Law Practice Today

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Aug 2026

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This podcast is brought to you by the Law Practice Division of the American Bar Association.

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August 24, 2026Episode 4315 min

First Half of 2026 Highlights: Law Firm Strategy and Operations

This special roundup episode of the Law Practice Today podcast brings together three conversations from the first half of 2026 focused on helping law firms build stronger, more resilient, and better-run practices. First, Stephanie Everett joins Terrell A. Turner in "Building a Healthy and Profitable Law Firm.” She explains why law firm leaders need to understand their numbers, create systems that allow the business to operate without depending on the owner at every moment, and revisit strategy regularly through quarterly planning, annual reviews, and longer-term vision setting. Next, Shawn Holahan discusses "Disaster Planning for Law Firms.” She emphasizes that professional and ethical responsibilities do not stop during an emergency. From natural disasters and cyber incidents to technology failures and employee disruptions, firms need a clear plan for maintaining operations and communicating with clients when something goes wrong. Finally, Alexander Paykin joins Terrell for "Picking the Right Legal Tech Tools.” He encourages law firms to look beyond polished demos and technology hype by evaluating tools against their actual workflows, practice-specific needs, security requirements, and expected return on investment. The goal is not simply to adopt more technology, but to choose tools that genuinely save time, improve operations, and support the firm. Together, these conversations highlight three important parts of running a stronger law firm: building a sustainable business, preparing for disruption, and making smarter operational and technology decisions. Listen to the Full Conversations: Building a Healthy and Profitable Law Firm — Stephanie Everett Disaster Planning for Law Firms — Shawn Holahan Picking the Right Legal Tech Tools — Alexander Paykin Episode Chapters 00:00 Special Episode Preview 00:46 Podcast Intro & Disclaimer 01:22 Building a More Resilient Law Firm 02:20 Stephanie Everett: Building a Healthy and Profitable Practice 03:24 Numbers, Systems & Strategy 05:53 Shawn Holahan: Why Disaster Planning Matters 07:07 Ethics and Professional Responsibilities During Disasters 09:07 Building a Reliable Client Communication Plan 10:23 Alexander Paykin: Cutting Through Legal Tech Hype 11:54 How to Stress-Test AI & Technology Tools 13:27 Evaluating the Real ROI of Automation 14:19 Wrap-Up & Full Episode Links

August 17, 2026Episode 4215 min

First Half of 2026 Highlights: Marketing & Business Development

This special roundup episode of the Law Practice Today podcast revisits three conversations from the first half of 2026 focused on helping lawyers strengthen their visibility, relationships, and professional brand. First, Jason Hennessey joins Terrell A. Turner for “Mastering Law Firm SEO in the Era of AI,” exploring how AI-driven search is reshaping SEO for law firms, why traditional authority signals still matter, and how brand reputation and sentiment are becoming increasingly important as search behavior evolves. Next, Deb Feder shares a practical approach to business development in “Rethinking Business Development: Small Actions, Stronger Relationships.” She explains how lawyers can make networking and relationship-building more manageable by dedicating just a few minutes each day to simple actions, thoughtful follow-up, and staying consistently connected with the people in their network. Finally, Marianne Talbot brings a different perspective to professional branding in “Embracing the Punk Rock Principle in Law.” Her approach encourages lawyers to embrace authenticity, experiment with small acts that challenge the expected professional mold, and let go of some of the pressure to appear perfect—creating more room for individuality, energy, and enjoyment in their careers. Listen to the full conversations: Mastering Law Firm SEO in the Era of AI — Jason Hennessey Rethinking Business Development: Small Actions, Stronger Relationships — Deb Feder Embracing the Punk Rock Principle in Law — Marianne Talbot Episode Chapters 00:00 Special Roundup Preview 01:07 Podcast Intro & Disclaimer 01:43 Jason Hennessey: How AI Is Changing Search and SEO 02:32 Authority Signals, Links & Brand Sentiment 04:47 Quick SEO Strategies for Law Firms 05:26 Deb Feder: The Five-Minute Business Development Habit 07:52 Simple Daily Networking Actions 09:08 Marianne Talbot: The Punk Rock Branding Mindset 11:07 Letting Go of Perfection to Stand Out 12:42 How Small Acts of Rebellion Build Energy 13:52 Wrap-Up & Full Episode Links

August 10, 2026Episode 4130 min

How to Write and Publish a Book with the ABA (and Why It Matters)

This episode of the Law Practice Today podcast features Terrell A. Turner, CPA's interview with Carol Greenwald, chair of the Law Practice Division Publication Board, about what it really takes to write and publish a book with the ABA. Greenwald shares her background transitioning from academia to law firm consulting focused on communication, and explains that lawyers are trained in law but not always in clear communication with clients and teams. She discusses why people write books (reputation and expertise), how the division selects topics across business, finance, management, marketing, and technology, and why “evergreen” subjects differ from fast-changing topics like AI. Greenwald outlines appropriate and inappropriate uses of AI in writing, the challenges of completing a nonfiction book on deadline, and how to pitch a book idea to the Pub Board via a questionnaire process. 00:00 Writing Sounds Like You 00:34 Podcast Intro Disclaimer 01:13 Why Write With ABA 01:53 Carol Greenwald Background 04:27 Lawyer Communication Gaps 06:06 How People Remember 07:51 Why Books Build Credibility 09:06 Evergreen Versus AI Topics 09:30 Choosing ABA Book Topics 11:51 Clients Getting Tougher 14:04 AI And Copyright Limits 14:34 Using AI The Right Way 17:29 What Makes Books Valuable 20:30 Writing For Different Learners 22:11 Guiding Readers With Breadcrumbs 23:37 Publishing Goals And Deadlines 25:23 Finishing A Book Is Hard 28:32 How To Pitch The Pub Board 29:31 Wrap Up And Thanks

August 3, 2026Episode 4021 min

Mastering AI-Driven SEO for Law Firms

On the Law Practice Today podcast, Terrell A. Turner, CPA speaks with David Arato, owner of Lexicon Legal Content, about law firm marketing and SEO as AI overviews and AI platforms reshape how clients find lawyers. Arato explains that while AI is a major shift, many fundamentals still apply: clean sites, valuable content, and omnichannel presence, with today’s emphasis on frequent, fresh, conversational content, technical elements like schema markup, and building authority through libraries of content, backlinks, and third-party mentions (including sources like Reddit). He notes that AI overviews now trigger for many legal searches, devaluing traditional #1 organic rankings and making AI citations critical for traffic and leads. He also defines common acronyms (SEO, AIO, GEO, AEO) and argues “zero-effort” AI content has “zero value,” warning of amplified misinformation and compliance risks. 00:00 AI Content Ranking Reality 00:20 Podcast Welcome Disclaimer 00:59 Meet David Arato 02:00 From Law School to SEO 04:05 Is AI a Seismic Shift 06:38 Winning AI Overviews 10:27 SEO Timelines and PR Signals 13:44 New SEO Acronyms Explained 15:19 Zero Effort Content Trap 19:55 Misinformation and Compliance Risks 20:37 Where to Find David 21:06 Final Wrap Up

July 27, 2026Episode 3924 min

Legal Dimensions of the Gaming Industry

In this episode of the Law Practice Today podcast features Chrissie Scelsi discussing how law applies to video games. Scelsi shares her background as an in-house attorney, co-editor and contributor to ABA publications on game development and intellectual property, former U.S. general counsel at Wargaming (World of Tanks), and her work at Universal Orlando on licensing and adapting The Last of Us into a Halloween Horror Nights haunted house. The conversation highlights the wide range of legal issues in gaming beyond IP—international operations, HR and office matters, esports contracts and rulebooks, data privacy, banking and anti-money laundering concerns, marketing and trend-based advertising, and uncertainty over laws aimed at online child safety and social media features. They also discuss ESRB ratings’ impact on content and advertising, right of publicity, and college football/NIL developments, and advice for young lawyers on networking and writing to break into the field. 00:00 ESRB And Ratings 00:22 Podcast Intro And Disclaimer 01:01 Meet Chrissie Scelsi 01:40 Her Path Into Game Law 02:53 Universal And Horror Nights 04:12 Beyond IP Global And Ops 07:00 Marketing Trends And Risk 08:20 New Regulations And Uncertainty 09:11 Live Service Bills And Layoffs 11:23 Breaking In Networking Writing 15:30 Esports And Litigation War Stories 17:44 Concerts In Games And Content Choices 21:06 Right Of Publicity And NIL 22:39 Books Resources And Wrap Up 23:52 Closing Credits

July 6, 2026Episode 3819 min

In-House Counseling: The New Law Firm Resource

In this episode of the Law Practice Today podcast, Terrell A. Turner, CPA, discusses mental health and self-care in law firms with Adriana Buckingham, Esq, MSW, a Philadelphia-area attorney turned counselor who founded AB In-House Counseling. Buckingham explains how her experience as a litigator led her to seek support tailored to attorneys, prompting her to earn a social work degree while practicing law and then create counseling and coaching services for legal professionals through their employers. The conversation focuses on supporting associates and staff as a firm’s key resource, noting that healthier employees can improve productivity, retention, and client service. They discuss common challenges like time management, delegation, and saying yes to everything, and how reframing can help. Buckingham emphasizes strict confidentiality: firms pay for her time, not session substance. 00:00 Associates Matter Most 00:25 Podcast Intro Disclaimer 01:04 Mental Health Focus 01:54 Meet Adriana Buckingham 02:35 From Lawyer to Counselor 04:17 Balancing School and Practice 05:48 Which Career Feels Rewarding 08:01 Why Firms Should Support Staff 11:01 Common Associate Struggles 13:34 Coaching Not Crisis 15:57 How In-House Counseling Works 17:43 Contact and Closing

June 30, 2026Episode 3713 min

AI Hallucinations in Court The Sullivan & Cromwell Lesson

Recorded as a fireside chat at the ABA Law Practice Division Spring Meeting in San Diego, this special episode examines reports that Sullivan & Cromwell filed a brief containing nonexistent or inaccurate case citations and later apologized to opposing counsel and the court. Steve Embry, Jennifer Ellis, and Michael Eisenberg discuss why AI hallucinations continue to appear in legal filings despite widespread awareness of the risks. They point to ignored firm policies, time pressure, overreliance on confident-sounding AI outputs, and a lack of understanding of generative AI's limitations as key contributing factors. The discussion also explores how these failures relate to lawyers' ethical duties of competence, candor, and supervision. The speakers emphasize that legal citations should always be independently verified using traditional legal research tools—not AI—such as Shepardizing in Lexis or Westlaw. They also stress that proper training and experience are essential for recognizing unreliable AI-generated results. 00:00 – AI Hallucinations Hit BigLaw 00:37 – Show Intro and Disclaimer 01:16 – Sullivan & Cromwell Brief Fallout 02:19 – Why Lawyers Keep Getting Burned 04:19 – Competence Rules and Citation Checks 06:53 – Workflow Reality Check 08:55 – Training to Spot Hallucinations 10:45 – Verifying Citations Without AI Tools 12:55 – Closing Thoughts and Wrap-Up 13:02 – Podcast Outro and Resources

June 15, 2026Episode 3613 min

Avoiding AI Hallucinations in Legal Practice

This Law Practice Podcast fireside chat with Alan Klevan, Jennifer Ellis, and Steve Embry discusses recent court responses to lawyers filing AI-hallucinated or fabricated citations, focusing on the Oregon appeals decision in Williams. The panel explains that the court emphasized Rule 3.3’s duty of candor to both the court and opposing counsel, criticizing the lawyer not only for including fabricated authorities but also for attempting a “quiet correction” without acknowledging the problem. They discuss growing judicial frustration, the likelihood of sanctions and disciplinary referrals, and examples of suspensions. The speakers stress that generative AI hallucinations are inherent, so lawyers must verify every citation by checking links and reading cases, use appropriate research tools, learn effective prompting techniques, and promptly disclose and remedy any errors rather than conceal them. 00:00 AI Hallucinations Intro 01:08 Fireside Chat Setup 02:42 Williams Case Breakdown 03:24 Candor Rule And Quiet Fix 05:21 Sanctions And Discipline 07:45 Protecting Public Trust 08:34 How To Prevent Hallucinations 10:14 Verification And Tooling Tips 11:57 Why AI Hallucinates 12:59 Wrap Up And Resources

June 8, 2026Episode 357 min

How AI Is Changing Legal Billing and Client Value

In this Law Practice Podcast fireside chat on “Billing in the Age of AI,” host Jim Calloway is joined by Julie Bays, Director of the Management Assistance Program at the Oklahoma Bar Association, and Wendy Meadows, a family law attorney in Maryland and coaching consultant for small and solo law firms. Together, they discuss how AI is changing the way lawyers think about billing, value, and client communication. The conversation centers on the “efficiency paradox”: when AI helps lawyers complete certain tasks faster, how should that speed be reflected in the client’s bill? Wendy shares how her practice has shifted toward a hybrid billing model, using flat fees for document-based work like complaints and marital settlement agreements, while continuing to bill hourly for meetings, phone calls, and other client-facing work. Julie emphasizes that invoices should do more than request payment — they should help clients understand the value of the work performed. Even when AI makes legal work more efficient, lawyers still bring years of judgment, experience, and legal strategy to the final product. The panel also discusses the importance of clearly outlining billing structures in engagement agreements, continuing to track time even for flat-fee work, and setting limits when a matter exceeds the original scope. They also highlight the need for client disclosures around AI use, including warnings about placing attorney work product or confidential documents into public AI platforms. Finally, the conversation explores how AI-driven efficiency may help lawyers expand their ability to take on pro bono and low-bono work. Rather than viewing AI only as a billing challenge, the speakers frame it as an opportunity to improve access to justice, increase capacity, and encourage lawyers to adopt AI thoughtfully — one small step at a time. 00:00 Welcome and Overview 00:33 Show Disclaimer 01:12 Billing in the Age of AI 01:15 Meet the Panelists 01:35 Invoices as Value Proof 02:11 Hybrid Billing in Practice 03:35 Engagement Terms and Time Caps 04:24 AI Disclosures and Confidentiality 05:23 Efficiency and Access to Justice 06:22 Closing Takeaways 07:05 Outro and Resources

June 1, 2026Episode 3418 min

The Lawyer’s Passport to AI, Cybersecurity, and Global Opportunity

On the Law Practice Today podcast, host Terrell speaks with Betania Allo, an Argentinian lawyer with graduate studies in international relations (Harvard) and an LLM (Syracuse) who is finishing a doctor of engineering in cybersecurity analytics at George Washington. Allo describes her work at the intersection of law, policy, international security, and emerging technologies, including roles at the UN in New York and in Saudi Arabia on the NEOM smart-city project leading cybersecurity culture and awareness for thousands of employees and contractors. Now head of TMT, AI governance, and privacy at Legaltracks in Riyadh, she discusses bridging regulators and innovators, the human factor in cybersecurity, differences in global regulatory priorities, and practical advice for lawyers seeking international opportunities through study, networking, and conferences. 00:00 Networking Opens Doors 00:21 Podcast Welcome Disclaimer 01:00 Meet Betania Allo 01:58 From Argentina to Cybersecurity 04:27 Balancing PhD and Work 05:39 Law Degree as Passport 09:02 Cybersecurity Culture Worldwide 10:47 Saudi Vision and AI Policy 12:36 Finding Global Legal Roles 13:37 Conferences and Speaking Gigs 14:33 Bridging Lawyers and Engineers 16:17 Build Your Network 17:19 Where to Find Betania 17:44 Final Thanks and Outro