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.
2005
Legal Ethics – Answers Wanted
Thanks to David Giacalone for alerting readers to another legal ethics weblog, Ben Cowgill’s Legal Ethics Blog. Cowgill points out that his legal ethics blog is third on the Internet, joining David’s f/k/a ethical esq? and The Legal Ethics Forum. Actually, that’s not quite right. Because here at MyShingle, we’ve been…
Law Lessons From Mom
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…
Consumers Can Buy Legal Advice in Supermarkets Across the Pond
Here’s a story, Plan for Supermarket Legal Advice (BBC, 3/20/05) about a proposal that will shake up the legal profession in England and Wales by allowing commercial businesses to own and run law firms. The intent of the proposal, known as the Tesco law, is to make legal services “a better deal for consumers.” Under…
Screening Clients – Rules and Exceptions
This article, In Search of the Perfect Client, Joanne Cronrath Bamberger, Small Firm Business (3/14/05) offers up the standard, perfunctory advice on screening clients. Red flags include refusal to pay a retainer fee (a sign of future collection difficulties), number of prior attorneys and whether the client seems difficult. Not much new here.
If…
Anonymous Associates
I’ve always explained that the reason I went solo was because a big firm wasn’t big enough. Not big enough for my ego or
aspirations, not even big enough to fit two tiny words – my name – on the
door. Apparently, these days, a big firm isn’t big enough (in heart,
not size) to…
Clout Trumps – So Use It to Market
This article, Unusual Ally Came to Jain’s Rescue: SEC, Seattle Times (3/10/05) – about a former SEC counsel-turned-private lawyer who finagled a deal for a client found guilty of violating insider-trading rules whereby the SEC wound up filing an amicus brief on the client’s behalf – isn’t about solos per se. Rather, it’s about…
When a Solo Goes to Trial
It’s hard enough getting ready for a trial, but as a solo, there’s even more to think about because of staffing constraints, as Kimberly Fanady points out in this piece, Flying Solo at Trial, Small Firm Business (3/10/05). Among other tips, Fanady suggests retaining a temp to put files and exhibits in order and…
Security Breach At LEXIS
This article, Personal Data Bared in LexisNexis breach, Oregonlive.com (3/10/05) reports that intruders managed to steal customer passwords and access personal information from LexisNexis’ Accurint database. Lexis acquired Seisent, parent company of Accurint, (a darling of solo practitioners given its low cost capability of tracking people and assets), in August 2004 – and at…
Lawyers Beware: The World [Wide Web] Is Watching
David Giacalone has a great post at f/k/a that should serve as a reminder to unscrupulous, unethical or merely careless or inept attorneys that even if the Bar can’t – or won’t penalize you for your actions, The World Wide Web Is Watching, nonetheless. David describes a couple of situations where lawyers’ errors –…