Life at the Bar LLC Blog

By Julie A. Fleming November 29, 2006 No comment

What’s better than a really funny lawyer joke?
Funny cartoons by a lawyer, about lawyers/practice, using “insider humor.”
To find out what I’m talking about, visit Scribble-in-Law.  I guarantee a smile.
Welcome back!

Just for Fun

By Julie A. Fleming November 27, 2006 3 Comments

In April, I’ll be presenting at the NALP annual conference along with 3 colleagues.  Our topic is titled, “Facilitating a Successful Transition from Student to Lawyer.”  Our proposal identified a number of issues that confront new lawyers, and we’ve also identified ways that law schools and law firms (our primary audience) can support those going [...]

Coaching for lawyers, For new lawyers, The practice

By Julie A. Fleming November 22, 2006 No comment

Sorry for the silence of late; my workload over the past week precluded sleep and blogging was a secondary casualty.  (Balance in action, you know.)  Substantive blogging may resume later this week, certainly by Monday.  At the moment, I have a pie in the oven, cranberry sauce on the stove, flourless chocolate torte cooling on [...]

Musings

By Julie A. Fleming November 16, 2006 No comment

Imagine for a moment being a client, trying to select a lawyer for a representation in a case you may or may not fully understand, in which you likely have no expertise at all.  And imagine that your case is one of your top priorities: a divorce or child custody case, a bet-the-company business case, [...]

The practice

By Julie A. Fleming November 13, 2006 No comment

In my experience, newer associates often have challenges in determining what they do and don’t have the authority to do.  Some may take on too little authority, undermining their usefulness to more senior lawyers who need not be consulted about every decision, and others may too on too much, possibly compromising strategic decisions that should be [...]

For new lawyers, The practice

By Julie A. Fleming November 08, 2006 No comment

It should go without saying that client service is the bottom-line, critical piece of practice that cannot be overlooked.  Unfortunately, that message does seem to be overlooked in some areas.  At the risk of stating the obvious, clients are an attorney’s lifeblood.  Without clients, practicing law is impossible.  That makes your clients pretty important, doesn’t [...]

For new lawyers, The practice

By Julie A. Fleming November 06, 2006 7 Comments

I’m astonished to be hitting post #100 this morning.  How time does fly!
I’ve been thinking lately, with something between amusement and horror, about my own work/life balance.  One of the things I’ve learned as a coach is that I very often end up working with people who face the same issues that confront me.  No idea [...]

Coaching for lawyers, Work/life balance

By Julie A. Fleming November 03, 2006 No comment

It’s come to my attention again that many, perhaps most, litigators step all over one of my pet peeves.  My pet peeves aren’t a big deal to anyone but me, but committing this particular error should be.
I hate, detest, despise hearing an attorney, especially a litigator in a jury trial, refer to his or her [...]

For new lawyers, The practice

By Julie A. Fleming November 01, 2006 No comment

Tom Collins of More Partner Income posted last month on The 10 to 15 Minute Rainmaking Plan.  The principle is that marketing activity fits nicely into any lawyer’s schedule when arranged in 10- to 15-minute phone calls,  and that the benefits of these calls accrue when done daily.  He suggests several questions that would lead very nicely [...]

For new lawyers, The practice