Columns

Are legal lessons learned in the trenches more valuable than those learned in law school?

Is law school learning always practical? According to Albert Einstein, “Education is what remains after one has forgotten what one has learned in school.”

Jun 16, 2022 8:46 AM CDT

Are driverless car searches constitutional?

Whether we like it or not, automated, driverless vehicles are quickly becoming a reality and a norm in our society. Along with all the benefits the technology and associated services provide, there are also detriments—for civilians and law enforcement alike.

Jun 13, 2022 8:35 AM CDT

A funny thing happened on the way to my retirement

It dawned on me that although the law is indeed a jealous mistress, as U.S. Supreme Court Justice Joseph Story famously said, it also is flexible, and retirement doesn’t have to be abrupt. After much consideration, I realized I didn’t have to quit the law “cold turkey.” In fact, lawyers can retire in stages, and that’s exactly what I’m doing.

Jun 8, 2022 8:36 AM CDT

Business fundamentals attorneys need to run a firm

Law school may prepare you to practice law, but it doesn’t teach you how to run a business. Here are some business fundamentals that one business owner and lawyer thinks every attorney should know something about if they hope to one day lead a firm.

Jun 7, 2022 10:30 AM CDT

Chemerinsky: Supreme Court imposes further restrictions on habeas corpus

If Justice Neil Gorsuch’s reasoning in Brown v. Davenport is followed, it will almost eliminate the ability of those convicted to ever bring a habeas corpus petition.

Jun 2, 2022 10:20 AM CDT

How executive coaching enhances attorney performance and eases burnout

During lunch on my first day as a first-year associate at a large international law firm almost 15 years ago, one of the partners in my practice group gave me one of the bluntest pieces of career advice I’ve received: “No one cares more about your career than you do.”

Jun 2, 2022 9:00 AM CDT

Law firms can attract and retain talent by providing purpose for young attorneys

As much of the world begins, hopefully, to emerge into post-pandemic life, finding purpose in one’s career has become more crucial than ever. While the legal field in particular can often be perceived as grueling work, it’s also an industry that enables its professionals to feel that they’re truly contributing to the greater good of society.

Jun 1, 2022 2:20 AM CDT

How to verify proper spelling and understand that words change over time

A law office is a kind of publishing house. We issue legal documents to be read sometimes by small audiences, sometimes by large ones. Because we’re a literary profession, we want to get things right.

Jun 1, 2022 2:00 AM CDT

How I helped win an equal pay victory for the US Women’s National Soccer Team

“For the past two years, I served as lead appellate counsel for the players on the U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team in their equal-pay case against the U.S. Soccer Federation,” writes Nicole A. Saharsky. “So you are probably wondering: How did we get from losing summary judgment and being entitled to $0 to getting $24 million and a guarantee of equal pay for the women’s and men’s national teams?”

Jun 1, 2022 1:30 AM CDT

John Lennon’s lawyer turns paperback writer to recount little-known case

Jay Bergen’s representation of Lennon always made for a good story, last month he shared the case on a grander scale. He published Lennon, the Mobster & the Lawyer—The Untold Story, which recounts his representation of Lennon.

May 31, 2022 2:39 PM CDT

A look back at Fox’s ‘Ally McBeal’

Starring Calista Flockhart as the titular character, Ally McBeal ran for five seasons from 1997 to 2002. Created by David E. Kelley, the Fox series followed McBeal as she navigated the intersection between her personal life and law career.

May 26, 2022 8:39 AM CDT

7 tips to handle those ‘just one question’ potential clients

There is always going to be the "just one question" potential client who makes initial contact with you. Often, they may not paint the whole story for you, and you in turn may give advice on incomplete facts. In essence, you may well find yourself in a dilemma.

May 25, 2022 8:34 AM CDT

Exhibit A: Top trial presentation tools

I’ve watched clips of Johnny Depp's defamation trial with interest. The proceeding offers a fascinating view into the lives of the rich and famous and also is a prime example of how court will likely be conducted post-pandemic. This trial is notable not only because it is televised, but also because it includes testimony from many in-person witnesses and several others via videoconference. Of those participating remotely, some testified live and the testimony of others was pre-recorded.

May 24, 2022 11:30 AM CDT

How to drive law department transformation through legal operations

Ari Kaplan recently spoke with Mike Haven, the head of legal operations at Intel and the president of the Corporate Legal Operations Consortium.

May 19, 2022 8:40 AM CDT

How to best accommodate neurodiverse lawyers and neurodivergent clients

During my first year of law school, I wanted to get involved in disability advocacy with other students and lawyers, primarily as it related to neurodiversity. Before law school, I was pretty entrenched in the autism advocacy scene: I spoke at my first conference when I was 13, wrote a book that was published while I was still in high school and had another book come out while I was in college.

May 19, 2022 8:37 AM CDT