Law Labs

Adapt or Atrophy: Why Law Firms Have 12 Months to Master AI

If you are a solo or small firm attorney trying to figure out where AI fits in your practice, this episode of LawLabs (a special series from the Modern Arizona Podcast) is your starting point. Carolyn Elefant breaks down exactly how to begin with AI tools, why most lawyers are evaluating them in the wrong order, and what the real risks look like when AI gets citations wrong. She also shares an honest prediction of where the profession is headed and why firms that are not adopting now will find themselves in a very difficult position within the year. Carolyn Elefant is the founder of the Law Offices of Carolyn Elefant and the creator of MyShingle.com, the longest-running blog dedicated to solo and small firm practice. A Cornell grad who started her firm in 1993, she has spent over two decades consulting, writing, and advocating for independent lawyers and is currently traveling the country speaking to attorneys about AI and its real-world impact on their practices. Topics discussed: * Where lawyers should actually start with AI tools and what to avoid first * Why you need to learn general AI tools before legal-specific ones * How to protect yourself from hallucinated and mischaracterized case citations * What the legal profession looks like in one year and in five * Why firms that are not using AI are running out of time to catch up Find Carolyn: MyShingle.com

Inside an Immigration Law Firm on the Frontlines of Chaos

Immigration attorney and law firm founder Hillary Walsh joins Billie Tarascio for a candid conversation about what it's really like to run an immigration law firm in today's turbulent legal and political climate. From filing habeas petitions to protect unlawfully detained clients, to navigating due process violations and a surge in demand for legal services, Hillary shares how her practice has evolved, and how she's adapting to protect both her clients and her team. They also dig into the business side of running a growing firm: the hard decisions around hiring and letting people go, bringing on a CFO, building custom software from scratch, and finding an operations leader who can handle 1,000+ filings a month. Plus, Hillary opens up about supporting remote employees in Mexico during a crisis, dealing with racist online harassment, and why she's investing in a life coach after years of business-only coaching. Whether you're an immigration attorney, a law firm owner, or just someone trying to understand what's happening at the intersection of law and politics right now, this episode is for you. Topics Covered: * Immigration law strategy under the current administration * Habeas petitions and unlawful detention cases * Hiring, firing, and leveling up your team * Building law firm operations and custom software * Supporting a remote team during a crisis * Business coaches that actually helped and how to choose one Connect with Hillary: Website: https://newfrontier.us/ [https://newfrontier.us/] Phone: 623-742-5400 Email: hillary@newfrontier.us [hillary@newfrontier.us]  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/newfrontierimmigrationlaw [https://www.facebook.com/newfrontierimmigrationlaw]  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/newfrontierimmigrationlaw [https://www.instagram.com/newfrontierimmigrationlaw] TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@newfrontier_immigration [https://www.tiktok.com/@newfrontier_immigration]

The End of the Billable Hour? Scaling a Modern Law Firm with Jessica Travis

In this episode of Law Labs, Billie Tarascio sits down with Jessica Travis, Co-Owner and Managing Partner of Fighter Law in Orlando, Florida. They talk about how modern law firms can move beyond billable hours, use AI tools the right way, and build strong internal systems that support real growth. Law Labs is a podcast for law firm owners and legal professionals who want to build smarter firms. Each episode focuses on systems, technology, billing models, marketing, and practical strategies that help firms grow in a sustainable way. Jessica Travis is the Managing Partner and Co-Owner of Fighter Law, based in Florida. She leads a growing firm that practices Family Law, Criminal Defense, Personal Injury, and Estate Planning. Jessica is passionate about building strong SOPs, improving client service, and integrating technology into daily operations. From experimenting with flat fee billing in family law to implementing an AI receptionist and improving data tracking through Clio, she focuses on practical innovation that supports both clients and her team. In this episode, you will learn: 👉 How to design a flexible flat fee model for family law 👉 Why the billable hour model is becoming harder to justify 👉 How AI receptionists can improve intake and reduce missed opportunities 👉 How to track leads, consultations, and revenue weekly 👉 How to train and supervise young attorneys using systems 👉 How to approach AI without chasing every new tool Connect with Jessica Travis: Fighter Law: https://fighterlaw.com [https://fighterlaw.com/]

From Legal Tech to Civil Rights: Scaling a National Firm with Bob Simon

In this episode of the Modern Arizona Podcast, Law Labs Edition, Billie Tarascio sits down with Bob Simon. They talk about what it means to run a national law firm, build legal tech companies, and step into civil rights advocacy during a time of major legal and political tension. Bob Simon is an entrepreneur, trial lawyer, and co-founder of multiple companies, including a national personal injury firm and the legal tech platform Attorney Share. He is also actively involved in civil rights litigation, including cases involving ICE detentions, unlawful stops, and police misconduct. His firm handles personal injury and civil rights matters across the country, and he has been involved in litigation related to wildfire recovery and large-scale corporate accountability. Bob is also a father of three and speaks openly about balancing family, trauma-heavy legal work, and public advocacy. In this episode, you will learn: 👉 How lawyers can organize and support civil rights cases even if they do not practice immigration law 👉 What illegal detentions look like inside the courtroom 👉 How referral networks can help solo and small firms take action 👉 How Attorney Share connects 5,500+ lawyers nationwide 👉 How technology and AI can automate intake and case routing 👉 Why some civil rights cases may never pay but still matter 👉 How large corporations fight liability and what trial lawyers can do about it To learn more about Bob and his team, you can visit the sites below.  https://community.justicehq.com/  thesimonlawgroup.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thesimonlawgroup/  #culture #law #lawfirm #lawyers #billietarascio #modernlaw #businessoflaw #lawfirmlife #entrepreneur #ai #optimisticdisruptor  #billietarascio #bobsimon #justiceteam

The Future of Law Firms: AI, Unstable Marketing & What Comes Next

In this Law Labs episode of the Modern Arizona Divorce Podcast, Billie Tarascio sits down with Tyson Mutrux, founder of Mutrux Firm Injury Lawyers and owner of Maximum Lawyer, to talk about what is really happening inside modern law firms. Tyson is not just a personal injury attorney. He is an entrepreneur, systems thinker, and constant experimenter who is building, testing, and automating in real time. In this conversation, he shares how AI is changing legal workflows, why marketing feels unstable, and how firm owners can stay steady while everything around them shifts. They talk about AI in daily operations, intake automation, malpractice concerns, and why small workflow improvements matter more than flashy tools. They also discuss why SEO is becoming less predictable, why in-person relationship building is making a comeback, and how future technologies like self-driving cars could impact personal injury law. If you feel like the ground is moving under your firm, this episode will help you slow down and think clearly about your next steps. KEY TAKEAWAYS ✓ AI is already reshaping daily legal work, especially behind the scenes. ✓ Small automation wins can save several hours per week per team member. ✓ Intake automation must include clear human oversight to reduce risk. ✓ SEO-driven marketing is becoming less reliable as search behavior shifts. ✓ In-person relationship building is becoming more valuable again. ✓ AI can increase firm capacity, but demand may shift by practice area. ✓ Self-driving cars could reduce certain personal injury cases over time. ✓ Diversifying services can help firms prepare for long-term industry changes. ✓ Culture matters. Firms that encourage experimentation adapt faster. ✓ Reputation and strong relationships remain the ultimate long-term advantage. CHAPTERS 00:00 Introduction and Tyson’s background 02:04 How the Maximum Lawyer podcast started 05:21 The real impact of podcasting on a law firm 09:35 Why the Maximum Lawyer Conference is different 15:57 Marketing shifts and industry confusion 20:05 Why no one knows what 2027 will look like 21:22 Preparing a firm for constant change 25:16 How AI is integrated into daily legal work 28:30 AI intake and malpractice concerns 36:04 AI, workload, and firm capacity 39:07 Mega firms, supply and demand, and self-driving cars 41:51 Diversification and long-term strategy 44:10 Advice for lawyers feeling overwhelmed CONNECT WITH TYSON Company: Mutrux Firm Injury Lawyers Address: 2415 Carter Ln. Ste 102, Columbia, MO 65201 Learn more: https://tysonmutrux.com/ [https://tysonmutrux.com/] https://www.facebook.com/groups/maximumlawyer [https://www.facebook.com/groups/maximumlawyer] https://www.instagram.com/maximumlawyer/ [https://www.instagram.com/maximumlawyer/] https://www.linkedin.com/company/maximum-lawyer/ [https://www.linkedin.com/company/maximum-lawyer/]