ABA Journal Podcast

How ethics reforms in Arizona led to LegalZoom’s law firm

The notion of nonlawyer ownership for law firms has long been a third rail, often resulting in bitter conflict between its proponents and its opponents. LegalZoom is certainly no stranger to this battle.

Jun 11, 2025 9:51 AM CDT

How a Florida murder and an unlikely justice created a ‘criminal procedure revolution’

In Chambers v. Florida and the Criminal Justice Revolution, historian and former ABA Journal editor Richard Brust lifts the veil on a case that laid the groundwork for some much more famous civil rights victories.

Jun 4, 2025 8:45 AM CDT

What today’s rainmakers do differently

The Rainmaker Genome Project surveyed 3,000 partner-level professionals in 41 firms. And it turns out that what makes a lawyer an effective rainmaker is not necessarily what makes a salesperson an effective seller.

May 21, 2025 3:22 PM CDT

To buy or not to buy? For Cleary Gottlieb, acquiring an AI company was a no-brainer

Law firms acquire or merge with one another all the time. But when it comes to technology companies, firms usually keep it in-house or enter into a partnership with an outside vendor. They rarely go ahead and just buy a tech company.

May 14, 2025 8:54 AM CDT

Perplexed about AI? Richard Susskind wants to help

For nearly 30 years, Richard Susskind has been asking lawyers to envision the future of the legal profession in ways that stretch the imagination. Now, he’s written a guidebook to help humanity respond to artificial intelligence.

May 7, 2025 8:53 AM CDT

‘Secrets of the Killing State’ exposes realities of lethal injection

Execution by lethal injection is seen by many Americans as a less barbaric alternative than older methods, such as hanging, firing squads and electrocution. It is easy to assume that the process must resemble euthanasia procedures for terminally ill people or pets. The reality is very different, says Corinna Barrett Lain, a law professor and a death-penalty expert.

Apr 23, 2025 8:51 AM CDT

Generative AI can help overworked immigration lawyers navigate these tumultuous times

Ever since the start of the second Trump administration, immigration lawyers have been busier than ever. Technology, particularly generative artificial intelligence, can help with some of that increased workload.

Apr 16, 2025 8:15 AM CDT

‘Patenting Life’ shares tales from a career on the cutting edge of science and the law

Jorge Goldstein entered the fields of science and patent law at a time of immense change for both. In Patenting Life, he shares the fascinating histories behind some well-known medications, lesser-known scientists and groundbreaking court cases.

Apr 9, 2025 8:45 AM CDT

How thinking like an athlete can make you a better lawyer

Peak performance in high-stress environments. It’s the goal for the basketball players taking the court during March Madness but just as much for players on a different kind of court. Lawyers can and should learn a lot from elite athletes.

Mar 19, 2025 11:00 AM CDT

This year’s historic ABA Techshow will be bigger than ever

It’s that time of year again. This year’s ABA Techshow 2025 will be a historic one for a couple of reasons.

Mar 12, 2025 9:07 AM CDT

This Harvard Law prof thinks constitutional theory is a terrible way to pick a judge

What if we are asking the wrong questions when selecting American judges? Mark Tushnet thinks our current criteria might be off.

Mar 5, 2025 9:04 AM CST

‘The Licensing Racket’ takes aim at professional licensing system in America

Should you need a license for that? For law professor and antitrust expert Rebecca Haw Allensworth, there are huge problems with professional licensing in America—and her solutions might not make anyone completely happy.

Feb 19, 2025 9:02 AM CST

Should we expect new regulations on data privacy and consumer protection?

When it comes to data protection and privacy, some states have already taken the lead in trying to protect consumer data. But in these political times, expecting or hoping for the federal government to follow suit seems about as likely as seeing pigs fly.

Feb 12, 2025 8:51 AM CST

Former Watergate prosecutor and friends reflect on life in ‘Legal Briefs’

For some people, retirement is an opportunity to kick back and finally relax. But for Roger M. Witten, it was a chance to finally tackle that book that he'd been thinking about writing. With a little help from longtime friends and colleagues, Legal Briefs: The Ups and Downs of Life in the Law was born.

Feb 5, 2025 3:45 PM CST

What’s the forecast for generative AI in 2025?

The ABA Journal’s Legal Rebels Podcast is not usually in the business of making prognostications. But it seems like a safe prediction to say generative artificial intelligence will dominate 2025—just like it did in 2024.

Jan 15, 2025 8:52 AM CST