March 2005

Wanted Immediately:  law student or college student to assist with several upgrades to the site and restoration to its original format.  Student should have blogging experience, ("plawdcasting" experience and/or abilities as well even better), rudimentary knowlege of HTML code (or ability/willingness to learn a couple of quick basics) and strong web-based research skills.  Individual should

Here’s a news item about the Law School Consortium.  It’s a program that recognizes the role that solo and small firm lawyers play in meeting the legal needs of the poor – and provides support for those who choose that route:
[CUNY Program Director Fred] Rooney calls this Low Bono legal assistance. By joining

Lawyers take different approaches to litigation – some believe that a threatening, aggressive demeanor produces results, some prefer a cool, professional air (think robotic!), others adopt a good old boy, blackslapping friendliness.  This post by Seth Godin persuasively argues in favor of the power of being nice.  (among other things, you may save your

What’s the nerviest thing that you’ve ever done to bring in clients?  For me, I suppose it’s been cold calls, though I’ve always longed to do more.  For example, every time I attend a dull alumni lunch or bar event, I yearn to stand up, ting my glass and introduce myself and my practice.  What

Solo practice keeps a lawyer so hopping, what with networking lunches, new client consultations, sending out bills and studying up on new areas of law that it’s hard to believe in those early years that it can ever turn dull or boring.  But it does.  And if that’s how you’re feeling about your practice now,

Any lawyer who’s been in practice more than a week has been there, on the losing side.  It may be losing  a massive multi-million dollar trial or simply being bested by an opponent in a heated negotiation.  But while getting clobbered is never enjoyable, we’ve got to get back up and ready ourselves for more. 

As I’ve always understood, one of the premises underlying the Socratic Method is that much of the knowledge of a subject (like law) lies within us and can be teased out through questioning and dialogue.  So too, many of us already hold within us the basics for  starting or running a law practice as Jim