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Legal Andrew

Productivity ideas for the legal world: law students, lawyers, Westlaw, and Lexis. It's all here!
By Andrew Flusche

Post Frequency: 0.4/day

Last Entry: September 22, 2009 at 00:30:48

Eee PC Battery Test ? 7 Hours, 29 Minutes

Posted on September 22, 2009
I was at an all-day seminar last week, sporting my Asus Eee 1000HE netbook. I brought my AC adapter, but I figured it would be a great chance to really test Asus’ claimed 9.5-hour battery. I started the day at about 8:45am with a fully-charged battery...

3 Launchy Tricks ? Evernote, Google Voice, RTM

Posted on September 21, 2009
If you want to control your computer from your keyboard, check out Launchy. It’s a free keystroke launcher. Here are three ways to supercharge Launchy. Evernote I use Evernote for all my note-taking needs. I constantly need to pull up a note that I’ve previously written...

My Custom Business Management System

Posted on September 20, 2009
Business have data to manage, documents to produce, and customers to invoice. Law firms are no different. I run my own traffic defense law firm. It’s a high-volume practice area, which means I have lots of clients at any given time. There are lots of client contracts and invoices going out and coming back from clients...

NameCheap is Cheaper than GoDaddy

Posted on September 13, 2009
Everyone sees GoDaddy’s ads for “$1.99 domains” and thinks they’re the cheapest option. WRONG! I’ve been using NameCheap for years, and I’ll show you that it’s cheaper than GoDaddy. Let’s look at several different situations to give each company a fair shake...

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Legal Articles at Article Alley

Posted on September 04, 2009
I was recently asked to write a review of the legal articles section of Article Alley. Here goes! If you’re not familiar with them, article sites are big warehouses of articles. Most of them cover every topic imaginable, but some sites specialize...

Give First, Ask Second

Posted on August 31, 2009
You’ve all seen web forms that ask for your information in exchange for a “free report” or “white paper” on a given subject. What if the great report was right there for the taking, and you were only asked for your information after you read it? There’s an awesome post by Matt Homann over at the [...

Ruby Receptionist Rocks ? My Virtual Receptionist

Posted on August 30, 2009
I first wrote about Ruby Receptionist in March of this year. I had just signed up for a free trial, and I was excited to begin using my new virtual receptionist for my solo law firm. (Here is my original post about Ruby Receptionist.) I’ve now been with Ruby for five months...

Simplicity ? Why I Deleted My Plaxo Account

Posted on August 08, 2009
How many social networks are you a member of? Personally, I’m on way too many to count. Do we really need them all? Probably not. Here’s a quick simplicity challenge for you: pick one social networking site and delete your account. I just deleted my Plaxo account (here’s how to delete yours)...

Amazing Motivation Handbook!

Posted on July 21, 2009
Do you have trouble with motivation? Is it hard to get motivated? What about keeping yourself motivated? I suck at motivation. I go through spurts where I’m able to get lots done, but then I have dry spells. When I’m not motivated, I just can’t seem to get anything done...

Attorneys and Phones ? What?s Your Poison?

Posted on July 14, 2009
Editor’s note: This is a guest post by Kat Sanders. There’s no doubting the fact that almost every lawyer possesses a mobile phone ? it is sometimes the lifeline that keeps them connected to their office and their clients when they’re on the go...

Great Twitter Client for Windows Mobile

Posted on July 02, 2009
I use a Windows Mobile smart phone (the Moto Q9c from Sprint). And I love Twitter (I’m aflusche). I’ve been looking for a good Twitter client for my phone. Twikini fits the bill. Twikini has a great set of features. It works with Twitpic and your phone’s GPS...

Review of the Asus Eee PC 1000HE

Posted on June 27, 2009
I?ve had my Asus Eee PC 1000HE for a couple weeks now. I?ve used it for some real work at this point, so here?s my take on this machine. It?s awesome! Before I dig into the specifics of the Eee, remember what a netbook is. It?s a mini computer. It can do virtually anything a full-size machine [...

EchoSign Customer Service To The Rescue!

Posted on April 27, 2009
EchoSign has a killer product. And their customer service rocks too! On Friday at 11:53pm, I wrote this post about EchoSign not giving small users access to their API. I wanted to integrate their e-signing system with a total law firm management solution that I’m developing...

How to Alienate Your Vocal Supporters

Posted on April 25, 2009
It’s simple: just focus too much on big businesses. I love EchoSign for e-signing documents. My clients love it too, so that makes me love it even more. I even wrote about EchoSign over at my law firm website. And the EchoSign folks picked up the article on their blog...

My Short Email Experiment

Posted on April 04, 2009
Email is a necessary part of my law practice, but it takes up a lot of time. I decided that one way to cut that time is to cut the length of my emails. My email signature now contains this line at the end: Why is this email 5 sentences or less? http://five...

Virtual Receptionist Free for a Month

Posted on March 22, 2009
I run my own law firm with no staff. It’s hard to answer the phone, go to court, and work on client matters. To solve this problem, I hired a great virtual receptionist service: Ruby Receptionist. Ruby has been answering my phone for a week now...

State and Federal Trademarks - Guest Post

Posted on March 15, 2009
If you have a brand, you should be concerned about protecting it. That’s what trademark registrations do. They protect your brand from misuse. But what’s the difference between a federal and state trademark? Why would you choose one over the other? Ip’s What’s Up just published a guest post of mine on that topic: State and Federal [...

Learn How to Build a Solo Law Practice

Posted on March 10, 2009
Lawyers around the world rejoiced today as Solo Practice University (SPU) announced its tuition. On March 20th, “the practice of law school” will open its doors to a flood of solo (and hopefully solo) practitioners. Are you enrolling? What is Solo Practice University? In a nutshell, it’s an online university where law students and lawyers can learn [...

Why Lawyers Cost So Much

Posted on March 01, 2009

File Bankruptcy With a Bankruptcy Lawyer

Posted on February 21, 2009
Free bankruptcy case evaluation: (866) 200-5729 Are you in debt over your head? If you’ve exhausted all your other options, it might be time to consider consulting with a bankruptcy lawyer. File bankruptcy as a last resort Before we go any further, please don’t think that I’m advocating that anyone should file bankruptcy without heavily considering all [...

Starbucks Does Offer Value

Posted on February 17, 2009
A good friend sent an interesting article to me today: Can Starbucks Really Offer ‘Value’ With a Straight Face?. Yes. Starbucks can offer value. A few days ago, I had a couple hours to kill while waiting for my client’s case at traffic court...

Most Expensive Lawsuits

Posted on February 15, 2009
Andrew’s Note: This post was sponsored by Lawsuit Funding. Lawyers know that lawsuits can be incredibly expensive. If you’ve ever been on either side of a big lawsuit, you know first hand that costs can easily skyrocket. Let’s look at some of the world’s most expensive lawsuits...

Law Firm Productivity with Remember the Milk

Posted on February 14, 2009
As lawyers we have tons of tasks and deadlines to keep tabs on. We have to do something today for Client A, be sure we don’t miss Client B’s hearing tomorrow, and remember that Client C still hasn’t returned a call. Fortunately, Remember the Milk can track everything for us...

Is Pay-Per-Click Advertising Worth It?

Posted on February 11, 2009
Editor’s Note: This guest post was written and sponsored by Sequoia Legal Marketing. Nearly 80% of the top 100 most expensive keywords using Google AdWords are legal related; all of which are over $43 PER CLICK. Using industry averages for bounce rate (they visit your homepage, but go no further before leaving) and conversion [...

A Perfect Offline Activity - Thank You Notes

Posted on February 10, 2009
Do you ever have some time to kill when you don’t have a computer with you? I’ve found the perfect activity! Write your thank you notes! I spend a lot of time at courthouses, waiting for my clients’ cases. I can bring my laptop to some courthouses and work on it while I’m waiting...

Personal Injury Lawyer Website

Posted on January 25, 2009
I’m always glad to see attorneys who understand internet marketing. These days, there is no substitute for a good website that incorporates a blog, video, and testimonials. Art Majleesi is one of those attorneys. Art is a personal injury attorney in California who runs a fairly comprehensive website...

Tax Deductions - The Home Office Deduction

Posted on January 20, 2009
It’s important to take all your legal tax deductions to get the biggest possible tax refund. If you are self-employed, this is even more critical. Here is a quick primer on an elusive area of tax preparation: the home office deduction. There are a variety of factors you must meet to claim a [...

Finding Lawsuit Funding

Posted on January 13, 2009
It’s no secret that lawsuits cost money. You can’t expect to litigate a case of any significant value without spending thousands of dollars in expenses and legal fees. Of course, a victory in court should hopefully pay back everything that was outlaid and provide compensation for the injured...

Maximize Your Tax Refund in 6 Steps

Posted on January 01, 2009
It’s now 2009, so another tax season is upon us. This doesn’t have to be a sad time of the year. Follow these easy steps to maximize your refund! File early We’ll start off with an easy tip that isn’t really about the size of your refund...

Referral Marketing Books Reviewed and Rated

Posted on December 20, 2008
As a business owner, I#8217;ve been trying to build my base of incoming referrals. I get very few clients from referrals, and I want to change that! Referral marketing is a basic way of building business that#8217;s all about word of mouth. But true referral marketing uses a system to consistently obtain referrals...

Christmas Gifts for Men - Or, Andrew?s Wish List

Posted on November 26, 2008
I’m a man. And I’m hard to shop for. My dad was hard to shop for as well. I think it’s something many of us men have in common. Here are my ideas of Christmas gifts for men, otherwise known as “Andrew’s wish list.” Indy! Show me a man who isn’t a fan of Indiana [...

Too Many Faces on Your Website

Posted on November 15, 2008
I’m a fan of personalizing websites with images of the author. And images of people generally help us to connect better. We’re drawn to people like us, and there’s no way to do that quite like photographs. But it’s possible to have too much of a good thing...

Alternative Office Space in Fredericksburg - Coworking at Business Playce

Posted on November 15, 2008
My law firm operates out of my home office. But I needed a professional place to meet clients, and sometimes home gets old. And boring. No longer! Fredericksburg, Virginia now has a coworking facility. It’s called Business Playce. Coworking provides an informal office space where you can work, meet clients, and chat with other professionals...

Legal Jobs Around the Country

Posted on November 05, 2008
If you’re looking for a legal or law-related job, you might want to check out Legal Jobs America. This is an interesting site that aggregates attorney and law-firm support jobs from around the country. Legal Jobs America allows you to browse legal jobs by job title, city, state, or company...

Contract for Legal Services vs. Client Plan

Posted on October 19, 2008
I think it scares my clients when I ask them to sign a contract with me. Especially when they’re coming to me because they were just burned in a contract with someone else. It’s partly my fault. My previous contract was proudly titled: Contract for Legal Services...

Dress to Impress with Custom Suits

Posted on October 17, 2008
As a lawyer, I have to wear suits. I typically have mixed feelings about men’s suits. They do look professional, but they are also expensive to own and wear. The biggest suit problem I have is my size. I’m tall and skinny. When I go to a suit store, the jackets that [...

Print Postage Online - In Your Pajamas!

Posted on October 09, 2008
Don’t you hate going to the post office? The lines are long, the building is dingy, and there’s never enough parking. I’m now a proud endicia user! I can print whatever postage I need, right from my desk. It’s already saving me time and money...

Business Card Idea - Keep It Simple

Posted on October 01, 2008
Every so often I come across a business card idea that I love. The above card is one of those. Sure, this playing card business card is tacky. But it’s memorable. And for some professions, it just might do the trick. With the right person behind the card, I think it would [...

Nobody Searches for ?Blog?

Posted on September 23, 2008
This post is focused on lawyer marketing, but the same techniques and logic should apply to anyone. Here’s an SEO tip: nobody searches for the word “blog.” That’s an exaggeration, but let me explain… If I’m trying to optimize my law practice website (or blog) for searchers, I have to know what they search for...

25 Unique Christmas Gifts Under $25

Posted on September 21, 2008
Can you believe that it’s almost October? Before you know it, the Christmas season will be upon us. There will be rushing and frenzy to find the perfect Christmas gifts for everyone on your list. I love Christmas, and it’s certainly a wonderful religious celebration...

Want to Sell Books Online?

Posted on September 18, 2008
I write a lot about books. Buying and selling. There are lots of posts here on the subject: maximizing your cash, the basic process, getting the best price, buying cheap books, buying more cheap books. Today I’m taking a detour to highlight a single online book site: Sell Back Your Book...

Turning Your Virginia Lemon into Lemonade

Posted on September 16, 2008
This is a guest post by Sergei Lemberg, a lemon law attorney. Go check out his great blog or his lemon meter. If you?ve ever bought a new car, you know what a rush it is. There?s the new car smell, the feeling of power as you hit the accelerator, and the peace of mind [...

Are Presence Indicators Really Being Present?

Posted on September 12, 2008
A recent article by Web Worker Daily really got me thinking. The article talks about Twitter as a presence indicator. With all the distractions that these programs and services provide, are we really being present? Are we being mindful, in touch equally with our rational and emotional minds? I don’t see how...

What Business Entity Should You Pick? [webinar]

Posted on September 12, 2008
I’m holding another webinar! If you’re a business owner (or want to own a business), you need to attend this one. It covers the important differences between limited liability business choices. LLC, INC, S CORP, oh my! The webinar is on September 18 at 3pm Eastern...

Help a Good Cause - Train for Humanity

Posted on September 09, 2008
Behold, the power of blogs! Leo Babauta, Mark Hayward, and Dan Clements are racing to make a difference! They’re the pilot athletes in a new humanitarian nonprofit that I’m helping with: Train for Humanity. Here’s the skinny: Leo, Mark, and Dan are all training for endurance events (marathons and triathlons)...

Overtime Laws - Your Right to Overtime Pay

Posted on September 08, 2008
Hourly employees always want to know about their rights to a lunch break. Heck, lunch is important to me too! But what about overtime laws? Employees definitely want to know about overtime labor laws as well. Is overtime required? Do salary employees get overtime? What are the regulations? This article should answer [...

Twitter Kills Productivity, or Does It?

Posted on September 07, 2008
I’m on Twitter (aflusche). Are you? But I think it’s killing my productivity. Twitter is one more distraction to deal with in our already busy world. Yes, I understand the point of Twitter. We can all communicate a bit easier. We can meet new people...

LexisNexis Apologizes for Bad Link Tactics

Posted on September 07, 2008
A week ago, I gave LexisNexis the biggest jerk award. Basically, they ticked me off with what I consider impolite link building strategies. It took a little while, but LexisNexis responded. The Senior Director of Traffic & Alliances posted a blog comment...

Exclusive Legal Tips and Discounts via Email

Posted on September 06, 2008
I’ve been publishing Legal Andrew for over two years now. It’s time to expand. Instead of just writing on the blog, I’m now sending legal and productivity tips via email. Woohoo! You can quickly subscribe here or use the form directly below this post (or in the sidebar)...

Exclusive Alcohol and Drug Treatment Clinic

Posted on August 31, 2008
Drug and alcohol addictions are serious. If you have a loved one who is suffering from some type of addiction like this, you might consider alcohol rehabilitation or drug rehabilitation at Cliffside Malibu. Cliffside Malibu is an interesting program that seems to provide a comprehensive, holistic treatment for serious addictions...

Biggest Jerk Award Goes to LexisNexis

Posted on August 30, 2008
It’s funny how some big companies just don’t understand the internet. And it’s infuriating when they breach simple rules of netiquette. LexisNexis wins the Biggest Jerk Award today. I linked to Lexis I wrote an article (Lunch, Break, and Hour Laws) over a year ago that linked to one of Lexis’ products...

Important Webinar to Protect Your Business

Posted on August 27, 2008
Are you a business owner? Are you considering starting a business? Don’t miss my next webinar! I’m going to teach a select group of people important techniques to reduce their liability. You’ll learn to: - Insulate your business - Buy the right insurance - Follow corporate formalities - And protect your family You’ll get a one-hour interactive webinar with me, a licensed attorney...

7 Tips for Cheap College Books

Posted on August 23, 2008
I recently wrote about buying cheap college books by shopping online. (For cheap online books, I recommend Bookbyte.) But there are many more options for you to find cheap books and save on your overall book costs. Here are just a few of the choices available for cheap college books...

Selling Books Online - Find the Best Price

Posted on August 21, 2008
I love selling books online (basic process, maximize cash, buy cheap books). In fact, my wife just prepared three boxes of books to send off for over $200. Cash! Selling books online is easy Yep, it’s really a piece of cake. My favorite book buyback site is Bookbyte...

Branding Strategy Should Be Consistent

Posted on August 18, 2008
Is your branding strategy consistent? BMW of Charlottesville certainly doesn’t have a consistent branding strategy. Their courtesy vehicle is a Honda. Do you see a problem here? Consistent branding If I owned a car dealership, all vehicles on the premises would be of the type I sold...

Get a DYMO Labeler for Productivity

Posted on August 16, 2008
I don’t know where I’d be without my DYMO labeler. Actually, I know that I’d be buried under piles of papers that weren’t filed away. Simply put, this gadget is awesome! A labeler can boost your productivity, whether you’re a student, a stay at home mom, or a busy professional...

Reduce Clutter by Scanning Documents

Posted on August 16, 2008
If you’re running a business, you probably have lots of paperwork. But with today’s document technologies, it doesn’t have to be that way. One easy way to handle paperwork is to scan your documents into digital files. These can be easily organized, retrieved, and manipulated on your computer...

My New Legal Column at Home Office Warrior

Posted on August 16, 2008
If you run a home based business (or just work out of your home sometimes), you should check out my new column over at Home Office Warrior. My good friend, Grant Griffiths of G2 Web Media, runs Home Office Warrior, and he came up with the idea of an “Ask Legal Andrew” weekly feature...

Solo by Choice by Carolyn Elefant Gives Great Advice!

Posted on August 11, 2008
Buy now for $40.50 Are you a brand new attorney, wanting to hang up your shingle? Or maybe you’ve been working at BigLaw for 10 years, and you want to start your own firm. If you are thinking about being a solo attorney, you need to read Solo by Choice by Carolyn Elefant...

Cheap College Books - NOT at Campus Bookstore

Posted on August 10, 2008
College and graduate school classes are starting soon. Have you bought your books? If not, don’t use the campus bookstore. You can find cheap college books in many places, other than the single store your university is hoping you’ll use. Since you’re already living on a shoestring budget, you need to save money wherever possible...

Free Business Card Ideas on Flickr

Posted on August 09, 2008
I absolutely love business card ideas. I will soon be hiring a local design firm to create my logo and come up with some spiffy business cards. So it’s time to start hunting for examples of business cards that I like. If you’re looking for some quick, free business card inspiration, I highly recommend [...

Business Referral Network - Should I Join BNI?

Posted on August 08, 2008
Business networking is the key to a strong client base. But where do business networking groups fit into that picture? I’d love your thoughts. Business referral networking Business referral networking takes “meeting people” to a higher level...

Lunch Labor Laws - Federal and State

Posted on August 06, 2008
My original post on lunch break laws still remains one of the most popular articles on this blog. Many people are highly interested in lunch labor laws, as evidenced by the 98 comments that are still being posted. Lunch labor laws affect us all If you’re human, you have to eat...

Legal Documents from Real Deals

Posted on August 05, 2008
If you need a legal document, you’re best option is to call an attorney. But what if you can’t afford to hire one? RealDealDocs provides a searchable database of millions of legal documents. They claim to get the documents from public company filings, index them, and put them on their website...

Easy Male Haircut - Remington Shortcut Review

Posted on August 05, 2008
Buy for $34.99 I’ve been cutting my own hair for several years. I used to use a standard hair clipper with a #1 blade guard. When it broke last week, I set out to find new hair clippers. A few Google searches brought up the Remington Shortcut...

Get $100 of Free Facebook Advertising

Posted on August 02, 2008
Have you tried Facebook advertising yet? What if I told you that you could get a $100 coupon for Facebook Ads? The process is quite simple, and it’s completely legit. You can use the $100 coupon to try out the Facebook Ad system and see if it can work for your business...

Extreme SEO - Keyword Business Address

Posted on August 02, 2008
If you’re like most entrepreneurs today, you want the absolute most SEO you can get. You either learn how to do it yourself, or you hire an SEO firm to handle it. Here’s a new SEO idea for you: Have your office on a street that contains one of your keywords...

Have Your Finances Prepared Before a Disaster

Posted on July 31, 2008
This is a guest post by Tisha Kulak. If you would like to write a guest post, email me. With the increase of natural disasters around the country, it is just as important to have your finances in order as it is to have an emergency evacuation plan and sufficient insurance...

IRS Problems? Fouts Touts Help!

Posted on July 18, 2008
My wonderful wife, Nicole Flusche, wrote this post. April 15 has come and gone for 2008, and for many Americans that means the panic that is part and parcel with filing tax returns has subsided ? for now. However, in the current economic downturn some Americans are still struggling with the IRS...

Free Software - Vista, Photoshop, or VMware

Posted on July 06, 2008
Would you like some free software? How about Windows Vista Ultimate, Photoshop CS3, or VMware Workstation 6? BA Software will give it to you! I’ve been trying to find the catch to this offer, but I can’t. It looks legit, so I’m giving it a try...

Productivity for Students - Slick New Blog

Posted on June 18, 2008
If you’re a student looking to improve your productivity, read on! A Legal Andrew reader just notified me about a slick blog for all the students out there. It’s The Productive Student. Honestly, when I received Arjun’s email, I thought the blog would be just another boring, stale-template website...

Need a Loan to Finance Your Lawsuit?

Posted on June 13, 2008
Litigation isn’t cheap. Anyone who has gone through a lengthy lawsuit can tell you that the costs and expenses of litigation easily spiral into thousands of dollars. Without funding, lawsuits can’t happen. By no means am I encouraging frivolous litigation, but lawsuits can be necessary to protect and advance your rights...

New Business Card Ideas

Posted on June 11, 2008
A reader responded to my article about law student business cards, and she asked some very thoughtful questions. In fact, there are some good ideas here for everyone to consider. Business card and address First of all, should your business card contain your address? Let me answer that question with a question: Does it need to? When [...

Fastcase Customer Service - The CEO Called

Posted on June 08, 2008
I wrote the other day about a customer service snafu I encountered with the legal research company called Fastcase. They definitely redeemed themselves! The day after my post went up, the Fastcase CEO called me. He had read my post and wanted to see how he could resolve the situation...

Reward Customers with? Deactivation?!

Posted on June 04, 2008
What if you found a company that provides a product you love? In fact, you love it so much, that you come in to buy it several times every day. But the company’s security has a policy to prevent shoplifting: any patrons who enter the store more than once per day are automatically locked out...

I?m on Zen Habits - Thanks Leo!

Posted on May 29, 2008
Thanks to my great friend, I have a guest post over at Zen Habits. Check it out: 8 Frugal Tips for Legal Matters. I’d love a Digg!: Digg the story. I sent an email to friends and family three weeks ago when I was laid off. I wanted to let everyone know that my solo [...

Good Luck With Bar Exam Studying!

Posted on May 23, 2008
Now that May is almost over, thousands of law school graduates across the country are buckling down to study for the dreaded bar exam. To all of you, I say: good luck! I just got some unsettling reader feedback, where one bar exam taker said she was already stressed out and my website made her [...

Lessons Learned by Being Laid Off

Posted on May 20, 2008
On Friday, May 9, one of the vice presidents walked into my office and fired me. Little did I know that I was the second casualty of five (10% of the staff) to be laid off on that Black Friday. I’m headed to a better life with my own solo law firm...

Our Two Wisest Purchases - Multitasker and Unitasker

Posted on May 18, 2008
I always like to reflect on things we have bought over the years and think if they were worth buying. Luckily my wife has gotten into the purging mood, so we have made several donation trips to Goodwill lately. I wanted to highlight two purchases that I think were exceptionally smart...

Support Local Businesses with Google Maps

Posted on May 08, 2008
Do you like supporting local businesses? Most people do. We should all take pride in the unique things that make our neighborhoods home. But did you know that you can use Google Maps to support them? No more yellow pages I keep trying to convince my wife that we can throw out the paper [...

Finally Back, Check Out Interview

Posted on May 06, 2008
I just realized that I haven’t posted anything new at Legal Andrew in about five weeks. Wow! I know I have been busy, but I’m sorry for neglecting you guys for so long. In a nutshell, I’ve been crazily busy with work. We have a major project at my day job that is [...

Business Card Help - I Need Ideas

Posted on March 26, 2008
It’s time to make some professional business cards for myself. But I don’t want to be stodgy and boring. Can you provide any advice? I want my cards to coordinate with my law firm website and letterhead. I plan to keep it fairly plain for now...

Sell Books Online - Get Cash for Textbooks

Posted on March 18, 2008
Ever since I wrote about selling textbooks online, a lot of people have read and used that advice. It’s definitely a popular post on this site. Since the book selling season is approaching again (it’s almost April!), I thought you guys might appreciate a quick glance at the process...

Setting up a Home Office

Posted on March 16, 2008
To you regular readers, I apologize for the lack of updates lately. I’ve been working hard on some other ventures. Specifically, I am actively building a private law practice during my evenings and weekends. I have no plans to leave my full time job, but I definitely want to help out private clients as [...

Charitable Tax Deductions Tracked with ItsDeductible

Posted on February 28, 2008
You don’t want to forget any tax deductions. A big one that everyone remembers is charitable donations. But how do you easily track all of those donations? You might have donated cash, stock, household items, or even driven your car to volunteer...

Free Technical Support From MinuteFix

Posted on February 28, 2008
Do you need some technical support? You should check out MinuteFix. This is a new tech support service, pioneered in part by Phil Gerbyshak. If you don’t know Phil, you definitely need to meet him. He’s a great guy, and I’m sure MinuteFix will be a great company! If you need some technical support, [...

Virginia Lawyer - At Your Fingertips

Posted on February 27, 2008
Since I passed the Virginia bar exam and became a lawyer, life has been different. People ask me legal questions. They bring problems to me. They look to me for help. And I haven’t even marketed myself as a Virginia lawyer. I just blog, work my in-house counsel job, and ride my bicycle...

Get Your Tax Refund In Record Time!

Posted on February 23, 2008
It’s February 23, and my 2007 federal tax refund is already in the bank. Where’s yours? Tax refund options I already wrote about tax deductions, so now it’s time to look at the best way to get your tax refund. With almost every American filing a tax return by April 15, there are lots of services and [...

Ultimate Handbook for Life and Simplicity - Zen Habits

Posted on February 21, 2008
If you’re looking to simplify your life, Leo Babauta has the resource you need: The Zen Habits Handbook for Life This is a brand new e-book that Leo released today! I was privileged enough to receive a review copy, and it’s well worth the $6...

Decision Time - Fix the Old or Buy New?

Posted on February 18, 2008
You’ve probably been faced with this important decision several times: Do you invest more money in your old thing or shell out the cash for a new one? It doesn’t matter if we’re talking about your car, lawnmower, house, or computer...

Crazy Attorney Advertising Pics and Videos

Posted on February 14, 2008
Where there’s an attorney, you’ll probably find crazy advertising. Florida has regulated it heavily, and most areas regularly deal with the same issues. Attorneys can’t portray themselves offering assistance to aliens, and they can’t have a phone number like 1-800-PIT-BULL...

Screw Uncle Sam - Take Your Tax Deductions!

Posted on February 13, 2008
Uncle Sam tries to screw you all year long. But tax deductions are your chance to get him back! The more deductions you can claim, the more cash you get back. And who doesn’t like getting a fat tax refund?! Here are some tax deductions that you might have overlooked...

Get Connected with the Fredericksburg Area Bar Association

Posted on February 11, 2008
A professional is nothing without a network. Unless you’re a professional monk. Then I guess you can meditate all day in a secluded forest. But the rest of us need to make connections. We need to know people, help them, and have friends to call on in times of need...

Your Copyright Fair Use Crash Course

Posted on February 10, 2008
Are you a blogger or podcaster? Or do you enjoy pro football games? Maybe you make videos for YouTube. You need to know about fair use. It might save your butt someday. I am a Virginia-licensed attorney, but this article is only for educational purposes...

Cool Business Card Idea - Coupon on Back

Posted on February 07, 2008
Is there anything on the back of your business cards? There’s a ton of wasted real estate back there. You could use it for cartoons. Or maybe try another idea…. Coupons! For your business card to be successful, potential clients must actually contact you...

Valentine?s Day Gifts for Lawyers

Posted on February 07, 2008
People may think that lawyers are cruel, heartless bastards. Many lawyers are. But somehow our significant others find a way to love us anyway. But what do you do when buying a gift for a lawyer? Especially when it’s time for Valentine’s Day?! Use your imagination...

Minimize the Magazine Mess

Posted on February 06, 2008
Quick! Count the number of magazines that clutter your house! If it’s more than a couple dozen, you need help. Here’s a few handy tips to unclutter your magazines. 1. Don’t subscribe. The easiest option is always to keep junk out of your house...

Streamline Your Work - Batch Process

Posted on February 05, 2008
How many simple, repetitive tasks do you have each week? Don’t they take up a lot of time? There IS a way to get them done quicker! Easy as building cars The assembly line revolutionized manufacturing because it broke down a complex project into a series of small, batchable tasks...

Dress Great on the Cheap - Shirt SALE

Posted on February 05, 2008
Dressing nice can be very expensive. But it doesn’t have to be. Especially for us guys. There are great tips to iron better and save on a suit. And you can also save on dress shirts! Right now The Dress Shirt Group at Amazon is having a huge sale...

Get It Done AND Clear Your Inbox - Gmail + Milk

Posted on February 04, 2008
Is your email inbox overflowing? I’ll bet that’s not helping you get things done. There’s hope for you: Gmail + Remember the Milk. Link directly to emails Productivity ninjas agree that you should archive email, not leave it in your inbox...

Be a Better Writer with Leo - Write to Done

Posted on February 03, 2008
Do you want to be a better writer? You need to subscribe to Leo Babauta’s new blog, Write to Done. You may know Leo from Zen Habits, his wildly-popular productivity blog. Didn’t you hear that it’s the best overall blog for 2007? The first post went up on January 9...

I?m on Facebook - Now What?

Posted on February 02, 2008
I’ll bet you’re on Facebook. But now what do you do? How do you leverage this tool for your career, business, and social life? I’m on Facebook - Now What? will teach you! After Jason Alba’s popular LinkedIn book, he has teamed up with Jesse Stay to tackle Facebook...

Improve Your Workspace with $200

Posted on January 15, 2008
Are you happy with your office or workspace? Could it be better? I’ll bet you have some improvements in mind. I know I do. And I just had a $200 windfall (more on that later). But what should I buy with it? How can $200 improve your workspace? Most of us spend the majority [...

Keep the Status Quo for 2008

Posted on January 08, 2008
The new year has come, with all sorts of talk about great changes you can make. But let’s be realistic. Most of us are going to keep doing the same old thing, again. Why make a resolution? I’ve never understood why people set new year’s resolutions for themselves...

Do We Have to Use Email Salutations?

Posted on January 07, 2008
I’m always looking for ways to be more productive, especially with email. Heck, I just wrote a series on good email habits. But today I need your help. Do we have to start every email with a salutation or even the recipient’s name? And do we have to close with our own name? My [...

Starting a New Blog? WAIT!

Posted on January 02, 2008
Photo by el clinto If you currently own a blog, you have probably had the itch to start a new one. Maybe you see other people succeeding in other niches, or maybe you’re excited about a new hobby you just took up. Wait to start that blog! Here’s why: 1...

Let?s Share and Discover with Google Reader

Posted on December 31, 2007
Photo by tookie Are you looking for ways to discover new ideas? Do you like sharing discoveries with your friends? Behold, Google Reader! In case you haven’t heard, Reader is Google’s solution for reading RSS feeds. It will collect all your favorite news, website updates, and blog posts...

11 Exercises for Your Email Inbox

Posted on December 28, 2007
Photo by Jam Adams Now that you’ve deleted useless emails and unsubscribed from pointless lists, it’s time to focus on your inbox. This is email command central. If you can’t tame it, you’re sunk. Unfortunately, you can’t just whip your inbox into shape and have it stay that way...

Eliminate Email Newsletters - Unsubscribe or RSS

Posted on December 27, 2007
Photo by edwardleger In yesterday’s post, we talked about deleting useless emails. Today’s continuation of the Email Checkup series focuses on email subscriptions. They plague your inbox. But should they? Unsubscribe, really It probably took you a long time to subscribe to dozens of email newsletters and alerting services...

Emails You Should Delete NOW

Posted on December 26, 2007
Photo by Rafa from Brazil If you’re not suffering from email overload, you must not have an email account. Pat yourself on the back, leave the library computer you’re reading this on, and go oil your typewriter. For everyone else, I’m ending 2007 with a new series on managing email overflow...

Top 10 Must-Join Websites of 2007

Posted on December 25, 2007
Photo by Stabilo Boss None. That’s right: there isn’t a single site you MUST join this year. A year in review 2007 saw millions of new websites launched. Thousands of them made major splashes even in old media formats like television and newspapers...

Easily Track Legislation, Congressmen, and Issues

Posted on December 21, 2007
Photo by fernando If you’re interested in federal legislation, I’ve got a website for you: GovTrack.us. I don’t know how I lived without it! What it does GovTrack catalogs data on the U.S. Congress and presents it in a variety of useful formats...