@theBar

In 1966, Richard Speck broke into a Southeast Side dormitory and killed eight nursing students in a horrific mass murder that shook Chicago to its core. Now, sixty years later, host Mathew Kerbis sits down with author Dennis Breo to examine this atrocity, Speck’s capture and trial, and how Chicago’s judicial system sought to bring him to justice.  Breo recounts the story of this disturbing “crime of chance” and offers insight into the extraordinary efforts of the prosecution to secure a conviction and ensure that Speck was held accountable for his crimes. To learn more about the case, read “The Crime of the Century: Richard Speck and the Murders That Shocked the Nation,” co-authored by Dennis Breo and Speck prosecutor William J. Martin.

What does the legal profession look like in an AI-powered future? Recorded at the CBA’s AI 2035 Symposium, this special episode features conversations with legal technology leaders, bar association educators, and AI innovators about the tools transforming legal practice today. We discuss the future of legal practice, practical AI applications for law firms, emerging litigation and transactional tools, data security, and the importance of helping lawyers adopt AI thoughtfully and responsibly. Kevin Thompson is a partner at Levin Ginsburg and co-chair of the CBA’s Law Practice Management and Technology Committee. Jennifer Byrne is Director of CLE Programs for the Chicago Bar Association. Emma Holden is an Account Executive at Spellbook Legal, an AI suite helping legal teams draft and review contracts with precision and efficiency in Microsoft Word. Samuel Oh is Co-Founder and CEO of Concorda, an AI operating system for litigators. Cristin Traylor is the Senior Director of AI Transformation and Law Firm Strategy at Relativity, a legal data intelligence platform. Megan O’Donnell is a Client Manager with LexisNexis and Chair of the Alliance for Women with the CBA.

AI has rapidly impacted every area of law and every aspect of legal practice. Accordingly, legal professionals need to feel confident and prepared as we move forward in this new landscape. From May 11–13, the Chicago Bar Association will host the AI 2035 Symposium, providing legal professionals with the tools to use AI responsibly and effectively in their practice.  Podcast hosts Mathew Kerbis and Nikki Marcotte welcome Joel Bruckman to discuss the upcoming event. Joel outlines the Symposium’s development over the past year and explains its aim to give attendees the opportunity to learn from leading experts, explore AI tools through live demonstrations, and participate in interactive CLE sessions. Visit Chicago Bar Association Learning: AI 2035: The Legal Profession and the Law for full details.

In this special joint episode presented by the Chicago Bar Association and the National Conference of Bar Presidents, host Amanda Arriaga speaks with Trisha Rich, Jon Amarilio, and Dan Cotter about their experiences in bar association leadership. Participation in state or local bar associations can offer valuable opportunities for connection, community, and professional development. Trisha, Jon, and Dan each share their journeys from bar membership to leadership, highlighting the rewarding experiences and growth that come with active involvement in the bar. Trisha Rich is First Vice President of the Chicago Bar Association and co-host of the @theBar Podcast. Jonathan Amarilio is Treasurer of the Chicago Bar Association and co-founder of the @theBar Podcast.  Dan Cotter is President of the National Conference of Bar Presidents and a Past President of the Chicago Bar Association.

For over a century, The Dozier School for Boys held dark secrets behind its gates. Allegations of abuse, forced labor, and unexplained deaths had often come up throughout its history, but the full reality of what happened during its time in operation was largely unknown. Maggie Mendenhall-Casey talks with forensic anthropologist Erin Kimmerle about her mission to bring justice to the forgotten children of Dozier. Erin shares the story of her investigation, including her processes for locating unmarked graves, the community backlash and political resistance she faced, and the continuing efforts for justice and reunification with victims’ families.  Read the full account in Erin’s book:  We Carry Their Bones: The Search for Justice at the Dozier School for Boys  Erin H. Kimmerle, Ph.D., is the Executive Director of the Florida Institute for Forensic Anthropology and Applied Science at the University of South Florida

Ironically, there is no end in sight for the drama between “It Ends With Us” co-stars Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni. The feud stemming from their fractured working relationship during the film’s production and release continues to offer up splashy headlines almost daily. Allegations of sexual harassment and retaliation led to smear campaigns and then further lawsuits claiming defamation, extortion, libel, and more. Can we make sense of their tangle of legal actions? Tracy Brammeier and Kellie Snyder welcome a panel of legal experts including Jeff Becker, James Hemphill, and Kyla Miller to discuss the details of this case, the intensity of public perception and social media reactions, and what we might expect as the case moves forward.    Kyla Miller is an attorney in Mayer Brown's employment, litigation, and counseling practice where she counsels employers in highly sensitive personnel matters. James Hemphill is a trial and appellate lawyer with Graves Dougherty Hearon & Moody where he has practiced First Amendment and media law for more than 30 years. Jeffrey Becker is founder of Swanson, Martin & Bell's entertainment and media law practice group where he helps clients resolve contractual and business disputes.

Modern law practice needs a modern billing approach. Learn tactics for the successful transition from hourly billing to flat and alternative fees with Scott Leigh of AltFee, the 2024 ABA Techshow Startup Alley winner. Mathew Kerbis talked with Scott at Techshow 2025 about the evolution of fee structures alongside technology advances and what lawyers should be thinking about to align their services with competitive pricing. They discuss how modernized fees can increase efficiency and profitability while offering transparent pricing for your clients.  Scott Leigh is co-founder and CEO at AltFee.

The legal profession upholds expectations for civility, inclusion, and wellbeing, but a new study by the Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Professionalism found that bullying is still a systemic issue in legal practice. Trisha Rich and Mathew Kerbis welcome Erika Harold to the podcast to discuss the study: Bullying in the Legal Profession: A Study of Illinois Lawyers’ Experiences and Recommendations for Change.  Erika explains how their research was conducted and which groups within the profession were found to be most at risk. They also discuss how lawyers can take action to increase awareness and prevent future harm.   Erika N. L. Harold is the Executive Director of the Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Professionalism.

A surefire place to learn the ins and outs of being a trial attorney is at the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office. The CCSAO prosecutes tens of thousands of cases each year and is deeply committed to the pursuit of justice to provide greater safety and well-being to Cook County residents. Tracy Brammeier and Maggie Mendenhall-Casey welcome new Cook County State’s Attorney Justice Eileen O'Neill Burke to learn about her plans for the CCSAO. In their wide-ranging discussion, they dig into plans for strengthening the office through new training and hiring initiatives; talk through major crime issues including gun crimes, theft, and domestic violence; discuss the need for more connected systems and communications in the county’s justice system; and much, much more.

The DuSable Black History Museum and Education Center is a pillar of Chicago’s cultural institutions, showcasing art and history while fostering connection to the vital story of Black history in America and the world. In honor of Black History Month, Maggie Mendenhall-Casey and Mathew Kerbis welcome Perri Irmer to learn about the museum’s continuing efforts to cultivate community and deepen understanding for all people. Perri offers insights into many notable people and events found in the museum’s exhibits and extensive archives. Later, they also discuss DuSable’s offerings during Black History Month, including school-age programming, films, lectures, online courses, arts and crafts, and much more!   To learn more, visit dusablemuseum.org.   Perri Irmer is President and CEO of the DuSable Black History Museum and Education Center, the iconic institution founded in 1961 by Dr. Margaret Burroughs.