Articles

Lincoln’s religion

Abraham 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.


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MyCase adds to its integration

MyCase legal practice management software has announced an integration with the popular accounting software QuickBooks. This is an important integration, as it allows law firms to have full synchronicity between their practice management and accounting software systems. The integration comes at no additional cost to MyCase customers. For at least 15 years, I have been preaching "integration" to technology / software developers. This is a major step forward on that path. Check this out for your office.

 


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Can an illegal alien legally practice law?

The 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 prisoner walk out of prison early?  On occasion, yes.  Can a model citizen attain a professional license?  Though Mr. Garcia can stay in the U.S., can he be licensed where it’s required to uphold all the laws of the country, including immigration laws of which he is clearly in violation?   While, he had no say in coming to the country (only his parents did) and while he knows only the U.S. way of life, the answer to the question is not so clear.

In part, this issue is not about Mr. Garcia, but about states’ rights.  What is your opinion?  Should an immigrant, staying here legally but not yet a citizen, be allowed to represent others as a lawyer?


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It Happened to NASDAQ – What If It Happened to You?

On Thursday, August 22, the NASDAQ, one of the largest financial exchanges in the world, failed.  It had no backup, and was down for more than three hours.  The financial impact had to be in the billions of dollars.  

Even as big as NASDAQ is, even though they have a pivotal role in the global economy, they failed to have a plan for disaster recovery.  How and why they recovered is still, at this writing, a mystery.  The fact that they did recover is remarkable.  Even more remarkable is the fact that it has happened to them before.  According to an article in The New York Times, the exchange has been shut down twice before when squirrels chewed through power lines, and as recently as 2011 hackers breached its computer system.

If it happened to NASDAQ, it can happen to your law firm.  As I’ve written many times before, “disaster” for a law firm is not a question of if, but rather of when. The only unknowns are what the type of disaster, when it will occur and how bad it will be.  NASDAQ was out of commission for three hours.  A burst water pipe, a fire, a natural disaster, a computer meltdown could put a law firm out of commission for three weeks, or three months.  

NASDAQ had no backup.  How about your firm? The issue isn’t just backing up data files, although that is important.  Do you have disaster recovery backups like these?

·         An internal emergency communication system for lawyers, staff, clients, vendors, and the   court, incorporating recorded hotline messages and out of area contact points.

·         A plan for temporary office space that will accommodate furnishings, computers and phones.

·         A referral arrangement with another firm that will allow you to carry on key practice matters by requesting a continuance or rescheduling a deposition.

·         A solid relationship with your banker so you can get an emergency loan.

·         An employee assistance fund to help tide staff over in the event there are no ready funds to pay them.

 If you don’t, start planning to put them in place now.  If disaster happened to NASDAQ, it can happen to you.

 


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Building a bike, made in America‏

"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 accompanying photos we took of their operation.
 
Of course, one cannot photograph service; it’s an intangible. But, it’s the service that creates the goodwill for an organization, it’s the service that builds loyalty, and it’s the service that creates advocates for what you’re selling.  Law practice is no different. I’ve seen "poor" lawyers get return business because their service exceeded expectations; I’ve seen great lawyers lose business because they failed to understand their clients’ wants and failed to provide outstanding (let alone just good) service.  Interestingly enough, clients cannot differentiate among the quality levels of legal capability; but they instantly can recognize levels of service provided.
 
What are you doing? Share with us what you do with and for your clients to provide outstanding service to them.
 

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