‘Hosting Incident’ Hits 36 BigLaw Sites; Some Visitors Offered Personal Injury Lawyer Search Links

An admitted “hosting incident” by a Chicago-based company that provides technology services to law firms created issues at dozens of BigLaw websites Thursday morning that apparently may have lasted at least several hours. At more than 36 top law firms including Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld; Baker & McKenzie;…

Oct 4, 2012 8:39 PM CDT

Burgeoning Blogs: Can They Give BigLaw Firms an Edge?

Oct 1, 2012 7:00 AM CDT

LSC to Grant $3.4M for Technology to Improve Access to Justice

Updated: The Legal Services Corporation announced this week that it will grant more than $3.4 million to organizations looking to improve Web-based resources for low-income Americans. The money to 43 organizations in 25 states is meant to be used to enhance pro bono, expand websites for veterans and for disaster…

Sep 28, 2012 10:42 AM CDT

Corner Offices, Suits, Pantyhose Going Way of the Fax Machine and Rolodex

A survey of more than 7,000 professionals by LinkedIn has identified tools that are likely to vanish from offices in the next five years. The tape recorder was the most likely office tool to fade away followed by fax machines, according to a report on the survey by Mashable. Also…

Sep 26, 2012 12:10 PM CDT

Library of Congress Introduces Site Intended to Replace Thomas.gov

The Library of Congress recently unveiled Congress.gov, a legislative information site that is intended to eventually replace Thomas.gov, the entity’s existing research site. According to Robert Ambrogi’s LawSites, Congress.gov will have better search features and is designed to be more user friendly. It will also be easier to use on…

Sep 21, 2012 7:13 PM CDT

Kingsley Martin’s Analysis Software Spots Contract Flaws

A Better Benchmark

Sep 18, 2012 2:00 PM CDT

Around the Blawgosphere: Law Profs Evaluate Self-Help Websites for Consumer Reports; Apples and Eggs

Juris Docs on Legal Docs Robert Ambrogi’s Lawsites took note of how the magazine Consumer Reports used self-help legal websites LegalZoom, Nolo and Rocket Lawyer to create four documents: a car bill of sale for a seller, a home lease for a small landlord, a promissory note and a will.…

Sep 14, 2012 1:29 PM CDT

Legal Rebels 2012: If the Shoe Fits…

This is our fourth iteration of the ABA Journal’s Legal Rebels, our annual nod to lawyers who are helping change the profession in ways both big and small. These are the innovators—the folks who’ve found a different path, some new way to blend the needs of their clients or their…

Sep 1, 2012 10:40 AM CDT

Twitter Talk: Its Search and Trends Can Keep You Up to Speed

Sep 1, 2012 6:59 AM CDT

State Bar of Texas Alert Says ‘Scam Artist’ Stole Nonpracticing Lawyer’s ID for Fake Website

The State Bar of Texas is warning lawyers about an “apparent scam artist” who stole a nonpracticing attorney’s identity and set up a fake website in her name. The FBI is investigating now that the unidentified attorney was alerted to the website by a legal finance firm, which called her…

Aug 29, 2012 8:36 PM CDT

Blogging Law Profs Can Disrupt the Rankings and Increase SSRN Downloads, Analysis Suggests

Law school rankings can change when professors are able to attract attention for their schools by blogging, according to University of Denver law professor J. Robert Brown Jr. Brown practices what he preaches. He blogs at TheRacetotheBottom.Org and has posted a paper on faculty blogging at SSRN that is mentioned…

Aug 29, 2012 11:00 AM CDT

Federal Judge Nixes Smartphones for Fired Worker and Hubby Accused of Hacking Law Firm’s Computer

For thousands of years, humans somehow managed to survive without smartphones, a federal judge told a fired former law firm worker and her husband on Monday during a hearing on bond conditions. In fact, U.S. District Judge David Cercone noted, he himself still doesn’t have one. So requiring Alyson Cunningham…

Aug 28, 2012 5:17 PM CDT

New Model Jury Instructions Tell Jurors to Turn in Others Who Flout Social Media Ban

Updated: New model jury instructions (PDF) developed by a federal Judicial Conference committee expand a previous ban on social media use and explain in simple terms that jurors are not supposed to use electronic tools or talk about the case, period, except during deliberations. “In other words, you cannot talk…

Aug 23, 2012 7:50 PM CDT

Does ‘Esq.’ Mean Attorney? Suspended Lawyer Claims It Also Refers to Readers of the Magazine

A suspended California lawyer who claims the word “Esq.” has multiple meanings has failed to persuade an ethics review board he deserves to continue practicing law. The lawyer, John Mark Heurlin, is facing a recommended disbarment for holding himself out as a lawyer while representing himself. The Review Department of…

Aug 23, 2012 10:30 AM CDT

Video Chat Service Aims to Connect Clients and Lawyers

LawZam, a new online video chat service, aims to let potential clients and lawyers get to know each other in a virtual world before retaining them in real life. The new service, launched in June, has signed up 325 attorneys to give free consultations to would-be clients, according to co-founder…

Aug 22, 2012 3:23 PM CDT