Business of Law

The Role Legal Finance Can Play In Firm Year-End Collections

Payment collection delays have caused law firms to seek new options, one of which is litigation finance. In this context, litigation finance can offer alternative avenues to firms as they approach the end of a fiscal year or partnership distribution dates, says Travis Lenkner of Burford Capital LLC.

'Per-Doc' Pricing Can Improve Document Review

Imagine going to a restaurant and ordering your steak medium-rare. The steak arrives burned. You expect the kitchen to bring you another one properly done, right? And you don’t expect to pay for two steaks, do you? Paying a vendor for document review should be no different, says Lisa Prowse, an attorney and vice president at e-discovery firm BIA Inc.

Opinion

We Must Protect Consumers From Illegal Debt Collectors

Companies are allowed to collect the money they are owed, but they cannot break the law or cheat people in the process. Some of the biggest players in the debt collection industry are not focused on getting it right, says Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey.

Series

My Supreme Court Debut: A 1st Time For Everything

My first argument before the U.S. Supreme Court was unusual in that it was also my first argument in any court of any kind, says Lindsay Harrison of Jenner & Block LLP.

A Guide To The Executive Branch Official Nomination Process

Although the Trump administration has completed the vetting and confirmation of a cabinet and White House staff, thousands of senior positions remain unfilled throughout the executive branch. More than ever, people selected for those posts find themselves under close scrutiny, say Adam Raviv and Reginald Brown of WilmerHale.

Series

What I Learned In My 1st Year: Never Give Up

In my first week of practice, I was assigned to litigation that had been pending for 17 years. No discovery had been done, and the case was set for trial or dismissal in less than 60 days. From what followed, I learned some of the most important lessons of my career, says Alan Hoffman of Husch Blackwell LLP.

Series

My Supreme Court Debut: A Lot Of Questions, A Little Luck

On the day of my first argument at the U.S. Supreme Court, after I survived the security screening process, I found myself in the lower-level hall where the statue of Chief Justice John Marshall is located. On the advice of a colleague, I rubbed Marshall’s shoe for good luck, says John Bursch, former solicitor general of Michigan.

How Collaboration Is Changing Inside Some Law Firms

In our recent survey of business of law professionals, nearly half of respondents said that who they collaborate with, inside their law firm, is different from five years ago, says Chris Cartrett of legal software provider Aderant.

Opinion

Dealing With Difficult Lawyers

Some lawyers tend to be overly aggressive, regarding law practice as a zero-sum game in which there are only winners and losers. The best response is to act professionally — separating the matter at hand from the personalities. But it is also important to show resolve and not be vulnerable to intimidation, says Alan Hoffman of Husch Blackwell LLP.

Series

My Supreme Court Debut: Inspiration From Eminem

One particularly memorable moment of my first U.S. Supreme Court argument was when the courtroom erupted in laughter. Until then, I had honestly forgotten there was a courtroom full of people behind me. So if nothing else, at least I had taken the advice from my go-to inspirational song — Eminem’s “Lose Yourself” — to heart, says Erin Murphy of Kirkland & Ellis LLP.