where these local leaders educated Congressional staff on the importance of providing legal services in the aftermath of natural disasters. Robert Doggett, Executive Director of Texas RioGrande Legal Aid (TRLA), joined to talk about the July floods in central Texas; Ashley Campbell, executive director of Legal Aid of North Carolina (LANC), spoke about the ongoing response to Tropical Storm Helene; and Laura Tuggle, executive director of Southeast Louisiana Legal Services (SLLS), discussed her state’s history of dealing with major storms like Hurricanes Ida and Katrina.

In this episode’s discussions around the Community Table:

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Mentioned in This Episode:

“Come up for Air,” by Nick Sonnenberg

Clio

What gets measured gets improved. In this On the Road episode, Bryan Billig, VP of Customer Education at Assembly Software, breaks down the most important data points law firms should be tracking—and the ones they shouldn’t stress over. From intake sources and case inventory to staff productivity and marketing ROI, Bryan explains how to turn firm data into actionable insights. Learn how consistent data entry, smart reporting, and a culture of measurement can reveal bottlenecks, boost efficiency, and strengthen your bottom line.

Bryan Billig is Vice President of Customer Education at Assembly Software.

At the start of his 2nd term, President Trump imposed a series of tariffs affecting nearly all goods imported into the country, causing controversy.  These tariffs on goods from countries all over the world, include steel, aluminum, cars, auto parts, furniture, pharmaceuticals and more. Since Trump’s announcement, there have been many legal challenges regarding these tariffs.

On this episode of Lawyer 2 Lawyer, Craig joins attorney, author, and professor, Raj Bhala, a University Distinguished Professor at the University of Kansas School of Law. Craig & Raj discuss tariffs, President Trump's use of tariffs, SCOTUS, and their potential impact on international trade law, and the American people.

Mentioned in this Episode:

KU Professor Says Trump’s Tariffs are Xenophobic, Unlawful and Harmful to U.S. By Tim Carpenter Kansas Reflector/The Lawrence Times

Paralegals can find themselves on an island at the workplace, left without training, mentorship, and opportunities for growth and advancement in a sink or swim environment. It doesn’t have to be that way. 

Guest Eda Rosa is a former paralegal who founded her own firm, Eda Rosa LLC, in 2017. The legal consulting and training company is dedicated to transforming the legal industry from the inside out. Rosa says CLE classes are fine for the nuts and bolts, but what about training to avoid burnout and build “soft skills” that make life and work better? 

Training shouldn’t stop with paralegal classes and company onboarding. Continuous education and team building exercises ensure teams remain strong and develop as a unit. Every player on a legal team has a role, failure to bring along every player hurts the entire firm. 

Hear how Rosa “learned by doing,” growing into her own professional self, earning a master’s degree in law, and then turned her insights into a mission to help paralegal professionals advance their careers and live their best lives both in and out of the office. 

Resources: 

Previous appearance on the Legal Talk Network, Legal Rebels, “What Does the Future Hold for Licensed Paraprofessionals?” 

NALA, The Paralegal Association

NALA Conference & Expo 2026

How are you doing? No, really, how are you doing? Guest Chris Newbold is not only the COO of ALPS Insurance – a leader in malpractice insurance for solo and small legal practices – he’s also a recognized driver in the nationwide movement to ensure well-being in the legal profession. 

Over the past decade, there’s been a focus on mental health, stress, and substance abuse in the profession. Meeting deadlines, satisfying clients, and the sometimes-confrontational nature of the job can take a toll, especially on lawyers in small practices or rural area where support can be lacking. 

Newbold shares insights from ALPS’ recent report, “The State of the Solo: Positive Trends in Solo Attorney Well-Being,” which he helped deliver. The study made a special effort to include small and rural practices. A healthy lawyer is a good lawyer, Newbold says. Taking care of yourself helps you better serve your clients. 

Questions or ideas about solo and small practices? Drop us a line at [email protected]  

Topics:

Resources:

“The State of the Solo: Positive Trends in Solo Attorney Well-Being,” ALPS Insurance

“The Path to Lawyer Well-Being: Practical Recommendations for Positive Change” 

Previous appearance on the Legal Talk Network, The Digital Age podcast, “The Insurance Industry Studies the Future of Law Practice” 

Mental Health Resources, American Bar Association

Law Student Mental Health Day, Oct. 10, ABA

ABA Techshow 2026

Clio Cloud Conference 2025

In episode 582 of Lawyerist Podcast, Zack Glaser talks with Merisa Bowers, Loss Prevention and Outreach Counsel at the Ohio Bar Liability Insurance Company, about how artificial intelligence is reshaping lawyers’ ethical duties. 

Merisa explains how deepfakes and realistic scams are creating new challenges for diligence and verification, why unregulated chatbots can accidentally create attorney-client relationships, and what disclosures lawyers should make when using AI tools. She also shares practical steps to maintain confidentiality, protect client data, and apply long-standing ethics rules to fast-changing technologies. 

Links from the episode:  

ABA Formal Opinion 512 - Generative AI 

ABA Formal Opinion 510 - Prospective Clients & Rule 1.18 

Listen to our previous episodes about non-lawyer ownership: 

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Access more resources from Lawyerist at lawyerist.com. 

Chapters / Timestamps:  

0:00 – ClioCon
4:45 – Meet Merisa Bowers
6:50 – Tech Shifts & New Ethics Risks
9:10 – Deepfakes & Diligence
13:40 – AI Scams & Fake Clients
18:30 – Chatbots Creating Clients 

23:40 – Ethical Chatbot Models
26:45 – Should Lawyers Disclose AI?
29:40 – Don’t Let AI Think for You
34:20 – Protecting Client Data
36:10 – Staying Ethical with AI
37:40 – Wrap-Up & Final Thoughts 

One can only hope.

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For a long time, the bar exam seemed like the nasty habit that the legal profession just couldn't quit. But there's finally some progress on that front, with Utah unveiling a new alternative pathway to licensure that values experience and the skills that an actual practitioner needs. We also check in on Cadwalader, where the firm brings on a new co-manager while taking some serious blows in the lateral market. Finally, the Supreme Court is back in session, so we look back at the summer of shadows, when the Court's shadow docket finally crashed into the reality of a president unwilling to play the game and Justice Thomas shed a little light on his decision to bail on teaching his class after Dobbs.