News & Current Events Podcasts - Legal Talk Network

AI Features and Your Website | Google Search Central | Documentation

The Texas Floods: Warnings, Staffing Cuts, Climate Change, & How to Protect Ourselves from Extreme Weather

Ally Kvidt — Fri, 18 Jul 2025 11:00:33 +0000

On the 4th of July, extreme rainfall ripped through Central Texas, causing catastrophic flash flooding, leaving 119 dead and over 160 missing, with numbers climbing. The National Weather Service (NWS), which has recently experienced staffing cuts under DOGE & the Trump Administration, came under fire from local Texas officials who criticized the insufficient warnings ahead of the extreme weather.

In this episode, Craig welcomes Professor Jim Blackburn, environmental lawyer and co-director of the Severe Storm Prevention, Education and Evacuation from Disaster (SSPEED) Center at Rice University. Together, Craig and Jim discuss warnings, impact of staffing cuts, climate change, policy, and how we can protect ourselves from extreme weather.

Who Knew Biting Other Lawyers Was Frowned Upon?

Ally Kvidt — Wed, 16 Jul 2025 16:00:52 +0000

Biglaw summer associate let go after biting upwards of 15 people at the firm. Now that sounds crazy, but that’s because it is. We also discuss a lawyer’s biting response to a demand letter. A lot of the professional decorum advocates objected to the tone, but at a certain point how does the profession pushback against aggressive and unfounded demands without public shaming? There’s not another readily accessible disincentive. Finally, we address the gnashing of teeth in conservative media ecosphere over Superman being an immigrant and the knots they’re willing to tie themselves into in order to avoid the obvious.

How to Rank with Google AI Mode

Ally Kvidt — Thu, 10 Jul 2025 14:40:43 +0000

How do you get AI overviews and AI mode to promote your content? Gyi and Conrad detail out all the current guidance for better content performance.

The way people use search is changing. You definitely want to make sure your content is getting to your audience, and AI search experiences like AI Overviews and AI Mode may require a change in your tactics. Gyi and Conrad talk through the current guidance from Google to help you stand out in your market. Finding ways to provide genuinely unique content and a great site experience are key! And, learn how to employ the E-E-A-T principles for even more good content boosts in search.

Learn more about Google AI Content Guidelines:

Google Search’s guidance on using generative AI content on your website

The News:

Fear, uncertainty, doubt? Nah, it’s just the Google Core Update of June 2025.
A recent bunch of Google LSA notifications caused confusion and delay. Sheesh.
Ben Sessions’s very public vendetta against the shady behavior of some folks operating in his local courts is a sight to behold! Check out Ben’s Facebook page for more.
Another acquisition! Clio buys vLex, and this could be an exciting game changer.
Clio and Scorpion recently reached an exclusive partnership agreement for marketing services — More on this to come.
In the wake of the tragic Texas Floods, there are ways you can help. The Texas Disaster Legal Help Group will need more volunteers for years to come.

Suggested LHLM Episodes:

Big Money — Who Owns the Future of Law? – Lunch Hour Legal Marketing

Connect:

HELP! My Marketing Agency Was Acquired — What You NEED To Know

The Hallucinations Are Winning

Ally Kvidt — Wed, 09 Jul 2025 15:15:54 +0000

Has the era of the mid-sized firm come to an end? Probably not, but with increasing nationalization and the financial pressures that go along with it, mid-sized firms are consolidating and a valuable segment (and price point!) may be lost. Lawyers have faced a steady stream of sanctions for citing fake cases generated by AI, but now a judge officially blessed an order based on AI-hallucinated cases as a critical firewall in the war against machine slop is breached. While AI holds out promise for access to justice, the risk of a lawless free-for-all looms. Speaking of lawless free-for-alls, the Chief Justice explains that he doesn’t care about substantive criticism of the Court because he has votes and the critics don’t.

Unlocking the Power of Medical-Legal Partnerships

Ally Kvidt — Tue, 08 Jul 2025 11:00:15 +0000

A doctor and lawyer discuss the success of medical-legal partnerships (MLPs) on Talk Justice. They describe how MLPs support communities, improve patient outcomes and help to alleviate the burden on the health system. By allowing medical and legal professionals to collaborate and address the root causes of health problems that have legal solutions, MLPs promote a holistic approach to healthcare.

The Law of War

Ally Kvidt — Mon, 07 Jul 2025 11:00:45 +0000

The law of war is a component of international law that regulates the conditions for initiating war. With the Israel-Iran conflict raging on, and in a significant escalation, on June 21st, the United States retaliated against Iran by striking three of their nuclear sites. In response, Iran launched a strike against a U.S. air base in Qatar. After the strikes, President Trump promoted peace and announced a ceasefire, only to be met with more strikes and a continuance of the Israel-Iran conflict. So what is the law of war? And how does it apply to the current conflict between Iran, Israel, and now the United States?

In this episode, Craig welcomes back Rachel E. VanLandingham, Lt Col. (ret.), Co-Associate Dean of Research & Irwin R. Buchalter Professor of Law at Southwestern Law School. Together, Craig and Rachel discuss the law of war and the potential impact on our military, our country, and our relations with other countries.

Supreme Court A Hot Mess

Ally Kvidt — Wed, 02 Jul 2025 16:00:21 +0000

Taking a sledgehammer where a chisel — or better yet nothing — would do, the Supreme Court nixed injunctions it didn’t like by striking down the power to issue universal injunctions totally and addressed schools teaching that gay people exist by expanding strict scrutiny to parents lodging religious complaints. But at least they whined and took swipes at each other over it! Meanwhile, Justice Sonia Sotomayor figured out that if the majority wants to hide their rulings, the dissent can characterize them on their own. Also, the University of Florida Law School gave a top prize to a paper advocating a Whites-Only Constitution. The professor? Trump-appointed federal judge. The school’s effort to explain itself left a lot to be desired.

Protecting Whistleblowers with Louis Clark

Ally Kvidt — Tue, 01 Jul 2025 11:00:44 +0000

For over 40 years, Louis Clark has led the Government Accountability Project (GAP), an organization dedicated to protecting whistleblowers and ensuring government accountability. During the Trump administration, GAP is overwhelmed with the number of government employees seeking support in disclosing illegal, unethical, and fraudulent conduct. It is also addressing a new form of retaliation against whistleblowers, physical harm, and death threats. Learn more about the organization and its work at https://whistleblower.org.

Big Money — Who Owns the Future of Law?

Ally Kvidt — Wed, 25 Jun 2025 20:30:17 +0000

Non-Lawyer ownership, alternative business structures, venture capital pushing out the little guy… scary, right? Yeah, we get it—but should you be so worried about these new trends coming to law-firm business management? And later, Gyi and Conrad dig into Google’s content guidance to help you understand how to effectively leverage content for your business & marketing strategies.

For attorneys, the very thought of non-lawyers profiting off the practice of law is pretty darn repugnant. So, naturally, most lawyers are united in their distaste of venture capitalism, private equity, and big business making its way into digital marketing and law firm ownership. Is this resentment justified? Gyi and Conrad talk through the changing landscape of law firm business structures and what lawyers need to consider as they navigate this new reality.

Next, what can you do to make sure your content stands out amongst your competitors? The guys discuss Google’s SEO fundamentals for creating content their algorithm will promote. Figuring out how to drive traffic to your website might feel like a guessing game, but there are real, tactical methods for creating expert, trustworthy content that gets boosted by search engines. Check out more from Google: Creating Helpful, Reliable, People-First Content | Google Search Central | Documentation

The News:

Jason Hennessey’s firm Hennessey Digital was purchased by private equity.
Answering Legal has launched a free AI-powered chatbot. You don’t have to be a customer to use it, so you might as well check it out.
The Lunch Hour Legal Marketing website is live! And, coincidentally, you can sign up for the very exciting Lunch Hour Legal Marketing Summit right on our website! Hurry on over for that sweet early bird discount.
CallRail’s Voice Assist comes out of beta mid-July! Keep an eye out for it.
Hit us up to do an Ignite Pitch at the LHLM Summit! If you’ve got 5 minutes worth of quirky, nerdy insights on a relevant topic, Gyi and Conrad would love to consider your pitch.

Suggested LHLM Episodes:

What’s In a Brand?

Connect:

Google’s Search Monopoly in Jeopardy: This New Antitrust Ruling Changes Everything

Chapters (Times Approximate)

0:00 Gyi Griswold Goes Michigan Roadtrippin’

2:48 The News

8:47 Is Venture Capital Getting Greedy?

21:30 Help With Google’s Helpful Content

You Catch More Judges With ‘Honey’ Than With Vinegar

Ally Kvidt — Wed, 25 Jun 2025 14:00:45 +0000

Except those judges aren’t going to like it when you catch them. Like the poor lawyer here who called a judge “honey” during oral argument and entered a spiral of no return. We also had a dramatic week at the Supreme Court, with Justice Gorsuch trying to start something with Justice Jackson and Justice Jackson shutting it right down, and Sam Alito using his concurrence to complain that the transgender care ban is an act of discrimination… and the he wants the Court to be more proud of it. And Vault put out its law firm prestige rankings. Hopefully nothing went down immediately after their survey that radically changed how people perceive the firms!

The Jerkstore Called, They’re Not Running Out Of Lawyers

Ally Kvidt — Wed, 18 Jun 2025 15:15:51 +0000

According to a new survey, lawyers think their law firms are really tolerant of jerks. Are they right about that, or just overly sensitive? The DC Bar election ended in a blowout, but why? For all the complaining about some wild theories on social media, the simpler reason is that leading a bar association in 2025 means standing up to the administration and Pam Bondi’s brother never convinced the members that he’d be able to do that. In fact, the right-wing fear of strong bar associations has gotten so serious that the Florida supreme court actively kneecapped their state bar. And we talk about attending David Lat’s Original Jurisdiction party, which you should also be reading.

Say “Yes” to Leadership: A Conversation with Dana and Keith Cutler

Ally Kvidt — Mon, 16 Jun 2025 11:00:57 +0000

Legal lions and TV judges Keith and Dana Cutler join Amanda Arriaga on the inaugural episode of “Leading the Bar,” a new podcast from the National Conference of Bar Presidents designed to help lawyers engage and grow as leaders. With over 75 years of collective experience, the Cutlers, known for their roles on “Couples Court with the Cutlers” and “Cutler’s Court,” share their insights into the importance of bar leadership for the health of the legal profession.

Dana Cutler, the first Black woman president of the Missouri Bar, shares how profoundly she was able to advance her career by simply “showing up and saying yes.” She discusses the challenges she faced in modernizing a bar association and implementing strategic operational initiatives. Keith Cutler, a past president of both the Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association and the Jackson County Bar Association, encourages connecting with the next generation of lawyers and helping them use their passions to more effectively drive changes.

Bar associations have a vital role in upholding the rule of law and protecting the constitution. Dana and Keith point out how leaders must represent the entire legal community, even those with differing opinions, to ensure inclusivity and preserve the bar’s integrity. Their unique experience informs their practical advice on essential communication skills for every lawyer, emphasizing the power of active listening and responding with kindness to foster productive relationships. This episode is inspiring and a reminder of the support available to young lawyers within the bar leadership community.

Chapters/Timestamps:

00:00 – Introduction: The Paramount Rule of Law and Our Democracy

02:14 – Why Get Involved in Bar Leadership: The Cutlers’ Journey

04:00 – The Evolution of Bar Leadership: Engaging New Generations

07:27 – Presidential Challenges: Modernizing the Bar and Strategic Vision

16:14 – Navigating Hot Topics and Preserving the Bar’s Integrity

24:55 – The Invaluable Role of NCBP: Support and Shared Solutions

28:22 – Judicial Wisdom: Communication and Relationships in Law

33:53 – Balancing Life and Law: Hobbies and Personal Passions

37:10 – Beyond the Bar: What the Cutlers Would Do

Protests, the Military, Newsom v. Trump, the Insurrection Act, & Martial Law

Ally Kvidt — Fri, 13 Jun 2025 15:00:34 +0000

In response to the recent protests in Los Angeles, sparked by ICE raids, President Trump deployed 2,000 National Guard troops to L.A, and now 700 active duty Marines have joined, bypassing the authority of Governor Gavin Newsom and estimated to cost taxpayers an estimated $134 million. This stirred discussions over whether the President could use the Insurrection Act of 1807 & declare Martial law and whether these actions can be enforced.

In this episode, Craig is joined by Rachel E. VanLandingham, Lt Col. (ret.), Co-Associate Dean of Research & Irwin R. Buchalter Professor of Law at Southwestern Law School.

Together, Craig and Rachel discuss the use of martial law & the Insurrection Act in response to protests, the military’s role, Newsom v. Trump, and whether the deployment of troops to Los Angeles constitutes martial law.

Mentioned in this Episode:

Newsom v. Trump

So Long And Thanks For All The Bonuses

Ally Kvidt — Wed, 11 Jun 2025 15:00:51 +0000

Paul Weiss fancied itself clever when it offered Trump pro bono payola in exchange for dropping an illegal executive order. Instead it keeps hemorrhaging senior lawyers with more departing to join the recent rainmaker spinoff and associates reportedly high on the new firm’s wish list. While litigators are largely driving defections from surrender firms, at what point does a hollowed out litigation department start to impact the firm as a whole? Harvard Law Review found itself harassed by the government and it looks like the reason might be a snitch burrowed into the White House. And the one-track partnership model took more hits with Ropes & Gray and Debevoise agreeing to add non-equity tiers.

It Ends With Lawsuits: Unpacking the Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni Legal Battle

Ally Kvidt — Wed, 11 Jun 2025 11:00:39 +0000

Ironically, there is no end in sight for the drama between “It Ends With Us” co-stars Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni. The feud stemming from their fractured working relationship during the film’s production and release continues to offer up splashy headlines almost daily. Allegations of sexual harassment and retaliation led to smear campaigns and then further lawsuits claiming defamation, extortion, libel, and more. Can we make sense of their tangle of legal actions? Tracy Brammeier and Kellie Snyder welcome a panel of legal experts including Jeff Becker, James Hemphill, and Kyla Miller to discuss the details of this case, the intensity of public perception and social media reactions, and what we might expect as the case moves forward.

Kyla Miller is an attorney in Mayer Brown’s employment, litigation, and counseling practice where she counsels employers in highly sensitive personnel matters.

James Hemphill is a trial and appellate lawyer with Graves Dougherty Hearon & Moody where he has practiced First Amendment and media law for more than 30 years.

Jeffrey Becker is founder of Swanson, Martin & Bell’s entertainment and media law practice group where he helps clients resolve contractual and business disputes.

EP 612- Fighting for Constitutional Rights Part Two

Ally Kvidt — Wed, 11 Jun 2025 11:00:11 +0000

Our conversation with Constitutional lawyer David Roland continues as he discusses recent challenges to your rights and how you can hold task forces and government accountable.

Stand Up to Stand Out

Ally Kvidt — Wed, 11 Jun 2025 08:00:52 +0000

Is standing up for a cause you believe in a help or a hindrance to your business? The fear of losing clients who think/believe differently might keep you from publicly supporting the things you value, but is that actually good for your business (and you)?

When it comes to support and activism, many professionals shy away from proclaiming anything that could narrow their market, but fine-tuning your appeal is exactly what you need to do to grow your business. Gyi and Conrad discuss why standing for something is much better than standing for nothing, and it even helps you position your brand in your market. If you’re perceived as a generic lawyer of no distinction, you’re going to have a tough time connecting with your community. Authenticity is good for business, and the guys share how leaning into your values can really help your law firm grow.

The News:

Our esteemed friend Eric Goldman wrote up a great piece on the latest court ruling on brand name conquesting: NJ Supreme Court Blesses Lawyers’ Competitive Keyword Ads (With a Baffling Caveat).
A new partnership between CallRail and RingCentral looks promising for all those involved. Here’s the deets: RingCentral | CallRail Integration
Well, we’ve had a good run. Zuck announces AI for ad management (to end Gyi and Conrad).
Don’t believe anything you see on the internet, kids. Nancy Mace’s Astroturfing is deceptive marketing at its worst—ick.
Register now for the Lunch Hour Legal Marketing Summit at the Bellagio in Vegas! We’ll kick things off on September 22nd. Hope to see all you in-house marketers there. Today, we’re announcing some of the great speakers and timely topics you can look forward to. Tune in for more details!

Suggested LHLM Episodes:

What’s in a Brand?

Connect:

United States v. Wong Kim Ark

The True Impact of Eliminating LSC for Everyday Americans

Ally Kvidt — Tue, 10 Jun 2025 15:30:29 +0000

A judge, legal aid director and legal aid client come together to discuss the potential impact of the White House’s proposal to eliminate the Legal Services Corporation (LSC) on the latest episode of Talk Justice. On May 30, the Trump Administration announced its proposed federal budget for 2026, calling for the elimination of LSC. In light of this, Flagg guides the guests through a conversation about the tangible impacts of defunding civil legal services, explaining how the impact will be felt at every level.

Birthright Citizenship, Trump’s Executive Order, & a SCOTUS Showdown

Ally Kvidt — Fri, 06 Jun 2025 11:00:50 +0000

On January 20th, 2025, President Trump issued Executive Order (EO) 14160, limiting birthright citizenship. This was met with backlash, as the constitutionality of the order was questioned. On May 15, 2025 SCOTUS heard oral arguments regarding a challenge to the order and a decision is expected to be released by late June or early July 2025. The courts have temporarily blocked the implementation of the Executive Order while constitutional challenges proceed.

In this episode, Craig is joined by David C. Baluarte, Senior Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and a Professor of Law at CUNY School of Law. Together, Craig and Dean Balaurte discuss Trump’s executive order to end birthright citizenship, recent oral arguments before SCOTUS, the constitutional fight for birthright citizenship, and the potential impact of this upcoming decision.

Mentioned in this Episode:

Inside the State Bar: A Presidential Perspective

Ally Kvidt — Thu, 05 Jun 2025 11:00:56 +0000

What exactly does your state bar president do, anyway? A very presidential trio joins Rocky Dhir for today’s conversation examining this leadership role and its many responsibilities. Rocky welcomes Past-President Cindy Tisdale, current President Steve Benesh, and President-Elect Santos Vargas to learn more about their efforts for fellow lawyers and their desire to address unmet needs in the profession throughout the state.

Later, they dig into the history of the State Bar of Texas, explain the current structure and operation of the organization as a whole, and share how Texas legal professionals can get more involved in Bar programs.

Sex Asteroids, Sleazebags, And Meme Police

Ally Kvidt — Wed, 04 Jun 2025 11:00:45 +0000

Lawsuit against former Texas SG alleges bizarre cosmic sex fetish. The administration made two significant changes to the judicial nomination process, firing the ABA from its neutral evaluator role and kicking the Federalist Society to the curb. The latter move came with an epic rant declaring Leonard Leo a sleazebag. Broken clocks and all. And Kash Patel lays out the FBI’s priorities and child predators and terrorists are now lower on the most wanted list than, “your neighbor who posted an 8647 joke.”

How a Florida murder and an unlikely justice created a ‘criminal procedure revolution’

Ally Kvidt — Wed, 04 Jun 2025 11:00:29 +0000

In Chambers v. Florida and the Criminal Justice Revolution, historian and former ABA Journal reporter Richard Brust lifts the veil on a case that laid the groundwork for some much more famous civil rights victories.

On May 13, 1933, shopkeeper Robert Darsey was robbed and murdered in Pompano, Florida. Four Black migrant farm workers—Izell Chambers, Walter Woodard, Jack Williamson and Charlie Davis—were seized and pressured by the local sheriff into confessing to the murder under threat of lynching. Their appeals eventually reached the U.S. Supreme Court through the efforts of some dedicated African American attorneys, and succeeded in 1940.

In Justice Hugo Black’s written opinion for the majority, the justice drew parallels between the Jim Crow regime in the American South and the rise of authoritarianism and fascism in Europe. Chambers v. Florida forbade the use of psychological coercion—such as threatening to turn prisoners over to lynch mobs—as well as physical abuse to extract confessions. The court’s ruling declared that the protections of the Bill of Rights extended into states’ criminal cases, and began to change the kinds of cases that made it onto the Supreme Court docket.

Brust sees it as part of a trio of cases, which includes Moore v. Dempsey (1923) and Brown v. Mississippi (1936), that led to a “criminal procedure revolution,” he tells the ABA Journal’s Lee Rawles.

In this episode of The Modern Law Library, Brust discusses the lawyers who worked on the case, most prominently Simuel D. McGill, a Black attorney in Jacksonville. He delves into the generational differences between the Floridian defense lawyers and the attorneys of the NAACP’s Legal Defense Fund who would go on to win key civil rights battles. He explains why Justice Black would have been considered an unlikely author for this opinion. And he shares what he could discover about the fates of Chambers, Woodard, Williamson and Davis after the trial.

What’s In a Brand?

Ally Kvidt — Wed, 04 Jun 2025 08:00:19 +0000

Branding, re-branding, brand refresh… What does it all mean? Well, a rose by any other name might smell as sweet, but your business could really stink if your branding strategy is lacking. Learn how to optimize your brand, master your messaging, and position yourself for success.

Branding, positioning, and messaging are distinct and essential elements for your law firm’s strategy, but not all lawyers have a handle on the meaning and functions of these components in the scope of their business. Gyi and Conrad take us through the basics of branding and explain the critical (and perhaps greater) importance of positioning and messaging. Learn how being true to yourself can help you create a meaningful, intentional path forward for your legal business.

Come see us! The Lunch Hour Legal Marketing Summit will be held September 22-24 at the Bellagio in Las Vegas. Register now!

The News:

Well, Avvo’s been sued (again). Do we care?
Allegedly, AI is screwing businesses over left and right by publishing utter falsehoods. Yay.
Kevin Indig has some good insights here: The first-ever UX Study of Google’s AI Overviews: The Data We’ve All Been Waiting For.

Suggested LHLM Episodes:

Marketer vs. Marketer

Links:

The Unbillable Hour — Rebranding: Define Your Firm, Define Your Practice

rebrandingexperts.com

Connect:

Keep Our Republic’s Article III Coalition

Supreme Court Just Making It Up As It Goes Along

Ally Kvidt — Wed, 28 May 2025 15:30:34 +0000

As Supreme Court season hits fever pitch, we’re joined by Professor Leah Litman, author of Lawless: How the Supreme Court Runs on Conservative Grievance, Fringe Theories, and Bad Vibes, to discuss the nightmare we’re facing. Elena Kagan took the opportunity to humiliate her colleagues last week calling out an arbitrary carve out created to protect their investments. Kagan’s frustration seems to be growing down the stretch, having just eviscerated the government in the birthright citizenship case. Meanwhile, Kristi Noem failed introductory constitutional law in front of the Senate, flailing as she tried to define habeas corpus.

EP 611- Fighting for Constitutional Rights Part One

Ally Kvidt — Wed, 28 May 2025 11:00:30 +0000

David Roland founded the Freedom Center of Missouri to pursue legal protection of our constitutional rights to economic liberty and free speech. Our three-part series is a vital refresher on landmark cases and our ongoing responsibility to litigate for freedom.

The Fight Against Threats to Judicial Independence

Ally Kvidt — Fri, 23 May 2025 14:20:13 +0000

Chief Justice John Roberts recently called out the Trump administration for their threats to impeach judges who have ruled against them.

In response to these threats to the judiciary, the Keep Our Republic’s Article III Coalition, composed of over twenty former federal district and circuit judges appointed by Presidents Reagan, George H.W. Bush, Clinton, George W. Bush and Obama, defended the federal judiciary, as political impeachment attempts against judges increase and the federal courts system face heightened scrutiny.

In this episode, Craig is joined by Chief Judge Paul R. Michel, formerly of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit and member of Keep Our Republic’s Article III Coalition. Together, Craig and Judge Michel discuss the calls for impeachment of judges by the current administration, and how a coalition of judges is fighting back.

Mentioned in this Episode:

Are Those Seashells In Your Pocket Or Are You Just Threatening An Assassination?

Ally Kvidt — Wed, 21 May 2025 14:45:56 +0000

Since we’re cursed to act as keepers of the flame to remind the legal community that several large law firms really did willingly sell out to the Trump administration, this week we discuss our columnist Vivia Chen’s exploration of the unique impact of these moves on young lawyers learning early that Biglaw is more than happy to throw them under the bus.

We also discuss how James Comey’s Instagram pic triggered a tragicomic meltdown of some of the most deranged people on the internet ranting about seashells as a subliminal assassination threat worthy of John Wilkes Squarepants. Unfortunately, some of those internet denizens are also running federal law enforcement. And we conduct a lightning round of quirky Am Law 100 financial facts that will make you appreciate that you took some time off last year.

Ultimate LinkedIn Guide for Lawyers

Ally Kvidt — Wed, 21 May 2025 08:00:58 +0000

LinkedIn is really working for lawyers these days, so Gyi and Conrad bring in the pros to school you on how to leverage it for your business. Learn how to create content that truly resonates with your audience from our dear friends Purna Virji and Tony Albrecht.

LinkedIn has become a powerful platform for growing legal businesses, but how exactly do lawyers go about it? The guys talk with Purna Virji, a principal consultant at LinkedIn, about how to make the connections you’ve been hoping for. What does your audience care about? What do they want to hear? Purna shares her tips for creating easy, engaging video and text-based content in just a few hours per month.

Later, why should you care about being active on LinkedIn? Gyi and Conrad dig deeper into what you need to know about LinkedIn engagement with Tony Albrecht, the Yoda of LinkedIn lawyering. Learn about what LinkedIn growth could look like for you, dear lawyer! Tony explains the surprising supply/demand deficit for interesting content and how stimulating, genuine posts can significantly further your reach.

The News:

Congrats to Erin Levine! – Hello Divorce is now in all 50 states.
Will marketers be replaced by AI? FirmPilot Reaches $11.7M in Funding, As Thomson Reuters and HubSpot Ventures Join As Investors
New(ish?) launch from the Googs: Google AI Max
The New York Times reports A.I. Is Getting More Powerful, but Its Hallucinations Are Getting Worse, so… cool cool cool…
Thoughts on AI impacts for Local Pack from Greg Sterling and Barry Schwartz, respectively: AIO Pack, AIn’t No Threat, Double Divestiture, Automation Blues and Google Tests Replacing Map Local Pack With AI Overviews.
Just what you need! Our LHLM Conference is in the works for September 22-24 in Las Vegas.

Suggested LHLM Episodes:

How To Do Social Media Marketing the Right Way

Connect:

LinkedIn – Purna Virji

LinkedIn – Tony Albrecht

Bold Strategy Biglaw, Let’s See If It Pays Off

Ally Kvidt — Wed, 14 May 2025 15:00:32 +0000

Biglaw firms who gave in to Trump suffered a scathing 60 Minutes piece and key talent defections, so they’ve decided upon a new tactic: pretending they never made a deal at all! It does not appear to be working. Meanwhile, Justice David Souter died reminding everyone of an era when the federal judiciary cared more about the right answer than appeasing political patrons. Unfortunately, Souter’s nomination inadvertently triggered that change. And we have a Biglaw merging in the offing that hopes to create a new $2B firm.

SCOTUS & the Separation of Church and State

Ally Kvidt — Fri, 09 May 2025 11:00:50 +0000

The First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution reads ‘Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion. In 1802, founding father Thomas Jefferson, wrote a letter to the Danbury, Connecticut Baptist Convention insisting that their legislature “make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof,” thus building a wall of separation between church and state.

On April 30th, 2025, SCOTUS heard arguments in the consolidated cases of St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School v. Drummond and Oklahoma Statewide Charter School Board v. Drummond which could redefine the fine line between religion and government in public education.

In this episode, Craig is joined by Frank Ravitch, professor of law & religion at Michigan State University’s College of Law. Together, Craig and Professor Ravitch delve into the significant legal topic of SCOTUS and the separation of church and state. Their discussion encompasses the details of these cases, Chief Justice Roberts’ prior involvement in similar matters, the complex question of whether faith-based schools should be part of the public charter system, the importance of safeguarding religious freedom, and the potential ramifications of this forthcoming landmark decision.

Biglaw Firms Fighting Trump Keep Winning, Capitulators Keep Losing

Ally Kvidt — Wed, 07 May 2025 16:00:04 +0000

Perkins Coie secured a permanent injunction against the Trump administration’s retaliatory executive order. Meanwhile, firms that balked at putting up a fight against the illegal attacks have seen the White House drag them into police brutality cases and law schools start openly talking about students taking their talents elsewhere. And then the harshest cut of all — a deep pocketed client bailed on a collaborator firm to give business to a firm standing up to Trump. Who could’ve predicted except anyone who ever watched Star Wars. Also we talk about California’s latest bar exam debacle and the White House’s threat against Amal Clooney.

Perplexed about AI? Richard Susskind wants to help

Ally Kvidt — Wed, 07 May 2025 11:00:09 +0000

For nearly 30 years, Richard Susskind has written books asking lawyers to envision the future of the law and the legal profession in ways that stretch the imagination. Susskind has been one of the foremost proponents of the transformative potential of technology in legal services. Now, he’s asking us to imagine larger transformation still: a world in which AI reigns and humanity faces being sidelined.

Susskind was an early and enthusiastic booster of the development of artificial intelligence, he tells the ABA Journal’s Lee Rawles in this episode of the Modern Law Library. He first became enamored of its potential as a law student in the 1980s, and wrote his doctorate at the University of Oxford on AI and the law in 1986. But the speed and direction of recent advances have given him pause. Will AI be a tool for humanity, or its destruction?

In his new book, How to Think About AI: A Guide for the Perplexed, he hopes to help the layperson navigate the issues raised by artificial intelligence, and provoke a global discussion about the ethical and legal implications. Technology is too important to be left only to the technologists, he says.

While most people are able to see the promise of AI for professions other than their own, Susskind sees a phenomenon he calls “not-us thinking” when most people are asked if their own work could be taken over by an AI system. Lawyers should be careful not to overestimate clients’ attachment to having a human lawyer if their goal is simply to avoid legal pitfalls and they can rely on an AI system to accomplish that.

In this episode, Susskind discusses the promise of AI for increasing access to justice, and talks about some of the ethical decisions that will have to be made with Rawles, who is more of an AI skeptic.

When to DIY & When to Call in the Pros — Mailbag Edition

Ally Kvidt — Wed, 07 May 2025 08:00:33 +0000

Should your agency be charging you for managing your LSAs? Are there things your in-house marketing team should be leaving to the experts? Today, the guys open the mailbag and answer these two great listener questions.

Is it worth paying an agency anything for Google LSA management, or are you getting scammed out of a chunk of your marketing budget? Well, it depends, and the guys’ opinions may vary. Gyi and Conrad dig into a listener question to explain what LSA management could/should look like, what value it may bring to you, and whether ongoing fees are appropriate.

Later, question 2! Should lawyers with an in-house marketing team entrust all their digital marketing to said team, or do they need to call in an expert agency for certain advertising channels? The guys talk about the realities of expertise gaps and how partnerships can really take your marketing efforts to the next level.

Stay tuned to the end for a special announcement from Gyi and Conrad!

The News:

Brilliant or clueless—did this lawyer do this for the news hype & free advertising? Judge Rejects Lawsuit With Dragon Logo, Calling It ‘Juvenile and Impertinent’ – The New York Times
Google, just… ick. Here’s our take on this extremely problematic Google overstep:
- Video: BREAKING: Google Expands Use of LSA Intake Data
- Audio: BREAKING: Google Expands Use of Local Service Ad Data

Connect:

Bipartisan Letter Coordinated by Kent Greenfield, Professor and Dean’s Distinguished Scholar at Boston College Law School, and the American Constitution Society

Even Judges Aren’t Safe In Trump’s America

Ally Kvidt — Wed, 30 Apr 2025 20:00:30 +0000

The arrest of Wisconsin judge Hannah Dugan is straight outta dystopian fiction. But at least retired Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer still has faith in the system, which makes one of us. Speaking of the High Court, Justice Sam Alito’s dissent would be laughable if he weren’t so powerful.

When Undocumented Immigrants Are Hurt at Work

Ally Kvidt — Tue, 29 Apr 2025 11:00:12 +0000

These are unprecedented times for the rights of immigrant workers in the United States. The current political climate has thrown a wrench into the Workers’ Compensation system when it comes to workers without documentation. Understanding the system can help.

Guest Enrique Flores is the founder of the Flores Law Group in Indianapolis, Indiana, and a leader in immigrant workers’ rights. The son of immigrant parents, he says immigrant workers have always sought to live and work unnoticed, “invisible.” But in today’s charged political climate, the fear is real.

When an undocumented worker contacts you for legal assistance, understanding the Workers’ Comp laws in your state is vital. Times may change, but the law and protections haven’t. The law provides benefits for people who are injured at work. What’s changed for workers is the importance of living a lawful life. Clients should stay out of legal trouble, ensure their car is legally registered and in working order, and avoid giving anyone a reason to question them.

At the workplace, if immigration services show up (ICE), clients should know to stay calm and carry what are called “red cards” detailing their rights along with the card of an attorney they can call. The law still works for injured workers, no matter their immigration status. For attorneys, a little proactive outreach to the community could go a long way.

If you have thoughts on Workers’ Comp law or an idea for a topic or guest you’d like to hear, contact us at JPierce@ppnlaw.com or APierce@ppnlaw.com.

A Constitutional Crisis, Due Process, & the Rule of Law

Ally Kvidt — Fri, 25 Apr 2025 14:45:06 +0000

What is a constitutional crisis? For some, a constitutional crisis is when the president defies the Supreme Court, for others it is when a president simply defies a federal judge’s order. Under the reign of President Trump and his administration, the country has dealt with a number of incidents where judicial orders have been disregarded. Kilmar Abrego Garcia, Rümeysa Öztürk, Mahmoud Khalil are three individuals who have taken center stage in the battle between the courts and the Trump administration, and the quest for due process.

In this episode, Craig is joined by professor Kent Greenfield, the Dean’s Distinguished Scholar at Boston College Law School. Craig & Kent discuss whether the country is currently in a constitutional crisis, the Trump administration’s defiance of a Supreme Court order involving the return of Kilmar Abrego Garcia to the United States, the power of judicial vs. executive branches, and the consequences for defying the rule of law.

Mentioned in this Episode:

Biglaw Brings In Big Bucks

Ally Kvidt — Wed, 23 Apr 2025 14:45:43 +0000

We’ve got key financial data from the top law firms and the takeaway is that it’s good to be a big firm. The Am Law 100 this year revealed that more and more firms have joined the super rich and things look bright for Biglaw. Unless someone triggers a global depression or something. We also discuss what it means to be “bipartisan” in an environment where the intellectual stars of the conservative legal movement are ALSO lining up to call out the Trump administration as a threat to the rule of law. Finally, we flag a troubling law school story about scholarships getting cut when admissions gets blindsided by applications.

‘Secrets of the Killing State’ exposes realities of lethal injection

Ally Kvidt — Wed, 23 Apr 2025 11:00:04 +0000

Execution by lethal injection is seen by many Americans as a less barbaric alternative than older methods like hanging, firing squads and electrocution. It is easy to assume that the process must resemble euthanasia procedures for terminally ill people or pets. The reality is very different, says Corinna Barrett Lain, a law professor and death penalty expert.

Lain didn’t initially intend to make the death penalty her primary area of study, she tells the ABA Journal’s Lee Rawles in this episode of the Modern Law Library. A former prosecutor in Virginia, Lain did not begin her work out of opposition to the death penalty. But the more she discovered about the realities of the administration of lethal injections, the more she was compelled to demystify the process.

In Secrets of the Killing State: The Untold Story of Lethal Injection, Lain upends a lot of conventional wisdom about lethal injections. For example, the three-drug protocol used by most states was not a drug cocktail arrived at through scientific research. Rather, in 1977, after the U.S. Supreme Court allowed executions to resume after a 10-year hiatus, Oklahoma medical examiner Dr. Jay Chapman was asked by a state legislator to come up with an alternative to the state’s rickety electric chair. Though Chapman admitted he was “an expert in dead bodies but not an expert in getting them that way,” he proposed combining sodium thiopental, pancuronium bromide and potassium chloride. “You wanted to make sure the prisoner was dead at the end, so why not add a third drug,” the book quotes Chapman as saying. “Why does it matter why I chose it?” In contrast, an overdose of a single drug, pentobarbital, is what is commonly used by veterinarians in animal euthanasia.

“Lethal injection is not based on science,” Lain writes. “It is based on the illusion of science, the assumption of science.”

In this episode, Lain and Rawles also discuss botched executions, shady sources used by states to procure the drugs used for lethal injections, and how Lain’s scholarship has impacted her views of capital punishment as a whole.

Ranking Your Local Competitors – Hot or Not?

Ally Kvidt — Wed, 23 Apr 2025 08:00:50 +0000

If lots of site traffic isn’t leading to lots of clients, something’s off. Learn how to get the traffic you want! Later, Gyi and Conrad unpack the marketing impact of publicly ranking all your competition—genius or folly?

You want website traffic that could turn into actual clients for your law firm, but how do you make sure you’re reaching the right audience? Gyi and Conrad talk tactics for segmenting your audience to make sure you get the qualified leads that can turn into profitable business for your law firm.

Next, in a bold move, a Seattle family lawyer pulled a Zuckerberg and rated all of his local competitors, except himself. What do the guys think about the Hemmet Trends Report? While it may be a sure-fire way to torch some of your local relationships, this kind of friction marketing can be a very successful way to get your name out there.

Youtube: Segmenting Your Audience in Search Console

The News:

Google quality raters now assess whether content is AI-generated. What does this mean for your copy/pasted ChatGPT posts? You might want to seriously do that human edit.
This could be big for local business, folks: TikTok takes on Google Maps by surfacing reviews in the comments tab.
What do we think about Sponsored Youtube Comments? So far, it seems like a pretty solid tactic.
If you like poking fun at the dirty, rotten ethics of certain marketers, you’ll like Brian Glass’s podcast episode, too: Brian Glass – CaseConnect
PILMMA – come see Conrad!

Suggested LHLM Episodes:

The Lawyer’s Guide to Conversions || Listener LSA Queries

Apple | Spotify | Youtube

Connect:

Bull$#!% You Hear at Legal Conferences

BREAKING: Google Expands Use of Local Service Ad Data

Ally Kvidt — Tue, 22 Apr 2025 23:30:32 +0000

Just when you thought you understood Local Services Ads (LSAs), Google changes the game. Gyi and Conrad sound the alarm on the latest shift in LSA terms—and this one’s a doozy. Google now claims the right to tweak, repurpose, and plaster your ad content wherever it wants. Cool cool cool… unless you’re a lawyer who cares about things like client confidentiality and ethics.

Is this a harmless update? A marketing landmine? Or just another “oops, didn’t read the fine print” moment? The guys debate what opting in *really* means, how it could affect your firm, and why blind trust in Big Tech is looking less like a best practice and more like a liability.

Takeaways:

Google’s changing the rules on LSAs—again.
Your ad content? They can now modify and use it freely.
Ethics red flag: This could compromise client confidentiality.
Most lawyers have no idea this is happening.
Opting in might mean opening a can of worms.
Google’s rollout? Vague at best.
Legal marketers are losing faith.
Ad performance and trust are both on the line.
Law firms must weigh ethical risks before opting in.
Transparency isn’t optional—it’s essential.

Legal Up Virtual Conference by InfoTrack – ABA TECHSHOW 2025

Ally Kvidt — Wed, 16 Apr 2025 19:00:06 +0000

If the post-conference blues are taking hold, fear not! InfoTrack’s Legal Up conference is right around the corner with plenty to look forward to. Lisa Kirkman welcomes Alex Braun of InfoTrack to discuss Legal Up 2025, the largest FREE virtual conference available for legal professionals. The conference strives to be people-centric, offering sessions for individuals with diverse life experiences in a wide variety of practice areas. If you’re looking to enhance your career, gain new insights, and network with peers, register now! Legal Up 2025 takes place April 23-24.

Learn more: Legal Up 2025

Alex Braun is Product Marketing Manager at InfoTrack US.

Law School Ranking Chaos And Biglaw Trump Deals Turn Sour

Ally Kvidt — Wed, 16 Apr 2025 15:00:11 +0000

US News and World Report released its most recent law school rankings with a side of chaos, but the big takeaway is the scrambling and erosion of the “T14” as an organizing concept. Is it time to dismiss the rankings as arbitrary? At least until law schools agree to cooperate again. Also, Surrendergate continues and the “we’ll do some pro bono for veterans” deal has turned dramatically, with the White House now claiming the authority to “assign” Biglaw firms to work on administration projects. Sound familiar? Along the way, firms are starting to lose senior lawyers fulfilling critical firm roles while the most recent defectors alienate the overwhelming majority of their team. Finally, the Supreme Court has issued some unanimous rebukes in defense of due process and the administration does not seem to care.

Inside the Murder Trial of the Century, with Prosecutor John Meadors: The Alex Murdaugh Case

Ally Kvidt — Tue, 15 Apr 2025 11:00:30 +0000

What’s it like to be a prosecutor in a case so high-profile it was dubbed “the trial of the century”? This special episode of Litigation Radio features guest John Meadors, the veteran murder trial prosecutor hired by the South Carolina Attorney General’s office to help prosecute prominent South Carolina attorney Alex Murdaugh in the sensational 2023 murder trial. In South Carolina, there had perhaps never been a more highly watched and scrutinized trial, and reporters and TV trucks filled the courtroom and the streets.

Hear how Meadors and the prosecution team maintained focus and composure under the glare of television cameras and inside a packed courtroom facing a highly skilled and experienced defense team. The pressure during the weeks-long trial was enormous as reporters struggled to uncover every detail while attorneys and the court worked to maintain decorum and ensure a fair and just outcome.

Meadors will join the American Bar Association’s Litigation Section Annual Conference as a guest in a session titled, “The Court of Public Opinion: Litigating in the Media Spotlight.” In addition to the conversation with John Meadors, this episode features Larry Kristinik, Chair of the ABA Litigation Section, who provides tips on preparing for large legal conferences, and Judge Griselda Vega Samuel, who highlights the upcoming ABA Litigation Section Annual Conference in Chicago.

Respecting and Protecting our Seniors with Christine Winge

Ally Kvidt — Tue, 15 Apr 2025 11:00:29 +0000

Meals on Wheels does more than just provide home delivery of healthy food for Seniors. President Christine Winge reminds us that maintaining human connection is a critical and essential part of physical and mental health as we grow older and risk becoming more isolated.

The Rise of Deferred Contracts in Major League Baseball

Ally Kvidt — Fri, 11 Apr 2025 14:15:14 +0000

Deferred contracts are becoming a powerful tool in Major League Baseball, allowing teams to stretch massive payouts over decades — but what does that mean for the sport?

In this episode, Craig is joined by Jeremy M. Evans, attorney and CEO of California Sports Lawyer, to discuss the rise of deferred contracts and how they’re reshaping financial strategy in baseball. Craig and Jeremy break down how teams like the Dodgers are leveraging media revenue, why private equity is entering the conversation, and what lessons MLB might take from other leagues.

Leveraging Tech Tools in Your Law Firm – ABA TECHSHOW 2025

Ally Kvidt — Thu, 10 Apr 2025 19:00:01 +0000

Boosting efficiency starts with basic tools your law firm probably already has! But, if you’re not engaging with your tools effectively, your firm may very well be falling behind the competition. Niki Black and Stephanie Everett talk with Dan Lear about their session on enhancing law firm workflows and client experience with simple, innovative technology. Embracing tools for scheduling, finances, communications, and more improves your firm’s productivity, draws in new clients, and helps you do your best work.

Nicole Black is an attorney, author and journalist, and serves as the principal legal insight strategist at MyCase (AffiniPay). She is the nationally-recognized author of “Cloud Computing for Lawyers” and co-authored “Social Media for Lawyers: The Next Frontier”.

Stephanie Everett is CEO and a Law Firm Business Coach at Lawyerist and serves as Affinity Consulting Group’s Chief Growth Officer. She is a co-author of Lawyerist’s book, “The Small Firm Roadmap”.

Biglaw Surrender Fallout Continues

Ally Kvidt — Wed, 09 Apr 2025 15:00:51 +0000

After a few weeks of watching some law firms stand up to facially illegal demands from the Trump administration… and more law firms rapidly cave to those same demands, we put together a helpful tracker to keep clients, potential laterals, and law students fully aware of where firms currently stand. But we depend on you out there to keep us up-to-date! Meanwhile, more associates have taken a stand against their surrendering firms and some law students have already told the firm recruiting events that they aren’t interested in firms that can’t stand up for themselves. Also the February bar exam numbers were terrible.

‘Patenting Life’ shares tales from a career on the cutting edge of science and the law

Ally Kvidt — Wed, 09 Apr 2025 11:00:33 +0000

Jorge Goldstein entered the fields of science and law at a time of immense change for them both. In the 1970s, huge strides were being made in biogenetics and microbiology, and in the 1980s, the intellectual property community was being asked to answer some giant questions they raised, like: How can you describe life, legally? Can a living being be patented? Who owns the material from your body?

The 45 years since the groundbreaking 1980 case of Diamond v. Chakrabarty, in which the U.S. Supreme Court decided that living organisms could be patented, have been an intensely busy time for microbiologists, biochemists, genetic researchers, and the patent lawyers who serve them. Goldstein, who holds a PhD in chemistry from Harvard University and a JD from George Washington University Law School, has been on hand to witness and help shape many of the resulting debates.

In Patenting Life: Tales from the Front Lines of Intellectual Property and the New Biology, Goldstein weaves stories from his own life and practice with the fascinating histories behind some well known medications, lesser known scientists, and groundbreaking court cases that will shape future scientific ventures. In this episode of the Modern Law Library, he and the ABA Journal’s Lee Rawles discuss the book and the fascinating career he’s had.

In the book, Goldstein explains many of the scientific developments behind technologies like CRISPR in a way that lay people can understand, while offering humanizing looks at the quirky and sometimes flawed scientists who made those discoveries. Large moral and ethical questions are raised about how technologies are developed, commercialized and put into practice, and he does not shy away from the discussions. He also offers his perspective on how patent law can be improved to fund further scientific advancements while also protecting innovation.

Goldstein and Rawles discuss key cases that helped shape genetic research, and some of the major changes he’s seen in legal theory over his career. They also discuss tikkun olam, a concept in Judaism about how our actions can repair and improve the world. It’s something Goldstein feels is a proper focus for science and for law, and they discuss two of the pro bono projects he has worked on with indigenous communities in which he can use patent law to protect their rights.

Finally, Goldstein offers advice to young scientists and attorneys who are interested in practicing in these fields, and shares his opinion on what artificial intelligence could mean in the patent law sphere.

Show Me the Clients! — Holding Your Marketing Accountable

Ally Kvidt — Wed, 09 Apr 2025 08:00:53 +0000

Feeble marketing tactics are a major waste of your law firm’s ad spend! Make sure your budget isn’t being squandered by understanding what marketing quality and accountability should look like.

If your marketer’s data looks like a success but isn’t resulting in new clients for your law firm, you might be getting shammed. The guys join us from the road at two of the legal industry’s finest conferences, ABA Techshow and Mass Torts Made Perfect. In their talks, Gyi and Conrad each presented the perils of marketing misinformation and what lawyers need to look for to ensure transparency and accountability in their marketing schemes.

Leave us a comment on the LHLM LinkedIn page if you’d like to have Gyi and Conrad’s slide decks from their conference presentations!

The News:

Google Business Profiles are switching things up – Ask Maps Is Google Q&A’s AI Replacement: Here’s What It Means For Marketers
It’s probably a good idea to opt in to Google’s experimental AI Mode to see where things are headed – Expanding AI Overviews and introducing AI Mode
Notebook is expanding access all over the place – New in NotebookLM: Discover sources from around the web
It is a very good thing that we are a country with laws, and though we’ve always been loath to get too political, we feel that we have to recognize current dangers and stand up for the rule of law. Read through The ABA supports the rule of law, Statement from SBM Leadership on Unprecedented Threats to Rule of Law, ABA condemns remarks questioning legitimacy of courts and judicial review, and more at the ABA’s Rule of Law page.
On a lighter note, Jessica Hawkins from Consultwebs created a post on the Best Legal Podcasts of 2025. Jessica gave LHLM a really nice write up, and we are super thankful to be featured with some other great shows!
And, Conrad is desperately seeking an awesome Customer Success person. Just go see if you can find the hidden job listing on Mockingbird Marketing.

Suggested LHLM Episodes:

Apple | Spotify | Youtube

Connect:

Google Local Service Ads: To Brand or Not to Brand?

Cleared for Takeoff: Navigating Aviation Law in 2025

Ally Kvidt — Thu, 03 Apr 2025 11:00:07 +0000

The skies above us have a legal framework all their own, but many attorneys have limited knowledge of this expansive area of the law. Can your neighbor fly his drone into your yard? What’s the difference in legal responsibilities between private aviators and commercial airlines? How is AI impacting flight and flight training? Rocky Dhir welcomes Kent Krause to discuss the basics of aviation law and dig into its evolving issues and changes.

Later, 2025 began with a succession of tragic and unsettling airline incidents. Should we be concerned about this disproportionately large number of accidents in air travel? Rocky and Kent discuss the details of these events and examine the laws, safety frameworks, and failures that came into play.

Kent Krause is a partner at Craddock Davis & Krause, LLP, in Dallas, TX.

Fight Or Flight… The Biglaw Conundrum

Ally Kvidt — Wed, 02 Apr 2025 15:30:15 +0000

Following the Paul Weiss surrender we discussed last week, Skadden preemptively followed suit agreeing to commit $100M in pro bono payola to the MAGA cause. Bringing to light some embarrassing email policies in the process. But other Biglaw firms showed a little more life, with Jenner & Block and WilmerHale suing the administration over its retaliatory executive orders. And a major firm announced an end to on-campus recruiting, which seems like a bad policy for both students and the firm.

The Alien Enemies Act, Deportations, & Defying the Judiciary

Ally Kvidt — Fri, 28 Mar 2025 14:30:54 +0000

On March 15th, 2025, the Trump administration defied an oral order from U.S. District Court Judge James Boasberg to stop the flights of Venezuelan migrants headed to a Salvadoran prison, after the administration used the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 to deport more than 200 alleged members of the Venezuelan Tren de Aragua gang to El Salvador with no due process.

In this episode, Craig is joined by Virgil Wiebe, Professor of Law from the University of St. Thomas School of Law, as they discuss the recent deportation of Venezuelan migrants and federal Judge Boasberg’s ruling, blocking the Trump administration from deporting noncitizens. Craig & Virgil talk about the Alien Enemies Act, defying the judiciary, and next steps for individuals who are deported without due process.

Related Episodes

Paul Weiss Waves The White Flag

Ally Kvidt — Wed, 26 Mar 2025 21:00:47 +0000

Paul Weiss folded immediately in the face of Trump’s threat, offering the president pro bono services and a retreat from DEI. For a firm that built its reputation on litigation, the move came as a surprise. A Skadden associate called upon the industry to develop a backbone. So she’s not going to be working there any more. There are a lot of dumb things about the administration’s mass deportation to an El Salvadoran prison, but its unironic inversion of the burden of proof is definitely the scariest.

Marketing in the Age of AI — Lawyerist Invasion!

Ally Kvidt — Wed, 26 Mar 2025 08:00:34 +0000

AI is majorly, seriously, (annoyingly?) impacting law firm marketing, and it’s not just about content generation. What’s a lawyer to do?

In this special LHLM episode, Gyi and Conrad air their chat with Zack Glaser of the Lawyerist Podcast. Artificial intelligence has its sticky fingers in everything nowadays—even the world of law firm marketing. It’s changing the way consumers behave and changing the way ad agencies strategize in your market. So, how do you continue to compete, and where can you leverage AI to make a real difference? Zack, Gyi, and Conrad hash out how to make AI work for you, not against you.

The News:

Google’s still working toward world domination: Google makes its biggest-ever acquisition | CNN Business
Joy Hawkins noticed some data anomalies in CTRs. What’s up?
Come see us at some upcoming conferences! Gyi will be at ABA Techshow in Chicago, and Conrad’s headed to Mass Torts Made Perfect in Las Vegas. Then, they’ll both get together (virtually) at Infotrack’s Legal Up for another delightful website teardown.

Links Mentioned:

Lawyerist Podcast

Suggested LHLM Episodes:

Connect:

Google “Diversity Update” Live Stream

Biglaw Struggling To Deal With Trump Chaos

Ally Kvidt — Wed, 19 Mar 2025 16:15:24 +0000

The Trump administration continues its revenge tour against Biglaw, and Perkins Coie is fighting back. Through counsel at Williams & Connolly, Perkins delivered a scorching takedown of the administration’s arbitrary retaliation against the firm, earning a partial TRO. Meanwhile, most of Biglaw remains silent. And if they aren’t silent, they’re silently deleting references to diversity, including a clumsy effort that autodeleted pronouns from email signatures. And “Stop the Steal” lawyer turned interim US Attorney Ed Martin has his first ethics complaint on the job he hasn’t even really started.

Is Your Law Firm Marketing Actually Working?

Ally Kvidt — Wed, 19 Mar 2025 08:00:26 +0000

Live from the American Association for Justice conference in Miami, Lunch Hour Legal Marketing is back with another deep dive into law firm marketing strategies that actually move the needle.

Conrad Saam and Gyi Tsakalakis break down the biggest questions they tackled at the event:
How much should lawyers spend on marketing?
Brand vs. non-brand marketing—why it matters
Are you tracking the right metrics, or just vanity numbers?
Lawyer referrals vs. digital marketing—what’s the real ROI?
Why law firms MUST use a CRM to stop missing leads

Plus, we expose how some legal marketing agencies try to take credit for leads they didn’t earn. (Yes, we see you.)

If you’re serious about law firm growth, you won’t want to miss this one.

Don’t forget to subscribe for more legal marketing insights!

Inside Human Trafficking: Sex & Labor Trafficking, and the Fight to Protect Victims

Ally Kvidt — Fri, 14 Mar 2025 11:00:35 +0000

Every year, millions of men, women, and children are trafficked worldwide – including right here in the United States. According to the Department of Homeland Security, human trafficking is defined as “the use of force, fraud, or coercion to obtain some type of labor or commercial sex act.”

In this episode, Craig is joined by returning guest, Bridgette A. Carr, clinical professor of law and co-director of the Human Trafficking and Immigration Clinic at the University of Michigan Law School, as they spotlight human trafficking. Craig & Bridgette discuss the different types of human trafficking, how it happens, how to recognize it, and what is being done to combat trafficking.

John Roberts Realizes He Made A Huge Mistake

Ally Kvidt — Wed, 12 Mar 2025 14:45:53 +0000

Remember when Arrested Development made this a gag? John Roberts is living it out in real time as the president explains — on national television — that Roberts is a partisan hack.

Amy Coney Barrett seems less excited about the prospect. Meanwhile, the administration is threatening law firms. The dean of one law school is stepping up. Also, what is this — now former — partner doing?

How Law Firms Use Google Ads to Poach Your Leads

Ally Kvidt — Wed, 12 Mar 2025 08:00:18 +0000

Lead thievery! How on earth could your competitor’s ad have YOUR name in it? Brand conquesting is a real thing, and it sucks. Later, is Gyi completely wrong about direct brand search in LSAs? The guys fight it out.

Having a competitor’s brand in your ad is some super shady lawyer marketing and violates Google’s trademark policies, but it still happens. What’s the deal? Gyi and Conrad talk about the ins and outs of brand conquesting, how it should be viewed under lawyers’ rules of professional conduct, and whether this kind of dirty campaigning is actually successful for the law firms who engage in it.

Next, does having direct brand search turned on in Google Local Service Ads negatively impact your visibility? Maybe so, maybe no… it’s complicated! Gyi and Conrad argue their viewpoints and nerd out on a variety of marketing scenarios that could affect those pesky LSA outcomes.

The News:

If you’re amongst the crowd of laid off federal lawyers, Ben & Brian Glass are offering their assistance in helping you start your own gig.
The Diversity Update from Google might be causing a drop in your organic results.
Everybody’s noticing an uptick in AIOs in legal, so—yay!
Lawyerist Podcast with Gyi and Conrad is coming soon!

Links Mentioned:

Google – Trademarks – Advertising Policies Help

Suggested LHLM Episodes:

Google Local Service Ads: To Brand or Not to Brand?

Connect:

Google Cites Scholarship Links in a Manual Action Penalty

Diddy Lawyer Decides He Gotta Move On

Ally Kvidt — Wed, 05 Mar 2025 15:00:38 +0000

We’re not saying Diddy is an unsavory client, but we are saying Osama bin Laden’s lawyer just noped out of continuing to represent him. We also got some limited insight into the US News rankings and there’s some potential tumult at the top. And Judge Reyes had to blow up a hapless DOJ lawyer trying to defend the indefensible and the Trump administration displayed its inner snowflake.

The Case Against Incivility: Restoring Respect in Law

Ally Kvidt — Fri, 28 Feb 2025 12:00:07 +0000

Civility within the legal profession can be defined as the courteous and respectful behavior exhibited by legal professionals throughout their practice. Personal attacks, not agreeing to reasonable requests, writing inflammatory emails, briefs, or motions, are just a few examples of incivility within the profession. These actions have prompted calls for a return to civility. Where some states have adopted codes of civility, a fight for mandatory civility continues.

In this episode, Craig is joined by David A. Grenardo, a professor of law and associate director of the Holloran Center for Ethical Leadership in the Professions at St. Thomas School of Law. Craig & David spotlight civility in the legal profession, and take a look at mandatory civility and teaching the importance of civility to our law students and to those within the legal profession.

Who Needs Caselaw Anyway?

Ally Kvidt — Wed, 26 Feb 2025 15:30:21 +0000

Elon Musk’s aimless cost-cutting escapades turn to the SEC where DOGE slashed their Westlaw access because no one over there is smart enough to know how legal research works. Apparently now is an opportune time to start committing securities fraud! Speaking of aimless, former judge Alex Kozinski penned a meandering opinion piece about canceling elections in case, maybe, some president might want to consider it. And a few law schools quietly reworked their websites to remove diversity language. They probably won’t be the last.

Meh, Links — Busting Link Building Myths for SEO

Ally Kvidt — Wed, 26 Feb 2025 09:00:55 +0000

Today, we unpack Gyi’s beloved catchphrase to see how “meh” he really feels about the significance of links in local SEO. Later—the strategic guide you need for top-knotch link building in 2025.

A whole lotta folks like to say links don’t really matter anymore, but are they right? In practice, the guys have seen the positive effects of link building for clients for many, many years, and it’s still a piece of the pie today. However, there’s a ton of misinformation out there, so Gyi and Conrad debunk the most common misconceptions to get you on track for optimized, relevant, business-building links.

And, later, what’s working best for link building in 2025? The guys share some great stories of businesses who engaged their local communities through service, scholarships, sponsorships, and more—all while getting awesome PR and plenty of links.

The News:

More mergers & acquisitions! Places Scout was purchased by Yext… so are we all in for some price jacking? Sigh. Probably.
ABA is standing up for the judiciary, and you should too: ABA condemns remarks questioning legitimacy of courts and judicial review
Quit ruining our weekends, Googs. Sheesh. Google Confirms Business Profile Reviews Outage
Super grateful to Ahrefs for this really well done post: Google Says “Links Matter Less”—We Looked at 1,000,000 SERPs to See if It’s True

Mentioned:

Suggested LHLM Episodes:

Is Link Building Worth It Anymore? || Top 10 Link Building Tips

Connect:

2018 Episode with Dan Wade, Tiela Chalmers and Michael Hart

Someone Needs To Come Get These Junior Associates

Ally Kvidt — Wed, 19 Feb 2025 15:30:03 +0000

Imagine the audacity it takes for a rookie lawyer to refuse to do the work assigned by a midlevel or senior associate. And expect to keep their job? The story of a beleaguered midlevel asking for help with an unruly junior refusing to work has us wondering if the kids are not all right. Also the administration starts calling for impeachment when a judge imposes a TRO of less than a week and that doesn’t bode well for when they start losing real injunctions. And is there any legal question simpler than “the Twenty-Second Amendment limits presidents to two terms“?

‘The Licensing Racket’ takes aim at professional licensing in America

Ally Kvidt — Wed, 19 Feb 2025 12:00:58 +0000

Should you need a license for that? For law professor and antitrust expert Rebecca Haw Allensworth, there are huge problems with professional licensing in America—and her solutions might not make anyone completely happy.

In her new book, The Licensing Racket: How We Decide Who Is Allowed to Work, and Why It Goes Wrong, Allensworth takes a deep dive into the history and function of licensing in the United States. While licensing boards are put forth as a way to protect consumers, Allensworth says that in practice, their decisions can be arbitrary and their disciplinary functions flawed.

In this episode of the Modern Law Library, Allensworth and the ABA Journal’s Lee Rawles chat about a range of professions that currently require licenses, from hairdressing to law and medicine. While disciplinary procedures for lawyers are not open to the public, she was able to attend a number of proceedings for health care workers accused of wrongdoing, and what she found sometimes shocked her—and even shocked some of the people responsible for making those disciplinary decisions. She shares some of those stories in the episode.

The Licensing Racket argues that licensing should be done away with for many professions. For those that remain, however, Allensworth believes much more must be done by government agencies rather than allowing professions to self-police themselves through volunteers and licensing boards

California Wildfires and the Insurance Crisis: What’s Next for Palisades, Altadena and the L.A. Area

Ally Kvidt — Fri, 14 Feb 2025 15:30:30 +0000

In January, communities in Los Angeles were devastated by wildfires, permanently displacing thousands and destroying property and lives. Prior to the fires, thousands of L.A. residents in fire-prone areas were dropped from their insurance, leaving them with no protection or safety net. After losing their homes, their businesses, and their schools, they were left with the harsh reality of picking up the pieces.

In this episode, Craig is joined by Hannah Perls, Senior Staff Attorney with the Harvard Environmental & Energy Law Program (EELP), as they take a look at the aftermath of the L.A. fires. Craig and Hannah discuss disaster preparedness and response, insurance recovery after big disasters like the fires, and next steps for those impacted by the fires.

Listen to our previous episodes about other California wildfires:

2007 Episode with Mark C. Zebrowski, Katherine L. Parker and Dan Hull

Insurer Spending On Lawyers Rather Than, You Know, Healthcare

Ally Kvidt — Wed, 12 Feb 2025 15:20:06 +0000

If United Healthcare considered spending more on a cancer patient and less on lawyers to sue doctors for pointing out they didn’t spend on the cancer patient they wouldn’t be getting so thoroughly dragged online. While the mockery they’re getting is funny, this underscores the dangerous weaponization of defamation (and also copyright) laws, allowing deep pocketed antagonists to squelch criticism by filing low merit suits. Also, a Biglaw firm quietly scrubbed its website of a lot of its “diversity” language as the government steps up threats against private companies. And the ABA thinks the Supreme Court needs ethical rules.

0:00 Small Talk

9:50 UnitedHealthcare

15:46 DEI

21:03 Top Law Firm Representing Trump

23:47 ABA’s Stance on Supreme Court Ethics

Lawyer Marketing Nightmares: Dirty Tricks, Ponzi Schemes & Backstabbing

Ally Kvidt — Wed, 12 Feb 2025 09:00:26 +0000

Gyi and Conrad share the scary legal marketing stories you definitely wouldn’t want to find yourself entangled in. Later, don’t throw the attribution out with the bath water! It’s not impossible to track, and the guys explain how to go about it.

Sometimes you have to wallow in the muck of the digital marketing world to learn how to avoid the scum. All law firms should ask themselves this question: Do you know how your ad agency is spending your money? Gyi and Conrad dive into the allegations surrounding some very iffy third-party dealings to help you, dear listener, traverse the perils of the marketing world.

And later, it seems that some LHLM words to the wise have been misconstrued! Don’t hear what we’re not saying—attribution is an essential marketing element, and your agency should absolutely be monitoring your advertising channels with careful attention. But, there’s more to it than just a simple pie graph. Gyi and Conrad share how to get the fullest picture possible for tracking attribution.

The Quasi-News:

Ownership v. Partnerships: A Connecticut lawyer is embroiled in some painfully messy business.
American Association for Justice Winter Convention – Look out for LHLM LIVE!
PILMMA Super Summit – Conrad’s Ski Invitation for April 28th.

Suggested LHLM Episodes:

Marketing Attribution: Follow the Data or Trust Your Gut?

Connect:

Conrad’s Crystal Ball IV | Lawyer Marketing Predictions for 2025

More Than a Month: Black History at the DuSable Museum

Ally Kvidt — Thu, 06 Feb 2025 12:00:51 +0000

The DuSable Black History Museum and Education Center is a pillar of Chicago’s cultural institutions, showcasing art and history while fostering connection to the vital story of Black history in America and the world. In honor of Black History Month, Maggie Mendenhall-Casey and Mathew Kerbis welcome Perri Irmer to learn about the museum’s continuing efforts to cultivate community and deepen understanding for all people. Perri offers insights into many notable people and events found in the museum’s exhibits and extensive archives. Later, they also discuss DuSable’s offerings during Black History Month, including school-age programming, films, lectures, online courses, arts and crafts, and much more!

To learn more, visit dusablemuseum.org.

Perri Irmer is President and CEO of the DuSable Black History Museum and Education Center, the iconic institution founded in 1961 by Dr. Margaret Burroughs.

Former Watergate prosecutor and friends reflect on life in ‘Legal Briefs’

Ally Kvidt — Wed, 05 Feb 2025 21:00:53 +0000

For some people, retirement is an opportunity to kick back and finally relax. But for Roger M. Witten, it was a chance to finally tackle that book he’d been thinking about writing. With a little help from longtime friends and colleagues, Legal Briefs: The Ups and Downs of Life in the Law was born.

Witten’s aim was to reach a general audience and given them an idea about what a life in the law could look like outside the most well-known bounds of a criminal justice, Law & Order career. The result is a series of short, digestible anecdotes from 20 attorneys, talking about memorable cases, clients and conundrums they had. A reader could flip to any chapter in Legal Briefs and spend an enjoyable 5-10 minutes getting a snapshot from a contributor’s career.

Witten himself shares how he became an assistant special prosecutor for the Watergate Special Prosecution Force in the 1970s. In this episode of the Modern Law Library, he tells host Lee Rawles about defending a wise guy client code-named Ted, who nicknamed Witten “Witless” and threw a party with a banner reading “Ted – 1, FBI – 0” when they reached a successful plea agreement.

Many of the contributors to the book of essays were involved in government litigation and complex corporate matters. Witten himself was one of the foremost litigators handling Foreign Corrupt Practices Act cases, and before his retirement was a senior litigation partner in WilmerHale’s New York office.

In this episode he also shares his perspective as a former Watergate prosecutor on current events within the federal government since the Trump Administration began, and recounts his experience with the late Sen. John McCain while defending campaign finance reforms.

400th Episode Spectacular

Ally Kvidt — Wed, 05 Feb 2025 15:30:31 +0000

A jumbo sized episode this week as Thinking Like A Lawyer celebrates its 400th episode with a look back at some big changes in law firms, law schools, and the courts that have unfolded over its last 10 years of podcasting. Original co-host Elie Mystal from The Nation joins the gang to share his thoughts. He’s not particularly optimistic.

Trump’s Executive Orders, Legality, Litigation, and Impact

Ally Kvidt — Fri, 31 Jan 2025 15:15:20 +0000

With a stroke of a pen, President Trump signed a record number of executive orders attempting to change the fabric of our nation, attempting to undo years of legislation, and challenge the Constitution of the United States. From birthright citizenship to the elimination of DEI programs, to a freeze on federal aid, these orders stand to impact millions.

In this episode, Craig is joined by Qasim Rashid, human rights lawyer, author, and a former Congressional candidate, as they spotlight Trump’s recent executive orders including: birthright citizenship, the elimination of DEI programs, and the freeze on federal aid. Craig & Qasim discuss reaction, the legality of these orders, the executive branch v. Congress, litigation, and the potential impact these orders could have on the people of our nation.

First Thing We Do, Let’s Fire All The Lawyers

Ally Kvidt — Wed, 29 Jan 2025 15:20:18 +0000

Trump administration slashes jobs for young lawyers months before they officially start sparking a scramble for jobs. The Justice Department followed up that news by terminating career DOJ lawyers for the sin of having worked on Trump’s criminal cases. One Biglaw firm informs its associates that they’re not getting their full bonuses based on office attendance. While we’re at it… should lawyers rely on law firm bonuses anyway? And a professor gets disciplined for political comments raising the debate: what exactly constitutes a violation of academic freedom?

TV Ads or Digital? The Champion Lawyer Uses Both

Ally Kvidt — Wed, 29 Jan 2025 09:00:37 +0000

If your game plan is offline advertising, but your website sucks—you’re fumbling your growth strategy. And, later, Conrad shares his origin story!

There is often a significant imbalance between law firms’ offline and online marketing investments, but things simply won’t work as well if you don’t synergize both aspects. Gyi and Conrad talk through their recommendations for diversified online and offline expenditures that can maximize your firm’s potential for growth.

Later, how did Conrad become Conrad? The child of Australian immigrant parents, Conrad shares his life’s journey from Vegemite sandwich-toting lad to MBA grad to SEO pioneer to Mockingbird Marketing owner—and everything in between!

The News:

We are brilliant crystal ball pontificators! Cases in point:

Non-lawyer participation in the legal world – KPMG Law Firm
Low firm consolidations – Sweet James purchased Jenn Gore’s firm.
Chaos and confusion! – TikTok – Gone and Back Again
Report bad business conduct in GBP – Google Maps New Report Business Conduct

Suggested LHLM Episodes:

Connect:

Conrad’s Crystal Ball: The Re-Re-Return — Sponsored by CallRail

Tom Goldstein Should’ve Stuck With High Stakes Go Fish

Ally Kvidt — Wed, 22 Jan 2025 15:40:46 +0000

Supreme Court litigator Tom Goldstein, co-founder of SCOTUSblog, is on the wrong side of the law facing a multi-count indictment related to the alleged fallout of a hard-core gambling lifestyle. All while routinely arguing multiple cases in front of the Supreme Court. Legen…wait for it…dary. Also Proskauer proves that every rose has its thorn and Yale stares down on of the most epic downgrades in law school history.

Will Trump Pardon January 6 Rioters? Here’s How the Pardon System Works.

Ally Kvidt — Fri, 17 Jan 2025 12:00:48 +0000

Four years ago, on January 6th, 2021, our U.S. Capitol was under siege by supporters of Donald Trump who tried to stop a joint session of Congress from certifying the electoral votes of the 2020 presidential election. Fast forward to 2025, Donald J. Trump is about to take office as President and the fate of those convicted of January 6th crimes lies in his hands.

In this episode, Craig is joined by Kimberly Wehle, professor of law at the University of Baltimore School of Law and author of the book, Pardon Power: How the Pardon System Works—and Why. Craig & Kim take a look back at January 6th, the possibility of Trump pardoning those convicted of federal crimes stemming from January 6th, and the implications this could have on our society and our legal system.

Back To The Office Blues

Ally Kvidt — Wed, 15 Jan 2025 15:40:30 +0000

Sullivan & Cromwell are bringing attorneys back to the office five days a week. The stated reason is to mirror “normal business hours” which is a cruel joke in an abnormal business hour industry. Democratic Party superlawyer Marc Elias faces an uprising at his firm after staff proposed a mandatory arbitration agreement despite many of his top clients openly campaigning on… banning mandatory arbitration agreements. Finally, Wilson Sonsini hands out bonuses but pulls a fast one with special payments.

Conrad’s Crystal Ball IV | Lawyer Marketing Predictions for 2025

Ally Kvidt — Wed, 15 Jan 2025 09:00:53 +0000

Gaze into the depths with Gyi and Conrad, so you, too, can be prepared for the legal marketing days to come. This one’s all about the future, folks!

Well, and the past. First, an in-depth retrospective on whether Gyi and Conrad’s 2024 predictions showed true seer potential (or phony-baloney tendencies). Then, the guys turn a preternatural eye to what lies ahead. What mystically foretold trends will dominate the legal and marketing landscapes of 2025? From super-spammer AI avatars to, of course, another Michigan win—Gyi and Conrad can see it all.

The News:

Happy New Year from the Googly Googs. They kicked off 2025 with an infestation of Google Business Profile bugs. Yaaay.
A Cautionary Tale: Deceptive marketing tactics could seriously come back to bite you in the you-know-where – “Strong Arm” Frank Azar wins $1.55 million in Google keyword lawsuit against Alabama law firm
LHLM was selected by Feedspot as one of the 30 Best Legal Marketing Podcasts You Must Follow in 2025! Thanks, we think.
Gyi’s GBP got suspended—again.
ChatGPT for clients: MJ Morley shared that 3 out of 7 consults found her firm through ChatGPT – fascinating stuff!
New CallRail launch – CallRail broadens attribution capabilities to include AI-powered search engines
Is the truth about to get even muddier? Meta backs away from fact checking in the U.S. : NPR

Suggested LHLM Episodes:

Connect:

Playing With the Social Media Algorithm || Drafting Your Marketing Dream Team: Round 2

Transgender Prisoner Rights with Alan Mills

Ally Kvidt — Thu, 09 Jan 2025 12:00:22 +0000

Throughout the history of our justice system, transgender prisoners’ issues have largely been ignored. Is that intentional indifference still predominant in the current landscape of our prisons? Nikki Marcotte and Trisha Rich talk with Alan Mills of the Uptown People’s Law Center about his career in prisoner rights litigation, including his work in the Monroe case and his opinions on the recent decision made by the 7th Circuit US Court of Appeals in Monroe v. Bowman. They discuss the issues surrounding gender affirming care in Illinois prisons, the impacts of politics and media, and how attorneys can get involved in prisoner rights issues.

Alan Mills is Executive Director at Uptown People’s Law Center in Chicago, Illinois.

Judges Decide Clarence Thomas Was Just Confused When He Didn’t Report All That Money

Ally Kvidt — Wed, 08 Jan 2025 15:45:36 +0000

Apparently, Clarence Thomas just didn’t understand how to read the nearly 50-year-old statute requiring him to report massively expensive gifts. That’s the Judicial Conference’s official take in a new letter to the Senate panel looking into the ethical cesspool. The letter becomes public just as Chief Justice Roberts releases his annual report asserting that most criticism of the Court should be seen as improper intimidation and even violence. Before the holidays, we discussed Biglaw firms bucking the trend and not paying out special bonuses. Happy to report that they’ve reversed course.

When should life sentences be overturned? Judge shares how he decides

Ally Kvidt — Wed, 08 Jan 2025 15:30:04 +0000

A federal judge’s new book is giving readers a rare inside glimpse at how a judge determines which prisoners deserve to have their sentences overturned.

In his memoir, Disrobed: An Inside Look at the Life and Work of a Federal Trial Judge, Judge Frederic Block introduced readers to his colorful life and career. In Crimes and Punishments: Entering the Mind of a Sentencing Judge, he explained the rationale judges use when deciding sentences, and the human toll it can take. And now, in A Second Chance: A Federal Judge Decides Who Deserves It, he’s shining a light on how judges consider resentencing and compassionate release.

Without the passage of a key federal law in 2018, A Second Chance would not have been written. A bipartisan piece of legislation signed by President Donald Trump and supported by the ABA, the First Step Act was one of the biggest criminal justice reforms in the past decade. Among its sentencing reforms, it allows federal judges to reconsider sentences given out during tough-on-crime crackdowns, and for prisoners to petition for compassionate release.

Block, who is a senior judge on the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York, soon found himself asked to reconsider sentences under the First Step Act. In the book, he outlines the crimes and rehabilitations (or lack thereof) of six federal prisoners. From a former police officer who assaulted an innocent Haitian immigrant to a trio of mobsters, Block selected an array that represents the types of cases he’s being asked to consider. Later in the book, he reveals the fate of each—whether life sentences were overturned or unrepentant prisoners were returned to their cells.

In this episode of the Modern Law Library, Block tells ABA Journal’s Lee Rawles how his own views on sentencing have changed since he ascended to the bench in the 1990s. In a case that made the news after A Second Chance went to press, Block overturned a sentence he gave out 27 years ago, during his second year on the bench. Block had imposed a quintuple life sentence on Walter Johnson after the man was convicted of robbery, cocaine possession and witness tampering. At 61, Johnson has now been released from prison, and Block discusses that decision in the episode.

Block sees a moral imperative for all strata of the justice system to work together to address mass incarceration. In addition to calling on judges to be open-minded when considering resentencing offenders, he encourages criminal defense attorneys to go through their lists of former clients to see whether any would be eligible for relief under the First Step Act. Most importantly, Block is calling upon citizens to lobby for sentencing reforms like the First Step Act on the state level, since the legislation only applies to federal prisoners. He points out that only about 200,000 of the approximately 2 million incarcerated Americans are federal prisoners; the vast majority are overseen by state courts.

Block also discusses the public response to President Joe Biden’s recent clemency decisions, and how collateral consequences have influenced his initial sentencing decisions.

Dream.org Sets the Tone for Optimism in Action with CEO Nisha Anand

Ally Kvidt — Tue, 07 Jan 2025 12:00:34 +0000

Nisha Anand, the Chief Executive Officer of Dream.org, joins SideBar to discuss how she builds bridges across political divides to find real solutions. Nisha employs the “radical act of finding common ground” with unlikely allies while still staying true to her progressive values. She provides a hopeful message that collaboration can achieve change and overcome polarization and political divides.

Ho, Ho, Ho-Cast

Ally Kvidt — Thu, 26 Dec 2024 15:45:02 +0000

It’s a very special holiday episode of Thinking Like A Lawyer with three straight “Ho” stories. First, Hogan Lovells irks associates with a bonus announcement without matching the industry standard special bonuses. Meanwhile, law enforcement just can’t help making Luigi Mangione look more like a sexy martyr and now someone claiming to be UnitedHealthcare is trying to assert ownership of his likeness. And Judge James Ho walks back his prior support for birthright citizenship now that it might cost him a job on the Supreme Court.

Law Firm Marketing — How Much Should Your Associates Be Doing?

Ally Kvidt — Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:15:08 +0000

You’ve got a talented legal team at your firm, but should they also be involved in your marketing schemes? Later, we recently realized that some of you want a bit more backstory on the guys, so, Gyi reveals how his mysterious past made him into the marketer he is today.

Should your lawyers stick to lawyering? Sometimes, an associate is super interested, tactical, and talented at marketing, but sometimes… they’re not. So, how do you avoid potential misuse of resources and make the most of your relationship with marketing partners? Gyi and Conrad talk through how to build trust, optimize your assets, and learn to be on the same team with your marketer.

It’s a bird! It’s a plane! No, it’s Gyi Tsakalakis! Who is Gyi, anyway? Every super hero has an origin story, and so does every marketer.

The News:

The Google algo update is finished—FINALLY. And, honestly, the results are a bit of a snoozefest.
Gemini 2 is out and about! And, similarly—Zzz.
Apple launched its ChatGPT integration with Siri. Useful? No? Yes?
And, Gyi and Conrad’s Google Business Profiles are back on track. What happened?

Suggested LHLM Episodes:

Dial M for Mystery Shopper

Connect:

Ring, Ring! What to Expect When You Call Up a Marketing Agency

The Banning of TCE & PCE, and the Future of the EPA

Ally Kvidt — Fri, 20 Dec 2024 12:00:24 +0000

On December 9th, 2024, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced the banning of two chemicals found in products used primarily in the automobile, dry-cleaning, and manufacturing industries, but also found in some household products like cleaning wipes, paint removers, glues, and wig adhesives. The two solvents, Trichloroethylene, also known as TCE, and Perchloroethylene, also known as PCE or Perc, have been linked to cancer and other severe health issues.

With the banning of TCE & PCE, the future of the EPA will be under Trump rule come January 20th, 2025. So what will be the impact of the TCE & PCE ban? And will there be a major overhaul of the EPA and an undoing of Biden’s regulations under Trump? In this episode, Craig is joined by Professor Wendy Wagner from The University of Texas at Austin School of Law. Craig & Wendy discuss the recent banning of TCE & PCE by the EPA, and the future of the EPA under a second Trump presidency.

Our favorite pop culture picks in 2024

Ally Kvidt — Wed, 18 Dec 2024 15:30:08 +0000

It’s the time of year when The Modern Law Library likes to look back on the media that we’ve enjoyed: our annual pop culture picks episode. This year, host Lee Rawles is joined by the ABA Journal reporters Danielle Braff and Anna Stolley Persky, and Victor Li, an assistant managing editor and host of the Legal Rebels Podcast.

Naturally, their favorite books are discussed. But they also have movies, TV shows, podcasts and even Broadway musicals to recommend. From presidential histories to wicked witches, listeners will find ways to occupy the holiday season and the new year.

Lawyers Who Do Lunch

Ally Kvidt — Wed, 18 Dec 2024 12:00:11 +0000

Can lunch save professional civility? Almost assuredly not, but one judge is going to try. Partnership isn’t what it used to be. Instead of long careers with equity ownership, partners are making lateral jumps with more frequency than ever. More out of the murder of a Kentucky judge earlier this year… “running a brothel out of that courtroom” sounds ominous.

Chapters:

00:00 Small Talk

02:15 Mysterious Drone Sightings

07:20 Lawyer Lunch Date

12:03 Laterals Aren’t Loving This Biglaw Firm

19:15 Slain Judge Accused Of ‘Running A Brothel Out Of That Courtroom’

Bar to the Future! – The 101st Chicago Bar Show

Ally Kvidt — Thu, 12 Dec 2024 21:30:37 +0000

After a yuletide dinner in days of yore, a group of Chicago Bar Association members spiced up the evening with some delightful songs and sketches. Now, over a hundred years later, this tradition has grown into a full-fledged musical revue, featuring an array of comedic and musical performances peppered with parodies of notable pop-culture moments. Mathew Kerbis and Kellie Snyder welcome cast members Carissa Meyer, Christopher Johnson, and Skip Harsch to learn about their experiences in theater, their involvement in the Bar Show community, and what this year’s performance has in store!

The Chicago Bar Show will be performed on January 8, 10, and 11. To learn more, visit The Bar Show on the CBA website. And, tickets are selling fast! Purchase yours at barshow.org.

Replacing Judges With AI And Other Stupid Ideas

Ally Kvidt — Wed, 11 Dec 2024 12:00:32 +0000

Elon Musk says his AI will be able to deliver judicial opinions as soon as he feeds it “all” the cases. It will not, but his impulse sheds some light on a disturbing lack of respect for the rule of law. A pair of judges planning to take senior status as soon as Biden confirmed their successors have withdrawn their plans after the Senate sat on their proposed openings. And law school applications are up big time… and that’s not good news for a lot of students.

Dial M for Mystery Shopper – Sponsored by CallRail

Ally Kvidt — Wed, 11 Dec 2024 09:00:33 +0000

Intrigue! Drama! Suspense! Our victim, Paul Robinson Law, gets put through the wringer again with an after-hours secret shopper call plotted by Gyi and Conrad.

Before you get too delighted at the thought of hearing about the missteps of a fellow firm, remember—if you haven’t taken the time to fully engage with training and testing your in-house or third-party reception, your client intake might be dead in the water. So, did Paul’s firm successfully escalate the undercover shopper’s legal need? Gyi and Conrad analyze the experience and break down its good and bad elements to showcase how proper intake training, scripting, coaching, and emotional connection can foster a superior customer experience that will win you more clients.

The News:

Digital marketing luminaries Rand Fishkin and Greg Sterling have insights you need right now! Rand – The SEO opportunity pie shrinking and more insights and Greg – 300 Million Queries, Old Google, Cyber Week, Location Data Is Like Ground Beef
Bluesky is really on the uptick. With 24 million users, a burgeoning SEO Community, and all your favorite legal tech peeps, is it the new place to be? – Amid X X-odus, Nothing But Bluesky from Now On | LawSites
We’re getting used to disappointment – A Week Overdue, Google November 2024 Core Update Still Causing Volatility
The TLTF Summit has wrapped up for this year, but keep an eye out for next year’s event for a chance to rub elbows with the best and brightest in legal tech.
Thank you, loyal listeners! Spotify Wrapped showed stats that just make us uber grateful for you all.

Also, the dirty, underhanded, belly of the internet turned on Gyi and Conrad in the form of Google Business Profile suspensions on the SAME day. Coincidence? They think not. But, that’s it for today—let’s hash all that out in the next episode.

Other Episodes in the Paul Robinson Trilogy:

Lawyer Website Roasted

Connect: