Episodes

  • Rethinking Legal Fees for a Modern, Value-Based Practice

    Rethinking Legal Fees for a Modern, Value-Based Practice
    May 9 2025
    Modern law practice needs a modern billing approach. Learn tactics for the successful transition from hourly billing to flat and alternative fees with Scott Leigh of AltFee, the 2024 ABA Techshow Startup Alley winner. Mathew Kerbis talked with Scott at Techshow 2025 about the evolution of fee structures alongside technology advances and what lawyers should be thinking about to align their services with competitive pricing. They discuss how modernized fees can increase efficiency and profitability while offering transparent pricing for your clients. Scott Leigh is co-founder and CEO at AltFee. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    35 mins
  • SCOTUS & the Separation of Church and State

    SCOTUS & the Separation of Church and State
    May 9 2025
    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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    44 mins
  • How This New Lawyer Branded Her Firm With Aloha and Built a Happy Practice | First Flight #4

    How This New Lawyer Branded Her Firm With Aloha and Built a Happy Practice | First Flight #4
    May 8 2025
    Can your law firm be both professional and personal? In this episode, host Adriana Linares revisits her conversation with Cassandra Koeing, a solo family lawyer who launched Aloha Divorce straight out of school and found success by leaning into her personality and values. From creating a business plan with heart to growing a referral network through community events and Instagram, Cassandra shares how authenticity helped her attract the right clients. Plus, Adriana Linares and Rio Laine from ALPS Insurance break down how choosing the right tech, building good habits, and learning when to say no can keep your practice and your peace of mind on track from day one. Here the original episode with Cassandra Koeing Learn more about ALPS Insurance Receive email notifications every time we release a new episode Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    44 mins
  • From Classroom to Social Media to Cruise Ship? New Ways to Learn.

    From Classroom to Social Media to Cruise Ship? New Ways to Learn.
    May 8 2025
    Guest Linda McGrath-Cruz worked as a paralegal professional in private practice and in-house (including Royal Caribbean) for 28 years, and she’s a leader for the Paralegal Navigating Perilous Waters cruise, a CLE paralegal conference that takes place on a cruise ship (how cool is that?). She is currently the program coordinator and a full-time faculty member in the paralegal program at St. Johns River State College in Florida, a hands-on, real-life program that helps students get jobs and then get the job done. She is also the founder and leader of the social media program Perfectly Paralegal, a community that offers resources, support, and continuing education to paralegal professionals nationwide. We all need NALA continuing ed credits, but why not make it a family vacation on a cruise ship? Courses on the Perilous Waters cruise are arranged to provide both credits but also leave time for networking, sharing tips, and having fun. Make it a family trip, a friends group outing, or a company event. Learn while you sail. Whether it’s in the classroom or on the high seas, McGrath-Cruz is dedicated to sharing what she’s learned with practical teachings that make you better and advance your career. Get excited and get involved. Mentioned in This Episode: Paralegals Navigating Perilous Waters Cruise, March 6, 2026 St. Johns River State College Paralegal Program NALA, The Paralegal Association NALA CP exams NALA Conference & Expo 2025 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    50 mins
  • #558: The Wealthy Lawyer: Practical Financial Strategies for Legal Professionals with Darren Wurz

    #558: The Wealthy Lawyer: Practical Financial Strategies for Legal Professionals with Darren Wurz
    May 8 2025
    Unlock valuable insights for your legal practice and personal finances in this engaging episode. First, Zack explores the cutting edge of AI with Tanguy Chau from Paxton.ai, revealing how their innovative AI assistant is specifically built to streamline the often-daunting task of drafting legal documents. Discover the power of their multi-step modular process, designed to provide you with more coherent and relevant output, ultimately saving you time and enhancing your efficiency. Then, get ready to transform your financial outlook as Stephanie Everett speaks with Darren Wurz about financial planning and wealth building tailored specifically for lawyers. We delve into essential mindset shifts, helping you define your financial goals and overcome the common hesitations around financial planning. Learn practical strategies to effectively manage your cash flow, build safety nets, and consciously avoid the trap of lifestyle creep that can hinder your long-term wealth accumulation. We also explore smart investment diversification beyond traditional retirement accounts and uncover valuable tax planning strategies to ensure you're making the most of your earnings. Learn the importance of building a reliable team of financial experts, providing you with peace of mind and allowing you to focus on what you do best – practicing law and growing your firm. Tune in to gain practical knowledge that can impact your practice and your financial well-being. Listen to our other episode about your firm’s finances: KPIs for Lawyers: Measuring Your Law Firm’s Financial Health with Bernadette Harris Apple Podcast | Spotify | Lawyerist Overcoming Personal Financial Struggles as a Lawyer, with Rho Thomas Apple Podcast | Spotify | Lawyerist Healthy Profits: Understanding the Story Your Numbers Tell, with Bernadette Harris Apple Podcast | Spotify | Lawyerist Have thoughts about today’s episode? Join the conversation on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and X! 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! Looking for help beyond the book? See if our coaching community is right for you. Access more resources from Lawyerist at lawyerist.com. Links from the episode:  Paxton.ai Chapters/Timestamps: 00:00 - Introduction 00:20 - AI Prompt Tips with Zack Glaser and Stephanie Everett 06:22 - Sponsor Guest: Tanguy Chau from Paxton.ai on AI for Legal Document Drafting 18:12 - Financial Planning and Wealth Building for Lawyers 19:35 - Money Mindset and Defining "Enough" 21:42 - Overcoming Financial Hesitancy and Fear 24:38 - Importance of Cash Flow Management 30:34 - Diversification of Investments Beyond Traditional Retirement Accounts 33:08 - Tax Strategies and Planning for Business Owners 40:00 - Building a Team of Financial Experts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    42 mins
  • Biglaw Firms Fighting Trump Keep Winning, Capitulators Keep Losing

    Biglaw Firms Fighting Trump Keep Winning, Capitulators Keep Losing
    May 7 2025
    It was a bad week to compromise your values. ----- 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    33 mins
  • EP908- Inspiration from SLU Law School Dean Twinette Johnson

    EP908- Inspiration from SLU Law School Dean Twinette Johnson
    May 7 2025
    St. Louis University School of Law Dean Twinette Johnson’s wide-ranging career is based on her simple truth: know yourself. Her vision to support the next generation of justice-minded advocates may help you find your own balance. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    39 mins
  • Perplexed about AI? Richard Susskind wants to help

    Perplexed about AI? Richard Susskind wants to help
    May 7 2025
    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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    50 mins