Question of the Week

What resolutions do you have planned for 2020?

The year is almost over, and it’s time to think about how you’re going to start off 2020. Lawyer James Gray Robinson wrote earlier this year, “If we were honest with ourselves, we would admit that New Year’s resolutions are rarely successful. That is because we hope to change something…

Dec 18, 2019 10:26 AM CST

Do you decorate your workspace for the holidays?

The winter holidays are nearly upon us. Have you gotten in the spirit at work?

Dec 11, 2019 12:56 PM CST

What do you think about adopting a four-day workweek?

Walter Benenati, managing partner of the Benenati Law Firm in Orlando, Florida, said recently the firm’s four-day workweek increased morale and productivity. Benenati adopted the shorter workweek at the beginning of the year to give employees an extra day to run errands, attend to personal matters and spend time with…

Dec 4, 2019 9:51 AM CST

How much time do you spend on your cellphone or tablet?

Lawyer and author Jeena Cho writes in her latest On Well-being column that she discovered during a monthlong silent meditation retreat how addicted she was to her iPhone. “It’s a rare event to go an entire month without any digital technology—free from screens and free from the constant 24/7 pings…

Nov 27, 2019 11:49 AM CST

How do you show your gratitude to clients and co-workers?

Thanksgiving is right around the corner, and it’s a great time to take a moment and reflect on what—or whom—you are grateful for. Do you exchange gifts with your co-workers? Buy tokens of gratitude for your clients? Do you get thank-you gifts from your clients, or just notes? Some offices…

Nov 20, 2019 11:03 AM CST

How do you deal with workplace bullies?

In lawyer and author Heidi K. Brown’s latest ABA Journal Advocacy column, she writes that lawyers can be accomplished members of their field without being jerks. “It is not mutually exclusive to be a successful, assertive and ambitious member of our profession yet also be nice,” Brown writes. “Contrast this…

Nov 13, 2019 10:47 AM CST

What’s your favorite trial scene from a movie?

If you're a fan of courtroom scenes in movies, are you more of a "You can't handle the truth!" type via Jack Nicholson in A Few Good Men, or are you more of a "And the truth shall set you free!" type via Jim Carrey in Liar, Liar?

Nov 6, 2019 10:01 AM CST

What are your favorite accessories for the fall?

Cozy scarves, beanie hats, ear warmer headphones and hand salves can all have a part to play when the cold starts nipping at your nose. But how do you stay warm and still look professional? Lawyers like Douglas Hand, Tasha Brown and Nina Lacher prove that even when the seasons…

Oct 30, 2019 10:40 AM CDT

If you could create a spell to use in your law practice, what would it be?

In your legal career, whether it’s spanned decades or you’re fresh out of law school, you may have heard once or twice from clients, judges and even law professors to “work your magic.” With Halloween being just around the corner, now’s the perfect time to flex your creative muscles and…

Oct 23, 2019 9:31 AM CDT

What are your everyday morning work habits?

We’re all creatures of habit, and lawyers are no exception. No matter our workplace or level of experience, our mornings can often set the productive tone for the rest of the workday—and even workweek. Some research has shown that having a morning routine can lead to increased work efficiency, create…

Oct 16, 2019 9:34 AM CDT

Do you or your firm have activities planned for the National Celebration of Pro Bono?

Pro bono work can be one of the most rewarding experiences in life for a lawyer. ABA Model Rule 6.1 says: “Every lawyer, regardless of professional prominence or professional workload, has a responsibility to provide legal services to those unable to pay.” So much so that there’s an annual national…

Oct 9, 2019 12:52 PM CDT

What advice do you have for lawyers experiencing seasonal affective disorder?

As the first day of fall kicked off last week, it’s clear that there’s been a decrease in daylight. According to the Cleveland Clinic, half a million Americans have seasonal affective disorder, a depression that occurs each year at the same time, usually starting in fall as the days get…

Oct 2, 2019 3:27 PM CDT

What are your best practices for working remotely?

Working from home can provide a plethora of benefits—more flexible schedules, having a custom work environment, and even avoiding some everyday office distractions. But working remotely can come with its own set of challenges, too.

Sep 25, 2019 3:00 PM CDT

What advice do you have for lawyers experiencing anxiety?

Anxiety disorders are the most common mental illness in the United States, according to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, affecting 40 million American adults age 18 and older, or about 18% of the population, every year. Lawyer and Jeena Cho wrote in her latest On Well-being column that…

Sep 18, 2019 10:39 AM CDT

Why did you choose to become a lawyer?

The passion many people get for their careers can start at a young age, either in grade school or high school, or later in life, such as in college or after the kids have flown the coop. It can be easy for some people to identify definitively why they’re in…

Sep 11, 2019 1:15 PM CDT