Grammar nerds, meet your ‘Comma Queen’ (podcast)

Related links: The New Yorker: “Mary Norris: Comma Queen” (video series) Slate: “The Corrections: A delightful memoir by a New Yorker copy editor” New York Times: “‘Between You & Me,’ by Mary Norris” NPR: “The Comma Queen Will See You, Now”

Apr 30, 2015 4:20 PM CDT

Would your practice be prepared if something happened to you? (podcast with transcript)

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.

Apr 9, 2015 10:20 AM CDT

How can attorneys get help without harming their careers? (podcast with transcript)

With such a stressful profession, many attorneys face addiction and other mental health issues. If you find yourself struggling–or know another lawyer who is–what resources are out there? 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.

Mar 2, 2015 8:50 AM CST

How these law students help costs and acrimony for divorcing couples (podcast with transcript)

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 too 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?

Feb 2, 2015 9:00 AM CST

Author tells tangled tale of the $19B verdict against Chevron in ‘Law of the Jungle’ (podcast)

In 2011, an Ecuadoran court found the Chevron Corporation liable for environmental damage caused by oil drilling in the 1970s-80s. Chevron was ordered to pay $19 billion to the plaintiffs who brought the suit, a collection of small farmers and indigenous peoples. Although it is tempting to fit this into a simple narrative-either "victory for oppressed people against an evil corporation" or "responsible corporation preyed upon by voracious plaintiffs attorneys"--the truth just isn't that simple.

Jan 28, 2015 9:15 AM CST

Linda Greenhouse and Jonathan Turley discuss the courts and the press (podcast with transcript)

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.

Jan 5, 2015 8:32 AM CST

All is not as it seems for 9th Circuit clerk in ATL founder’s new novel (podcast)

Dec 17, 2014 8:30 AM CST

How can you use social media responsibly to promote your clients’ cases? (podcast with transcript)

Podcast Transcript Stephanie Francis Ward: Scroll through Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn, and you can get a good sense of popular topics, as well as how people feel about them. If you’re a litigator using social media, you might have success suggesting how people should feel about your client’s position. And…

Dec 1, 2014 8:50 AM CST

How to network without feeling slimy (podcast with transcript)

Lawyers are often told how important professional networking is. But many find it so uncomfortable they feel physically dirty. Why is professional networking so distressing to so many? And how can you overcome it and be successful?

Nov 3, 2014 8:30 AM CST

Do you have what it takes to be a rural lawyer? (podcast with transcript)

Many young law grads are being urged to move out of large cities and into rural areas, where there aren't as many attorneys competing for work. But what does it take to run a successful legal practice in a rural area? Asked and Answered moderator Stephanie Francis Ward speaks with Lorelei Laird, the reporter who wrote our October cover story on the need for rural attorneys, and Bruce Cameron, who runs a sole practice in rural Minnesota.

Oct 6, 2014 8:30 AM CDT

How a series of attacks by a breakaway Amish sect became a landmark hate-crimes case (podcast)

The Amish religion is a branch of Christianity which adheres to a doctrine of simplicity, non-violence and forgiveness. How then did a breakaway group come to be implicated in the first federal trial which prosecuted religiously motivated hate crimes within the same faith community?

Sep 29, 2014 5:23 PM CDT

How do you provide client hand-holding if you run a virtual firm? (podcast with transcript)

Opportunities are growing for lawyers to practice law in digital spaces. But clients still want and need individual attention. If you have a virtual law practice, how can you provide the hand-holding necessary for clients?

Sep 8, 2014 3:55 PM CDT

Boies and Olson reveal the backstory of the case against California’s Proposition 8 (podcast)

Aug 28, 2014 5:55 PM CDT

How do we fix the school-to-prison pipeline? (podcast with transcript)

Podcast Transcript Stephanie Francis Ward: Zero-tolerance discipline policies were once all the rage in schools. But research showed that in practice, many children—especially children of color—were being suspended and expelled for extremely minor infractions. Now that zero-tolerance is falling out of favor, what does this mean for schools and the…

Aug 4, 2014 1:30 PM CDT

Growing up during BTK serial-killing spree informed author’s new crime novel (podcast)

Alafair Burke's fascination with crime stories came far before her career as first a prosecutor and then a law professor. In this podcast, she discusses how the BTK serial killings affected her childhood, and shares details on her novels and career.

Jul 28, 2014 9:00 PM CDT