🎙️ Carolyn Elefant Confirmed as First Speaker for The Lawyer’s Podcasting Conference!

I am pleased to announce the first confirmed speaker for The Lawyer’s Podcasting Conference: Carolyn Elefant, the lawyer, author, mentor, and longtime force behind My Shingle. ⚖️

Carolyn will join us in McLean, Virginia, on Friday, November 13, and Saturday, November 14, 2026, for two days devoted to helping lawyers create podcasts that build authority, serve their audiences, and hold up under professional scrutiny.

The event will be held at 1765 Greensboro Station Place, 9th Floor, McLean, Virginia 22102, roughly one minute on foot from the Greensboro Metro station on the Silver Line. That means attendees can arrive from Dulles or Reagan National by train, walk to the venue, and spend their time thinking about their show rather than their rental car. 🚇

Carolyn is the first confirmed faculty member aside from me, your host and presenter, and I could not be more pleased to begin the speaker announcements with her.

Why Carolyn belongs in this room

For decades, Carolyn has provided independent lawyers with serious, practical guidance on building sustainable practices. Through My Shingle, her writing, and her work in the solo and small-firm legal community, she has consistently addressed the questions that arrive after the easy answers run out:

• How do lawyers build an independent practice without compromising judgment?

• How do we communicate our value without overselling?

• How do we adopt new methods and technology without losing sight of professional duties?

• How do we create work that is sustainable rather than merely busy?

Those questions sit at the center of lawyer podcasting.

A podcast can be a powerful professional platform. It can make a lawyer easier to find. It can demonstrate substantive knowledge. It can introduce a lawyer’s voice and judgment before a prospective client ever makes contact. It can strengthen referral relationships and build a library of useful, durable content.

But the same microphone that helps a lawyer reach an audience can also create ethical problems at scale. A casual client story can disclose more than intended. A promotional claim can travel across jurisdictions. A discussion of a pending matter can create risk. A contractor, editor, virtual assistant, or AI tool can introduce questions of supervision, confidentiality, and verification.

Carolyn’s perspective will help keep the conference grounded in the reality of independent practice. 🎧

The ethics session is the centerpiece

The conference’s ethics block is not an obligatory closing slide. It is being designed as a dedicated CLE-oriented session and working exercise.

We will examine the practical rules that lawyer-podcasters need to understand before they publish.

Model Rule 1.6 is where client stories begin. “Anonymous” does not always mean unidentifiable. Details that feel harmless in isolation can identify a client when assembled by someone who knows the matter. Written informed consent is often the safer choice when a story is recognizable or commercially useful.

Rules 7.1 through 7.3 matter because a podcast can be a communication about a lawyer’s services. The analysis does not stop at federal or ABA language. Lawyers must also examine the advertising and solicitation rules in the jurisdictions where they practice and where their content is directed.

Rule 5.5 matters the moment a locally focused show reaches a national audience. A podcast host should understand the line between legal education and individualized legal advice, especially when listeners begin asking questions in comments, direct messages, or follow-up calls.

Rule 1.1, including Comment 8, addresses technological competence. The duty is not to become an audio engineer. It is to understand the benefits and risks of the technology a lawyer uses. That includes recording platforms, hosting services, transcription tools, AI-assisted editing, synthetic media, and the systems that distribute content beyond the lawyer’s direct control.

Rule 5.3 applies when nonlawyers assist with production. An editor, assistant, agency, or technology vendor can make podcasting manageable. The lawyer still has obligations to choose, instruct, and supervise those providers appropriately. That includes reviewing transcripts and show notes before publication, protecting client information, and maintaining final judgment over the content.

As I discussed in MTC: Hidden AI, GEO, and the ABA Model Rules, the question is not whether AI or discoverability tools are arriving in legal marketing. They are here. The question is whether lawyers will use them with care, transparency, and professional discipline. 🔎

What attendees will build

The conference follows the practical spine of The Lawyer’s Guide to Podcasting, then takes the work beyond the page.

Day One focuses on the strategic foundation: why lawyers should podcast, choosing a viable topic and audience, selecting a format, understanding SEO and GEO, and choosing equipment that fits the lawyer’s actual goals and budget. We are also planning hands-on gear work and a live recording with a candid teardown. 🎛️

Day Two moves from recording to publication: guest preparation and releases, editing and human review, show notes, hosting, RSS ownership, directories, distribution, marketing, repurposing, and the systems that keep a show alive after the initial excitement fades.

Then comes the ethical and operational work. Attendees will identify the rules that govern their own practices, choose a sustainable cadence, and leave with a realistic first-ninety-days plan.

A lawyer with a static bio page is easy to overlook. A lawyer with a thoughtful body of episodes, transcripts, show notes, and professional judgment is building a record that clients, referral sources, search engines, and AI answer tools can discover. The work still must be accurate. It must be ethical. And it must sound like the lawyer behind it. 🎙️

Carolyn’s confirmation is an excellent beginning. More faculty announcements are coming as they are finalized. Registration will open soon.

For now, reserve November 13–14, 2026, and follow the conference updates. Bring the show you have been meaning to start.

🎙️ Save the Date: The Lawyer's Podcasting Conference Comes to the DC Metro Area November 13–14, 2026 ⚖️

Mark your calendar. 🗓️ The Lawyer's Podcasting Conference has dates, and it has an address.

save the date, the location is set, more to come!

We are gathering on Friday, November 13, and Saturday, November 14, 2026, at 1765 Greensboro Station Place, 9th Floor, McLean, Virginia 22102. The building sits roughly one minute on foot from the Greensboro Metro station on the Silver Line (Boro Station property details). Fly into Dulles or Reagan National, ride the train, walk to the ninth floor. No rental car. Whole Foods and a dozen restaurants sit within two minutes on foot, which matters when eighty lawyers need lunch at once. 🚇

I announced this event back in July, when the dates were still tentative (Announcing the Lawyer's Podcasting Conference). They are locked now. Reserve them.

Why a whole conference about lawyers and microphones? 🤔

Because the alternative is worse. Your prospective clients are asking an AI assistant, “Who handles their kind of problem?” That assistant answers from indexed, structured, attributable content. A lawyer with sixty published episodes, transcripts, and show notes is discoverable. A lawyer with a static bio page is a rumor.

I have written about this shift and its ethical edges before, in MTC: Hidden AI, GEO, and the ABA Model Rules. Generative engine optimization is not a marketing fad. It is the new front door to your practice. 🚪

Podcasting also does something a blog post cannot. It puts your voice in a client's ear during a commute. It builds the trust that converts a referral into a retainer. And it forces you to stay current, because you cannot record a coherent episode about a rule you have not read.

What the two days cover 🎧

lawyers, come learn the reasons, benefits, and steps to start your own podcast for your firm!

The program follows the spine of The Lawyer's Guide to Podcasting, and then goes further than a book can.

Day One answers why, what, and with what. We open with the business case for podcasting as thought leadership. We move into SEO and GEO for lawyer-podcasters. We work through choosing a topic and defining an audience, because "law" is not a niche. We cover the five show formats — solo commentary, interviews, panels, case-study storytelling, and educational series — and help you pick the one your calendar can actually sustain.

Then comes the gear. 🎛️ We will cover three honest tiers: the laptop-and-earbuds start, the credible upgrade, and the studio build. We will talk about recording inside a law office, where HVAC noise is a real problem and confidentiality is a design requirement. We hope to have hands-on labs to follow, so you hear the difference between rigs rather than reading about it and then a live episode recording with a full teardown afterward. 🍷

Day Two gets your show published. Guests, prep, and release forms. Editing, show notes, and the human review that AI-assisted production still requires. Hosting platforms, RSS ownership, and directory submissions. Marketing, repurposing, and audience growth.

One honest note. 📌 The schedule is still being fine-tuned. Session order, timing, and length will shift as faculty confirm, and I would rather adjust the grid than lock a weak lineup. I am in active discussions with additional speakers and panelists, and I will announce them as they sign on. Watch this space, and think of the outline above as the shape of the program rather than the final grid.

The ethics block is the centerpiece ⚖️

This is where too many legal podcasts go sideways, so we are giving it a dedicated session and designing it for CLE submission.

Rule 1.6 governs the client story you want to tell — anonymized facts can still identify a client, and informed consent belongs in writing. Rules 7.1 through 7.3 matter because a podcast is often a communication about your services, and the advertising rules vary meaningfully by jurisdiction. Rule 5.5 deserves attention the moment your audience crosses state lines. Rule 1.1, read with Comment 8, is why technological competence is not optional. Rule 5.3 covers your editor, your virtual assistant, and the AI tools handling your audio. And Rule 8.4(c) should govern how you disclose synthetic voice and AI-generated content. I have hammered on verification duties before (MTC: Even Though AI Hallucinations Are Down), and a published episode is no place to relax them.

We close the block with a working session where you pull your own jurisdiction's rules and mark the three that bind you most. 📋

Vendors and sponsors: let's talk 📣

come see and learn from those who know!

If you sell microphones, cameras, hosting, transcription, editing services, CRM, or practice-management software to lawyers, this room is your buyer. Solo and small-firm attorneys arrive ready to spend on gear and services within ninety days. Sponsorship tiers, demo tables, and lab-station placements are open now. Reach out early — the gear lab has limited stations.

Reserve the dates 🎙️

Registration opens soon, and speaker announcements start rolling out before then. Details, updates, and the sponsor prospectus as they go live on the conference information page – add your e-mail to stay up-to-date on fast-developing news! Put November 13–14, 2026 on your calendar today, stay tuned for the faculty reveal, and bring the show you have been meaning to start. 🎤

📣 Announcing the Lawyer’s Podcasting Conference – Coming This November

At MacStock 2026, during my presentation, “Podcasting with Apple: From Idea to Launch Using the Gear You Already Own”, I explored how lawyer‑hosted podcasts help attorneys educate clients, build authority, and grow their practices. Those insights sparked an idea that I first announced right after my session—and now it’s time to share it with you. 🚀

I’m excited to announce that we’re planning the first Attorneys Podcasting Conference, tentatively scheduled for Friday and Saturday, November 13-14*, in the Washington, DC metro area. This event is for solo practitioners, small and midsize firm lawyers, AI‑curious legal professionals, and anyone interested in practical, real‑world legal technology—whether you live in Windows, macOS, or a mix of both.

Why an Attorneys Podcasting Conference?

Legal podcasting sits at the intersection of client development, education, and professional responsibility. A well‑run podcast can support your law‑firm business by:

• Showcasing your subject‑matter expertise in ways a static bio never will 😊

• Deepening trust with current and prospective clients by explaining complex issues in plain language

• Keeping you top‑of‑mind with referrals, colleagues, and community partners

When you publish, you are speaking to the public about legal issues, and that triggers real ethical considerations. Under ABA Model Rule 7.1 (Communications Concerning a Lawyer’s Services), your podcast content must not be false or misleading, including how you describe your experience, results, or fees. Under Model Rule 1.6 (Confidentiality of Information), you must avoid sharing identifiable client information or facts that could reasonably lead to identification—even in anonymized stories. And Model Rule 5.3 (Responsibilities Regarding Nonlawyer Assistance) matters when you engage producers, editors, or marketing vendors to help with your show.

This conference will not only help you start and grow a podcast, it will help you do so ethically, in alignment with your jurisdiction’s version of the ABA Model Rules. ⚖️

What This Conference Is About

lawyer’s learn how to improve your Brand, seo and geo through podcasting!

This event is designed for attorneys who want podcasting to be a strategic business tool, not just a hobby. We’ll focus on:

• Why podcasting grows your law‑firm business
  We’ll dig into how a consistent, well‑targeted show supports client development, referral relationships, and thought leadership—without violating Rules 7.1 or 7.2 on lawyer advertising.

• From Hanging a Shingle to Yellow Pages to SEO to GEO
  For generations, law‑firm marketing has evolved step by step: you started by hanging a shingle, then moved into Yellow Pages ads, then into websites and search engine optimization (SEO). Today we’re entering a new phase: Generative Engine Optimization (GEO)—how your content is discovered, summarized, and surfaced by AI‑driven tools and generative engines.
  
  In this conference, we’ll talk about where podcasting fits in that progression: how a well‑structured show can support traditional SEO while also positioning you for GEO, so that when clients or referral sources ask AI‑powered tools legal questions in your niche, your expertise is more likely to be surfaced.

• How to start the right way
  We’ll walk through choosing a niche, format, and editorial calendar; building a workflow that respects your docket; and creating a basic compliance checklist so each episode stays within ethical guardrails.

• How to grow and sustain your podcast
  You’ll learn practical tactics for audience growth, repurposing episodes into blogs and newsletters, and integrating your podcast with email, social media, and AI‑assisted workflows—still mindful of Rule 1.6 when using cloud or AI tools.

• Tools, tech, and services for Windows and Mac
  We’ll explore microphones, interfaces, recording and editing tools, hosting platforms, and production services that work well in both Windows and macOS environments. Whether you’re recording in Audacity on Windows, GarageBand or Logic Pro on Mac, or a web‑based platform, you’ll see realistic, law‑practice‑friendly setups. 💻🖥️

The goal is a practical, hands‑on conference that helps you either launch a podcast or take your existing show to the next level, with clear, concrete connections back to law‑firm business growth and professional responsibility.

Who This Conference Is For

This conference is ideal for:

Lawyers, learn from seasoned podcasters and professionals how to start, ethically operate, and grow your podcast and your law practice!

• Solo and small‑firm attorneys who want a cost‑effective, authentic way to reach clients and referral sources

• Midsize firm lawyers and practice group leaders who want to align podcasting with broader content and business‑development strategies

• AI‑curious legal professionals who want to understand where AI‑driven transcription, summarization, and editing tools fit into podcast workflows, while staying within ethics rules on confidentiality and supervision

• Law‑firm marketing and business development professionals responsible for managing risk while helping lawyers stand out

• Vendors and sponsors offering equipment, software, production, hosting, AI tools, and marketing services for attorney podcasters

You do not need to be “tech‑forward” to benefit. If you can draft a motion, send an email, and open a file, you can learn this. The goal is to make the technology approachable, not overwhelming.

Windows and Mac: Equal Focus

Although much of my work at The Tech‑Savvy Lawyer ecosystem has featured Apple platforms, this conference explicitly serves users on Windows, Mac, or both:

• Demonstrations will include Windows‑friendly tools, Mac‑specific workflows, and browser‑based platforms that live above the OS line.

• We’ll highlight cross‑platform best practices, so your workflows survive hardware refreshes, lateral moves, or firm‑wide technology changes.

• We’ll talk candidly about IT and security considerations, including how to vet podcast tools under Model Rule 1.1 (Competence) and its comments on technology.

Your podcast should follow you, not the other way around. 😊

Vendors, Sponsors, and Live Recordings

We are building an expo experience that is more than just branded tables and pens:

• Vendor booths will include podcast production services, hosting platforms, AI‑assisted tools, microphones and interfaces, and legal marketing consultancies that understand law‑firm constraints.

• Sponsors will be able to support the event through traditional tiers and in‑kind contributions such as Wi‑Fi, coffee breaks, breakfast, lunch, or A/V and recording services.

• We plan to offer live‑recording opportunities, including:

  • Reserved slots to record your podcast on‑site

  • Live episode demos with an audience

  • Workflow walk‑throughs that highlight both Windows and Mac setups

Throughout, we will keep an eye on confidentiality, consent, and any necessary disclosures to stay within Rules 1.6, 7.1, and 7.2.

Want to Stay in the Loop?

If you’re:

come join your fellow professionals and enter the world of lawyer podcasting!!!

• An attorney with a podcast

• A lawyer seriously considering starting one

• A law‑firm leader or marketing professional interested in podcasting

• A vendor or sponsor looking to support attorney podcasters

…I’d love for you to get on the early‑info list.

Just click this link and enter your email address to join the list!

When you sign up, you’ll be able to:

• Receive final date, venue, and registration details as they’re confirmed

• Get speaker announcements and information on ways to participate, including suggesting topics, formats, and panels you’d like to see

• Learn about live‑recording opportunities, such as signing up to record your podcast on‑site or participating in live demos and audience sessions 🎙️

• See sponsorship and vendor information once packages are set

• Share any questions you have and what you’re hoping to get from this kind of conference—topics you want covered, tools you want to see, or business challenges you’d like help solving

Why Macstock 2026 Should Be on Every Tech-Savvy Lawyer’s Calendar (and How to Save $50 with My Code) ⚖️💻

macstock 2026 will be held july 10, 11 & 12, 2026!

If you’re a solo, small-firm, or AI‑curious lawyer who lives in the Apple ecosystem, Macstock 2026 is one of the few conferences that genuinely respects both your time and your tech stack. It’s a three‑day, community‑driven, Apple‑centric event where you can sharpen your skills with your Mac, iPhone, and iPad, and walk away with workflows you can actually deploy on Monday morning.

This year, I’m honored to be speaking at Macstock X on “Podcasting with Apple: From Idea to Launch Using the Gear You Already Own.” We’ll take a practical walk through planning, recording, and publishing a professional‑quality podcast using the same devices you already carry into court, client meetings, and your home office. Whether you want to build a niche show for veterans’ benefits, family law, or small‑business compliance—or simply become a more confident guest on other podcasts—this session is designed to be accessible, concrete, and repeatable. 🎙️

What Makes Macstock Different (and Why Lawyers Should Care)

Macstock isn’t a generic tech expo with a handful of Apple sessions bolted on; it’s an independent, Apple‑focused conference built for people who actually use Apple gear every day. The attendees range from first‑time Mac users to seasoned creators, but everyone shares a common goal: get more from Apple hardware and software without drowning in jargon.

For attorneys, that matters. You’re not trying to become an IT professional. You want to:

• Capture and organize evidence more efficiently on your iPhone. 📱

• Draft, annotate, and sign documents on your iPad when you’re away from the office.

• Automate repetitive tasks on your Mac so you can spend more time on advocacy and less on admin.

learn how to use your mac to podcast!

Macstock’s sessions, hallway conversations, and Creator Camp tracks are all geared toward real‑world workflows—exactly the kinds of workflows I talk about on The Tech-Savvy Lawyer podcast and blog, including episodes like “Ethical AI, Paperless Practice, and Smart Hardware Choices with ABA LTRC Chair Alan Klevan ⚖️🤖” and similar deep‑dives into ethical tech use.

A Time-Sensitive Deal: Save $50 and Support The Tech-Savvy Lawyer

Let’s talk about timing and value. You can use my code TECHSAVVYLAWYER at checkout to save $50 on your Macstock Weekend Pass or Creator Camp Bundle. If you’ve been thinking, “I should go to Macstock one of these years,” this is that year.

For every person who uses the code, Macstock provides me a $25 referral fee. That means:

• You pay $50 less for a weekend of Apple‑centric, workflow‑rich content.

• You directly support The Tech-Savvy Lawyer blog and podcast, including future episodes and tutorials.

The code TECHSAVVYLAWYER is not case‑sensitive and is valid through July 8, 2026.

How Macstock Helps You Meet Your Ethical Tech Duties

your The Tech-Savvy Lawyer.Page Blogger and podcaster will be presenting at Macstock x!

Macstock is not marketed as a legal tech conference, but it naturally supports your professional obligations under the ABA Model Rules.

• Competence — Model Rule 1.1 (Comment 8): You have a duty to keep abreast of the benefits and risks associated with relevant technology. Learning how to securely use Apple devices for uses like document management, client communication, and evidence handling goes directly to your duty of technological competence.

• Confidentiality — Model Rule 1.6: Many sessions at Macstock touch on system settings, backups, and secure workflows. Understanding how to configure your Apple devices to minimize unauthorized access, especially when using cloud sync and third‑party apps, strengthens your compliance with confidentiality obligations.

• Communication — Model Rule 1.4: Clear, timely communication often depends on your ability to reach clients where they are—email, secure messaging, or even video updates. The more confidently you use your Apple tools, the more reliably you can keep clients informed.

If there is not a session directly addressing your questions, there are many enthusiastic, friendly attendees and speakers happy to try to help you and your Apple computer needs! 🤗

On The Tech-Savvy Lawyer blog and podcast, we frequently link these ethics points to real tools and scenarios—just as we did in episodes exploring AI, deepfakes, and metadata in digital evidence—and Macstock is a natural extension of that mindset.

Why Lawyers Should Care About Podcasting with Apple

Podcasting can be more than a marketing buzzword. Done right, it can be:

• A client education channel that answers common questions before they become billable emergencies.

• A way to build authority in a niche practice area—veterans’ benefits, immigration, special education, you name it.

• A platform to interview judges, experts, and colleagues in a way that strengthens professional relationships.

My Macstock session, “Podcasting with Apple: From Idea to Launch Using the Gear You Already Own,” is focused on practical, lawyer‑friendly steps. We’ll talk about using your iPhone as a primary microphone, recording with your Mac, organizing episodes in iCloud, and editing in approachable tools—no audio engineering degree required. If you enjoy my conversations with guests on The Tech-Savvy Lawyer podcast, this session will show you what it takes to stand behind the mic yourself.

Community, Not Just Content

One of the things I appreciate most about Macstock is the community. People go back year after year not only because the sessions are strong, but because the hallway track, shared meals, and evening conversations provide real, candid problem‑solving time.

For lawyers—especially solos and small‑firm practitioners—this kind of peer‑to‑peer exchange is invaluable. You’ll find people who:

• Have already solved a workflow you’re struggling with.

• Are willing to share templates, shortcuts, and practical advice.

• Understand the pressure of balancing client work, marketing, and a life outside the office.

If you’ve listened to episodes like my MacVoices “Road to Macstock” appearance in 2024, you’ve heard how much I value that human side of legal tech and Apple tech events.

Ready to Join Me at Macstock?

If you’re serious about making your existing Apple gear work harder for your practice—without overwhelming your staff or your budget—Macstock 2026 is worth the trip. You’ll return with actionable workflows, renewed confidence, and a clearer sense of how to align your technology use with your ethical obligations.

Just don’t wait:

• Sign up at https://macstockconferenceandexpo.com/register/

• Use code TECHSAVVYLAWYER (not case‑sensitive) for $50 off your Macstock Weekend Pass or Creator Camp Bundle.

• For every use of the code, I receive a $25 referral fee that helps sustain The Tech-Savvy Lawyer content you rely on.

I look forward to seeing you at Macstock X— and hopefully hearing your voice in the podcasting space soon. 🎧⚖️

You’re Invited: The Lawyer’s Guide to Podcasting Launch Party in Bethesda!

Come join likeminded legal professionals who want to expand their reach, audience, and clientele through the art of podcasting!

On Wednesday, May 20, 2026, from 5:30–7:30 PM, we’re gathering at 4704 North Chelsea Lane, Bethesda, MD 20814 for an in‑person book launch party for The Lawyer’s Guide to Podcasting.

This guide has already helped lawyers, paralegals, and legal professionals find a clear, practical path into podcasting without needing to be “techy” to get it right. Now we’re bringing the conversation into the same room.

Expect a relaxed evening with DMV‑area lawyers, podcasters, and authors—plus drinks, snacks, and the chance to pick up The Lawyer’s Guide to Podcasting at $5 off (while supplies last) and have it signed.

The lawyers’ guide to podcasting will teach you practical ideas for show formats, the right gear for your show, and practical workflows while maintaining your ethics!

• Who it’s for (lawyers, legal professionals, aspiring podcasters, legal tech community)

• What you’ll walk away with (practical ideas for formats, gear, ethics, workflows).

Attendance is free, but space is limited. Please reserve your spot by midnight on May 18, 2026, so we can plan food and space.

👉 RSVP on Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/book-launch-party-the-lawyers-guide-to-podcasting-tickets-1988334439834

📰 ABA TECHSHOW 2026 Recap: From AI Hype to LLM Reality, Google Workspace, and Ethical Lawyering in the Age of Bots ⚖️🤖

The Real Story Behind ABA TECHSHOW 2026

The techshow is the conference to go to keep your pulse on the technology lawyers should be using every day!

Walking into ABA TECHSHOW 2026 this year, I wasn’t thinking about shiny gadgets; I was thinking about competence, client service, and what it will mean to practice law in an era dominated not just by “AI,” but by large language models (LLMs) quietly shaping almost everything we see and share online. During my work on The Tech-Savvy Lawyer.Page blog and podcast, I keep running into the same pattern: lawyers know they should understand legal technology, yet they worry they’ll break something, breach a rule, or look foolish in front of their staff. TECHSHOW 2026 aimed directly at that anxiety — but this year, the conversation needs to go beyond what AI and generative AI can do and toward how LLMs and search bots are already shaping our professional identities online and offline. ⚖️💻

Keynotes: The “AI Dividend” and Your Time

The keynote lineup captured the tension between promise and risk. Legal market analysts highlighted what some called the “AI Dividend”: when machines take over routine drafting and research, lawyers gain time to think, advise, and advocate at a higher level. The real question — one I’ve been hammering on The Tech-Savvy Lawyer.Page for years — is what you will do with the time technology gives back (some of that time should include reviewing your work, e.g., your case citations). Tech-savvy speakers pushed attendees to look past vendor hype and focus on the broader digital environment, where consumer-facing tools, search engines, and recommendation algorithms are setting new expectations for speed, transparency, and availability.

Practical AI in the Sessions

Inside the conference rooms, the “Taming the Machines” and related AI tracks met baseline concerns (some with hands-on workshops) focused on realistic use cases: assisted drafting, pattern spotting in discovery, and summarizing voluminous documents. These sessions were built for lawyers who live in Word, Outlook, Google Workspace, and practice management systems and who simply want to stop retyping the same paragraphs. The faculty hammered home a critical point: generative AI is an assistant, not a decision-maker; you remain the lawyer, responsible for accuracy, judgment, and ethics under the ABA Model Rules. 🤖📄

Google Workspace, Microsoft 365, and Using What You Already Own

Mathew Krebis’ session on Google Workspace drove that message home in very practical terms. He showed how many firms are only scratching the surface of tools they already pay for: shared Drives with well-structured permissions, real-time collaboration in Google Docs, Gmail automation for intake and follow-up, and Google Calendar combined with Tasks to keep matter timelines under control. When you layer in emerging AI features in Workspace — smart replies, document summaries, suggested outlines — you see how even modest use of these tools can dramatically reduce friction in daily practice, and the tools Mathew discussed are not isolated to “law practice management” systems.

The takeaway was powerful: before you chase a new platform, fully exploit the ecosystem you already have. For many firms, “being more tech-savvy” starts with properly configuring their Google Workspace, Microsoft 365, or other SaaS platform, rather than buying yet another service.

Podcasting, Social Media, and LLM-Driven Visibility

Meanwhile, one other yet important frontier — and one that still feels underexplored — is what happens when LLMs and search bots become the primary lens through which clients, colleagues, and even opposing counsel discover you. That’s where my panel, 🎧 Podcasting for Lawyers: The Truth Behind the Mic, came in.

Ruby L. Powers, Gyi Tsakalakis, Stephanie Everett, and I discussed podcasting and social media not just as marketing channels, but as structured signals fed into LLM-driven engines that are constantly indexing, ranking, and inferring who is an authority on a given topic. Whether you talk about appellate practice, family law, or even a hobby outside the law, your content becomes training data for Generative Engine Optimization/LLM bots that decide which voices surface first when someone types a question into an AI chatbox. 🎙️🌐

In other words, your digital footprint is no longer static. It is being interpreted, reassembled, and presented as answers — often without you ever seeing the intermediate steps. That reality raises a new layer of ethical questions under the ABA Model Rules. Model Rule 7.1’s prohibition on false or misleading communications about the lawyer or the lawyer’s services takes on a new twist when LLMs remix snippets of your posts, podcasts, Google Workspace–hosted client alerts, and blog articles into composite “advice.”

You might be scrupulously accurate in your content, but if an LLM mischaracterizes it or presents it out of context, what then? TECHSHOW 2026 addressed traditional risks like hallucinated case citations, but there is room for a deeper, explicit conversation about how LLM-driven discovery intersects with advertising, communication, and competence duties.

EXPO Hall: Tools, Timekeeping, and Vendor Reality Checks

The EXPO Hall, as always, served as a laboratory of possibilities. Practice management platforms, billing tools, document automation, and a wave of AI-enhanced products competed for attention. Timekeeping tools that automatically capture activity across devices and applications and then propose draft time entries have grown dramatically since last year. For lawyers still reconstructing their days from memory and sticky notes, this is more than a marginal upgrade; it directly affects revenue, work-life balance, and accuracy.

But the fair warning comes here: make sure vendors are showing you what their product can do today, not what they hope it will do someday. In the LLM era, marketing decks are often several steps ahead of deployed reality. 🧾⏱️

Remember, you have an obligation under Model Rule 1.1 (competence) and Model Rule 5.3 (responsibilities regarding non-lawyer assistance) to understand the capabilities and limitations of any tech you “delegate” work to. Asking hard questions about current functionality, data handling, and audit trails is not being difficult; it is part of your duty of care.

Cybersecurity, Confidentiality, and LLM Risk

networking oppOrtunities like the taste of tecHshow” is a great way to talk with and learn from other lawyers about using tech in the practice of law.

The sessions on cybersecurity and confidentiality continued to do vital work. Under Model Rule 1.6, our obligation to protect client information extends to cloud storage, email, video conferencing, and the mobile devices we casually use in airport lounges. The “Guardians of the Data” track walked through practical checklists rather than abstract fearmongering: password managers, multi-factor authentication, properly configured backups, and vendor due diligence.

For firms running on Google Workspace, that translated into concrete steps: enforcing two-step verification, tightening Drive sharing settings, using client-specific shared Drives instead of ad hoc personal folders, and monitoring admin logs for suspicious access. The move from generic “AI” to LLM-powered services on any platform increases data risk, because many tools rely on ingesting your content — sometimes including client information — to improve their models. If you don’t understand where your data is going and how it is used, you cannot credibly say you are meeting confidentiality obligations. 🔐☁️

Competence, Human-in-the-Loop, and Everyday Workflows

You have an obligation under Model Rule 1.1 (competence) and Model Rule 5.3 (responsibilities regarding non-lawyer assistance) to understand the capabilities and limitations of any tech you “delegate” work to. Asking hard questions about current functionality, data handling, and audit trails is part of your duty of care.

Balancing this skepticism, though, is an equally important truth: becoming proficient with AI and LLM-based tools is not a spectator sport. You cannot satisfy your duty of technological competence from the sidelines. You have to use the tools first on a small scale, then progressively in more critical workflows, always with appropriate supervision and verification.

That might mean piloting an AI drafting feature in Google Docs and Microsoft Word for internal templates, or testing structured intake forms and automations inside Google Workspace or Microsoft 365 before rolling them out firm-wide. Ignoring AI because it feels uncomfortable is no longer the safer option. In some practices, failing to integrate it intelligently — while peers and opposing counsel do — may itself raise competence concerns as expectations evolve in courts and among clients. 🧩📈

Saturday Sessions: From “Use AI” to “Use AI Responsibly”

On Saturday, the 9 a.m. conversation among ABA President Michelle A. Behnke, Immediate Past President William R. “Bill” Bay, and President-Elect Barbara J. Howard, underscored how all of this ties into the rule of law and access to justice, framing AI as something lawyers now have a responsibility to actually use, not simply watch from the sidelines. The 10 a.m. session with Judge Timothy S. Driscoll then shifted the focus from “use AI or be left behind” to “use AI responsibly,” making it clear that judges, too, are integrating AI into their work and that they are not immune from mistakes when they rely on it.

The message for everyone in the courtroom ecosystem was simple and blunt: “Review, review, and review” any work touched by AI, because AI is a non‑infallible tool that does make errors and can mislead the unwary. Together, these sessions acknowledged the growing digital divide: lawyers and clients who can’t or won’t adopt technology risk falling out of the mainstream of legal services, while those who adopt it recklessly risk eroding confidence in both their own work and the justice system as a whole.

We are not merely debating convenience; we are deciding who gets effective representation and who is left out because the lawyer they might have hired never appeared in their LLM‑driven search results — or appeared with AI‑boosted visibility but poor ethical judgment. Technology, in this sense, is not optional; it is one of the few levers we have to expand meaningful access to legal help, provided we wield it with intent, humility, and rigorous human review. ⚖️🧠

LLM Literacy: The Next Core Competency

That balance — between caution and experimentation — is where TECHSHOW 2026 both excelled and showed its next frontier. Many sessions made AI approachable, breaking down concepts for lawyers with limited to moderate tech skills and providing concrete workflows they could apply on Monday. What I would like to see more explicitly next year is programming that treats LLM literacy as a core competency: understanding how LLMs are built, how they index and surface information, how your content feeds into them, and how that affects everything from client intake to reputation, whether you are working in Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, or a specialized legal platform.

From my vantage point as a legal tech ambassador at The Tech-Savvy Lawyer, the most successful sessions respected that many lawyers are highly capable professionals who simply haven’t had the time or guidance to modernize their workflows. They don’t need to become prompt engineers. They need guardrails, roadmaps, and clear examples of how to align AI, LLM tools, and mainstream platforms like Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace with the ABA Model Rules and local bar guidance. When faculty focused on incremental steps — tightening cybersecurity configurations, adding a layer of AI-assisted drafting under strict human review, building a consistent content strategy that LLMs can reliably recognize — the room should lead in.

A Tough-Love Takeaway for Lawyers

If you are a lawyer who still feels behind, here’s the core message I took away from TECHSHOW 2026, with a bit of tough love: you don’t need to chase every new tool, but you can’t afford to ignore LLM-driven AI and the platforms you already live in, like Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace, any longer. Understand the basics; pilot one or two well-vetted tools to start improving your efficiency without sacrificing the need for a true human-in-the-loop.

SEE YOU IN CHICAGO FOR ABA TECHSHOW 2027!!!

Read your jurisdiction’s ethics opinions on AI and technology. Build habits that protect client data by default. Use your own content — whether blog posts, newsletters, or podcasts — to train the bots to see you as a trusted authority rather than a digital afterthought. Ultimately, your bar license may be at more risk from not engaging with AI than from engaging with it carefully and intelligently.

The future of legal practice will not wait until we are all comfortable; it is here now, embedded in the search boxes, recommendation engines, and tools your clients already use. TECHSHOW 2026 made that clear. The next move is yours. 🚀⚖️

MTC

Exclusive ABA TECHSHOW 2026 Offer 🎙️⚖️ — $5 Off The Lawyer’s Guide to Podcasting (On-Site Only, While Supplies Last!) + Join Our Live Sessions on Podcasting and Video Presence

Hey ABA TECHSHOW 2026 Attendees! 🎉

I’m thrilled you’re joining us in Chicago to explore how technology can elevate modern law practice. ABA TECHSHOW is one of my favorite spaces for real-world conversations about legal tech, and this year I’m especially excited to connect with those of you who want to put your voice — and your expertise — to work through podcasting and video.

ABA TECHSHOW 2026 attendees get your discounted LTG: The Lawyer’s Guide to podcasting at the techshow while supplies last!!!

To celebrate TECHSHOW and support lawyers who are podcast-curious but not necessarily “tech experts,” I’m offering a special, in-person-only discount on my book, The Lawyer’s Guide to Podcasting. 📚🎙️ During ABA TECHSHOW 2026, attendees can purchase a physical copy on-site for $19.99, which is $5 off the regular $24.99 price, on-site only and while supplies last.

This book is written for lawyers with limited to moderate technology skills who want a clear, practical, ethics-aware roadmap to launching and sustaining a podcast. You don’t need a production team or a studio; you need a realistic workflow, the right level of tech, and an understanding of how the ABA Model Rules apply when your voice becomes part of your marketing and client-education strategy.

Join Me and My Co-Hosts at ABA TECHSHOW 2026 🎤

You’ll find me on the ABA TECHSHOW 2026 program in two sessions that sit right at the intersection of technology, communication, and professional responsibility.

🎧 Podcasting for Lawyers: The Truth Behind the Mic

In this session, I’ll be joined by a powerhouse group of legal podcasters and marketers:

• Ruby L. Powers – A board-certified immigration attorney, law firm owner, legal innovator, and host of the Power Up Your Practice podcast, Ruby brings deep experience in law firm leadership, remote practice, and legal tech adoption.

• Gyi Tsakalakis – A well-known legal marketing professional and podcast host, Gyi focuses on helping lawyers understand how digital marketing, SEO, and content (including podcasts) drive real-world client development.

• Stephanie Everett – Co-author of The Small Firm Roadmap Revisited and host of The Lawyerist Podcast, Stephanie works with small firms on strategy, operations, and building sustainable, client-centered practices.

Together, we’ll discuss how, in a world crowded with blogs and social media, podcasting gives lawyers a unique way to build authority and connect with audiences on a more personal level. You’ll hear from lawyers and experts who actively run podcasts and work with law firms, and we’ll share the exact steps we’ve used to create compelling legal content that resonates, supports branding, and respects ethical boundaries.

🎥 Camera Ready Anywhere: Mastering Video Meetings with Clients, Courts, and Colleagues

In this session, I’ll be co-presenting with Temi Siyanbade:

• Temi Siyanbade – An attorney, speaker, and author of Show Don’t Tell: How Lawyers Can Use Video to Stand Out, Create More Value, and Revolutionize Their Firms, Temi helps legal professionals strategically use video to build trust and communicate more effectively.

Virtual communication is now a permanent part of practice, whether you’re meeting with clients, negotiating with opposing counsel, or appearing before the court. In this session, Temi and I will share practical best practices for using Microsoft Teams and Zoom, including audio, video, lighting, framing, and on-screen presence, so your tech setup supports — rather than undermines — your advocacy and client service.

Ethics, ABA Model Rules, and Tech Competence ⚖️

Find me at the techshow to get your onsite discount and take home a great guide to get your podcast started!

Podcasting and video both touch directly on your professional responsibilities. In The Lawyer’s Guide to Podcasting, I connect the practical steps of planning, recording, and publishing to the ABA Model Rules of Professional Conduct, including:

• Rule 1.1 (Competence) and Comment 8 on understanding the benefits and risks of relevant technology.

• Rule 1.6 (Confidentiality) when using real-world stories or client scenarios.

• Rule 7.1 (Communications Concerning a Lawyer’s Services) to ensure your podcast and related content remain truthful and not misleading.

I walk through how to use clear disclaimers, separate legal information from legal advice, and avoid inadvertently revealing confidential or identifying information. The goal is to help you become tech-savvy in a way that is realistic, ethical, and sustainable.

What You’ll Get from The Lawyer’s Guide to Podcasting 📘

Inside the book, you’ll find:

• Plain-language tech guidance: realistic microphone, software, and hosting recommendations for busy lawyers.

• Step-by-step workflows: planning, recording, editing, and publishing made manageable for your schedule.

• Ethical “checkpoints”: where to pause and consider confidentiality, advertising rules, and jurisdiction-specific requirements.

• Integration tips: how to embed your podcast on your website, share it in newsletters, and repurpose episodes for SEO and client education.

This is not a book about becoming a sound engineer; it’s about becoming a tech-savvy lawyer who uses podcasting thoughtfully.

On-Site Only, While Supplies Last 🛍️

Because this offer is tied to ABA TECHSHOW 2026, the $5 discount is available only for on-site purchases by attendees and only while physical copies last. I wanted this to be a tangible benefit for those who make the trip — and a practical next step if one of our sessions sparks your interest in podcasting.

Here’s how to take advantage of it:

• Add “Podcasting for Lawyers: The Truth Behind the Mic” and “Camera Ready Anywhere: Mastering Video Meetings with Clients, Courts, and Colleagues” to your TECHSHOW schedule.

• Bring your questions about tech, ethics, workflows, and content.

• Find me on-site after the sessions or around the conference to pick up your discounted, signed copy of The Lawyer’s Guide to Podcasting for $19.99 (regularly $24.99), on-site only and while supplies last. 📚✍️

SEE YOU AT THE TECHSHOW!!!

ABA TECHSHOW is about practical innovation and ethical implementation. Podcasting and video live right at that intersection — modern tools that, when used thoughtfully and in line with the ABA Model Rules, can enhance your competence, your communication, and your client relationships.

If you’ve been thinking about starting a legal podcast — or want a structured way to decide whether podcasting fits your goals — I’d love for you to join our sessions and pick up the book during the show. 🎧⚖️

Shout Out: Previous Podcast Guest Ruby Powers Invites Your The Tech-Savvy Lawyer.Page Blogger and Podcaster Back on Power Up Your Practice!

I recently had the honor of joining Ruby Powers on her Power Up Your Practice Podcast, and I could not be more excited about what we covered for fellow lawyers. We talked about legal podcasting as a practical, ethical, and highly effective way for attorneys to build visibility, deepen relationships, and modernize their marketing without needing to be “hardcore tech people.”

On Ruby’s show, I shared why I believe that podcasting is becoming the new networking standard for lawyers. When you regularly publish episodes—whether about your day-to-day practice, a niche topic, or even a related interest—you push your name and your ideas into the online world in a consistent way. Search engines and AI systems notice this. Over time, your name and your content start to surface more often when people search for your practice area, your type of work, or your expertise. That is real SEO, and it comes from steady, quality content rather than tricks or gimmicks.

Another reason I encourage lawyers to podcast is simple: your voice makes you more human. Listeners hear how you think and how you explain things. They hear your tone and your values. That goes far beyond a static bio or a profile page. Whether your audience is potential clients, referral sources, peers, or the broader public, a podcast lets them get to know you in a safe and scalable way. This is networking that keeps working for you even when you are in court, in a hearing, or taking a much-needed break. 🌟

I also understand that many lawyers hesitate because they are concerned about ethics. That concern is healthy. As attorneys, we cannot ignore ABA Model Rules and similar state rules when we put content into the world. On the podcast, Ruby and I discussed that while a show can be an excellent educational and marketing tool, we must avoid giving individualized legal advice and avoid accidentally creating an attorney–client relationship. I strongly recommend clear, prominent disclaimers that explain the podcast is for informational purposes only, does not create an attorney–client relationship, and should not be relied on as legal advice for any specific matter.

This aligns with our obligation of competence under Model Rule 1.1, which now includes understanding relevant technology, and with our duties around communications and advertising under Model Rules 7.1 and following. A well-run legal podcast respects those boundaries. It presents general information and insights, and it invites listeners to seek formal counsel if they need advice for their specific situation. When you treat your podcast as education plus relationship-building, not as a substitute for representation, you are already thinking in the right direction.

In our conversation, Ruby and I also addressed a common fear: “I’m not tech-savvy enough to start a podcast.” As someone known as the Tech-Savvy Lawyer, I want to be clear: you do not need to be a full-time tech enthusiast to do this. You likely already have access to most of what you need. A solid microphone, a decent camera, and a platform like Zoom, Riverside, or StreamYard can take you surprisingly far. Many of these tools are user-friendly and continue to improve. You can start with the basics and then layer on more sophistication as you grow more comfortable. 🎧

Ruby shared her own experience of initially overthinking her podcast. She wanted it to be perfect, and that almost stopped her from launching. I hear that from lawyers all the time. My advice is simple: do not wait for perfect. Your early episodes will probably make you cringe later, which means you are improving. That is a good sign. Focus on clear audio, honest content, and consistent scheduling. Over time, you can refine your editing, your format, and even your branding. You can bring in a contractor or a service to help with editing once you know you want to keep going.

We also discussed the flexibility podcasting offers. You can publish weekly, every other week, or monthly. You can create solo episodes where you explain key topics. You can host interviews with colleagues, experts, or community leaders. You can even experiment with live formats, where audience members submit questions in advance, and you answer them at a general, educational level. The format should fit your bandwidth, your goals, and your audience.

One concept I emphasized is the idea of an “ideal listener” or avatar. Before you hit record, think about exactly who you are speaking to. Is it a potential client in a specific practice area? Other lawyers in your niche? Law students or young practitioners? Having that profile in mind will guide your topic choices, your language, and your examples. It also helps you stay focused on value rather than drifting into random conversations that do not support your goals.

From a business perspective, legal podcasting can support your referral network in powerful ways. Colleagues can share your episodes, which subtly introduce you as a trusted resource. Prospective clients may listen to several episodes before they ever contact you, which means they arrive already familiar with your style and approach. That can shorten the trust-building curve and make consultations more productive.

What I appreciate about Ruby’s Power Up Your Practice platform is that it treats podcasting not as a vanity project, but as part of a larger ecosystem of law practice management, technology, and professional development. My appearance on her show gave me a chance to tie together what I see in my own practice, my blog, my podcast, and my book: lawyers do not need to fear technology. We need to engage with it thoughtfully, guided by the same ethics and judgment we apply in every other part of our work.

If you are a lawyer with limited to moderate tech skills and you have been on the fence about starting a podcast, I invite you to listen to my conversation with Ruby and let it serve as a practical, encouraging blueprint. You will hear that you are not alone in your concerns, that there are clear ways to stay compliant with ABA Model Rules, and that the path to becoming a “tech-savvy lawyer” does not require perfection—only willingness, consistency, and a focus on delivering value. 🚀

Enjoy!

⭐ First Five-Star Amazon Review for “The Lawyer’s Guide to Podcasting” – Why Tech-Savvy Lawyers Should Care About ABA Ethics, Client Trust, and Smart Marketing 🎙️⚖️

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“The Lawyer’s Guide to Podcasting” by your favorite blogger/podcaster just earned its first five-star Amazon review, and it’s a milestone worth your attention. 🎉📘 The reviewer highlights what many of us in legal tech have been saying: podcasting is no longer a fringe hobby; it is a strategic, ethics-aware marketing channel for modern law practice. 🎙️

For lawyers with limited to moderate tech skills, this book demystifies microphones, workflows, and publishing tools without assuming you want to become an engineer. Instead, it walks you through practical steps to share your expertise in a format today’s clients already trust—long-form, authentic audio. 🔊

From a professional responsibility perspective, the guidance aligns with ABA Model Rule 1.1 on technology competence and Model Rule 1.6 on confidentiality by emphasizing the use of secure platforms, thoughtful content planning, and careful handling of client-identifying details. The book reinforces that podcasting can showcase your substantive knowledge while staying within the guardrails of Model Rule 7.1, avoiding misleading claims about your services. ⚖️

QR Code for Amazon book link

The first five-star review underlines two themes: listeners want real conversations, and they quickly recognize when a lawyer respects both the audience’s time and the profession’s ethical duties. That is exactly the posture this book encourages—credible, compliant, and client-centered. 🌟

If you are ready to build authority, differentiate your practice, and satisfy your tech-competence obligations without drowning in jargon, now is the perfect time to get your copy of “The Lawyer’s Guide to Podcasting” on Amazon and start planning your first ethically sound episode. 🚀

ANNOUNCEMENT: The Lawyer’s Guide to Podcasting Is Here: A Practical, Ethical Launch Plan for Busy Lawyers 🎙️⚖️

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I’m excited to share! The wait is over! The Lawyer’s Guide to Podcasting is officially released. 🎉🎙️ This book is built for lawyers, paralegals, and legal professionals who want a clear, practical path to launching a podcast—without needing to be “techy” to get it right.

Podcasting has become one of the most effective ways to build trust at scale. People want more than ads. They want a real voice. They want context. They want clarity. A podcast lets you educate, connect, and show your professional judgment in a way a website cannot. It also gives prospective clients a low-pressure way to get to know you before they ever call. 📈🤝

This guide covers the full podcast lifecycle in plain language. You will learn how to pick a topic that fits your goals and schedule. You will learn the most useful show formats for legal audiences, including solo episodes, interviews, storytelling, and educational series. You will also learn what to buy (and what to skip) when building your gear setup. That includes microphones, headphones, webcams, lighting, and basic acoustic improvements that matter in real offices. 🎧🎥💡

QR Code for 📚 purchase on amazon

Software matters too. In this book, I explain beginner and pro options for recording and editing. It also covers remote recording tools and simple video workflows for YouTube and modern platforms. You will get a clear explanation of podcast hosting and distribution, including how RSS feeds deliver your episodes to directories like Apple Podcasts and Spotify. 📲🌍

A major focus of this book is professional responsibility. Lawyers must avoid accidental legal advice. Lawyers must avoid creating unintended attorney-client relationships. Lawyers must also watch multi-jurisdictional issues and advertising rules. This guide addresses those risks directly and gives practical guardrails you can use in real episodes. 🛡️📜

You will also learn how to use AI efficiently and ethically. AI can save time on transcripts, show notes, clips, and repurposed content. It can also create risk if you feed it sensitive data or publish unverified output. The book offers a workflow-first approach that protects confidentiality and supports accuracy. ✅🤖

The Lawyer’s Guide to Podcasting is part of the Lawyers Tech Guide (LTG) series from Michael D.J. Eisenberg, creator of The Tech-Savvy Lawyer.Page. The mission is simple: use technology to communicate clearly, serve people better, and reclaim time. ⏳✨

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