Columns

9 ABA Journal Columns articles.

6 strategies to get a perfectionistic lawyer off the ledge

In one of life’s ironies, the very things that make a great lawyer may also make a lawyer miserable. Achievement equaled value; if we did not get more than 100 on a test, we failed. This is the lawyer’s curse of perfectionism, writes James Gray Robinson.

Sep 17, 2020 9:13 AM CDT

A look at Netflix’s ‘Longmire,’ Indian Country and the battle for jurisdiction

Being born and reared in western Oklahoma, I was always fairly familiar with the tribes in that area. Even though I don’t have any American Indian blood, plenty of my friends do, and I have had the opportunity to grow up experiencing the wealth of history and culture they offer.

Sep 16, 2020 2:21 PM CDT

Does firm size matter? Retired lawyer muses on pros and cons of BigLaw and SmallLaw

The concept of BigLaw only recently crossed my radar. Though I had an idea of what it means, I wan’t sure and so I Googled it and went straight to one of my most trusted word reference texts, the Urban Dictionary.

Sep 14, 2020 10:07 AM CDT

7 tips for cost-efficient and effective law firm marketing during COVID-19

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, successful law firm marketing had a different tone and message than it does now, and marketing will continue evolving in the coming months. Consider these seven marketing pointers from lawyer and author Tiana H. Hardison.

Sep 10, 2020 9:30 AM CDT

Chemerinsky: Will SCOTUS rulings help decide the 2020 presidential election?

There now have been six instances in which the U.S. Supreme Court has dealt with issues concerning COVID-19 and the election process. The court repeatedly has made clear that it does not want the federal courts changing the rules of an election, even when necessary to protect the right to vote in a pandemic.

Sep 2, 2020 10:18 AM CDT

Chemerinsky: How will SCOTUS handle future issues related to the COVID-19 crisis?

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a great deal of litigation. A few cases already have reached the U.S. Supreme Court. What can be learned from them, and what does this tell us about the court’s likely handling of future cases arising from the pandemic?

Aug 5, 2020 8:00 AM CDT

How to make the most of your time during the pandemic

Regardless of whether Shakespeare used playhouse closings to write great drama, it’s worth asking yourself: What should I do during periods of isolation? Bryan A. Garner, the president of LawProse Inc., explores.

Aug 1, 2020 12:35 AM CDT

Chemerinsky: Gorsuch wrote his ‘most important opinion’ in SCOTUS ruling protecting LGBTQ workers

There are many important implications to the U.S. Supreme Court’s stunning decision June 15. “It certainly is the most important opinion” written by Justice Neil M. Gorsuch since coming on to the court three years ago, writes law dean Erwin Chemerinsky.

Jul 1, 2020 8:00 AM CDT

‘Good English’ always has been a path to the legal profession

Should schoolchildren be taught standard English grammar? The traditional view, of course, is yes. The contrary position is we shouldn’t insist people learn standard written English. Instead, we should teach everyone to be tolerant of regional and class dialects—not just accents but dialects.

Jun 1, 2020 12:40 AM CDT