ILTA Voices

#0161: (CT) To AFA or Not to AFA, That is the Question

For decades, people have been suggesting that the death of the billable hour was inevitable.  Evan Chesler said, “[t]he billable hour makes no sense, not even for lawyers” in his 2008 Forbes article "Kill the Billable Hour.” We haven't seen a lot of movement since that article, but with the explosion of GenAI in legal, there has been increased discussion and focus suggesting that AFAs will replace the billable hour. Will we be looking back on this time in 20 years and saying, “Remember when we thought the billable hour would go the way of the dodo bird?”
Moderator:@Michael Ertel - Director of Practice Innovation, Crowell & Moring   
Speakers:@Jared Applegate - Chief Legal Operations Officer, Barnes & Thornburg@Purvi Sanghvi - Director of Strategic Pricing, Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP@Cassie Vertovec - Chief Practice Management Officer, Loeb & Loeb LLP
Recorded on 02-23-26.

#0160: (CT) Content Remix Series - Security & Compliance

We are pleased to introduce the second ILTA Content Teams and NextGen Innovators Group podcast series—an initiative designed to repackage high‑value, evergreen content in a format tailored for today's Next Gen legal professionals.

#0159: (CT) Content Remix Series - Technology Solutions Part 2

We are pleased to introduce the ILTA Content Teams and NextGen Innovators Group podcast series—an initiative designed to repackage high‑value, evergreen content in a format tailored for today's Next Gen legal professionals.
This series highlights compelling conversations and thought‑provoking discussions from recently delivered sessions, offering members an accessible way to stay informed, inspired, and connected to emerging ideas shaping the legal industry.

#0158: (CT) Content Remix Series - Technology Solutions Part 1

We are pleased to introduce the ILTA Content Teams and NextGen Innovators Group podcast series—an initiative designed to repackage high‑value, evergreen content in a format tailored for today's Next Gen legal professionals.
This series highlights compelling conversations and thought‑provoking discussions from recently delivered sessions, offering members an accessible way to stay informed, inspired, and connected to emerging ideas shaping the legal industry.

#0157: So You Wanna Join the C-Suite: Episode 4 — THE LEAP: From Expert to Executive

Every executive was once an expert—until the job demanded more than mastery. In this episode, we explore the pivotal shift from doing to leading, and what it really takes to make that leap.
- How do you evolve from technical excellence to strategic influence?
- What skills matter most when stepping into executive leadership—and which ones quietly fall away?
- What leadership cliché did you once believe, only to discard with experience?
- And what did you have to unlearn to thrive in your second or third C-suite role?
This episode bridges the gap between ambition and reality, offering honest reflections for anyone preparing to lead at the next level. If you’re standing at the edge of the leap—or already midair—this one’s for you.

#0156: ILTA Update 2026: Episode 1

Hear from CEO Joy Heath Rush and Board President Jason Dirkx as they recap event successes from 2025, membership growth, new volunteer roles, and what's ahead—including Leadership Days, EVOLVE 2026 in Denver, and ILTACON 2026 in Nashville.

#0155: (WWL) Advocating for Yourself

Join host Mary Nehring and guests Tiffany McLean and LaToya Deese-Richardson for an empowering conversation about advocating for yourself in the workplace.
In this episode, the ILTA Women Who Lead team explores why self‑advocacy matters, the barriers many women face, and practical strategies for confidently articulating your value. Through real experiences, actionable tips, and inspiring stories, listeners will gain tools to speak up, seek opportunities, and champion their own growth.
To learn more about the Women Who Lead, visit: https://www.iltanet.org/resources/wwl2
To learn more about ILTA's myMentor program, visit: https://www.iltanet.org/resources/mymentor 

#0154: (CT) ILTA Just-in-Time: 'Beyonce-ify' Your Information Governance Program

Have you ever heard the saying, "We all have the same 24 hours in a day?" The problem is, we know that's not true. Beyoncé, for example, has a whole team of people to eliminate tasks and burdens from her life, leaving more time to focus on what she wants. IG programs need to “Beyoncé-ify” their workflows, i.e., develop procedures that reduce the burden of the incoming work to create bandwidth for other projects. AI has thrust Legal’s ROT problem into the spotlight, but who has time to clear out old data when hundreds of requests come through daily? This session highlighted case studies and insights from firms that have implemented a proactive approach, including how they got leadership's go-ahead and what they learned.  
Moderator:@Sarah Prause - Information Governance Senior Analyst, Latham & Watkins
Speaker:@Crystal McFarland - Director of IG, Taft, Stettinius & Hollister LLP
Recorded on 01-27-2026.

#0153: So You Wanna Join the C Suite, Episode 3: CHAOS THEORY: When Leadership Doesn’t Match the Brochure

Leadership often comes wrapped in glossy language—vision, impact, influence. But behind the brochure lies a messier truth. In this episode, we step into the stories executives rarely tell: the moments that looked impressive on paper but felt anything but behind the scenes.
- That “C-suite moment” that checked every box—except the one labeled fulfillment
- The disconnect between expectations and reality, and how leaders navigate the emotional fallout
- The conversations you wish you could have had, but didn’t - And the quiet recalibrations that keep you grounded when everything around you feels off-script
This episode moves past the polished narrative and into the lived experience of executive leadership. If you’ve ever felt like the role didn’t match the promise, you’re not alone—and this conversation proves it.

#0152: (CT) Get Out of Your Head: Deepening Somatic Awareness in a Mind-Centered Industry

Practicing somatic awareness can help you manage your day, work, and  life differently. In this podcast, the speakers dove into what somatic awareness is, provided practices to deepen your overall somatic awareness, and practiced several brief exercises. 
 
Moderator:Helen Stocklin-Enright, Legal Project Manager, Perkins Coie
Speaker:Ruth Hauswirth, Special Counsel and Head of Litigation and eDiscovery Services, Cooley 

#0151: (Membership) myMentor Program 2026: Why You Should Participate (Part 6)

Welcome to the kick-off of the 2026 myMentor Program! Registrations are now open.
We want you to hear from ILTAns like you about why they joined myMentor, what they found most valuable, and why they think you should participate as well.
Part 6 showcases Robbyn Andersen and Kimberly Romano, and you won't want to miss their insights!
If you would like more information about myMentor, please feel free to attend an information session we are hosting on Jan 13 - register here
Huge thanks to all our participants over this 6-part series!