By Ed Poll on Posted in In The News,Management,Personal ThoughtsAs we begin to look at how the profession will change in 2015 and beyond, we must look at the Australian market. Here, large accounting firms are adding major law practice components to their stable of professionals. In at least two instances, more than 100 lawyers were engaged by accounting firms. Multi-disciplinary connections are back… Continue Reading
By Ed Poll on Posted in Personal ThoughtsRichard Susskind said: “What I often say is that the future of law is not Rumpole of the Bailey, and it’s not John Grisham. It’s not a version of what we have today slightly tweaked. It will be people working in the legal sector but offering legal services and legal help in new ways.” It… Continue Reading
By Ed Poll on Posted in Cash Flow - Finances,Management,Personal ThoughtsIn yesterday’s news, the Oakland A’s (the best team at this point of the season) announced trades that brought them 2 outstanding pitchers. Why did they do this? After reading Moneyball, you will know why. Teams’ trade activities highlight the two seasons of baseball, the first that will end in a few days and the… Continue Reading
By Ed Poll on Posted in Cash Flow - Finances,Coaching,Management,Marketing,Personal Thoughts,TechnologyIn a recent case, the lawyer was successful in growing his practice. So much so that he engaged 30 staff; they met with clients and even provided legal advice in loan modification matters. The net result is that the attorney did not provide adequate supervision for his staff and allowed them to five legal advice.… Continue Reading
By Ed Poll on Posted in Articles,Cash Flow - Finances,Management,Marketing,Personal ThoughtsIn years gone by, many people attended law school because a legal education enhanced their skills. In today’s world, entry into law school is first evaluated based on ROI, return on investment. And, in some instances, the comparison is coming up short. After the Great Recession, getting a job after law school was not guaranteed.… Continue Reading
By Ed Poll on Posted in In The News,Personal ThoughtsMost prosecutors will negotiate with accused offenders. Obviously, this is done to move the trial court calendar along, eliminate the need to tie up resources that could be used elsewhere, truly not needed when the defendant is willing to change a plea. Even in civil matters, parties negotiate settlements in order to achieve reasonable business… Continue Reading
By Ed Poll on Posted in Marketing,Personal ThoughtsThis evening my wife and I went to dinner. It was a pleasant Southern California evening with the sun still shining. The wind was blowing but the gusts were significantly less than yesterday. We walked from our home. We decided to go to a sushi restaurant near our house. We were about 10 minutes early… Continue Reading
By Ed Poll on Posted in Personal ThoughtsCheck out for "heartfelt leadership" http://www.heartfeltleadership.com/blog/2014/3/20/328-10-11-am-pst-free-webinar-on-follow-through-with-dr-mark.html… Continue Reading
By Ed Poll on Posted in Personal ThoughtsCan you imagine criminal defense lawyers going on strike because Congress decreased the money available for Legal Aid? Justice delayed is justice denied! Our brethren in England have done just that! And just before the 800th anniversary of the signing of the Magna Carta, the basis of our entire legal system! England leads the way… Continue Reading
By Ed Poll on Posted in Personal ThoughtsI’m pleased to note that California’s AB 1371, known as the Three Feet for Safety Act, becomes law in 2014. California is the 23rd state to establish a minimum buffer zone around bicycles that ride on public roads. It’s about time! Motorists passing a bike must allow at least three feet of space between the… Continue Reading
By Ed Poll on Posted in Personal ThoughtsAbraham Lincoln, born in February, said: "When I do good, I feel good; when I do bad, I feel bad. And that is my religion." How simple and eloquent.… Continue Reading
By Ed Poll on Posted in Personal ThoughtsThe California Supreme Court heard arguments this week in the matter of Mr. Garcia, an illegal alien, though with proper credentials, not to be deported. His request: Grant him a license to practice law now that he has passed the bar. Like a model prisoner, he has been a model citizen. But, does a model… Continue Reading
By Ed Poll on Posted in Personal Thoughts"Made in America," a new slogan started by ABC television some time ago is represented by Bike Friday. They are one of the few bike manufacturers left in this country, having been started more than 20 years ago. Not only do they have a unique product, they also have a unique service creed. See the… Continue Reading
By Ed Poll on Posted in Personal ThoughtsJim Heiting, former president of the State Bar of California, commented on my article in LawBiz® Tips last week. He said, "I fully agree with your article about bar associations … and the new push to create more unemployment and less opportunity for the solo and small practitioner. Why not develop a [Bar] program that… Continue Reading
By Ed Poll on Posted in Personal ThoughtsThe standard for competence is generally considered to be passing a test. If this is true and if you can pass the State Bar exam, the test in this case, why should we require 3 years of law school? Looking at the law school curriculum, can we truly say that this learning (e.g., 3 years… Continue Reading
By Ed Poll on Posted in Management,Personal ThoughtsThe following note is prompted by the comments of Susan Cartier Liebel of Solo Practice University® and her post about Kimberly, a young mother who just gave birth to her third child and was a 3L law student at Stetson. She became ill but failed to go to a doctor to address her own health.… Continue Reading
By Ed Poll on Posted in Personal ThoughtsFrom Alan Weiss, my coach, who develops pithy sayings to sum up the human experience. In his latest one, he says It’s not "garbage in, garbage out" these days. It’s "garbage in, garbage gets stuck and clogs everything up." So let’s look at the world as it is and, to paraphrase another saying, work with… Continue Reading
By Ed Poll on Posted in Personal ThoughtsLast night, I saw the film, Life of Pi. It was a uniquely inspirational story of survival, a boy on a stranded raft in the Pacific Ocean. There are parallels in today’s legal world where sole and small firm practitioners are struggling in the waves of our economy. Today, I received a question from a reader,… Continue Reading
By Ed Poll on Posted in Personal ThoughtsI am in another cycling camp this week. This is the second one in two months. I’ve never treated myself this well before. Isn’t it time that you think of yourself as well? I met with a client in the Southeast last week; he used to go the “Y’ regularly until recently; he became so… Continue Reading
