Archive for May 2013
How Much Technology Do Lawyers Really Need to Know? Not as Much As One In-House Counsel Would Like.
Seems that big law just can’t catch a break. Criticized for everything from arrogant billing practices to an unhealthy obsession with profits per partner to an unsustainable pyramid-scheme business model, now corporate counsel Casey Flaherty is beating up on big firms for their lack of techno–aptitude, reports Monica Bay at American Lawyer. But are Flaherty’s…
Read MoreDo V-Lawyers and E-Lawyers Fully Substitute for A Lawyer?
I came across this interesting article in the Washington City Paper criticizing the D.C. Jail’s replacement for face-to-face visits with video conferencing. What’s the problem, you might wonder. After all, isn’t visitation a hardship for many families? At least video allows for continued contact without the muss and fuss of in person contact. Not entirely.…
Read MoreIs In-Person Networking the Right Approach for Every Person?
I read with interest, a pair of posts by Philadelphia law blogger Jordan Rushie and Scott Greenfield about the importance of in-person networking. I don’t disagree with them. For better or for worse, Scott’s and Jordan’s way is how business still gets done in most of the legal profession. By starting at the low end…
Read MoreFuture of Law Fridays: When Every Day Is An Opportunity
By way of the awesome Tim Baran (have you ever heard anyone say something negative about this guy?), Community Manager of our sponsor Rocket Matter, came this wonderful story about the transformative power of social media by Brandon Stanton, founder of Humans of New York. Stanton writes that after losing his finance job in Chicago, he…
Read MoreLessons of Rakofsky v. the Internet: Be the Kind of Lawyer That Your Client Can Be Proud Of
Avid readers may recall that two years ago, MyShingle and I received an “invite” to the defendants’ table in Rakofsky v. the Internet. Roughly two years later, a decision is finally in. Defendants prevailed; you can read others’ legal analysis here ,here and here. Having spent two years reading through reams of pleadings, I see…
Read MoreDon’t Lean In, Tune Out
In August 2003, roughly nine months into blogging, I crossed the line between professional and personal when I posted this picture of my daughters and me at MyShingle. I recall actually fretting over whether to put the picture up or not – because even though the legal blogosphere back then was small and full of…
Read MoreIt Took Solo To Take Prenda Down
Yesterday, federal judge Otis Wright slammed Prenda, a rogue “porno trolling” quasi-law firm that figured out a formula to get rich in the Internet Age. As Judge Wright uncovered , Prenda bought copyright interests in porn movies, placed them in shell corporations to appear as if they were owned by clients (rather than Prenda lawyers)…
Read MoreAll the News[letter] That’s Fit to Print
Even in the age of social media and blogging, the humble law firm newsletter still matters. Consider this: 1. Newsletters offer a way to stay connected with current and prospective clients. While a law firm Facebook page serves that purpose as well, many people prefer to keep their personal recreational time on Facebook separate…
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