For generations California attorneys have understood the attorney-client privilege is an absolute shield against discovery. Case after case has broadly interpreted and reinforced the strength of the privilege. Three cases in 2016 demonstrated the continued force of this shield. In…
Networking: Why Your Upside Down Laminated Name-Tag Holds the Key to Your Eternal Happiness
Networking is a word that strikes fear in the soul of introverts and challenges extroverts to compare imagery of a beach in Mexico with a reality of laminated name tags. What is networking? Students are told it will help a…
New Solo Attorneys Wanted: Fight for Justice and Build a Sustainable Practice!
Are you or someone you know interested in starting a solo practice? The Justice & Diversity Center and The Bar Association of San Francisco are seeking new applicants for its Community Law Practice Incubator (CLPI). CLPI is seeking new attorneys who…
Think Twice Before You File That Exhibit
Think of that moment when someone else’s mistake becomes your problem. For example, opposing counsel inadvertently attaches a confidential settlement agreement between his client and yours to a declaration filed in an unrelated matter. You know how it happens –…
What to do When the Big One Hits: E-Discovery Document Dumps
It’s one of the most dreaded parts of discovery for any attorney – the 20,000-page document dump from opposing counsel. It’s unsorted. It’s unsearchable. It’s unbelievable. For solo practitioners and attorneys at small firms, these deluges of scanned documents feel…
Risk Management Tip: Another Good Reason to Break Up With Your Client
Last month we discussed how a clear termination of the attorney client relationship eliminates questions of fact about applying the statute of limitations, C.C.P. § 340.6, if a claim occurs. This month we discuss another benefit: avoiding conflicts of interest…
Paralegals and Legal Staff: Make a Difference Through Pro Bono
“Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?’” – Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., 1960 Most nonprofit organizations are in need of lawyers but rarely ask specifically for assistance from legal support volunteers. While…
Real Housewife Has Real Problem with Estate Planning Attorney
Bethenny Frankel (famous for starring in “Real Housewives of New York” and for her SkinnyGirl cocktail company) and Jason Hoppy had an explosive divorce. While the couple was only married for two years, their divorce took twice as long while…
Five Advantages of Having a Solo and Small Firm
I’ve had my own small firm for 15 years, my entire law career. While it’s easy to see the advantages of being employed by a large firm the benefits of owning a solo or small firm are tougher to identify.…
Fear and Loathing in Depp’s Divorce
Just when it seemed that Johnny Depp and Amber Heard were going to wrap up their short-lived, marriage, they are back for another round of litigation. It all started when Heard sought a domestic violence restraining order. On the eve…
ADR War Stories: When it Really is All About the Money
As a full-time mediator of litigated matters, I often hear one, or both, of the parties proclaim, “It’s not about the money, it’s about the principle of the matter!” Sometimes that’s true; the dispute may have been brought in search…
Competing for Talent in 2017
The world of work is changing. Sweeping global forces and technological advancements continue to reshape how companies do business. With California unemployment hovering near record lows, job seekers – especially those in the legal field – can be more selective…