In the rapidly evolving world of technology, few innovations have sparked as much curiosity—and controversy—as generative AI. Imagine a tool that can pass the bar exam, draft legal briefs, and redefine the very process of legal writing. But as we look to the future of AI in law, we're faced with profound questions: Can a machine truly understand the law? What happens to concepts like authorship, ethics, and attorney-client privilege in a world where AI is a co-author?

In today’s episode hosts Christine Bilbrey and Jamie Moore welcome Dr. Kirsten Davis, Professor of Law at Stetson University College of Law, and an expert in generative artificial intelligence in legal writing to explore these questions. 

Kirsten Davis is a Professor and Provost's Faculty Fellow for Generative Artificial Intelligence and Higher Education at Stetson University College of Law. She earned her JD from Ohio State and a Ph.D. in Human Communication from Arizona State University. Prior to joining the faculty at Stetson Law, she was a federal judicial clerk, an attorney at Jones Day, and a faculty member at the Arizona State University College of Law.

Dr. Davis has served on the board of the Association of Legal Writing Directors and the Legal Writing Institute. She is a past Chair of the Florida Bar's Standing Committee on Professionalism, serves as the Program Co-Chair for the Association of American Law Schools Section on Technology, Law, and Legal Education; as a member of the Legal Writing Institute’s AI Committee; and as a member of the Florida Bar Standing Committee on Technology.

Dr. Davis’s work focuses on the intersection of legal communication and legal ethics. Most recently, she has been studying the impact of generative artificial intelligence on legal communication, legal ethics, and higher education. She is currently leading a group of over 400 law professors who are exploring the impacts of Generative AI on legal writing education and practice. Her course, Legal Writing with Generative AI, was one of the first of its kind to be offered to law students. 

This podcast has been approved by The Florida Bar Continuing Legal Education Department for 1.0 hour of General CLE credit including 0.5 hour of Technology CLE credit and 0.5 hour of Ethics CLE credit. Course # 8875. 

REFERENCED RESOURCES: 

·        Kirsten K. Davis

o   A New Parlor Is Open: Legal Writing Faculty Must Develop Scholarship On Generative AI and Legal Writing [Stetson Law Review]

·        Florida Bar Ethics Opinion 24-1

·        Florida Bar Special Committee on AI Tools & Resources

·        Co-Intelligence: Living and Working with AI [Amazon]

·        The Florida Bar Guide to Getting Started with AI

·        LegalFuel: The Florida Bar’s Practice Resource Center

Professionalism, ethics, and courtroom presence are vital tools for every attorney striving to deliver exceptional service and build a strong reputation. Today, we’ll explore how these qualities can elevate an attorney's practice, enhancing credibility with judges, clients, and colleagues. Organizations like the American Inns of Court play a key role in promoting these standards, helping attorneys navigate the challenges of a demanding profession while upholding the values of integrity and civility. 

In today’s episode host Jamie Moore welcomes Judge Ross Bilbrey, to share insights on courtroom decorum, oral argument tips, and the value of the Florida Inns of Court. 

Judge Bilbrey has been on the First District Court of Appeal since 2015. Prior to this, he was a Circuit Court judge in Pensacola beginning in 2012 and was appointed to the Santa Rosa County Court in 2006.

He received his B.A. and his J.D. from the University of Florida. Before taking the bench, Judge Bilbrey was in private practice where he focused on civil and commercial litigation. He also served as a legal assistance attorney for the JAG Corps at the Naval Legal Service Office at NAS Pensacola. 

Judge Bilbrey is active in the American Inns of Court and previously served as president of the Pensacola Chapter as well as president of the First DCA Appellate Inn, here in Tallahassee. 

This podcast has been approved by The Florida Bar Continuing Legal Education Department for 1.0 hour of General CLE credit including 1.0 hour of Ethics CLE credit. Course # 8824. 

REFERENCED RESOURCES: 

American Inns of Court

English Inns of Court

Counsel to Counsel Mentoring Program [The Florida Bar]

Lawyer Advising Lawyers [The Florida Bar]

Oral Arguments Set for Proposed Amendments to Civil Procedure Rules Ahead of January Implementation [The Florida Bar]

Supreme Court Declines to Erase ‘Zealous Advocacy’ From Bar Rules [The Florida Bar]

Guidelines for Professional Conduct [The Florida Bar]

Professionalism Expectations [The Florida Bar]

Northern District of Florida [Courtroom Etiquette]

Middle District of Florida [Courtroom Decorum]

Guidelines for Professional Conduct [The Florida Bar]

Effective Brief Writing and Oral Argument: Gaining the Inside Track [The Florida Bar]

Florida Voluntary Bars

LegalFuel: The Florida Bar’s Practice Resource Center

Every day, lawyers work diligently to solve their clients’ legal issues, but finding the right information in the most efficient manner can be a challenge. Enter vLex Fastcase, an innovative tool built to change the way legal work gets done. From AI-driven insights to seamless integration into daily workflows, this platform offers new ways for lawyers to work faster and smarter, and ultimately enhance the delivery of client services. Today, we’ll explore how this game-changing resource can assist attorneys and how Florida Bar members can benefit from it at no additional cost.

In today’s episode hosts Christine Bilbrey and Jamie Moore welcome Alex Shaffer, a Customer Success Manager of vLex, to discuss the vLex Fastcase platform features. 

Alex graduated from the University of Texas School of Law and went on to litigate cases in the trial division of the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office. While balancing a fast-paced litigation schedule, he quickly came to appreciate the need for quick and reliable research.

Now, Alex leverages vLex's innovative solutions to eliminate the many research roadblocks that stand between attorneys and successful results. His work is centered on reducing attorneys' research hours so that they may redirect their focus to where it matters most— their clients' success. 

This podcast has been approved by The Florida Bar Continuing Legal Education Department for 1.0 hour of General CLE credit including 1.0 hour of Technology CLE credit. Course # 8825. 

REFERENCED RESOURCES: 

•  Florida Bar Member Benefit – vLex Fastcase
•  vLex Fastcase Benefit Introduction - Webinar 
•  vLex – Your Ultimate Legal AI Platform
•  vLex Resource Guides
• vLex Videos
•  Best Practices for Utilizing AI in Your Law Firm
•  LegalFuel: The Florida Bar’s Practice Resource Center

The legal profession is known for its intensity and constant pressure. But what happens when personal challenges and mental health struggles start to affect those who uphold the law? Today, we’re diving into the often-overlooked mental health challenges faced by attorneys, judges, and courtroom staff, exploring how these issues impact professional conduct and what steps can be taken to find balance, support, and resilience in a demanding career.

In today’s episode hosts Christine Bilbrey and Jamie Moore welcome Judge Alicia Latimore, circuit court judge in the Ninth Judicial Circuit in Florida to discuss strategies for balancing self-care with professional duties.

The Honorable Alicia Latimore was appointed to the 9th Judicial Circuit Court of Florida in 2005. She has also served as the Administrative Circuit Judge for the Unified Problem Solving Court. Prior to her appointment, Judge Latimore was in private practice, specializing in marital, family, and juvenile law and served as an appeals referee and an administrative hearing officer for the Florida State Department of Labor Appeals for Unemployment Compensation. She was also a traffic infraction officer for the 9th Judicial Circuit Court from 1994 to 1997. Judge Latimore graduated from Duke University in 1985 and received her JD from the University of Florida in 1990.

Judge Latimore gives back to her community in many ways outside of the courtroom, but she has focused on teaching the next generation of lawyers and jurists as an adjunct professor at Barry University's School of Law. Judge Latimore was recently elected as the circuit conference member of the Florida Judicial Qualifications Commission, which investigates allegations of judicial misconduct and disability against Florida state judges. She is also a longtime member of the Florida Bar’s Mental Health & Wellness Committee.

This podcast has been approved by The Florida Bar Continuing Legal Education Department for 1.0 hour of General CLE credit including 1.0 hour of Mental Health and Wellness CLE credit. Course # 8823. 

REFERENCED RESOURCES: 

Florida Bar Mental Health and Wellness Center

Florida Lawyer Helpline

833-FL1-WELL (833-351-9355)

Mental Health & Wellness of Florida Lawyers Committee

Florida Lawyers Assistance

Lawyers Call (954) 566-9040

Judges Call (888) 972-4040

Florida Judicial Wellness Program

Well-Being in Law (American Bar Association)

Mental Health First Aid Training

Florida Bar Journal: The Surprising Master Key to Happiness and Satisfaction According to the Lawyer Research

The Impact of Secondary Trauma in the Legal Profession

National Library of Medicine: Dimensions of Wellness – Change Your Habits, Change Your Life

LegalFuel: The Florida Bar’s Practice Resource Center

Not every client interaction or legal matter goes as expected. Billing disagreements, unmet expectations, and misunderstandings can quickly escalate, leaving attorneys vulnerable to disciplinary action. Fortunately, mediation provides an alternative—a confidential, informal approach to resolving disputes before they escalate. Through The Florida Bar’s free mediation program, attorneys and clients can engage with a neutral mediator to find common ground, saving time, expense, and stress compared to formal proceedings. Today, we'll explore how this program helps attorneys navigate conflict, protect their practice, and reach resolutions that work for everyone involved.

In today’s episode host Jamie Moore welcomes Shanell Schuyler and Christina Magee to discuss The Florida Bar’s mediation program. 

Shanell Schuyler serves as the Director of the Attorney Consumer Assistance Program (ACAP) and Intake Department of The Florida Bar. She also supervises the Bar’s Grievance Mediation and Fee Arbitration Program, the Practice and Professionalism Enhancement Programs, and Diversion/Discipline Consultation Services. Shanell is a graduate of Florida State University, cum laude, with a B.S. in Finance, and Stetson University College of Law. She began working for The Florida Bar as a senior attorney in 2007. She became director of the ACAP/Intake Department in February 2012. Shanell is an active member of the National Organization of Bar Counsel where she frequently speaks on topics pertinent to lawyer regulation.

Christina Magee received her JD from the NYU School of Law and is a Florida Supreme Court Certified Circuit Civil, Appellate, and County Mediator. She is a Qualified Arbitrator and is on the AAA Arbitration and Mediation panel for Commercial and Employment matters. Ms. Magee founded Brevard Mediation Services in 2011 and restricts her practice to mediation, arbitration, and other forms of dispute resolution. She is on the roster of Mediators for the US District Court for the Middle and Southern Districts of Florida. She is also a member of the American College of Civil Trial Mediators and a diplomate of the National Academy of Distinguished Neutrals. She currently serves on the Florida Bar’s Grievance Mediation & Fee Arbitration Committee.

This podcast has been approved by The Florida Bar Continuing Legal Education Department for 1.0 hour of General CLE credit including 1.0 hour of Ethics CLE credit. Course # 8800. 

REFERENCED RESOURCES: 

Attorney/Consumer Assistance Program (ACAP)

Grievance Mediation & Fee Arbitration Committee

Rules Regulating The Florida Bar Chapter 14: Grievance Mediation and Fee Arbitration

Mediation in Florida [Florida Courts]

Consumer Pamphlet: Grievance Mediation Program

Mediation [Article: The Florida Bar]

While most attorney-client relationships end without disputes over fees, disagreements can sometimes develop. These disputes often result from misunderstandings or communication breakdowns and can occasionally lead to a bar complaint. Fee issues can occur between attorneys and clients or even between attorneys involved in the same case. Although these disputes can be resolved through the courts, alternative solutions are available. The Florida Bar offers a fee arbitration program, which functions like a mini trial. In this program, an arbitrator makes a final and binding decision after reviewing evidence and hearing testimony. This arbitration process is free, voluntary, and can be initiated by either the attorney or the client. By utilizing this program, attorneys can better serve their clients and avoid involvement in the disciplinary system. 

In today’s episode host Jamie Moore welcomes Shanell Schuyler and Steven Lesser to discuss The Florida Bar’s fee arbitration program.

Shanell Schuyler serves as the Director of the Attorney Consumer Assistance Program (ACAP) and Intake Department of The Florida Bar. She also supervises the Bar’s Grievance Mediation and Fee Arbitration Program, the Practice and Professionalism Enhancement Programs, and Diversion/Discipline Consultation Services. Shanell is a graduate of Florida State University, cum laude, with a B.S. in Finance, and Stetson University College of Law. She began working for The Florida Bar as a senior attorney in 2007. She became director of the ACAP/Intake Department in February 2012. Shanell is an active member of the National Organization of Bar Counsel where she frequently speaks on topics pertinent to lawyer regulation.

Steven B. Lesser chairs the national Construction Law and Litigation practice group at his firm. He is Board Certified in Construction Law by the Florida Bar and focuses solely on construction law and litigation, including governmental construction claims, defense, and hotel/condominium disputes. A Fellow of the American College of Construction Lawyers, he was elected to the Board of Governors in 2022 for a 3-year term. He has received numerous awards from the Florida Bar and American Bar Associations for his contributions to the construction industry.

Mr. Lesser is a Past-Chair of the American Bar Association’s Forum on Construction Law, the largest construction lawyer group globally, known for its scholarly publications and programs on construction law. He also served as Past-Chair of The Florida Bar Board of Legal Specialization and Education committee, overseeing the Bar’s certification plan and 27 certification committees. Additionally, he has held leadership roles in various Florida Bar and American Bar Association Committees, including Past-Chair of the Florida Bar Construction Law Certification Committee. 

This podcast has been approved by The Florida Bar Continuing Legal Education Department for 0.5 hour of General CLE credit including 0.5 hour of Ethics CLE credit. Course # 8663. 

REFERENCED RESOURCES: 

Grievance Mediation & Fee Arbitration Committee [The Florida Bar]

Keep Your Fee Dispute Out of Court [Video]

Attorney/Consumer Assistance Program (ACAP)

Complaint Alternatives [The Florida Bar]

Bar’s Grievance Mediation and Fee Arbitration Program Seeks Volunteers [The Florida Bar]

Grievance Mediation & Fee Arbitration Volunteer Form

Rules Regulating The Florida Bar Chapter 14 Grievance Mediation and Fee Arbitration

Many lawyers struggle with the pressures of practicing law and the impact it has on their mental health and work performance. Finding some satisfaction in your work and even a sense of purpose can go a long way in alleviating the misery that you may be feeling. While you may still not love practicing law, you can learn to adjust your view to see the value that your work brings to your clients or to the community.

In today’s episode hosts Christine Bilbrey and Jamie Moore welcome Stuart Teicher, to discuss his book, “How to Stop Hating the Law”. He offers actionable strategies for making the practice of law more enjoyable or at least more tolerable.

Stuart Teicher is a professional legal educator who focuses on ethics law and writing instruction. He is a Supreme Court appointee to the New Jersey District Ethics Committee where he investigates and prosecutes grievances filed against attorneys. Stuart teaches Professional Responsibility at Georgetown Law and undergraduate writing at Rutgers University in New Brunswick.

A practicing attorney for over 25 years, Stuart’s career is now dedicated to helping fellow attorneys survive the practice of law and thrive in the profession through seminars, in-house training for law firms, CLE instruction, and keynote speeches at conventions and association meetings. Stuart helps attorneys get better at what they do (and enjoy the process) through his entertaining and educational CLE performances. His previous book, “Navigating the Legal Ethics of Social Media and Technology”, was published by Thomson Reuters.

This podcast has been approved by The Florida Bar Continuing Legal Education Department for 1.0 hour of General CLE credit including 1.0 hour of Mental Health and Wellness CLE credit. Course # 8579.

REFERENCED RESOURCES: 

·        Stuart Teicher

o  Contact

o  Buy My Book

o  How to Stop Hating the Law: A path to hope for miserable lawyers [Amazon]

·        Florida Bar Practice Resource Center CLEs with Stuart Teicher

·        Florida Lawyers Helpline

·        How to Start and Build a Law Practice [Amazon]

·        LegalFuel: The Florida Bar’s Practice Resource Center

As an attorney, you rely on your staff, but HR issues with your staff can catch you off guard and when not handled properly, these issues can completely disrupt the successful delivery of service to your clients. Human Resource management is essential for every business, but in a small firm, the HR department is most likely just you. And like any business, firms must comply with federal and state labor laws on overtime, maternity leave, discrimination, etc. Unless you are a labor and employment law attorney, you may not be aware of all the requirements and best practices. This can result in inconsistent policy enforcement or inadequate documentation of performance issues, ultimately leading to some avoidable headaches.

In today’s episode hosts Christine Bilbrey and Jamie Moore welcome Kevin Johnson, an employment defense attorney, and Shareholder of Johnson Jackson, to discuss HR best practices for law firms. 

Kevin Johnson graduated from the University of Florida Levin College of Law, and is Board Certified in Labor and Employment Law by The Florida Bar since 2007. For more than two decades, Kevin has represented and advised employers about laws that affect their relationships with employees, helped them solve problems when they arise, and defended them against discrimination charges and lawsuits filed by their employees. His clients range from national restaurant chains, retail employers, and large hospitals, to independent restaurants, medical practices, and other local employers. Kevin has experience litigating cases in jurisdictions throughout the United States, both in single-plaintiff cases and in nationwide class and collective actions. He has been recognized in the field of employment law by various publications, including Best Lawyers in America, Florida Trend, and Super Lawyers. Kevin is AV-rated by Martindale Hubbell. He has also been recognized by The Florida Bar for his involvement with promoting technology and practice-management education for Florida lawyers.

This podcast has been approved by The Florida Bar Continuing Legal Education Department for 1.0 hour of General CLE credit including 1.0 hour of Labor and Employment Law CLE credit. Course # 8619. 

REFERENCED RESOURCES: 

Johnson Jackson PLLC

• Kevin D. Johnson

SHRM

• How Small-Business Owners Successfully Delegate HR [SHRM]

U.S. Department of Labor

• Family and Medical Leave Act [U.S. Department of Labor]
• Wages and the Fair Labor Standards Act [U.S. Department of Labor]
• Employee or Independent Contractor Classification [U.S. Department of Labor]

U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission

• Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 [U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission]
• What You Should Know About the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act [U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission]

Americans with Disabilities Act [U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division]

U.S. Department of Labor mandates two salary threshold increases for white collar FLSA exemptions and a mechanism for future automatic increases [Employment Law Watch]

LegalFuel: The Florida Bar’s Practice Resource Center 

The ABA 2023 Tech Survey highlights that 56% of respondents regularly utilize fee-based online services for legal research, with an additional 21% using them occasionally. Surprisingly, 12% never utilize these resources. Despite the abundance of technological options available for legal research, many lawyers still hold a preference for hard copy books. Research suggests that modern screens and e-readers struggle to replicate the tactile experiences of reading on paper, hindering the natural navigation of lengthy texts. For lawyers, books offer a tangible resource for easy browsing, annotation, and cross-referencing that online research might not offer. 

In today’s episode hosts Christine Bilbrey and Jamie Moore welcome Maggie O’Neill, to discuss why books are still relevant in the practice of law.

Maggie O'Neill holds a bachelor's degree from the University of North Dakota, and a law degree from Northeastern University School of Law.

For over 17 years, Maggie ran a solo practice specializing in family law and dependency cases, focusing on litigation and mediation. Maggie's experience in the publishing industry is extensive, having held key roles including Vice President of Product Management and Vice President of HR Publishing at Thomson Reuters and as Editor in Chief of Professional Publications at Reed Elsevier. Additionally, Maggie worked at Callaghan and Company as a Legal Editor and Project Manager. 

This podcast has been approved by The Florida Bar Continuing Legal Education Department for 0.5 hour of General CLE credit. Course # 8493.

REFERENCED RESOURCES: 

• Florida Bar Member Benefits: Legal Publications
• The Florida Bar and LexisNexis Store
• Contact Sales 1-877-394-8826
• ABA to release TechReport 2023 survey on legal tech trends [American Bar Association]
• ABA Profile of the Legal Profession 2023 [American Bar Association]
• The Reading Brain in the Digital Age: The Science of Paper versus Screens [Scientific American]
• LegalFuel: The Florida Bar’s Practice Resource Center

While the legal field has historically been hesitant to adopt new technology, AI is now slowly sweeping into law firms. Integrating AI programs can dramatically boost a firm’s efficiency and reduce costs by assisting with many tasks including legal research, document drafting and review, and even automated client communication. There is a clear upside to implementing AI, but legal professionals must also be aware of the risks and ethical concerns that come with its use.

In today's episode, hosts Christine Bilbrey and Jamie Moore welcome Damien Riehl, to discuss best practices for utilizing AI in the law firm. 

Damien Riehl is a lawyer, technologist, and lead product designer at vLex with experience in complex litigation, digital forensics, and software development. A coder since 1985 and for the web since 1995, Damien clerked for the chief judges of state and federal courts, practiced in complex litigation for over a decade, has led teams of cybersecurity and world spanning digital forensics investigations, and has led teams in legal-software development.

Co-Chair of the Minnesota Governor’s Council on Connected and Automated Vehicles, he has helped recommend changes to Minnesota statutes, rules, and policies — all related to connected and autonomous vehicles. Damien is Chair of the Minnesota State Bar Association's working group on AI and the Unauthorized Practice of Law (UPL).

At SALI, the legal data standard he helps lead, Damien develops and has greatly expanded the taxonomy of over 14,000 legal tags that matter, helping the legal industry's development of Generative AI, analytics, and interoperability.

At vLex Group – which includes Fastcase, NextChapter, and Docket Alarm – Damien helps lead the design, development, and expansion of various products, integrating AI-backed technologies to improve legal workflows and to power legal data analytics. 

This podcast has been approved by The Florida Bar Continuing Legal Education Department for 1.0 hour of General CLE credit including 1.0 hour of Technology CLE credit. Course # 8473. 

REFERENCED RESOURCES:  

• LLMs for Legal Tasks: Best Practices [by Damien Riehl]
• vLex – Your Ultimate Legal AI Platform
• Latest version of ChatGPT aces bar exam with score nearing 90th percentile [ABA Journal]
• AI Agents and The Era of The Intelligent Interface [Forbes]
• Affective Computing: Advancing human wellbeing by developing new ways to communicate, understand, and respond to emotion [MIT]
• Why We Need to See Inside AI’s Black Box [Scientific American]
• Understanding AI Terms: What is a Foundational Model? [The National Law Review]
• AI in Law: Transforming Legal Practices [Clio]
• What is AI and How Can Law Firms Use it? [Clio]
• LegalFuel: The Florida Bar’s Practice Resource Center