Business of Law

How correct were predictions about firms’ 2013 profits?

Graphics by Jamie Gannon This article originally appeared in the February 2014 issue of the ABA Journal with this headline: “Just how right were those predictions?”

Feb 1, 2014 8:20 AM CST

Sustainability network helps law firms go green

Going green at a law firm—with just a bit of persistent discipline—tends to become a way of being. Take the Law Firm Sustainability Network, a growing group of environmentally conscious law firms that have discovered thinking and acting green tends to engender ever more Earth-friendly tactics. Originating from a dozen…

Feb 1, 2014 8:10 AM CST

Social media has trade-offs for lawyers

An old but thought-provoking Internet adage is: “If you aren’t paying for the product, you are the product.” So we might be getting benefits from free social media or other cloud services, but we are simultaneously giving up some privacy or providing other information in return. It’s up to each…

Feb 1, 2014 8:00 AM CST

How two California solos helped take down ‘porn troll’ Prenda Law

By now, the Prenda Law saga is part of legal folklore, though the story seems to never end. It began as an enterprising effort in which Internet users received demand letters threatening lawsuits for downloading pornographic movies in violation of copyright. They were given the opportunity to pay a cash…

Jan 1, 2014 9:10 AM CST

New job titles reflect economic challenges, changing career expectations for lawyers

Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe touted a new job title in 2011 with career associates—attorneys working at about half the salary of traditional associates and not on a partnership track. Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton followed in August with department attorneys. They work like associates but at reduced hours and off a…

Jan 1, 2014 9:00 AM CST

2 new websites offer platform for crowdsourced legal research

If two heads are better than one, then why should legal research be a solitary pursuit? What if you could put three or four or even dozens of heads to the task? If you could tap into a collective, collaborative research process, it seems fair to say, you could complete…

Jan 1, 2014 8:50 AM CST

Face time holds steady, but digital interactions are changing client communications

Graphics by Jamie Gannon This article originally appeared in the January 2014 issue of the ABA Journal with this headline: “Let’s Talk: Face time holds steady, but digital is changing client contact.”

Jan 1, 2014 8:40 AM CST

5 ways to make good on your New Year’s tech resolutions

A new year brings another round of resolve and resolutions, especially for lawyers wanting to make better use of technology. Too often, this year’s resolutions look a lot like the ones that didn’t get completed last year and the year before. Yet a new year brings new optimism. I have…

Jan 1, 2014 8:29 AM CST

New product picks for the New Year from tech bloggers

Click on the name of the product to read the author’s full review. From the iPhone J.D. blog by lawyer Jeff Richardson of New Orleans: If you have an older speaker that uses the 30-pin dock connector, such as a Bose SoundDock, the DockBoss Air by CableJive ($35) adds Bluetooth…

Jan 1, 2014 8:20 AM CST

Solos need a backup plan to prepare for the unexpected

When the U.S. went to war with Iraq in 2003, San Antonio solo Thomas J. Crane, a member of the U.S. Army Reserve, was summoned to active duty. He had just five days to get his personal and business affairs in order. “I assumed we’d have a couple of months…

Jan 1, 2014 8:10 AM CST

DOMA’s demise brings new challenges

The U.S. Supreme Court’s landmark decision U.S. v. Windsor on same-sex marriage is presenting some new challenges to law firms serving the gay community. A wave of aging LGBT baby boomers is stirring a sea of complex legal questions over nursing home care, inheritance and even potential guardianship abuses, thanks…

Dec 1, 2013 9:10 AM CST

Product picks from iPhone JD and the Droid Lawyer

Click on the name of the product to read the author’s full review. From the Droid Lawyer blog by Oklahoma City lawyer Jeffrey Taylor: If you use a lot of anatomical pictures, you’re going to want to check out Human Anatomy Atlas. An orthopedic surgeon I know introduced me to…

Dec 1, 2013 9:00 AM CST

Law students prepare for jobs outside firms

This year, Anna Palmer’s entrepreneurial journey came full circle when she returned to the place where her dream took shape: Harvard Law School. Palmer, who credits a law school course in entrepreneurship and company creation with inspiring her career path, was in class this time as a guest speaker, sharing…

Dec 1, 2013 8:40 AM CST

Is LinkedIn’s endorsement feature ethical for lawyers?

“Does Dennis have these skills or expertise?” If you’ve visited my, or anyone else’s, LinkedIn profile page recently, you’ve been asked this question. For many lawyers, this seemingly simple inquiry has generated more questions than answers. LinkedIn is the most popular social media platform for lawyers. Most of you know…

Dec 1, 2013 8:30 AM CST

Teaching clients to make referrals is key to building business, solos say

Family law attorney Kelly Chang Rickert believes that if her clients are going to give her referrals, simply saying she did a good job isn’t good enough. “It doesn’t matter if you’re nice or not. Competence is No. 1,” says Rickert, who’s based in Los Angeles. “I’d want them to…

Dec 1, 2013 8:20 AM CST