Legal Talk Network - Law News and Legal Topics

Megan Phillips is a federal law clerk and passionate advocate for improving the working lives of Missouri attorneys.  Get to know her and some of the important work she’s done in part one of our conversation.

Litigation is on the rise… and so are the demands on the teams who manage it. In this episode of The Legal Report from Robert Half, host Jamy Sullivan and her guest Aaron Bath, vice president of litigation support and legal operations at Balfour Beatty US, explore how litigation teams are being reshaped by technology, shifting workflows and a competitive talent market. As AI and legal tech change how litigation is managed, traditional roles are evolving and new skill sets are in high demand. They discuss the growing need for litigation professionals who blend legal expertise with tech fluency, and why attracting and retaining this talent is a major challenge. Whether through redefining team roles, offering flexibility or supporting career growth, legal employers must adapt or risk falling behind. Tune in for an insightful look at what it takes to build and support high-performing litigation teams in a fast-changing legal landscape

How you appear on camera is how you appear to future clients. And today, you’re pretty much always on camera. Guest Kerry Barrett, an Emmy Award-winning television journalist, helps attorneys present their best self on camera, whether that’s on a Zoom call, on YouTube, or when being interviewed by a TV crew. Project authority, build trust, and attract high value clients through video. 

As Barrett says, that “little red light” can seem like the devil. It’s hard to avoid looking camera shy and stiff. But she taps into 20 years of on-camera experience to coach and guide attorneys. Being on camera doesn’t come naturally, it takes training and practice. 

Barrett’s lessons apply across the board, whether you’re a lawyer offering an expert opinion, a law firm marketer producing content, or an attorney coaching clients to appear on video in recorded depositions. 

Think it’s not important? The reality is that today we’re all pretty much on camera all day. You are how you look, and connecting with your audience matters. When the camera turns its eye on you, do you look genuine and engaging, or do you look like you’re reading a hostage note? Improving your video skills is no longer an option.

Ask us anything for the Community Table. Leave us a question online

Join the next Community Table discussion live! Always the third Thursday of the month at 3pm Eastern

Mentioned in This Episode:

“'I’m not a Cat': Lawyer Gets Stuck on Zoom Kitten Filter During Court Case,” The Guardian

Previous appearance on the Legal Talk Network “The Caitlin Clark Experience; Being a Camera-Ready Professional; and ‘Candid Camera,’” on The Legal Toolkit podcast

Let’s talk about associate retention, keeping those young lawyers you’re recruited and mentored at your firm. It shouldn’t be a given that every associate will take what you’ve taught them to another firm in two or three years. Guest Ben Dachepalli is a veteran lawyer and a partner in the Tampa office of firm Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP specializing in construction law.

As a senior member of his firm, Dachepalli says retaining young associates is more than a transactional activity, it’s building the firm and developing the next generation of leaders. As he says, when he’s interviewing prospective hires, “I’m not interviewing my next associate, I’m interviewing my future partners.” Don’t think of young lawyers as associates who will move on, develop them so they not only want to stay but also want to become leaders in your firm. 

For Dachepalli, the “secret sauce” is an inclusive, team-based approach. Ensure associates are involved and invested in the firm’s success, not simply completing assigned and rote tasks. Communicate with associates as peers, give them responsibilities, and show them they are valued. 

Involving associates in multiple levels of a case and asking for their input from the start not only shows them you value their skills, it can also help senior attorneys spot unexpected angles and see a case from a different perspective. (And remember, today’s young lawyers grew up with today’s technology, they might even teach you something).

Resources:

⁠American Bar Association⁠

⁠American Bar Association Litigation Section⁠

Workers’ Compensation has traditionally been a bargain, a “deal” workers and employers agree to. Workers injured on the job are compensated quickly and in exchange they don’t sue their employers. But when it came to a Virginia school teacher shot and seriously injured by a young student, was there an exception to the rule? 

Recent law graduate Katie Jean won the Workers’ Compensation Lawyers John F. Burton Jr. Law Student Writing Competition with her entry “Rethinking the Intent Exception in the Case of Teacher Violence in Our Public Schools Modifying to Include Willful and Wanton Misconduct.” In it, she examines the case of teacher Abby Zwerner, shot by a 6-year-old with a documented pattern of disciplinary issues and had been seen at school with a gun.

Jean questions whether every school shooting can be ruled an accident for the purpose of Workers’ Compensation or if a known threat, with lack of corresponding action, entitles the injured teacher to sue for damages. 

It’s an interesting issue, and at least one prior case involving a teacher injured by a student the school knew about was unsuccessful. Does a teacher “assume risk” by taking a job? This is a timely discussion and a sign of our times. Listeners who would like a copy of Jean’s award-winning paper to review may email the hosts at the addresses below.

If you have thoughts on Workers’ Comp law or an idea for a topic or guest you’d like to hear, contact us at [email protected] or [email protected]. 

Mentioned in This Episode:

“Virginia Teacher Shot by 6-Year-Old Student Can Proceed With $40M Lawsuit, Judge Rules,” NBC News

“Charge in Abby Zwerner's $40M Lawsuit Will Go to Jury Trial,” 13NewsNow

“Vallandigham V. Clover Park Sch. Dist.,” Casemine

Lawyers discuss how to keep legal services human-centered in the age of artificial intelligence (AI) on Talk Justice. In May, Amanda Brown authored the piece “Using Technology to Maximize Human Interaction." She wrote that while legal services organizations are increasingly looking to AI to lower the burden of certain tasks, human interaction between attorneys and clients must not be lost for the sake of efficiency. She also discusses the new Louisiana Legal Navigator website.

To this day, some still believe Amanda Knox is guilty of the horrific murder of Meredith Kercher in 2007. However, this belief appears to stem entirely from the wildly sensational media coverage surrounding her supposed involvement. Thorough examination of the facts of the case have clearly shown that Amanda was wrongfully convicted of this terrible crime.

This time on For the Innocent, Michael Semanchik welcomes a panel of experts to explore how Amanda Knox’s case gained such incredible notoriety and how the truth was obscured by a series of mistakes, assumptions, and media distortion.

Michael is joined by Martina Cagossi, Justin Brooks, and Mark Olshaker to walk listeners through the facts of the case, explain the prevalence of false confessions in high-stress situations, and discuss how Amanda’s “trial by media” ultimately overshadowed clear evidence that should have set her free.

🎧 Listen Amanda’s Story on Apple, Spotify, Youtube, or your favorite podcast app.

This bonus episode of Leading the Bar features a special installment from the Council of Firsts series, which spotlights trailblazing leaders who were the “first” to break barriers in their bar associations.

-----

In this episode of the Council of Firsts, Amanda Arriaga, first Latina president of the Austin Bar talks to Carl Smallwood, Director of the Divided Community Project at Moritz Law School and the first African American President of the Columbus Bar Association. This episode was recorded at the American Bar Association/National Conference of Bar Presidents meeting in Louisville, Kentucky.

To learn more about NCBP, visit https://ncbp.org

For more information about the Divided Community Project, visit https://go.osu.edu/dcp.

To contact Carl directly, you can find him at [email protected].

For more resources about DCP’s democracy work, visit https://go.osu.edu/dcpdemocracy or Speaking Out to Strengthen the Guardrails of Democracy.

For information about the American Bar Association’s Task Force and Advisory Commission on American Democracy, visit https://ambar.org/democracy.

For additional resources about the rule of law, the World Justice Project can be found at https://worldjusticeproject.org/

Video is no longer optional. It’s essential. In this special episode of On the Road, attorney, content creator, and video consultant Temi Siyanbade shares how legal professionals can harness video to expand their reach, build authority, and attract aligned opportunities. She introduces her “READY” framework, guiding lawyers through practical steps to reframe visibility, establish a clear message, assemble simple gear, draft with direction, and most importantly— say yes to showing up. From building client trust to positioning yourself as a leader, discover why visibility through video isn’t vanity, but a bold move toward the future of law.

Temi Siyanbade is an attorney, content creator, and video consultant for legal professionals.

Debbie Foster hosts this edition of the Kennedy-Mighel Report to talk with Dennis and Tom about their 19 years and 400 episodes of podcasting! They talk through the past, present, and future of the podcast, discussing how they’ve remained in the space for so long, cringy and favorite moments from podcasts past, and what they’ve learned over many years together. They also talk about their future plans for the show and how new technology trends are influencing both the podcast and the broader legal profession. 

As always, stay tuned for the parting shots, that one tip, website, or observation that you can use the second the podcast ends.

Have a technology question for Dennis and Tom? Call their Tech Question Hotline at 720-441-6820 for the answers to your most burning tech questions.

Show Notes: