Objection, robot! 🤖

Staying sharp in a shifting profession is harder than ever, but this edition has practical tips to help your firm keep its edge. We’ll start with guidance on hiring, how to decide which role your firm truly needs next, plus a checklist to get it right. Then we’ll tackle a big question: In the age of AI, are junior lawyers actually best positioned to thrive?

You’ll also find a podcast recommendation to keep up with DOJ developments and a simple but powerful LinkedIn feature that can help you decode the algorithm and sharpen your content strategy.
 
But first, did you hear about the lawyer who got his ear pierced in court after finding a buyer for the bankrupt retail chain Claire’s? Now that’s some zealous advocacy! 

Can you cover this one for me?
Over on Instagram, @prosecutorproblems knows what it’s like to open that “simple” case file.

Is your law school good enough?
Four states (Florida, Ohio, Tennessee, and Texas) may do away with ABA accreditation for their law schools. Texas says the court system itself can serve as an accreditor. 

The craziest part is this has apparently been going on since (at least?) 2013.
A Michigan judge faces a 23-page complaint alleging he showed up to work drunk and sexually harassed women at the courthouse.  

Don’t tell Nicolas Cage.
The full Constitution is on display for the first time ever. All 27 amendments and the mysterious “fifth page.” Unclear if this Archives exhibit will be extended post-shutdown.

What we’re watching. 
First Monday in October is a 1981 comedy about a conservative woman joining the Supreme Court. It had to be rushed to theaters when Reagan nominated Sandra Day O'Connor. 

Who to hire next

You know you need to hire someone to help your firm manage its workflow, but figuring out exactly what kind of support you need can be tricky. This article from My Cloud Crew lays out the differences between paralegals, legal assistants, general admin assistants and legal executive assistants, so you can advertise for the right kind of staffer.

Read it alongside this article from Lawyers Mutual Liability Insurance Company of North Carolina, which has a checklist that can help you navigate the hiring process from start to finish.

Why this matters: The right support staff can mean the difference between an overwhelmed practice and one that runs like a well-oiled machine. These articles can help you figure out what kind of staff to hire next and walk you through the hiring process. (My Cloud Crew / Lawyers Mutual Liability Insurance Company of North Carolina)

Do junior lawyers have a hidden edge?

While many people have predicted that AI could upend the apprenticeship model of legal training by automating the grunt work historically assigned to new associates, Winston Weinberg, CEO of the $5 billion legal AI startup Harvey, has a different perspective. 

Weinberg insists that younger attorneys are often more agile and open to adopting new technologies, making them well-positioned to thrive in an AI-driven legal landscape. He emphasizes that their willingness to take risks and adapt quickly will allow them to become stronger partners in the long run. Harvey is practicing what Weinberg preaches by actively recruiting junior lawyers across its global offices.

Why this matters: This article highlights the importance of proactively considering how the legal industry can train the next generation, even as some of the work new attorneys traditionally cut their teeth on is being automated by AI. Firms that integrate AI into their training, rather than seeing junior lawyers as replaceable by robots, are the ones that are truly looking to the future. (Business Insider)

Dishing on the DOJ

There’s a dizzying amount of news coming out of the Department of Justice these days. The UnJustified podcast is one way to keep up with it all. The hosts are attorney Andrew McCabe, the former deputy director of the FBI, and Allison Gill, a former employee of the Department of Veterans Affairs who was forced out of her job due to her (other) popular podcast reporting on special counsel Robert Mueller’s probe of the 2016 election and the Trump campaign’s dealings with Russia. Together, they break down the biggest headlines, but they also bring on guests who can provide unique insight into what’s going on. 

Why this matters: With so much happening at the DOJ, it’s hard to keep track of everything. This podcast covers the latest news, ties it back to previous actions and explains what to watch for next. (UnJustified)

• Courts are still open, for now
  
• Federal drug prosecutions are way down
  
• What’s SCOTUS got on tap this term?
  
• Private equity wants to invest in your firm
  
• Justice Thomas says precedent is just “something somebody dreamt up and others went along with.”

Hacking the LinkedIn algorithm 

Posting on LinkedIn is a great way to build your professional reputation, and can be a significant source of referrals, but figuring out what to say in order to gain traction can be a challenge. Litigator turned legal marketer Wayne Pollock says the best way to solve this problem is to track the posts of a few people with a relatively large number of followers. 

By paying close attention to what they post and how it performs, you can:

• Reverse-engineer what drives engagement by comparing hits and flops
• Get inspiration for your own posts
• Figure out what post formats, timing and frequency to test in your own feed
• Normalize the reality that not everything posted on LinkedIn is going to go viral.

Why this matters: Just as you analyze case law to shape your arguments, you can look for patterns in LinkedIn content. Examine what works, avoid what doesn’t and adapt proven tactics to build your own professional brand and client pipeline. (Copocetic)

You're all caught up!

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 Raise the Bar is written and curated by Emily Kelchen and edited by Bianca Prieto.