The ‘Renaissance Attorney’: No, Lawyers Don’t Need To Learn Math Or Science (Yet)
The more you can do for a client, the more a client will rely on you, making you a more indispensable asset to their business.
Why To Specialize
There are distinct drawbacks to trying to do everything. It's more interesting to specialize.
Do Law School Rankings Affect Your Choice?
Share your insights in this brief survey.
The Perils Of Specialization
Is it better to be a generalist or a specialist? It depends, as columnist Mark Herrmann explains.
Morning Docket: 12.17.13
* Despite his hatred of 3L classes like “Law and Unicorns,” Justice Scalia believes that the third year of law school is necessary — perhaps a necessary evil, but still necessary. [Memphis Daily News] * “[T]his excuse — sometimes labeled the ‘too big to jail’ excuse — is disturbing, frankly….” The eminently quotable Judge Rakoff is at it again, this time with harsh words for the DOJ. [New York Times] * According to the latest survey from Citi Private Bank’s Law Firm Group, managing partners think that 2014 will be better than 2013. This means bonuses will be the same next year. [Am Law Daily] * Attorneys from Wiley Rein are fighting for $2 million in fees in the wake of their SCOTUS win in the Shelby County Voting Rights Act case. The firm’s quest has been called “absurd.” [National Law Journal] * “The record is utterly devoid of any evidence of criminal intent or intentional misconduct.” It turns out that Guy Lewis and Michael Tein, the attorneys accused of malpractice by the Miccosukee Indians, weren’t bad after all. [Daily Business Review] * Rather than pegging its value at $1 million, a professor from a fourth-tier law school is promoting the “non-economic value” of a law degree. Can “cultural capital” repay your loans? [WSJ Law Blog (sub. req.)] * “[N]o law school in Canada should be allowed to weed out gay students.” Too bad. Trinity Western University, the law school that bans gay “sexual intimacy,” received preliminary approval. [Globe and Mail] * Law school specialization and you: follow these three simple steps to help you decide which niche you’ll be unable to find a job in after you graduate. [Law Admissions Lowdown / U.S. News & World Report]
Inside Straight: Must You Specialize To Market Yourself?
Specialization isn't an absolute requirement for business development, according to in-house columnist Mark Herrmann. But in certain situations, it can help -- a lot.
Inside Straight: The Structure Of Corporate Law Departments
An in-house lawyer’s work environment turns in part on the structure of a corporation’s law department, and outside counsel can better serve clients if counsel know how a law department is organized….
Skills That Set Firms Apart
Legal expertise alone isn’t enough. Today’s most successful firms invest in developing the skills that drive collaboration, leadership, and business growth. Our on-demand, customizable training modules deliver practical, high-impact learning for attorneys and staff—when and where they need it.
The Practice: The Danger and Pleasure of a Niche Practice
There’s been a lot written about niche practices, but Brian Tannebaum will tell you the truth about the danger and pleasure of having one.
Size Matters: Are Associates at Small Law Firms Screwed?
The future looks bright for small law firms and their partners. But what about small-firm associates?
Inside Straight: Loving The Ignorance, Part II
When you're at a law firm, it's likely that you sell in part substantive expertise. When you move in-house, you're no longer selling anything. Will you lose your expertise?
Inside Straight: When Is ‘Expensive’ Cheap?
One lawyer offers to represent you for $1000 an hour. Another lawyer offers to represent you for $400 an hour. Who’s more expensive? The correct answer is: You don’t know....
[E-BOOK] 5 AI Productivity Hacks To Save Time And Streamline Your Law Firm
Discover five practical ways to harness AI and eliminate busywork—so you can focus more on your clients and less on repetitive tasks.
From Biglaw to Boutique: ‘There’s a Practice Guide for That’
Tom Wallerstein's firm, like most firms in California, has a series of Rutter guides on its shelves. And even though he runs a virtually paperless office, he still loves his printed Rutter guides. Wallerstein even has a joke about Rutter. Whenever a colleague questions his ability to solve a particular issue, he jokes, “I’m sure there’s a Rutter Guide for that.” The joke has a serious point, namely, that the basics of most practice areas can always be learned. And if it’s easy enough to learn a practice area, why shouldn’t a lawyer forming a small firm become a true generalist; handling everything from family law, wills and trusts, civil, criminal, and essentially whatever walks in the door?