Lawyers USA Online » Your Practice

Calif. justices to decide if undocumented alien can practice law

Pat Murphy — Wed, 23 May 2012 16:45:47 +0000

The California Supreme Court has agreed to decide whether a law graduate’s status as an undocumented alien disqualifies him from being admitted to the state bar.

According to a press release from the court, Sergio C. Garcia has graduated from law school and passed the California bar
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Party may depose opposing counsel

Pat Murphy — Mon, 21 May 2012 16:52:22 +0000

State law did not absolutely prohibit a party in a business dispute from deposing the opposing party’s former trial lawyer, the Nevada Supreme Court has ruled.

The plaintiff and the defendant entered into a real estate development project. When a multimillion loan for the project went into default, the plaintiff
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Exercises to set goals for your law firm and see them through

Sylvia Hsieh — Tue, 15 May 2012 20:48:48 +0000

If you have lots of ideas for your law firm but they remain in the realm of the abstract year after year, here are some 10-minute exercises that can help you set specific goals and turn them into reality.

First, write
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Could your solo or small firm practice be a virtual success?

Ed Poll — Mon, 14 May 2012 21:12:23 +0000

The Internet has created a revolution in the way that lawyers and clients interact. It’s just a small step to the next transformation: the virtual law practice, in which lawyer, staff and clients conduct legal practice primarily through the Internet.

A book of tips for conducting the business of law

Correy Stephenson — Tue, 08 May 2012 20:42:34 +0000

Pssst … want to hear a secret?

Coach and management consultant Ed Poll wants to share a few in his new book, “Secrets of The Business of Law: Successful Practices for Increasing Your Profits.”

Compiled from Poll’s LawBiz blog as
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Putting client testimonials to work for your practice

Tony Ogden — Mon, 07 May 2012 19:26:25 +0000

The matter’s resolved, your work is done and the client is happy. But don’t flip to the last page before you consider asking your client for a testimonial about your service.

With a testimonial, your client’s enthusiasm can benefit more than
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Rethinking the roles of your law firm’s support staff

Jim Calloway — Fri, 04 May 2012 19:24:48 +0000

The old school model for staffing in a small law firm was often one secretary or legal assistant per lawyer, but it's becoming increasingly incompatible with business reality. Lawyers USA columnist Jim Calloway explains why training staff to become experts with more focused assignments better reflects the needs of the contemporary workplace, and how to transition your firm to the new model.

Law firm can be sued for threatening foreclosure

Pat Murphy — Thu, 03 May 2012 16:41:45 +0000

A law firm may have violated the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act when it sent a letter demanding that homeowners make their past due mortgage payments or face foreclosure, the 11th Circuit has ruled in reversing a dismissal.

The firm represented a lender that held a $650,000 promissory note and
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Baltimore law firm grows along with mesh suits

Ben Mook — Wed, 02 May 2012 13:36:40 +0000

So far this year, 69 product liability cases have been filed in U.S. District Court in Maryland. All but eight of them have been filed by one Baltimore law firm – Discepolo LLP. And all but nine have been filed against makers of vaginal mesh products, currently one of the hottest areas of national mass tort litigation.

Court reporters’ suit against lawyers not barred by anti-SLAPP statute

Reni Gertner — Tue, 01 May 2012 14:29:16 +0000

A suit brought by court reporters against lawyers who protested court reporting fees on behalf of their clients is not barred under the state anti-SLAPP statute, the California Court of Appeal has ruled.

The court reporters sued two attorneys for breach of contract for failing to pay more than $30,000
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