Archive for November 2013
A Post Celebrating Thanksgivukkah, Menurkeys and Solo Lawyers
Behold the Menurkey. Part Menorah, part Turkey, the Menurkey commemorates the intersection of Thanksgiving and Hanukah, two holidays that celebrate the triumph of religious freedom over oppression; of small outliers over large dynasties. In many ways, both holidays represent the story of solos. Although age-old holidays inspired the Menurkey, it came to life in decidedly 21st…
Read MoreWhat Box Needs to Change To Serve the Legal Sector
As Bob Ambrogi recently reported, Box.net is making a play for the legal industry by partnering with various legal service vendors for practice management platforms, legal research, billing, courtroom information management and productivity. And that’s great news. As a long time Box user — first, on the free platform beginning in early 2009 and bumping…
Read MoreAnother Reason for Lawyers To Create Checklists: Potential Revenue Stream
Michigansystemrevised from Carolyn Elefant In the four years since the release of Atul Gawande’s Checklist Manifesto, the topic of lawyer checklists has been making the rounds on the blogs and speaker circuits. Which is good because checklists are a valuable tool that can help lawyers keep their practice running smoothly, stay out of trouble…
Read MoreThe Lawyer Network That Was a Lawyer Notwork: Lessons from An Unsuccessful Venture
Four and a half years ago – when Axiom Legal was just gaining traction and Virtual Law Partners and Rimon Legal and Fisher Broyles were the only dispersed legal business models on the block, a group of eight solo colleagues and I who practiced in four different cities came together to form a collaborative of…
Read MoreSometimes, First Is Worst
Recently, one of my colleagues shared with me the success of a monthly subscription service that he’d recently launched for his clients, who are businesses in a relatively specialized industry. He was surprised by the positive results because another one of our colleagues had tried a similar program a decade earlier with no takers. There…
Read MoreHow Not To Foreclose the Future of Law
Behold, the law firms of the future: Lean operations powered by technology, with heavy reliance on outsourced labor and non-lawyer professionals. Reliance on economies of scale, corporate business practices and technology to maximize efficiencies. Laser-focused dedication to client demands for results and bye, bye billable hour. And even a little bit of outside investment,…
Read MoreFREE: First MyShingle Commingle: DC Solo, Small & Alternative Law Firms & Legal Tech November 18, 2013 – Reid Trautz to Speak on Rules and Tools for Remote Lawyer Offices and Collaboration
I am excited to announce the creation of the MyShingleCommingle – a meet-up group bringing together solo, small and alternative law practices (i.e., the new business models) with the legal technology companies that are developing the tools and platforms empowering law practices. In many ways, we are natural allies: we are essentially startups doing business…
Read MoreTwo Great Reasons for A Work Life Balance Firm
The concept of work-life balance or a life without seams doesn’t get much love in the legal profession. Lawyers who strive to balance family and work are often derided as dabblers, losers or faux-lawyers. And while there are many days that I too question whether it’s possible to do everything well, all at once, there…
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