Practice Matters

Understanding the basic framework of the profession can help lawyers at every level

As in any business, many frustrations in law firms arise because people misunderstand what the firm actually needs (or wants) from them. Associates wonder why legal excellence alone does not guarantee advancement.

Oct 1, 2026 1:20 AM CDT

Blasted by My Own Canon: Syntactic ambiguity in everyday speech and legislative drafting

Have you wondered why you’re getting so many unsolicited texts and robocalls these days? I may be partly to blame.

Oct 1, 2026 1:15 AM CDT

Judge doesn’t like your objections? Here are some tips to keep them coming in a meaningful way

Litigators are aware that they generally can’t raise an objection for the first time on appeal. But still, even the most experienced lawyers hesitate on how much to object and how far to go when advocating for their clients, particularly when judges appear to lose their patience.

Oct 1, 2026 1:10 AM CDT

Young lawyers view AI as a job threat, but experienced ones see it as freedom—when used wisely

By a strange twist of history, baby boomers—the generation once ridiculed for technophobia—have become the loudest evangelists for artificial intelligence in law and business.

Jul 1, 2026 1:10 AM CDT

Model Rules changes aim to help avoid ableism when representing clients with disabilities

Language changes for ABA Model Rule 1.14, which provides guidance for representing clients who have challenges making reasoned decisions, was approved by the House of Delegates during the midyear meeting in February.

Jul 1, 2026 1:05 AM CDT

In legal writing, don’t make readers reassemble the timeline

Lawyers often make their prose harder to follow than it needs to be. One of the worst culprits is time-toggling—those unannounced leaps from present to past, from recent to remote, from actual to hypothetical.

Apr 1, 2026 1:15 AM CDT

How can lawyers be sure clients understand what they’re saying?

Jenny Bradley, owner of Triangle Smart Divorce in Cary, North Carolina, says lawyers can miss some important clues that their clients are struggling to understand the advice they are getting.

Apr 1, 2026 1:10 AM CDT

Put Your Ego Aside: Law is a service industry

To succeed as an attorney is not simply to know the law but to serve clients—i.e., those people and organizations navigating some of the most stressful, high-stakes situations of their existence.

Jan 1, 2026 1:05 AM CST

Prompting Prose: When used correctly, AI in legal writing can be a useful tool

Although we hear a lot of talk about artificial intelligence, a large segment of the legal profession knows little about it and hasn’t tried it. Some bemoan this technological revolution, fearing it will cause human skills to shrivel. My own conviction is that whatever harm bad actors might do with it, in good hands, it’s a tool that can benefit people. For the lawyer, it’s like having a superb assistant who is remarkably efficient.

Jan 1, 2026 1:00 AM CST

As customs and border protection agents search more electronic devices, how can lawyers keep client information secure?

The government is searching more cellphones and laptops of international travelers than they have in the past, and lawyers need to take extra steps to protect client information.

Jan 1, 2026 12:55 AM CST

The business of successfully running an in-house department

In-house lawyering is about running a business inside a business. That means managing internal clients, knowing the revenue model, guiding decisions, hiring with leverage in mind, and deciding when to build versus buy.

Oct 1, 2025 1:25 AM CDT

Bryan Garner: If your client’s case has bad facts, how can you present them in the best possible light?

Like everyone else, lawyers sometimes find themselves in extremis. A dire circumstance may call for an extreme argument—the classic last-ditch, desperate appeal. The ultimate test is whether the argument wins the day. Typically, the far-fetched argument doesn’t.

Oct 1, 2025 1:20 AM CDT

ABA ethics opinion addresses how to handle criminal offenses that clients commit against lawyers

What happens to the lawyers who get taken in by scams and subsequently defrauded? Are they permitted to disclose the details of the crimes against them to law enforcement, or do they have to stay silent because of their duty of confidentiality toward clients or prospective clients?

Oct 1, 2025 1:15 AM CDT

The importance of understanding the business of law firms

“Law firms are for-profit businesses. While law schools equip students with legal reasoning, case analysis and advocacy skills, they don’t teach the business of practicing law—an oversight that can significantly impact career trajectory and success, especially in a law firm.”

Aug 1, 2025 1:10 AM CDT

Oscar vs. Jeff: Trial lawyers and appellate counsel do different jobs, and it may show in their writing

Two firms are collaborating on a brief for Julius Joints Inc. Oscar and his team were trial counsel, and the client wants Oscar, who has represented Julius for years, to stay on through the appeal. Jeff’s firm, an appellate boutique, has been hired as lead counsel for the matter.

Aug 1, 2025 1:05 AM CDT