State Bar of Texas Podcast

The State Bar of Texas Podcast is a monthly show featuring news and discussions relevant to the legal profession, from the latest industry trends and caselaw to practice tips and State Bar programs. Host Rocky Dhir, attorney and CEO of Dallas-based Atlas Legal Research, invites thought leaders and innovators to share their insight and knowledge on what matters to practitioners. To subscribe, go to iTunes or Google Play.

Episode 24: Legal Writing Nerd — Tips for Exceptional Writing Skills
Legal writing is difficult for some lawyers to navigate. Is there a shift away from archaic flourishes to plain language, or does it still have its place? In this episode of the State Bar of Texas Podcast, host Rocky Dhir talks to Wayne Schiess, author and legal writing professor. They discuss his most recent book, Legal Writing Nerd: Be One, and give tips on what lawyers can incorporate to better their writing skills.

Special thanks to our sponsor, LawPay.

Episode 23: Lawyer to Author — A Look at Mike Farris’ Interesting Career
Lawyers are storytellers, and the shift from legalese to prose may not be too far a leap for some. In this episode of the State Bar of Texas Podcast, host Rocky Dhir talks to Mike Farris about his career as an entertainment lawyer and book author. They discuss the inspiration behind his books and delve into Farris' writing process. They also talk about the “Fifty Shades of Grey” Texas lawsuit in which Farris represented the plaintiff, which then led to a nonfiction book co-authored with his client.

Special thanks to our sponsor, LawPay.

Episode 22: The Need to Lead: Revamping Legal Ed to Grow Better Leaders
Law schools should be a training ground for leaders, but are the concepts of leadership actually being taught? In this episode of the State Bar of Texas Podcast, host Rocky Dhir talks to Leah Teague, associate dean at Baylor Law School, about how law schools need to revamp their programs to include leadership training for students. Teague discusses how leadership training prepares law students to be able to fulfill their obligation as professional problem solvers and helps create a path to higher leadership roles in the future.

Episode 21: Year in Review: A Look Back at the Episodes of 2018
What’s your New Year’s resolution? The State Bar of Texas Podcast is resolved to continue bringing lawyers quality content that will improve their lives and practices. In this episode, host Rocky Dhir looks back at some key moments from the podcast throughout 2018. Tune in for highlights from the wide array of fascinating guests and topics covered this year, including clips from episodes with Anthony Graves, Brian Cuban, the lawyers behind Twitter’s @ladylawyerdiary, and more!

Episode 20: Lady Lawyer Diaries: Support for Women in Law
The hashtag, #LadyLawyerDiaries, has been used by women in law for a number of years, and it has led to the creation of a thriving community for women lawyers on Twitter. In this episode of the State Bar of Texas Podcast, host Rocky Dhir and guest host Sally Pretorius talk to Kendyl Hanks and Kristen Vander-Plas, two of the cofounders of @LadyLawyerDiary on Twitter. They discuss how their Twitter account has become a forum for women in the legal industry. It is used for the discussion of issues, for encouragement and support, and for spotlighting women in the legal profession who are doing great things.

Episode 19: An Inside Look at In-House Counsel
For a lot of law students, the goal is to end up in-house, but is it really as ideal as it seems? In this episode of the State Bar of Texas Podcast, host Rocky Dhir talks to William Kruse and Shruti Krishnan about their experiences as in-house counsels. They also share insights for those hoping to go in-house, from fully understanding your role to having a business-minded focus.

William Kruse is Gallup’s regulatory compliance officer and in-house counsel, working primarily in support of the Government Division.

Shruti Krishnan is associate legal counsel at Tabletop Media, LLC d/b/a Ziosk, which owns and manufactures a proprietary suite of tablet devices for use in casual dining restaurants.

Episode 18: Pro Bono Work at the Border
Many lawyers have a passion for pro bono work but few make it their life. In this episode of the State Bar of Texas Podcast, host Rocky Dhir talks to Kimi Jackson about the work she does for the South Texas Pro Bono Asylum Representation Project, or (ProBAR), which provides pro bono legal services to asylum seekers detained at the border. They discuss family separation and other immigration issues that aren't necessarily covered by the media and share how volunteers can get involved.

Kimi Jackson is the director of ProBAR, a south Texas pro bono asylum representation project.

Episode 17: Becoming the Tweeter Laureate of Texas with Judge Willett
It’s one of the greatest honors a judge can receive during his career, to be named Tweeter Laureate. In this episode of the State Bar of Texas Podcast, host Rocky Dhir talks to Judge Don Willett about how he became the Tweeter Laureate of Texas and an example for other judges who want to use social media as a platform. He shares some tips for using social media and speaks to whether users are over-engaged. He also discusses the role judges should play in our judicial system and the importance of educating the masses about their government.

Don Ray Willett is a United States Circuit Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit.

Episode 16: How 1968 Impacted Today’s Legal Landscape
Historical events have shaped culture and the law, and learning about them can make you a stronger and much more aware attorney. In this episode of the State Bar of Texas Podcast from the State Bar of Texas Annual Meeting, host Rocky Dhir talks to Doug Brinkley and Talmage Boston about what made 1968 a tumultuous year in American history and what lawyers can learn from this time period. They discuss the Vietnam war, the murders of Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert F. Kennedy, and the unexpectedly uniting aspects of the space race.

Episode 15: Why Lawyers Should be Listening to Podcasts
We may be biased but podcasts are a great tool for lawyers whether you’re looking for tips or need a little encouragement. In this episode of the State Bar of Texas Podcast from the State Bar of Texas Annual Meeting, host Rocky Dhir talks to John Strohmeyer and Teresa Waldrop about the benefits of podcasts and how you can effectively use them to improve your practice. They discuss some of the tips and tricks they’ve learned in their own listening and how they’ve found time to listen as busy lawyers.

Episode 14: Legal Technology–Been There Done That
Before technology is accepted and used within the legal industry, it faces periods of doubt and skepticism from nervous lawyers. In this episode of the State Bar of Texas Podcast from the State Bar of Texas Annual Meeting, host Rocky Dhir talks to Jason Smith about the different phases of a typical innovation cycle that new technology faces when it emerges into the legal industry. They also share why lawyers should aim to understand and embrace technology like artificial intelligence rather than fear it.

Episode 13: AI’s Impact on Jobs
Technology has become so deeply embedded in our lives that we don’t even notice how much we rely on our phones, tablets, and computers, but how could technology like artificial intelligence (AI), which is in all of these devices, affect the current job market? In this episode of the State Bar of Texas Podcast from the State Bar of Texas Annual Meeting, host Rocky Dhir talks to Ron Chichester How computers have become an integral part of our lives and what this means for the law of computers. They also discuss how lawyers should handle the quick advancement of AI and automation.

Episode 12: The Purpose of Paralegals
Lawyers know in general what paralegals are, but are you utilizing the full potential of your paralegal? In this episode of the State Bar of Texas Podcast from the State Bar of Texas Annual Meeting, host Rocky Dhir talks to Tiffany Haas and Johanna Schroeder about how paralegals can be invaluable to attorneys. They discuss how you can find the right paralegal for you, what paralegals are looking for in attorneys, and how you can retain good paralegals in your practice.

Episode 11: Writing your own Textbook

For those who think textbooks are too expensive or don’t fit the course material well enough, the solution may be to create your own textbook. In this episode of the State Bar of Texas Podcast from the State Bar of Texas Annual Meeting, host Rocky Dhir talks to Matt Crockett about his experience writing his own textbook and how it has helped both him and his students. For lawyers who aren’t professors, he also discusses how explaining his process and collecting textbooks in an easy-to-read format also helped him more effectively communicate with clients.

Episode 10: Social Media and Ethics

Social media is a great tool for lawyers but it also comes with its own set of cautionary tales. In this episode of the State Bar of Texas Podcast from the State Bar of Texas Annual Meeting, host Rocky Dhir talks to John Browning about the pitfalls of using social media and how lawyers can avoid them. They share social media horror stories and discuss what is actually safe for lawyers to post.

Episode 9: Cultivating Humor in the Legal Profession
While it’s important for lawyers to be professional, it’s also important to have a sense of humor. In this episode of the State Bar of Texas Podcast from the State Bar of Texas Annual Meeting, host Rocky Dhir talks to lawyer and bon vivant Pamela Buchmeyer about the role of humor in the legal profession. They discuss her late father, Jerry Buchmeyer, and his column that has turned into her column featuring funny stories sent to her by lawyers.

Episode 8: How to Build up your LinkedIn Profile
If you want your LinkedIn profile to work for you, you can’t just upload your resume and hope for the best. A solid LinkedIn profile takes work. In this episode of the State Bar of Texas Podcast from the State Bar of Texas Annual Meeting, host Rocky Dhir talks to Donna Serdula about how she became the LinkedIn queen and how attorneys can use the platform to build their brand. Tune in for tips that will help you strengthen your LinkedIn profile.

Episode 7: Harper Lee and Documenting Complexity
Atticus Finch, the character from “To Kill A Mockingbird,” has influenced and inspired lawyers since the novel’s release in 1960. In this episode of the State Bar of Texas Podcast from the State Bar of Texas Annual Meeting, host Rocky Dhir talks to Joseph Crespino about his book, “Atticus Finch: The Biography,” and the time period that inspired it. They discuss Harper Lee’s background, her other novel “Go Set a Watchman,” and the complexity of looking back on a history we think is black and white.

Bonus Coverage of the State Bar of Texas Annual Meeting 2018
Tune in as the State Bar Annual Meeting 2018 continues with these next three episodes on the State Bar of Texas Podcast.

Episode 6: State Bar of Texas Annual Meeting 2018: Preserving Mobile Device Data
Craig Ball talks about the importance of evidence preservation for tablets and smart phones.

Episode 5: State Bar of Texas Annual Meeting 2018: The New Face of the Texas Young Lawyers Association
Sally Pretorius is the new president of the Texas Young Lawyers Association and on today's show she talks about the projects she will be working on during her term.

Episode 4: State Bar of Texas Annual Meeting 2018: A Conversation with Frank Stevenson
Frank Stevenson talks about him stepping down from his role as immediate past president of the State Bar of Texas.

Episode 3: What It’s Like to Write with U.S. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia
Bryan Garner is a lawyer, a lexicographer, and an award-winning author of more than 20 books. He was also close friends with Justice Antonin Scalia, with whom he wrote two books: Making Your Case: The Art of Persuading Judges and Reading Law: The Interpretation of Legal Texts. In this episode of the State Bar of Texas Podcast, host Rocky Dhir interviews Garner about his path to becoming a lawyer and his infatuation with the minutia of legal writing. Garner also dives deep into stories of his close friendship with Justice Scalia and their collaboration.

Episode 2: Depression and Addiction in the Mind of a Lawyer
Have you or someone you know been suffering from depression or addiction? Are you unsure about what to do? In today’s episode of State Bar of Texas Podcast, host Rocky Dhir is joined with co-host Bree Buchanan and guest Brian Cuban to talk about addressing addiction and depression, how to recognize warning signs and how to reach out to those in need of your support. Brian also talks about his own personal background, how he dealt with Body Dysmorphic Disorder, and how we can encourage lawyers, law students, and even judges to pick up the phone and ask for help.