Estate Planning: Tips to Know When Entering the Field According to a recent study, most U.S. citizens haven't made even a simple will, to say nothing of a more comprehensive plan to avoid probate or save on estate taxes. No surprise there, as I believe the study also had the U.S. public ranking estate planning as an activity right below getting a root canal. (50 views)
A Lawyer's Role in Green Building Meredith Sherman didn't plan on a law career that focused on so-called ''green building.'' But she had an environmental certification from her law school days at Tulane, and she seemed like the likely candidate to lead Fowler White Boggs Banker's ''Green Team'' — a group of attorneys practicing within the firm's environmental and land use practice group. (168 views)
Transportation Attorneys Face a Rapidly Evolving Industry There was a time, not so long ago, when the lawyers who handled a firm’s transportation and logistics clients may have had relatively little to do: keep track of federal trucking regulations for one client, maybe defend the occasional airline accident for another. (44 views)
Tips on best ways to revamping your Resume 'Tis New Year's Eve, and while many of us are busy looking inward to form those all-important (and oft-abandoned) resolutions, too many of us will forget to make equally important external changes. Like what, you ask? Well, for one, changes to your resume. (65 views)
The Life and Career of Pete Cardillo : Florida's Bug Lawyer You could call Pete Cardillo the Anti-Orkin Man.Several years ago, the Tampa attorney founded what is likely the only firm in America devoted exclusively to suits involving termites. He left his post as head of litigation for Buchanan Ingersoll, determined to wipe out what he sees as widespread fraud and deception in one of Florida's biggest industries. Today, he's... (566 views)
Staying in the Job Safe Zone No one is safe.It's a jungle out in today's job market. As the years pass by, the number of jobs seems to be diminishing because of the advancement of technology and the economy's unpredictability. (16 views)
What to consider when weighing a law firm offer? Question: I just received an offer from a well-regarded large law firm in Houston. I am excited about the offer, but I know that there are only so many jumps I can make before people start to look negatively upon my resume. I've already moved twice. My current position is good, but not great. I believe the perfect position is out there, but it's hard to know whether... (166 views)
The Life and Career of Attorney Joel Brodsky and defense lawyer of Drew Peterson He's the attorney for a client who has no case...but his client's story has been all over the news for weeks. Joel Brodsky is the Chicago-based attorney who is working to untangle the media frenzy surrounding retired Illinois police officer Drew Peterson, whose 23-year-old wife, Stacy, went missing late last October. (2528 views)
Bad Review? Don't Get Bitter; Get Better. Most of us consider review time at our offices exciting as we hope for and dream of that fat raise we've been anticipating. No one is ever prepared when he or she gets a bad review — perhaps we are all a bit biased toward ourselves. Regardless, the main issue is how you handle the bad review. (12 views)
Attorneys Kick Addictions with Help from The Other Bar Stress is a routine part of lawyers' work. In fact, 20% to 25% of lawyers suffer from stress so severe it impairs their practices, according to an American Bar Association (ABA) survey. Such extreme pressure sometimes leads lawyers to self-medicate with drugs or alcohol. (37 views)
All the Right Moves: Choosing between End of Year versus Beginning of Year When Considering a Lateral Move As the holiday season approaches and the end of 2007 looms closer, partner and associate candidates wonder whether it is better to move laterally now or save such a move for the new year. The answer to that question lies in clarifying the pros and cons of each lateral hiring period and establishing one's own priorities. (206 views)
Suing Wal-Mart: Personal Injury and Medical Malpractice Attorney Scott Schlesinger With a family of attorneys and a father who made his mark as one of the country's most successful personal injury and medical malpractice attorneys, it's no surprise that Scott Schlesinger became an attorney. Carrying on the legacy, Schlesinger has also built a meaningful reputation in the business through his aggressive and persistent work on cases. (1176 views)
Tips on how to make a good impression at the job interview They're kind of like first dates. You try to look your best. You try to make the perfect first impression. And you try so hard to say all the right things. (127 views)
A Career Audit for Associates In the nine years that I have been in the recruiting business, I have spoken to literally hundreds of associates about their careers. Through these conversations, I have noticed a number of repeating themes (concerns about how to achieve work/life balance, decreasing interest in partnership, etc.). (7 views)
Tips on how to survive the first job blues and move on to another legal firm. Though The Clash vocalist Joe Strummer wasn't referring to his job woes in the 1982 hit song ''Should I Stay or Should I Go,'' his message rings true for many recent graduates struggling in their first jobs. (278 views)
The Life and Career of Tracie Goodwin: Paralegal to Attorney For Tracie Goodwin, being a paralegal wasn't quite enough.''After being a paralegal for about five years, I began looking for more of a challenge,'' she says. ''I decided to become an attorney mainly because I wanted more control over the work I did, and I wanted more of a challenge.'' (4183 views)
How to improve on you Presentation skills. The ability to create, communicate, and deliver your message in a credible, comfortable, and convincing manner is arguably one of the most important skills, if not the most important skill, an attorney can possess. (157 views)
Following E-mail etiquettes at Law Firms With the invention of computers and email, communication became not only much easier but also much more confusing. The typical boundaries that existed in oral communication did not (and still do not) apply to the electronic realm. As a result, a lack of understanding of the true consequences of email is sending businesses and employees into a litigation tailspin as... (4 views)
The Life and Career of Richie Roberts Practicing Criminal Defense Attorney and Inspiration for the Movie 'American Gangster' In his day, Richard Roberts — or Richie, as most people call him — was a real, live, crime-fighting police detective, complete with the cool '70s hair and sunglasses. Yeah, like the kind you only see in the movies. He's gone on high-risk stakeouts, brushed shoulders and locked eyes with the bad guys, and he's even had a contract out on his life. (37954 views)
What's Hot? Today's Legal Specialties Business trends at large affect the legal industry and the specializations that are most in demand. Successful lawyers keep an eye on business trends and marry passion with specialization. Here is our determination of the current top five areas of specialization, based on our placement of contract attorneys across the country. (781 views)
Success and Failure of Holiday Office Parties Holiday office parties are a tradition for most companies. Along with celebrating the holidays, they can provide a relaxed atmosphere in which employees can find out more about coworkers and their families. However, if parties are poorly managed, they can create irritation and strife. (19 views)
The Life and Career of Steve Young : Lawyer and Football Player He led the 49ers to a 13-3 record and won the NFL MVP Award for the second time in 1994 — which was also the year he graduated from law school. Steve Young is recognized as one of America's most notable football stars, but few know that he is also a lawyer. Though he has never practiced law, he has used his acquired skills and natural talents for good as an influential... (46296 views)
The Inner Game of Job Seeking Conquer your emotions. Job seeking is one of the most difficult emotional experiences adults face. The older and more accomplished we are, the harder it is to take the rejection that is a natural part of the job search. Here are some techniques for conquering the inner game of job seeking: (11 views)
When the ''Court of Public Opinion'' Factors into Legal Strategies Litigation communications have evolved into an essential utility for attorneys who recognize that their clients sometimes require more than their legal acumen. (43 views)
Formalize Your Marketing Plan: Nonbillable Marketing Contributes to the Firm's Bottom Line Many lawyers enjoy practicing law much more than they enjoy running and building a business. Considering their training, it's no surprise that lawyers don't want to do any business planning. Yet study after study has shown that those with formalized plans — for business or life — are more likely to succeed than those without such plans. (19 views)
The Life and Career of Jeffery Leving Expert in Family Law You've heard of criminal defense attorneys, tax lawyers, and state prosecutors, but how many attorneys do you know that have developed their own practice areas? Family lawyer Jeffery Leving did just that. Obviously he didn't think up family law, but he did launch a specialty in family law with regard to fathers' rights — something that was unheard of 25 years ago. Today,... (1105 views)
Newly minted lawyer unsure about non-associate position being offered Question: I just graduated from law school and sat for the NY/NJ bars. I have an offer from a large firm for a non-associate position and am unsure as to whether it is a good career move or if I should temp instead while looking for an associate position at a small firm. The position is called ''corporate analyst'' and is mainly due diligence work in the M&A group of... (54 views)
Marketing When You Are the Product ''The greatest thing to be achieved in advertising, in my opinion, is believability, and nothing is more believable than the product itself.'' — Leo Burnett, advertising pioneer (298 views)
Quizzing your Attorney For the lawyers who think they know it all — or for those of you who worry that your legal counsel can't tell a tort from a tart — Stump Your Lawyer! is a hilarious tour of the quirks and curiosities of our legal system. This tongue-in-cheek volume offers witty, practical, and thought-provoking challenges for the legally minded. Short case histories, definitions,... (9 views)
Are law school transcripts necessary when applying for jobs? Question: I was working with a recruiter who sent my law school transcripts to potential firms along with my resume. I believe that this hurt my chances with these firms as my law school grades are not what I want to emphasize. Can I send only my resume in the future? I don't imagine that my transcript is terribly relevant now that I've had practical law firm... (2823 views)