NLJ.com reported that news of impending layoffs at Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman broke due to corporate and securities head Robert Robbins having an indiscreet cell phone conversation that was overheard on a train. My question is why wasn't he using his Cone of Silence? I mean if Secret Agent Maxwell Smart can afford one
February 2009
New York Approves Lawyers Using Gmail
Well, they didn't actually use the word GMail. But in NYSBA Ethics Opinion 820 the committee said: "A lawyer may use an e-mail service provider that conducts computer scans of e-mails to generate computer advertising, where the e-mails are not reviewed by or provided to other individuals." I cannot believe I missed this one when…
Practicing Law in Tough Economic Times
Law firm layoffs, bailouts and bank closings are in the news. It is sometimes hard not to dwell on so many negative events. So I've been doing a lot of thinking about law practice in this economy, as have a lot of others. I've just finished a two part series in the Oklahoma Bar Journal…
Site of the Week: The Invent Blog®
Some of you must have read the subject line and wondered why I would pick The Invent Blog® as my Website of the Week. While it is true that I typically do not feature substantive law blogs, this is a great blog with value to most everyone. I met Stephen M. Nipper at an ABA…
ABA TECHSHOW 2009 Featured on Digital Edge Podcast
The Digital Edge Podcast recently featured an interview with Laura Calloway, Chair of ABA TECHSHOW 2009. If Laura had any concerns about being interviewed by two former ABA TECHSHOW Chairs, she certainly didn't show it. As always there are new things planned for this year's show. Listen to the podcast for more details.
As…
Remember the Milk, Remember the To Do List and Remember the Legal Ethics Implications
Recently on Solosez there was a discussion of various ways to manage one's tasks. Case management software packages were discussed. Outlook 2007 has some powerful features for calendaring and tasks. The need of lawyers to keep track of tasks and appointments so they don't "drop the ball" has been with us since the beginning of lawyering. A…
ABA TECHSHOW Roadshow in Boston
Well, I am off to the American Bar Association Midyear meeting in Boston. The ABA Midyear meeting is much smaller (and more committee and board work oriented) than the ABA Annual Meeting. I have a couple of days on my calendar with almost the entire day scheduled starting with breakfast meetings at 8 a.m. and ending at…
Website of the Week: Courtoons
The practice of law is stressful. Lighten up a bit from time to time by visiting the Courtoons site from David Mills. He features a daily legal cartoon. There are some wickedly funny Courtoons there. Today someone forwarded me a recent one on How lawyers use technology to make life easier. It reminded me…
Recession-proofing Your Firm
Ron Baker is a true expert on the billing methods and profitability of professional services firms. He's written numerous books on alternative billing and is a speaker in high demand. Every single lawyer in private practice should read his recent essay on Recession-proofing Your Firm. Stories of law firm layoffs are in the l…
Support Your Local Bar Association
This post was prompted by reading today of a controversy between the Florida Bar and some of its members over selling the member's e-mail addresses. (I don't have a comment on that specific situation.) I've now worked for the OOklahoma Bar Association for over 11 years. Even though we have paid staff, a lot of…