The Legal Underground

PODCASTING UPDATE . . . With my three-part series on advanced deposition techniques, I seem to have stumbled on a good podcasting idea: write and produce shows meant mostly to educate, not entertain. I say that because a lot more people have listened to the deposition podcasts than I expected, which perhaps is an illustration of the power of narrow-casting, that is, putting out content for a very limited, although potentially large, audience, then waiting for the audience to find you.

It seems to have worked in this case. Just looking at Part I of the series, I've had more 500 listeners in addition to the nearly 300 regular podcast subscribers. For a podcast about something as dry as depositions, it seems like a lot of listeners. Although I've had some good numbers for some of my "humorous" podcasts, it didn't happen nearly as quickly. 

It means that I'll probably continue with the informative, legal-education-related format. I don't know where I'll head next, but in addition to depositions, I feel confident that I could put together shows on a variety of law-related topics, for example, writing briefs, arguing to a court, working up and trying cases, litigating class actions, organizing a mass torts practice, using weblogs to promote a legal practice, etc.

What's the advantage to me? To put it simply, I get to mention my law firm and my deposition book and otherwise promote my practice.  I know that sort of thing gets annoying, but so far, I don't think my promotional efforts have been over the top. (You did know this weblog was all about self-promotion? I think it just might be.)

If you have any ideas or feedback about the podcast, email me or leave a comment. Thanks in advance!

Related posts:

1. The Legal Underground Underground Podcast Episode #49: Advanced Deposition Techniques, Part 1--Five Tips for Asserting Control at Depositions;

2. The Legal Underground Underground Podcast Episode #50: Advanced Deposition Techniques, Part 2--Four Ways to Use Psychology at Your Next Deposition;

3. The Legal Underground Underground Podcast Episode #51: Advanced Deposition Techniques, Part 3--Miscellaneous Tips for Expert Depositions.

4. List of all my past podcasting episodes;

5. Podcasting show notes.

THE LEGAL UNDERGROUND PODCAST Episode #51 . . . On today's show: Advanced Deposition Techniques, Part 3: Miscellaneous Tips for Expert Depositions. Running time: 10 minutes.

Remember, you don't need an iPod to listen to podcasts. Here are two alternative ways to listen: 

• Direct from the Feed. Follow this link to my Feedburner page, which contains a list of all my podcasts in reverse chronological order. From there, you can simply click on the link you want to hear. As long as you have speakers, your computer should be able to play the show.

• Through Apple's iTunes. If you have Apple's free iTunes version 4.9 or higher, click on the button below to take you directly to the Legal Underground page to subscribe for free, or search in the podcast section of the iTunes Music Store for "Legal Underground."

Feedback is always welcome: you can email me or send an mp3 file, which I might be able to incorporate into the next episode.

Additional show notes:

1. Deposition Checklists & Strategies, by Evan Schaeffer (James Publishing 2006);

2. The Legal Underground Underground Podcast Episode #49: Advanced Deposition Techniques, Part 1--Five Tips for Asserting Control at Depositions;

3. The Legal Underground Underground Podcast Episode #50: Advanced Deposition Techniques, Part 2--Four Ways to Use Psychology at Your Next Deposition;

4. The Illinois Trial Practice Weblog: "Expert Depositions: The World's Shortest Outline";

5. The Illinois Trial Practice Weblog: "Preparing for Expert Depositions by Looking Ahead to the Cross-Examination at Trial";

6. The Trial Lawyer Resource Center: "Expert Witness Depositions: Five Questions to Ask."

A VIDEO-PODCAST MADE WHILE SKIING . . . Hey, it's just an experiment. Topics on this video-podcast (call it Episode #50 1/2) are the new amendments to the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, in addition to . . . wait for it . . . diet tips.

Don't watch it for the substance. I was having a hard enough time just keeping myself in an upright position. Evidence of the intense pressure I was experiencing while recording this podcast-on-skis is that I both said "the sky is out" (rather than the sun is out) and gave the wrong date for the amendments to the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure (December 1, not December 11). I also identified the day wrong.

Frivolous? Undoubtedly. Art? You be the judge. Click on the video to watch. It's just 8 minutes long and features neither the law-professor-ski-lift operator nor a single ski-lift accident. Meanwhile, if you want to learn more about the new amendments to the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, look in the "discovery" category at my Illinois Trial Practice Weblog. Don't look here.

My video-podcast can also be viewed directly at YouTube here.

THANKS FOR THE KIND WORDS . . . The positive reviews of my two podcasts about advanced deposition techniques are much appreciated--

Prolific blawger Evan Schaeffer is about to publish a book entitled Deposition Checklists and Strategies.  If it is as good as his posts and podcasts on depositions it should be a great addition to your library.

--Washington Trial Law

Please allow me to gush . . ..  Evan Schaeffer at The Illinois Trial Practice Weblog has recently posted his second installment of his podcast on advanced deposition techniques (see here).  I have listened to the excellent podcast and, again, Evan offers valuable suggestions to both young and experienced attorneys. Hopefully, Evan will inspire other experienced attorneys to publish similar type of podcasts.

--New York Civil Law

I'm planning one more podcast about deposition techniques, which is coming soon. In the meantime, here's Part 1 and Part 2, plus information about my book, Deposition Checklists & Strategies.

THE LEGAL UNDERGROUND PODCAST Episode #50 . . . On today's show: Advanced Deposition Techniques, Part 2--Four Ways to Use Psychology at Your Next Deposition. Running time: 11 minutes.

Remember, you don't need an iPod to listen to podcasts. Here are two alternative ways to listen: 

• Direct from the Feed. Follow this link to my Feedburner page, which contains a list of all my podcasts in reverse chronological order. From there, you can simply click on the link you want to hear. As long as you have speakers, your computer should be able to play the show.

• Through Apple's iTunes. If you have Apple's free iTunes version 4.9 or higher, click on the button below to take you directly to the Legal Underground page to subscribe for free, or search in the podcast section of the iTunes Music Store for "Legal Underground."

Remember, feedback is always welcome: you can email me or send an mp3 file, which I might be able to incorporate into the next episode.

Additional show notes:

1. The Legal Underground Underground Podcast Episode #49: Advanced Deposition Techniques, Part 1--Five Tips for Asserting Control at Depositions.

2. Deposition Checklists & Strategies (James Publishing 2006)

THE LEGAL UNDERGROUND PODCAST Episode #49 . . . On today's show: Advanced Deposition Techniques, Part 1--Five Tips for Asserting Control at Depositions. Running time: 12 minutes.

Remember, you don't need an iPod to listen to podcasts. Here are two alternative ways to listen: 

• Direct from the Feed. Follow this link to my Feedburner page, which contains a list of all my podcasts in reverse chronological order. From there, you can simply click on the link you want to hear. As long as you have speakers, your computer should be able to play the show.

• Through Apple's iTunes. If you have Apple's free iTunes version 4.9 or higher, click on the button below to take you directly to the Legal Underground page to subscribe for free, or search in the podcast section of the iTunes Music Store for "Legal Underground."

This marks the first time I've used a podcast to broadcast something you'd be more likely to hear at a CLE. Let's see how it works! Remember, feedback is always welcome: you can email me or send an mp3 file, which I might be able to incorporate into the next episode.

THE ONE-YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF COAST TO COAST . . . The Legal Talk Network's Coast to Coast turned one last week, and hosts J. Craig Williams and Bob Ambrogi invited me to be a guest on their anniversary show. Other guests were Denise Howell and Legal Talk Network co-founder Lu Ann Reeb. There was lots of discussion about podcasting, to which I'll be returning soon. Here's the link.

PODCASTS: THE ESSENTIAL LIST . . . According to Arbitron, 27 million Americans have listened to podcasts. I'm not sure whether I believe it, but maybe it's possible. Though I don't listen to as many as I used to, there are a few I rarely miss--

• This Week in Tech
• Cinecast
• Diggnation
• Slate's Daily Podcast
• Fly with Me
• Meet the Press

This Week in Tech and Diggnation focus on technology; Cinecast is about film; Fly with Me features the real-life-experiences of an airline pilot; and the others are self-explanatory. I get my podcasting news from two other podcasts, Podcheck Review and Adam Curry's Daily Source Code. I also listen to some law-related podcasts, which will be the topic of another post.

If you're new to podcasts, remember: you don't need an iPod to listen. Any mp3 player will do. You can even listen to a podcast on a computer, but you shouldn't. Podcasts are made for taking with you on long drives, long runs, or when cutting the lawn. The beauty is that you don't have to be wedded to a computer.

LEGAL UNDERGROUND PODCAST Episode #48 . . . On today's show:  A blow-by-blow account of my recent trip to New Orleans. Running time: 15 minutes.

Remember, you don't need an iPod to listen to podcasts! Here are two alternative ways to listen: 

• Direct from the Feed. Follow this link to my Feedburner page, which contains a list of all my podcasts in reverse chronological order. From there, you can simply click on the link you want to hear. As long as you have speakers, your computer should be able to play the show.

• Through Apple's iTunes. If you have Apple's free iTunes version 4.9 or higher, click on the button below to take you directly to the Legal Underground page to subscribe for free, or search in the podcast section of the iTunes Music Store for "Legal Underground."

Additional show notes and sources:

1. "Watermark: Can Southern Louisiana Be Saved," by Elizabeth Kolbert in the New Yorker;

2. Wikipedia: "Effect of Hurricane Katrina on New Orleans."

3. "Rebuilding Affordable Housing in New Orleans," by Susan J. Popkin, Margery Austin Turner, Martha R. Burt, Urban Institute.

4. Music notes--

• "The (New) Call of the Freaks," by Luis Russell;
• "Get the L On Down the Road," by Bill Johnson and the Louisiana Jug Band;
• "Plow Boy Hop," by Grinnel Griggers

5. Although I didn't listen to it until after I finished this show, the current Coast to Coast podcast is titled "Katrina Update," and focuses on the New Orleans legal community. Guests include Monica Bay and Ernie Svenson ("Ernie the Attorney").

PHOTO UPDATE: I posted some more photos from my trip at Flickr.

LEGAL UNDERGROUND PODCAST Episode #47 . . . On today's show:  It's the un-anniversary show, which celebrates (or doesn't) a year spent podcasting. Running time: 8.5 minutes.

Remember, you don't need an iPod to listen to podcasts! Here are two alternative ways to listen: 

• Direct from the Feed. Follow this link to my Feedburner page, which contains a list of all my podcasts in reverse chronological order. From there, you can simply click on the link you want to hear. As long as you have speakers, your computer should be able to play the show.

• Through Apple's iTunes. If you have Apple's free iTunes version 4.9 or higher, click on the button below to take you directly to the Legal Underground page to subscribe for free, or search in the podcast section of the iTunes Music Store for "Legal Underground."

Since we're talking about podcasting anniversaries, here are a few Legal Underground podcasts that I remember somewhat fondly from the past year:

• Law-Related Things that Suck: Having to Hire a Lawyer from the Yellow Pages. This one made a couple of lawyers very angry, but I'm not sure why.
• Law-Related Things that Suck: Too Few Frivolous Lawsuits. Do you think that in choosing a title, I engaged in a bit of irony?
• Law-Related Things that Suck: State Court Judges. More irony! Some have said my podcasts are never what they seem.
• Law-Related Things that Suck: Getting Accepted into Law School. This short podcast has been listened to more than any other.
• Law-Related Things that Suck: When a Lawyer You Don't Know Shows Up at Your Birthday Party. Pure pointless whimsy!

I've also done some longer, in-depth shows that include a discussion of the Vioxx litigation and the possibility of bankruptcy for Merck; Supreme-Court nomination failures from 1789 to 1987; and my criticisms as a plaintiffs' lawyer of the law drama "The Insider."

Once again, you can see all my podcasts (and listen to them) directly from this Feedburner page. You can also see them with the original posts and show notes by looking at the podcast category on this weblog. Though I admit that podcasts are still way too difficult to listen to, they have come a long way in the past year.