Legal Management Talk

Law firm leaders are no strangers to the many inefficiencies that come with legal work. Many policies and procedures are over-complicated, time-consuming and require staff energy that could be used elsewhere. Now with AI, there's hope that some of those pain points can be alleviated. Renee Jackson, Professor of Law at the University of New Hampshire and Founder of Dyspute.AI, joins the show to discuss the dispute mediation too...

Managing change at a law firm is never easy, especially when people have different comfort levels with change. Dave Collins, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Oak and Reeds, joins the show (in-person!) to discuss how to meet people where they're at when introducing change so you can maximize buy-in. We also talk about the latest innovations in workplace communication, including how AI is being used.

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As the legal industry continues to evolve, it's important to always manage a law firm with an eye toward the future. In this episode, Laura Richardson, General Counsel at Agiloft, gives her perspective on what clients are looking for from the firms they work with, such as their approaches to talent management, AI adoption and creative thinking. She also discusses the need for "radical acceptance" among firm leaders.<...

As legal organizations continue to assess if, how and when to implement AI tools, Hunter Steele, Chief Executive Officer of Smokeball, joins the show to give an update on the tools that exist right now, what their capabilities are and what to look forward to in the coming months. We also dive into AI products that are being developed to help with specific practice areas, such as personal injury and family law.

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As we navigate our professional lives, we can sometimes put on a public face that betrays what's really going on, even if it affects our work. Nikki Korson, Practice Manager of Complex Litigation and Arbitration at Paul Hastings, joined the show to offer her thoughts on the importance of authenticity and honesty at work, including during the hiring process. She also discusses hybrid work and getting the most out of the experie...

Although we're now five years from the start of the COVID pandemic, many firms are still trying to perfect their hybrid and remote work policies. How many days should employees be in the office? Should everyone be brought back in-person? How effective is hybrid work as a recruiting tool? Micah Remley, CEO of Robin, joined the show to help answer these questions and much more!

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How do you give your firm a competitive edge? There are many answers, but one of the biggest is having an ability to adapt to new technology swiftly and deftly. Jacob Morvay, President and Chief Executive Officer of Morvay Consulting Group, joins the program to explain how firms can prepare for tech changes in a way that's effective, supports long-term growth and invests in the firm's people and ideas.

This episo...

Communication is key in any workplace, but that's especially true in a high-stakes environment like legal. Sammi Sadicario, CEO of The Voice Experts, joins the show to discuss how firm leaders can use their voice most effectively to accomplish their goals and get people to listen, and get their employees to do the same. She also demonstrates a helpful exercise you can use every day to help calm your nerves before any big speec...

Lateral recruitment remains a key element of law firms' hiring strategy, but what do firms need to know to ensure they're in the best position to succeed in that area? Greg Hamman and Julie Henson of Decipher Intel joined the show to discuss their report from earlier this year on lateral hiring trends and what the process does and should look like in 2025. They also delve into how AI is impacting hiring and where the tech...

In this episode of ALA's Meeting the Moment series, Professional Development Advisory Committee members Matthew Sullivan, JD, and Catherine Alman MacDonagh, JD, discuss one of their favorite topics: running a law firm like a business. Learn about why it's so important for firms to shift their mindset about how they operate and the resources ALA provides to help administrators do just that.

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Poring over contracts with cybersecurity providers may not be the most glamorous part of an administrator's job, but it's an important (and necessary) way to ensure your firm is getting the peace of mind it needs. Rob Scott, Co-Founder and Chief Innovator of Monjur, joins the show to break down what firms should be looking for when signing with a cybersecurity service, what pitfalls to avoid and how to practice "cybe...

With all the information law firms take in every day, it can be difficult to keep track of the numbers, who's communicating with whom and much more. Mike Mellor, Founder and President of 742 Advisors, joined the show to discuss how firms can improve their information-gathering processes, which will in turn help attorneys when it's time to pitch clients. One key is creating a centralized database to reduce having to log th...

It's no secret that the legal industry is stressful, and that can often translate into burnout and other negative impacts on mental health. But why does it have to be that way? Attorney Jonathan Baum, Founder of Avenir Guild, offers his insight on how the industry can work to mitigate some of those stressors, including reassessing billable hour requirements, setting firmer boundaries and more. Every positive step will help you...

Making sure your firm's lateral integration process is solid can be a key way to win the battle for top talent. Craig Budner, Chief Strategic Growth Partner at K&L Gates, joins the program to talk about the lessons he's learned from managing lateral hires. From cross-selling to succession planning, the lateral integration process should play a role in your firm's innovation and growth. Plus, we talk a little &quo...

It’s not too often when we get a chance to hear from both ALA’s President, Amanda Koplos, CLM, CPA, and Executive Director, Eryn Carter, CAE, in the same room at the same time. This is one of those times! In this episode, Amanda and Eryn take the opportunity to discuss how ALA is meeting the moment when it comes to hiring struggles in the legal industry. Gather some ideas about how to address some of the latest hiring trends — such...

Amid the current political and social climate, several organizations have begun to roll back their diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility (DEIA) programs. But is this just a passing trend or a more permanent reassessment of the role DEIA plays in the workplace? Ann Thomas, Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer at Stinson LLP, joins the program to discuss the state of DEIA today, how firms of different sizes should approach ...