Jay Reeves practiced law in North Carolina and South Carolina. He was Legal Editor at Lawyers Weekly and Risk Manager at Lawyers Mutual. He is the author of The Most Powerful Attorney in the World, a collection of short stories from a law life well-lived, which as the seasons pass becomes less about law and liability and more about loss, love, longing, laughter and life's lasting luminescence.
As big law firms rack up record revenues, they’re passing the good fortune along to their newest associates. The median salary for first-year associates reached $155,000 in January 2019 – an increase of $20,000 from 2017, according to the 2019 Associate Salary Survey Report from the National Associ… Read More
Great news for all you sedentary legal professionals who want to make wellness a priority but can’t bear the thought of going to the gym. It seems that tiptoeing through the tulips is as beneficial as pumping iron – and it will result in a lovelier view outside your window. That’s the conclu… Read More
If you want to attract business clients, tell them you’re more interested in solving their problems than scoring legal wins. And let them know their growth and success are your priorities as well. Those are two things businesses are looking for when choosing legal counsel, says one expert. “You w… Read More
The men and women who made Fortune’s World’s 50 Greatest Leaders list are a remarkably diverse bunch – ranging from chefs to coaches – but they all share one trait in common. They all have what psychologists call “hardiness.” More than just a can-do attitude, hardiness is a … Read More
When it comes to your clients, the difference between delivering great service and delivering a great experience is more than just a word. It could hold the key to being their lawyer for life. Customer Experience (CX) is about adding value to what you deliver to your clients. For instance, you don’t jus… Read More
A handful of law firms representing plaintiffs in mass tort litigation have been sued for malpractice for allegedly charging excessive contingency fees in their retainer agreements. The class-action lawsuit alleges that several New Jersey and Texas firms overcharged clients in approximately 1,450 transvaginal … Read More
It seems that law firm managers – more so than support staff – should be worried that AI robots are coming for their jobs. Management by algorithm is fast becoming a thing. “In all of the worry about the potential of artificial intelligence to replace rank-and-file workers, we may have overl… Read More
It is unethical for a lawyer to prepare a separation agreement for a married couple even though both parties freely consent and lack funds to hire separate counsel. There is an inherent conflict of interest that can’t be cured by the couple’s consent, the NC State Bar Ethics Committee ruled in 2019… Read More
Do you know which best-in-class law office tech products have a “sweet spot” price just for solo and small firm lawyers? If not, you can find the best buys in the 2019 Solo and Small Firm Legal Technology Guide, published by the ABA Law Practice Division. “There are way too many vendors comp… Read More
The path to a Bar grievance – or worse – often begins when someone you work with doesn’t speak up. Maybe they’re too intimidated to voice their misgivings about your questionable conduct. Maybe they don’t appreciate the importance of ethics. Or perhaps they’ve grown so accus… Read More
If you want to improve your chances of a successful law life, don’t worry about tweaking your resume or prepping for that upcoming interview – just sit quietly for 10 minutes. Emptying your mind will bring clarity to your career quest. “We are trained to analyze, anticipate and avoid problem… Read More
Here’s a simple tip to help you feel great when you leave the office each day and hit the ground running when you return in the morning. Before heading out the door, spend 10 minutes reviewing your calendar, checking tomorrow’s to-do list, and clearing off your desk. That’s it. A few easy ta… Read More
Law office gossip not only kills morale and stifles productivity, but it might also get your firm sued for being a hostile workplace. In a recent ruling, the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals said false rumors that a female employee slept with her boss were sufficient to form the basis of a sexual harassment cla… Read More
Lawyer burnout is not just for wimps – it can strike anyone who takes their job seriously. Even worse: it can flatten you before you even know it. “Lawyer burnout [is] a phenomenon that’s all about denial,” writes lawyer-turned-psychotherapist Will Meyerhofer. “So it shouldn&rsqu… Read More
A great way to boost your profits, bolster your workforce – and maybe even save a life – is to create a Well-Being Program in your law firm. How to do it is up to you. There are no rules. The only limits are your budget and imagination. The potential rewards are great. This study by the Harvard Sc… Read More
Lawyers Mutual has published previous alerts regarding the new filing requirements under the Corporate Transparency Act (“CTA”) that went into effect January 1, 2024. After reviewing additional resources, we want to emphasize concerns that we have about the risks and increased potential liability for lawyers undertaking the reporting requirements. This is especially true for the continuing reporting requirements after entity formation and initial reporting.
The North Carolina Administrative Office of the Courts (NCAOC) recently announced additional go-live plans for counties transitioning from paper files to Enterprise Justice (Odyssey), which currently serves Harnett, Johnston, Lee, Mecklenburg and Wake counties. Twelve northeastern counties comprising Track 3, as previously announced, will go live on February 5, and 10 counties comprising Track 4 (Alamance, Chatham, Durham, Franklin, Granville, Guilford, Orange, Person, Vance and Warren) will go live on April 29.