Fewer lawyers are gaining real courtroom experience, and the future of trial advocacy is at risk. In this special episode of On the Road, veteran trial attorney and educator Michael Schwartz examines why trial lawyers are becoming harder to find and what it takes to develop the skills true advocacy requires. Drawing on decades of experience trying hundreds of cases, Schwartz breaks down the foundations of effective trial lawyering, from witness examination and jury selection to professionalism, ethics, and strategy. He shares lessons from pivotal courtroom moments and explains why trials remain essential to the pursuit of justice and the search for truth.

Michael Schwartz is a trial lawyer, legal educator, and founder of Trial Advocacy Group, where he trains lawyers nationwide in trial advocacy.

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Neurodivergence is far more common in the legal profession than many realize and when supported thoughtfully, it can be a powerful asset. In this special episode of On the Road, legal professional and advocate Christina Hough shares practical insights on working more effectively with neurodivergent attorneys, paralegals, clients, and colleagues. Drawing from both personal experience and decades in the legal field, Hough explores how conditions such as ADHD, autism, PTSD, and other neurodivergent traits can influence communication, learning styles, sensory processing, and collaboration.

From inclusive meeting practices and clearer communication strategies to simple workplace accommodations that improve focus and outcomes, this episode offers a roadmap for building more inclusive, productive legal environments while recognizing the unique strengths neurodivergent professionals bring to the practice of law.

Christina Hough is a neurodivergent legal professional, speaker, and advocate with more than 23 years of experience in the legal field.

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Employment disputes strike at a person’s identity, security, and sense of control. In this special episode of On the Road, employment attorney Drew Levine explains why clients often resist settlement—even strong offers—and how trauma and betrayal shape their reactions throughout the case. He outlines a trauma-informed approach to lawyering, showing attorneys how to create safety, listen with intention, reset expectations, and rebuild trust with clients who may feel overwhelmed or unheard.

From navigating ambivalence to reframing fairness versus legality, discover how centering humanity leads to stronger client relationships and better case outcomes.

Drew Levine is an employment attorney in Southern California who represents clients in complex workplace disputes.

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AI isn’t replacing legal professionals — it’s reshaping the work they do. In this special episode of On the Road, award-winning paralegals and educators Kelly Rednothy and Kristine Custodio Suero join attorney Michael Harris for a candid conversation about the skills and responsibilities legal pros need to stay competitive in an era of rapid technological change.

Together, they break down the ethical obligations around technology competence, how generative AI is transforming legal research, drafting, and document review, and what it means to “trust but verify” in modern workflows. They also highlight the durable skills—critical thinking, emotional intelligence, communication, collaboration, and continuous learning—that will define the next generation of legal professionals.

From understanding AI tools to protecting client confidentiality, this episode offers a grounded, practical roadmap for paralegals and legal teams preparing for the future.

Kelly Rednothy is a litigation paralegal, educator, and legal solutions consultant. Kristine Custodio Suero is an award-winning paralegal, author, and past president of the San Diego Paralegal Association. Michael Harris is an attorney and Chief Revenue Officer at Brightline Counsel.

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In this special episode of On the Road, Nexl Chief Growth Officer Ben Chiriboga explains why the future of legal practice hinges on what AI can’t replicate: strong client relationships. He introduces the concept of “relationship intelligence” and shows how lawyers can use simple data points—from communication patterns to internal connections—to focus their limited time on building deeper, more strategic client relationships. Learn how a data-informed approach to business development can help lawyers move from service providers to true trusted advisors.

Ben Chiriboga is the Chief Growth Officer at Nexl and a former practicing attorney.

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Growing a law firm isn’t just about new clients. It’s about building a strong team and a seamless client experience. In this special episode of On the Road, paralegal and law-firm operations consultant Eda Rosa breaks down the long-term strategies firms need to scale sustainably. She explains why continual staff training, proactive workflows, clear communication, and data-driven systems are essential to reducing bottlenecks and improving client satisfaction. From strengthening internal processes to empowering your front-line team, discover how intentional structure and collaboration can elevate your firm’s performance and set the foundation for future growth.

Eda Rosa is a paralegal, educator, and law-firm operations consultant specializing in workflow optimization and team development.

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Despite our nation’s commitment to justice, the system sometimes falters, allowing the innocent to be wrongfully convicted. In this episode, Ed Watts sits down with Michael Semanchik, Executive Director of The Innocence Center, for a compelling conversation about the fight to free those unjustly imprisoned. Michael sheds light on how these miscarriages of justice occur, the human stories behind them, and the vital role attorneys play in supporting innocence projects.

Learn more on the For the Innocent podcast, and visit Michael’s organization online: The Innocence Center - Securing Freedom For The Innocent.

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Family law is emotionally charged, complex, and full of pitfalls that can undermine even the most experienced attorney. In this special episode of On the Road, veteran family lawyer Claude Ducloux shares decades of hard-earned insights for running a successful practice. He covers how to set realistic client expectations, identify high-risk clients, handle social media ethically, protect yourself with documentation, and maintain civility and professionalism throughout every case. From practical billing and office management tips to strategies for fair settlements, Ducloux provides a roadmap for navigating family law with confidence, integrity, and clarity.

Claude Ducloux is a family law attorney with nearly 48 years of experience guiding clients and shaping best practices in the field.

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The American Legal Technology Awards recognize those who have shown excellence as technology innovators in the legal industry, and the 2025 winners have been chosen! Patrick Palace welcomes winners across three of this year’s categories—Jim Calloway (Lifetime Achievement Award), Jenifer Whiston (Artificial Intelligence Award), and Susan Choe (Court Award). Patrick learns more about the creative legal technology contributions of each individual, all of which have promoted tech understanding in the profession and furthered efforts for access to justice in our legal systems.

Learn more about our winners’ organizations!

• Management Assistance Program - Oklahoma Bar Association
• Free Law Project
• Ohio Legal Help

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The best payment experiences are transparent and simple, but far too many law firms struggle with awkward payment barriers for their clients. Stephanie Everett welcomes A.J. Axelrod of Clio to discuss modern and secure billing practices for law firms. They consider common errors and archaic methods that may lead to profit losses, share insights from the Legal Trends Report, and talk about how Clio’s billing software can help you ensure best practices in client payments. 

A.J. Axelrod is Clio's Vice President of Payments and Financial Services.

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The reality is, if you don’t understand your metrics, you aren’t getting the most out of your marketing tactics. Gyi Tsakalakis welcomes fellow marketing pro, Margarita Eberline, to discuss her talk on how to leverage metrics to improve your law firm’s advertising strategies. Margarita explains how to effectively measure and engage with metrics to increase your ROI, make quality connections for better leads, get the visibility you need in your market, and much more.

Margarita Eberline is the founder of Marketing Boss and offers coaching, teaching, and training for companies through fractional CMO services and workshops. 

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