No…I’m not done with MyShingle, though my infrequent postings over the past few months may have given you that impression. Rather, I am done with the initial draft of a book project on a topic related to starting a law firm that I have been working on for the past two and a half years.
December 2006
The Smallest Things Have the Biggest Impact
When I reflect on my thirteen years as a solo, what comes to mind first aren’t my major victories, but instead, my small moments. I actually have at least three small moments that have influenced the course of my practice, but today, I’ll discuss just one: the day I changed a judge’s mind.
Back in…
Lawyers as the Bearers of Bad News
The recent shootings at a Chicago law firm by Joe Jackson, a disgruntled and crazed client have spawned a search for reasons behind the tragedy. This article, Lawyers balance inventors’ hope (12/17/06) explores one rationale: that Jackson, like other inventors who seek patents, hold an unrealistic hope of success. According to one patent attorney quoted…
SIGN UP NOW – FREE TELESEMINAR AND CHANCE TO WIN A DELL!
Readers – I’m happy to announce that Nader Anise is holding his annual FREE teleseminar for lawyers. I’ve called in twice now and both times, have come away with some really interesting information. In contrast to many others who hold free "give-aways" like this, Nader does not use it as a "teaser" – he gives…
Even the Best Lawyers Have Bad Days – But They Know How To Cover When They Do
Perhaps the greatest fear that I hear from most shinglers-to-be is the fear making mistakes. For example, many lawyers contemplating solo practice, whether fresh out of school or after a tenure at biglaw, have never argued a motion, filed a complaint or taken a deposition (sometimes they’ve never even observed others doing it). They’re afraid…
Bill Less and Prosper!
Yeah, yeah, I know – it’s not about price, it’s about value; talk about price and you’ll forever be haggling over cost with your clients. I buy all of that…and yet, sometimes, clients do measure value in terms of price. Let’s be honest – aren’t there matters where clients would hire a 700 person law…
Sometimes, A Bright Line Rule Just Isn’t Fair
This week’s ABA e-report (12/8/06) includes this article Bright Line Blunder, about a Virginia Court of Appeals decision to dismiss a litigant’s notice of appeal filed by her attorney during a period of time when his license was suspended and he didn’t even know about it.
From the article, these are the relevant facts,…
The Limits of Managing Client Relationships
More lawyers are focusing on managing client relations, adopting techniques from putting ourselves in our clients’ shoes to soliciting feedback through surveys to treating them with respect. But sometimes, no matter what we do, clients get frustrated and angry – often not with their lawyers but with the inherent limitations of our justice system –…
Calling All Solo and Small Firm Lawyers Nearing Retirement
For those who aren’t aware, I’m currently finishing up a book on solo and small firm related matters. But my publisher is also at work on a terrific guide to retirement for solo and small firm lawyers. He’s looking for lawyers in their 40s, 50s and 60s for a questionaire to find out how they’ve…
My Shingle Turns 4 (slightly revised as of 12/7/06)
In honor of MyShingle’s 4th anniversary, here’s a gift for readers. First, my original Welcome Message which I retrieved from the Wayback Machine since I still haven’t successfully uploaded my pre-Typepad files (I still long for the days of slash). And here’s a look perhaps into MyShingle of the future: