Inflation. The economy. Women’s reproductive rights. Immigration. Education. These are just some of the policy & legal issues that we have covered over the years here on Lawyer 2Lawyer and will surely be on the minds of voters as they cast their ballot for president on November 5th, 2024.

In this episode, Craig is joined by Dr. Casey Burgat, an assistant professor and the director of the Legislative Affairs program at George Washington University’s Graduate School of Political Management, as they discuss the upcoming presidential election, the candidates, policy issues important to voters, and what we can expect on Election Day and beyond.

Mentioned in this episode: 

We Hold These “Truths” Book

Mastering the Room Podcast

In the Rump Roast, they play “Candid Camera”, where Jared asks Kerry questions on the history of all things video. What was the last truly silent film? What band played the first-ever music video on MTV? Listen in to find out if Kerry’s up to the trivia challenge.

And, lastly, hating on Caitlin Clark is utterly ridiculous. Jared expounds upon the many reasons why WNBA players (including Caitlin’s own teammates) need to take advantage of the hype and bask in all that Caitlin Clark is bringing to women’s basketball. 

Since Video Killed The Radio Star, here’s a playlist featuring songs that had some of the best music videos.

Our opening song is Two Cigarettes by Major Label Interest.

Our closing song is Just Like Me by Thruline.

The new book addresses the challenges women face in the legal profession and the things organizations and firms do, often unintentionally, that make it harder for women in law, all told through personal stories of struggles and successes.

Beck and Gibson, both committed to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging, discuss these collections of stories that tap into the experiences of litigators in a range of practice groups, from corporate to government positions. These are situations that arise everywhere, from the courtroom to the boardroom to the lunchroom.

Why do women in law still face so many challenges and obstacles? It’s nice to imagine gender disparity is a relic of the past, but the statistics tell a different story. There is work for all of us to do, not only toward gender equality but also in racial and ethnic disparities in the legal profession. The stories in these books examine situations that exist, even in organizations that believe they have erased barriers. Fixing the problems starts with acknowledging that they persist. Everyone can learn from this discussion.

Resources:

Women Advocate Committee American Bar Association

“Her Story: Lessons In Success For Lawyers Who Live It” 

“Her Story: The Resilient Woman Lawyer’s Guide To Conquering Obstacles, Book 2” 

K. Brooke Welch

Jessica Blaemire

Michal Rogson

Steven Velkei

Dunlap, Bennett & Ludwig

Klinedinst Attorneys

American Bar Association

American Bar Association Litigation Section

Growing up the daughter of a respected small-town attorney in Alabama, Hinton jokes that she was “Scout” to a real-life Atticus Finch of the novel To Kill a Mockingbird. Hinton learned at a young age the trust clients place in their attorneys and the duty attorneys have to serve clients and the community, in and out of the courthouse.

Hinton’s path took her from a small town to big city firms with international clients. Entering an area of the law that at the time featured few women, Hinton made her own way, walking into senior attorneys’ offices and volunteering for the toughest cases. In an era before the phrase “work/life balance,” she learned to manage the demands of high stakes law in balance with her personal life.

Throughout, Hinton strove to raise her profile, develop a strong reputation, and build and sustain business relationships through involvement in nonprofit and association work and by making herself available to senior firm members for complex cases. “Don’t wait for them to find you, you go find them,” she says. Hear first-hand Hinton’s tips for building a high-profile career in litigation, leveraging both corporate and American Bar Association relationships, and building on each previous step.

Resources:

American Bar Association

American Bar Association Litigation Section

Unfortunately, in recent years women’s rights have come under attack. With SCOTUS’ overturning of Roe v. Wade, and many other policy issues like equal pay, Title IX, childcare, taxes, and equity in education, women continue to fight for their individual rights.

In this episode, Craig is joined by Amy Royce, Senior Counsel for Income Security for the National Women’s Law Center, as they will spotlight Women’s History Month by discussing the current policy issues involving women, highlighting the intersection of  gender justice and tax policy. We will also take a look back at women throughout history who have paved the way, and what women across the nation can do to rise up against legislation and fight for their rights.

Guests Amy Stewart and Heather White are highly successful litigators who have made their own way as women and as attorneys. They’ve learned the value of authenticity, real friendships, asking for help when they need it, and offering a hand when it’s needed. Believe it or not, who you know is as important as what you know. Relationships and reputations are part of the practice of law—they drive your career forward.

Also in this episode, guest M.C. Sungaila, one of the conference organizers, provides highlights from the conference and what you can look forward to!

Rikleen, a former law firm partner and consultant who writes and speaks about the importance of cross-generational communication, tells the ABA Journal’s Lee Rawles that she hopes millennial and Gen Z readers will benefit from the reflections of women judges from the Silent Generation, baby boomers and Gen X. Some of the challenges they faced will not similarly impede younger generations, but other obstacles are familiar, formidable and still present.

“[E]ven as gains are made, biases are deep and systemic, requiring the vigilance of every generation to continue the difficult work of achieving full equity for all,” Rikleen writes in her introduction to Her Honor: Stories of Challenge and Triumph from Women Judges.

Bookended by essays about the former Justice Sandra Day O’Connor and the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Her Honor compiles reflections by the living jurists or essays about the lives of judges who have passed on. The 25 women jurists are all honorees of the Margaret Brent Women Lawyers of Achievement Awards, selected by the Commission on Women in the Profession. Rikleen herself has received a Margaret Brent award, and says it was a fair-handed way to narrow down participants. Past Margaret Brent honorees who also contributed to Her Honor include previous guests of the Modern Law Library podcast, Judge Bernice Bouie Donald and Judge M. Margaret McKeown. The judges write about the paths they took to the judiciary; their struggles to balance their work and personal lives; the people who mentored and encouraged them; and their triumphs and regrets.

“They are different in every particular, yet what unites them in the aggregate is profound: This is a book about imagination, and what it took and still takes for women, and by extension other minorities invisible to the Constitution and the law, to imagine themselves into a structure that didn’t include them,” Dahlia Lithwick, senior legal correspondent at Slate, wrote in the forward to the book.

In addition to discussing Her Honor, Rikleen and Rawles get into another project to which Rikleen has devoted her time. She is the executive director of Lawyers Defending American Democracy, a nonprofit, nonpartisan group that works to uphold democratic norms and the rule of law. They also discuss the “three Cs” promoted by ABA President Deborah Enix-Ross: civics, civility and collaboration.

Check out Dr. Frankel’s audiobook: Nice Girls Don’t Speak Up or Stand Out: How to Make Your Voice Heard, Your Point Known, and Your Presence Felt

Dr. Lois P. Frankel, President of Corporate Coaching International, is a bestselling author, executive coach, and an internationally-recognized expert in the field of leadership development for women.

Maryam Ahranjani is an experienced law professor at the University of New Mexico (UNM), where she teaches in the areas of constitutional, criminal and education law. She is also a textbook author, rule of law and human rights consultant, program manager and evaluator, and curriculum designer.

By Maryam Ahranjani

• Why Are Women Lawyers Underrepresented in Criminal Justice?

Additional Resources

• ABA Task Force: Women in Criminal Justice
• ABA Criminal Justice Section
• ABA Young Lawyers Division

The history of National Public Radio, the outlet that made Nina Totenberg a household name, is shorter than many people imagine. Its first broadcast hit the airwaves in 1971. Napoli shares how NPR helped craft the careers of women like Susan Stamberg, Linda Linda Wertheimer, Cokie Roberts and Totenberg, but also how these women helped shape the network and national conversations. Totenberg changed the way the Supreme Court was reported on, says Napoli, and she discusses defining moments of Totenberg’s career.

The second half of the episode is made of highlights from Totenberg’s conversation with E. Thomas Sullivan, the president of the ABF, in front of a Washington, D.C., audience that included former Ginsburg clerks. Totenberg spoke about her book, her friendship with Ruth Bader Ginsburg, and what the justice really thought about the Notorious RBG meme. She reflects on Justice Ginsburg’s relationship with Sandra Day O’Connor; the current “grey” makeup of the U.S. Supreme Court; and why Ginsburg chose not to retire in 2013.

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

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz

Connect with Sibongile here:

• Instagram
• Twitter
• LinkedIn
• https://sibongilengako.com

Connect with me

• Instagram
• Pinterest
• Facebook
• Twitter
• Karin on Twitter
• Karin on LinkedIn
• Conroy Creative Counsel on Facebook
• https://conroycreativecounsel.com

While questions remain as to how closely the final ruling will track the draft opinion, the public has wasted no time in expressing its anger, with those advocating for abortion staging protests and demonstrations, and those advocating against taking issue with the leak itself.

On this episode of Lawyer 2 Lawyer, host Craig Williams is joined by professor Cary Franklin, Professor of Law at UCLA School of Law, to discuss this recent leak of a draft Supreme Court opinion that would overturn abortion rights, the constitutional right to abortion, the role of stare decisis, and the impact this will have if Roe v. Wade is overruled.

Special thanks to our sponsors, Posh Virtual Receptionists and Embroker.

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 LawPay, MyCase, and POSH Virtual Receptionists, for sponsoring this episode.

Roberta Tepper is the Chief Member Services Officer at the State Bar of Arizona.

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

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 LawPay, Postali, and Posh Virtual Receptionists for sponsoring this episode.

Joan R.M. Bullock is Dean of Texas Southern University Thurgood Marshall School of Law. 

Jennifer M. Collins is the Judge James Noel Dean and Professor of Law at Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law.

Felecia Epps is Dean at the University of North Texas College of Law in Dallas. 

Patricia Roberts is Dean of Saint Mary’s University School of Law in San Antonio.

Special thanks to our sponsor, LawPay.

Carter talks openly and honestly with host Adriana Linares about being clear with clients. Tell them your rates up front, even put them on your website. And set “rush rates” for any work that suddenly pops up, it sets expectations and encourages clients to think ahead and plan accordingly. Is your firm incorporating “rush rates” into client contracts?

Plus, we have a special upcoming mailbag edition on Office 365 and all things Microsoft. Got a question? Contact us at newsolo@legaltalknetwork.com.

Topics:

• Using simple, plain language to help clients understand what they are signing and what they are accomplishing.
• It’s OK to be transparent about your rates and that those rates increase when a matter is suddenly urgent!
• Being honest about what you do and what clients should expect.

New Insights

In a brand-new series of New Insights, veteran attorney Jennifer Smith Thomas answers questions from new attorney Jennifer Townsend about the challenges of working with her father in her small family-owned firm.

• Question 1: “My dad has given me a lot of freedom to redesign all the firm’s systems. How do I present my ideas without having him reject all of my plans?”

Got a question or suggestion? newsolo@legaltalknetwork.com

Special thanks to our sponsors, Lawclerk, Alert Communications, Abby Connect, and Clio.

Learn to untangle your communication traits and internal turmoil. Listen to your mind – and your body – and understand your strengths and abilities. If you struggle to speak up, to confidently share your ideas, or understand how you process information and energy, you are not alone.

Brown, author of “The Introverted Lawyer: A Seven-Step Journey Toward Authentically Empowered Advocacy” and “Untangling Fear in Lawyering: A Four-Step Journey Toward Powerful Advocacy,” delves into the feelings of stress and anxiety that can hold us back. 

Plus, we have a special upcoming mailbag edition on Office 365 and all things Microsoft. Got a question? Contact us at newsolo@legaltalknetwork.com.

Topics: 

– It’s OK to be introverted or shy as a lawyer. Acceptance can help you work through your unique challenges.

– Understand feelings of stress and anxiety (and the difference between being shy and being an introvert).

– Just like any professional athlete or performer, you can seek outside help, coaching, mentoring, and other services to help you be your best.

Special thanks to our sponsors, Lawclerk, Alert Communications, Abby Connect, and Clio.

My guest this week is Nequosha Anderson, who is a business and intellectual property attorney. For the last eight years, she has assisted primarily women creatives who want to legally protect their income producing ideas. She safeguards businesses and brand assets to ensure the intellectual property is secure and not stolen allowing the business owner to creatively operate in their genius and not be robbed of what’s rightfully theirs.

We talk about:

• How to find your own voice
• The societal change women are experiencing thanks to those who stand up for change and equality
• Why you need to show up and take up the space
• How to learn to know yourself to trust yourself and your voice
• Why representation of women and people of color matter in the legal industry

Adriana dives into how a new lawyer can open a successful practice as she walks through the process of establishing a brand, creating a business plan, and networking. Choosing the right tech, deciding on using a home office, shared office, or standalone brick and mortar? Marketing? Sponsorships? Referrals? Even learning to efficiently block off time and learning how to say “no” when the client isn’t the right fit. It’s all part of getting out there and going solo. Yes, you can.

Plus, we have a special upcoming mailbag edition. Got a question? Want to share some insights? Contact us now at newsolo@legaltalknetwork.com.

Topics:

• Get organized before you open the door. Understand your brand, your goals, and even yourself.
• Home office, virtual practice, shared workspace, or standalone office. What’s right for you?
• Choosing and using the tech you need. Learn how a new solo practitioner balanced the right tech at the right price. 

New Insights, brought to you by Nota by M&T Bank

• Veteran attorney and mediation professional Liz McCausland answers questions from new solo Stephanie Larenas:
• Question 2/4:  “How to pick your niche in an ever-more diversified market?”

Special thanks to our sponsors, Lawclerk, Alert Communications, Abby Connect, and Clio. 

So why do these misconduct allegations against high power political figures impact some but not others? And what can we do as a society to eliminate this behavior? On Lawyer 2 Lawyer, host Craig Williams is joined by professor Rebecca Ortiz, PhD, as they take a look at sexual harassment and the resignation of Governor Cuomo. Craig and Rebecca will discuss sexual harassment in politics, holding perpetrators accountable over these claims, and what is being done to combat sexual misconduct.

Repeating a point he made during his Clio Cloud 2020 keynote, Godin says clients don’t wake up with a billable-hour problem. They wake up with real problems. He says lawyers can better serve their businesses and their clients if they position themselves to solve those specific problems. There’s no issue of scarcity, he says, noting the world is replete with problems.

The three discuss practical advice for BigLaw “refugees” who hang their shingles, from making the leap and surviving the “dip” to embracing the technology that makes client interactions run smoothly.

Jack Newton is CEO and co-founder of Clio.

Seth Godin is an entrepreneur, best-selling author, and speaker.

Special thanks to our sponsors, Clio, Lawclerk, ROSS, and Alert Communications.

Greenblatt points out what he believes are fundamental flaws in BigLaw hiring and training junior talent and how his startup is creating alternatives for firms and corporate law departments while ensuring young lawyers from diverse backgrounds get on-the-job training.

He and Linares talk through four good habits for developing a successful career: Go where opportunity takes you, network, develop mentors, and make yourself indispensable.

Jonathan Greenblatt is a co-founder and chairman of Legal Innovators.

Special thanks to our sponsors, Clio, Lawclerk, ROSS, and Alert Communications.

With less than two months before Election Day, controversy was sparked between republicans and democrats when President Trump nominated federal appellate judge and Notre Dame law professor Amy Coney Barrett, known as a conservative judge and a former clerk for Justice Scalia, to fill Justice Ginsburg’s seat.

On Lawyer 2 Lawyer, host Craig Williams is joined by Deborah Pearlstein, professor of constitutional and international law and co-director of the Floersheimer Center for Constitutional Democracy at Cardozo School of Law, to discuss the latest on SCOTUS, the passing of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and her legacy, the controversy surrounding President Trump’s nomination of Amy Coney Barrett in an election year, and the potential impact on Roe v. Wade, healthcare and the High Court.

Special thanks to our sponsors, Blue J Legal and LEX Reception.

Participants:

• Trish Refo (ABA President)
• Marcia Clark (Author, Podcaster, and Criminal Attorney)
• Michelle Suskauer (former Florida Bar President)
• Liz McCausland (Florida Attorney)
• Lee Rawles (Web Editor at ABA Journal)
• Stephanie Francis Ward (Senior Writer at ABA Journal)
• Kathryn Rubino (Above the Law Podcaster and Writer)
• Sonia Russo (Assistant Attorney General at Colorado Department of Law)
• Meghan Steenburgh (Host of ABA Law Student Division Podcast)
• Sharon Nelson (Host of Digital Detectives Podcast)

Thank you to our sponsor NBI.

Anne Geraghty-Rathert is an attorney in private practice and a professor at Webster University in St. Louis, Missouri.

Special thanks to our sponsors, NALA, ServeNow, CourtFiling.net and Legalinc.

Special thanks to our sponsor, Headnote.

Special thanks to our sponsors, CourtFiling.net.

Special thanks to our sponsor, LawPay.

On Lawyer 2 Lawyer, guest host Bob Ambrogi is joined by ABA President Judy Perry Martinez and the two authors of the study, Stephanie Scharf & Roberta Liebenberg, to take a look at their findings why women are leaving the law, the impact these departures have on firms, and what is being done to keep women at law firms.

Special thanks to our sponsors, Clio and Blue J Legal.

Tara Isa Koslov is the chief of staff at the Federal Trade Commission.

Deona Kalala is counsel in the litigation and antitrust practices at Akin Gump.

Mika Clark is the antitrust managing counsel at United Airlines.

(Host) Gabrielle Kohlmeier is the associate general counsel for antitrust and strategic affairs at Verizon.

(Host) Jodie Williams is a partner at MoginRubin LLP, where her practice focuses on antitrust, unfair competition, and complex business litigation.

On Lawyer 2 Lawyer, host Craig Williams is joined by Kathryn Rubino, senior editor for Above the Law and Deborah K. Marcuse, the managing partner of Sanford Heisler Sharp’s Baltimore, Maryland office to discuss litigation, the current workplace environment in big law firms, and educating firms and companies about gender and pregnancy discrimination and the importance of gender diversity within the workplace.

Special thanks to our sponsors, Clio.

Special thanks to our sponsor, Smith.ai.

Inbal Baumer is the co-founder and CEO of LegalUp, a legal document automation service.

Special thanks to our sponsor, Answer1 and Thomson Reuters Westlaw Edge.

Hilarie Bass is co-president of international law firm Greenberg Traurig and a prolific trial attorney with a highly successful 30-plus year career.

Nicole VanderDoes is Chief Counsel for the ABA Standing Committee on the American Judicial System.

Since 2001, Carol Lynn Grow has overseen the marketing and channel partners for Law Toolbox.

Hsiaolei Miller is the vice president of business development for Breaking Media, the company that launched Above the Law.

Discussing the “Getting Women A Seat At The Table” event as well as ways to promote women into leadership roles. #ABATECHSHOW pic.twitter.com/eN59vqUKvd

— Laurence Colletti (@LaurenceEsq) March 8, 2018

In this episode of Lawyer 2 Lawyer, hosts, Bob Ambrogi and J. Craig Williams join attorney and professor Joanna L. Grossman, the inaugural Ellen K. Solender Endowed Chair in Women and the Law at SMU Dedman School of Law, and attorney Kathryn Rubino, editor for “Above the Law” and columnist for “Corporette,” to discuss sexual harassment at law firms. We will take a look at how the recent widespread allegations of sexual misconduct allegations in the news have impacted policy at law firms, the prevalence of sexual harassment in the legal profession, and what needs to change in workplace policy.

Attorney and professor Joanna L. Grossman is the inaugural Ellen K. Solender Endowed Chair in Women and the Law at SMU Dedman School of Law.

Attorney Kathryn Rubino is editor for Above the Law and columnist for Corporette.

Special thanks to our sponsors, Clio and Litera.

Jeena Cho is the author of two books: “The Anxious Lawyer, An 8-Week Guide to a Joyful and Satisfying Law Practice Through Mindfulness and Meditation,” and “How to Manage Your Law Office.”

Special thanks to our sponsors Scorpion, Answer1, and Thomson Reuters Firm Central.

Special thanks to our sponsors Amicus Attorney.

Bobbi Liebenberg is a senior partner at Fine Kaplan and Black, a nationally-recognized antitrust boutique in Philadelphia. She concentrates her practice in complex commercial litigation, particularly antitrust cases.

Stephanie Scharf is a founding partner of Scharf Banks Marmor, the largest women-owned law firm in the Chicago area. Her practice concentrates on litigation.

Special thanks to our sponsor, PC Law .

Women Rainmakers Best Marketing Tips-3d Edition will be available at www.ababooks.org