Strategist

How to Kill Email and Save Time

2017-07-14T13:00:18Z

Email can be a time-killer, so why not fight back? When junk mail starts to outnumber legit mail, it's time to put them to sleep with the fishes. And what about those old emails that keep hanging around like...

What to Do When a Client Puts a Gun to Your Head

2017-07-12T22:05:03Z

"But for the grace of God, goes John Bradford." It's a quote attributed to the religious reformer, commenting as prisoners were led to execution. He was later burned at the stake. It's also apropos for lawyers who have advocated...

Academics Can't Explain 'Astonishing' Decline in Plaintiffs' Win Rate

2017-07-12T13:00:10Z

Plaintiffs mysteriously lost twice as many federal cases in 2009 than they had 24 years earlier, according to a new study. Two University of Connecticut law professors said the plaintiffs' win rate declined about 50 percent from 1985 to...

Fight for Your Right to Party, or How Lawyers Can Take Vacations

2017-07-11T13:00:18Z

Move to France. That's the short answer to how lawyers can demand vacation days. In France, employees are entitled to five weeks of paid vacation each year by law. Unlike most countries, however, the United States has no right...

'Participatory Defense' Helps Public Defenders

2017-07-10T18:10:18Z

It's a hard thing, defending so many people in court that you don't even recognize your clients' faces. But that is a given for many public defenders, like those in Santa Clara County, California, who handle scores of cases...

Lawyer Blames Junk Email for Missed Deposition

2017-07-07T19:59:02Z

It's hardly news when a lawyer misses an important email because it happens all the time, right? After all, what with all the junk mail from vendors and others, it's easy to overlook an important email once in a...

Law Firms Beef Up Specialty Business

2017-07-06T19:54:27Z

When President Trump fired half of the U.S. Attorneys in the country, they had to go somewhere. So Andrew Luger, a former U.S. Attorney, joined Jones Day as a partner in its investigations and white collar defense practice. He...

Tax Lawyers, Should You Get a CPA License?

2017-07-03T20:12:49Z

The 'Accidental Tax Lawyer' is not the name of a movie. It's a title from a blog post about a lawyer thinking about going back to school to become a certified public accountant. But if it were a movie,...

Pros and Cons of Being a Trial Lawyer

2017-06-30T19:03:48Z

Pointing out the pros and cons of being a trial lawyer is like pointing out the best and worst flavors at Baskin Robbins. There are so many choices and everybody has a favorite. Maybe you like peanut butter chocolate,...

Teaching a Class to Grow Your Business

2017-06-29T22:01:07Z

'All I Really Need to Know I Learned Teaching a Law Class.' That's the title of a new book about the benefits of teaching a law class. It's a piece of fiction (because the book doesn't exit), but I...

The Real Cost of Lateral Hires for Law Firms

2017-06-29T12:58:33Z

Not every lateral hire will turn out to be a Jeffrey Wertkin. Akin Gump hired Wertkin away from the U.S. Justice Department because of his trial experience and knowledge about whistleblower cases. He was supposed to be a partner...

ABA Starts Legal Network to Aid Homeless Youth

2017-06-28T13:00:06Z

According to reports, there are more children living on the streets of America than there are prisoners living in its prisons. Yet those 2.5 million homeless children, unlike criminal defendants, have no right to counsel for their legal predicaments....

Court Deals With Hidden Biases in Jurors

2017-06-27T19:00:56Z

It's one thing to release a juror who has an admitted bias, but what to do about a juror with a subconscious bias? We're not talking about the jurors who are actually biased. Let's face it, most prospective jurors...

The Rutter Group's Guide for Federal Civil Procedure: Updated, Still the Best

2017-06-27T12:57:37Z

Experienced litigators know that federal civil lawsuits are all about procedure. Taking the wrong tack before trial can sink your ship before it even leaves the shore. Even if your client has the most compelling claim for compensation, a jury...

Stealing the Courtroom Show: Should You Sign Up for Theater Classes?

2017-06-26T12:59:42Z

Melvin Belli, the legendary 'King of Torts' and sometimes Hollywood actor, was known for his courtroom theatrics. Belli appeared in television and movies during his storied career, and took some of his acting skills into the courtroom. Representing a...