Legal Commentary

Becoming an Instant Expert

Posted on February 05, 2009
I just returned from the LegalTech show in New York where I was invited by Incisive Media to attend as a blogger. I have a lot to share about the show (not necessarily about technology), but that will have to wait a day or so as I catch up. In the meantime, here is me branding myself as an expert on Legal Process Outsourcing! And all I did was attend a couple of workshops on the subject...

The End of Biglaw as We Know It?

Posted on February 01, 2009
Dire predictions for Biglaw from a marketing guru.

Balanomics?

Posted on January 30, 2009
In the last recession (i.e. way back in the early "aughts"), work/life balance took a back seat at law firms. During that time frame, I sat on the Boston Bar Association's Standing Committee on Work/Life Balance and heard many discussions about how large law firms are unwilling to focus on the issue at a time of economic stress...

ABA Rule Change May Ease Partner Movement

Posted on January 29, 2009
The ABA will be considering a change in the Model Rules of Professional Conduct when it meets in mid-February. The change would make it easier for partners to move laterally. In essence, the new rule allows firms to avoid conflicts of interest by screening a lateral partner from matters at the new firm...

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LinkedIn Mistakes

Posted on January 21, 2009
I'm still keeping an open mind about LinkedIn. I continue to accept invitations from people who contact me (including many complete strangers); but I'm not really crazy about the user interface. LinkedIn certainly has a lot of potential and I've already used it to connect with professionals I would never have met (e...

Podcast on Traps to Avoid in Selling Professional Services

Posted on January 21, 2009
Nothing revolutionary, but here is a very good summary of how to stop pitching and how to start selling.

Balancing Self Promotion and Modesty

Posted on January 16, 2009
While it is okay to tell your superiors about the greatness you bring to your firm, make sure to back up your statements with examples of specific accomplishments. And in these difficult economic times, self promotion should be tempered with a little bit of modesty...

Diversity and Work/Life Balance Are Interconnected

Posted on January 15, 2009
The Progam on Attorney Retention has teamed up with corporate counsel to look at the interconnection between increasing diversity and offering flexible schedules to women and minorities (as reported in the National Law Journal).

Hanging Your Shingle

Posted on January 14, 2009
As more associates and law school graduates are finding themselves jobless, starting a law practice is becoming a more attractive option. The ABA Law Practice Management Section publishes some good resources on the subject (click here). If you are in the Boston area and want some help in doing a business plan, a former colleague of mine is organizing a seminar on the topic at Suffolk Law School (click here for more info)...

Using Pro Bono to Help Find Employment

Posted on January 13, 2009
Pro bono can help you build your skills while you provide legal help to an underserved population. But it may also be a path to paying work.

Staying Focused in Hard Times

Posted on January 12, 2009
This morning, I took my dog Chutney to our local doggy park. It's been snowing here in Boston and unfortunately for Chutney, her owners have been feeling a lot less motivated to take her out lately. While she doesn't have quite the behavioral problems that are afflicting the yellow lab in the movie Marely and Me, it is very obvious that she is much better behaved when she gets attention...

Going Solo in a Down Market

Posted on January 07, 2009
Why would anyone want to start a business in a down economy? As it turns out, there are some very good reasons to do so. Some are articulated here by a career coach (competitors weaken, clients get restless and are looking for bargains, biglaw cuts back)...

New Year's Gratitude List

Posted on January 07, 2009
Instead of creating a list of New Year's resolutions, how about creating a New Year's Gratitude List. The concept here is that resolutions are easy to break (most of us don't get past the first day of the year). If we instead focus on being grateful, our marketing success will follow...

10 Resolutions for Job-Seeking Success

Posted on January 06, 2009
The Assistant Dean for Law Career Strategy and Advancement at Northwestern University School of Law has 10 great tips for approaching a job search in this miserable economic climate. I might reverse the order and put number ten first (i.e. take care of yourself)...

Setting Goals in the New Year

Posted on January 05, 2009
The holidays are behind us and thankfully, 2008 is over. If you are returning to your office after a nice break, it is time to set some new career and personal goals. If you are trying to decide what some of your goals should be, a senior associate at Jenner & Block, Kathryn Newman, has some very good suggestions (note: her advice is also very relevant for senior associates and partners)...

P/T Legal Work Still Largely for Women

Posted on December 31, 2008
No surprises in a recent NALP report.

A Little Holiday Cheer

Posted on December 29, 2008
From sock puppets!

Don't Repress Your Feelings

Posted on December 19, 2008
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Overseas Slowdown?

Posted on December 10, 2008
Practicing in the Far East or Middle East may not be as easy as I previously reported.

These Are a Few of My (Least) Favorite Things

Posted on December 09, 2008
Business pitches on the golf course, surprise $35,000 bills for legal memos and lawyers who discuss cases with the company's executives without keeping in-house counsel in the loop are just a few of general counsel's least favorite things. Click here to read the rest of the article.

Be Successful at Something

Posted on December 05, 2008
I am pleased to report that CounseltoCounsel has been selected again for the ABA's Blawg 100 (the top 100 websites by lawyers, for lawyers as determined by the editors of the ABA Journal). If you would like to vote for CounseltoCounsel for best in the Careers category, please click here and scroll down...

The Walking Wounded

Posted on December 04, 2008
The phone calls and office visits are increasing. Like recruiters all over the country, I am spending an increasing amount of my time counseling associates who have been "let go". The effects are visceral. I can see it in their faces and hear it in their voices...

Terror in Mumbai

Posted on December 02, 2008
It is ironic that that just as I was blogging about the coming wave of legal process outsourcing in India, Mumbai was hit with a horrible wave of terror. These attacks are a painful reminder that wherever opportunity exists, it is accompanied by risk...

A Passage to India

Posted on November 26, 2008
If the frequency of media reports is any indication, then outsourcing legal work to India is starting to reach a tipping point. The latest article appeared in today's Wall Street Journal. Last week, I did a post on the growth of patent outsourcing.The ABA just addressed the issue this past summer with an ethics opinion that seems to open the door for an increase in work being sent to India (and other less expensive jurisdictions)...

Keep Asking Questions

Posted on November 25, 2008
In my latest article in Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly (In Making a Lateral Move, Look Before You Leap ), I have addressed some of the important questions that you should be asking yourself before contemplating a lateral move.As it turns out, asking a lot of questions (at least about firm finances), is not something that most partners have done in the past; but that seems to be changing as more firms are failing.

Lawyers Wanted: Abroad

Posted on November 23, 2008
While the market for corporate associates may be very weak right now in the United States, demand for top corporate talent remains strong in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Hong Kong. That according to the New York Times (free subscription required).

Patent Services Outsourcing to India Hits $46 Million

Posted on November 21, 2008
This is only the latest in a long series of articles that I have seen in the NLJ over the past several years. Clearly this presents a threat to U.S. law firms and patent lawyers. But it also represents a tremendous opportunity.

Non-equity Partners Asked to Pony Up

Posted on November 20, 2008
The National Law Journal reports today that DLA Piper may be asking non-equity partners to make a capital contribution to the firm. In return says Frank Burch, DLA Joint Chief Executive Officer, they will get a limited stake in the firm's profits.Traditionally, non-equity partners are paid a salary and don't get to share in the profits...

How Are You Surviving the Legal Recession?

Posted on November 18, 2008
The ABA wants to know. Click here to participate in a survey being conducted by the ABA Journal.

A Renewed Push for Fixed-Fee Billing Arrangements?

Posted on November 11, 2008
Alternative billing arrangements are hardly a new concept. In many ways, fixed-fee billing is actually a retro concept. Fifty years ago, lawyers were not slaves to the billable hour.Fixed-fee arrangements have been trying to make a comeback for over a decade...

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