Science & Engineering

Are Ghostwritten Legal Blogs Unethical?

When we asked late last year whether you thought it was ethical for lawyers to ghostwrite legal documents, the results were mixed. With more than 800 readers weighing in (PDF), 60 percent answered that ghostwriting is ethical and happens all the time. Only 14 percent thought it was akin to…

Feb 23, 2010 5:03 PM CST

E-Mail vs. Face-to-Face: What Are Your Rules?

This week, Bryan Cave chairman Don Lents told the New York Times that e-mail has its place, but sometimes, face-to-face communication with clients and colleagues is necessary. “I tell our younger lawyers, if you think you are going to have a difficult interaction with a colleague or a client, if…

Jan 26, 2010 9:05 PM CST

What Was Your Favorite Make-Life-Easier Tech Find in 2009?

There’s no shortage of time-saving technologies in the marketplace. In October, we wrote about 70 Sizzling Apps for smartphones. And this month, West announced the release of its new iPhone app, CLE Mobile, to make CLE on the go more readily available. This made us wonder what technologies you’ve discovered…

Dec 18, 2009 5:41 PM CST

Is Free Legal Research Good Enough to Bank a Case On?

News this month that Google Scholar now gives lawyers (and anyone with an Internet connection) access to case law going back 50 to 80 years has us wondering how often you use free search tools to do your legal research. Is Google Scholar likely to give West and Lexis a…

Nov 28, 2009 11:57 PM CST

Is Google Enough for You Anymore?

In November’s ABA Journal, legal technology writer Dennis Kennedy opens his Internet search toolbox and shares it with readers. Kennedy lists a dozen alternative search engines in his article, noting Google’s declining dominance. “While we may have thought Google—with its roughly 70 percent share—had turned searching into a sleepy little…

Oct 20, 2009 9:41 PM CDT

What’s Your Favorite Tech Blawg?

We editors have been seeking friend-of-the-blawg briefs for all manner of blawgs to help us compile this year’s Blawg 100 feature for our December issue, and readers and blawggers making cases for their favorite, possibly often-overlooked blawgs. Some readers’ briefs may end up being quoted in the magazine story. We’d…

Sep 22, 2009 5:45 PM CDT

Have You Seen Lawyers, Judges Cross Ethical Lines via Social Networks?

With more and more lawyers (and judges) getting on the social network highway, we started to wonder about the potential for conflict-of-interest collisions. Should lawyers, and judges in particular, join social networks? If yes, are there rules of the road that they should follow? Answer in the comments below. Read…

Aug 25, 2009 5:36 PM CDT

Have You Seen an Online Comment Cause Professional Woes?

Recently, some management-side employment lawyers spoke up and recommended that as far as praising or panning underlings on LinkedIn, supervisors should stay neutral. As Mitts Milavec partner Carolyn Plump put it, if employers “say something negative, there could be a lawsuit. If they say something positive, there could be a…

Jul 21, 2009 5:47 PM CDT

Should There Be an Expectation of Permanent Anonymity Online?

Earlier this month, there was a big brouhaha over the outing by Ed Whelan, at Bench Memos, of the online persona ‘Publius.’ Publius turned out to be South Texas College of Law professor John Blevins, who blogs at Obsidian Wings. Discussion and outrage across the Web focused on Internet netiquette…

Jun 23, 2009 5:48 PM CDT

What’s One Smartphone App You Can’t Do Without?

Not surprisingly, the buzz around the iPhone is prompting even die-hard BlackBerry devotees to make the switch. iPhone use is up for lawyers, according to the 2009 ABA Legal Technology Survey Report. As more consumers use smartphones of all stripes, more applications become available. This made us wonder … What’s…

May 27, 2009 8:15 PM CDT

Have You Turned to Craigslist for Clients?

We know that when consumers are on the hunt for a used set of bunk beds or a handyman, the first place they often go these days is Craigslist, a popular and free online classifieds service. So it stands to reason that these same consumers might be open to hiring…

Apr 28, 2009 8:40 PM CDT

Are You Ready for an e-Reader & Paperless Briefcase?

In the media and all the social networks is buzz about the Kindle 2, Amazon.com’s popular e-reader and the competition Amazon is facing from Sony and Google. Most are excited about how easy it is to download multiple books to read on the go. But for lawyers, the big draw…

Mar 24, 2009 8:19 PM CDT

How Has Office Tech Saved You Money?

Technology, when it’s not driving us all mad, is supposed to save us time and money. Even better is when a new piece of office tech can make us money. Tell us about technology you’ve used or are using in your practice that has saved you money. Answer in the…

Feb 23, 2009 9:55 PM CST

What Office Tech Can’t You Live Without?

If you had to give up every piece of law office technology—including e-mail, your cell phone, and all your software—but one, what would you keep? Answer in the comments below.

Jan 27, 2009 7:05 PM CST