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Raid on Polygamist Sect Brings an Army of Attorneys
The National Law Journal
Following the raid last month of a Texas ranch that is home to members of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, about 350 lawyers were appointed to represent more than 400 children who lived at the ranch. They've spent long evenings and weekends studying Texas' legal protections for children and researching the tenets of the FLDS faith. And attorney Mark Ticer says most lawyers are spending considerable time assuring parents of the whereabouts of their children.
Survey: Public Wants to Know if Lawyer's Insured
Texas Lawyer
While Texas lawyers aren't keen on having a rule that would require them to disclose whether they carry legal malpractice insurance, the public favors such a requirement, recent surveys by the Texas Bar show. David Beck, chairman of a task force appointed by the Bar to review survey results as well as other states' data, is hopeful the task force will vote on whether to recommend a disclosure rule during a May 21 meeting. But task force member Mark Osborn says he considers the survey "a first step."
A Spirited Practice: Combining Law With Religion Is Work -- but Worth It
Texas Lawyer
Can religion and law be complementary? Indeed, say a number of attorneys. Dallas lawyer Princy Sethi, a Hindu, says the teachings of her religion require that she strive to be the best lawyer she can be. Lawyers who integrate their belief system into their legal life say it's the most fulfilling way to practice -- but that it isn't easy. "You have this internal compass guiding you to want to do the right thing," says another lawyer, "and sometimes that can be a disadvantage, especially in litigation."
How to Thrive on Telephone Calls
Fulton County Daily Report
Consultant Joey Asher has spent a lot of time thinking about communicating on the telephone and on conference calls. He's sought input from a radio broadcaster. He's even taken a tour of a client's call center. He's left experimental messages for himself on his voicemail. And he's learned that to be good on conference calls, you need vocal energy, simplicity and repetition of key points at the end of the call. Asher offers some tips to overcome the challenges of communicating over the phone.
Online Pretrial Publicity Draws Fire
The National Law Journal
Lawyers using the Web for pretrial publicity on the Internet are a growing concern -- many fear that online ranting in blogs and press releases by attorneys may taint jury pools. Some lawyers are concerned about adversarial law firms posting press releases unflattering to their clients; others object to Web sites giving biased, blow-by-blow accounts of pending litigation. Attorney blogs that undermine pending cases and bash the lawyers involved can be a recipe for ethical violations.
New Book Helps Small Firms, Solos With Legal Tech
New York Law Journal
Hot off the presses from the American Bar Association, "The 2008 Solo and Small Firm Legal Technology Guide: Critical Decisions Made Simple" provides 145 pages of nuts-and-bolts advice and counsel on the current state of legal technology, along with hints of things to come.
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