July, 2022

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Accepting Crypto Payments for Legal Services

Attorney at Work

Over the past few years, many law firms have started cryptocurrency practice groups. But are these law firms accepting crypto as payment? Some are. The acceptance makes sense because, for better or worse, cryptocurrency is here to stay. Still, cryptocurrency has risks, so make sure you have a clear understanding of cryptocurrency and how your firm can accept crypto payments.

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A License to Steal IP: What Partnering with China Really Means for Businesses

IP Watchdog

“The nine most terrifying words in the English language are: I’m from the Government, and I’m here to help,” said President Ronald Reagan during a press conference on August 12, 1986. This is one of President Reagan’s most often quoted quips, and for a reason. The Government can certainly help people in times of need, but it can also be a scary bureaucracy, particularly when it shows up unannounced and uninvited.

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Secure Email for Attorneys: Protecting Client Communications

MyCase

As technology has grown, so has the threat to data security. The American Bar Association (ABA) states, “Technology changes and the law must follow.” . Like most of us, attorneys conduct a fair amount of business via email. Emails to clients and partners often contain sensitive information, and without proper security measures in place, attorneys risk confidentiality.

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Imposter Syndrome Affecting In-House Counsel

InHouseBlog

Imposter syndrome is prevalent and perhaps even more so during these unprecedented times. In-house counsel are not immune to imposter syndrome, and perhaps are more susceptible to it when the many other issues practicing lawyers face are factored in. But what can we done? Fortunately, Sterling Miller has produced another thoughtful piece on the topic and you would be well served to read it and share it with your colleagues. “A while back, I wrote about how in-house lawyers can reduce stres

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Trial Prep: What Attorneys Really Want (And How to Deliver It)

Speaker: Joe Stephens, J.D., Attorney and Law Professor

Get ready to uncover what attorneys really need from you when it comes to trial prep in this new webinar! Attorney and law professor, Joe Stephens, J.D., will share proven techniques for anticipating attorney needs, organizing critical documents, and transforming complex information into compelling case presentations. Key Learning Objectives: Organization That Makes Sense 🎯 Learn how to structure and organize case materials in ways that align with how attorneys actually work and think.

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Your 10-Step Plan for Tackling the Mock Trial Pretrial Argument

Mock Trial Nerd

Pretrial is usually the most intimidating part of mock trial. And yes, it can be a bit tricky, but don’t worry, I’ve got you! Now let me quickly acknowledge one thing: I know ten steps seems like a ton. And honestly, it kind of is. Especially for someone like you, who’s got already got a ton on their overflowing plate.

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Five Lessons Steno Learned from Law-Di-Gras 2022

Steno

What a weekend! Once again , the Steno team packed their bags to attend the annual Law-Di-Gras conference. Hosted at the Omni La Costa Resort & Spa from July 14-17, this event invites medical and legal experts to converse and educate one another on the trends and findings connected to personal injury litigation. Though the festivities have come to a close, we can’t help but reminisce on the lessons Law-Di-Gras 2022 taught us.

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Testing the Bounds of Copyright Protection in Choreographic Works: Hanagami v. Epic Games, Inc.

IP Watchdog

In a recently filed suit involving the popular videogame Fortnite, the Central District of California faces an important question regarding copyright law: does a copyright in a registered choreographic work extend protection to a smaller portion of the work when that portion is copied by a third party and implemented as a dance move in a video game?

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How to Set Up a Law Firm Chart of Accounts

MyCase

Managing an organized law firm chart of accounts is crucial for maintaining your business’s overall financial health and meeting strict legal ethics requirements. This begins by creating a comprehensive list of all your firm’s cash inflow and outflow items. . Although you may not have studied accounting/bookkeeping in college, it’s important to understand your firm’s financial big picture to maximize your business profit and ensure compliance.

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Are You Telling People You Are An Expert?

InHouseBlog

Do you tell people you are an expert? You might want to try not doing so for a number of reasons as a recent article in the ACC Docket discusses. With the profession continuing to get more and more specialized and third-party certifications flourishing, you may be better served communicating things you do in a different way. Like all professionals, lawyers are fallible and not omniscient, although we have all met a handful (or more) of those who believe they are.

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How to Champion New LegalTech: Start Small

The Cloud Court Blog

Something we frequently run into as we talk with in-house counsel and outside corporate litigators: they understand that they could do their jobs better if they had better tools, but they are at the mercy of the glacial pace of their team or firm’s decision process and/or budget restraints. However, it doesn’t do us any good if people are chomping at the bit to use a solution at any level if they can’t convince decision makers to allow a pilot.

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Visibility Into the Strategy & Supporting Documents of Major US Law Firms

Law Firm Intelligence by Trellis aggregates state trial court data across the Trellis platform enabling users to: look up a particular metric related to a specific law firm (such as, how many cases a law firm had or has against another law firm), and see the actual dockets and documents supporting the metric. Trellis data is maximized in a revolutionary and unique way to provide users an exclusive look into a law firm litigating in state trial courts.

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Clueless About the Mock Trial Pretrial Argument? Start Here!

Mock Trial Nerd

Stressing about your team’s pretrial argument? If you are, you’re not alone! I get lots of questions and requests for help with pretrial arguments. After all, they can be difficult to tackle for anyone who hasn’t gone to law school. It’s probably for this reason that most mock trial programs DON’T include a pretrial argument.

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How to Enjoy a Busy Life

Attorney at Work

Lawyer happiness doesn’t have to be an unattainable goal, even in our pressure-filled lives. . I practiced law for 17 years while living a personal life and raising a family. So I understand how being a lawyer can lead to a lot of stress and pressure. It is difficult to handle it all. Everyone knows this. Even Lin Manuel-Miranda of “Hamilton” fame knows it.

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The Case for Patenting AI: U.S. Patent Laws Better Get Smart or Get Left Behind

IP Watchdog

The idea of patented inventions brings to mind machines fully realized - flying contraptions and engines with gears and pistons operating in coherent symphony. When it comes to artificial intelligence (AI), there are no contraptions, no gears, no pistons, and in a lot of cases, no machines. AI inventors sound much more like philosophers theorizing about machines, rather than mechanics describing a machine.

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4 Essential Legal Invoicing Best Practices

MyCase

Your client is signed on, the legal work commenced a few weeks ago, and now it’s time to prepare legal invoices. The problem is, you’re constantly busy working on multiple cases. You might not remember all the billable work that was performed a couple of days ago—let alone in the last few weeks. . Legal billing is frustrating as it requires time-consuming manual entry of all billable work, approval processes that can create bottlenecks, and unpaid invoice follow-ups.

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Deposition Prep Like a Pro: Insights from a Paralegal's Playbook

Speaker: Kaitlyn "The Persnickety Paralegal" Story

Deposition preparation is a critical aspect of a paralegal's role, requiring meticulous attention to detail and proactive management of the case timeline. In this session, participants will explore how effective deposition preparation not only contributes to the success of the legal team but also helps maintain a balanced workflow, minimizing last-minute crises.

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Summer Reading List For Lawyers

InHouseBlog

If you are looking for a reading list for lawyers to enjoy this Summer, BTI Consulting has pulled together a helpful post with selections to choose from. While the Summer does not usually mean that lawyers have more pleasure reading time, you might have a chance to grab one or two of these books and put them in your luggage for your Summer vacation.

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What Version of Microsoft 365 Do We Need for eDiscovery?

Percipient

Not all Microsoft 365 subscriptions provide access to eDiscovery licenses. However, figuring out which subscription level to purchase to take advantage of Microsoft eDiscovery features raises several questions: Do you need Core eDiscovery, or do you need Advanced eDiscovery? Is Content Search included in all plans or is it subscription-based? What is the difference between them (Core eDiscovery vs.

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A Quick Guide to Preparing a Winning Mock Trial Closing Argument

Mock Trial Nerd

Your team’s closing argument just needs to do two things: tell your story and explain why your story is better than your opponent’s. The attorney responsible for your team’s closing argument should start by explaining the case as they see it, using their own words. They should pretend they’re telling the story to a friend.

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Five Things to Look for in Shared Office Space

Attorney at Work

Location, professional atmosphere, private offices, paralegal support, networking opportunities. These are all important considerations when shopping for a legal shared office space. But before you sign up, here are questions to ask about the office center site and the owner — along with five pointers on what to expect. Two Weeks’ Notice. A few days ago, I met with an attorney who was originally introduced to me more than three years ago when he was considering changing offices.

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Stay On Top of Newly Filed State & Federal Litigation: Curated Just for You!

With Daily Filings Report by Trellis you will receive an email and csv file daily with all new cases filed in the jurisdictions you're tracking. Each new case will include all case metadata like judge, parties, counsel, practice area, and even direct links to the full docket and complaint. Trellis Daily Filings Reports provide direct access to newly filed state and federal litigation curated just for you.

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The PTAB Reform Act Will Make the PTAB’s Problems Worse

IP Watchdog

Recently, we submitted comments for the record to the Senate Judiciary Committee’s IP Subcommittee in response to its June 22 hearing on the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB), titled: “The Patent Trial and Appeal Board: Examining Proposals to Address Predictability, Certainty and Fairness.” The hearing focused on Senator Leahy’s PTAB Reform Act, which among other changes, would eliminate the discretion of the Director to deny institution of an inter partes review (IPR) petition based on an ea

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How to Successfully Run A Virtual Law Firm

MyCase

Five years ago, when I told clients that I handle my cases entirely over the phone or online, many responded with utter bewilderment. However, retained clients would sing an entirely different tune upon completing the case. I’ll never forget the feedback from an elderly client in Compton, California, whose case I handled remotely from New York City: “Willie.

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This Doctor Helped Send Ramiro Gonzales to Death Row. Now He’s Changed His Mind.

The Marshall Project

Texas plans to execute Gonzales this week even though the expert witness says he isn’t a ‘threat to society.

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Get Out! Take an Actual Day Off to Curb Lawyer Stress

Attorney at Work

Lawyer stress influences our ability to think and work. Beyond doubt, we are all experiencing incredible amounts of lawyer stress. This fantastic Twitter thread from Alexis Rockley spells it out so well. The stress is unrelenting, and it is insidious. Even when we think we are fine or “handling it,” lawyer stress influences our ability to think and work.

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Is Your Law Firm Website Bar Compliant?

Attorney at Work

The internet is the primary place attorneys advertise their services. If you own or operate a law firm that uses a website or actively published content on social media, it is imperative to understand the ethics rules and regulations of website usage. Failure to comply could result in serious penalties. State bar rules vary, so it can be confusing to determine your responsibilities in terms of your website — particularly if you run a multi-state practice.

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Simplify Immigration Case Management with LollyLaw

Attorney at Work

Immigration attorneys face a variety of challenges when it comes to efficiently managing their day-to-day activities. Tasks like handling the lengthy form filling process, communicating effectively with clients, and accepting payment for all that hard work can be difficult when not managed correctly. The prolonged immigration process makes staying on top of every facet of a case that much more crucial.

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Why Are You at the Office Until 10 p.m.?

Attorney at Work

Working late again? To be a better lawyer — and prevent lawyer burnout, start your day with a sprint. . The early days of my legal career at a big firm involved lots of late nights at the office. It seemed like I was routinely getting home around 11 p.m. — often later. It was a busy time, so late nights were required. But not always. Looking back, working late all the time could have been avoided.

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Rocket Matter’s Guide to Practice Management Integrations

Attorney at Work

Save time in your work day with Rocket Matter legal practice management integrations. One easy change you can make today. Managing legal matters can make you feel like you’re running around like a chicken with its head cut off. If that sounds familiar, it may be time to think about how to save time in your work day. One easy change you can make today is to integrate the software you use every day with your legal practice management software.

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How to Use Section Breaks to Change Margins, Page Orientation and More in the Middle of a Word Document

Attorney at Work

Do you need to insert an exhibit or other content in the middle of your document? Page breaks have their uses, but only Microsoft Word section breaks let you change section formatting — like page orientation and footers — part way through (and back again). Follow these steps to take control of sections in Word, and check out “ Microsoft Word for Legal Professionals” for in-depth instructions on getting the most out of Microsoft Word.

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Protect Your Electronic Contact List From Prying Eyes

Attorney at Work

In April 2022, a headline caught our attention. It referenced a new legal ethics opinion issued by the New York State Bar Association’s Committee on Professional Ethics. Opinion 1240 has this digest statement: “If ‘contacts’ on a lawyer’s smartphone include any client whose identity or other information is confidential under Rule 1.6, then the lawyer may not consent to share contacts with a smartphone app unless the lawyer concludes that no human being will view that confidential information, an

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John Tolley: How to Be a Top Trial Lawyer in Your Niche

Attorney at Work

What does it take to become a successful lawyer in your particular niche? In a series of in-depth interviews for the Estrin Report , Chere Estrin profiles top lawyers from all types of practices. In this column, we highlight their top tips. This week, we feature criminal defense lawyer John Tolley , who has tried more than 45 jury trials and handled thousands of cases. .

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Three Tips for Developing Business as a Young Lawyer

Attorney at Work

To be successful in private law practice, you have to learn to sell your services. Here are three tips for building business relationships. Confession: As a new lawyer, I didn’t realize that to be successful in private practice, I had to “sell” or “market” my services. I didn’t know that to be able to bill hours, I had to have a partner or shareholder (or several) or direct clients who were willing to trust me with their work.

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The Horrible and the Miserable: The Challenge to Keep Marketing

Attorney at Work

Supposedly, there are two kinds of people in the world, the horrible and the miserable. Let’s stretch this idea for marketing by two kinds of lawyers. The Fortunate Horribles. Some lawyers are so busy they can’t imagine finding another minute for marketing; call them the “horrible.” Many people wouldn’t even consider this a problem. “You’re busy, aren’t you?

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Junior Lawyers: Amplify Your Personal Branding With Intrapreneurship

Attorney at Work

When it comes to personal branding for lawyers, ? a little intrapreneurship can go a long way. For many years, law schools have failed to teach practice management and business development skills ?— tools essential for success as a lawyer. Things have changed significantly in recent years. Law schools are implementing curricula and programs that address the business issues law students will face when they become practicing lawyers.

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Targeting an Industry Niche

Attorney at Work

No one knows for sure what the future will look like for legal services. If you’re concerned about your practice and looking for an effective business development technique, I have a suggestion for you: Develop an industry focus, like a niche law firm. Becoming a niche law firm and marketing to an industry niche (as opposed to focusing on substantive expertise) can lead to substantial new business opportunities.