Cannabis

Expert Analysis

• A Biz Strategy Model To Improve Lateral Atty Hiring Diversity

  

  Quantitative comparison tools commonly used by companies in evaluating merger targets will allow law firms to assess lateral hire candidates in a demographically neutral manner, help remove bias from the hiring process and bring real diversity to the legal profession, says Thomas Latino at Florida State University.

• Smaller Firms Need Employee Wellness Programs, Too

  

  As we emerge from the pandemic, small and midsize firms — which offer an ideal setting for companywide connection — should follow in the footsteps of larger organizations and heed the American Bar Association’s recommendations by adopting well-being initiatives and appointing a chief wellness officer, says Janine Pollack at Calcaterra Pollack.

• Stop Networking, Start Relationship Marketing

  

  USA 500 Clubs' Joe Chatham offers four tips for lawyers to get started with relationship marketing — an approach to business development that prioritizes authentic connections — and explains why it may be more helpful than traditional networking post-pandemic.

• What Attorneys Should Know About Fee Deferral

  

  Milestone Consulting’s John Bair explores contingency-fee structuring considerations for attorneys, laying out the advantages — such as tax benefits and income control — as well as caveats and investment options.

• Predictions On Pandemic's Lasting Impact On Legal Education

  

  The pandemic accelerated the pace of technological change for legal education, and some of the changes to how law school courses are taught and on-campus interviews are conducted may be here to stay, says Leonard Baynes at the University of Houston.

• Lawyer Perfectionism Is A Disease We Can Control

  

  The pursuit of perfection that is prevalent among lawyers can lead to depression, anxiety and other mental health impacts, but new attorneys and industry leaders alike can take four steps to treat this malady, says Liam Montgomery at Williams & Connolly.

• 5 Tips To Help Your 2021 Summer Associates Succeed

  

  Despite pandemic-related challenges this year, law firms can effectively train summer associates on writing and communicating — without investing more time than they ordinarily would, says Julie Schrager at Schiff Hardin.

• Opinion

  It's Time For States To Enact Effective Marijuana DUI Laws

  

  The increasing legalization of recreational marijuana spotlights the need for states to safeguard the public by developing laws to curb driving under the influence of drugs with uniform bright-line rules, along with more accurate testing and increased law enforcement training, say Laura Sedrish at Jacoby & Meyers and Victor Schwartz at Shook Hardy.

• Firms Should Use Surveys To Make Smart Legal Tech Choices

  

  The utility of legal technology innovations may be limited without clear data and objectives from the outset, but targeted surveys can provide specific insights that enable law firms to adopt the most appropriate and efficient tech solutions, says Tim Scott at Frogslayer.

• Don't Forget Due Diligence In Race For Lateral Associate Hires

  

  Amid high demand for associates and aggressive competition to attract talent, law firms should take three key steps to conduct meaningful prehire due diligence and safeguard against lateral hiring mistakes that can hurt their revenue and reputation, says Michael Ellenhorn at Decipher.

• Addressing Environmental Justice As Part Of ESG Initiatives

  

  Recent calls for racial equity and government regulators' increasing focus on social and environmental concerns make this a good time for companies to integrate environmental justice into their environmental, social and governance efforts, say Stacey Halliday and Julius Redd at Beveridge & Diamond, and Jesse Glickstein at Hewlett Packard.

• Lessons In Civility From The Alex Oh Sanctions Controversy

  

  Alex Oh’s abrupt departure from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and admonishment by a D.C. federal judge over conduct in an Exxon human rights case demonstrate three major costs of incivility to lawyers, and highlight the importance of teaching civility in law school, says David Grenardo at St. Mary's University.

• Opinion

  Biz Record Admissibility Rule Must Adapt To An ESI World

  

  The federal rule that permits the use of business records as evidence must be amended to address the unreliability of electronically stored information and inconsistent court frameworks on email admissibility, say Josh Sohn and Nadia Zivkov at Stroock.

• Series

  Judging A Book: Rodriguez Reviews 'When Machines Can Be Judge'

  

  Katherine Forrest's new book, "When Machines Can Be Judge, Jury, and Executioner," raises valid transparency concerns about artificial intelligence tools used by judges when making bail and sentencing decisions, but her argument that such tools should be rejected outright is less than convincing, says U.S. District Judge Xavier Rodriguez of the Western District of Texas.

• 5 Steps For Law Firms Rethinking Flexible Work Post-COVID

  

  A flexible work environment will be key to recruiting and retention efforts post-pandemic, so law firms must develop comprehensive policies that solidify expectations and boundaries on accommodations such as flextime, remote work and reduced hours, says Manar Morales at the Diversity & Flexibility Alliance.