Just as lawyers choose to practice solo or in small firm settings for a wide range of different reasons, there are many factors that play into the decision whether to develop a general practice or to focus on a particular niche. Regardless of these factors, it’s important to actually consider the pros and cons of [...]
A lawyer in California notified us that he received an email from the purported Kazuo Hirai of Chuko Electric Co Ltd with regards to a commercial debt collection scam. For examples of other names attached to this kind of fraud see our Confirmed Fraud Page. For an explanation of how this fraud works see our [...]
Not for the first time, and probably not the last, I find myself reading reports from the legal marketplace and wondering why lawyers are asleep at the switch. The latest head-scratcher comes courtesy of Altman Weil and its fifth annual Law Firms in Transition Survey of 238 US law firms. Importantly, only one-third of the respondents... Read more …
Yesterday, I wrote a post here about the debut of Law Ratchet, a site that aggregates legal news and blog posts. Afterwards, a reader emailed me asking a key question my post did not address — that of whether Law Ratchet is violating the copyrights of the publishers and bloggers whose stories it is picking up. For [...]
Today Ed talks about a basic sales mantra: "Meet People! Meet People! Meet People!" He shares how Five Cards and Three Feet can help do this.
That’s the slogan for Clio’s upcoming first annual ”Cloud Conference” (#ClioCloud9), being held this fall in Chicago, September 23rd and 24th. Dubbed as “two days of engaging keynote presentations and interactive sessions on technology for the legal industry”, this…
Two Ontario lawyers a dozen in the U.S. have notified us that they received an email from the purported Matthew Shilton of Holbury Hardware Stores with regards to a commercial debt collection scam. For examples of other names attached to this kind of fraud see our Confirmed Fraud Page. For an explanation of how this [...]
With Google Reader set to shut down on July 1, many of us have been scrambling to find a substitute way to keep up with news and blogs. Yesterday, a new aggregation tool was launched, Law Ratchet, designed to enable legal professionals to keep up with the top legal and business news, analysis and commentary. [...]
Visiting ALM LegalTech conference today was eye popping in both its simplicity and complexity. First, the simple: D. Casey Flaherty, corporate counsel at Kia Motors America, suggests that law firms don't need more software. They need to use their existing software more efficiently and effectively. What a concept. Reminds me of the scientists' suggesting …
Here's an article that recently appeared from me in the Oklahoma Bar Journal. Ten Improved Fastcase Tools I will confess that Ed Walters, the CEO of Fastcase, gave me a fair amount of assistance in the preparation of this article....
Mediation is a powerful tool. When managed by a capable mediator, it can shine a bright light on a dispute, illuminating for all parties the strengths and the weaknesses of their respective positions. The dynamic nature of mediation can also create unintended hazards. To read the article click here or on the image above. The [...]
An Ontario lawyer has notified us that he received an email from the purported Giovanni Bertolotto of Binding Union with regards to a commercial debt collection scam. For examples of other names attached to this kind of fraud see our Confirmed Fraud Page. For an explanation of how this fraud works see our Fraud Fact [...]
Three Ontario lawyers have notified us that they have been contacted by the purported Margaret Brockman with regards to a collaborative family law agreement dispute. This is a fraud we have seen before under several other names and similar scenarios. For details on how this fraud works and a full list of names attached to [...]
Three U.S. lawyers have notified us that they’ve been contacted by the purported Meg Li Martinez with regards to a to a collaborative family law agreement dispute. This is a fraud we have seen before under several other names and similar scenarios. For examples of other names attached to this kind of fraud see our [...]
Clio, the cloud-based legal practice management platform, announced today that it will host the inaugural Clio Cloud Conference Sept. 23 and 24 in Chicago. I am proud to have been invited to speak at the conference, which will feature various presentations focusing on the evolving relationship between law and technology. According to Clio’s announcement …
I think “The Simpsons” is consistently among the funniest, most-clever shows on television. And one of my favorite parts are the throw-away gags in the margins that target a narrow audience or demographic. If you’re not in that group, you don’t notice that you missed it.Here’s a recent example that caused me to laugh out loud, where the …
This week on our legal-affairs podcast Lawyer2Lawyer, we look at the debate over the growing use of private prisons. Joining us to discuss the issue are Susan Herman, president of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), and Adrian Moore, vice president of the Reason Foundation, a non-profit in support of libertarian principles and privatization …
The following note is prompted by the comments of Susan Cartier Liebel of Solo Practice University® and her post about Kimberly, a young mother who just gave birth to her third child and was a 3L law student at Stetson. She became ill but failed to go to a doctor to address her own health. She was busy with her family and "stuff." This is for all …
An update from LinkedIn this morning indicated that a connection of mine had endorsed me as being skilled in litigation. The person who endorsed me is someone I know only through the Internet. We have never met or spoken, that I can recall. That means that the person has no first-hand knowledge of my skill [...]
Nothing has a more dramatic and immediate impact on successful client relations and your bottom line as your approach to drafting bills. Motivated clients will pay their bills with a higher degree of reliability. Satisfied clients will help you to grow your practice. On the flip side, sending clients bills they feel are unfair or [...]
♫ Every time you’re near I get creative…♫ Lyrics and Music by: Chris Porter/Howard New/Peter Gordeno, recorded by Leon Jackson. This is another great guest post by Beth Flynn of the Ohio State University Leadership Center. This time Beth is looking at Creativity (and leadership). Myth 1: Creativity is only needed at the top. TRUTH …
Think back to the last time you purchased a new vehicle. Do you recall advising the salesperson, in that gently chiding tone of yours, to be sure not to show you any cars manufactured on a Monday or a Friday? When the incredulous salesperson asked you why the day of manufacture would possibly matter, do [...]
Once you have decided that you are prepared to represent a client in a particular matter, you are ready to begin building a relationship with that client. Even if you already have a relationship with the client, but are taking on a new case, it is essential that you communicate with him or her to [...]
An Ontario lawyer has notified us that he received an email from the purported Takagi Yumiko with regards to a commercial debt collection scam. For examples of other names attached to this kind of fraud see our Confirmed Fraud Page. For an explanation of how this fraud works see our Fraud Fact Sheet. Here is [...]
Paul F. Kenney is a well-known Boston-area personal-injury lawyer and a partner in the law firm Kenney & Conley in Braintree, Mass. Now, he is also a published novelist. This week, Kenney published his new book, Paths Along the Way, which tells a story that he says was inspired by his own life experiences as [...]
Below is a screenshot I grabbed from the ABA Journal Blawg Directory. At first glance, it looks like a typical screenshot. But something is different — the hyperlinks are all live. Go ahead, click on one. Do you want to use the same screenshot? Click on the kwout name beneath the screenshot and you’ll go [...]
I remember twenty years ago or so there was a show on TV that put brand promises to the test. I can’t remember the name, but picture a host washing a grass stained baseball jersey in the washing machine thirty times using Tide and then comparing it to the same, brand new shirt. Is it [...]
Ed advises: keep track of your work, bill timely, and collect efficiently.
MyCase features my guest blog post suggesting that there is plenty of work for those lawyers willing to be realistic both in the nature of the clients they serve and the fees they charge. While you're at their web site, check out their software. It has been reviewed by many and is well - regarded.
A website launched yesterday claims to be the largest freely searchable database of contracts extracted from the SEC’s EDGAR database. Called Law Insider, it says that it has indexed and made searchable more than 250,000 contracts, ranging from business loan agreements to employment agreements to redemption agreements. Contracts can be searched by …
♫ You can count on me I’m gonna get it done, get it done…♫ Lyrics, music and recorded by Sandwich. Over on Small Firm Innovation, Gwynne Monahan has posed the following challenge: Write a post that describes what quick, uncomplicated, untechnological habits or practices make all the difference to your practice, in 100 words or less. OK… …
It has been three years since LexisNexis introduced Lexis for Microsoft Office, a product that integrates the legal research tools of Lexis.com directly within Microsoft Word and Outlook. In the years since, Lexis also launched Lexis Advance, its next-generation legal research platform. But the Office integration remained tied to Lexis.com. Yesterday …
It’s law firm annual retreat season and I’ve been traversing the country presenting to practice groups and entire firms and preaching the importance of predictability in legal budgets. As one client wrote to me afterwards, “Thank you for making ‘predictability’ our new buzzword!” My perspective is somewhat unique, as I explain how using …
If you’re planning to launch a blog, you can take either of two routes to get there. One is to pay someone to start it for you. The other is to be a skinflint like me and do it yourself. The do-it-yourself route is surprisingly easy and can result in a blog every bit as [...]
There are at least two components of legal costs: Fees and expenses. When one is clearly out of line, the other is perceived to be out of line. Perception is reality. Much has been written about the $1,000 per hour legal fee. It's out of line, too high, much too expensive, etc. But the writers fail to assess the competitive market for those services …
This issue has arisen in a number of conversations with clients. Why would you engage a contract lawyer? For one of several reasons: (i) even out the work flow; ii) engage expertise you don’t possess at the moment; (iii) gain time to observe the quality of work of a potential hire; and (iv) determine if you have enough work in the long term …
We’ve all seen the classic "trial" movies. 12 Angry Men. To Kill a Mockingbird. Anatomy of a Murder. Inherit the Wind. Witness for the Prosecution. Judgment at Nuremberg.Even The Verdict,although it regularly makes me want to yell “Object, you idiot!”(My personal favorite is My Cousin Vinny.) An almost-unknown option is Rooty Toot …
Let’s face it, Google knows you better than you know yourself. The entire purpose of this Internet powerhouse is to understand the psychological characteristics and motivations of people. Naturally, it has a five-star app that knows you better than your best friend does. Google Now is an intelligent personal assistant app that answers questions through …
It is rare I have nothing to add, but this six minute (now there’s some rich irony) clip explains precisely how and why women are penalized by hourly billing. Congratulations to my partner Nicole Auerbach on a presentation that has earned such widespread praise.
Two New York Times articles on Monday make me think that lawyers have more in common with media moguls than I thought. Solving Equation of a Hit Film Script, With Data explains that "The same kind of numbers analysis that has reshaped areas like politics and online marketing is increasingly ...
