Business of Law

Technology streamlines in-house work, but have a plan before making purchases

The pandemic pressured corporate legal departments to control costs and collaborate online to an unprecedented degree as demand for legal services surged. But missteps await legal departments that rush into implementing technology without first taking a thorough look at the bigger picture.

Feb 1, 2023 2:20 AM CST

Could hybrid work and generational shifts finally kill email?

For years, tech and business experts have predicted the death of email. “My sense is that the younger generation of lawyers use email less as a communication vehicle, and [they] have grown up in a world where their communication is done through social media apps,” says Jason St. John, managing partner of Saul Ewing Arnstein & Lehr.

Dec 1, 2022 2:30 AM CST

Firms are employing burnout advisers to keep their attorneys from getting overwhelmed

It’s no secret that attorneys are burned out—but the surprising news is that firms are finally taking action to combat it. Some legal teams are hiring burnout advisers to address attorney mental health in the hope that this will tackle attorney fatigue, detachment and other issues stemming from the competitive environment, long working hours and perfectionism that comes with the job.

Dec 1, 2022 2:20 AM CST

Your law firm’s fee structure can affect financial planning

A firm’s chosen fee structure and how its finances are handled can lay the foundation for the entire life of the business and sometimes provides early indicators in determining whether it will grow and thrive or eventually crumble.

Dec 1, 2022 2:10 AM CST

Paralegal market is red-hot thanks to hybrid and remote work

It’s a seller’s market for paralegals. Remote work arrangements, which were uncommon pre-pandemic, today are nonnegotiable for many candidates. That’s been hard for some lawyers to accept.

Oct 1, 2022 2:30 AM CDT

How law departments can survive or even thrive in the event of a coming recession

The pandemic’s global economic and human impact has created new challenges for in-house legal teams. Supply chain disruptions, sharp increases or decreases in consumer demand, and the impact of uncertainty surrounding remote work options have pushed in-house legal teams to rethink the work they are doing and how they are doing it.

Oct 1, 2022 2:20 AM CDT

The metaverse and Web3 are all the rage, but the law is stuck at Web1

The metaverse and Web3, including virtual reality, augmented reality, mixed reality, cryptocurrencies, non-fungible tokens and more, are evolving to become another Wild West technology frontier where existing laws are hard to apply, legal experts say.

Oct 1, 2022 2:10 AM CDT

Warm Welcome: Law firms are using wellness programs to recruit new lawyers

Attorneys generally choose a law firm based on prestige, salary, location and future goals. But today, many are adding another criterion to the list: wellness programs. Self-care, which used to be a foreign concept to law firms, has finally entered the conversation.

Aug 1, 2022 2:20 AM CDT

Going Viral: Once unpopular, QR codes have taken off, thanks to the pandemic

When the pandemic hit, QR codes became very popular as people looked for a contact-free way to share information. Privacy advocates, however, see a darker side to QR codes. “Really sensitive information about you is being collected and monetized by the QR code-generation company,” says Nicole A. Ozer, technology and civil liberties director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Northern California.

Aug 1, 2022 2:10 AM CDT

Some firms expand and revamp offices to lure back remote and hybrid workers

Firms bucking that downsizing trend say they’re investing in real estate to spark collaboration and camaraderie that lawyers, associates and support staff simply can’t experience when they’re siloed in home or remote offices.

Jun 1, 2022 2:50 AM CDT

Customers are relying on web searches, but some lawyers aren’t prioritizing SEO and social media marketing

Law firms are slowly but surely making the jump from email marketing to social media and SEO advertising—but they’re not all on the other side yet.

Jun 1, 2022 2:40 AM CDT

Participants were pleased to be at the first in-person ABA Techshow in 2 years

This year’s Techshow, which took place March 2-5 at the Hyatt Regency Chicago, wasn’t quite a return to normal. Nevertheless, for some vendors, setting up shop in the in-person exhibit hall again for the first time since the ABA Techshow 2020 gave them a chance to cement relationships that they have built online with customers.

Jun 1, 2022 2:30 AM CDT

Law firms can attract and retain talent by providing purpose for young attorneys

As much of the world begins, hopefully, to emerge into post-pandemic life, finding purpose in one’s career has become more crucial than ever. While the legal field in particular can often be perceived as grueling work, it’s also an industry that enables its professionals to feel that they’re truly contributing to the greater good of society.

Jun 1, 2022 2:20 AM CDT

Uber-ads: Always on the lookout for effective ways to advertise, lawyers are turning to ride-share vehicles

Miami-based personal injury attorney Amanda Demanda says since she started using Carvertise last year, she has frequently heard from people in the community who have seen ride-share cars with her image on them.

Apr 1, 2022 3:10 AM CDT

Keep Austin Wired: Driven by a tech boom, lawyers are flocking to Austin, Texas

Austin had become a vibrant and mature tech hub—so much so that Perkins Coie in February 2020, seeing “significant strategic opportunities in Texas as Austin and Dallas continue to grow as business centers for startups, medium-size companies and large global corporations,” opened an office in Austin. This February, it moved into an 18,000-square-foot space after signing a multiyear lease in June.

Apr 1, 2022 3:00 AM CDT