Practice Management

Avoid The Running Of The Bulls

Posted on April 05, 2013
Law students and graduates are often their own worst enemy when it comes to finding a law job. They can blame the law schools, blame their student loans, blame their parents, and damn the World. I am not saying there is not enough blame to go around. But, the truth of the matter is that most law students I have met have done nothing to build relationships with the legal community in which they want to practice until about the time they graduate or pass the bar exam...

Security Clearance Law Niche

Posted on April 04, 2013
If you want to work for or with the military, a military agency or a cleared contractor for the federal government, chances are you will need a security clearance. Likewise, if you work for one of these types of organization you might have your security clearance reviewed or revoked...

It Is Time For The Uniform Bar Exam

Posted on March 01, 2013
I refer not to the multistate portion of the bar exam in many states. I refer to the Uniform Bar Examination (UBE). One exam that fits all states. I practice in Texas. It is very liberal (don't tell Texas I used that word to describe the state) in granting reciprocity to practicing lawyers...

Spare Room Tycoon: Business Skills for Successful Self-Employment

Posted on February 10, 2013
I do not believe anyone was more helpful to me in doing what I do than James Chan and his book, Spare Room Tycoon. It does not matter if you are a lawyer wishing to go out on your own, or any other business or profession, there is much to be learned. There is confidence to be had...

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Florida Space Coast School of Law

Posted on February 02, 2013
I do not really know how much rational criticism there is to the creation of Florida Space Coast School of Law. A limited number of law school detractors seem to be dominating Google on the subject. There might be legitimate and rational reasons to oppose the formation of the law school, but all we get online are knee jerk reactions by those who hate the whole of our legal education system...

How Do I Get Someone To Refer Cases Or Clients To Me???

Posted on February 01, 2013
I had lunch with a new lawyer today. I will not mention his name, but he asked a whole lot of relevant and direct questions of me. Some were hard to answer as directly as he had asked them. Although this is not a direct quote of any one question asked, the issue arose about how, exactly, to you get someone to refer you a case or a client? Good question, right? We had talked for some time about how to build a referral-based network, which entails burning actual and metaphorical shoe leather, but the inference from all of this...

The AbleNook - Possibly The Ikea Of Home Office Space

Posted on January 14, 2013
I still hear it all of the time from lawyers. I want to work at home, but there is no space. I need to get out of the main house because the family dynamic (wife, relatives, kids and/or dog) leaves me nowhere to concentrate on my work. In this regard, we have proposed a lot of solutions to construct a small office away from the home, whether just out back or near the house...

Harmaceutical Referral Law Niche

Posted on December 30, 2012
Don't tell me that this does not involve being a lawyer. Or course it does. Third Wave lawyers understand the importance of collaboration. They understand referrals and networking. But, where bigger, more established law firms might have a deeper reservoir of cash and experience in taking on Big Pharma and their Big Law firms, there is so much more that needs to be done in terms of client solicitation, consulting with, advising and working with the clients or those injured by defective drugs...

Terrorist Law Niche

Posted on November 27, 2012
Would you represent Osama bin Laden? If he had been captured alive it is clear that some competent attorney or legal team would have to represent him. What about Timothy McVeigh? He was represented by Stephen Jones. Representing accused terrorists obviously requires a unique set of skills and clearances...

Vermont Law School Downshifts

Posted on November 26, 2012
We always talk about downshifting in terms of the practice of law. And, it is true legal education has greatly lagged behind the trends in the practice of law. Vermont Law School, however, is demonstrating that the real world is catching up with legal education...

Be Willing To Take Risks My Ass!

Posted on November 26, 2012
I get so tired of tripish sayings like "you've got to take risks if you want to get ahead." Or, "you've got to throw caution to the wind". We somehow try to embarrass those that do not want to take great risk by accusing them of ignoring their dreams...

Lincoln Memorial University's Duncan School of Law Loses It Dean

Posted on November 26, 2012
As reported by the Wall Street Journal Law Blog, Sydney Beckman is stepping down as dean of the beleagured Lincoln Memorial University's Duncan School of Law after it has failed to win ABA accreditation. It is probably a mixed blessing. First, simply put, he failed to achieve the objective for which he was retained...

These Law Schools Are Not Your Friends

Posted on September 25, 2012
I for one have been critical of those dumping on a law school education, and talking in terms of a shortage of law jobs. I do not necessarily believe it and I think the argument is greatly exaggerated. Regardless, not all law schools act as your friend...

Relationship Referrals Are The Best

Posted on September 16, 2012
What is it about lawyers, and new lawyers in particular? Attorneys have to be some of the most gregarious people in the world, yet they appear to do almost anything other than get out, get to know, and build relationships with those that will refer them business...

Witch Hunt Against Virtual Lawyers In Virginia?

Posted on August 31, 2012
Bar-tenders? As we joke in Texas, "Ya' can't live without 'em, but ya' want to shoot 'em". By their very nature, bar-tenders represent entrenched interest and they fight change and use of new technologies that often times dramatically help those seeking legal services...

DFW

Posted on August 29, 2012
In Texas, DFW is generally used to refer to the Dallas-Fort Worth area of the state. In this context, in either looking for a law job or going out on your own, DFW is an insidious little term that means "down for whatever". I have heard law students refer to it mockingly as "dead presidents law"...

Three Tips For Starting A Law Firm

Posted on August 27, 2012
As all of us get back from our summer distractions, this is the time of the year that thoughts of starting a new law practice come into bloom. Those in other firms planning such a leap are looking toward the new year. Those who have graduated are awaiting the bar exam to be scored and posted...

The Jurassic Law Firm

Posted on June 26, 2012
You believe the Mayans understood the future? The patron saint of any amateur futurist is Alvin Toffler. Future Shock and The Third Wave seem old in comparison now, but as we look around us today nearly everything he predicted has come or is coming into focus...

Texas A&M University To Acquire Texas Wesleyan University School Of Law

Posted on June 26, 2012
Texas might be getting a new public law school as Texas A&M University, one of the premiere public research universities in the State of Texas, seeks to acquire Texas Wesleyan University School of Law in Fort Worth, Texas. The School of Law is not located on Texas Wesleyan University's campus...

The Barratry Law Niche

Posted on June 26, 2012
Barratry concerns itself with the improper solicitation clients by a lawyer for profit. I generally support barratry laws much like I support a free market. If people are not allowed to take unfair advantange, then each lawyer has a change to effectively compete for someone's business...

Low LSAT Score? Strive To Be The Cream Of The Bottom Crop!

Posted on June 08, 2012
To those that struggle with low LSAT scores and feel the rejection of law schools, and maybe self-regard, I think you need not unnecessarily despair. There is hope for you toward the end of the acceptance process if you plan accordingly and take perspective...

How About Modular BrickBox Home Office?

Posted on June 06, 2012
I hope that most home office attorneys, spare room tycoons and carpet commuters are eliminating the paper and physical files from their lives. But, whether you need a bulk system of storage or a more decorative solution to carving out an office, you might want to consider something like BrickBox...

Should I Stay Or Should I Go?

Posted on April 18, 2012
We tend to agonize over law graduates trying to decide on what to do in terms of a practice area. Just as often, however, the situation concerns itself with an established lawyer trying to decide whether to stay in a practice area or to take the bold step of starting over somewhere else, or in doing something else...

Food Truck / Mobile Vending Law Niche

Posted on April 15, 2012
It sounds like a tasty idea -- a delicious niche. I recently came across this video interviewing Jeffrey Dermer of the law firm of Dermer and Behrendt. Among his food truck clients, he represents the Southern California Mobile Food Vendors Association...

SmartDeco For Your Home Office

Posted on April 03, 2012
Kickstarter is the world's largest funding platform for creative projects. It allows for the the production of some interesting products that can fill a need. One interesting product that raised money through Kickstarter is SmartDeco furniture. SmartDeco is an affordable, designed and professionally engineered set of furniture that is made from 100% recyclable product called Enviroboard, that folds together in minutes without the use of tools...

What About Settlement?

Posted on March 27, 2012
This blog mainly deals with identifying, forming law firms and practicing in the realm of the Third Wave practice of law. But, let us face facts. You are not going to much succeed in the practice of law if you do not learn to settle. This does not mean that cases do not have to tried from time to time, but settlement is a key...

722 Redemption Law Niche

Posted on March 05, 2012
First a little background for those uninitiated in the process of personal property secured by a pre-petition note in the context of Chapter 7 bankruptcies. Experienced bankruptcy lawyers know well this process. When a creditor has a lien on any of the debtor's property before the debtor files for Chapter 7 bankruptcy protection, the debtor may choose to surrender the property to the creditor in satisfaction of the debt...

You Cannot Spend Your Way To Prosperity

Posted on January 10, 2012
Sure there is the old saying that you have to spend money to make money, but in the area of starting a solo law practice that statement is a canard. It is at least deceptive. One problem is that law firms are not manufacturing companies. They do not borrow money in order to meet a sales goal, so as to make money...

New Year Boredom

Posted on January 03, 2012
It is, according to the Urban Dictionary, "the post-festive boredom that occurs after the fun and excitement of Christmas and New Years". I also think it is the low we tend to feel in having to get back to the same old routine after the holidays. For many of us this is the case...

Square Reader

Posted on December 29, 2011
The question I get often from those contemplating a more virtual law practice is how to collect money from clients. I have never really considered this much of a problem. So, my typical answer has been to use something like paypal. But, then I get this push back that although the lawyer want to work from home, they still need to initially meet clients at a different locations, such as office suites, conference rooms, courthouses, coffee shops, libraries and the like...

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