Welcome to the Robert Half Legal Report, where we discuss current issues impacting the legal profession related to hiring, staff management and more, with leading experts in the field. Robert Half Legal provides Lawyers, Paralegals, and support staff to law firms and corporate legal departments on a project and full-time basis. The Robert Half Legal Report is here, on the Legal Talk Network
Hiring Trends and Career Guidance for Your Legal Career
Are you ready to take the next step in your career in the legal field? Whether you are a recent law school graduate, researching summer associate opportunities, exploring entry-level paralegal or legal support positions, or an experienced professional aspiring to transition to the field of law, listen to this program to learn about hiring trends, in-demand skills, and tips to help you stand out in your job search.
12/18/2023 • 16 minutes, 56 seconds
Building World Class Legal Talent for Legal Department Transformation
For this episode of the Robert Half Legal Report, we'll be airing a recent conversation with host, Jamy Sullivan and former host Chad Volkert on his new podcast, Protiviti Legal Perspectives. We hope you enjoy!
Today’s Chief Legal Officers are constantly reevaluating their legal ecosystem as the demands on the legal department continue to grow. One area that is gaining special attention in legal department management is legal talent and the important role it plays in accelerating operational efficiencies and effectiveness. In this episode Jamy Sullivan joins Chad Volkert on Protiviti Legal Perspectives podcast to talk about a new legal talent paradigm in legal department optimization.
11/2/2023 • 24 minutes, 47 seconds
Opportunity Knocks: How Paralegals and Legal Assistants Can Take Their Careers to New Heights
In today’s dynamic environment, paralegals and legal assistants have an exciting opportunity to take their careers to the next level. From utilizing AI and machine learning to streamline complex matters to taking on hybrid, leadership or alternative roles, there are many avenues for growth. Learn about opportunities in the current job market as well as the characteristics employers seek most when hiring paralegals and legal assistants. Get tips to broaden your skill set, improve your marketability, and stay ahead of the curve to advance your career.
9/21/2023 • 48 minutes, 37 seconds
Essential Skills for Leaders to Excel in the Legal Field
To succeed in a competitive business environment, leaders in the legal field need to continuously develop new skills while responding swiftly to change. Host Jamy Sullivan and guest PJ Dunn, C.C.P., a certified behavioral strategist and professional development coach, discuss competencies and management strategies that became essential during the pandemic and are needed by law firms and legal department leaders to excel today, including creative thinking, innovation and agility and tips for prioritizing well-being.
Mentioned in this Episode:
PJ's Website
6/20/2023 • 47 minutes, 16 seconds
Succession Planning Essentials in the Post-Pandemic Workplace
The pandemic underscored the need for solo practitioners and small law firms to plan for the retirement of influential leaders, business disruptions and unforeseen events. Firms without a succession plan run the risk of losing clients and revenue, if not more. As a law firm leader, what should you take into consideration when planning and timing your retirement? Discover essential elements of creating an exit strategy, including how to overcome potential obstacles, selling and valuing your legal practice and other factors to ensure a smooth transition and your firm’s future success.
4/4/2023 • 29 minutes, 2 seconds
7 Challenges for Legal Hiring Managers — And How to Overcome Them
From the Great Resignation to candidate ghosting, most of the trends in the hiring market seem designed to give legal managers sleepless nights. The good news is that for every problem like chronic understaffing and flatlining employee engagement, there’s a solution that will help you secure the talent you need. In this podcast, we’ll discuss the seven biggest challenges facing hiring managers in the legal field today and provide some tried-and-trusted remedies to help you overcome them.
1/19/2023 • 22 minutes, 59 seconds
Hiring Trends, Career Guidance and Job Search Tips to Jump-start Your Legal Career
Are you looking to jump-start your career in the legal field?
Whether you are a recent law school graduate, researching summer associate opportunities, exploring entry-level paralegal or legal support positions, or an experienced professional aspiring to transition to the field of law, listen to this program to learn about hiring trends, in-demand skills, search strategies, and career tips to find the ideal legal job.
11/16/2022 • 22 minutes, 13 seconds
Enhanced Strategies Are Vital to Recruit, Engage and Retain Legal Professionals Amid the Great Resignation
Record numbers of workers have quit their jobs, fueled in part by their desire for better work-life balance, burnout or limited growth opportunities. How can employers in the legal field stem attrition? Learn essential strategies to enhance your recruitment, engagement and retention of legal professionals in today’s workplace.
10/13/2022 • 21 minutes, 54 seconds
What’s Next for The Legal Report?
After 12 years, The Legal Report from Robert Half is gaining a new host. In this episode, Charles Volkert transitions hosting duties to Jamy Sullivan, executive director of Robert Half’s legal talent solutions practice. They discuss the making of the podcast, notable episodes and memorable guests over the years, Chad’s new role, and predict future trends for the legal profession.
8/23/2022 • 25 minutes, 4 seconds
Legal Department Optimization: Establishing a Strategic Roadmap for Future Success
The position of general counsel has evolved during the past decade, with today’s GC serving as a strategic C-suite partner, playing a pivotal role in corporate decision-making on critical business issues. GCs also are focused on managing in-house teams to maximize value to the business – both strategically and operationally – not only for today but for the future. What do in-house legal leaders need to know to better balance and optimize myriad factors and stakeholders to achieve greater value and success?
Join host Charles Volkert and Rich Cohen, a managing director with Robert Half’s legal consulting solutions practice, as they discuss the current state of legal department operations, staffing and service delivery – and a strategic roadmap to greater effectiveness and value for the future.
They examine:
A holistic review approach to evaluate all functions of the legal department
Analyzing review findings and identifying actions to create measurable and sustainable value for their organizations
Conducting technology assessments to determine data-driven solutions and other legal tech applications to streamline workflows
Balancing and optimizing work with internal clients, external influencers, outside counsel and legal department staff
Legal assessments that provide critical and objective hiring insights for outside counsel, deepen engagements, boost quality of service and create value
12/16/2021 • 33 minutes, 41 seconds
Top trends expected to reshape legal hiring and compensation in 2022
Hiring in the legal field is on the rise and the market for experienced talent is more competitive. To remain successful in the months ahead, law firms and corporate legal departments are adjusting their hiring and compensation strategies in response to a dynamic environment. Many legal professionals are actively seeking positions that offer not only career advancement but salaries, benefits and perks they value, including work from home options. In this episode of the Legal Report from Robert Half, host Charles Volkert, a senior district president of Robert Half, and Jamy Sullivan, executive director of the company’s legal practice, discuss the latest trends.
Robert Half is not a law firm and does not provide legal representation. Robert Half project attorneys do not constitute a law firm among themselves.
11/18/2021 • 18 minutes, 39 seconds
Prepare Now: California’s New Legislation Raises the Privacy Bar
On Nov. 1, 2020, California voters passed Proposition 24, known as the California Privacy Rights Act of 2020 (CPRA). Beyond establishing new and comprehensive compliance requirements, the regulation broadens the definition of businesses bound by the law and creates a privacy enforcement agency that’s expected to be stricter and more defined than before. While the CCPA remains in effect until superseded by the CPRA Jan. 1, 2023, impacted companies are already starting to study additional requirements imposed by the CPRA and address where their privacy practices must change.
Our speakers examine key requirements that differ from the CCPA, new obligations it introduces, higher penalties for non-compliance, businesses impacted, both within and outside the state, and more. They discuss a systematic, step-by-step approach to review existing privacy processes – for example, dealing with privacy notices, disclosures, retention schedules, data minimization and limitation – and identify areas where changes are required. They also offer strategies to leverage practices to comply with the new privacy law as well as requirements from other jurisdictions.
Robert Half is not a law firm and does not provide legal representation. Robert Half project attorneys do not constitute a law firm among themselves.
9/27/2021 • 37 minutes, 20 seconds
Compliance Risks Spurred by the Pandemic Can’t be Ignored
Charles Volkert and Kim Dickerson examine current issues amplifying compliance risks and discuss ways to manage compliance requirements with evolving regulations governing office re-openings, vetting and working with new suppliers, new technologies, and more. Robert Half is not a law firm and does not provide legal representation. Robert Half project attorneys do not constitute a law firm among themselves.
5/26/2021 • 30 minutes, 48 seconds
Contract Management: Driving Greater Value Amid Accelerating Compliance, Security and Legal Pressures
Bernie Donachie and Frank Serge discuss best practices for contract lifecycle management.
3/29/2021 • 27 minutes, 58 seconds
What Legal Teams Need to Know about the LIBOR Transition
Host Charles Volkert is joined by Doug Wilbert to discuss significant legal implications inherent in the benchmark transition.
1/12/2021 • 22 minutes, 12 seconds
Legal Teams and COVID-19: Key Strategies for Adapting to a New Business Environment
Charles Volkert, senior district president of Robert Half Legal, and Billie Moliere, district president with the company, explore key considerations as legal offices re-open.
12/1/2020 • 27 minutes, 36 seconds
Understanding Recent Updates to the CCPA and EU-US Privacy Shield
Joel Wuesthoff discusses significant updates relating to data privacy that could directly impact your business and compliance obligations.
Robert Half is not a law firm and does not provide legal representation. Robert Half project attorneys do not constitute a law firm among themselves.
9/25/2020 • 21 minutes, 7 seconds
Great Expectations: Legal Departments’ Changing Requirements for Outside Counsel
Jamy Sullivan discusses the changing expectations of legal departments and the impact on the selection, management and evaluation of outside counsel.
2/14/2020 • 14 minutes, 55 seconds
Key Strategies to Attract, Motivate and Retain Gen Z in the Legal Workplace
Jamy Sullivan outlines Gen Z's values, attitudes and career aspirations and offer critical strategies to recruit and motivate this next generation of legal professionals.
12/17/2019 • 15 minutes, 24 seconds
Beyond the GDPR and CCPA: Leveraging Data Privacy Strategies to Comply with Multiple Regulatory Mandates
Joel Wuesthoff offers strategies to help companies stay ahead and adjust security and privacy practices to manage the growing volume of data regulations.
11/8/2019 • 16 minutes, 56 seconds
Succession Planning: Transition Strategies for Law Firms and Exiting Lawyers Session
Succession planning is top of mind for today’s legal leaders, for good reason. Nearly 65 percent of equity partners are projected to retire during the next decade, according to research cited in a report from the ABA and the National Task Force on Lawyer Well-Being, while corporate law departments expect a similar exodus from their leadership ranks.
7/26/2019 • 37 minutes, 2 seconds
Key Hiring and Compensation Trends Shaping the Legal Profession in 2019
Whether you’re a tenured legal professional or just starting out, monitoring the dynamic legal landscape and adjusting to evolving changes is key to your professional growth and marketability. In this episode, host Charles Volkert, senior district president of Robert Half Legal, and Jamy Sullivan, executive director of Robert Half Legal, explore the latest hiring and compensation trends expected to shape the legal profession in 2019.
3/1/2019 • 20 minutes, 1 second
Strengthening Legal Workplace Diversity and Inclusion with Pipeline Programs
Attorneys Charles Volkert, senior district president at Robert Half Legal, and Joy Dingle, the director of legal diversity pipeline programs at Street Law, Inc., examine how legal community partnerships are being used to expose youth in underrepresented groups to the legal profession and help build a diverse pipeline of students who are interested in legal careers.
7/10/2018 • 20 minutes, 37 seconds
Tips to Take Your Legal Career to New Heights in 2018
Looking to re-energize your legal career, increase your marketability or boost your earning potential in 2018? In this episode of The Robert Half Legal Report, attorneys Charles Volkert, senior district president of Robert Half Legal and Billie Moliere, a district president with the company, discuss the latest hiring trends and the hottest practice areas driving demand for attorneys, paralegals and legal support professionals. They offer tips and proven strategies -- including how to enhance your resume, build a professional brand, make a lateral move and boost your networking efforts -- to jumpstart your legal career in a dynamic job market.
2/5/2018 • 25 minutes, 15 seconds
Escalating cyber threats demand heightened security practices for law firms
As the volume and sophistication level of data breaches grow, law firms are shifting greater attention and resources to address information security and cyber threat matters. In this episode of The Robert Half Legal Report, attorneys Charles Volkert, senior district president of Robert Half Legal and Scott Giordano, a director with the company's consulting solutions practice, examine why law firms are among the most vulnerable for cyberattacks. They discuss the expanding role that data privacy and security specialists are playing within the legal workplace and share insights on current strategies that are helping law firms mitigate risks and bolster cybersecurity.
10/19/2017 • 18 minutes, 44 seconds
Ramping Up Retention Strategies in a Competitive Hiring Market
As the demand for legal professionals with specialized expertise increases, law firms and legal departments are increasingly concerned about losing top employees to other job opportunities. As a result, retention efforts as well as strategies to enhance staff satisfaction are becoming front-burner issues. In this episode of The Robert Half Legal Report, attorney Charles Volkert, senior district president of Robert Half Legal, and Judy Hissong, principal at the Legal Leadership Institute, explore key factors that legal professionals value in their work environment and ways legal organizations can use this knowledge to engage, motivate and retain employees. They also discuss legal staffing options being used to help manage rising workloads, boost productivity and enhance retention efforts.
6/29/2017 • 31 minutes, 40 seconds
The Trickle-down Effect: Anticipating the Impact of the Trump Administration on the Legal Field
Even before the inauguration of the 45th President of the United States, leaders in the legal field were already anticipating the potential impact of the new administration on the profession. In this episode of The Robert Half Legal Report, attorneys Charles Volkert, senior district president of Robert Half Legal, and Brett Bartlett, partner with Seyfarth Shaw in Atlanta, share their insights on the possible implications for corporate law departments, law firms and the legal workplace over the next four years. They also forecast the practice areas poised for growth and share their expertise on emerging job opportunities for specialized legal professionals.
5/30/2017 • 34 minutes, 14 seconds
Strengthening Diversity: A Business Imperative for Today’s Law Firms
Diversity and inclusion policies are becoming more important to a firm’s bottom line and can contribute to its long-term growth and success in the legal field. In this episode of The Robert Half Legal Report, host Charles Volkert, senior district president of Robert Half Legal, and Dawn Siler-Nixon, diversity and inclusion partner at FordHarrison, discuss current trends and share law practice management strategies for establishing and maintaining a legal workplace that values diversity and inclusiveness.
2/2/2017 • 38 minutes, 58 seconds
Legal Jobs Spotlight: Top Hiring and Compensation Trends for 2017
Effective hiring and compensation strategies are essential to a legal organization’s ability to motivate current employees and attract top talent. In this episode of The Robert Half Legal Report, host Charles Volkert, senior district president of Robert Half Legal, and Billie Watkins, district president for Robert Half Legal, explore legal hiring and compensation trends expected to shape the legal field in the coming year. They provide insights on legal jobs and specialized skills in the spotlight and forecast legal positions most likely to see the greatest gains in starting salaries in the months ahead. They also discuss how law firms and in-house legal departments can strengthen recruitment and retention of legal professionals if they can’t match lawyer salary hikes announced by many large law firms last summer.
12/1/2016 • 24 minutes, 1 second
Changing Roles and Staffing Models for Paralegals and Other Legal Support Professionals
In this episode of The Robert Half Legal Report, attorney Charles Volkert, senior district president of Robert Half Legal, and Carl Morrison, certified paralegal at Foran Glennon in Las Vegas, Nev., and NALS board member, examine the changing roles of paralegals and other support professionals in today’s legal workplace. They discuss the expanding skill set and expertise required of paralegals, legal assistants and legal secretaries and new legal staffing models being deployed. They also share insights on how legal support personnel can strengthen their capabilities to be successful in the evolving legal environment.
10/27/2016 • 37 minutes, 5 seconds
Cybersecurity Issues Demand Proactive and Collective Management Strategies from Legal and IT Teams, Part Two
In episode two of this two-part series, host Charles Volkert, executive director of Robert Half Legal, and industry experts, Thomas Barnett, Rocco Grillo and Joel Wuesthoff, discuss the key components of a comprehensive cybersecurity plan, how companies can determine their readiness, and what many organizations ignore or overlook with data security management.
Listen to part one of the program here.
11/16/2015 • 28 minutes, 37 seconds
Cybersecurity Issues Demand Proactive and Collective Management Strategies from Legal and IT Teams, Part One
In episode one of this two-part series, host Charles Volkert, executive director of Robert Half Legal, and industry experts, Thomas Barnett, Rocco Grillo and Joel Wuesthoff, examine data privacy and security issues that are demanding the attention of legal and IT teams across industry sectors. Learn about the particular risks law firms and legal departments face and the prevention strategies legal teams and their IT counterparts are implementing.
http://www.paulhastings.com/professionals/details/tombarnettRocco Grillo, Managing Director, Global Leader, IR & Forensics Investigations, Cybersecurity & Privacy Services, Protiviti
http://www.protiviti.com/en-US/Pages/Professional-Bio-Rocco-Grillo.aspxJoel Wuesthoff, Esq., senior director, consulting solutions, Robert Half Legal
http://www.roberthalf.com/legal/client-services/ediscovery-services/team/our-leadership-team/joel-wuesthoff-esqThomas Barnett, Special Counsel, eDiscovery and Data Science, Paul Hastings
11/9/2015 • 43 minutes, 42 seconds
eDiscovery Management, Part 2: Minimizing Social Media, Cloud Computing and Data Privacy Risks
Data privacy has been front page news in the wake of massive data breaches and a growing number of organizations are looking to their legal counsel to help them understand the intricacies and legal issues associated with data privacy – and effectively minimize risks. Join host Charles Volkert, executive director of Robert Half Legal, and leading experts, Frank Serge and Sunny Sanghani, as they discuss what law firms and legal departments are doing to minimize risk as it relates to social media, cloud computing and data privacy.
6/23/2015 • 16 minutes, 11 seconds
eDiscovery Management, Part 1: Setting up Legal Teams for Success
As the amount of electronic data continues to proliferate, managing eDiscovery is increasingly challenging for law firms, their clients and corporate legal departments -- and it’s unlikely to get any easier in the near future. In this podcast, host Charles Volkert, executive director of Robert Half Legal, and leading experts, Frank Serge and Sunny Sanghani, discuss current eDiscovery trends and share proven strategies to help set up legal teams for success.
6/12/2015 • 19 minutes, 15 seconds
Making Succession Planning an Ongoing Priority
In this episode of The Robert Half Legal Report, attorney Charles Volkert, executive director of Robert Half Legal and Sandra J. Boyer, Boyer & Greene principal, examine the importance of succession planning and why it is imperative to the future viability of law firms. They discuss best practices and potential obstacles that law firm management may encounter when implementing a succession plan.
3/4/2015 • 23 minutes, 15 seconds
Legal Jobs and Practice Areas to Watch in 2015
In this episode of The Robert Half Legal Report podcast series, Charles Volkert, executive director of Robert Half Legal, and George Denlinger, senior district president of the company, take a look at the practice areas that will drive demand for legal jobs in the months ahead. They also discuss trends to watch in the legal profession for 2015, including how the need for specialized legal expertise is influencing the ways organizations approach hiring and retention.
Special thanks to our sponsor, Robert Half Legal.
1/22/2015 • 15 minutes, 13 seconds
2015 Forecast: Top Legal Hiring and Compensation Trends
In this episode of The Robert Half Legal Report, host Charles Volkert, executive director of Robert Half Legal, and Billie Watkins, district director for Robert Half Legal, discuss the latest trends affecting hiring and legal careers. They reveal areas where demand is greatest for skilled talent in the legal profession, the expertise being sought by employers and where legal salaries are headed in 2015.
12/16/2014 • 14 minutes, 28 seconds
A Look Ahead: Hiring and Compensation Trends for 2013
In this edition of The Robert Half Legal Report, host George Denlinger, senior district president for Robert Half Legal, and attorney Charles Volkert, executive director of Robert Half Legal, discuss high-growth specialties and career opportunities for 2013. They reveal the latest trends in hiring and compensation affecting the legal field, the qualities employers are seeking when making new hires and must-have advice for job seekers.
10/31/2012 • 21 minutes, 15 seconds
Future Law Office: Top Technology Trends Reshaping the Legal Field
In this video podcast of The Robert Half Legal Report, Charles Volkert, executive director of Robert Half Legal, and Robert Ambrogi, co-host of Lawyer2Lawyer on the Legal Talk Network discuss how law firms and corporate legal departments are leveraging technology to improve services and streamline workflow. They share key findings from Future Law Office, Robert Half Legal’s annual research program that examines important developments in the legal profession.
8/2/2012 • 13 minutes, 31 seconds
Proactive E-Discovery Management
E-discovery is a complex and resource-intensive issue that is top of mind for many of us in the legal profession today. In this episode of The Robert Half Legal Report, Charles Volkert, the executive director of Robert Half Legal, and Joel Wuesthoff, a director with Robert Half Legal eDiscovery Services, talk about proactive e-discovery management. Chad and Joel take a look at some of the factors that are leading to higher spending on e-discovery for many organizations, how to become more efficient with managing data for e-discovery and the best approach to responding quickly to future e-discovery requests, especially in the face of ever-changing technology.
3/22/2012 • 14 minutes, 43 seconds
A Look at the Hottest Legal Jobs and Practice Areas for 2011
In this edition of The Robert Half Legal Report, host Katherine Spencer Lee, district director for Robert Half International, welcomes Attorney Charles Volkert, Executive Director of Robert Half Legal, to highlight the hottest legal jobs and practice areas for 2011. Katherine and Chad discuss the latest trends in hiring and compensation affecting the legal field, the qualities employers are looking for in legal job candidates and offer advice for job seekers.
1/24/2011 • 21 minutes, 43 seconds
eDiscovery: Practical Tips for Maintaining Control: Part Two
In part two of this two-part series on The Robert Half Legal Report, Dawn Antonelli, district director for Robert Half Legal, welcomes Attorney Charles Volkert, Executive Director of Robert Half Legal and Joel Wuesthoff, Director of Protiviti Inc., to continue the discussion on how to maximize control over the e-discovery process. They discuss how to keep costs in check, what problems to avoid and questions to ask potential vendors during the selection process.
10/1/2010 • 19 minutes, 43 seconds
eDiscovery: Practical Tips for Maintaining Control: Part One
In part one of this two-part series on The Robert Half Legal Report, Dawn Antonelli, district director for Robert Half Legal, welcomes Attorney Charles Volkert, Executive Director of Robert Half Legal and Joel Wuesthoff, Director of Protiviti Inc., to offer tips on how to maximize control over the e-discovery process. They discuss the complexity of the issues, the biggest stumbling blocks, how legal support professionals can assist in the process and cost containment.
10/1/2010 • 34 minutes, 17 seconds
Delivering Maximum Value in a Cost-Conscious Legal Era
In this second edition of The Robert Half Legal Report, host Marilyn Bird, District President for Robert Half Legal, welcomes Attorney Charles Volkert, Executive Director of Robert Half Legal, to discuss how law firms and corporate legal departments are changing in response to major developments not only in the legal field, but also in the broader economy. Marilyn and Chad examine best practices for improving client service levels and business development methods in a landscape of continuous change.
5/25/2010 • 21 minutes, 6 seconds
Hiring & Compensation Trends for the Legal Profession
In this debut podcast of The Robert Half Legal Report, host Diane Domeyer, district director for Robert Half Legal, welcomes Attorney Charles Volkert, Executive Director of Robert Half Legal, to discuss the latest in hiring and compensation trends for the legal profession. Diane and Charles will look at how 2010 is shaping up in terms of hiring, the impact of the recession on the hiring process and how to excel in a competitive job market.