It’s crucial for lawyers to stay up-to-date on the latest developments in their field if they want to run successful practices and deliver the best representation for their clients. But with the many hours that most attorneys spend investigating and litigating cases, communicating with clients, and performing other legal work, it can be a real challenge to find the time to keep up with legal news and developments.
That’s why you’re missing out if you’re a busy attorney and you don’t bother with podcasts. If you’re not already familiar, these digital radio shows give you an opportunity to download and listen to a wide range of content using your smartphone, tablet, laptop, or other digital device.
Podcasts can especially be a boon for busy attorneys since they allow the audience listen to interviews and commentary from experts and thought leaders on-demand. That means lots of activities that used to serve as dead zones for your productivity — commutes, workouts, lunches on the go — can suddenly become opportunities for valuable self-education and professional development.
Sifting Through the (Digital) Stacks for the Best Legal Podcasts
There’s only one problem with picking up a legal podcasting habit: figuring out where to start. Search any podcast hosting site (like iTunes, SoundCloud, or Overcast), and you’ll see that there are literally thousands of podcasts created by and for lawyers.
Rather than making you take shots in the dark until you find something you like, we’ve compiled a list of our five favorite legal podcasts, listed below in no particular order.
#1: Lawyer 2 Lawyer
A list of the best legal podcasts would be useless if it didn’t include the Legal Talk Network’s venerable and award-winning Lawyer 2 Lawyer podcast. Now in its 12th year, Lawyer 2 Lawyer is not only the internet’s longest-running legal podcast, but it’s also one of the longest-running active podcasts period.
Hosted by attorneys Bob Ambrogi and J. Craig Williams, Lawyer 2 Lawyer discusses recent important rulings and examines current events to raise thought-provoking questions about the current state and future of the legal field. A typical Lawyer 2 Lawyer episode runs about 30 to 40 minutes or so, and episodes frequently feature prominent guests as well as insightful analysis from the hosts.
We especially love Lawyer 2 Lawyer for the hosts’ level-headed and nuanced approach to dissecting contemporary news, and co-host Bob Ambrogi (who’s also a prominent legal technology blogger) is one of our favorite voices when it comes to analyzing how technology and social media continue to change the landscape and practice of the law.
Where to listen: Visit the Lawyer 2 Lawyer website, download episodes on the iTunes store, or listen to episodes on SoundCloud
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#2: The Digital Edge
Technology is rapidly changing the way that attorneys practice law as well as how law firms do business, and firms of all sizes are understandably still figuring out how to keep up. Thankfully, attorneys Sharon D. Nelson and Jim Calloway are here to help us make sense of the constant tech-driven tumult through their work hosting The Digital Edge, a legal podcast with an innovation and technology focus.
The Digital Edge, another entry from the Legal Talk Network which receives sponsorship from the Law Practice Management Section of the American Bar Association, offers easy-to-understand advice about how lawyers can incorporate specific cutting-edge tools into their routines and workflows.
But the show is much more than an advertisement for all the flashy case management software and other digital doodads that lawyers could potentially incorporate into their practices. The hosts also bring in expert guests to discuss how broader innovations in technology — like artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and machine learning — will impact the practice of the law going forward.
Where to listen: Visit The Digital Edge’s website or download and subscribe via iTunes
#3: Life of the Law
Unlike most of the entries on this list, which fall into the “by-lawyers, for-lawyers” category, The Life of the Law is a show that will fascinate not just attorneys but anyone who likes to learn about how the law shapes our daily lives.
Created by a team of investigative journalists, seasoned news editors, and legal scholars, The Life of the Law discusses how lofty legal concepts play out in the lives of the everyday people they often end up affecting. One recent episode, for example, explored musicians’ fight for basic copyright protections in Haiti, while another used the recent NBA championship win by the Golden State Warriors as an opportunity to examine several social issues, including how sports teams and their stadiums impact the surrounding communities.
Even though Life of the Law probably won’t give you much in the way of concrete advice about how to run a law firm or brand yourself, sometimes lawyers just want to hear an interesting story, and Life of the Law scratches that itch in a very satisfying way. New episodes arrive every two weeks and typically run a half-hour or so in length.
Where to listen: Visit the Life of the Law homepage or download and subscribe via iTunes
#4: The Legal Toolkit
We hate to let the Legal Talk Network dominate our list, but the best podcasts are the best podcasts, and ignoring them because of the brand name attached would be a disservice to our readers. Another entry from LTN, The Legal Toolkit focuses exclusively on law practice management, and it’s an invaluable resource for attorneys who run small firms or solo practices.
Each episode, hosts Jared D. Correia and Heidi Alexander invite forward-thinking attorneys to talk about strategies and innovations they’ve used to make their practices more efficient and better serve their clients. Recent episodes have dissected topics such as how millennials view the legal industry, how lawyers can use key performance indicators (KPIs) to manage their practices, and video marketing strategies for law firms. New episodes appear once per month and typically run about 30 minutes.
Where to listen: Visit The Legal Toolkit or download and subscribe via iTunes
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#5: Amicus
One of the most in-depth and yet most accessible entries on this list, Slate magazine’s biweekly podcast series Amicus exclusively covers the U.S. Supreme Court. Host Dahlia Lithwick, a longtime Supreme Court correspondent for Slate, brings together lawyers, law professors, and legal experts to discuss news and rulings from the highest court in the land as well as the concerns that could shape future rulings and appointments.
Although Supreme Court beat reporting provides a viable podcast subject in its own right, perhaps the best feature of Amicus is the way it uses Supreme Court cases as a jumping-off point for insightful political analysis, historical examination, and probing questions about how our society determines what’s legal and what isn’t.
Where to listen: Stream via the Amicus section on Slate’s website or use iTunes to download episodes and subscribe
(Bonus) #6: Legal Marketing Radio
Okay, we’re biased on this one, but that’s why we included it as a bonus entry. Our own podcast, Legal Marketing Radio, is a twice-a-month show that covers legal marketing tips and strategies as well as news, trends, and cutting-edge innovations in the digital marketing world.
We’re not here to talk about how great our show is, but we are pretty proud of our work on it and we’d love it if you gave it a shot. Besides offering a way to get to know the LaFleur team and their individual areas of expertise, the show also features guest appearances from respected and experienced attorneys as well as our colleagues and peers in the digital marketing world. Episodes typically run about 30-40 minutes, so it’s a perfect soundtrack for your morning or evening commute.
Where to listen: You can browse through, stream, and download episodes without leaving this website!
Contact LaFleur for Your Legal Marketing Needs
We hope you enjoy our podcast as well as the other excellent programs listed here, but they can’t substitute for the customized solutions you get from a full-service, data-driven legal marketing partner like LaFleur. To find out how we can help you grow your business and brand with efficient, affordable digital marketing solutions, give us a call at (888) 222-1512 or fill out our convenient contact form. We look forward to hearing from you!