Commentary
Work-Life Balance Is Achievable
Texas Lawyer
Monday, May 20, 2013
Lawyers tend to organize life into manageable schedules. Sometimes this daily routine can make life too monotonous, even for workaholics. Finding extra time for new experiences can be challenging.
SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT
"Game of Thrones" Lessons for Predictive Coding
Texas Lawyer
Monday, May 6, 2013
Three key 2012 rulings indicate that predictive coding may require a degree of transparency that litigators could find unsettling.
Commentary: How to Break Down Issues in Component-Parts Cases
Texas Lawyer
Monday, April 29, 2013
Strict products liability is limited for component-part manufacturers when the component part is integrated into the final product before distribution.
Commentary: Pre-Flight Checks Before Taking Off Into the Cloud
Texas Lawyer
Monday, April 29, 2013
With the advent of DropBox and other cloud-storage possibilities, cloud computing has become a way to increase productivity and mobility while decreasing information technology costs. But, as with most technological advances, firms must address ethical and business risks before floating their practices to the cloud.
Commentary: Vulnerability as Strength in Bringing in Business
Texas Lawyer
Monday, April 22, 2013
Sometimes lawyers fall short their efforts to bring in business, despite their technical skills. While it may be counterintuitive, approaching potential clients with vulnerability can be far more successful than adopting a battleground mentality.
Commentary: Avoid Confusion Over Client Identity
Texas Lawyer
Monday, April 22, 2013
Congratulations, the phone is ringing, and a new client is calling. But don't go celebrate with an early lunch just yet. Unless the client is an individual or sole proprietor, the wise attorney must make sure that the engagement letter identifies exactly who the client is, especially if room exists for interpretation or doubt.
Echoes of the Old South
Texas Lawyer
Monday, April 15, 2013
Beatriz Gonzalez says one of the reasons she entered the law was to join a profession that functions above racism and discrimination. But an experience early in her career showed her that American jurisprudence is never far removed from the realities of inequality.
Advance Your LinkedIn Results
The National Law Journal
Monday, April 15, 2013
There used to be a time when layers of secretaries and executive assistants insulated decision-makers against strangers, including peddlers of services. It was hard to position yourself to meet and impress the boss. Social media — and LinkedIn in particular — have broken down those barriers.
Commentary: Pinnacle of Practice Requires Creativity
Texas Lawyer
Monday, April 8, 2013
Creativity is making something of real value that did not exist before. The law requires creativity when attorneys practice at the highest levels.
Don't Ruin the Texas Jury Charge
Texas Lawyer
Monday, April 8, 2013
Let's recognize the benefits of our superior procedure for submitting jury questions. Put the instructions and definitions where they belong: right after the question and before the answer blank. And don't ruin the Texas jury charge.
Want Business? Ask for Referrals
Daily Report
Monday, April 1, 2013
For those of you who want to learn to develop business, one of the easiest ways is to learn how to ask for referrals.
Law Departments, Data Sharing and YouTube
Corporate Counsel
Monday, April 1, 2013
Dip your toe into the sea of YouTube recordings, and you can imagine how that medium might help law department managers.
Commentary: Master the Motion for Summary Judgment
Texas Lawyer
Monday, March 25, 2013
The motion for summary judgment, which is essentially a paper trial, needs to be clear, unambiguous and persuasive. It can narrow issues, save time and resources, educate the parties as to each other's strategies and familiarize the judge with the disputes at issue.
Commentary: Prepare for a TV Interview
The National Law Journal
Monday, March 25, 2013
Let's say your time has arrived: Your social media messaging has caught the attention of an old-media platform, and you have the chance to be interviewed on national TV. Will you be ready?
Commentary: Liability Risks of Email Evidence, Health Information
Texas Lawyer
Monday, March 18, 2013
Serious unintended consequences can result if family lawyers don't carefully navigate some dangerous areas in family law practice. Two of those involve liability for unlawful interception of, or access to, communications and liability for improper disclosure of protected health information.
Dispersed Data Can Reveal In-House Productivity
The National Law Journal
Monday, March 18, 2013
Let's accept that lawyers vehemently oppose reporting their time on matters, even periodically or in units of hours. Without timesheets, where might a general counsel turn for data on what the law department has done or accomplished?
Commentary: Jurors in Long Trials Deserve a Four-Day Workweek
Texas Lawyer
Monday, March 11, 2013
It's time for the justice system to show concern and respect for jurors by limiting long trials to four days a week. The judge needs that extra day, the lawyers want that extra day, and jurors deserve that extra day.
Commentary: Get Creative in Filings With Dialogue, Photos, Cartoons
Texas Lawyer
Monday, March 11, 2013
Brief writing is so hemmed in with picayune rules, it's no wonder lawyers want to bust loose now and then. Required sections, word limits, margin width and font size — not much is left to the imagination.
To Reply or Not to Reply?
Texas Lawyer
Monday, March 4, 2013
Travis County District Court's unique central docket sometimes has pitfalls for the uninitiated. When seeking summary judgment, movant's counsel always should err on the side of filing a reply when faced with a response.
In Advocacy, Pay Attention to the Little Things
The National Law Journal
Monday, March 4, 2013
Perhaps you are familiar with the best-selling book "Don't Sweat the Small Stuff ? and It's All Small Stuff" by Richard Carlson. The book's advice may be very good for everyday life, but it is very bad advice for lawyers arguing their cases in court.
Commentary: Drain Venom From Hatred by Understanding Its Roots
Texas Lawyer
Monday, February 25, 2013
Many firms are brimming with hatred and all its manifestations: rage, gossip, sabotage, contempt, yelling and abuse of power. But understanding the origins of hatred can free lawyers from its toxic power.
