May, 2024

article thumbnail

The Critical Role of Lawyers and Bar Associations in Achieving Net Zero

ClimateChange-ClimateLaw

Lawyers, bar associations, and law societies have an important but not fully recognized role to play in achieving the net zero goal in the Paris Agreement. Over the last few years, a unique collaboration involving the American Bar Association (ABA), the International Bar Association (IBA), the Brazilian Bar Association (OAB), and the Law Society of England and Wales (LSEW) has begun to discuss the role of lawyers in combatting climate change and share best practices.

Lawyer 129
article thumbnail

The Next Frontier: AI Easy For Lawyers To Really Build

Above The Law

At some point, we need to give lawyers access to the advantages AI can provide now. The post The Next Frontier: AI Easy For Lawyers To Really Build appeared first on Above the Law.

Lawyer 120
Insiders

Sign Up for our Newsletter

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

article thumbnail

Supreme Court lets CFPB funding stand

SCOTUSBlog

Share The Supreme Court on Thursday rejected a challenge to the constitutionality of the structure used to fund the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, the federal agency tasked with enforcing consumer finance laws. By a vote of 7-2, the justices reversed a decision by a federal appeals court in Louisiana, which had ruled that the agency’s funding violates the Constitution because it comes from the Federal Reserve rather than through the congressional appropriations process.

Court 125
article thumbnail

Lawyers Should Sometimes Work Cases Up Less If They Are Going to Settle

Above The Law

In many instances, working a case up can actually hurt a party’s settlement position. The post Lawyers Should Sometimes Work Cases Up Less If They Are Going to Settle appeared first on Above the Law.

Lawyer 120
article thumbnail

Research: The Anatomy of a Legal Brief

Why does it take 20-40 hrs. to create a compliant legal brief? TypeLaw analyzed 10,000+ briefs to determine the anatomy of the average brief—how many words, paragraphs, citations to the record, and more. See the research results in this infographic.

article thumbnail

Harvey AI To Move Out Of Early Access Phase, Release More Affordable Versions Of Its Custom AI Models

LawSites

It has been a whirlwind year for the Open AI-backed, generative AI legal tech startup Harvey, which went from a $5 million seed round in November 2022 to a $21 million Series A in April 2023 to an $80 million Series B in December 2023 at a valuation of $715 million.

Legal 142

More Trending

article thumbnail

Saudi Arabia appoints first ambassador to Syria since 2012

JURIST

On Sunday, Saudi Arabia appointed Dr Faisal Al-Mujfel as its first ambassador to Syria since relations were severed in 2012. This appointment comes after Saudi Arabia reopened its embassy in Syria earlier this year. The diplomatic ties between Saudi Arabia and Syria initially deteriorated following the outbreak of the Syrian civil war in 2011, sparked by the crackdowns on popular protests.

article thumbnail

Biglaw Firms Fall Prey To Cyberattacks, With Data Breaches On The Rise

Above The Law

The best defense to a cybersecurity incident is a good offense. Which law firms have been caught off guard? The post Biglaw Firms Fall Prey To Cyberattacks, With Data Breaches On The Rise appeared first on Above the Law.

Law Firm 123
article thumbnail

Who Owns Your Time?

Above The Law

Family law and patent law have many parallels, including the emotional element that drives many of the cases each field deals with. The post Who Owns Your Time? appeared first on Above the Law.

article thumbnail

Lawsuit alleges New York prisons flout state law by isolating inmates with disabilities

JURIST

A class action complaint filed this week accuses New York prison officials of holding disabled inmates in solitary confinement in violation of state law. Solitary confinement has been a core feature of the US penal system since the 18 th century — dating back to the earliest state prisons, where the inmates seen as most depraved were isolated to prevent the spread of their moral influence.

Laws 277
article thumbnail

Fresh Out of School: How to Become an Expert Paralegal

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

The difference between a paralegal and an exceptional paralegal isn't just competence—it's the bold initiative to anticipate needs, master hidden firm dynamics, and transform challenges into opportunities that showcase your indispensable value. Join this webinar with attorney Joe Stephens to get an insider's perspective into how you can become a strategic asset to your practice!

article thumbnail

How Lawyers Can Use Code Words to Combat Client Voice Cloning and Deepfakes

Attorney at Work

In an era of deepfakes and digital deception, a simple shared code word may be your strongest shield. The post How Lawyers Can Use Code Words to Combat Client Voice Cloning and Deepfakes appeared first on Articles, Tips and Tech for Law Firms and Lawyers.

Lawyer 316
article thumbnail

Non-Lawyer? More Like Non-Starter: Why Using the Term Is a Jab at Equality and Dignity”

The Estrin Report

By Chere B. Estrin Legal Apartheid: The Poisonous Impact of the ‘Non-Lawyer’ Label on Professional Equality There is a petition going around to strike the term “non-lawyer” from use by the ABA. I can’t help but stick my two cents in: “The use of the term “non-lawyer” creates an artificial hierarchy within the legal profession.

Lawyer 226
article thumbnail

Navigating Probate Sacramento With Confidence: The Services Of LDA Pro Legal

LDA PRO

The experience of losing a loved one is extremely emotional. When faced with the legal process of settling their estate through Probate Sacramento , the added stress can feel overwhelming. Fortunately, LDA Pro Legal can be your trusted partner throughout these challenging times. In this entire blog, you will explore the valuable services LDA Pro Legal offers to guide you efficiently and affordably through probate in California.

Legal 147
article thumbnail

Transfer Portal: Sharing Files Securely is a Piece of Cake Now

NCBA Law Practice Management Blog

If you’re still sharing files with clients, referral sources and other attorneys, via email attachment – or, heaven forfend: fax! – you need to step up your game. Email is an inherently unsecure technology; so, if you’re sending confidential information via email, you need to secure that information, by encrypting it – at the document level, or at the system level.

article thumbnail

What Your Financial Statements Are Telling You—And How to Listen!

Speaker: David Worrell, CFO, Author & Speaker

Your financial statements hold powerful insights—but are you truly paying attention? Many finance professionals focus on the income statement while overlooking key signals hidden in the balance sheet and cash flow statement. Understanding these numbers can unlock smarter decision-making, uncover risks, and drive long-term success. Join David Worrell, accomplished CFO, finance expert, and author, for an engaging, nontraditional take on reading financial statements.

article thumbnail

Key Strategies to Change Your Mindset About Your Billable Time

Paralegal Bootcamp

Let’s face it, when you work in a law firm, having to enter your billable time can be a drag. I remember those days of having to account for every 6 minutes of my workday. These key strategies will help you to change your mindset about your billable time. Strategy 1 - Think about the positive aspects of billable time If you’re like most people who have a billable hour goal that you’ve been told you have to meet, it can be a source of stress.

Paralegal 147
article thumbnail

Netherlands prosecutors to investigate criminal complaint against Booking.com over Israel settlement listings

JURIST

T he Dutch Public Prosecutor (OM) announced Thursday that it intends to investigate the criminal complaint filed by a group of human rights organizations against Booking.com, an online rental platform for holiday accommodations, regarding their alleged listing of rental properties in Israeli settlements. The Centre for Research on Multinational Corporations (SOMO), the European Legal Support Centre (ELSC), the Rights Forum, and the Palestinian civil society Al-Hag launched the complaint in Novem

article thumbnail

How Digital PR Helps Attorneys Gain a Competitive Advantage

Attorney at Work

Digital PR is about enhancing your visibility and thought leadership through online placements, content and partnerships. The post How Digital PR Helps Attorneys Gain a Competitive Advantage appeared first on Articles, Tips and Tech for Law Firms and Lawyers.

Attorney 305
article thumbnail

More Top Biglaw Firms Are Closing Offices In China

Above The Law

Sidley and Weil will have one office each in mainland China after these closures are complete. The post More Top Biglaw Firms Are Closing Offices In China appeared first on Above the Law.

Laws 145
article thumbnail

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

article thumbnail

ABA Issues Ethics Opinion on 30-Year-Old Technology whose Use Is Waning. My Question: Why Now?

LawSites

When the American Bar Association’s ethics panel finally got around to issuing an opinion on lawyer blogging in 2018 — a full two decades after lawyers had started blogging — it conjured for me the image of Rip Van Winkle, who fell asleep in 1769 and awoke 20 years later, having slept through the Revolution.

article thumbnail

Sum Certain: Cashflow Projections Build Confidence for Lawyers

NCBA Law Practice Management Blog

Law firm revenue usually has an ebb & flow to it, especially when you talk about firms that rely on hourly billing. Most attorneys would probably say that their revenue is pretty unpredictable. The only problem with that thesis is that it’s not entirely true. Law firms can design some assumptions about what they’ll make by utilizing revenue projections.

Law Firm 147
article thumbnail

Chemerinsky: SCOTUS winds up term with rulings expected on major cases about government power, accountability

ABA Journal

The Supreme Court heard the last oral arguments of the term on April 25, and now we wait for the decisions with the expectation of the usual flurry of rulings at the end of June. In thinking about the pending cases, a significant number involve the scope of government power and how to hold the government accountable.

article thumbnail

Russia signs decree allowing seizure of US assets in Russia

JURIST

Russian President Vladimir Putin signed Decree No. 422 on Thursday allowing Russia to seize US assets to compensate for damages resulting from Russian assets seized in the US. This decree comes as a response to the US enactment of the Rebuilding Economic Prosperity and Opportunity for Ukrainians Act which came into force on April 24, 2024, and vests the US president with the power to “seize, confiscate, transfer [] or vest” any Russian state sovereign asset in the US.

article thumbnail

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?

article thumbnail

Essential Lawyer Skills for a Successful Law Practice

Attorney at Work

Choose from this buffet of essential lawyer skills to plan your ascent to the heights of the legal profession. The post Essential Lawyer Skills for a Successful Law Practice appeared first on Articles, Tips and Tech for Law Firms and Lawyers.

Lawyer 300
article thumbnail

European Defense Fund Invests In ‘Bodyguard’ Satellite Development To ‘Counteract’ Orbital Threats

Above The Law

The project is designed 'to increase Europe’s independence and superiority in space,' the EDF's two-page fact sheet says. The post European Defense Fund Invests In ‘Bodyguard’ Satellite Development To ‘Counteract’ Orbital Threats appeared first on Above the Law.

Laws 143
article thumbnail

Stanford Will Augment Its Study Finding that AI Legal Research Tools Hallucinate in 17% of Queries, As Some Raise Questions About the Results

LawSites

Stanford University will augment the study it released last week of generative AI legal research tools from LexisNexis and Thomson Reuters, in which it found that they deliver hallucinated results more often than the companies say, as others have raised questions about the study’s methodology and fairness.

article thumbnail

USPTO Adapts to CAFC’s New Guidelines: What Design Patent Examiners Need to Know

Patently O

by Dennis Crouch On May 22, 2024, the day after the Federal Circuit’s en banc LKQ v. GM decision, the USPTO issued a memorandum to its examiners providing updated guidance and examination instructions in light of the court’s overturning of the long-standing Rosen-Durling test for determining obviousness of design patents. The memo, signed by USPTO Director Kathi Vidal, aims to immediately align USPTO practices with the more flexible approach outlined by the Federal Circuit, which eli

article thumbnail

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.