73 episodes

The law impacts almost everything we do, several times a day. Sometimes we break the law and don't even know it! Attorney Bob Sewell explores what is legal in today's society by asking experts the age old question - Is That Even Legal? And getting the answers in plain language...while having a bit of fun.

Is That Even Legal‪?‬ Attorney Robert Sewell

    • Education
    • 5.0 • 41 Ratings

The law impacts almost everything we do, several times a day. Sometimes we break the law and don't even know it! Attorney Bob Sewell explores what is legal in today's society by asking experts the age old question - Is That Even Legal? And getting the answers in plain language...while having a bit of fun.

    Lawyers by Subscription? Meet the CEO of America's Top Online Legal Service

    Lawyers by Subscription? Meet the CEO of America's Top Online Legal Service

    According to Investopedia...which ranks and reviews a whole range of financial services and products, LegalShield  was the top overall "online legal service," in the U.S. in 2022.

    What is an online legal service and why does that matter?  

    Should you use one?

    Recently LegalShield named a new CEO. Warren Schlichting is a veteran technology and media executive with experience at places such as Sling TV and Dish Network.

    Bob wanted to meet Warren, learn more about his plans for LegalShield and talk about the future of legal services...and how this company fits in.

    More and more, consumers and businesses are understanding that traditional legal service delivery models are not only outdated, but they don't serve a large portion of the public.  How much does LegalShield address these issues?

    Listen in!

    • 24 min
    When the Knives Come Out...Probate Really Can Be Full of Drama....

    When the Knives Come Out...Probate Really Can Be Full of Drama....

    There's a reason movies like Knives Out...and Glass Onion are so popular. Human nature never comes more to the surface then at the time of a death...particularly if there is an e$tate involved!

    How realistic are those movies? Is there really a will reading? Can there really be a dramatic change of plans at the last minute?

    Come learn about the probate process as Estate Planning lawyer and podcast guest host extraordinaire (yes she does have a "knife out" for Bob's job...) Sarah Clifford interviews the master himself...BOB! Taking him through the dramatic scenes and circumstances of the Knives Out movie to see what is really real and what is fiction.

    Bob, whose aspirations include the movie business himself...is a seasoned probate litigator who prides himself on telling his clients...and his listeners in 86 countries...exactly how it is. So come get the real script.

    While it is not necessarily true to the movies, Bob says probate litigation rarely lacks drama and often is full of sex, drugs, and rock and roll.

    Listen in!

    • 20 min
    True Stories: On the Battles Lines of Access to Justice

    True Stories: On the Battles Lines of Access to Justice

    Every day we encounter the law.

    Sometimes we need a lawyer. Often, accessing quality legal assistance - truly good lawyers who know what they are doing, backed by the resources of a law firm - is beyond the resources of the everyday person or podcast listener.

    What is there to do?

    Millions of Americans and Canadians have filled this gap by becoming members of LegalShield or finding other ways to access lawyers. When someone has this service...where they can call in and talk with a lawyer,  what is it like to be a lawyer handling those calls?

    Do those lawyers get results? 

    Bob talks to access to justice warrior Ingrid Carlin, who has been helping people for years, to get the real life stories of the law helping real people.

    Listen in!!

    • 24 min
    The Blockbuster Episode: The Laws of Hollywood

    The Blockbuster Episode: The Laws of Hollywood

    Ever wonder how those incredible movies get financed?  How all the deals go together?  How your favorite stars get paid?

    Ever wonder what happens to all those amazing endorsement deals when an entertainer goes a little cray, commits a crime, or embarrasses himself and all the brands he represents?

    Do the music and movie stars really put a lot of crazy things in their contracts?

    One of the biggest trials of 2022 was the Johnny Depp/Amber Heard trial (which spawned a movie in and of itself).  How will Depp rehabilitate his brand? Is it possible?

    In this episode Bob interviews the lawyer working on his latest project, Bianca Goodloe...who has more movie credits as a lawyer (think projects like Lord of the Rings Trilogy, Harry Potter) than most actors! Also joining in this blockbuster episode is attorney Caroline Mankey, another Hollywood lawyer who represents motion picture studios and production companies, major media companies, film libraries, actors, comedians, television personalities, musicians, and artists.

    Now the real question...Can these amazing guests get Bob in a movie?  Listen in to find out!

    • 44 min
    Can You "Fix" That Traffic Ticket?

    Can You "Fix" That Traffic Ticket?

    It's the holiday season and you're flying your "slay" down the freeway at lightening speed to deliver your gifts...but GRINCH pulls you over...and in a flash of non-holiday red and blue light, your life is no longer merry! What next?

    Let's listen in as Bob talks with one of the best traffic lawyers on this topic.  Welcome Julie O'Connor!

    Can you get a traffic ticket "fixed?"

    What should you do when you are pulled over?

    Do the police actually have quotas?

    • 33 min
    Are Grand Juries that Grand? When They Get it Wrong...

    Are Grand Juries that Grand? When They Get it Wrong...

    Imagine a bar fight. Imagine someone getting killed and someone getting indicted for the crime by a Grand Jury. Imagine now, that one vital piece of evidence – a clear cut self defense argument – is never presented to the Grand Jury by the prosecutor…Is That Even Legal?  A trial court said it was.  The Arizona Supreme Court said…no!
     Grand Juries are in the news every day. They are impaneled against politicians, business titans and others suspected of crimes.  Their job is to determine whether a crime was committed and whether the person being investigated likely committed the crime.
     The word indicted can end your career, your professional and even your private life. How does the Grand Jury process work? What happens when it doesn’t?
     The all too common saying that you can “indict a ham sandwich,” has a very distasteful meaning when you consider the impacts of being indicted.
     Your amazing host, Bob became very curious about this process…and particularly the story of the bar fight.  Attorney Jesse Smith, who won the appeal before the AZ Supreme Court – earning his client a new Grand Jury – is Bob’s guest. 
     Here is  more on the underlying case… WILLIS v. BERNINI
     From the AZ Supreme Court:

    "In  this  case,  we clarify the  due  process  rights  of  a  person  under  investigation  before  a  grand  jury,  the  duties  of  a  prosecutor  to present evidence for the grand jury’s consideration in determining whether to  issue  an  indictment,  and  the  standard  for  what  constitutes  “clearly exculpatory” evidence, especially with regard to a justification defense.

     ¶2We  hold  that  the  Arizona  Constitution  guarantees  a  person  under grand jury investigation a due process right to a fair and impartial presentation  of  clearly  exculpatory  evidence  and that  a  prosecutor  has  a  duty, even in the absence of a specific request, to present such evidence to a  grand  jury.    We  also  affirm that  evidence  is  clearly exculpatory if  it  would   deter   a   grand   jury   from   finding   probable   cause   to   issue   an   indictment as initially stated in State v. Superior Court(Mauro),  139 Ariz. 422, 425 (1984).   

     Finally,  we  hold  that  clearly  exculpatory evidence includes evidence relevant  to  a  justification  defense  that  would  deter  a  finding  of  probable cause."
     Read more: https://www.azcourts.gov/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=-q-5mzI4S0k%3D&portalid=45

    • 28 min

Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5
41 Ratings

41 Ratings

Sam D15 ,

Interesting law podcast

I’ve been listening now for about 6 episodes. So interesting. I like how each episode breaks down the law so everyone knows what it means.

Julie-Your Expert Guest ,

Eye opening!

The legal world can sometimes be foreign to those without a legal background and the topics and discussions here are fantastic. I’m learning a ton!

footourist ,

Future of Law

Soooo goood!

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