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 43: Branding for Lawyers: What You
Should and Shouldn’t Do
What can you do to stand out to consumers in your
community? State Bar of Texas Podcast
host Rocky Dhir talks to Amy Boardman Hunt, a content
marketing and public relations pro, and Gene Major, a state bar
compliance officer, about their unique perspectives on branding for
lawyers. Hunt offers advice for effective approaches to legal marketing,
and Major goes over what lawyers need to keep in mind to ensure their
marketing adheres to compliance rules. They also discuss how the Texas
Senate’s newly enacted SB Bill 1189 (addressing deceptive
advertising of legal services) is intended to provide greater clarity
and protection for consumers.
Episode
42: Suicide in the Law: A Problem We Can’t Keep
Ignoring
Mental health issues disproportionately affect the legal profession,
and stark data on suicide rates among attorneys calls our attention
to
the great need for increased awareness. In this episode of
the State Bar of Texas Podcast, host Rocky
Dhir talks to Dallas attorney and mental health advocate Terry
Bentley Hill and Texas Lawyers’ Assistance Program Director
Chris
Ritter about their passion for helping attorneys learn how to
recognize
and get help for mental health issues. Hill and Ritter openly share
their painful personal experiences with these matters, shedding light
on the types of symptoms in yourself, colleagues, or loved ones that
signal a need for intervention. They discuss the services offered
through the Texas Lawyers’ Assistance Program and
encourage lawyers to seek confidential support at 1-800-343-TLAP
(8527).
Episode
41: Bar Leaders Conference 2019: Q&A with Leaders
of TYLA
From the State Bar of Texas Bar Leaders Conference, Texas Young
Lawyers
Association President Victor Flores hosts
a Q&A with President-elect Britney
Harrison and Immediate Past
President Sally
Pretorius. They answer questions submitted by new
lawyers at
the bar’s New Lawyers Induction Ceremony—providing helpful tips
on litigation preparation, work-life balance, and overcoming fears as
a
new lawyer.
EPISODE
40: State Bar of Texas Annual Meeting 2019: Forms of Address with Judge
Roy Ferguson
Getting a rare peek into an often overlooked corner of the legal
profession, State Bar of Texas Podcast host Rocky
Dhir sits down with Judge Roy B. Ferguson, of the 394th Judicial
District Court, to discuss the social challenges that arise after
becoming a judge. Ranging from how lawyers and laypeople should address
a judge in public to the impacts ascending to the bench has on friends
and family, Judge Ferguson talks about the lesser known impacts that
most new judges don’t anticipate and few outsiders can
truly understand.
Special thanks to our sponsor, LawPay.
EPISODE
39: State Bar of Texas Annual Meeting 2019 - Josh Team and the
Adaptable Lawyer
Smaller firms and solo practitioners may think big companies like
Keller Williams Realty are out of their reach, but these companies
are
more eager for their help than they realize. State Bar of Texas
Podcast host Rocky Dhir sits down with Keller Williams Realty
President Josh Team in front of a live audience at the State Bar of
Texas Annual Meeting 2019 to discuss the impacts of disruption across
all industries, why an organization like Keller Williams needs
attorneys
to help them keep pace with changing technologies, and the best ways
lawyers can get noticed by large corporations. This episode qualifies
as one hour of self-study MCLE credit for State Bar of Texas members.
(To claim self-study, attorneys should log in to My Bar Page at www.texasbar.com and click on the
link to “View/Report MCLE Hours.” From the MCLE homepage,
click on “Add Attendance” and go to the tab to add
self-study.)
Special thanks to our sponsor, LawPay.
EPISODE
38: State Bar of Texas Annual Meeting 2019 - State Bar President
Randy
Sorrels and Benny Agosto Jr.
State Bar of Texas Podcast host Rocky Dhir is joined by
special guest co-host Texas Young Lawyers Association President Victor
Flores to interview State Bar of Texas President Randy
Sorrels and Houston Bar Association President Benny Agosto, Jr. at
the State Bar of Texas Annual Meeting 2019. They
cover some of the initiatives the new presidents will aim to
accomplish
during their tenure as well as why they’re so passionate about
developing a more diverse bar.
Special thanks to our sponsor, LawPay.
EPISODE
37: State Bar of Texas Annual Meeting 2019 - Conversation with keynote
speaker Asha Rangappa
Asha Rangappa, senior lecturer at Yale University and former FBI
counterintelligence special agent, sees the rise and impact of
disinformation in America as a symptom of an increase in tribalism
within our society. She and State Bar of Texas Podcast host
Rocky Dhir sit down at the State Bar of Texas Annual Meeting 2019 to
discuss how we came to this point; how, if left unchecked, this could
undermine our democracy; and how we can still come together to protect
ourselves and our country.
Special thanks to our sponsor, LawPay.
EPISODE
36: State Bar of Texas Annual Meeting 2019 - Bench Bar Breakfast with
Wil Haygood
At the State Bar of Texas Annual Meeting 2019, State Bar of Texas
Podcast and Legal Talk Network producer Laurence Colletti sits down
with award-winning
American author Wil Haygood to hear about everything going on in his
life and his writing. They take a journey down memory lane through the
books he has written, but dive deepest into Showdown, a book
about famed
lawyer and Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall and his impact on
America. Haygood gives an in-depth look at key parts of his book, why he
chose it for his presentation, and shares anecdotes about the good
fortune he's received since writing it.
Special thanks to our sponsor, LawPay.
EPISODE
35: State Bar of Texas Annual Meeting 2019 - Fooding in
Austin
We hope you’re hungry because in this special edition, State
Bar of Texas Podcast host Rocky Dhir sits down with staffers
from the State Bar of Texas for insider tips on the best spots to eat
in Austin. They cover the top places for Asian comfort fusion food,
classic burgers, next level tacos, and the best sweets you can find,
such as gourmet doughnuts and specialty chocolate confections. And, no
shock here, they definitely cover the food truck scene. Tune in for a
mouth-watering conversation recorded at the State Bar of Texas Annual
Meeting 2019
with Amy Starnes, Hannah Allison, Jennifer Dunham, and Eric
Quitugua.
Special thanks to our sponsor, LawPay.
EPISODE
34: State Bar of Texas Annual Meeting 2019 - Ted Boutrous and Tom
Leatherbury on Open Government Law and Fake News
Half of Americans perceive made-up news as a big problem for our
country; fewer are as worried about the effects of racism. Tom
Leatherbury, co-leader of Vinson & Elkins’ Appellate Practice
Group, and Ted Boutrous, a partner at Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher, sit
down with State Bar of Texas Podcast host Rocky Dhir following
their panel at the State Bar of Texas Annual Meeting 2019 to discuss
the legal ramifications of “fake news,” the factors leading
to the overuse of the phrase, and how more transparency both in
government and journalism could help undercut this worrying trend.
Special thanks to our sponsor, LawPay.
EPISODE
33: State Bar of Texas Annual Meeting 2019 - ‘Get Paid and Have a Life’
with Judge Audrey Moorehead
State Bar of Texas Podcast guests hosts Sally Pretorius and
Baili
Rhodes sit down with Judge Audrey Moorehead, of Dallas County Criminal
Court #3, to share the lessons she’s learned over her years of
practice on how to “Get Paid and Have a Life.” They cover
how juggling bar service, networking, and a career can lead not only to
more clients but also better paying clients; how young lawyers should
value
their work; and how to do a better job selling your services. All that
and more from this year’s State Bar of Texas Annual Meeting
2019.
Special thanks to our sponsor, LawPay.
EPISODE
32: State Bar of Texas Annual Meeting 2019 - Ethical Use of Contract
Lawyers with Penny Robe
How can you ethically use a contract lawyer? State Bar of Texas
Podcast host Rocky Dhir talks to Penny Robe at the State Bar of
Texas Annual Meeting 2019, principal attorney at Robe Law Firm, about
what it means to be a contract lawyer. The two discuss how her interest
in
law practice management inspired her to become a contract lawyer, how
the ABA and Texas rules differ, and the appropriate steps to legally
and ethically bring on a contract lawyer.
Special thanks to our sponsor, LawPay.
EPISODE
31: State Bar of Texas Annual Meeting 2019 - The US National Debt with
Larry Gibbs
The US national debt today is about 22 trillion dollars and each day
it continues to rise. State Bar of Texas Podcast host Rocky
Dhir recording from the State Bar of Texas Annual Meeting 2019 is
joined
by Larry Gibbs, senior counsel at Miller & Chevalier, to talk about
America’s national debt crisis. They discuss the difference
between the national deficit and the national debt; how other
countries, such as China, are financing our debt (for now); and what
could happen if we default on our loans. Gibbs strongly urges our
listeners and everyone out there to educate themselves about our debts,
deficits, and spending programs and to reach out to their politicians
and to make our debt a principle issue in this country.
Special thanks to our sponsor, LawPay.
EPISODE
30: State Bar of Texas Annual Meeting 2019 - The Science of Speaking
With Noah Zandan
Legal Talk Network producer Laurence Coletti and Noah Zandan, CEO of
Quantified Communications, talk communications during an episode of the
State Bar of Texas Podcast recorded at the State Bar of Texas
Annual Meeting 2019. They discuss how Zandan’s frustration over the lack
of data in measuring the effectiveness of communication led him to start
a company that applies data and advanced AI to help communicators become
more effective and engaging.
Special thanks to our sponsor, LawPay.
EPISODE
29: State Bar of Texas Annual Meeting 2019 - Representing Diverse
Clients Special thanks to our sponsor, LawPay. EPISODE
28: Fostering a Stronger State Bar through Social Media
Special thanks
to our sponsor, LawPay.
EPISODE
27: The Life and Lessons of Sandra Day O’Connor Special thanks to our sponsor, LawPay. EPISODE
26: State Bar of Texas Annual Meeting & Celebrating the Bar’s Long
Serving Members Special thanks to our sponsor, LawPay. EPISODE
25: Workplace Discrimination – From Investigation to
Litigation Special thanks to our sponsor, LawPay. EPISODE
24: Legal Writing Nerd — Tips for Exceptional
Writing Skills Special thanks to our sponsor, LawPay.
EPISODE
23: Lawyer to Author — A Look at Mike Farris’
Interesting Career Special thanks to our sponsor, LawPay. EPISODE
22: The Need to Lead: Revamping Legal Ed to Grow Better
Leaders
EPISODE
21: Year in Review: A Look Back at the Episodes of 2018
EPISODE
20: Lady Lawyer Diaries: Support for Women in Law
EPISODE
19: An Inside Look at In-House Counsel 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 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 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 EPISODE
15: Why Lawyers Should be Listening
to Podcasts EPISODE
14: Legal Technology–Been There
Done That EPISODE
13: AI’s Impact on Jobs
EPISODE
12:
The Purpose of Paralegals
EPISODE
11:
Writing your own Textbook
EPISODE
10:
Social Media and Ethics EPISODE
9: Cultivating Humor in the
Legal Profession EPISODE
8: How to Build up your
LinkedIn Profile EPISODE
7: Harper Lee and Documenting Complexity Bonus
Coverage of the State Bar of Texas Annual Meeting
2018 EPISODE
6: State Bar of Texas Annual Meeting 2018: Preserving Mobile Device
Data EPISODE
5: State Bar of Texas Annual Meeting 2018: The New Face of the Texas
Young Lawyers Association EPISODE
4: State Bar of Texas Annual Meeting 2018: A Conversation with
Frank Stevenson EPISODE
3: What It’s Like to Write with U.S. Supreme Court
Justice Antonin Scalia EPISODE
2: Depression and Addiction in the Mind of a
Lawyer EPISODE
1: Anthony Graves on Overcoming a Wrongful
Conviction
Recording at the State Bar of Texas Annual Meeting 2019, State
Bar
of Texas Podcast host Rocky
Dhir sits down with panelists Lia S. Davis, senior litigation attorney
at Disability Rights Texas, and Jake Monty, managing partner at Monty
& Ramirez, fresh off the stage from their presentation
titled “Representing Diverse Clients: Issues of Culture,
Disability, and
Lifestyle.” Together, they cover common mistakes people make when
dealing
with disabled clients and the issues that frequently arise when
businesses hire minorities.
In a state with roughly one hundred thousand lawyers, one might be
surprised how disconnected and alone a practitioner can feel in Texas.
But when you spread those numbers across more than a quarter million
square miles, it becomes easy to understand why many attorneys
struggle to connect with the larger community, find mentors, or
receive
meaningful support from an understanding community. Leveraging the
power of social media, attorneys Andrew Tolchin and Michelle Cheng
help to bridge the chasm by operating the Texas Lawyers Facebook group,
which currently counts more than twelve thousand active Texas
attorneys in its membership. State Bar of Texas Podcast host
Rocky Dhir speaks with Tolchin and Cheng to discuss the meaning of such
a large, connected community, why it has succeeded, and some of the
surprising things they’ve learned along the way.
Author, historian, and journalist Evan Thomas was afforded
unprecedented access to the personal and professional life of a Supreme
Court Justice to write his authoritative biography of the first woman to
serve on the Supreme Court. In this episode of the State Bar of
Texas Podcast, host Rocky Dhir talks to the New York
Times best-selling author about what he learned writing First:
Sandra Day O’Connor. Thomas shares anecdotes and lessons
learned from his deep dive into her work and private life.
In this episode of the State Bar of Texas Podcast,
host Rocky Dhir welcomes State Bar of Texas President Joe K.
Longley who, at the bar’s upcoming annual meeting, will be one of
the many honored for their 50 years of membership. Longley discusses
the significance of this achievement and shares anecdotes from his long
and colorful career. Also joining Dhir is State Bar Executive Director
Trey Apffel, who gives more information about what attendees can expect
at this year’s event.
In this episode of the State Bar of Texas Podcast, host
Rocky Dhir talks to Suzanne Anderson about her career as a trial
attorney with the United States Equal Employment Opportunity
Commission, or EEOC. They discuss how the office investigates claims
and
the processes that lead to litigation. Anderson gives examples of
cases
the EEOC has dealt with and gives her perspective on the current
state
of discrimination in the workplace.
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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Tune in as the State Bar Annual Meeting 2018 continues with these next
three episodes on the State Bar of Texas Podcast.
Craig Ball talks about the importance of evidence preservation for
tablets and smart phones.
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.
Frank Stevenson talks about him stepping down from his role as
immediate past president of the State Bar of Texas.
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.
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.
After spending nearly two decades in prison—12 of those years on death
row—for multiple homicides he didn’t commit, Anthony Graves was
finally exonerated and released in 2010. In this episode of the
State Bar of Texas Podcast, host Rocky Dhir talks to Graves
about the
details of the crime, his experience in the courtroom, and what should
have been done
differently, including properly informing the jury about their role
and the case background. Graves discusses whether or not his case has
brought about positive change within the criminal justice system and
shares what he is doing to fight for criminal justice reform.