The 14th Amendment has been used to secure civil rights for a multitude of groups. But does it give children a constitutional right to literacy? Is it the government's responsibility to adequately fund schools, so students learn what they need to reach appropriate reading levels? In the Detroit public school system, it was recently found that only 7 percent of its 8th grade students were proficient in reading. So in 2016, a group of lawyers filed a federal civil rights claim against the city’s s...
Apr 24, 2017•34 min•Season 1Ep. 98
A handful of large law firms recently announced limited telecommuting plans for associates, which is a somewhat radical change for the profession. Does this mean that for lawyers, office face-time may no longer be central to demonstrating you’re a valuable team member? In this month's episode of Asked and Answered, Stephanie Francis Ward speaks with Sara Sutton Fell about lawyers working remotely. Fell is the CEO and founder of Remote, which helps companies hire, train and manage employees who w...
Mar 27, 2017•23 min•Season 1Ep. 97
You want to expand your book of business with networking events, and think that planning one yourself might be the most rewarding. But how can you develop an event that lawyers will actually attend, doesn’t go way over budget and brings you some great new connections? In this month’s episode, the ABA Journal’s Stephanie Francis Ward speaks with Alycia Sutor, managing director at the sales-effectiveness firm GrowthPlay, about hosting successful networking events for lawyers. Learn more about your...
Feb 27, 2017•21 min•Season 1Ep. 96
Many of us don’t think of ourselves as biased, and we don’t want to be prejudiced towards others. But we’re also reluctant to acknowledge the ways bias can creep in, according to academics who study implicit bias. In this episode of Asked and Answered, the ABA Journal’s Stephanie Francis Ward speaks with Jeffrey Rachlinski, a Cornell Law School professor who has done various studies about implicit bias, including one that focused on trial judges. Special thanks to our sponsors Amicus Attorney. L...
Jan 23, 2017•36 min•Season 1Ep. 95
It's not terribly unusual for a law grad to need to take the bar exam more than once to pass. But the experience of failing the bar can be crushing to one's confidence–and concentration. After failing the bar exam, many students have a hard time studying for a retake. This is not necessarily because they can't do the work, but because anxiety and fear of failure get in the way, Jamie Kleppetsch of John Marshall Law School tells the ABA Journal's Stephanie Francis Ward in this month's Asked and A...
Jan 04, 2017•30 min•Season 1Ep. 94
While negotiating for one’s client is second nature to most attorneys, many find it a lot harder to negotiate for themselves. How can you advocate for a better position without being seen as too aggressive or off-putting? In this month’s Asked and Answered podcast, the ABA Journal’s Stephanie Francis Ward talks to Kathleen Kelley Reardon about how attorneys can ask for what they want without jeopardizing good work relationships. Kathleen Kelley Reardon, a professor emerita at the University of S...
Nov 28, 2016•25 min•Season 1Ep. 93
You landed someone you thought would be a great client, but now you’re finding out that the client isn’t great about paying the bill. What should you do? In this month's Asked and Answered podcast, Stephanie Francis Ward speaks with Bob Markoff, a Chicago lawyer who has done collections work for many years. Markoff, a past president of the National Creditors Bar Association, gives tips and advice on what you can do to recover the money you're owed. Special thanks to our sponsors Amicus Attorney....
Oct 24, 2016•26 min•Season 1Ep. 92
Lawyers are in the suffering business, says bankruptcy lawyer and meditation instructor Jeena Cho. "Rarely do clients come to us with happy news." Taking on clients' tough problems can be source of a lot of stress for practitioners. Cho speaks with the ABA Journal’s Stephanie Francis Ward about how practicing mindfulness--which at is heart, is about living in the present moment--can help lawyers quickly move on from daily stressors and setbacks. Special thanks to our sponsors Amicus Attorney. Le...
Sep 26, 2016•27 min•Season 1Ep. 91
Are you unhappy at work? Is it time to leave your job, or should you look for other options to improve your current work conditions? Trust your intuition, and don't beat yourself up with negative thoughts about workplace problems being all your fault, says Gayle Victor, a Chicago-area lawyer and social worker who counsels attorneys and their families. She spoke with the ABA Journal's Stephanie Francis Ward in this month's Asked and Answered podcast. Gayle Victor is a lawyer who also has a master...
Aug 29, 2016•20 min•Season 1Ep. 90
Business development doesn't come naturally to all lawyers. Some hesitate to take advantage of social opportunities out of fear of looking desperate or needy, but that's wrong-headed, says business development coach Larry Kohn. He speaks with the ABA Journal's Stephanie Francis Ward about ways that attorneys can promote themselves and their skills in ways that help both the lawyer and their potential clients. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 25, 2016•24 min•Season 1Ep. 89
Want to get outside, but work tethers you to your desk? Getting physical can increase both your productivity and personal happiness, and Kandis Gibson has some tips and tricks for how you can make exercise and outdoor activities part of your routine. Gibson, a senior associate at Foster, Murphy, Altman & Nickel in Washinton, D.C., has not let her busy IP litigation practice stop her from competing in triathlons. She speaks with the ABA Journal's Stephanie Francis Ward in this month's Asked a...
Jun 27, 2016•27 min•Season 1Ep. 88
"You have the right to remain silent.” Because of TV shows and movies, most people probably know at least this part of the Miranda warning. But do people actually understand all of their Miranda rights? Fifty years after the landmark decision in Miranda v. Arizona, we speak to Russell Covey of Georgia State University State’s College of Law to find out what people know and don’t know about their rights. Russell Covey, a professor at Georgia State University’s College of Law, teaches criminal law...
May 23, 2016•21 min•Season 1Ep. 87
Can you plan to prevent workplace bias before it starts? In some cases yes, says Joan Williams, the founding director of the Center for WorkLife Law at University of California Hastings. The ABA Journal's Stephanie Francis Ward discusses with Williams tips on how to create what she calls “bias interrupters” to head off potential discrimination. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 25, 2016•28 min•Season 1Ep. 86
Artificial intelligence has long been a tool for lawyers to perform their tasks more efficiently. However, the technology has advanced to the point where computers can now perform many of the tasks that were once the exclusive domain of humans. In this month’s Asked and Answered, the ABA Journal’s Victor Li talks to freelance writer Julie Sobowale about how artificial intelligence is revolutionizing the practice of law. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 28, 2016•23 min•Season 1Ep. 85
Cost savings are particularly important for small firms and solos. What are some easy fixes for making law firm budgets go further, and what are some common mistakes to avoid? In this month's Asked and Answered, the ABA Journal's Stephanie Francis Ward gets some tips and tricks for stretching firm's dollars further. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 07, 2016•23 min•Season 1Ep. 84
You may have noticed that some lawyers are often quoted in the press. They might have a practice that naturally garners attention, or perhaps they are great at explaining complex issues succinctly and have a good camera presence. Or it could just be that they’re known for returning phone calls and emails in a timely manner. Reaching out to the media can be helpful–or harmful–to your clients. What are the best ways to approach reporters when you're looking for a media spotlight? How can you provi...
Feb 01, 2016•23 min•Season 1Ep. 83
It's time to set goals for the new year. But can you actually follow through with them? In this month's Asked and Answered, the ABA Journal's Stephanie Francis Ward discusses what reasonable steps you can take in 2016 to improve your life and your career. Her guest Karen Kaplowitz gives listeners tips on making and keeping achievable goals. Karen Kaplowitz is the president of the New Ellis Group, a business-development consulting firm. She specializes in business development strategy, training a...
Jan 04, 2016•27 min•Season 1Ep. 82
Can a commitment to blogging help develop a practice area and turn you into an expert? In this month’s Asked and Answered, the ABA Journal’s Stephanie Francis Ward speaks with Hilary Bricken, a Seattle lawyer and one of the authors of Canna Law Blog. Recently honored as one of the ABA Journal’s 9th Annual Blawg 100, the Canna Law Blog discusses cannabis laws and how they affect the emerging legal cannabis industry. Ward speaks with Bricken to find out how her firm, Harris Moure, decided to launc...
Dec 04, 2015•21 min•Season 1Ep. 81
Are lawyers prone to anxiety, or is the pace of the profession the culprit? The ABA Journal's Stephanie Francis Ward speaks with Will Meyerhofer, a psychotherapist who has also been a practicing attorney, to learn more about anxiety and get tips on how lawyers can manage and overcome it. http://www.abajournal.com/news/article/podcast_monthly_episode_68 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 03, 2015•34 min•Season 1Ep. 80
The market for legal jobs may be getting better, but it’s still not great. That being said, are there specific practice areas that need more attorneys to serve current and future needs? In this month's episode of Asked and Answered, the ABA Journal's Stephanie Francis Ward speaks with legal search consultant Valerie Fontaine to find out what the best prospects are for a long-term, successful legal career. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 05, 2015•30 min•Season 1Ep. 79
What good can some men serving life sentence do for other inmates? A great deal, says Judge Laurie A. White, who co-founded a re-entry program for inmates of the infamous Angola State Penitentiary in Louisiana. In this episode of Asked and Answered, she tells the ABA Journal's Stephanie Francis Ward about how the program utilizes the skills of men who will never leave prison to improve the lives of those who will. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 07, 2015•27 min•Season 1Ep. 78
Do you get social anxiety thinking about networking at big events? Is it hard to make connections with other lawyers? Focus on what you can learn about others, rather than telling people about yourself, business development coach Larry Kohn tells the ABA Journal’s Stephanie Francis Ward. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 27, 2015•24 min•Season 1Ep. 77
We’d all love to be able to unplug completely while we’re on vacation, but for many lawyers it’s not that simple. Meeting your duty to your clients might mean that you can’t just leave your phone at home. But how can you keep distractions to a minimum and make the most out of your time off? The ABA Journal’s Stephanie Francis Ward gleans some tips and tricks from Jones Day partner Lawrence D. Rosenberg. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 06, 2015•25 min•Season 1Ep. 76
It’s a federal offense to grow, sell or use marijuana, but there’s a need for lawyers to represent cannabis businesses in Washington state, where the product is taxed and regulated by the state. In this month’s Asked and Answered, Seattle lawyer Ryan Espegard tells the ABA Journal’s Stephanie Francis Ward how he advises the marijuana industry, being mindful of state and federal regulation, and what sorts of business development activities have worked for him. Learn more about your ad choices. Vi...
Jun 01, 2015•19 min•Season 1Ep. 75
Have you ever daydreamed about having a career abroad? Before saying "bon voyage," you should know what's involved. In this month's Asked and Answered podcast, moderator Stephanie Francis Ward will find out tips and advice on developing a practice beyond U.S. borders. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 04, 2015•16 min•Season 1Ep. 74
If the unthinkable happens, will your practice be ready for an intermediary to take over or help with a transition? Do you know what would happen if you–or one of your colleagues–should suddenly die or become incapacitated? The ABA Journal’s Stephanie Francis Ward speaks with two experts about tools and systems you can put in place to give you and your clients peace of mind. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 06, 2015•22 min•Season 1Ep. 73
In this month’s Asked and Answered, the ABA Journal’s Stephanie Francis Ward speaks with Patrick Krill of the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation’s legal professionals program to find out more. Krill is currently finishing a study in conjunction with the ABA to research substance abuse, depression and anxiety in legal profession. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 02, 2015•24 min•Season 1Ep. 72
In the wake of divorce, many families find themselves emotionally and financially devastated. If you’re in the heat of a legal battle, it’s easy to go to far and create acrimony with your ex-spouse which can poison any chance at a cordial future relationship–and drain both sides’ bank accounts to pay for attorney fees. But what if if didn’t have to be that way? In this month’s Asked and Answered, moderator Stephanie Francis Ward speaks with Rebecca Love Kourlis and Melinda Taylor, who hope to ch...
Feb 02, 2015•28 min•Season 1Ep. 71
In this month's Asked and Answered podcast, moderator Stephanie Francis Ward talks to Linda Greenhouse and Jonathan Turley about the past, present and future of legal journalism, and how it has influenced courts. Greenhouse reported on the U.S. Supreme Court for the New York Times for four decades, and is now the Joseph Goldstein Lecturer in Law and Knight Distinguished Journalist-in-Residence at Yale Law School. Turley is an attorney, legal scholar and professor at George Washington University ...
Jan 05, 2015•26 min•Season 1Ep. 70
Social media is an easy (and often free) tool that litigators can use to share their clients' stories. But how much is too much, and what if you post something that you'll regret later? In this month's Asked and Answered podcast, we speak with Anthony C. Johnson, a plaintiffs personal injury lawyer who previously owned a search engine optimization and marketing company. He shares with moderator Stephanie Francis Ward some ideas about using Twitter, Facebook - and even Instagram - in a mindful ma...
Dec 01, 2014•22 min•Season 1Ep. 69
