The legal profession is on the skids like never before — though you’d scarcely realize it from visiting a bar association website. As law firms shed attorneys at an unprecedented rate — 4376 layoffs since January 1, 2008, 2614 in calendar year 2009, and 700 on a single Black Thursday, one would think that
2009
Solomarketing List, Blawging for Lawyers and the Question of Blogging for Love v. Money
I don’t generally post endorsements or recommendations about products or services at my site. But every so often, as now, I’ll make an exception where I believe that the service is worth passing on to others.
First up is my friend and colleague Jon Stein’s lawyer marketing email list. Jon put the list together a…
The Economy Scares Me Too, But I Know Something You Don’t
If you are a lawyer at a large firm, I know that you are terrified right now. The carnage at AmLaw 200 is growing: 858 layoffs last week alone, according to Lawshucks.com, for a total of 1528 for the month and 3290 since January 2008. And even if you’re just a law student,…
Reader Question: Should I Take Consumer Cases Short Term Even Though I Want to Do Business Law Long Term?
I try to respond personally to the many emails that I receive from readers, but every so often, the email raises a question that has broader interest to other readers, so I post it here. Here’s an email that I recently received, with my response – but I welcome you to chime in:
Q: I…
Is Biglaw Planning on Changing the Rules of The Game?
Boo-hoo for biglaw. Unable to cope with the economic downturn, biglaw may now try to change the rules of the game. Over at Ideoblog, Professor Larry Ribstein faults ethics rules such as the prohibition on non-compete agreements and non-lawyer investment in law firms and conflicts of interest requirements. For example, Ribstein says that because…
The Importance of Human Back-Up
For almost two weeks now, I’ve been dealing with a family situation that has taken me out of town, spending both days and nights at the hospital. Like many of my colleagues who responded to the MyShingle contest question, I too employ technology that lets me take my office with me on the road. …
Anthony Colleluori: How I’ve Made A Difference Practicing Law, and How Being A Lawyer Changed My Perspective
(reposted from That Lawyer Dude)
I couldn’t wait for my first case. I was a brand new “Lawyer” in Hofstra University’s brand new Criminal Defense Clinic (we hadn’t taken the bar yet but we worked under a student practice order while supervised by an admitted attorney). I was getting a case load, a client…
Julie Tower-Pierce: Helping Others Find Alternatives to Full Time Law Practice
Early six years ago, and not long after Carolyn launched this blog, I sat before a clunky desktop computer with a newborn baby nestled on my lap in an isolated New England town, wondering how I could possibly leave my baby and return to full-time practice. I spent hours, days on end, surfing the web…
Peter Garcia – Using Technology to Build a Law Practice
I have found that the technology I use is indispensible in serving my clients and building my fledgling practice. Most importantly, these tools have helped keep my overhead extremely low and pass those savings on to my clients. This has allowed me to help others who might not have otherwise been able to afford a…
How Newdorf Legal Uses Technology To Reduce Client Costs And Improve Service In Business Litigation
It’s nice — especially for the lawyer — when the client has a six-figure litigation budget for a case. But not every client can afford that, and even if you can, not every dispute is worth it. Fortunately, advances in technology have leveled the playing field so that small firms with low overhead can provide…