Columns

Chemerinsky: The SCOTUS sleeper cases of the October 2020 term

The U.S. Supreme Court’s October 2020 term, which ended on July 1, had major rulings that attracted media attention, such as its narrow interpretation of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and its ruling expanding the protections of the free exercise clause of the First Amendment. There also were some cases that attracted relatively little attention but that have the potential to have significant effects on the work of lawyers and judges throughout the country. Here are two of them.

Aug 2, 2021 8:55 AM CDT

How law firms should approach collections for financial success

By many accounts, law firms got through the financial challenges of 2020 by making deep cuts to expenses. And while that strategy seems to have worked, firms have likely reduced spending as much as they can and will have to focus on other aspects of the revenue cycle to propel their recovery.

Aug 1, 2021 1:10 AM CDT

How to budget your day while moving through your motions

Let’s review the situation: You’re an experienced litigator, and it’s your first day of work as assistant attorney general in your state. You’ve just finished the first of three motions that are due today. You’ve written a one-page motion to consolidate two cases in the state supreme court.

Aug 1, 2021 12:40 AM CDT

A lawyer’s primer on loss: Grieving the death of a parent

“We are on borrowed time now.” That is what the manager at the assisted living facility where my father has lived for nearly four years gently tells me. A few weeks earlier, during a phone consult with my younger brother and me, my father’s physician introduces the word "hospice" into the conversation.

Jul 28, 2021 9:12 AM CDT

ABC’s ‘Emergency Call’ offers a look at dispatchers in the line of duty

“Emergency Call spotlights a crucial aspect of our country’s response system. Dispatchers are the first line of communication with those who are seeking emergency assistance for various matters.”

Jul 27, 2021 9:13 AM CDT

Software to power your personal injury law firm

Each month since April, I’ve been focusing on practice-area-specific law practice management software. This type of software is becoming increasingly prevalent as the overall demand for law practice management software increases.

Jul 23, 2021 9:18 AM CDT

Law professor makes a case against automating legal writing in law school

Give a dozen brilliant mathematicians the same problem, and they will give you the same answer. Math has an objective truth to it; however, legal writing is different.

Jul 21, 2021 9:00 AM CDT

Should you incorporate your firm as an S corporation?

The business entity you select for your firm has enormous implications for your annual tax liability. In addition, determining whether to make additional tax elections with the IRS can be one of the more confusing aspects when establishing a law firm. Which structure is right when you start your firm? Should you start with one structure and modify it down the line? What tax advantages could you gain from a change?

Jul 14, 2021 9:00 AM CDT

How influencers helped shape my legal career

Who were the influencers in your legal career? I am talking about people whose attitude, ideas or conduct shaped some of the major paths you took in practice.

Jul 12, 2021 12:00 PM CDT

Good cop, bad cop: What happens when police get too cozy with informants?

Over a year ago, I wrote a column for my “law and pop culture” series regarding the A&E show Live PD. In that column, I spoke about the problems these types of series can cause for defendants and law enforcement.

Jul 8, 2021 2:15 PM CDT

Solving civil justice issues in the classroom

“Throughout my time as an access-to-justice scholar, I have noticed a meaningful gap in our collective understanding of the scope of civil justice problems in the United States and of the real work needed to address the access-to-justice crisis.”

Jul 8, 2021 9:10 AM CDT

Chemerinsky: Supreme Court looks to common law for guidance in Fourth Amendment cases

The Supreme Court decided three cases concerning the Fourth Amendment during the October 2020 term. They shared several characteristics.

Jul 6, 2021 9:07 AM CDT

Are women lawyers paying enough attention to upward mobility?

“More seasoned women lawyers know that getting the job and demonstrating potential is only the beginning. While developing leadership skills and climbing the promotion ladder is the goal for many women lawyers, they must be strategic.”

Jun 29, 2021 10:13 AM CDT

Netflix’s ‘Operation Varsity Blues’ and the morality of parenthood

My son is weeks away from turning 3. Age 2 has been somewhat challenging, so I’m starting to believe all the horror stories friends have told my wife and me about “threenagers” and the difficulty they present.

Jun 28, 2021 12:58 PM CDT

CEO of cloud and mobile litigation company discusses the future of litigation workflow

Ari Kaplan recently spoke with Erez Bustan, the CEO of American LegalNet, a leading cloud and mobile litigation platform.

Jun 25, 2021 9:29 AM CDT