Plus: One-fifth of law students are disabled | Is your marketing working?
As the year winds down, it’s a good time to look under the hood of your practice and make sure things are running smoothly.
We’ve found a podcast that makes firm management surprisingly entertaining. And if you’re reviewing your 2025 marketing, forget vanity stats—focus on what drives results. And, a stat worth unpacking: there are more disabled law students than disabled lawyers. That gap raises real questions about access and inclusion in the profession.
Do you have someone in charge of Knowledge Management at your firm? Read more about what KM is and why it matters below, then look out for Monday’s conversation with an attorney who is pioneering this job path.
But first, can you help figure out who killed this law grad? Minnesota police are trying to crack this 35-year-old cold case.
Social media faux pas costs firm $10k.
Looking up jurors on LinkedIn is a big no-no. So is posting about being a “petty-ass bitch” on Instagram.
Can’t look away. Hulu’s new legal drama, All’s Fair, has received an impressive number of zero-star reviews. Critics are also reviewing Kim Kardashian’s bold fashion choices. (And ICYMI, Kim did not pass the California bar exam this time around.)
Court reporters wish I spoke this slow.
Over on Instagram, @shesaprosecutie nails what it's like when you get in the groove and really start yapping.
Celebrating Native American Heritage Month.
Check out this video from the National Constitution Center that explores the influence of indigenous people and tribal governments on the U.S. Constitution and American democracy, from before the Revolution to today.
20% of all law students are disabled
The latest Law School Survey of Student Engagement is out, and for the first time ever, it asked in-depth questions about disabilities. It found that one in five law students reported living with a disability—primarily anxiety, depression and attention-deficit disorder.
Compare this to NALP’s latest annual Report on Diversity in U.S. Law Firms, which found that 2.54% of lawyers identified as having a disability.
Why this matters: Comparing these two reports raises several interesting questions. Are more people with disabilities going to law school? Or do we have a pipeline problem? Perhaps there have always been this many people with disabilities going to law school but not getting jobs in the legal industry. Or is the difference due to attorneys being less open about their disabilities than law students? (Reuters / NALP)
Mining for gold in your firm’s files
Knowledge management (KM) is not a new occupation, but as we move further into the information age, it is a growing one. KM as a process, and the people who work at it, are “dedicated to capturing and making efficient use of information through not just the storage but also the transfer, analysis and development of information related to a given organization," according to an article by Harvard Law School.
This article traces the evolution of KM across industries, then does a deep dive on how McKinsey & Company overhauled its legal department’s approach to KM. The company found that targeted KM can make legal work more efficient while preserving the collaborative, problem-solving ethos that clients and colleagues value most. By ensuring that answers to common questions and frequently used resources are easily accessible, lawyers can focus on higher-order thinking.
Why this matters: Even though law firms recognize the value of KM, the legal industry as a whole has been slow to embrace it. For firms seeking to scale or modernize, investing in KM can help them take what they already have and build something better. (Harvard Law School’s Center on the Legal Profession)
Let your geek flag fly
Ever think a podcast about law firm operations could make you laugh out loud? "The Geek in Review" (from the long-running 3 Geeks and a Law Blog) somehow pulls it off.
Attorney Marlene Gebauer and advisor Greg Lambert host the show. Their deep experience in the industry shines through as they discuss hot topics and question a wide variety of guests about the nuts and bolts of running a firm, with a "focus on how technology and innovation influence real-world legal practice."
Why this matters: This podcast is proof that law practice administration doesn’t have to be dry or depressing. Listening is genuinely entertaining and there’s always at least a couple of helpful takeaways. (The Geek in Review)
- Federal judge resigns to speak out against Trump
- Ex-DOJ official says more judges should be impeached
- Senate schedules hearing on judicial impeachments
- California lawyers may be required to represent defendants without pay
- Following up on Philly’s post-trial support program for jurors
Marketing vital signs
As the year winds down, it’s a good time to give your marketing a year-end checkup. While looking at likes, followers or website traffic may feel like the right move, those numbers don’t tell you whether your marketing is actually helping you get clients.
According to John Hinson at Legal Marketing Blog, the information that you should be tracking is: leads generated, consultations booked, client conversion rate and where your leads are coming from. If those four metrics are strong, your marketing is healthy. If they’re weak, it’s time to retool.
Why this matters: As you wrap up this year and plan for the next, it's important to make sure your marketing is working for you. As you assess your current strategy, remember clients > clicks. (Legal Marketing Blog)
You're all caught up!
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Raise the Bar is written and curated by Emily Kelchen and edited by Bianca Prieto.
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