Meet the lawyer defending the government's most-wanted

Could you defend government traitors? That's how one Dallas lawyer has built an empire. Plus: Check out what a medical expert had to say about the size of this disbarred lawyer's brain. Let's dig in.

In today's newsletter:
⚫ Lawyer defends toughest federal crimes
⚫ VP Harris ramps up 2024 campaign legal operation
⚫ Ready to retire in your 50s? Here's how
⚫ MIT study tries to explain complicated legalese

This Dallas attorney defends enemies of the state

Nick Oberheiden is a highly-specialized defense attorney who meets with around 150 US government officials every year on behalf of his clients. The alleged crimes tied to his clients range from white collar infractions to anti-government espionage. Oberheiden says that his approach is to provide fair, but ethical, options for his clients and in the best of cases, turn what they know into assets for the government, not threats. "The really good stories are those that never made the news. The cases that no one knows ever occurred. The meetings that never took place. The locations many didn’t know existed. The secrets I can’t share,” Oberheiden says. 

VP Harris' team beefs up campaign legal team

Vice President Kamala Harris’s presidential campaign has ramped up its legal operation for 2024 with a broad team of top-tier attorneys. Led by seasoned legal heavyweights Bob Bauer and Dana Remus, the team includes Marc Elias, who will focus on potential recounts. Their efforts span key battleground states and beyond, with a focus on voter protection, litigation, and recounts. With lessons from 2020 still fresh, the campaign is deploying thousands of volunteers and legal professionals to ensure a secure election. The DNC is also boosting voter education, preparing to tackle challenges to voting eligibility, and counter any post-election disputes.

Want to retire early? Follow these steps

Attorney John S. Phillips recently retired at the age of 59 and says with the right planning, other can leave the workforce before the age of 60. He advises lawyers to create a comprehensive financial plan that includes forecasted budgeting, and to assume that healthcare costs will be higher than current ones. It's also wise to hire a financial advisor as early as possible in a career to get set up for a successful early retirement.

• Oct. 16 - 17: Legal Geek Conference in London 
• Oct. 23 - 25: ICSC+U.S. Law in Orlando
• Nov. 13 - 16: Labor and Employment Law Conference in New York

Master the business side of a successful law firm

Understanding the actual expertise surrounding a firm's specialty is just the surface acumen needed to run a successful business. Robust firms must have smart financial management systems, a tight strategic plan that is shared among colleagues, and performance metrics that are reviewed regularly. 

Thank you for reading Raise The Bar.

Every Thursday, you'll hear from our team about the most pressing issues facing legal practices today. We'll also try to include some quick-hit reads that touch on interesting cases and precedents being set worldwide. 

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