My Shingle

May 2007

You know what…this judge WAS a few fries shy of a Happy Meal

May 31, 2007 by Carolyn Elefant

Ever since I’ve started my site, I’ve blogged about situations where, in my view, judges have gone way over the line in sanctioning attorneys for conduct, such as sending a lawyer to jail for refusing to apologize or showing up late for a hearing. But typically, these sanctions have issued against solo and small firm [...]

Read more Biglaw Practice and Issues 18 comments

The Unbearable Weightiness of Bar Sanctions on Solos

May 28, 2007 by Carolyn Elefant

One aspect of solo practice that’s commonly overlooked is the impact that a suspension can have on a solo’s career. Over at Legal Profession Blog, Mike Frisch notes that even a bar suspension of a short duration can kill a solo’s practice because he or she may not have colleagues who can assume control of [...]

Read more Ethics & Malpractice Issues 2 comments

Are ethics rules biased against solos? Call me a conspiracy theorist if you want, but there’s proof….

May 25, 2007 by Carolyn Elefant

Back in 2003, I wrote a post (not presently available online) entitled the Bar’s Dirty Little Not So Secret Secret. The article highlighted how most bars’ disciplinary systems disproportionally target solos, when there’s plenty of incompetence to go around. But there’s a problem far worse than disparate enforcement – and that’s disparate impact, i.e., where [...]

Read more Ethics & Malpractice Issues 1 comment

Find Out If Someone is Really A Lawyer

May 18, 2007 by Carolyn Elefant

These days, most bar associations make information about a lawyer’s bar membership publicly accessible, so that consumers can ensure that the lawyer they’ve retained is actually licensed to practice. But these bar data bases are important for lawyers. For example, perhaps you’re suspicious that your opposing counsel isn’t licensed in the court where he’s filed [...]

Read more Ethics Issues 11 comments

For All DC Area Attorneys and New Law Grads: DC Bar Event re: Contract Lawyering

May 16, 2007 by Carolyn Elefant

Contract Lawyering and Outsourcing: Career Options Start: May 24, 2007 Thursday 12:00 PM End: May 24, 2007 Thursday 1:30 PM Description D.C. Bar Law Practice Management Section; Courts, Lawyers and the Administration of Justice Section; Corporation, Finance and Securities Law Section; Government Contracts and Litigation Section; Administrative Law and Agency Practice Section; Health Law Section; [...]

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Do Something You Stink At…And Become A Better Lawyer

May 13, 2007 by Carolyn Elefant

Yesterday, I spent a beautiful Saturday outdoors, helping to build a house with Habitat for Humanity as part of an Energy Bar Association pro bono service project. I have to admit that I didn’t seek this project out: my decision to participate was a spur of the moment response to an email that came through [...]

Read more Client Service 6 comments

Seventh Circuit and Wikis

May 11, 2007 by Carolyn Elefant

The Seventh Circuit just introduced a really neat tool that I posted on at Legal Blogwatch: a wiki that judges and practitioners can update with helpful tips and advice on court practice. The wiki will help Seventh Circuit newbies, but as I wrote at Blogwatch, more experienced lawyers can use the wiki for marketing. Let’s [...]

Read more Litigation & Courts: Policy and Practice 0 comments

Will be resuming posting shortly

May 8, 2007 by Carolyn Elefant

Readers, I just looked at the date of my last post, and I can’t believe that I’ve gone a week without posting. This is a busy time with work still coming in. And I’m polishing up the final draft of my book which should be out by the end of the year. The book has [...]

Read more MyShingle Solo 0 comments