Jared kicks it off by exploring the biggest players in productivity software you should be using, well, be more productive. But no productivity suite is perfect. So, get to know the strengths and weaknesses of each so you can make the right choice for you. Then, back in the day, lawyers often got their IT services from some independent techie who t…

AI’s prime directive is to give you answers, buuuut… it might just be telling you what it thinks you want to hear—with no concern over providing actual verifiable facts. This issue (and oodles of others) have initiated a trickle of case law/guidance/opinions/etc. in the legal AI scene, and you, dear lawyer, want to be on the right side of legal eth…

Bored with your run-of-the-mill marketing campaigns? Maybe it’s time for you to make a musical! Jared brings on Jacob Sanders to learn all about the recent release of NinjaCat’s Big Data Day – a corporate musical. They talk about the history of these sorts of marketing ventures and their uniquely fun and tactical advantages. They also dig into how …

So much of our communications and societal existence is housed online, so e-discovery is the major way we gather evidence. Jared talks with Cat Casey about the AI spectrum within the e-discovery world, explaining the many ways varying elements of machine learning and AI have created more powerful tools for attorneys. They also discuss the promising…

Sometimes, legal tech is the perfect solution for the needs of your law firm, but sometimes, lawyers need to look outside the legal tech world at other technologies that can serve their legal practice better. Emily Gordon has always been a tech-forward attorney, and she’s got tons of recommendations for non-legaltech tech tools that have become the…

Adjusting to the new and persistent presence of AI in the legal world isn’t easy, but it is necessary. Jared welcomes brothers Justin and Luc Cary, an attorney and software engineer, respectively, to unpack the current state of AI in business and legal uses. They discuss current safety issues, emerging guardrails, best practices for research, AI in…

Backsliders are the worst, and if you’re making your employees come into the office after years of successful remote work, then, well… you’re the worst. Jared weighs in on the remote/in-office work debate to help you take a hard look at why you’re doing what you’re doing—and whether your reasoning is utter bullshit. Next, Jared welcomes first-time …

Why is it that law firms are a frequent target for data breaches? Make no mistake, attorneys, you’ve got a lot of sensitive, valuable data that a threat actor would love to get their hands on. If your cybersecurity isn’t effective, you’re opening yourself up to a whole lot of ethical and legal issues. Jared chats with David Aaron about preventative…

If your firm is experiencing operational challenges you just can’t seem to overcome, you might be in need of some C-suite help. Lawyers don’t necessarily want to take on the business responsibilities of running a practice, and there are many flexible ways to get the business guidance you need. Jared talks with Seth Tuman of 2GO Advisory Group about…

Searching for state court data used to be a huge pain in the ass, but data analytics has almost entirely fixed it, giving attorneys searchable databases in just about every state. What else has data analytics done for the profession? Plenty. Jared talks with Nicole Clark about how the aggregation of legal data has given us a much deeper understandi…

As lawyers, you constantly assess the risks of your clients, whether in their business practices, court cases, personal relationships, or a multitude of other things. So, managing risk for your clients is what you do, but when was the last time you took a hard look at your own liabilities? Jared welcomes Mark Bassingthwaighte of ALPS Insurance to c…

Whether there’s a generational divide, unhelpful technology, a lack of emotional intelligence, or, really, a whole bunch of other issues—communication is hard. And, when communication breaks down, your business just doesn’t operate like it should. Is there any way to bridge all these gaps and interact effectively in your workplace? Jared talks with…

Document management is a must in legal, and Microsoft 365 has plenty of ways to organize and process your documents for you. So, what do you need to know about it? Jared welcomes Keith Vallely to talk through the uses of SharePoint, OneDrive, and other Microsoft features to help attorneys understand the nuances of Microsoft’s methods for document m…

Women attorneys are intelligent and brave, but they still face particular challenges in the legal profession. Jared chats with Rachel Clar of Interconnected Us about her mission to create safe environments for women in law to get the support they need to grow their influence and flourish in legal practice. Later, in perhaps the most uniquely named …

Chuki Obiyo has made a science of growing law firm businesses, with plenty of research to back up his time-tested strategies. Jared talks with Obiyo about how to form deeper connections with your network, tips for start-up firms, and leveraging social media and other technology to promote business growth. Later, who knew September had so many stupi…

It’s been 563 days, but we’re finally back in the Playroom with musical guest Mark Oblinger. Mark holds the double distinction of being an Emmy-winning/Grammy-nominated musician AND having a longtime connection with this very podcast! Tune in for Jared and Mark’s chat about his colorful career in music and audio. Mark highlights his time playing wi…

Lawyers, you really actually do need to use KPIs—that’s Key Performance Indicators for those of you who *still* haven’t kept up with good business practices. Do it! And, Jared’s here to help with a breakdown of the 5 KPI categories you need to start keeping track of, like, yesterday. Next, software demos! If you’re paralyzed with indecision about w…

Integrations, integrations, integrations. You’ve probably heard about integrations for years, but lots of people still struggle to understand just how this stuff is going to change their workflows. Jared explains the whole concept, gives some of the first integrations you need to be using, and warns you away from some missteps. Next, Emil Ali stops…

Why would a law firm hire a PR agency? Well, if you’ve ever wished your firm was known for its expertise and thought leadership, a PR agency might be just the thing. Jared brings on Michelle Calcote King to talk through the lawyer/PR relationship and its potential for improving your credibility, furthering your reach, and growing your business. The…

Adding value for bar association members is always a good idea. Jared chats with Rio Peterson, who has just about seen it all when it comes to bar programming—from cool events to tech offerings to stellar educational programs and more. Listen in for her thoughts on improving bar culture and providing more for members. Jared and Rio also talk about …

Even if you’re a great lawyer, your top-notch skills might be holding you back when it comes to running your business. Jared talks with Steve Seckler about his recent article in the ABA’s GPSolo eReport, Stop Thinking (and Acting) Like a Lawyer, in which he outlines the typical attorney characteristics that work great in legal matters, but kinda su…

Fastcase and vLex have merged to form the world's largest law library, containing the law from over 100 countries and more than a billion documents. One platform with all these resources means attorneys around the world will have bigger, better, faster access to everything they need to do legal research. Jared chats with Ed Walters of Fastcase abou…

Randa Prendergast takes a “June Cleaver” approach to running a law firm, making every little thing run smoothly without breaking a sweat. Jared and Randa talk through how to identify your workflow needs and develop processes that make it easy for employees old and new to know exactly how to keep things rolling. Later on in the Rump Roast, Jared’s f…

If you know exactly how all your clients found you, then you know exactly how to market your firm to keep driving more growth. But, a whole lot of firms aren’t tracking the process from need to lead to paying client. Jared chats with Patrick Carver about how collecting the right data on leads eventually converts into more clients and bigger profits…

How do you get your best clients to hire you? Jared welcomes Bruce La Fetra, a real, live client whisperer, to chat about how to flip your usual script and market to the clients you actually want. Later, the guys play “Technical ‘Knox’ Out,” a trivia round highlighting Knoxville, TN, facts—past and present. And, who knew? Apparently, Jared’s devoti…

Where do expert witnesses come from, exactly? Jared welcomes guests Allison Muller, Nick Briscoe, and Nick Rishwain—an experienced and knowledgeable panel discussing the ins and outs of expert witnessing. They share how professionals come into this field and offer advice for attorneys looking to engage an expert witness for a case. Later on in the …

Communication often happens because we are simply reacting to something, but how often do we react with a thoughtful, impactful response? Jared welcomes Jessica Chen to hear her strategies for leveling up your professional communications. They talk through some of the ways communications training can elevate your influence in the workplace and disc…

This time on The Legal Toolkit, Jared forgoes his monologue to give more time to his conversation with Chris Stock. Tune in as this duo dig into criminal justice reform, ChatGPT’s future in legal and the world at large, legal tech business outlooks, Chris’s new venture as founder of a consulting firm, and more. Later, stick around for “Shit Austral…

If you’re a lawyer, you need a break. Tune in with Jared, his lovely wife Jessica, and her fellow travel agent Samantha Hedges to learn a thing or two about escaping the daily grind. They share tips for vacation bookings, highlight some favorite destinations, and even chat about social media marketing tactics you just might be able to use in your l…

You don’t have to figure out how to manage your law firm alone. Because, honestly, there are people out there who can do it way better. Jared chats with Margaret Burke about how outsourcing law firm management can save you time and boost your revenue. This time on the Rump Roast, Jared quizzes Margaret on the surprisingly dark endings of a variety …

Hey, that law firm you own is an asset! A whole lot of lawyers don’t fully realize the value of their legal practice, but there are willing buyers out there, and keeping a future sale in mind should be part of your succession plan. Jared gets the skinny on brokering law firm sales from Jeremy Poock of Senior Attorney Match. Later, the guys play “Th…

No one likes change, but your law firm will be more profitable and organized if you keep up with the latest tools for streamlining workflows. Jared talks with Marisa Portuondo about her expertise in helping lawyers prioritize efficiency and thrive in legal practice. Later, Marisa sticks around for the Rump Roast! In Jared’s latest game, “Shit Miami…

Efficient back-and-forth communication in law firms has always been a necessity, but it’s not always easy to do it well. Finding the right collaboration tech is a critical step in modern law firms, so Jared talks with Ryan Anderson of Filevine about the unique needs of lawyers and the future of documents and communication in legal practice, includi…

Many business leaders are mis-educated about what diversity is, and, as such, lack the ability to support it in their organizations. Jared brings on diversity coach Dr. James Rodgers to learn about his research and training strategies for effectively managing diversity in business, with particular tips for lawyers and law firms. On an all-new Rump …

People have been alternately ticked, thrilled, and confused since the Biden Administration rolled out its loan forgiveness program. So, what’s the deal? Jared gets insights from student loan lawyer Adam Minsky on the many moving parts of this program, who qualifies/how to apply, and the program’s current hold due to legal challenges under considera…

Easy math: if you can get through more work, more quickly, you’ll make more money. And document assembly software can help you do it! Jared Correia talks with Tony Thai and Ashley Carlisle on how to put document assembly tech to work in your law firm. It’s trivia time on the Rump Roast. Jared quizzes Tony and Ashley on famous and/or obscure documen…

A lot of law firm intake processes are a bit painful to look at, if we’re honest, but they don’t have to be! Jared and guest McKay Ferrell share how a little tracking and better workflows can make your intake as smooth as butter. In lieu of a Rump Roast grilling, Jared delves into McKay’s passion for craft brewing, learning about hybrid IPAs and wh…

The legal tech space has been abuzz since LawPay’s acquisition of MyCase, so what’s the latest with this development? Jared goes to the source and talks with Dru Armstrong, CEO of LawPay, on the deep integrations the acquisition promises to bring about to better serve the unique needs of law firms. Later on in the Rump Roast Jared puts Dru through …

Every bar association is unique, so there’s a whole lot we can learn from each other. Jared chats with Julie Armstrong, executive director at the Indianapolis Bar Association, about the importance of being a culturally aware and forward-thinking organization. Julie shares their approach to strategic planning and discusses how new programs are devel…

When new work comes into your law firm, whose desk should it land on? Oftentimes, the workload falls too heavily on a few, rather than being balanced amongst firm members. Jared brings on Dov Slansky to talk us through operational structure and how adaptable technology can help workloads in your law firm get pushed through to the right people. Also…

A real shocker, we know, but many law firms are still struggling with efficiency. Surely you’re not among them… ahem… but, just in case, Jared welcomes Larry Port and Dave Maxfield, authors of The Lean Law Firm and its accompanying training course, to help lawyers understand how to streamline processes and increase profitability. And, the term ‘fee…

Employers have experienced massive shifts in hiring practices the past few pandemic-affected years, and those who leaned into hybrid/remote work scooped up quality talent left and right. But, nowadays, law firms are discovering that new talent is harder and harder to find. It seems that strategic planning and a flexible mindset are key in our curre…

Being so weird, so unique, so nerdy, and so “you” CAN actually be the foundation of your business plan. Jared talks with Mike Whelan about the ins and outs of using personality-driven content creation to grow your law firm. Worried that you don’t have a personality? Well, don’t worry–you do! Mike offers tons of insights on recognizing your strength…

Continuing legal education was slowly moving online even before COVID-19 hit, but nowadays, online, in-person, and hybrid CLE programs are all just part of the norm. Jared chats with Bruce Richard about what the post-pandemic CLE experience is like for attendees and the benefits of becoming a CLE speaker. Later, they guys play Jared’s latest game –…

The way we see it, you’re either ghosting your clients on purpose (for shame!), or you’re just super busy like every lawyer, ever, and don’t know how to keep everybody in the loop (okay, we get that). So, Jared Correia and Matt McClellan talk tips for boosting your communications and helping your clients get the love, appreciation, and case updates…

Yes, that Margaret Atwood—famous author of “The Handmaid’s Tale” and tons more, is really here on The Legal Toolkit! But first, Jared chats with Matthew Gibson about how innovations involving video, audio and LongPen robotic pens are giving e-signatures the ability to truly meet legal standards worldwide. Later, Jared gets to talk with Margaret Atw…

Half-assed marketing plans not really working for you? Jared’s got Cady Darago here to nudge (or shove, nicely, if needed) you in the direction you actually need to go. They chat about effective, fun approaches to marketing your law firm, customizing plans for a niche practice, and how CRM software will seriously change your life for the better. Th…

Jared chats with Lauren Fernandez about her experiences moving from a career as a practicing lawyer to a business owner and entrepreneur in the restaurant industry. For lawyers looking for a change, tune in for her tips on making the most of your skills to pursue new opportunities. Then, Jared subjects Lauren to “The All-Out Artery Clogger,” where …

Every single referral you get is going to google you before they give you a call, so… what will they find? If you’re not sure, that’s a problem. Jared says it’s time to take a hard look at your website and social media presence (and go take a listen to Lunch Hour Legal Marketing) to make sure those leads turn into paying clients. Next, all that web…

Ever wanted to watch a dark, oddball love story about a death-obsessed couple with a 60-year age gap? Jared’s got just the thing! The 1971 film, “Harold and Maude” is a cult classic and has a Cat Stevens-centric soundtrack, so, obviously, a total win-win for your next movie night. Next, Jared welcomes Shaun Buck to chat about the surprising ways th…