Bill Bay, President of the American Bar Association, joins Montana to discuss the role the ABA plays in supporting lawyers, promoting justice, and advocating for the rule of law. Regardless of where you are in your career, the ABA offers not only a wealth of material for you to improve your practice and serve your clients better, but also an opportunity to get involved, get inspired, and effectuate a broader impact as part of something bigger than yourself. Discover the ways the ABA can help you advance your career, serve your community, and take a leading role in making a meaningful difference.

Additional Resources:

How New Lawyers Can Use the ABA to Further Their Career Goals

How to Make Your Law Firm See the Benefits of Bar Involvement

How to Be Admitted to the Supreme Court Bar and Why You Should

Today’s Law Students Are the Future Guardians of Justice

ABA Student Loans Resources

ABA Career Center

ABA Law Student Division

Disaster Legal Services

About the Rule of Law Initiative

americanbarsocial Linktree

Bill Bay on LinkedIn

Associate Producer: Montana Funk

• (00:00) - Introduction: Bill Bay
• (01:29) - Bill Bay’s Career
• (03:24) - Bill’s Path to the ABA Presidency
• (04:45) - Defining the American Bar Association
• (11:07) - How Best to Get Involved in the ABA
• (13:31) - How Young Lawyers Can Get Their Ideas Heard
• (18:47) - Addressing Declining Confidence in the Judiciary
• (21:05) - Resources for Young Lawyers from the ABA
• (27:13) - Bill’s Advice to Young Lawyers

As young lawyers, you’re motivated to impress, to seem like the smartest person on the team. But no one person can know enough to succeed entirely on their own. We rely on the assistance and expertise of those around us, building a community of trusted allies who can help ensure we’re capable of fully serving our clients’ interests. Expert witnesses are one such invaluable resource in many avenues of legal practice.

In this episode, host Montana Funk sits down with Dr. Chris Spaeth, an expert focusing on neuroscience, toxicology, and pharmacology. Together, they discuss the role of an expert witness and how lawyers can foster better working relationships with experts and be more effective lawyers in the process.

Additional Resources:

Expert Witnesses: Demystifying Science in and out of the Courtroom, By Chris Spaeth
Pretrial Gatekeeping: How to Handle Junk Science and Unqualified Experts

Best Practices for Working with Expert Witnesses

Qualifying an Expert Witness

American Bar Association Young Lawyers Division

American Bar Association Litigation Section

Associate Producer: Montana Funk

• (00:00) - Opening
• (00:25) - Introducing our guest, Dr. Chris Spaeth
• (01:13) - Becoming a toxicologist
• (03:21) - What is toxicology?
• (03:56) - Applying the science of toxicology to the law
• (05:21) - Toxicology in the civil litigation arena
• (07:53) - When to consult a toxicologist
• (09:38) - How lawyers can work well with experts
• (12:22) - The value of objectivity vs the desired answer
• (14:10) - The lesser known ways experts can help lawyers
• (18:20) - Warning signs when hiring an expert
• (20:41) - The process of retaining an expert
• (26:35) - Closing thoughts

Financial expert Melissa Cecchine joins host Montana Funk to discuss the essentials of conscious financial management. Melissa shares insights into overcoming financial fears and building smart wealth strategies. Whether you're a young lawyer just starting your financial journey or you’re just looking to improve your approach to your finances, Melissa's practical advice on managing money, understanding your financial personality, and creating a conscious spending plan will help you achieve lasting financial stability and freedom. Tune in to learn how to take control of your finances and make informed, conscious choices that align with your goals.

Visit Melissa's website where you'll find the Money Mindset Quiz.
Follow Melissa on Instagram and LinkedIn.

Associate Producer: Kimberly Russell

Creators & Guests

• Montana Funk - Host
• Melissa Cecchine - Guest

• (00:00) - Our guest: Melissa Cecchine
• (01:17) - Melissa’s background
• (05:27) - Getting over the fear of managing your money
• (11:21) - Overcoming stereotypes in managing your money
• (13:30) - Top tips to help you improve your financial situation
• (20:25) - Getting out of a personal financial crisis
• (24:46) - The most common money mistakes
• (29:20) - The best resources to manage your money