The Indiana Lawyer Podcast with Maura Johnson

IBJ Media Podcast Network
  • 5.0 (9)
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  • Updated Biweekly

Navigating the legal world can feel overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be. The Indiana Lawyer Podcast is here to help you understand the laws impacting your life, work, and community. Whether you’re a legal professional, a business owner, or someone who wants to know how Indiana law shapes the world around you, this podcast is for you. Hosted by Maura Johnson—a passionate legal reporter—we’re here to bring you clarity and insights like no one else can. This podcast is brought to you by Taft, Today’s Modern Law Firm.

  1. Vicky Nunn on leading Ken Nunn Law Office's next chapter

    Jun 10

    Vicky Nunn on leading Ken Nunn Law Office's next chapter

    Vicky Nunn spent 23 years practicing personal injury law alongside her father before stepping into the role of leading one of Indiana's most recognized firms. Now she is carrying forward a legacy built over nearly six decades, with a fourth generation already on the way.Nunn, an attorney at Ken Nunn Law Office in Bloomington, discusses how growing up around her father's cases shaped her approach to client representation, why she changed careers at 36 to attend law school, and what it means to lead a firm of roughly 90 employees, many of whom have been there for decades. She also addresses the challenges of stepping into a role built by a larger-than-life figure, how she is modernizing firm operations, and why she believes Indiana's legal community stands out for its collegiality.Ken Nunn Law Office has tried more personal injury cases in Indiana over the past 26 years than any other firm, and Nunn says the willingness to go to trial is often what secures the best outcome.

    30 min
  2. Jim Bopp and Ken Falk on courts, rights, and the rule of law

    May 27

    Jim Bopp and Ken Falk on courts, rights, and the rule of law

    Two of Indiana's most consequential constitutional litigators, James Bopp Jr. and Ken Falk, find more common ground than their opposing ideologies might suggest. Recorded live at The Indiana Lawyer's 2026 Leadership in Law breakfast, this conversation covers decades of landmark litigation, the discipline required to pursue long-term legal strategies, and what both attorneys see as a growing threat to judicial independence.Bopp, principal attorney at The Bopp Law Firm PC, describes studying Thurgood Marshall's legal strategy as a model for how sustained litigation can shift constitutional law. Falk, legal director of the ACLU of Indiana, reflects on representing everyone from the KKK to Planned Parenthood and explains why defending clients on both sides of the political aisle is essential to protecting everyone's rights.Moderated by Lesley Weidenbener, editor and assistant publisher of The Indiana Lawyer, the conversation also includes both attorneys addressing the current political climate. Falk warns that public attacks on judges and open questions about compliance with court orders threaten the rule of law itself. Bopp agrees, calling civility and respect for the judicial process essential common ground for a functioning democracy.Both men are recipients of The Indiana Lawyer's 2026 Lifetime Achievement Award, given to attorneys with at least 25 years of experience whose impact extends beyond the courtroom.For more on Indiana's legal profession, visit theindianalawyer.com.

    32 min
  3. Taylor Swift's voice trademarks and what they mean for AI law

    May 13

    Taylor Swift's voice trademarks and what they mean for AI law

    Taylor Swift recently filed three trademark applications with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, including two sound marks for her speaking voice and one visual mark from her Eras Tour. The filings have drawn widespread attention for what they signal about celebrity IP protection in the age of artificial intelligence.Caitlin Byczko, an intellectual property attorney at Barnes & Thornburg's Indianapolis office, breaks down what Swift's applications are actually requesting, what legal hurdles they face, and why the outcome could set a roadmap for how celebrities, brands, and even everyday people protect themselves from AI-generated deep fakes and unauthorized voice cloning.Biscoe explains the difference between copyright, right of publicity and trademark protection, why sound marks remain rare and legally untested, and how the likelihood-of-confusion standard will determine whether Swift's registrations can hold up against AI platforms. She also addresses the international limitations of U.S. trademark law, the role of platform-level enforcement, and what Tennessee's 2024 right-of-publicity update signals about where state and federal regulation may be headed.For more legal news from Indiana, visit theindianalawyer.com, where you can subscribe to the daily newsletter and browse past podcast episodes.

    28 min
  4. Improv skills that make lawyers better in court and life

    Apr 29

    Improv skills that make lawyers better in court and life

    Listening, adaptability and quick thinking aren’t typically taught in law school, but two professionals argue they should be. They say improv training can sharpen courtroom performance, client negotiations and overall well-being. Mike Marbach, founder of Crossroads Comedy in Indianapolis, and Michael Murphy, a clinical law professor at Ohio State University’s Moritz College of Law, created a continuing legal education program built on improv exercises. The course links each exercise to legal practice, covering active listening, the “yes, and” approach to negotiation, emotional authenticity in court and projecting expertise on short notice.They also address a common hurdle for attorneys: dropping a rigid professional persona to fully engage in learning. Murphy, a former trial lawyer and in-house counsel, says improv-based CLEs outperform traditional lecture formats and help lawyers stay present and recover when proceedings go off track.

    43 min
  5. Trump's AI legislative framework: What it means for business with Brian McGinnis of Barnes & Thornburg LLP

    Apr 15

    Trump's AI legislative framework: What it means for business with Brian McGinnis of Barnes & Thornburg LLP

    The Trump administration's AI legislative framework sets the stage for a federal showdown over who controls artificial intelligence regulation in the United States. Brian McGinnis, a partner at Barnes & Thornburg and co-chair of the firm's data security and privacy law and artificial intelligence practices, breaks down the six pillars of the White House blueprint and what Congress would need to do to turn those priorities into law.McGinnis explains the core tension at the heart of the debate: Whether Washington should set a national standard that preempts state laws, or whether states like Colorado, California, and Texas should retain the authority to impose stricter requirements on AI developers. He draws a direct parallel to the long-running fight over federal privacy legislation, warning that without congressional action, companies face a growing patchwork of conflicting state rules.The conversation also covers the administration's directive to the Department of Justice to push back against state regulators, the relevance of the EU AI Act as a comparative model, and why Colorado's June enforcement deadline is creating immediate pressure for businesses trying to determine what compliance even looks like. McGinnis notes that companies are increasingly turning to frameworks like the NIST AI Risk Management Framework as stand-ins for legislation that does not yet exist.

    29 min
  6. Law student recruiting is changing fast. Barnes & Thornburg partner explains why.

    Apr 1

    Law student recruiting is changing fast. Barnes & Thornburg partner explains why.

    Law firms are now locking in first-year law students for summer positions before they have finished a single full semester. David Durm, a partner at Barnes & Thornburg in Indianapolis, breaks down the forces reshaping law student recruiting and what students must do to stand out.Durm, who has coordinated law student recruiting for more than 25 years, explains how the traditional two-L summer associate model has shifted dramatically, with some Am Law 100 firms now extending offers to one-L students in January for summer classes more than a year away. He also addresses how artificial intelligence is influencing hiring decisions, why Indianapolis remains a strong recruiting market despite a statewide lawyer shortage and what Barnes & Thornburg looks for beyond grades when evaluating candidates.

    30 min
  7. Indianapolis criminal defense attorney Jim Voyles Jr. on representing Mike Tyson, the Indianapolis 500 and his new book, “All Rise: My Life in Trials with the Famous, Infamous and the Misunderstood"

    Mar 18

    Indianapolis criminal defense attorney Jim Voyles Jr. on representing Mike Tyson, the Indianapolis 500 and his new book, “All Rise: My Life in Trials with the Famous, Infamous and the Misunderstood"

    Indianapolis criminal defense attorney Jim Voyles Jr. reflects on nearly 58 years of practicing law, from representing Indianapolis Colts and Pacers players to serving as local counsel during the Mike Tyson sexual assault trial. Voyles discusses his philosophy of keeping clients silent, the high-profile cases that shaped his career and his new book "All Rise: My Life in Trials with the Famous, Infamous and the Misunderstood," co-written with motorsports writer Mark Bourcier. He also discusses his lifelong passion for motorsports, his family's Indianapolis 500 traditions and his connection to the racing community.

    37 min
  8. Indiana Court of Appeals explained: Chief Judge Elizabeth Tavitas on the appeals process

    Mar 4

    Indiana Court of Appeals explained: Chief Judge Elizabeth Tavitas on the appeals process

    Indiana Court of Appeals Chief Judge Elizabeth Tavitas explains how appeals work in Indiana, including how the court reviews briefs and trial transcripts and issues written opinions. She breaks down what the Court of Appeals handles and which cases go to the Indiana Tax Court or directly to the Indiana Supreme Court, and notes the court produces about 2,100 opinions a year. Tavitas also shares her path from Lake County deputy prosecutor to juvenile public defender, private practice, magistrate and a Lake Superior Court family court judge in Gary before joining the Court of Appeals in 2018. She discusses access to justice, civics education through We the People, mentoring law students, and efforts to improve judicial safety, plus a traveling oral argument with the Indiana Historical Society on April 28 tied to outreach for the 250th anniversary of U.S. independence.

    32 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
9 Ratings

About

Navigating the legal world can feel overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be. The Indiana Lawyer Podcast is here to help you understand the laws impacting your life, work, and community. Whether you’re a legal professional, a business owner, or someone who wants to know how Indiana law shapes the world around you, this podcast is for you. Hosted by Maura Johnson—a passionate legal reporter—we’re here to bring you clarity and insights like no one else can. This podcast is brought to you by Taft, Today’s Modern Law Firm.

Information

  • Channel
    IBJ Media Podcast Network
  • Creator
    IBJ Media
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    118
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © All Rights Reserved

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