Drive Better Outcomes
Looking Your Best During Remote Depositions
Few in the legal community question the aphorism that “appearances matter.” They do. Rightly or wrongly, typos in a brief, tardiness, or other signs of inattention to detail are all impediments to successful representation of the client. A lawyer’s attire can also promote, or detract from, professional success. A neat and professional personal appearance projects…
Read MoreCOVID-19 Burnout? Bar Groups Can Help
Lawyer well-being is a fuzzy term for a distinct condition that determines a lawyer’s ability to effectively serve clients and thrive in the practice of law. Well-being, like health or happiness, describes a state of being: lawyers who are mentally sound, engaged, and physically able to meet the demands of their profession. Lawyers who lack…
Read MoreState Court Leaders Release Guidance for Next-Gen Court Technology
One legacy of our experience with the COVID-19 pandemic has been the realization that the legal system can innovate with astonishing speed when necessary to maintain operations. Zoom hearings, e-filing, virtual closings, and drive-by estate planning are now widely accepted aspects of the practice of law in the United States. We’ve had a taste of…
Read MoreABA Practice Forward Effort to Guide Next-Generation Lawyers
The coronavirus pandemic has stimulated change throughout the legal community, whether it’s judges conducting videoconference trials and managing partners re-thinking office space needs, or lawyers innovating new ways of delivering legal services. The American Bar Association wants to be part of that change too—ideally on its leading edge. The Practice Forward Initiative On July 29,…
Read MoreCOVID-19 Lawyering Demands New Professional Skillset
To their dismay, lawyers working through the early months of the coronavirus pandemic discovered a pressing need for a skill few possessed: the ability to effectively advocate in cyberspace. The world of webcam and screen was, alas, as alien as an outpost on the moon. Virtual advocacy isn’t taught in law school. Not yet anyhow.…
Read MoreFear Factor: The Remote Deposition Episode
Imagine a world where your greatest fears become reality. You’re in the middle of a deposition, frantically searching for a critical electronic document that’s nowhere to be found on your laptop. Opposing counsel is cross-examining your client, but the audio is so bad you can’t hear the questions or the client’s answers. You click the…
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