Stark County Law Library Weblog

"The Young Turks of Information Processing"

2010-03-10T15:00:39Z

This post was written by Ernest Svenson: "Last Saturday I taught a two hour skills course to 30 or so Loyola Law Students about Digital Lawyering. Almost every one of them had a laptop in front of them, which was good. I was hooked to the Internet and demonstrated how to find things using Internet services like Google Reader, Delicious and so forth. As I referred to these services I sensed that the students were going to those sites and reading along for themselves. As I said, I think this is a good thing...

The other reason that I'm not bothered, and actually happy to see students using their computers as I talk is this. My generation is pretty lame when it comes to gathering information in the digital world. In law this manifests itself most starkly in the world of e-discovery. Discovery, in law, is all about getting the low-down on what really happened in a lawsuit. You can get the low-down by interviewing witnesses or deposing them, but that takes time, costs money and is inherently unreliable. What people say happened is not usually exactly what happened...

Most lawyers have trouble with email (and digital information in general) because they don't understand how to navigate that world. Lawyers who don't search for things on Internet are the worst. They lack a fundamental skill that's needed to efficiently attack digital information. Naturally they're inept when it comes to handling electronic discovery. Some of them are committing serious malpractice. But, of course, they have no idea...

Law students today use the web like detectives. They know how to gather information (fine), but they instinctively know how to trace back the steps that other people use to find information. This mindset and the online research skills that come with it are dangerous. At least to some people...

The next generation will not graduate from law school and immediately surpass veteran lawyers. But they have a skill that's already in high demand, but short supply. Veteran lawyers can't quickly learn how to gather and process digital information. Most young lawyers will learn how to practice law fairly quickly, or at least much faster than the veteran lawyers will learn what they should be learning."

Full text and active links are available by clicking on the author's name.

Source: Ernie the Attorney, 8 March 2010, reproduced with permission of the author.

"Oscars Results Reflect Today's Marketing Climate - Content Reigns"

2010-03-10T14:58:28Z

This post was written by Michelle Golden: "Some interesting backstage comments followed the Oscars on ABC News/Entertainment made by Kathryn Bigelow (Best Director for Hurt Locker) on the quality of the 2010 Oscar nominees. She said,

"This has been a really extraordinary year for content, and content-driven material that is diverse and complex."

I was really moved when I read this.

It's a reflection of what's garnering the most attention, and exactly mirrors what's happening on-line. What draws is content.

...Funny when you think about it because, despite pretty redesigns, most law and accounting firm website content is nearly IDENTICAL to the stuff the firms said about themselves in their first websites, circa 1995-1998. AND, that content came from where? Yes. Straight from the brochures the firms used since.... when? The 80s.

Just sayin'...

Those sites are so dead they don't even stink anymore!

...Get out there. Show your intellect. Show your depth. MOVE people. Give them something to applaud. Stand out!

So, back to the Oscars for the lesson... Pretty is pretty. Popular is popular. But content wins."

The full text and active link are available by clicking on the author's name.

Source: Golden Practices, 9 March 2010, reproduced with permission of the author.

"Billable Hour Pressure Is No Excuse for Not Marketing"

2010-03-10T14:55:44Z

This post was written by Tom Kane: "Getting the legal work completed. Getting those billable hours in. Important, of course. However, because you are busy is no excuse for not getting out there face-to-face with clients and referrals sources to ensure that work continues to flow into the law firm.

...Here's eight keys to business development success gleaned from the article, and which I have also preached about many times..."

The full text is available by clicking on the author's name.

Source: Legal Marketing Blog.com, 9 March 2010, reproduced with permission of the author

"No Set Salary Rules Exist for Legal Support Staff"

2010-03-10T14:52:35Z

In the news: "Associate hiring and compensation are perpetually hot topics of discussion for most law firms, but what about those same issues with regard to support staff? There seem to be few hard and fast rules for determining nonlawyer compensation, according to some Pennsylvania firm leaders."

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"IOLTA Accounting: Part One"

2010-03-10T14:50:44Z

Podcast description from the site: "In this edition of the Legal ToolKit, host Jared Correia, Law Practice Management Advisor with Mass. LOMAP, welcomes Terrence D. Pricher, an assistant bar counsel in the Office of Bar Counsel and Attorney James S. Bolan, a partner with the firm of Brecher, Wyner, Simons, Fox & Bolan, LLP, to take an in-depth look at IOLTA Accounting. Jim and Terry bring very different perspectives to this discussion and will explore IOLTA accounting and its purpose, three-way reconciliation, the biggest IOLTA pitfalls and how to handle large sums of client funds.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 31:50 -- 23.0MB)

Related Podcasts

February 2, 2010 -- Security Compliance Issues from an IT and Legal Perspective
December 2, 2009 -- Compliance, Security & the Massachusetts Data Breach Notification Law
November 18, 2009 -- How to Operate a Successful Solo Practice
October 14, 2009 -- Legal Marketing for Success
September 24, 2009 -- A Close Look at the Data Breach Notification Law: Chapter 93H"

Active links and podcast are available at the source site listed below.

Source: Legal Talk Network, 5 March 2010

"Maximizing Social Media"

2010-03-10T14:48:12Z

This post was written by Randall Ryder: "Attorneys are making more and more use of social media as part of their marketing campaign. Sam has been very successful with his social media campaign and other entrepreneurial attorneys should follow his blueprint. With that blueprint in mind, put in extra effort to maximize your results."

Topics discussed include legal blogs, Twitter and strategizing.

Full text and active links are available by clicking on the author's name.

"140 Twitter Tips"

2010-03-10T14:45:51Z

This post was written by Agnese Caruso: "This is definitely a bargain for firms and individuals using Twitter.

Chris Pirillo's new e-book 140 Twitter Tips, a 14-page PDF, offers useful and practical hints for all types of Twitter users. Tips include:...

The best part: the e-book costs only $1.40.

Full text and active links are available by clicking on the author's name.

Source: Slaw.ca, 9 March 2010. Reproduced with permission of Simon Fodden, founder of Slaw.

"20 Ways to Link Dispersed Legal Departments"

2010-03-10T14:42:54Z

In the news: "With technology, a legal department can speak with a single voice, think with a single mind, and act like a partnership even with lawyers dispersed around the world. Consultant Rees W. Morrison discusses 20 techniques that increase coherence and effectiveness in a spread-out department."

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"Ohio Supreme Court's Proposed Rule Amendment on Timing of Notices of Appeal"

2010-03-09T15:05:33Z

This post was written by Chuck Kallendorf: "The Ohio Supreme Court this morning announced its holding public commentary on amendments to the state's Rules of Practice that address the tolling of time for filing an appeal in the Supreme Court after a party seeks a full review by all members of an appeals court.

The Court's announcement reported that "Division (A)(5) of S.Ct. Prac. R. 2.2 was proposed in response to an amendment to the Rules of Appellate Procedure that permits a party to file a motion for en banc review with a court of appeals, which will toll the time for filing an appeal to the Supreme Court until the appeals court rules on the en banc motion..."

Continue reading this interesting post and reach the active links by clicking on the author's name.

Source: Hamilton County Law Library Blog, 8 March 2010. Reproduced with permission.

"Resources to Enhance the Law Day Theme"

2010-03-09T15:04:14Z

From an email by Division for Public Education: "The 2010 Law Day theme, Law in the 21st Century: Enduring Traditions, Emerging Challenges, encompasses many topics and issues. From human rights to world trade to reforming the U.S. Constitution, there are many ways you can tackle this year's theme.

In addition to the resources in the Law Day planning guide and the ABA Dialogue on Law in the 21st Century, another resource for youth outreach is Insights on Law & Society, a magazine for teachers of civics, government, history and law. Several recent issues explore relevant topics and themes. Distributed three times a year, Insights focuses on three overriding themes: the Constitution (fall issue), current events and law (winter issue) and international legal issues (spring issue). Individual issues cost $10 and PDF downloads are $1.50..."

Source: An email from the Division for Public Education, "Law Day Update - Additional Resources and Student Activities." 8 March 2010. [abapubed@abanet.org]

"Firms Slow to Awaken to Cybersecurity Threat"

2010-03-09T15:01:08Z

In the news: "A recent report concluded law firms -- attractive targets because they maintain sensitive client data -- are being targeted by sophisticated and well-funded teams of cyberattackers. But firms don't often realize they've been infiltrated and rarely go public with security breaches."

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"Making Peace and Making Money: Economic Analysis of the Market for Mediators in Private Practice"

2010-03-09T14:58:30Z

This post was written by StephanieWestAllen: "Abstract:

Mediation has grown tremendously in the last three decades, yet only a small number of mediators have been able to benefit financially from its growth. The supply of willing mediators by far exceeds the demand for their services. Mediator trainee overoptimism and the lack of formal barriers to entry result in excess entry in the market for mediators..."

Continue reading this interesting post by clicking on the author's name.

Source: idealawg, 8 March 2010, reproduced with permission of the author

"Patent Failure"

2010-03-09T14:56:15Z

Podcast description from the site: "In this edition of the Boston University School of Law podcast, host and media veteran, Dan Rea of WBZ-Radio 1030 welcomes Professor Michael Meurer, the Michaels Faculty Research Scholar of Law at BU School of Law, to discuss his new book, Patent Failure: How Judges, Bureaucrats, and Lawyers Put Innovators at Risk. Dan and Professor Meurer take a hard look at the American patent system and why many innovators consider this system and the institutions created to protect patents complete failures.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 25:09 -- 18.4MB)

Related Podcasts

October 20, 2009 -- Top 10 Things Patent Practitioners are Talking About
August 13, 2009 -- An Inside Look at the Peer-to-Patent System
March 27, 2008 -- Unmasking the Patent Troll Tracker Blogger

Active links and podcast are available at the source site listed below.

Source: Legal Talk Network, 5 March 2010

"Amazing Stats on the State of the Internet"

2010-03-09T14:53:02Z

This post was written by Larry Bodine: "Amazing stats like Facebook passing the 400 million user mark, Twitter hitting 50 million tweets per day, and YouTube viewers watching 1 billion videos per day are impressive on their own, but what if we looked at Internet-related stats collectively?

Jesse Thomas looked at Internet-related stats collectively in his video State of the Internet (see below).

The video highlights some remarkable figures and visually depicts the Internet as we know it today. It's a must-watch video for anyone trying to wrap their minds around just how immersed web technologies have become in our everyday lives, according to Mashable.com.

Watch the video and access the links by clicking on the author's name above.

"Mining Twitter with Google Turns Up Some Interesting Stuff"

2010-03-09T14:49:26Z

This post was written by John Jantsch: "As a marketing tool the Twitterverse gets so much more useful when you can filter out all the noise and drill down to people and communities that might very much want to know what you've got to offer.

...In this week's post for AMEX OPENForum I explain 7 Insanely Useful Ways to Search Twitter that focus much more on who's saying it. For some this is a much more interesting way to look at doing business on Twitter..."

Full text and the active link are available by clicking on the author's name.