Legal Speak

Legal Speak is a weekly podcast that makes sense of what's happening in the legal industry. Brought to you by Law.com's global network of reporters and editors, each episode tackles a subject that's worthy of a deep dive—from law firm profit hacks to Supreme Court showdowns to the most promising plays in legal tech. Hosted by Law.com editors Leigh Jones and Vanessa Blum, Legal Speak offers straight talk from experts, plus inside-the-newsroom perspective on market-shaping stories.

‘I Hope We All Keep Up the Momentum and Keep the Strength:’ Black Women Firm Leaders Speak

Jul 2, 2020

Recent police killings of Black men and women has spurred a dialogue on racial injustice in the legal profession and a push for greater inclusion. On this episode, Grace Speights and Tara Elliott join The National Law Journal Editor in Chief Lisa Helem for a candid conversation. Speights, who leads the labor...

‘Pictures in My Head’: Black Law Deans Take on Racism in Legal Ed

Jun 19, 2020

On this week's podcast, Law.com legal education editor Karen Sloan talks with two black law deans about a new initiative to mobilize law schools and their communities in the fight for racial equality. Angela Onwuachi-Willig, dean of Boston University School of Law, and Danielle Conway, dean of Penn State Dickinson Law,...

‘It’s OK Not to Be OK’: An In-House Leader’s Take on Guiding Resilient Teams

Jun 12, 2020

With Uber's worldwide operations shaken up amid the coronavirus pandemic, Uber Technologies Associate GC Matt Wilson explains the strategies that help his team perform under pressure. Wilson, who leads Uber's 90-member legal team across Asia Pacific, Europe, the Middle East and Africa, is passionate about...

'This Has to Be a Seminal Moment': Black Law Firm Leaders on Inequity, Ire and What Comes Next

Jun 5, 2020

On this episode, two prominent African American law firm leaders explore the context behind the frustration, sorrow and anger seen in protests around the country in the wake of the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis. Scott Bolden, D.C. managing partner of Reed Smith, and Ben Wilson, chairman of Beveridge & Diamond,...

Times Are Tough! A Shame-Free Guide to Surviving Career Disruption

May 29, 2020

The legal industry shed 64,000 jobs in April as impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic permeated the economy. That leaves a lot of people figuring out the next steps of their careers in a difficult economic climate. On this episode, Baker Botts special counsel Cynthia Cole talks about losing her first job out of law school...