Frame those onerous tasks in order to motivate you to act

I keep two 5-by-8-inch notebooks with me at all times: one white and one yellow. These allow my mind to rest a little more easily. If I were to lose them, I’d be in a heap of trouble. The yellow one contains all of my daily billable time entries, and…

Apr 3, 2018 8:00 AM CDT

Go ahead, let someone else own your web presence (not!)

While the world around us is evolving with increasing rapidity, lawyers and law firms are still making fire with flint and dry straw. It wouldn’t be a stretch for me to claim that a disproportionate percentage of lawyers are technologically illiterate. But what’s worse is that many of those are…

Mar 15, 2018 7:00 AM CDT

Chicago solo files $1.1M defamation suit against ex-client for alleged ‘legal predator’ Yelp review

A Chicago lawyer has filed a $1.1 million defamation lawsuit against a former client who allegedly called her a “legal predator” and a “con artist” in a Yelp review that was posted under his corporate name.

Mar 14, 2018 8:00 AM CDT

Here’s the legal lowdown on document management software

Choosing the right technology tools for your law firm can be a confusing endeavor. After all, there are so many different types of software products available and so many choices to make when it comes to features, pricing and security. Sifting through the maze of information can be a time-consuming process that can quickly become overwhelming.

Feb 16, 2018 8:30 AM CST

Boutique law firm seeking ‘artisan of prose’ invites essays that make case for Pulitzer Prize losers

A Washington, D.C, law firm is asking applicants for an associate position to demonstrate their “expositional prowess” by submitting an essay that requires some literary knowledge.

Jan 25, 2018 12:28 PM CST

Ask Daliah: 5 reasons why I love being a lawyer

This morning, I woke up extra early to prepare for a complicated hearing in federal court. After court, I returned to my desk to deal with a barrage of emails and voicemail from hostile opposing counsel. By 2 p.m., I felt especially tired, frustrated, and depleted. As I was laying my head down on my desk, I received an unexpected visit from a client who was "in the neighborhood." He brought me two bottles of wine and personally thanked me for everything we have done for him this past year. Shortly after he left, the mail came in. I opened two handwritten thank-you notes from other clients.

Dec 21, 2017 9:00 AM CST

Lawyer’s tardiness wasn’t enough of a reason to toss suit, 2nd Circuit rules

A lawyer who “unwisely believed” he could appear on time for a court hearing may be sanctioned for his late appearance, but dismissing the case was too severe a sanction, a federal appeals court has ruled. The New York-based 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals reversed the decision by U.S.…

Dec 7, 2017 11:29 AM CST

Legal secretary is awarded $277K in attorney fees in her overtime suit against her former law firm

A Los Angeles judge on Monday awarded $277,000 in attorney fees to a former legal secretary who prevailed on her claim that the law firm she once worked for failed to pay overtime. Noemi Bernal had been awarded more than $91,000 on the wage claim against J.J. Little & Associates,…

Nov 28, 2017 1:06 PM CST

Ask Daliah: 5 ways to wish clients happy holidays (without the clutter of cards)

Dear Daliah: What is your opinion on mailing out greeting cards to clients for the holidays?

Nov 16, 2017 7:30 AM CST

Ask Daliah: Stand tall in your use of body language

Dear Daliah: You’re only 5-foot-2? You seem … taller.

Dear Reader: It’s a question I get quite often and one that I thought would be a great segue for this month's article.

Oct 19, 2017 8:30 AM CDT

Former federal prosecutors increasingly shun BigLaw to open boutique firms

A small but growing number of former federal prosecutors are choosing to open their own law firms rather than join large law firms. Federal prosecutors are opening their own legal boutiques as they seek to maintain the autonomy and power they had in U.S. attorney’s offices, the New York Times…

Oct 3, 2017 9:58 AM CDT

Ask Daliah: Opening your law office to open spaces

Dear Daliah: What is the best way to set up a 21st century office?

Sep 21, 2017 8:00 AM CDT

Right on the Money: Tips on how to get your clients to pay the bill

Heidi Machen of San Francisco, who practices employment, government regulatory, contract and landlord-tenant law, has had slow-pay clients. But she also has “a tenacious assistant who is a very effective collector,” she says.

“I usually don’t have trouble,” Machen says. “I regard the client as a business partner, and I explain this, saying ‘I’ll do my part, and I expect you to do your part, which includes timely payment of my bill.’ ”

Aug 1, 2017 12:55 AM CDT

Law firm creates ‘bespoke’ tasks for job applicants (it helps to be a Saul Bellow fan or math whiz)

Lawyers interested in associate positions with the intellectual property boutique Fisch Sigler are asked to go beyond submission of the traditional cover letter and resume.

Jul 6, 2017 7:45 AM CDT

How prepared are law firms for cyber breaches? And how often are firms being attacked?

On the same day that a massive ransomware attack hit DLA Piper, cybersecurity startup firm LogicForce released a chilling report that found that law firms are still woefully unprepared for all sorts of cyber threats.

Jun 29, 2017 8:41 AM CDT