Legal Talk Network

In the conflict instigated by Russia in Ukraine, we have already seen numerous and outrageous Russian violations of the Laws of Armed Conflict, but what legal recourse is there against these acts? Meg Steenburgh of the ABA Law Student Podcast interviews Judge James E. Baker to learn about the interplay of law and war on the international stage. Judge Baker examines Russia’s actions to date and offers insights on how the U.S. and other international players can and/or should respond as they follow the rule of law. They also discuss new uses of AI in war, historical examples that compare to Ukraine’s struggle against its aggressor, and why law matters even if a wartime opponent refuses to adhere to it. 

Judge James E. Baker is director of the Syracuse University Institute for Security Policy and Law, a professor at the Syracuse College of Law and the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, and a Distinguished Fellow at the Georgetown Center for Security and Emerging Technology, Georgetown University. He previously served as a Judge and Chief Judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces.

Thank you to our sponsor NBI.

Zack talks with lawyer and tech expert, Martin Clausen, about managing the rights and obligations of agreements in real-time with computational contracts. They also touch on how bringing this technology to your clients could help set you apart from the rest of the pack. If today’s podcast resonates with you and you haven’t read The Small Firm Roadmap yet, ! Thanks to , , and for sponsoring this episode.

Although the Americans with Disabilities Act is decades-old, many businesses, including law firms, continue to treat it as a suggestion, rather than federal law, according to Eve Hill and Jason Turkish, two lawyers who represent plaintiffs in disability cases.

Special thanks to our sponsor, LawPay.

News stories of late have been riddled with concerns over international infrastructure attacks that indicate a growing potential for cyber war. Should you be worried? Dennis and Tom discuss some of the most recent events in this arena and bring their conversation around to what legal professionals should do to prepare for this eventuality.

Later, the guys talk about text-to-speech technology and whether its current generation of tools are worth your while.

Special thanks to our sponsors, Posh Virtual Receptionists, Clio, Colonial Surety Company, and Nota.

TECHSHOW is coming up March 2-5 in Chicago! Sharon Nelson and Jim Calloway welcome this year’s co-chairs Brooke Moore and Ivan Hemmans to learn more about the in-person and virtual offerings for conference-goers. Visit techshow.com to register! 

Brooke Moore is the legal editor for Legal Templates LLC and founding attorney of MyVirtual.Lawyer, an online, limited scope representation law firm model.

Ivan Hemmans is a senior manager of technical development at O'Melveny & Myers LLP and has extensive experience with information technology.

Special thanks to our sponsors, Alert Communications, Blackletter Podcast, Scorpion, and Smokeball.

Lawyerist Product Director, Ashley Steckler, shares her perspective on the personality test industry and how to navigate your results! If today’s podcast resonates with you and you haven’t read The Small Firm Roadmap yet, ! Thanks to   and   for sponsoring this episode.

Lawyerist Product Director, Ashley Steckler, shares her perspective on the personality test industry and how to navigate your results!

If today’s podcast resonates with you and you haven’t read The Small Firm Roadmap yet, get the first chapter right now for free!

Thanks to  Posh Virtual Receptionists and  Postali for sponsoring this episode.

Law professor Kim Wehle is used to helping her students begin to think like lawyers. But the methodology behind making tough decisions as a legal professional can also benefit the general public. It’s why How To Think Like A Lawyer—and Why: A Common-Sense Guide to Everyday Dilemmas was a natural follow-up to her two previous books, How to Read the Constitution—and Why and What You Need to Know About Voting—and Why.

Wehle’s previous books attempted to fill in civics education gaps for the general public. With her newest book, Wehle is hoping to give the general public alternatives to kneejerk or strictly partisan decision-making by encouraging a more methodical approach. In How to Think Like a Lawyer—and Why, Wehle shares what she calls the B-I-C-A-T Method. The five steps to the B-I-C-A-T Method are:

1. Break the problem down.

2. Identify your values and your aim.

3. Collect lots of information.

4. Argue both sides of each point.

5. Tolerate the fact that people may disagree with your choice and that you might feel conflicted about your decision.

In this episode of the Modern Law Library, Wehle and the ABA Journal’s Lee Rawles discuss how she chose the five different spheres of life highlighted in her book as areas where a lawyerly mind could be particularly useful: work, family life decisions, civic life, health care and when it’s time to hire an actual lawyer. They also take the B-I-C-A-T Method for a spin in a hypothetical situation that’s a real-life dilemma for many parents around the world: How to approach masking in school.

Special thanks to our sponsor, Posh Virtual Receptionists.

Guest Malcolm Crosland is a South Carolina attorney with more than 30 years’ experience protecting workers and their rights. In today’s gig economy, it’s up to Workers’ Comp attorneys to guard against employers, lobbyists, and insurance carriers as they angle to classify workers in ways that could exclude them from workplace protections. 

Crosland shares how important Workers’ Comp attorneys are both in fighting against efforts to weaken protections and in helping injured workers navigate a system that is increasingly adversarial and complex. 

Public understanding of Workers’ Comp is, for many, out-of-sight-out-of-mind. Until they need it. Workers’ Comp attorneys and the Workers Injury Law and Advocacy Group stand at the ramparts ensuring that working people across the country are cared for and supported when a workplace injury occurs.

Special thanks to our sponsor PInow.com, Posh Virtual Receptionists, and MerusCase.

The Super Bowl isn’t just about football and bean dip, it’s about the ads! Join Conrad and Gyi as they explore an increasing trend in the legal industry - ads during The Big Game.

But first, the guys challenge Kevin O’Keefe’s latest take on Advertising vs. Business Development. How do we distinguish between the two, which is better? Is there room for both reputation and relationship building? And what about old fashioned marketing and advertising?

But on to lawyer Super Bowl ads. The trend started with an absolutely “batsh*t crazy” 2014 ad by personal injury attorney Jamie Casino; a spot still getting views on YouTube. This year, we saw more law service ads airing in regional markets during the game. The lads highlight their favorites (and check out Friend-of-the-Podcast Joe Patrice’s own list).

How do these PR stunts, not necessarily a Super Bowl ad, fit your practice? Do you need a gimmick? And how would you track your results?

And of course, The News: Carolyn Elefant releases her third version of “Solo By Choice” and it’s worth your time. Bob and Ben Ambrogi launched their LawNext Directory. And don’t forget the upcoming ABA TechShow and your chance to hang out with Conrad and Gyi.

Special thanks to our sponsors Alert Communications, LawYaw, Posh Virtual Receptionists, and Clio.