My Shingle

January 2010

Fastcase Makes FREE CaseLaw on the Spot a Reality!

January 30, 2010 by Carolyn Elefant

To live in an era of wish fulfillment is an amazing thing.  That’s exactly how I felt yesterday when I downloaded Fastcase‘s just released and 100 percent FREE legal research app for the iphone.  Yes, I can now search a full database of state and federal cases and statutes right on my phone for no [...]

Read more Law Practice Management 2 comments

My Trip Out [to] West: A Preview of WestlawNext

January 28, 2010 by Carolyn Elefant

Earlier this week, I traveled to Thomson Reuters/West’s headquarters in Eagan, Minnesota to preview, along with a group of other bloggers, a demonstration of the next generation of Westlaw, WestlawNext (go to the end of post for a round up of coverage).  Though originally, I’d intended to comment on the product from the solo/small firm [...]

Read more Legal Research and Writing 5 comments

Welcome New York Times Visitors to MyShingle.com!

January 25, 2010 by Carolyn Elefant

If you’ve come here via this New York Times story, welcome to MyShingle.com, a blog that’s been inspiring solo, small firm and aspiring solo lawyers since December 2002 as well as highlighting the good that we do and making sure that we have a voice in the issues that impact the legal profession.  I’m also [...]

Read more Announcements 2 comments

The Importance of Getting Out in The World: How A Lawyer Found an Oprah-Worthy Case on a Trip to Staples

January 24, 2010 by Carolyn Elefant

UPDATE – here’s a piece from the Connecticut Tribune that also discusses the importance of meeting people offline.  Though remember- online contacts can also lay a foundation for offline meetings so don’t cut your Internet service just yet! Imagine wandering into Staples to purchase office equipment for your new law firm and emerging with a [...]

Read more Marketing & Making Money 5 comments

Booked Solid: Social Media 4 Lawyers Done

January 22, 2010 by Carolyn Elefant

  It’s been quiet at MyShingle this week because I’ve been booked solid, quite literally.  This week, I was immersed in the second and final draft of A Lawyer’s Guide to Social Media for the ABA which I’m co-authoring with my friend and colleague, Niki Black (who’d already completed her edits on schedule, the week [...]

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Mobile Marketing: The Go-To Format for The On The Go 21st Century

January 14, 2010 by Carolyn Elefant

I don’t cross reference my posts that frequently, but I’ve just posted at the Nolo Legal Marketing Blawg about the increasing importance of including mobile devices one’s legal marketing portfolio.  Why?  Because by 2013, the total number of PCs in use will reach 1.78 billion units in 2013. By 2013, the combined installed base of [...]

Read more Marketing & Making Money 0 comments

A Travesty of Justice in Colorado: Lawyer Suspended for A Year and A Day for WINNING His Client’s Case

January 12, 2010 by Carolyn Elefant

Solo practice can be a risky business.  Even a three month suspension by a Grievance Committee wreaks damage far beyond the duration of the penalty.  Once suspended, solos must inform clients of their status and pass their files on to colleagues.  They cannot market and they cannot work on legal matters for other lawyers.  When [...]

Read more Ethics & Malpractice Issues 19 comments

MyShingle Question of the Week: Where Do You Do Your Meet, Eat & Greet?

January 10, 2010 by Carolyn Elefant

I’m experimenting with a question of the week here at MyShingle – just a short question related to anything of interest to lawyers running a practice or thinking about it from law practice management or tech, recommendations on how to guides or CLE providers to thoughts on why you started a firm or who your [...]

Read more Client Service 6 comments

Are You Your Bloggers’ Keeper? Ethics Issues & and Lawyers’ Professional Obligations Related to Lawyers’ Marketing Non-Legal Services on Line: An Interview with Brian Tannebaum, Miami Florida Criminal Defense &

January 7, 2010 by Carolyn Elefant

Lately, the blogosphere has seemed like a dangerous place.  Scott Greenfield warned of a pscycho on Twitter who was originally retained by an attorney to conduct her online marketing campaign.   ERic Turkewitz alerts us to unseemly marketing tactics by Findlaw, like spamming blogs with comments and creating “shell” blogs designed to boost SEO and siphon [...]

Read more Ethics & Malpractice Issues 0 comments

Biglaw to Yourlaw: A Recipe for Success

January 4, 2010 by Carolyn Elefant

Peter Chaffetz and David Lindsey, founders and partners at newly formed boutique Chaffetz Lindsey could have simply hopped into another big firm life boat after their former firm, Clifford Chance hit stormy weather last year.  Instead, they took another course: they launched a boutique that is thriving even as the economy struggles to recover.  This [...]

Read more Big Law/Small Law 0 comments

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