May, 2022

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Adding Value to the Firm – Are you in or Out?

The Estrin Report

by Nora Boghossian Sr. Researcher and Executive Assistant Estrin Legal Staffing. We often talk about how to get a job but why don’t we talk enough about keeping a job? “You are going to have to kick me out, because I’m not going anywhere.” I remember saying that to my boss one day. They knew my loyalty to the firm. I showed it by keeping myself apprised of the latest news, my CLE up-to-date, attending annual conferences, and bringing back best practices to the firm.

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Federal appeals court upholds bar dues despite free speech concerns

JURIST

The US Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit Friday ruled that required bar dues for lawyers in Wisconsin are constitutional. Attorney Schuyler File sued the State Bar of Wisconsin over compulsory association membership and fees, arguing that the payments violate his First Amendment rights to free speech and freedom of association. File based his argument around two Supreme Court cases that seemingly contradict one another: Keller v.

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Vickers v. Bison Specialty Services: An Exercise in Rampant Racism

LegalReader

Put together, and spread out over time, [the alleged actions] show a pattern of "frequent and offensive" acts creating a hostile work environment for Mr. Vickers and other employees of color.

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Legal Pricing: Good Lawyers Talk Money With Their Clients

Attorney at Work

If you were to believe everything being written about legal services today, you might think lawyer-client relationships have boiled down to one thing: legal pricing. Yet in my conversations with clients, fees rarely are the first thing mentioned or the most important factor used to evaluate relationships with outside counsel. Don’t get me wrong. All clients are cost-conscious, particularly these days.

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6 Contract Data Analytics Tools To Boost Contract Oversight

Analyzing contract trends with manual contract management is like sifting through a pile of papers in a dimly lit room, trying to find clues manually. Advanced CLM software’s contract data analytics, on the other hand, is like having an AI-based, intelligent magnifying glass that not only highlights key clues but also connects the dots for you. With innovative, AI-powered contract data analytics, you can solve the mystery of trends faster and with greater accuracy, making informed decisions base

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Websites Paralegals Should Bookmark (Or At Least Know About)

Paralegal Bootcamp

Bookmark? Must be a boomer who wrote this, you are thinking–now we have Google, and we don’t need long nested lists of bookmarks. Just tell Google what you want and it will take you there, at least most of the time, right? While that is often true, as paralegals we are in the information business. If attorneys need non-legal information about anything, I’m sure to find an email asking me to find it, and yes, they’ve usually already tried a Google search.

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More Trending

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Conservative majority hollows out precedent on ineffective-counsel claims in federal court

SCOTUSBlog

Share In Shinn v. Ramirez and Jones , two men on Arizona’s death row raised claims in habeas corpus proceedings that their trial attorneys were constitutionally ineffective – one for failing to investigate evidence suggesting his client could not have committed the crime, and the other for failing to investigate her client’s intellectual disability, which could have spared him the death penalty.

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Canada Supreme Court rules life without chance of parole is unconstitutional

JURIST

The Supreme Court of Canada Friday unanimously ruled that a life sentence without any chance of parole is unconstitutional under Section 12 of the nation’s charter. In Canada, anyone serving a life sentence for first-degree murder is automatically ineligible for parole for 25 years. Criminal Code Section 745.51 , passed in 2011, allowed justices to give consecutive sentences of 25 years instead of concurrent sentences, adding additional periods of parole ineligibility for additional murde

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Elon Musk Takes Time Out From Failing To Buy Twitter To Fail To Build His Own Law Firm

Above The Law

Another thing he builds that can go up in flames. The post Elon Musk Takes Time Out From Failing To Buy Twitter To Fail To Build His Own Law Firm appeared first on Above the Law.

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Building a Law Firm That Pays You First

Attorney at Work

When you started your law firm, it was probably just you — and maybe a paralegal or assistant. Then more business came in and you were working crazy hours, so you hired. You didn’t really care what you paid in salaries; you just needed the help. When somebody said they needed something, you usually said fine, “Order it!” Because in the beginning, you were making really good money.

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The Tech-Savvy Paralegals Playbook: How To Leverage AI

Speaker: Allison Mears, Adela Wekselblatt, and George Socha

Artificial intelligence is reshaping the legal industry, and paralegals are at the forefront of this transformation. As AI becomes more integrated into legal workflows, paralegals can streamline their daily tasks, enhance efficiency, and add greater value to their firms and organizations. But what exactly does AI mean for paralegals today—and how can you leverage it to your advantage?

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3 Ways to Work Better with Attorneys

Paralegal Bootcamp

Working with attorneys can be challenging. Really working with anyone can be, but we’re here to give you 3 tips that will help you start working better together today. Prefer to Listen Instead of Read? From having the sometimes uncomfortable but necessary conversations to overcoming the obstacle of last-minute requests, here are 3 ways you can start working better with your attorneys. 1.

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‘A Crisis Ignored’: Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women

The Crime Report

When 18-year-old Kaysera Stops Pretty Places , of the Crow, Northern Cheyenne, Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara Nations, disappeared after filming a tense situation between her 15-year-old brother and law enforcement in 2019, her friends and family immediately knew something was wrong. The social media-savvy teen was always communicative, and was looking forward to a family trip to North Dakota to visit relatives — so when she wasn’t seen from or heard from by her family after August 24, 2019, her s

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Divided court curtails judicial review of factual questions in immigration proceedings

SCOTUSBlog

Share The Supreme Court on Monday limited the ability of federal courts to review certain factual findings in immigration proceedings that determine whether noncitizens will be deported or will be allowed to remain in the country. The ruling in Patel v. Garland was 5-4, with Justice Amy Coney Barrett writing for the majority and Justice Neil Gorsuch joining the three liberal justices in dissent.

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Chile finalizes draft of new constitution replacing Pinochet-era instrument

JURIST

Chile’s Constitutional Convention Monday finalized the draft of a new constitution, following 10 months of negotiations. Chilean citizens overwhelmingly voted in October 2020 to draft the new constitution replacing the guiding principles put in place in 1980 under General Augusto Pinochet’s military dictatorship. . The draft has been heralded for its progressive nature, with it requiring free higher education, gender equality in government leadership, and a robust climate change plan.

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Excellence in Trial: A Strategic Guide for Modern Paralegals

Modern trial practice has evolved beyond basic organization. With technology reshaping courtrooms and attorneys expecting more than ever, paralegals need to elevate their capabilities while mastering the fundamentals of trial excellence. This comprehensive guide from Steno, built from author Joe Stephens' real-world experience as both a practicing attorney and law professor, provides a blueprint for delivering exceptional trial support in today's complex legal environment.

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Sure Would Be Nice If Equal Justice Works Paid For Work… Equally

Above The Law

I mean, if I made $50k I'd be mad if folks with less seniority made 14% more than me for the same job too. The post Sure Would Be Nice If Equal Justice Works Paid For Work… Equally appeared first on Above the Law.

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Five Ways to Make Meetings Matter

Attorney at Work

Making meetings effective and productive is no easy feat — especially in the age of Zoom. To be effective, meetings need to engage the talents of the people involved, work to achieve the group’s specific goals for the moment — and do so in a way that’s contextually sensitive to the world around it. Many leaders fall back on arbitrary blanket rules that no one really follows — like the leader who declared all meetings in the company could last no more than 20 minutes.

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What This Paralegal Has Learned After Working With Attorneys for 40 Years

Paralegal Bootcamp

To summarize a list of lessons learned in 43 years of paralegal practice is rather like opening Pandora’s box. Hard to say what may pop up! I’ve had a great career, weathered some storms, at times feeling undervalued and underutilized, and at others wondering if I could tackle the latest project I’ve been handed. Certainly, every time I think I have heard everything, something new comes along.

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Police Surveillance and Racial Justice

The Crime Report

Laws aimed at providing community oversight over police surveillance technology still raise concerns about privacy and racial bias, according to a forthcoming study in the UCLA Law Review. . So-called Community Control Over Police Surveillance (CCOPS) laws, meant to empower community residents, have been introduced in more than 20 jurisdictions around the U.S.

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Transform Your E-Learning: Download the Ultimate Localization Use Case!

Uncover the secret to breaking language barriers and expanding your e-learning reach! This powerful use case reveals how Cesco Linguistic Services transformed 19 training modules for the Colorado Department of Early Childhood into culturally relevant courses in Arabic and Spanish—delivered on time and exceeding expectations. Learn how to localize your content seamlessly, avoid costly pitfalls, and connect with diverse audiences like never before.

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Justices decline to block execution of Arizona man with schizophrenia

SCOTUSBlog

Share The Supreme Court on Wednesday allowed Arizona to execute a man who suffered from severe mental illness and, according to his lawyers, did not understand why the state wanted to put him to death. No justices indicated dissent from the court’s brief order declining to postpone the execution of Clarence Wayne Dixon, who was sentenced to death for the 1978 killing of Deana Bowdoin, a 21-year-old student at Arizona State University.

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Romania rights groups urge MPs to reject LGBT ‘propaganda’ legislation

JURIST

Romanian Human Rights group Friday criticized Romania’s so-called LGBT+ “propaganda” bill and called on lawmakers to stop it in its tracks. The bill, which has been approved by the Senate and is to now be decided by Romania’s lower house, prohibits the use of materials in schools that “promote” being LGBT+. The bill has been introduced as a measure to prevent “child abuse” by the junior ruling coalition ethnic Hungarian party (UDMR) and the nationa

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Supreme Court Is Totally Going To Make The Gun Situation In This Country Worse — See Also

Above The Law

Let's Not Forget, SCOTUS Is Poised To Open Up Gun Regulations. AGAIN: Why shouldn't we know what the conservative majority is going to do? As American As A Mass Shooting: Gun violence is more representative of our culture than apple pie. Judge Isn't Happy: About attorneys blowing deadlines. $2,500 For An Hour: What Neal Katyal commands. What Happens At The Strip Club.

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The Clock is Ticking: How to Miss Fewer Court Deadlines

Attorney at Work

Managing an increasing volume of cases and court deadlines– sometimes in multiple jurisdictions – is one of the biggest time management challenges for law firms. . A Tennessee lawyer was suspended and put on probation after failing to file a personal injury case. The firm had filed a voluntary dismissal back in 2014. While the lawyer had every intention of refiling within one year, that date was stored only in his memory.

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Uncovering The Hidden Connections: A Patent Family Survival Guide

Speaker: Andrew Klein

Are there mysteries lurking in your family tree? 🕵 No, not a long-lost half-brother - I'm talking about a patent family tree! IP paralegals need fast and easy ways to verify and report on essential data about foreign equivalents of US assets. Join us to master the global scope of key assets to support prosecution, portfolio management, litigation, licensing, competitive monitoring and more!

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Paralegal Career Choice: Public Service or Private Practice

Paralegal Bootcamp

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of paralegals and legal assistants is projected to grow 12 percent from 2020 to 2030, faster than the average for all occupations. Paralegals and legal assistants held about 345,600 jobs in 2020. The largest employers of employees and legal assistants were as follows: Legal Services 73%. Federal Government 5%.

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Investing in Public Schools Reduces Crime: Michigan Study

The Crime Report

A new University of Michigan study has found that increases in public school funding early in children’s lives can reduce adult crime, reports Phys.org. The study authors tracked two groups of students from kindergarten to adulthood and concluded that students who attended better-funded schools were 15 percent less likely to be arrested through age 30. “While many policies focus on the crime-deterring effects of additional policing or tougher criminal justice sanctions, our findings

Education 144
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Mentoring New Employees: The Secret To Reduced Churn?

The Process Street

Think back to a time when you stepped into unfamiliar territory. Can you remember how intimidating it was? That’s the dilemma each new employee faces. They need to acclimatize to a new culture, a new team, a new role, and new responsibilities. It’s daunting having to walk into an environment where everyone except you knows what they’re doing. Mentors are responsible for offering a support base for the new hire to get settled in their role quicker.

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France court upholds ex-PM’s fraud conviction

JURIST

A Paris appeals court Monday upheld former prime minister François Fillon’s conviction for the misuse of public funds. The conviction resulted from a scandal where Fillon paid his wife, Penelope Fillon, over €600,000 for work that she never performed. However, the court decided to shorten Fillon’s initial sentence of five years in prison to four years with three years suspended, meaning that the former prime minister will likely not spend any time in prison.

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AI for Paralegals: Everything You Need to Know (and How to Use It Safely)

Speaker: Joe Stephens, J.D., Attorney and Law Professor

Ready to cut through the AI hype and learn exactly how to use these tools in your legal work? Join this webinar to get practical guidance from attorney and AI legal expert, Joe Stephens, who understands what really matters for legal professionals! What You'll Learn: Evaluate AI Tools Like a Pro 🔍 Learn which tools are worth your time and how to spot potential security and ethics risks before they become problems.