On this podcast episode, litigation attorney Maxwell Goss hosts the insightful and funny Suzanne Lucas, better known as the Evil HR Lady. Suzanne has had a multifaceted career as an HR writer, keynote speaker, webinar company owner, and improvisational comedian.

Suzanne brings serious insights and her own witty brand of advice to a host of HR topics, including common mistakes employers make that can lead to lawsuits, the changing world of non-compete agreements, and the challenges of remote work. Suzanne also offers her candid (“Sorry if this gets you canceled, Max!”) views on gender and age discrimination and the impact of artificial intelligence in HR, and provides practical advice on handling employee terminations.

The personal anecdotes and valuable insights that Max and Suzanne share make this a great listen for litigating attorneys, HR professionals, and anyone interested in becoming a savvier, more effective leader in the workplace.

00:18 Meet Suzanne Lucas, the Evil HR Lady

02:12 What improv has to do with Leadership Training

04:29 Why 'Evil HR Lady'?

05:42 Human resources and legal intersections

07:50 Common HR missteps and how to avoid them

22:14 The use and abuse of AI in employee recruiting

23:21 The career impact of parenthood

24:03 AI and gender bias in the workplace

27:57 Legal complications created by remote work

35:36 The changing landscape of non-compete agreements

40:17 Best practices for employee termination

44:57 Suzanne’s final thoughts

The Litigation War Room kicks off Season 2 with an interview with Justin Brooks, founder of the California Innocence Project and author of You Might Go to Prison, Even Though You’re Innocent. Justin speaks with host Maxwell Goss about his work exonerating the wrongfully convicted. He brings both realism and hope in sharing his amazing and moving stories from the front lines of our justice system.

00:24 Introduction to Justin Brooks and his work

01:21 Expanding innocence projects in Latin America

04:10 Justin's defense of football star Brian Banks

08:10 The journey of writing You Might Go to Prison, Even Though You're Innocent

09:44 Justin's appeal to the reader's self-interest

14:14 Defense of a client sentenced to death on a plea bargain

23:44 Defense of a client convicted based on false identification

29:53 Defense of client convicted because of debunked science

33:59 Advancements in forensic science and DNA testing

39:10 How cases come to the Innocence Project

46:37 Challenges and reflections on the criminal justice system

The Litigation War Room is hosted by litigation lawyer Maxwell Goss. Max represents clients in trade secret, intellectual property, and business cases throughout Michigan and around the country, bringing forceful advocacy and creative solutions to every case he handles.

Maxwell Goss is back in The Litigation War Room with the perfect blend of happy hour and litigation masterclass, where you'll hear leading litigation attorneys and thought leaders share their best war stories and winning strategies.

We're talking about actionable insights that will help you elevate your litigation game and win more cases.

Here's a preview:

• Attorney and author Justin Brooks will share about how an innocence project director helps get the wrongly convicted off death row.
• Deposition expert Shane Reed will offer important lessons about examining witnesses for maximum impact.
• Suzanne Lucas, the evil HR lady, will join us for a lighthearted discussion about what HR professionals want every attorney to know.
• IP attorney Chris Darrow will give us a peek behind the scenes of what a special master does in litigation and how to make the best use of them.

In addition to the attorney interviews you know and love, we will be mixing it up this season with author interviews, roundtables, and voices outside the law. It's going to be a lot of fun. I hope you'll join us on the Litigation War Room Season 2.

Learn more about Maxwell Goss and The Litigation War Room.

• Shane Read
• Justin Brooks - School of Law - University of San Diego
• Christopher G. Darrow — Special Master
• Evil HR Lady — Demystifying Your Human Resources Department