Whether you are a new lawyer or highly experienced in the practice of law, referrals of legal work are central to developing a successful law practice. This article addresses some of the important ethical considerations in giving and receiving referrals of legal work.
As a practicing attorney, most of us operate solely within our niche. We become masters of our wheelhouse and we rarely venture outside of it, except for when the occasion family member is seeking free legal advice. We come to thrive within the one or two areas of law that we practice on a regular basis.
When John H. Wilson first took the California bar exam in 2008, a 5.4 magnitude earthquake rumbled through the Ontario convention center, sending him scrambling under the table for cover.
Only 24% of Americans ages 18-34 and 27% of Americans ages 35-54 have estate planning documents according to a recent survey. Why are so many young Americans without estate plan documents? In Caring.com’s recent survey, a large number of respondents (40%) indicated that they have simply not gotten around to it. Other reasons cited included not having enough assets to leave to anyone (33%), not knowing how to get a will or a living trust (12%), or believing estate plan documents are too expensive to set up (13%).
My name is Julie Thorpe-Lopez, and I’m a trial attorney specializing in representing victims of elder abuse. Prior to practicing law, I was a social worker. I changed professions because I wanted to have a more powerful impact on protecting vulnerable populations. I love the law, and I would not trade being a litigator for any other profession. I love trial work, and there is nothing more gratifying than protecting elders from abuse. But, as a new lawyer almost 15 years ago, I was unprepared for the constant pressure and stress that is built into the legal profession.
Jodi Cleesattle “accidentally” fell into the practice of law, but now she can’t picture herself doing anything else. After working as a political news reporter post-college, Cleesattle attended law school in the early 1990’s with the goal of pursuing a career in political or legal news. During her time at Washington College of Law in D.C., Cleesattle co-founded The National Jurist, a national magazine for law students that still thrives today with an estimated reach of 100,000 law students and educators. Passionate about media and First Amendment issues, Cleesattle also founded her law school’s Burton D. Wechsler National First Amendment Moot Court Competition, which the school continues to host annually.
The old adage “two is better than one” certainly rings true in today’s legal world. A complex civil matter can involve national counsel, local counsel, trial counsel, and appellate counsel. Co-counseling combines the expertise and experience of multiple lawyers, which can provide benefits to the client and to counsel, including compliance with Rule 1.1 of the California Rules of Professional Conduct regarding competence. However, lawyers will do well to keep the following in mind before they agree to a co-counseling arrangement.
Hi Everyone,
May is Mental Health Awareness Month. Mental health is a vital part of our overall health and well-being. Unfortunately, mental health issues among lawyers are prevalent. That is likely due to the stress and demands of our profession (which is added to anything happening in our personal lives). Many lawyers are deterred from seeking professional help and talking about their struggles with others because of the stigma around mental health.
Last month’s SDCBA leadership panel explored the value of pro bono service and how attorneys can identify those needs and step forward with solutions.
Few people enter law school with the intention of becoming a marketing professional. The conventional wisdom of legal practitioners is: do good work, and success will follow. Over the last two decades, however, advancements in technology and communication have made client acquisition, development, and retention strategies nearly as important as good legal work to the success of a law firm, whether AmLaw 100 or solo practitioner.
