The Intersection of Ethics and the Business of Law [LGE 131]

We can't end 2020 the way we end most years, with improving office organization and reviewing fee agreements.  Rather, this is a year to end with a focus on being kind to ourselves, setting new types of goals, and thinking about intentionally designing the coming year. In this episode, Megan highlights her article recently published on Attorney at Work on what items should  be on our year-end checklist. Thanks for listening! Don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE to the show to receive every new episode delivered straight to your podcast player every Tuesday. If you enjoyed this episode, please help me get the word out about this podcast. Rate and Review this show in Apple Podcasts, Stitcher Radio, Google Play, and Tunein and be sure to share this podcast with a friend. Be sure to connect with me and reach out with any questions or recommendations for specific resources: Twitter Facebook LinkedIn Website Email me at megan[at]zaviehlaw[dot]com This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not to be construed as legal advice specific to your circumstances. If you need help with any legal matters, be sure to consult with an attorney regarding your specific needs.

Thousands of California online bar exam takers were flagged for review, and an untold number of them have received Chapter 6 notices.  A Chapter 6 notice essentially accuses the applicant of cheating on the exam.  Megan has put together resources to help applicants respond. Resources Mentioned: Dropbox folder I put together with resources Petition to Sign (no monetary donations, please) Thanks for listening! Don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE to the show to receive every new episode delivered straight to your podcast player every Tuesday. If you enjoyed this episode, please help me get the word out about this podcast. Rate and Review this show in Apple Podcasts, Stitcher Radio, Google Play, and Tunein and be sure to share this podcast with a friend. Be sure to connect with me and reach out with any questions or recommendations for specific resources: Twitter Facebook LinkedIn Website Email me at megan[at]zaviehlaw[dot]com This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not to be construed as legal advice specific to your circumstances. If you need help with any legal matters, be sure to consult with an attorney regarding your specific needs.

George Psiharis joins Megan to talk about the Clio Legal Trends report for 2020, the ongoing release of new information, and how Covid has impacted this important project. Resources Mentioned: Clio Legal Trends Report Clio Covid Impact Report Guest Info: George on Twitter George on LinkedIn Clio on LinkedIn Clio on Twitter Thanks for listening! Don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE to the show to receive every new episode delivered straight to your podcast player every Tuesday. If you enjoyed this episode, please help me get the word out about this podcast. Rate and Review this show in Apple Podcasts, Stitcher Radio, Google Play, and Tunein and be sure to share this podcast with a friend. Be sure to connect with me and reach out with any questions or recommendations for specific resources: Twitter Facebook LinkedIn Website Email me at megan[at]zaviehlaw[dot]com This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not to be construed as legal advice specific to your circumstances. If you need help with any legal matters, be sure to consult with an attorney regarding your specific needs.

Professor Cat Moon teaches a fantastic class at Vanderbilt Law School called Law as a Business.  Megan was honored to be one of the guest speakers recently, and she focused part of her talk on the question, "What is the connection between ethics and the business of law?"  This episode answers that question, focusing in large part on the consequences of making ethical errors and also touching on the good business of being ethical. Thanks for listening! Don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE to the show to receive every new episode delivered straight to your podcast player every Tuesday. If you enjoyed this episode, please help me get the word out about this podcast. Rate and Review this show in Apple Podcasts, Stitcher Radio, Google Play, and Tunein and be sure to share this podcast with a friend. Be sure to connect with me and reach out with any questions or recommendations for specific resources: Twitter Facebook LinkedIn Website Email me at megan[at]zaviehlaw[dot]com This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not to be construed as legal advice specific to your circumstances. If you need help with any legal matters, be sure to consult with an attorney regarding your specific needs.

Professor Cat Moon teaches a fantastic class at Vanderbilt Law School called Law as a Business.  Megan was honored to be one of the guest speakers recently, and she focused part of her talk on the question, "What should young lawyers know about ethics and a successful career?"  This episode answers that question with three specific things Megan thinks are important. 1. Appreciate the importance of the rules 2. Don't assume those above you know more than you do about the ethics rules 3. Just because everyone else is doing it does not mean it is ok Thanks for listening! Don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE to the show to receive every new episode delivered straight to your podcast player every Tuesday. If you enjoyed this episode, please help me get the word out about this podcast. Rate and Review this show in Apple Podcasts, Stitcher Radio, Google Play, and Tunein and be sure to share this podcast with a friend. Be sure to connect with me and reach out with any questions or recommendations for specific resources: Twitter Facebook LinkedIn Website Email me at megan[at]zaviehlaw[dot]com This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not to be construed as legal advice specific to your circumstances. If you need help with any legal matters, be sure to consult with an attorney regarding your specific needs.

Screen addiction impacts most of us, and there's little doubt it has a negative impact. Overuse of screens leads to anxiety, depression, decreased productivity, and more.  Its impact is also clear in children. It turns out, it's not entirely our fault that we are so hooked.  Apps accessed on screens give us dopamine hits that keep us coming back for more.  In this episode, Megan talks about how we get hooked on screens and strategizes what we can do about it.  She also shares her recent experience of pulling the plug on the kids cold turkey. Resources Mentioned: Dopamine Detox - video on how to beat screen addiction: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9QiE-M1LrZk http://sitn.hms.harvard.edu/flash/2018/dopamine-smartphones-battle-time/ https://www.healthline.com/health/mental-health/cell-phone-addiction#how-to-break-the-addiction https://www.webwatcher.com/blog/why-are-kids-addicted-to-smartphones-dopamine-surges/ https://www.businessinsider.com/what-your-smartphone-is-doing-to-your-brain-and-it-isnt-good-2018-3 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OEpogM_fxsQ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZY2zzN3cTUQ https://vimeo.com/199064418 Thanks for listening! Don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE to the show to receive every new episode delivered straight to your podcast player every Tuesday. If you enjoyed this episode, please help me get the word out about this podcast. Rate and Review this show in Apple Podcasts, Stitcher Radio, Google Play, and Tunein and be sure to share this podcast with a friend. Be sure to connect with me and reach out with any questions or recommendations for specific resources: Twitter Facebook LinkedIn Website Email me at megan[at]zaviehlaw[dot]com This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not to be construed as legal advice specific to your circumstances. If you need help with any legal matters, be sure to consult with an attorney regarding your specific needs.

We know the profession has a mental health crisis.  We have serious concerns about bars asking applicants about their mental health. But do we really understand the position these questions can put an applicant in?   In this episode, Megan discusses and (in a first on this show) reads out loud the US District Court for the Western District of Kentucky's decision in Doe v. Supreme Court of Kentucky.  Doe applied for licensure after seeking mental health treatment, and Kentucky "put her through the ringer", eventually admitting her 994 days after she applied.  Then she sued for how she had been treated - and was dismissed from court, largely on standing grounds.  This episode highlights why all lawyers should care about what is happening int he admissions process, and Megan urges everyone to get involved. Resources Mentioned: Lawyers Gone Ethical with Jordan Couch on the Bar Exam Jordan Couch's analysis of the efficacy of the bar exam Court opinion Article about this case Thanks for listening! Don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE to the show to receive every new episode delivered straight to your podcast player every Tuesday. If you enjoyed this episode, please help me get the word out about this podcast. Rate and Review this show in Apple Podcasts, Stitcher Radio, Google Play, and Tunein and be sure to share this podcast with a friend. Be sure to connect with me and reach out with any questions or recommendations for specific resources: Twitter Facebook LinkedIn Website Email me at megan[at]zaviehlaw[dot]com This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not to be construed as legal advice specific to your circumstances. If you need help with any legal matters, be sure to consult with an attorney regarding your specific needs.

A large number of ethics complaints begin with lawyers taking on more work than they can handle, leading them to miss deadlines, fail to be responsive to clients, and otherwise drop the ball.  A booming business seems like a good thing, but too much of a good thing can cause severe problems.  In this episode, Megan talks long-term solutions like hiring help, and short-term relief measures like pausing ad campaigns, reducing availability for new consultations, and learning to say no. Thanks for listening! Don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE to the show to receive every new episode delivered straight to your podcast player every Tuesday. If you enjoyed this episode, please help me get the word out about this podcast. Rate and Review this show in Apple Podcasts, Stitcher Radio, Google Play, and Tunein and be sure to share this podcast with a friend. Be sure to connect with me and reach out with any questions or recommendations for specific resources: Twitter Facebook LinkedIn Website Email me at megan[at]zaviehlaw[dot]com This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not to be construed as legal advice specific to your circumstances. If you need help with any legal matters, be sure to consult with an attorney regarding your specific needs.

A niche, or narrow, law practice might sound risky, but it's actually a fantastic way to build a rewarding practice.  Lyndosha Jamison has created a niche for herself that is exciting professionally and financially successful.  Join Megan as she interviews Lyndosha to learn how.  Lyndosha Jamison and Megan presented at ABA TECHSHOW in Chicago in February 2020 on the topic of building a niche law practice.  The session was so popular it spawned a repeat performance for the ABA's Best of Techshow series, and there is even an upcoming book in the works.  Megan and Lyndosha talk in this episode about the practice Lyndosha built and niche practices generally, dispelling myths stoking the fear of specializing. Guest Info: Lyndosha Jamison's Website Thanks for listening! Don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE to the show to receive every new episode delivered straight to your podcast player every Tuesday. If you enjoyed this episode, please help me get the word out about this podcast. Rate and Review this show in Apple Podcasts, Stitcher Radio, Google Play, and Tunein and be sure to share this podcast with a friend. Be sure to connect with me and reach out with any questions or recommendations for specific resources: Twitter Facebook LinkedIn Website Email me at megan[at]zaviehlaw[dot]com This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not to be construed as legal advice specific to your circumstances. If you need help with any legal matters, be sure to consult with an attorney regarding your specific needs.

First, it sounds like the Florida Bar might be listening to this podcast.  (Jut kidding, of course.)  It issued a proposed advisory opinion allowing out of state lawyers to practice remotely from Florida without UPL repercussions.  Read more about solving the "butt in seat" problem here. Second, applicants to the bar who have any criminal history at all are faced with lots of wrinkles in disclosing their conduct to moral character committees.  Megan runs through some scenarios displaying this complexity and gives some guidance on how to handle them.  Thanks for listening! Don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE to the show to receive every new episode delivered straight to your podcast player every Tuesday. If you enjoyed this episode, please help me get the word out about this podcast. Rate and Review this show in Apple Podcasts, Stitcher Radio, Google Play, and Tunein and be sure to share this podcast with a friend. Be sure to connect with me and reach out with any questions or recommendations for specific resources: Twitter Facebook LinkedIn Website Email me at megan[at]zaviehlaw[dot]com This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not to be construed as legal advice specific to your circumstances. If you need help with any legal matters, be sure to consult with an attorney regarding your specific needs.