Legal Speak
360 episodes - English - Latest episode: about 1 month ago - ★★★★★ - 38 ratingsLegal Speak is a weekly podcast that makes sense of what's happening in the legal industry. Each episode tackles a subject that's worthy of a deep dive—from law firm profit hacks to Supreme Court showdowns to the most promising plays in legal tech. Hosted by Senior Litigation Reporter of the Daily Report Cedra Mayfield and Senior Staff Writer for the American Lawyer Patrick Smith, Legal Speak offers straight talk from experts, plus an inside-the-newsroom perspective on market-shaping stories.
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Episodes
‘Treat Yourself Like a Client’ … and Other Stress-Free Fitness Tips for Lawyers
January 25, 2019 17:22 - 22 minutes - 41.8 MBBetween billable hours, responding to clients and long days of desk work, a legal career can make it hard to prioritize health and exercise. So what’s the key to balancing work and fitness goals? On this episode, we bring that question to Law.com’s Fit Counselor columnist Jonathan Jordan—just in time to save your New Year’s resolution. Legal Speak is brought to you by Econ One, offering economic expertise, consulting and dispute resolution, and data analytics.
Shutdown Meltdown: What It Means for Law Firms and the Courts
January 18, 2019 18:37 - 24 minutes - 44.2 MBThe current shutdown is more severe than past standoffs and fallout across the legal industry is about to get worse.
The Modern Law Office: Can You Handle It?
January 11, 2019 20:54 - 36 minutes - 66.7 MBThis week we dive into the decision-making and planning required when law firms leave behind traditional office workspaces and redesign for more collaborative environments.
How I Learned 'Basically Everything': Top Lawyers Give Props to Their Mentors
December 21, 2018 21:04 - 1 hour - 123 MBLawyers in Big Law, small law, corporate legal departments and academia talk about the people who shaped their careers. You’ll hear about the advice that serves as a guidepost for Uber GC Tony West, the career curves that landed Noreen Krall her current job at Apple Inc., and the partner who gave star litigator Bill Lee his first assignment. Plus, Latham & Watkins partner Leslie Caldwell recalls what she learned from Special Counsel Bob Mueller, Orrick’s Josh Rosenkranz talks about the figur...
The Big Four Are Coming for Your Clients
December 14, 2018 19:44 - 21 minutes - 39.7 MBThe Big Four accounting firms are pushing into legal services but how big a threat do they pose—really—to law firms? In this episode, Law.com reporter Dan Packel asks ALM Legal Intelligence analyst Nicholas Bruch to explain the type of legal work the Big Four are chasing, how the accounting firms have been hiring lawyers, and how far into the legal market their ambitions extend. Legal Speak is brought to you by Econ One, offering economic expertise, consulting and dispute resolution, and dat...
Diversity Officers Move into the Big Law C-Suite
December 07, 2018 19:37 - 29 minutes - 54.8 MBSandra Bang's new role at Shearman & Sterling is part of a trend in which large law firms are giving diversity officers a seat at the leadership table.
Ted Boutrous, CNN’s Champion, Is Fired Up
November 30, 2018 17:56 - 28 minutes - 51.3 MBFresh off his court win for CNN reporter Jim Acosta, Gibson Dunn partner Theodore Boutrous Jr. talks about confronting President Trump, defending press freedom and balancing a busy practice. Legal Speak is brought to you by Econ One, offering economic expertise, consulting and dispute resolution, and data analytics.
Orrick Chair Mitch Zuklie on Law Firm Skunkworks, Talent Wars and What’s Ahead
November 21, 2018 17:25 - 16 minutes - 30.5 MBIt’s been five years since Mitch Zuklie took the helm at Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe. What’s surprised him most, he says, is the pace of change. On this week's podcast, Zuklie talks about Orrick's strategy, its approach to innovation, the impact of #MeToo, and why raising associate salaries is the wrong prescription for attracting young lawyers. Legal Speak is brought to you by Econ One, offering economic expertise, consulting and dispute resolution, and data analytics.
'Inhumane:' Big Law Dysfunction Through a Therapist's Lens
November 16, 2018 19:16 - 29 minutes - 53.4 MBWhat factors drive high-achieving lawyers to the take their own lives, what needs to change inside law firms to address the problem? Sullivan & Cromwell associate-turned-therapist Will Meyerhofer provides his insight.
Judges Talk About Their Toughest Cases
November 09, 2018 18:53 - 31 minutes - 57 MBD.C. Superior Court Judges Russell Canan, Gregory Mize, and Frederick Weisberg discuss the heartbreaking court cases and difficult decisions that motivated them to compile the book Tough Cases. Law.com San Francisco bureau chief Ross Todd speaks with the trio about their own tough cases and what they’d like readers to understand about their work. Legal Speak is brought to you by Econ One, offering economic expertise, consulting and dispute resolution, and data analytics.
Don't Delay! Here's How to Take Control of Your Legal Career
November 02, 2018 18:42 - 31 minutes - 57.5 MBEx-Skadden lawyer-turned-consultant Jay Harrington provides pointers to set associates' careers on the path to success. Caveat: Patience required.
Will an Ex-Big Law Associate Bring Legal Tech to Its Tipping Point?
October 26, 2018 19:27 - 31 minutes - 57.3 MBIf a dozen elite law firms are correct, Reynen Court could be a game changer that enables the widespread and seamless adoption of legal technology. Reporter Roy Strom talks to founder Andrew Klein about his big idea and his unconventional career path. Legal Speak is brought to you by Econ One, offering economic expertise, consulting and dispute resolution, and data analytics.
Attention Law Firms: This GC Wants to Transport You to the Future
October 19, 2018 15:33 - 19 minutes - 35 MBHow do we turn data into knowledge? Orix USA general counsel Ron Barger has some ideas, and he wants the law firms he hires to help make it happen. As the head of operations for the investment banking and financial services firm based in Dallas, Barger looks for outside counsel who can help him “see around the corners”—to go beyond the role of counselor and to serve as companions and guides for the future of his business. Key to making that happen, Barger says, is through the efficiency ...
One Big Law Attorney's Journey with Depression, One Firm's Response to the Profession's Problem
October 12, 2018 19:21 - 31 minutes - 57.5 MBBaker Hostetler lawyer Lynn Garson talks with Law.com columnist Patrick Krill about building a successful career while managing depression. In Part 2, LeeAnn Black of Latham & Watkins discusses what her firm is doing to dispel the stigma of mental health challenges. Legal Speak is brought to you by Econ One, offering economic expertise, consulting and dispute resolution, and data analytics.
From Federal Judge to Private Practice: Why This Debevoise Partner Left His Ultimate Dream Job
October 05, 2018 18:01 - 26 minutes - 49 MBLitigation Daily editor-in-chief Jenna Greene talks with Debevoise & Plimpton partner John Gleeson about his decision to leave the bench after 22 years as a federal judge in the Eastern District of New York. Gleeson reflects on judicial salaries, the case for term limits and the perspective he's gained by representing private clients. Brought to you by Econ One, offering economic expertise, consulting and dispute resolution, and data analytics.
Beyond the Buzzwords: Getting Real About Law Firm Innovation
September 28, 2018 20:42 - 22 minutes - 40.5 MBLaw.com senior reporter Karen Sloan talks with Michele DeStefano, author of “Legal Upheaval: A Guide to Creativity, Collaboration, and Innovation in Law," about the tangible, lasting and meaningful ways in which the law firms need to evolve, and how they get there.
Post Quinn Emanuel Split, Faith Gay Dishes on Boutique Ambitions
September 21, 2018 17:54 - 25 minutes - 46 MBThe Careerist Vivia Chen talks with the Selendy & Gay partner as part of a podcast series focused on the successes and struggles of prominent women lawyers.
Paul Clement Is Stoked for Brett Kavanaugh and the Term Ahead
September 14, 2018 20:14 - 22 minutes - 41.1 MBFormer U.S. solicitor general Paul Clement speaks with Law.com's Marcia Coyle about Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh and the upcoming term.
Are Wall Street Law Firms Losing the Talent War?
August 24, 2018 16:38 - 15 minutes - 28.4 MBThe small group of just 15 firms historically has attracted all the very best talent. But that’s changing.
Better Law Jobs! Higher Pay! Smarter Students! What’s Not to Love?
August 17, 2018 16:27 - 24 minutes - 45.1 MBLaw.com senior reporter Karen Sloan and AccessLex Institute president Chris Chapman explore the impact of better J.D. employment stats, rising salaries and brighter law school applicants.
Think Like a Waiter … and Other Tips for Making It in Big Law
August 10, 2018 18:06 - 19 minutes - 34.8 MBLegal recruiter Richard Hsu, host of the podcast Hsu Untied, shares his takeaways for getting hired, finding mentors and handling rejection.
Why This Quinn Emanuel Litigator (and His Corporate Clients) Are Fighting for LGBT Workers
August 03, 2018 18:12 - 22 minutes - 41.8 MBLaw.com reporter Erin Mulvaney talks to New York attorney Todd Anten about the movement to secure workplace protections for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender employees. While the movement for marriage equality captured the public’s attention and led to a high-profile victory, Anten says the push for employment rights is unfinished business.
The Double-Barreled Bias Against Black Women Lawyers
July 27, 2018 21:15 - 30 minutes - 56.2 MBThe Careerist Vivia Chen talks Michele Coleman Mayes, an African American leader in the legal profession, where less than 1 percent of partners in major law firms are black women.
Is Your Law Firm Making You Flabby? Now Hear This.
July 20, 2018 15:54 - 24 minutes - 44.4 MBEven small changes in daily routines lead to better health. And when that happens, lawyers—and their firms—reap the benefits.
Oyez! A Former SG Dishes on Kavanaugh, Kennedy and a Changing Court
July 13, 2018 21:51 - 22 minutes - 41.5 MBThe U.S. Supreme Court term that ended in late June was supposed to be momentous. And it was … just not precisely in the way that court watchers had anticipated. On this week’s Legal Speak podcast, chief Washington correspondent Marcia Coyle speaks to Munger, Tolles & Olson partner Donald Verrilli Jr. about the retirement of Judge Anthony Kennedy; the nomination of D.C. Circuit Judge Brett Kavanaugh; and other developments at the Supreme Court.
Watch Your Back, Counselor! It's the Law Firm Threatdown
July 06, 2018 17:51 - 25 minutes - 46 MBIf you run a law firm—or hope to build a lasting career at one—navigating the uber-competitive legal market feels something like crossing the road in a game of Frogger, and you’re the frog. International accounting firms are edging onto your turf, alternative legal service providers are courting your corporate clients, and artificial intelligence applications are starting to peck away at legal problems. Take a deep breath and join ALM Intelligence senior analyst Nicholas Bruch and Law.com...
The NLJ 500 Deconstructed: Exploring the 2018 Law Firm Rankings
June 29, 2018 14:26 - 18 minutes - 25.2 MBNational Law Journal editor-in-chief Lisa Helem talks with reporter Ryan Lovelace about the results of the special report, with a close look at the cities across the country comprising the highest concentrations of NLJ 500 lawyers. They also examine the gender diversity numbers and the firms making progress in retaining and promoting women. In addition, Helem speaks with ALM Intelligence senior analyst Steve Kovalan who explains why law firms, especially the biggest, are still reluctant to...
'Every Case Is a Possibility': Winston's Abbe Lowell on a Career Defending Powerful Clients
June 22, 2018 15:45 - 28 minutes - 52.5 MBWinston & Strawn partner Abbe Lowell has counseled some of the nation’s most powerful political figures in their weakest moments. He counts U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez and Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards as former clients and is currently representing President Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner in connection with probes into Russian interference in the 2016 election. In this episode, Lowell speaks with Jenna Greene, editor-in-chief of The Litigation Daily, about why clients s...
Landing Big Clients: Top Women Partners Reveal How It's Done
June 15, 2018 18:48 - 29 minutes - 53.6 MBThe Careerist's interview with Robbie Kaplan and Sharon Nelles is the first in an occasional series focused on the struggles and successes of women and minority lawyers.
This Big Law Leader Decided to Match Milbank. Why?
June 08, 2018 17:58 - 21 minutes - 38.6 MBWinston & Strawn Chairman Tom Fitzgerald discusses the reasons behind his firm's move to boost associate salaries. Plus, Law.com senior editor Brian Baxter shares what's buzzing in the legal community about the increases and how they stack up to previous salary hikes.
Save the Oral Argument! Why It’s Endangered (and Does It Matter)
June 01, 2018 19:46 - 20 minutes - 37.5 MBAppellate advocates are concerned that the tradition of oral argument is falling out of favor in federal appeals courts. According to the statistics from the Administrative Office of U.S. Courts, arguments were heard in just 20 percent of cases decided on the merits during the most recent 12-month cycle. That’s down from about 40 percent of cases 20 years ago. In this week's episode, San Francisco bureau chief Ross Todd examines the drop off and talks with James Martin of Reed Smith and M.C....
Lawyers, Fear Not the Smart Contract
May 25, 2018 16:33 - 15 minutes - 28.5 MBNot long ago, the idea of a self-executing contract enshrined in computer code sounded like science fiction. But with the rise of blockchain technology, so-called smart contracts are starting to enter the mainstream. While some lawyers are wary, others are building frameworks that would allow practitioners to more easily work with smart contracts. On this week’s episode, reporter Ben Hancock explores the basics of smart contract technology, its limitations and what adoption means for transac...
Big Law Leader Shares Struggles with Alcoholism, Challenges for Profession
May 18, 2018 18:21 - 27 minutes - 49.5 MBThis week Legal Speak focuses on substance abuse and mental health problems plaguing the legal profession. We know from a 2016 breakthrough study that lawyers suffer from alcoholism, depression and anxiety at rates higher than in other professions.
Ack! Law School Finals. Is There a Better Way?
May 11, 2018 15:33 - 20 minutes - 36.8 MBThis week we explore the rationale behind the “one-and-done” first-year exam model and how it's changing—ever slowly.
Hang On! It's a Roller Coaster Market for Am Law 100 Firms
May 04, 2018 18:52 - 16 minutes - 29.5 MBThe country’s largest law firms are increasingly operating in an environment marked by volatility, where client demand ticks up one year and down the next. That leaves law firm managers to grapple with how to plan, how to budget and, not insignificantly, how to manage partner expectations. In this week’s Legal Speak podcast, Gina Passarella, editor-in-chief of The American Lawyer, talks with Gretta Rusanow, head of advisory services for Citi Private Bank’s Law Firm Group, about the issue of ...
Ready or Not … Here Comes the GDPR
April 27, 2018 15:37 - 23 minutes - 52.7 MB VideoThe European Union's General Data Protection Regulation takes effect May 25, ushering in big changes for how businesses collect, process and store personal information. Sophisticated companies have been preparing for the better part of two years but others are playing catch up. And just because there’s been a long lead time doesn’t mean all the law’s ramifications are clear. In this episode, Law.com reporter Ben Hancock checks in with three experts to ask why businesses are so consumed by t...
Paul Weiss Chairman Pipes Up About the #MeToo Movement
April 20, 2018 18:33 - 14 minutes - 26.7 MBIn this week's Legal Speak, The Careerist's Vivia Chen talks with Brad Karp, chairman at Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison, who gives his perspective on the gender inequality in Big Law from a personal and professional point of view.
How to Take the Fear and Loathing Out of the RFP Process
April 13, 2018 17:26 - 18 minutes - 20.8 MBThis week, Legal Speak goes inside the RFP process with Lisa Konie, senior director of legal operations at Adobe Systems, and Toby Brown, chief practice management officer at law firm Perkins Coie.
The Anatomy of a Deal: Fintech Edition
April 06, 2018 18:38 - 18 minutes - 16.8 MBDuration: 18:25 Finance deals are complicated enough, but add digital currency to the equation and you need lawyers with investment know-how and technology smarts. This week, we’re taking a closer look at one of those deals happening at the intersection of finance and technology.
Making Sense of Legal AI: What It Means for Your Practice and What’s Ahead
March 30, 2018 20:43 - 21 minutes - 19.6 MBThere’s so much happening in legal AI right now that it can be hard to separate hype from reality. In this episode, Law.com reporter Ben Hancock tackles the big questions with help from Emily Foges, CEO of Luminance; James Lee, co-founder of LegalMation; Brian Kuhn, co-founder of IBM Watson Legal; Itai Gurari, co-founder and CEO of Judicata; and Law.com reporter Roy Strom.
AT&T, Time Warner and the Antitrust Fight for the Future of Media
March 23, 2018 22:08 - 25 minutes - 23 MBThe Justice Department’s trial to block AT&T’s $85 billion merger with Time Warner kicked off this past week in Washington, D.C., and it’s expected to be the most influential antitrust showdown in decades. In this episode, Law.com editor Jenna Greene and D.C. reporter Cogan Schneier make sense of what’s been happening in court. Plus, Jenna asks former FTC attorney David Balto to explain the legal strategies on each side and why the case matters even beyond Big Media.
Go-To Law Schools Deconstructed: A Look Beyond the Numbers
March 16, 2018 18:51 - 17 minutes - 12.3 MB VideoThis week’s Legal Speak podcast with Law.com editors Vanessa Blum and Leigh Jones takes a close look at Law.com’s ranking of the law schools that send the most graduates into first-year Big Law associate jobs.
The American Lawyer Editor Gina Passerella Talks with John Kuppens, the president of DRI – The Voice of the Defense Bar.
March 08, 2018 01:22 - 13 minutes - 12.8 MB VideoJohn Kuppens is a product liability and commercial litigator at Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough and is president of DRI. In the latter role, he's focused on innovation in the law and what skills the future lawyer and law firm will need.
Live From #Legalweek18: Artificial Intelligence Accepted, Innovation Unpacked and More
February 08, 2018 23:00 - 23 minutes - 54.7 MBLaw.com technology editor Ian Lopez and reporter Ben Hancock recap the ideas, trends and new technologies they encountered during Legalweek 2018, ALM's flagship conference for law firm and legal tech leaders. Features interviews with UnitedLex CEO Dan Reed, Luminance CEO Emily Foges, and Holland & Knight partner Joe Dewey.
Inside Tech-- Ep. 3: Cognitive Security
November 30, 2017 21:05 - 4 minutes - 4.65 MBWe live in information environment that is unique to this point in time (social media, information overload). How do we know what’s true and what’s not?
Keker, Van Nest & Peters Founders Reflect on Banner Year
November 16, 2017 18:30 - 25 minutes - 23 MBFor nearly 40 years, John Keker and Robert Van Nest have been building their trial-centric, single-office San Francisco law firm to navigate clients’ toughest litigation matters. If this past year is any indicator, the model is working: The firm scored blockbuster IP defense wins for clients Google, Arista Networks and Pure Storage, and won a nationwide injunction barring the Trump administration from withholding federal funds from so-called “sanctuary jurisdictions.”
Inside Tech: Ep. 2 -- Phishing
November 02, 2017 15:34 - 5 minutes - 5.27 MBPhishing is one of the more pervasive cyber attacks in the world, and while we've all received phishing emails, phishing attacks have become more sophisticated and come in different forms other than emails from Persian princes. By Jason Thomas, Chief of Innovation for Thomson Reuters Special Services.
Hot Topics at the USPTO: A Conversation with Baker Botts' Eliot Williams
October 23, 2017 16:09 - 14 minutes - 13.2 MBScandalous trademarks. Using Native American sovereign immunity to defend patents. And "art unit shopping" on Section 101 patent eligibility. Law.com IP reporter Scott Graham breaks down these hot topics at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office with Eliot Williams, an IP partner at Baker Botts.
The SCOTUS Patent Case Flying Under the Radar: A Conversation With Latham's Bob Steinberg
October 04, 2017 14:16 - 17 minutes - 15.9 MBDuration: 00:17:19 The U.S. Supreme Court is taking a close look this term at the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB). Most of the spotlight is on a constitutional challenge. But if that challenge fails, then a second, largely overlooked case will take center stage. Law.com intellectual property reporter Scott Graham talks with Latham & Watkins partner Bob Steinberg, about the potential impact for the patent landscape.
What Firm Comp Systems Are Really Rewarding: A Podcast With David Barnard of Blaqwell Inc.
September 13, 2017 14:34 - 11 minutes - 10.7 MB VideoDuration:11:33 Law firms are working hard at the difficult task of tailoring their compensation models to retain key talent, attract new talent, send the right message for what is valued at the firm and protect the firm’s culture all at the same time. It’s not easy and there is a lot of experimenting going on. The American Lawyer sat down with David Barnard of consulting firm Blaqwell Inc. for a discussion on what is driving firms to change compensation models, how they are doing it and ...