Business of Law

A General Counsel's Tips For Succeeding As A New Associate

Based on his experience as a BigLaw associate for six years and now as general counsel for a tech startup, Jason Idilbi of Passport Labs offers some best practices for newer associates — whether they are serving external clients or senior attorneys within their firms.

Series

Judging A Book: Berzon Reviews 'We The Corporations'

My advice to prospective clerks will now include the suggestion that they read Adam Winkler's new book, "We the Corporations: How American Businesses Won Their Civil Rights," for the same reason I recommend taking a corporations course — appreciating the critical role of business corporations in American life and law, says Ninth Circuit Judge Marsha Berzon.

What ABA’s Position On Harassment Means For Employers

In the #MeToo era, the American Bar Association’s recently passed Resolution 302 is a reminder of harassment policy best practices to all employers, and it should be of particular interest to employers in the legal industry, say attorneys with Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP.

Supporting Nontraditional Data Types In E-Discovery

The advancement in connected technologies and software has created an explosion of nontraditional data sources that present challenges to e-discovery practitioners. Many tools and techniques used to process traditional data may not be practical for these new data types, say Jason Paroff and Sagi Sam of Epiq.

The Fastest Federal Civil Court For A Decade

Out of 94 district courts nationwide, the Eastern District of Virginia has the fastest civil trial docket in the country, now for at least the 10th straight year. The modern EDVA bench clearly takes pride in efficiently dispensing justice, and this dedication to efficiency has continued even in the face of increased filings, says Bob Tata of Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP.

Best Practices For Building A Better Meeting

How can we improve meetings in the legal industry, which tends to evolve with the speed of a tranquilized water buffalo mired in quicksand? Breaking it down to three phases can yield significant benefits, says Nicholas Cheolas of Zelle LLP.

Guest Feature

Michael Rubinoff: From Commercial Real Estate To Broadway

“Come From Away” sounds like the stuff of a documentary on the Discovery Channel, not singing and dancing on stage. How could a musical tied to the 9/11 terrorist attacks ever get made — and by a real estate lawyer? The show’s producer, Michael Rubinoff, was kind enough to find 30 minutes to tell me, says Randy Maniloff.

5 Ways Law Firms Are Becoming More Like Hotels

One way law firms differentiate themselves from the competition to attract and retain top talent is through their real estate and workplace strategies. Taking a lead from the hospitality industry can help create a more inviting, welcoming and collaborative workspace environment, says Bella Schiro of Jones Lang LaSalle Inc.

Opinion

Gorsuch's 1st Year Shows He Is A Conservative Activist

In his first year on the U.S. Supreme Court, Justice Neil Gorsuch has proven to be a narrow-minded elitist who consistently votes in favor of corporations and the powerful, acting to roll back protections for workers, consumers, LGBTQ individuals and other marginalized communities, says Elliot Mincberg of People for the American Way.

Opinion

There Is Middle Ground For US Lawyers On AML Regimes

The American Bar Association continues to oppose legislation that would impose certain European Union and U.K. anti-money laundering requirements on U.S. lawyers. The ABA should further consider its approach to this issue as there is a viable middle ground that protects privileged communications and confidential information while advancing the interests of the legal profession, says Matthew O’Hara of Freeborn & Peters LLP.