In my 20+ years of practice, I constantly speak with people who tell me, “I’m just going to plead guilty, so I don’t need a lawyer.” It’s one of the most damaging myths in criminal defense and one that can change the course of someone’s life. I can tell you this with certainty: even if you plan to plead guilty, you still need a skilled defense attorney. Here’s why. Pleading Guilty Doesn’t Mean Giving Up Your Rights When you enter a guilty plea, you’re not just admitting guilt

Why it Matters for All Lawyers In this new era of technology, everything moves faster and it's almost all aided by AI. The generative-AI tools (chatbots and large-language-models) that promise to help with research, drafting, brainstorming are already part of many career paths, especially law practices. But what happens when the tool makes a mistake, invents case law, or mishandles a client’s confidential info? That risk isn’t theoretical any more—it’s becoming real in states

Senate Bill 79 (SB 79), the Fentanyl Eradication and Removal Act, is a new Georgia law that takes effect July 1, 2025. It creates a separate, tougher set of rules specifically for fentanyl- related offenses—reflecting the drug’s extreme potency and danger. Fentanyl is now treated differently than other opioids under Georgia law. Key Changes Under SB 79 1. Lower Thresholds for Trafficking Charges Even small amounts of fentanyl now qualify as “trafficking.” Previously, only la