Professional Development

The Zoom boom: How videoconferencing tools are changing the legal profession

Long before social distancing, Zoom touted its capabilities for lawyers. And the platform is booming, with a reported jump from 10 million daily users at the end of 2019 to 200 million in March. But lawyers must be extra careful when using Zoom or any other videoconferencing tool.

Jun 3, 2020 8:00 AM CDT

New York bar reports minor increases in women’s court participation since 2017

Not much has changed in the three years since the New York State Bar Association released a landmark report highlighting the scarcity of female attorneys in lead roles in court cases in the state, according to a new study published Thursday.

May 29, 2020 1:20 PM CDT

Navigating a new era of virtual events during the COVID-19 pandemic

Ari Kaplan recently spoke with Matt Homann, the founder of Filament, a company that designs and facilitates virtual and in-person meetings, about how to navigate virtual events during the novel coronavirus crisis.

May 22, 2020 8:00 AM CDT

These law firms were named as top family- and female-friendly workplaces by Yale Law Women

Yale Law Women’s latest report on top law firms for gender and family friendliness is taking a new approach, with more categories and more opportunities to acknowledge law firms.

May 21, 2020 10:26 AM CDT

‘I forgot’ isn’t acceptable excuse for missing oral arguments, 2nd Circuit tells lawyer

A New York lawyer who failed to show up for oral arguments will have to pay his opponent’s attorney fees for the time that he wasted at the courthouse.

May 20, 2020 10:38 AM CDT

What can law firm leaders learn from a pandemic?

It may seem like an odd proposition, but we must recognize that most challenges present opportunities to positively shape the future. The coronavirus challenge is no different, writes lawyer Susan Smith Blakely.

May 14, 2020 8:30 AM CDT

Law practice vs. legal academia: Can we build a bicultural world?

The widest gap between the courthouse and the university is a cultural one, says lawyer and law professor Dan Canon. One can speak fluent legalese without knowing how to navigate the world of legal academia. So how do we achieve a better blend of the two?

Apr 29, 2020 8:30 AM CDT

Is my law firm preparing me for success in the next decade?

Every lawyer, from the solo practitioner to lawyers in large international firms, should ask themselves this question, says lawyer Thomas Aertgeerts. For young lawyers and law students, this is even more important.

Apr 16, 2020 8:00 AM CDT

Law practice anxiety: How to dance with the demons

Given these trying times, let’s focus on typical practice irritants that bothered us just a month ago. They may seem trivial now, writes lawyer Marcel Strigberger.

Apr 9, 2020 8:00 AM CDT

Some law firms delay start of summer associate programs because of novel coronavirus

Some law firms have announced that they are delaying the start date of their summer associate programs and shortening their length because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Apr 3, 2020 9:54 AM CDT

How to practice law remotely and efficiently during the COVID-19 crisis

As people across the country are coping with countless changes in light of the novel coronavirus pandemic, the ABA Journal’s Asked and Answered podcast is taking a break from its regularly scheduled programing to share information with lawyers about how they can adjust to the world’s current situation—such as having to work from home, whether they want to or not.

Mar 30, 2020 9:27 AM CDT

Ethics and civil procedure are most important knowledge areas for new lawyers, survey says

A survey of nearly 15,000 lawyers sought to determine what knowledge, skills and abilities are needed by newly licensed attorneys.

Mar 12, 2020 12:04 PM CDT

How to achieve vocal power in and out of the courtroom

Public speaking is a crucial part of working as a lawyer. It is especially important for female lawyers who are claiming their vocal authority in speaking roles in courts.

Mar 11, 2020 9:32 AM CDT

Internal candidate is selected to lead the ABA’s legal ed section

William Adams, the deputy managing director of the ABA's Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar, will replace Barry Currier as the organization's managing director of accreditation and legal education, starting April 6. Currier announced in summer 2019 that he would be stepping down from the position.

Mar 3, 2020 10:45 AM CST

ABA and SoFi offer student loan debt relief through new contest

Three ABA members could see a portion of their student loan debt paid off through a new partnership between the ABA and SoFi.

Feb 10, 2020 10:18 AM CST