Legal Talk Network - Law News and Legal Topics Legal Talk Network

You’ve opened your firm, hung out the shingle, and taken the leap. Now that you’ve made it a year or two, what’s next? There’s no step-by-step guide for small and solo practitioners, but you can learn from those who established a solo practice and made it through the first few years and how they’re moving forward. Hear guest Joanne Martin’s story, how she learned to hire, add relevant tech, and build on her success. 
Martin is the founder, managing director, lawyer, and accredited mediator at Align Family Law, a boutique law practice based in Victoria and Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Hear how she joined professional organizations, expanded her marketing, and drove her practice to the next step. 
As you grow, you can build a network of like-minded professionals, ask clients for a Google review, manage and improve your branding and website, and hire a pro when you need technical help (and even personal coaching). You’ll learn as you go, but you can also learn from others.
Once you get your feet under you, it can be tempting to be overly cautious with your emerging practice, but growth is essential. Spend the money when you need to, hire when the practice demands. Get better and bigger. 
Questions or ideas about solo and small practices? Drop us a line at NewSolo@legaltalknetwork.com  
Topics:

Launching a solo firm is hard. But so is taking that firm to the next level. Hear tips for growing beyond a one person show

Adding associates and support staff may sound challenging, but making the right additions builds your business and takes routine tasks off your shoulders.

It’s OK to spend on the tools and professionals you need, such as legal and practice management software and professional help optimizing your tech, even professional coaching. 

Mentioned in This Episode:
Collaborative Family Separation Professionals
Legends Legal Marketing
AlignFamilyLaw.ca
Clio (Grow, Manage, Documents, and Payments)
Microsoft 365
DivorceMate
Adobe
Melissa Shanahan, Velocity Work coaching
Previous appearance, “A Second Career: Building a Solo Law Practice Later in Life” 
Previous episode, “Productivity Boost: Real Uses of AI in the Software You Already Have” 
Previous episode, “Google, Maps, And Business? This is YOUR Episode” 
Previous episode, “A Better AI, Built For Lawyers: Results You Can Finally Trust?”

One of former President Trump’s criminal cases, the hush money trial, is currently underway in a New York City courtroom. Jury selection for this case was a lengthy and controversial process which included Trump’s lawyers scrutinizing potential jurors’ social media, Judge Merchan giving Trump a warning for reacting to a potential juror in court, and the dismissal of one seated juror due to their concerns over the intense media coverage of the trial.
In this episode, Craig is joined by Betty L. Dunkum, Esq., Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Victory Trial Consulting, as they spotlight jury selection. Craig & Betty discuss the process, strategy, and what attorneys should look for in a juror.

Stephanie catches up with the original Lawyerist podcast host, Sam Glover. In addition to a brief walk down memory lane, hear how Sam is working to make our court systems more accessible to the public and how lawyers could think differently about the value they provide. 
Additionally, Zack talks with Joyce Brafford from TimeSolv about project management, budget tracking, and determining the value of your cases and your time. 
Links from the episode:  
Increase your billable hours with Timesolv-start your free trial today! 
 
If today’s podcast resonates with you and you haven’t read The Small Firm Roadmap Revisited yet, get the first chapter right now for free! 

Environmental law is a dynamic field that evolves rapidly with new challenges as they emerge but also against the backdrop of the politics of state and federal administrations. Regulatory focus shifts from administration to administration and crisis to crisis, creating a challenging area of law for those who practice it.
 Our guest, David Mandelbaum, is a shareholder with the firm of Greenberg Traurig and has practiced environmental law since 1984. He’s seen a lot, from focusing on solid waste landfills decades ago to today’s challenges created by a changing climate. 
Legal procedures vary from state to state in addition to how the federal government oversees environmental issues, challenging practitioners to understand the law and the issues and the procedural process. Laws and statutes are in constant flux.
For newer lawyers, Mandelbaum says the constant changes in the field of environmental law level the playing field between experienced attorneys and those getting out of law school. Changes come so fast that a new lawyer who has studied the latest regulations and cases can be on equal footing with someone who has practiced in the field for decades. In this field, it’s never “the way we’ve always done it.”
If you’ve ever considered a career in environmental law, this discussion may open your eyes to new opportunities.
Resources:
“SEC Adopts Rules to Enhance and Standardize Climate-Related Disclosures for Investors,” SEC.gov
Superfunds and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
“EPA Imposes First National Limits On 'Forever Chemicals' In Drinking Water,” NBC news
Pennsylvania Environmental Law Forum 2024
Different Career Paths in Environmental Law
Nurturing the Future of Animal Law
American Bar Association on Environment, Energy, and Resources
American Bar Association
American Bar Association Young Lawyers Division

What happens when forensic science is later found to be false?
-----
Forensic science is a cornerstone of our criminal justice system. Unfortunately, not all sciences used to prosecute people are reliable. So what happens when forensic science is later debunked? Does that mean everyone convicted by it goes free? The short answer is no. Tune in to hear why.

Let's see if it pays off as well as a billionaire covering up an affair.
-----
Donald Trump's hush money trial kicks off after a week of Trump alienating everyone involved in the process by refusing to respect basic decorum and attempting to skirt the gag order by arguing that RTs aren't endorsements. The Am Law 100 is also out and we talk through some of the key takeaways and Judge Ho tried to defend his take on forum shopping and it's... not good.