Some firms swear by the use of private investigators

Fans of Perry Mason—those with fond memories of the TV show or recent admirers of the rereleased novels—will remember how private investigator Paul Drake helped the fictional lawyer solve crimes and defend the innocent.

Mar 1, 2016 1:40 AM CST

Once living in US illegally, immigrant now looks forward to paying $50K in taxes on law practice

After many years of living in the United States without legal permission, a California attorney admitted in 2014 after state lawmakers passed a bill allowing him to join the state bar is looking forward to paying U.S. taxes on his new law practice. The tally: Not quite $42,000 in federal…

Feb 25, 2016 2:50 PM CST

Avvo offers fixed-fee legal services through an attorney network in 18 states

Expanding on a fledgling plan to offer fixed-fee legal services through a network of lawyers, Avvo has announced that it is rolling out the program in 18 states beginning Tuesday. “The beauty here is we get them the customer, we get the cash up front, and they don’t have to…

Feb 9, 2016 4:40 PM CST

Law firm among pioneering employers who OK worker use of medical marijuana

A small law firm is among a pioneering group of Illinois employers that are offering assurances they won’t punish their workers for using medical marijuana. InHouse Physicians, one of the other participants, has amended its human resources manual to say that it will accommodate workers who use medical marijuana, CEO…

Feb 5, 2016 4:30 PM CST

Viral ads launch young attorney into role in Taco Bell’s Super Bowl product promotion

Tongue-in-cheek viral Internet ads by a young criminal defense attorney have apparently launched Bryan Wilson, aka ‘Texas Law Hawk,’ into a new role as a Taco Bell celebrity pitchman. Appearing in a teaser for an ad that is scheduled to air during the Super Bowl, the business-suited Wilson holds a…

Feb 3, 2016 12:55 PM CST

Dog lawyer also advocates for parakeet

Boston Dog Lawyers specializes in the defense of canines deemed to be recalcitrant. That can be a tough gig: At least once, attorney Jeremy Cohen told the Boston Herald, a client bit him. “It’s kind of hard to advocate for a dog in a dog-biting case when he bites you,”…

Feb 2, 2016 5:00 PM CST

Law firm raided by FBI overbilled clients, says fired ex-clerk in federal lawsuit

Updated: A former clerk for a West Virginia law firm says in a federal lawsuit that she blew the whistle on alleged overbilling of clients by Martin & Seibert, which was raided by the FBI in November. Christine Blanda names the firm, multiple partners and its chief operating officer as…

Feb 1, 2016 3:20 PM CST

Southern firm triples Austin, Texas, office by acquiring Taube Summers

One of Tennessee’s oldest law firms has tripled the attorney roster in its Austin, Texas, office by acquiring a 13-attorney legal shop that specializes in commercial litigation, insurance and bankruptcy matters. The group from Taube Summers Harrison Taylor Meinzer Brown is the largest ever taken in by the 225-attorney Waller…

Feb 1, 2016 3:00 PM CST

22 partners are leaving this BigLaw firm, including 2 former leaders

Twenty-two partners, including 14 equity partners, are leaving Schiff Hardin to form their own law firm. Among those leaving are former firm chairman Robert Riley and former managing partner Ronald Safer, report the Am Law Daily, the Wall Street Journal Law Blog, Bloomberg Big Law Business and Crain’s Chicago Business.…

Feb 1, 2016 9:08 AM CST

When it comes to investment strategy, you don’t have to go it alone

Feb 1, 2016 1:30 AM CST

Partner’s ‘slave’ comment to contract attorney led to tweet that launched a law firm

Yondi Morris was already unhappy about her job as a contract attorney when a comment by a partner at the firm for which she was then working prompted her to do something about it. After walking over to see how Morris was doing, “he just looked at me and said,…

Jan 14, 2016 4:05 PM CST

Metrics can tell the tale of a firm’s fate

It's never easy being a star witness. Take former Dewey & LeBoeuf finance director Frank Canellas. In late July, at a time when many law firm executives are planning trips to exotic locales or spending time in their summer homes, Canellas got to hang out in lovely downtown Manhattan. He…

Jan 1, 2016 4:30 AM CST

Law firm is flooded with phone calls from scammer’s caller ID number

An apparent scammer is using a caller ID number that routes phone calls to a Florida law firm. The James Hoyer law firm is receiving so many phone calls that its switchboard operator is close to losing her voice, 10News reports. The calls started coming in on Dec. 1. The…

Dec 9, 2015 9:23 AM CST

Law firm that once employed Gerald Ford will soon merge with larger competitor

A longtime Grand Rapids, Michigan, law firm that once had then-future president Gerald Ford on the payroll is set to merge with a larger legal shop. As of Jan. 1, the 16-attorney Law Weathers will become part of 150-attorney Varnum, MLive.com reports. The two law firms already have offices in…

Dec 3, 2015 5:00 PM CST

New law firm greeter smiles, bounces in chair, seldom cries

The newest greeter at a Jacksonville, Florida, law firm routinely has a smile on her face and even bounces in her chair as she welcomes visitors. Plus, although only 13 months old, she seldom cries. Having Hannah Mallory Cooper at the front of Cooper Ridge & Safi, along with her…

Dec 2, 2015 3:15 PM CST