ABA Journal

‘People at home have got to start paying attention,’ says Texas lawyer on COVID-19 front lines

On April 3, personal injury lawyer Jim Mullen departed from his wife and toddler for a three-week assignment as a temporary nurse at a Level 1 trauma center in New York City. He completed his first shift—7 p.m. to 7:30 a.m.—this past Sunday morning. He spoke to the ABA Journal shortly afterward and answered 10 questions.

Apr 8, 2020 8:00 AM CDT

Afternoon Briefs: Find COVID-19 resources on new ABA website; law firms aid coronavirus fight

ABA coronavirus task force launches website with resources

The ABA Task Force on Legal Needs Arising Out of the 2020 Pandemic is providing lawyers with resources on a new…

Apr 3, 2020 3:23 PM CDT

From neurodiversity awareness to autism activism, this disability justice advocate fights for the rights of the marginalized

Autistic, Asian, nonbinary. Advocate, activist, organizer. Writer, speaker, educator, lawyer. Lydia X.Z. Brown is all of those things but also this: a force of nature. We asked Brown 10 questions.

Apr 1, 2020 2:50 AM CDT

How to advance mindfulness in the workplace

The benefits of mindfulness and meditation are well-documented and studied: They reduce stress and anxiety, improve attention and memory, and promote self-regulation and empathy, writes lawyer and author Jeena Cho.

Apr 1, 2020 2:30 AM CDT

Lawyer fights for human rights in the nation of Georgia

“Being a female lawyer in Georgia is a constant struggle against stereotypes. Many people brag about our cultural traditions for respecting women in my country, but in reality, these traditions are used to marginalize women from community decision-making,” writes Anna Arganashvili, a human rights lawyer.

Apr 1, 2020 2:20 AM CDT

If you’re a lawyer who’s not writing and editing like a pro, get to work

“In my office, colleagues are evaluated on the worth of their edits: Everyone is expected to make the types of edits that professionals at the copy desks of major magazines would make. The idea is that the final product should sing,” says Bryan A. Garner, president of LawProse Inc.

Apr 1, 2020 1:10 AM CDT

Attorney uses photography and storytelling for legal empowerment

“That is one of my main missions, to elevate and amplify the voices of poor and marginalized people and communities,” says ABA member Deborah Espinosa, who now works as a consultant for Landesa. “Not speak for them—they are not voiceless; it’s just their voices do not often have platforms.”

Apr 1, 2020 12:50 AM CDT

Afternoon Briefs: Ex-BigLaw partner gets home jailing for COVID-19 risk; lawsuit sees immigration-court safety risk

Ex-BigLaw partner released from prison for COVID-19 risk

A Manhattan federal judge has ordered former Locke Lord partner Mark Scott to be released to home confinement because he has a…

Mar 31, 2020 4:58 PM CDT

How to practice law remotely and efficiently during the COVID-19 crisis

As people across the country are coping with countless changes in light of the novel coronavirus pandemic, the ABA Journal’s Asked and Answered podcast is taking a break from its regularly scheduled programing to share information with lawyers about how they can adjust to the world’s current situation—such as having to work from home, whether they want to or not.

Mar 30, 2020 9:27 AM CDT

What should you read about COVID-19? We asked an epidemiologist

With a barrage of information and misinformation about COVID-19, it can be hard to evaluate what sources are trustworthy and where to go for reliable medical news. So for this new episode of the Modern Law Library, we spoke to an epidemiologist.

Mar 25, 2020 4:04 PM CDT

Judges must consider defendants’ ability to pay fines and fees, ethics opinion says

Judges must take steps to ensure individuals have the ability to pay before threatening incarceration, revoking probation, exercising contempt powers and similar conduct, says a recent ethics opinion from the ABA’s Standing Committee on Ethics and Professional Responsibility.

Mar 24, 2020 12:16 PM CDT

5 red flags that a client might be a victim of elder abuse

The ABA Journal spoke with elder law attorneys about how to identify some red flags or signs of elder abuse when they’re meeting with clients and how to respond to them.

Mar 18, 2020 9:34 AM CDT

President of the Legal Services Corp. reflects on his tenure

Asked to reflect on his nine-year tenure as president of the Legal Services Corp., Jim Sandman says he is proud of many things that he and his team accomplished. In this new Legal Rebels Podcast episode, he speaks with the ABA Journal’s Victor Li.

Mar 18, 2020 9:32 AM CDT

Robert Saunooke champions Native American issues in his career and in the ABA

The universe unfolds as it is intended. That’s the mantra Robert Saunooke has called on for motivation through much of his life. It guided the citizen and enrolled member of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians through challenges he encountered during his childhood and opportunities he embraced as he built a practice focused on representing Native American tribes and their members.

Mar 16, 2020 10:20 AM CDT

How to achieve vocal power in and out of the courtroom

Public speaking is a crucial part of working as a lawyer. It is especially important for female lawyers who are claiming their vocal authority in speaking roles in courts.

Mar 11, 2020 9:32 AM CDT