The Digital Edge

Known nationwide for her technology and legal management expertise, Natalie Kelly has recently brought her skills to the Southern Poverty Law Center to help them modernize their legal department operations. Sharon Nelson and Jim Calloway talk with Natalie about her new role and the work done by the center to advance civil rights and racial justice. Natalie discusses the technology used to help the center refresh its operations, highlights her focus on promoting collaboration, and gives an overview of how the center’s practice areas work to advance human rights. Natalie Kelly is the director of legal management for the Southern Poverty Law Center. Special thanks to our sponsors, Scorpion, Blackletter Podcast, Alert Communications and Nota.

Microsoft 365 is heavily relied upon by many legal professionals, and with its numerous and frequently updated tools, it’s always good to re-up your knowledge of its capabilities! Sharon Nelson and Jim Calloway welcome Ben Schorr to discuss 10 features lawyers especially enjoy about Microsoft 365. Ben discusses some of his favorite hidden gems in the software, and shares lawyer-specific insights on its licensing structure, security, mobile access, email encryption, and more.  Ben M. Schorr is a senior content designer at Microsoft. Special thanks to our sponsors, Scorpion, Blackletter Podcast, Alert Communications and Nota.

Leading a law firm throughout the pandemic has been no easy task, but the lessons learned have helped many attorneys position their firms for a more tech-focused, efficient approach to business. Jim Calloway and Sharon Nelson talk with Mary Vandenack about how she has managed her law firm through the many changes wrought by the pandemic. She describes their transition to remote work, ways to support team communication and tech needs, and her firm’s focus on redesigning legal services to increase automation and accessibility. Mary E. Vandenack is the founding and managing member of Vandenack Weaver LLC in Omaha, Nebraska. Special thanks to our sponsors, Scorpion, Blackletter Podcast, Alert Communications and Nota.

For the first time ever, Clio has released a special trends report focused specifically on solo law firms! To talk about how this report came about and the helpful data it has to offer solo attorneys, Sharon Nelson and guest host John Simek welcome Clio’s CEO Jack Newton. Jack shares some of the most surprising insights gleaned from their solo survey, discusses pandemic-era changes in the behaviors of solos and their clients, and gives his take on what solo firms might do to become more agile and improve their revenue. Jack Newton is CEO and co-founder of Clio. Special thanks to our sponsors, Scorpion, Blackletter Podcast, Alert Communications and Nota.

Making smart choices online can help lawyers gain exposure and relationships that connect them with new clients. How? Sharon Nelson and Jim Calloway welcome legal marketer Gyi Tsakalakis to discuss his top tips for effective, no-cost online client development. While money certainly can (and sometimes should!) be spent on marketing, Gyi stresses that some of the best ways to gain clients won’t cost you anything but time. Gyi Tsakalakis is a former lawyer and the founder of AttorneySync, an online legal marketing agency that helps lawyers be where their clients are looking. Special thanks to our sponsors, Scorpion, Blackletter Podcast, Alert Communications and Nota.

What will an online ABA TECHSHOW look like for attendees? Jim and Sharon welcome this year’s co-chairs, Allan Mackenzie and Roberta Tepper, to hear all about the reinvention of TECHSHOW 2021 in the virtual realm. With a 5-day schedule this year (March 8-12), attendees can look forward to having access to all sessions, a larger speaking faculty than ever before, and a variety of social and networking opportunities. Register now at: https://www.techshow.com/pricing/. Allan Mackenzie is a veteran of the legal technology world and co-chair of ABA TECHSHOW 2021. Roberta Tepper is the lawyer assistance programs director at the State Bar of Arizona and co-chair of ABA TECHSHOW 2021. Special thanks to our sponsors, Scorpion, Blackletter Podcast, Alert Communications.

It might be a risky time to predict the future, but Jim and Sharon have decided to give it a whirl! Based on shifts they’ve seen throughout the legal community during 2020, they offer their thoughts on what lawyers should keep in mind as the new year begins. With topics ranging from the movement away from physical office space to cloud-based lawyering to the rise of ransomware, and more, Jim and Sharon talk about which changes they think will stick and what impacts we may see throughout the profession. Special thanks to our sponsors, Clio, Scorpion, Blackletter Podcast, Alert Communications.

It’s time for Jim and Sharon’s favorite podcast of the year – Tech Toys for the Holidays! In keeping with tradition, The Digital Edge hosts offer up their favorite practical and not-so practical tech toys, this year with plenty of remote work and COVID-related gift ideas in the mix. Pick up some wishlist inspiration for yourself and your favorite lawyer-nerds – a handy UVC sterilizer, the latest LegalBoard Wireless, ideas for your home workspace, a portable bug zapper (wait, what?), and so much more! Happy Holidays! Special thanks to our sponsors, Clio, Scorpion, Blackletter Podcast, Alert Communications.

In hopes of encouraging growth in their legal community in a variety of ways, Arizona has removed barriers preventing lawyers and non-lawyers from sharing fees. To learn more about what this change could mean for the profession as a whole, hosts Sharon and Jim talk with Arizona Vice Chief Justice Ann Timmer about the positive impacts they hope this new reform will bring. Along with hopes of helping law firms improve entrepreneurial success, the main driver behind this reform was to increase access to justice by encouraging creativity and innovation in legal service delivery. Vice Chief Justice Ann A. Scott Timmer has served on the Arizona Supreme Court since her appointment in 2012. Special thanks to our sponsors, Clio, Scorpion, Blackletter Podcast, Alert Communications.

The Virginia Lawyers’ Wellness Initiative is bringing even more resources and educational opportunities to help attorneys prioritize wellbeing. Digital Edge hosts Sharon Nelson and Jim Calloway welcome wellness coordinator Margaret Ogden to discuss the history and development of this new initiative and how attorneys can seek assistance, take advantage of CLE opportunities, find resources, and more. Margaret Ogden is the wellness coordinator at the Supreme Court of Virginia. Special thanks to our sponsors, Clio, Scorpion, Blackletter Podcast, Alert Communications.

Young lawyers have been experiencing more professional hardship than senior lawyers during the pandemic. With a hard-hit economy, a halt on many networking opportunities, and fewer new jobs available, the outlook is uncertain for recent graduates attempting to get their careers off the ground. Jim Calloway and Sharon Nelson discuss these issues and more with young lawyer Graham Bryant. Graham outlines the unique stressors faced by young lawyers, shares coping strategies and resources, and offers his thoughts on what the profession will look like post-COVID. Graham K. Bryant is a frequent writer and presenter on the technological, legal, and social trends affecting the legal profession in the twenty-first century. Special thanks to our sponsors, Clio, Scorpion, Blackletter Podcast, Alert Communications.

Attorneys have to be thorough in their preparations for court, but in David Notowitz’s experience, audio and video evidence is often inadequately presented. Digital Edge hosts Jim Calloway and Sharon Nelson talk with David about common mistakes lawyers make and his recommendations for effective, polished audio/visual presentations. David Notowitz is the founder and lead forensic expert at the National Center for Audio and Video Forensics. Special thanks to our sponsors, Clio, Scorpion, Blackletter Podcast, Alert Communications.

Sharon and Jim have reached a major milestone—the 150th edition of the Digital Edge! For this special episode, they welcome fellow veteran podcasters Bob Ambrogi, Joe Patrice, and Tom Mighell to talk shop about the world of legal podcasting. They share favorite memories and horror stories and offer invaluable insights for aspiring podcasters. Special thanks to our sponsors, Clio, Scorpion, Blackletter Podcast, Alert Communications.

Until now, the legal profession has largely viewed technology as a thing that should be grafted onto the very traditional practice of law, but the onset of the pandemic has forced this opinion to change rapidly. Lawyers and judges who once eschewed the idea of online legal practice–and particularly online courts–are now working to find ways to innovate legal and court services to continue providing access to justice. In this edition of the Digital Edge, hosts Sharon Nelson and Jim Calloway welcome Professor Richard Susskind to survey the new landscape of online courts and discuss changing views toward technology across the profession. Professor Richard Susskind OBE is an author, speaker, and independent adviser to major professional firms and to national governments. Special thanks to our sponsors, Clio, Nexa, Scorpion, and Blackletter Podcast.

The pandemic has caused rapid changes in the legal profession, and many lawyers are struggling to weather the storm. What can you do to bring your firm through this crisis? In this Digital Edge, Sharon Nelson and Jim Calloway survey the new landscape of legal and discuss what you can do to keep up with important transitions in the practice of law. They share tips for cybersecurity, video conferencing, obtaining financial assistance, and future pandemic planning. Also, check out Jim’s recommendation: Brett Burney’s video on working remotely with kids at home. Special thanks to our sponsors, Clio, Nexa, Scorpion, and Blackletter Podcast.

Is your current technology setup really working for your law firm? And with new challenges to the practice of law during the coronavirus crisis, are you able to do remote work effectively? Jim Calloway and Sharon Nelson talk with Richard Ferguson about the types of tools all lawyers should have at the ready in their tech tool boxes. They tap into Richard’s wealth of knowledge on practical tech solutions for law firms of all sizes. Richard Ferguson practices law in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada with the business law firm Lynass, Ferguson & Shoctor and is a current member of the ABA Techshow 2021 Planning Board. Special thanks to our sponsors, Clio, Nexa, Scorpion, and Blackletter Podcast.

Higher instances of depression, stress, substance abuse, and even divorce amongst legal professionals continues to call attention to the need for an increased focus on lawyer well-being. Digital Edge hosts Sharon Nelson and Jim Calloway talk with Stewart Levine about how his ABA-published book, “The Best Lawyer You Can Be: A Guide to Physical, Mental, Emotional, and Spiritual Wellness,” helps lawyers engage with their own well-being in healthier ways. Stewart Levine is the founder of ResolutionWorks, a consulting and training organization dedicated to providing skills and ways of thinking needed to build strong organizational cultures. Special thanks to our sponsors, Clio, Nexa, Scorpion, and ServeNow.

Today’s consumers want services faster than ever, and the traditional legal service delivery model is no longer appealing to many in need of legal help. Erin Levine saw the need for her family law clients to have access to a simple, DIY approach to divorce that would save time and money and thus her successful platform, Hello Divorce, was born. The Digital Edge hosts Sharon Nelson and Jim Calloway talk with Erin about how lawyers can develop their own sustainable approaches to online legal services that meet the demands of the changing legal market. Erin shares insights on establishing a brand, staying relevant to today’s legal consumers, and avoiding burnout. Erin Levine is the founder and CEO of Hello Divorce. Special thanks to our sponsors, Clio, Nexa, Scorpion, and ServeNow.

ABA TECHSHOW 2020 is right around the corner! Digital Edge hosts Jim Calloway and Sharon Nelson talk with the conference’s co-chairs, Heidi Alexander and Catherine Sanders Reach, about what attendees have to look forward to at the upcoming TECHSHOW. They delve into the variety of topics the conference will focus on: new takes on well-being, practice management, academia-focused content, and more! They also share info on the special events at this year’s conference and highlight their exciting keynote speaker, Mary O’Carroll of Google. Special thanks to our sponsors, ServeNow, Nexa, Answer1, and Clio.

It’s that time of year again! Get ready to make some quirky additions to your wishlist. Digital Edge hosts Sharon Nelson and Jim Calloway bring you their much-anticipated annual episode – Tech Toys for the Holidays! This year’s list includes another healthy variety of practical and not-so practical gift ideas, ranging from Rocketbooks to flash drives to your very own Death Star fire pit–just what you didn’t know you needed! Tune in for ideas for everyone on your holiday shopping list. Special thanks to our sponsors, ServeNow, Nexa, Answer1, and Clio.