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Rethinking the roles of your firm’s support staff 

Published: November 26, 2012

Tags: 20 Things Lawyers Need to Know in 2013, practice management, support staff

Improving your law firm’s efficiency is more important than ever, and a good place to streamline is with your support staff.

Avoiding the risks of “accidental clients” 

Published: November 26, 2012

Tags: 20 Things Lawyers Need to Know in 2013, accidental client, client relations, law firm, legal malpractice

A hefty legal malpractice verdict in 2012 reminded attorneys to beware of “accidental clients.”

A jury ordered Holland & Knight to pay $34.5 million to two investors who believed the firm was representing them in forming a business entity with a third investor; the law firm claimed it represented only the business entity, not the individuals.

Can you make cloud computing work for your solo or small firm? 

Published: November 26, 2012

Tags: 20 Things Lawyers Need to Know in 2013, Clio, cloud computing, law firms, practice management, technology

There are a number of ways cloud computing can benefit a solo or a small firm legal practice.

The biggest advantage, said Jack Newton, president of Clio, a web-based practice management system based in Vancouver, Canada, is that “cloud computing allows lawyers to focus on being a lawyer rather than being an IT person.”

Improving your firm’s social media presence 

Published: November 26, 2012

Tags: 20 Things Lawyers Need to Know in 2013, Facebook, law firm marketing, LinkedIn, social media, Twitter

Given the current explosion of social media use, it’s more important than ever for lawyers and their firms to be part of the conversation.

Health care law to have big impact in 2013 

Published: November 26, 2012

Tags: 20 Things Lawyers Need to Know in 2013, Affordable Care Act, health care, health care reform

WASHINGTON – Few pieces of legislation will have a more wide-ranging effect on the practice of law in 2013 and beyond than the Affordable Care Act.

Finding the most useful practice management apps 

Published: November 26, 2012

Tags: 20 Things Lawyers Need to Know in 2013, apps, BlackBerry, iPad, iPhone apps, practice management, smartphones, technology

Practice management apps for smartphones and other portable devices make it increasingly easier for lawyers to practice on-the-go.

‘Of Counsel’ relationship brings perks and potential pitfalls 

Published: November 26, 2012

Tags: 20 Things Lawyers Need to Know in 2013, client relations, Of Counsel, risk management

Many lawyers and law firms are seeking the benefits of entering into Of Counsel relationships without paying enough attention to the potential risks.

Class actions back on Supreme Court’s radar 

Published: November 26, 2012

Tags: 20 Things Lawyers Need to Know in 2013, class action, U.S. Supreme Court

WASHINGTON – There are plenty of big cases on the docket at the U.S. Supreme Court this term, dealing with issues ranging from search and seizure standards to affirmative action.

But the case that litigators will be watching most closely, although it may not grab as many headlines, considers a crucial question: Must plaintiffs seeking to certify a class action first prove that class-wide damages can be awarded, and if so, what evidence must they proffer?

How trial lawyers can use the iPad in new ways 

Published: November 26, 2012

Tags: 20 Things Lawyers Need to Know in 2013, iPad, litigation, Trial Strategy

Trial lawyers keep finding new ways, some expected and others surprising, to put the iPad to work in all aspects of litigation.

Who makes what where? 

Published: November 26, 2012

Tags: 20 Things Lawyers Need to Know in 2013, attorney salaries, pay scale

Data tabulated by the salary research site Payscale.com show that San Francisco and Dallas have the highest median pay for “mid-career” lawyers with 10-15 years of experience: $157,000 in San Francisco and $141,000 in Dallas.