Legal Talk Network - Law News and Legal Topics

As the Supreme Court returns to the bench, we’re raising a glass to a favorite from our archives. In this episode, Nancy Maveety shares stories from Glass and Gavel, where cocktails meet constitutional law.

-----

From the earliest days of the U.S. Supreme Court, alcohol has been part of the work lives and social lives of the justices. In the book “Glass and Gavel: The U.S. Supreme Court and Alcohol,” Nancy Maveety takes readers on a tour through the ways that SCOTUS and spirits have overlapped. In this episode of the Modern Law Library, she speaks with the ABA Journal’s Lee Rawles about how she came to write this in-depth history. While the Prohibition Era would immediately spring to mind, the court faced a number of cases involving alcohol that impacted commerce, advertising, criminal justice and even gender discrimination laws. Maveety, who in addition to being a scholar of constitutional law also studies mixology, shares how she selected a signature cocktail for each chief justice’s tenure. She also has a drink suggestion for readers which incorporates an ingredient that’s known to be one of Justice Ginsburg’s favorites–and a cautionary tale about a normally teetotaling chief justice who dropped dead after sipping a sherry.

With over 30 years experience, attorney Dan Ryan has plenty of stories. Part One begins with bar exam anecdotes and leads into literally mopping up during a trial.

In episode 580 of the Lawyerist Podcast, Zack sits down with Jake Soffer, CEO and founder of FirmPilot, to explore how artificial intelligence is reshaping law firm marketing. Forget generic blog posts and robotic content, Jake shares how FirmPilot uses AI and data science to build smarter, measurable strategies that actually attract clients. 

You’ll hear how law firms can leverage AI beyond parlor tricks, why “moonshine marketing” doesn’t cut it anymore, and what lawyers need to know about AEO (AI Engine Optimization) versus traditional SEO. Zack and Jake also discuss the future of client search behavior, how to avoid overhyping trends, and why sticking to fundamentals will always matter. 

If you’re curious about using AI in your practice, but don’t want to waste time on gimmicks, this episode will give you a roadmap to experiment wisely, protect your marketing investment, and grow sustainably. 

Listen to our other episodes on Law Firm Marketing, Growth and AI: 

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: 

0:00 – Introduction with Zack Glaser
1:27 – Meet Jake Soffer of FirmPilot
2:17 – How AI Is Changing Legal Marketing
3:12 – Data-Driven Law Firm Growth
4:46 – The Limits of ChatGPT Content
7:12 – Building Smarter AI Workflows
9:23 – AEO, GEO, and the Future of Search
11:59 – Why Fundamentals Still Matter
14:45 – Writing for AI vs. Writing for Clients
17:05 – First Steps for Lawyers Using AI
18:33 – Do Your Research Before Choosing Tools
19:10 – Where to Find FirmPilot 

Even experienced attorneys can stumble when it comes to ethics. In this On the Road episode, Joe Scott introduces Jordan Turk, Director of Education and Attorney Development at Smokeball, who breaks down the ten most common ethics mistakes lawyers make—and how to avoid them. From lapses in diligence and communication to mishandling client funds, failing to return files, and advertising pitfalls, Jordan offers practical strategies and real-world examples to help attorneys safeguard their practice and reputation.

Jordan Turk is the Director of Education and Attorney Development at Smokeball.

In this very special episode, Lawyer 2 Lawyer celebrates 20 years of podcasting on the Legal Talk Network.

Host J.  Craig Williams  joins former Lawyer 2 Lawyer co-host and host of LawNext, Bob Ambrogi, and producer of Lawyer 2 Lawyer, Kate Kenney Nutting, to chat about some of the exciting discussions we’ve had over the past 20 years. Take a walk with us down memory lane!

In episode 579 of Lawyerist Podcast, learn how to manage your IOLTA accounts correctly and avoid disciplinary pitfalls. Stephanie Everett talks with Amy Woods, founder of IOLTA Consulting, about the most common mistakes lawyers make with trust accounts and what to do instead. 

Amy explains why outstanding checks can create big compliance risks, what escheatment rules really require, and why three-way reconciliation is a must. She also breaks down why QuickBooks alone isn’t enough and how a few simple steps can keep you out of trouble. Lawyers will walk away with clear guidance to safeguard client funds, prepare for audits, and protect their law licenses. 

Listen to our other episodes on risk management & ethics: 

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: 

00:00 – Bots in Job Interviews and Introduction 

04:14 – Meet Amy Woods: IOLTA Consulting 

05:14 – Why Trust Accounts Feel Like a “Ticking Time Bomb” 

06:58 – Common Mistakes Lawyers Miss 

09:22 – Escheatment & Outstanding Checks 

12:30 – Penalties, Interest & Voluntary Disclosure 

14:31 – Retainer Clauses & Small Check Workarounds 

16:18 – Three-Way Reconciliation Explained 

18:00 – QuickBooks vs. Legal-Specific Tools 

21:43 – One Account, Many Clients: Why Details Matter 

23:55 – Amy’s Compliance Review Service 

25:08 – Real Consequences: From Penalties to Disbarment 

26:26 – Final Takeaways 

We’re at an interesting and dynamic point in time for immigration law, with Supreme Court rulings and presidential executive orders reshaping the field and challenging the system’s status quo. 

The administrative area of immigration law is especially difficult for legal professionals. In an immigration hearing, the judge is essentially on the same “team” as the prosecutor, and because immigration policies are largely under the federal executive branch, the rules seem to shift every four years with a new presidential term. 

Guest Nikki Mehrpoo is a former judge, a scholar, and the first and only California dual certified legal specialist in immigration and Workers’ Compensation law. She is a lawyer as well as a professor of law at West Los Angeles College. She recently created the  MedLegal Professor, a project dedicated to the ethical use of AI technologies in the field of law and medicine. 

In this timely episode of Paralegal Voice, Mehrpoo unpacks recent Supreme Court rulings, executive orders, and even the use of AI facial recognition that are reshaping the field of immigration law. As a legal professional, what we think we know may be subject to change day by day, ruling by ruling. 

Mentioned in This Episode:

Previous appearance on Paralegal Voice, “Digging Into California Workers’ Compensation (Plus, Career Advice From a True Pro)” 

LAPA

Noem v. Perdomo, SCOTUSblog coverage

“Immigration Officers Intensify Arrests in Courthouse Hallways on a Fast Track to Deportation,” Associated Press

“ICE Awards Clearview AI $9.2M Facial Recognition Contract,” Biometric Update “Nevada Judge Takes Creative and Unusual Approach to Combat AI-Generated Fictitious Citations,” LawNext

“The EU Artificial Intelligence Act”

Clearview AI

NALA, The Paralegal Association

NALA Conference & Expo 2026

Guest Andrew Schierberg is a former police officer and a police chief who opened his own solo law firm two years ago and has been growing it ever since. What does he miss from his first career, and what has he learned as a lawyer? 

As the firm has evolved, there has been some rebranding and the addition of new attorneys, employees, and tech tools. Today, Schierberg specializes in elder law at his firm Stages Elder Care Law. 

Hear how Schierberg has learned to hire associates so he can focus on “buying back his time” to grow the business. Understand your strengths, find areas where your time is wasted, and delegate or apply tech solutions to make your firm run more efficiently. 

Schierberg picked a niche – elder care law – and has made it his home. It’s what he cares about, helping seniors and families create estate and care plans and address all of those “what ifs” as they arise. Hear how he adapts everything from his corporate colors to his daily wardrobe to make clients comfortable and create a strong, memorable, and trusted brand.

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

Topics:

Resources:

The Gap and the Gain: The High Achievers’ Guide to Happiness, Confidence, and Success
Lawmatics
ABA Techshow 2026
Gyi Tsakalakis legal marketing
Lunch Hour Legal Marketing with Gyi Tsakalakis and Conrad Saam
Mycase
“How to Buy a Domain Name,” Cloudflare
Life Care Planning Law Firms Association
Actionstep legal software
Clio Cloud Conference 2025
Clio Legal Trends Report
Microsoft Lift

Order in the court!

Introducing a new series of TYLA’s Young Gunners podcast, spotlighting all nine justices of the Supreme Court of Texas! In these special episodes, TYLA President Hisham Masri, TYLA Immediate Past President Laura Pratt, and TYLA President-Elect Alyson Martinez speak with the SCOTX bench about their respective path to the high court, judicial philosophy, and advice for young attorneys navigating the legal profession.

We kick off this series with an interview with Justice Jimmy Blacklock, who was elevated to chief justice on January 6, 2025. In this episode, Chief Justice Blacklock shares how the principles of fatherhood and his deep-rooted faith have influenced not only his path to the judiciary but also the way he approaches leadership, decision-making, and the responsibilities of public office. Tune in for a thoughtful exploration of character, calling, and the intersection of personal conviction with professional duty.

You can access this episode and our other episodes here: https://tyla.org/resource/young-gunners-podcast/

And tune in soon for our second episode where we speak with Senior Justice Debra Lehrmann, the longest-serving member on the court! 

#tyla #younggunners #scotx #legalpodcast

Law firm fires lawyer over Kirk comments and law school announces new scholarships.

-----

Perkins Coie cut ties with an attorney over Charlie Kirk comments on social media. The remarks were measured and reasonable, but the firm is still fighting the Trump administration in court and -- seemingly -- does not want any distractions or mere appearance of bias. But is that a worthy excuse? A Pillsbury partner received a benchslapping over what the judge considered unchecked entitlement. A Biglaw partner? Entitled? No! Also, a law school responds to the new federal loan caps with guaranteed scholarships to cover the gap. Is this the start of a trend?