Legal Talk Network

Women often back down from conflict. It’s in our nature, but is it in our best interest? Today’s episode offers insight on when to stand down and when to stand your ground when a co-worker gives you a work product that doesn’t meet your expectations, a partner promises you a significant trial opportunity and then gives it to someone else, and opposing counsel is less than cooperative. Tune in for some spicy tips that will help you pick your battles and preserve your reputation.

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File the motions. Schedule the depos. Read the records. Prep the exhibits. When should you write your open, directs, crosses, and close? Who is getting the hotel for the expert? And why should you write this all down? This episode outlines key items for your trial prep checklist starting at 60 days, 30 days, two weeks, and one week from the trial date. These scheduling tips will help you reduce stress, meet your deadlines and make time to build your strongest case.

Her house is bigger. He did an expert depo and you haven’t. She’s got four trials in the next two months and you only have one. Does it really matter? Will attaining that thing actually make you happy? And why do we compare ourselves to others and suck the joy out of our own accomplishments? Prepare to examine your own vulnerabilities as we discuss upward and downward comparisons, personal priorities, and strategies to keep unproductive comparisons from living rent-free in our brains.

After 12 years, The Legal Report from Robert Half is gaining a new host. In this episode, Charles Volkert transitions hosting duties to Jamy Sullivan, executive director of Robert Half’s legal talent solutions practice. They discuss the making of the podcast, notable episodes and memorable guests over the years, Chad’s new role, and predict future trends for the legal profession.

It’s no secret that lawyers are asked to attend or preside over many kinds and types of meetings. From attending a professional association’s annual meeting with hundreds of fellow attorneys (as the ABA just held in August) to being asked to chair a non-profit board or preside at an HOA meeting, lawyers are often looked to for guidance. But not everyone has formal training in running a meeting, and there are huge differences between a small firm’s partner meeting with six lawyers in a board room and a Zoom meeting with 3,000 attendees.

The good news–according to author, attorney and parliamentarian Jim Slaughter–is that no matter the size or composition of a meeting, Robert’s Rules of Order has advice for that. But you find the 816-page Robert’s Rules of Order, 12th Editiondaunting, Slaughter has written Robert’s Rules of Order Fast Track to give people a slim and accessible guide, and will soon be releasing Notes and Comments on ‘Robert’s Rules,’ Fifth Edition.

Rather than hindering or slowing down a meeting, Robert’s Rules of Order can provide a structure that heads off potential problems at the pass. In his fast track guide, Slaughter brings up common problem areas and how to deal with them. He and the ABA Journal’s Lee Rawles discuss the viral videos of city council or school board meetings that have gone off the rails with attendees who are deliberately being disruptive. But Slaughter points out that sometimes a meeting participant derails a meeting by virtue of a talkative personality, and that, too, can be addressed by a chair who has a good command ofRobert’s Rules. Abiding by Robert’s Rules can also help groups avoid legal jeopardy.

In this episode of the Modern Law Library, Slaughter and Rawles discuss why a book first written in the 19th century is useful today; best practices for running Zoom or hybrid meetings; the common mistakes Slaughter sees most often; and the misconceptions people have about meeting minutes.

How can lawyers get interviewed in the media?

What are the secret tips to landing incredible media features, becoming a recurring guest expert, and becoming the go-to source in your area of law?

Joining me for this conversation is Robyn Stevens, PR expert.

After fifteen years working as a television reporter and meteorologist in Philadelphia, Robyn Stevens’ experience in the media industry enables her to obtain major media placements for her clients. Robyn creates highly innovative media and marketing strategies that dramatically raise brand awareness and value.

Robyn gives listeners actionable tips on:

[2:00] How to start getting media features

[4:30] Tips for aligning your message at the right time

[6:00] TV vs. print media coverage

[7:50] Pitching tips

[11:10] How to start making media connections

[14:30] Being a recurring guest expert or contributor vs. landing multiple features

[16:30] Secret tips to get media appearances

[20:25] How to differentiate yourself from your competition

[23:00] Robyn’s book recommendation

Thanks to nearly two-years of COVID-19-related shutdowns and sheltering-in-place orders, working from home has become the new normal. Face-to-face interactions have been replaced by meeting on real-time videoconferencing platforms such as Zoom, FaceTime or Microsoft Teams, while cloud-based collaborative programs have become absolutely vital if any work is to be done.

How can women lawyers be financially empowered?

Why is it important to feel heard, respected, and create boundaries in the workplace?

Sibgongile Ngako joins me on the podcast this week to talk about financial independence and becoming financially empowered.

Sibongile is a Harvard-educated corporate fintech and compliance executive leveraging her expertise and background to help empower women professionally, personally, and financially.

Sibongile gives listeners actionable tips on:

[1:00] Why financial empowerment is particularly important for women

[2:20] How to take control of your finances

[7:25] Tips to being heard and respected in the workplace

[11:10] Knowing our limits and boundaries

[16:20] How empowerment plays a big role in long-term aligning of your goals and success

[20:10] Sibongile’s book recommendation

[24:00] The biggest takeaway from this conversation

It’s time for the Modern Law Library’s summer recommendations episode, where host Lee Rawles shares her pop culture picks with you, plus a re-airing of one of our older episodes that has become relevant again. In this case, it’s a 2018 conversation with Mary Ziegler about her book Beyond Abortion: Roe v. Wade and the Battle for Privacy. Ziegler shares information about other areas of the law in which Roe was used as precedent beyond reproductive rights. Tune in to hear about what Lee has been reading, watching and listening to this summer.

Recommendations:

BOOKS

Medicus series by Ruth Downie

Sparks & Bainbridge mysteries by Allison Montclair

An Elderly Lady is Up to No Good and An Elderly Lady Must Not Be Crossed by Helene Tursten

Dial A for Aunties and Four Aunties and a Wedding by Jesse Q. Sutanto

Mastering the Art of Soviet Cooking (memoir) and Please to the Table (cookbook) by Anya Von Bremzen

How to Keep House While Drowning: A Gentle Approach to Cleaning and Organizing by KC Davis

Denali’s Howl: The Deadliest Climbing Disaster on America’s Wildest Peak by Andy Hall

New Handbook for a Post-Roe America: The Complete Guide to Abortion Legality, Access, and Practical Support by Robin Marty

MOVIES

Everything Everywhere All At Once

RRR

PODCASTS

Brown History Podcast

Dish

Get Out Alive

The Icebox with Isaac K. Lee: The Book of Lasso

Maintenance Phase

TV SHOWS

Only Murders in the Building, Hulu

Rutherford Falls, Peacock

Ms. Marvel, Disney+