I have moved my Blog

I have moved my blog to http://paralegals.uslegal.com/

Please sign up for membership and access our Paralegal Job Connection and receive other member benefits.

Thank you for your continued support.

Carole A. Bruno

ParalegalFocus.com is Being Recreated Especially For You!

Hello all,

It's been a frustrating month with my website, http://www.paralegalfocus.com/ becoming corrupt. I don't know, but if I were paranoid, I would guess it was hacked into. Down deep, I know I probably messed it up myself -- I know enough about website to be totally dangerous! I'm getting older, and the technology is changing too fast!

The good news is that I am reconstructing my site, and I will offer several FREE ebook downloads. The first will be "How to become a Paralegal." In addition to adding several new downloadable articles, I will offer many new forms, checklists. and charts in every area of law.

Hopefully, I will be have it up by July 4 so you can peruse it over the holidays. What's more, you won't have to sign up to ParalegalFocus.com to retrieve these FREE instantly downloadable articles, checklists, charts, and forms, or to search the site for the latest information you have to know.

I will add several new features that you will love -- you'll wonder how you did without them, such as mini-salary surveys, instant profiles, solid interviews, Q & A's to your most burning questions, the latest association news and events, kool seminars, the best online paralegal schools, and other valuable information you won't want to miss, plus legal links and resources, and much more!

In this difficult financial times, I will concentrate on giving you concrete ideas and steps on how to market yourself to get the highest salary you can. I will teach you How to Become a Virtual Paralegal in the interim until you find a job or so that you can be a stay-at-home Mom and be with your children, or to work on the side to get your bills paid off.

Need a mentor to help you find your way or find a job? All you have to do is fill out a MENTOR FORM, and I will find one for you. This service will be FREE! If you want to MENTOR SOMEONE, just send me an email at paralegal.author@gmail.com. I would not be where I am today if it weren't for the many paralegal-, and attorney-mentors who helped and guided me along in my confusion. I'm 67 years old; this is my way of giving back.

If you want to be interviewed or profiled on my brand new site, please send me an email at paralegal.author@gmail.com. If you have a PARALEGAL BOOK you wrote and want to promote, send it to me at 1945 Long Dr., Suite 47, Santa Rosa, CA 95405. I'll have another paralegal review it and post it on my website.

Keep checking this blog for an announcement about the redesign and opening of http://www.paralegalfocus.com/. Meanwhile, keep on producing! Do your best at what you are doing now to get through this recession. Keep your job; offer more than your employer expects.

Love Ya All and God Bless ,

Kiki

Twitter's Growth Screeches to a Halt -- It Was All Hype : Larry Bodine Law Marketing Blog

Twitter's Growth Screeches to a Halt -- It Was All Hype : Larry Bodine Law Marketing Blog

Announcing New eBook .... “How to Become a Paralegal”

By Carole A. Bruno

Free! Downloadable

Will be released soon!

Although the recession has hit the job market hard, the high demand for paralegals makes it a wise choice for a new and prosperous career for students, regardless of age. If you are unemployed and are willing to retrain for a new career, read this book now. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the paralegal profession is one of the fastest growing jobs in the country? This book will answer all your questions about how to become a paralegal in simple and direct language.

1. What tasks paralegals perform?
2. What are the latest trends in this exciting market?
3. In what areas of law do paralegals specialize?
4. What educational requirements are required
5. Where are the paralegal schools?
6. What are the paralegal Associations?
7. How can I get experience once I finish school?
8. What are the salary ranges for paralegals?
9. Where are the paralegal jobs?
10. What are the latest trends in this market?
11. What is the future for paralegals?

..... and much more!

Client Interviewing Techniques

An excerpt from Paralegal’s Litigation Handbook

(To order go to www.ParalegalFocus.com)

By Carole A. Bruno

·       Introduction

This chapter¹ will cover legal interviewing techniques for interviewing clients. Chapter 7 covers interviewing methods for investigations. The purpose of this chapter is to help you clarify your role in conducting the client interview. It includes guidelines, forms, and checklists for conducting the interview and documenting it, and procedures for following up the interview.

The client interview usually begins with the attorney, who then turns the client over to the paralegal for more comprehensive fact gathering. This initial interview, called the intake interview is followed by a follow-up interview. The purpose of the intake interview is to identify the client's problem and gather sufficient information to enable the attorney to seek a solution on behalf of the client. The follow-up interview is intended to make sure certain things have been done or to decide another way or a further way to proceed in the matter.

Legal interviewing is a learned skill. You must make the client feel comfort­able enough to reveal very personal information to a stranger-you. This re­quires an ability to build an atmosphere of trust and rapport. You must know what questions to ask as the interview proceeds and how to ask them properly.

·       Preparing for the Client Interview

Preparing for the interview is as important as the interview itself. It is imperative that you have all the information and documents you need at hand and that you have carefully thought through the interview in advance. If you are unprepared, the client will pick up your uneasiness, and the tone of the interview will not be conducive to your purpose.

·       Setting the Appointment

 

The first step, of course, is to set up the date, time, and location for the inter­view. Most likely the interview will be in the firm's offices, either in your office or the conference room, depending upon the preference of the firm and your comfort zone. If the interview is to be conducted in the firm's conference room, make sure that you schedule the conference for that time and that the recep­tionist is aware of it.

·       Confirming the Appointment and Requesting Information from Client

 

Once the date, time, and location of the interview are set, write the client a letter confirming these details. Make sure the appointment is entered on your per­sonal calendar, the firm calendar, or tickler system. After you review the file, include in your letter any information or documents that you want the client to bring to the appointment. The best way to do this is to enclose a list with your interview confirmation letter. Exhibit 5.1 presents lists of items types of litigation matters. These lists are not all-inclusive, nor are all the items nec­essary for all cases, but they give you a starting point for developing your own lists.

·        Reviewing the File and Other Documents

Gather all the files and other documents and information on the case prior to the date of the interview. Organize them and check to make sure all the information is there. Review the information to spot omissions, formulate questions in ad­vance, check inconsistencies, and make lists to prepare for the interview. Make sure that your attorney takes the proper time to brief you on important items to cover during the interview.

Preparing the Interview Location

The interview area should be comfortable, clean, free of clutter, and non-distracting. No files pertaining to other clients should be in view. If one client sees another client's file, it is a breach of client confidentiality. Interruptions should be prevented by instructing that your calls be held. Picking up the phone will diminish the importance of the interview in the client's eyes. Close the door, and give the client your full attention.

Discuss with your attorney whether you should tape record an interview. Under no circumstances should you ever make a tape recording of the client without his or her knowledge. If it is the practice of your attorney to have the interview recorded, get the client's permission, and then put the tape recorder out of sight so the client is not so conscious of it that he or she is made nervous. Tell the client what the purpose of the recording is and that it will be used for that purpose only unless you obtain his or her consent to do otherwise.

• Interview Forms and Other Forms
  

Most likely, you will develop your own set of interview forms for gathering information as you gain experience. Depending upon the type of practice in which your firm engages, you may have specialized forms such as personal injury or automobile negligence, or medical malpractice, workers' compensa­tion, corporate information, and others. Included in this chapter are some forms that you may use as a skeletal form to gear to your firm's needs. Remember that forms should only be used as a guide for the interview, not a control of the interview. For example, when you ask one question, the response may prompt other questions that are not on the form.[i]

      Also, keep in mind that you or the attorney may need to provide some of the information called for on the form, such as, for example, any statute of limita­tions information.

Hand in hand with conducting the interview is the art of listening. Try not to be so intent on filling out the form and going through the motions that you forget to listen to the client's answers. The answers the client gives you should serve as much as a guide to your next question as the form, if not more so.

Preparing an Instructional Folder for the Client

       

 

Consider various information, forms, checklists, and other documents that might be helpful to the client. Get your attorney's approval to include them in a folder that you will give to the client. For example, you might include a checklist on how to have your deposition taken, or a blank diagram for the client to diagram the accident.

·        Getting Forms Ready for the Client's Signature                               

 

In preparing for the client interview, you should gather any forms that the client may need to sign so that the case can proceed. The Consent to Release Medical Information, Form 5.1, may not be honored by hospitals or doctors if it is more than 30 days old. It might be best not to have the client complete the date on the form in the event that there may be additional medical reports for future treat­ments. Other commonly needed forms are the Consent to Release Military and Personnel Information (Form 5.2), consent to Release Federal and State Income

 

·       Handling the Client Interview

One of the most difficult areas in which to define the paralegal's responsibilities is in the paralegal's relationship with a client. Most attorneys take the position that the paralegal may deal directly with the client as long as the attorney is the primary contact. Some give paralegals great latitude in dealing with and in advising clients, and it is the paralegal's responsibility not to overstep his or her abilities and training. Caution in this delicate area cannot be overemphasized. Always check with your attorney should you have any doubt about the parameters within which you may operate. There are ethical considerations in addition to the legal limitations on a non-lawyer giving legal advice to a client. Along with the attorney, the paralegal has a responsibility to protect the legal welfare of the client:

A paralegal shall maintain the highest standards of ethical conduct.

Discussion: It is the paralegal's responsibility to avoid unethical conduct. Ethical principals are inspirational in character and embody the fundamental rules of conduct by which every paralegal

·        Introducing Yourself to the Client

 

You and your attorney should realize the value of and the necessity for your proper introduction to the client. The following method of introducing the paralegal to the client has been used by numerous attorneys. However, you should discuss how to handle your introduction with your attorney and work out an arrangement comfortable to both of you

Your attorney brings you into his office at one of the initial interviews with the client and introduces you to the client. He tells the client that you are a paralegal (or legal assistant), explains what you do, and states that you will be working closely with the client and with himself (the attorney). He tells the client to feel free to call you should the client have questions or problems, or in the event that the attorney is unavailable.

The attorney explains that you will be conducting an intake interview, and that the client will be billed at a lower rate for your services, specifying what your hourly billing rate will be. By telling the client how you will save the client legal fees, your attorney will make the client more receptive to your services and will help explain why you are involved in the legal handling of the case.

• Establishing Rapport and Building Trust      

In all communications that you have with the client and in all the work that you do on his behalf, you should always maintain the highest ethical standards of your profession. Exhibit a professional manner at all times, whether on the telephone or in person, and you will gain his confidence and respect. In addition, it is important that the client have confidence in you and know that you are depend­able, trustworthy, and loyal. Remember, he is entrusting you with his personal legal problems. The attorney is bound to exercise reasonable care to prevent her employees, associates, and others whose services she uses from disclosing or using confidences or secrets of a client. There should be the same bond of trust between you and the client as between the attorney and the client. Always preserve and respect all client confidences.

Rapport and trust are also important to client cooperation. To do an efficient and timely job, it is essential that you have this cooperation. For one thing, you will have less difficulty in obtaining necessary information and documents if you have the client's cooperation.

The following pointers should assist you in obtaining the cooperation of the client-or a witness in an interview situation:

1.    Be friendly, courteous, and polite at all times. Keep a positive attitude toward the client or witness. Beware of any personal negative feelings affecting your manner. Always call the client or witness by his or her surname, e.g., Mr. Arnold or Ms. Arnold, unless otherwise requested.

2.    Practice the art of conversation. In your communications with the client or witness, remember to spend a little time with the witness conversing about subjects other than business to establish a friendly rapport. In other words, begin your conversations with common pleasantries to break the ice.

Do not try to impress the client or witness with big words and stuffy con­versation. The client or witness will be more impressed if you are at ease and conduct yourself in a businesslike manner. Many times the client or witness will look to you to interpret in layman's language what the lawyer has told him. He or she will be relieved when you explain seemingly complicated legal points in simplified terms.

3.  Exude confidence. If you act confident, as if you know what you are doing, the client or witness will feel comfortable with you and will likewise be confident in your abilities. Consequently, she will be more apt to cooperate with you and relate confidences to you. This confidential relationship with the client or wit­ness is essential for you to perform your job thoroughly, expeditiously, and efficiently. If the client or witness is inclined to reveal personal matters to you, then she will spend less time with your attorney, and you will succeed in saving her legal fees and in saving your attorney valuable time. In addition, you will be instrumental in your attorney having a satisfied client or witness.

4.  Maintain a good attitude. If you maintain a positive and cooperative attitude toward the client or witness, you will most likely engender the same response from him. By offering assistance to the client or witness in every way you can, you will make him realize your value to him; as a result, he will be more cooperative with you. If you offer guidance-and consolation-when necessary, he will tend to rely upon you more. His satisfaction with you will become evident to your attorney. Your attorney wants to make the client or witness happy, and he will be extremely pleased if you help in that endeavor.

·       Procedures for Conducting the Interview

 

Following are some guidelines for conducting the initial interview with the client or witness:

1.       Explain that the purpose of your interview is to record information and facts.

2.       Let the client or witness tell you the facts in her own words.

3.       Extract the pertinent facts and information.

4.       Ask specific questions regarding the information she gives you.

5.       Answer basic questions without giving advice to the client or witness.

6.       Take meticulous notes.

7.       Have the client or witness sign the necessary authorizations that the attorney previously  reviewed.

8.       Obtain all necessary documents and other tangible evidence the client or witness has in her  possession.

9.       Arrange for follow-up information from the client or witness, if necessary.

The use of forms to be used as checklists will ensure that you obtain all the necessary information from the client or witness during the interview. You may develop your own forms or checklists or personalize any of the ones in this book or other books. Form 5.6 serves as a general checklist for any client or witness interview. Use it as a basis for any form or checklist that you develop.

 The form for the initial interview in Form 5.7 is primarily for personal injury cases but may be adapted for medical malpractice cases. You may be able to send this questionnaire to the client ahead of time and have him bring it back into the office for review by you or your attorney. Form 5.8 serves as a checklist for automobile accident cases.

Types of Interview Questions

One of your tasks in conducting the interview is to determine what types of questions to ask-and that will depend on the information you wish to elicit. A big part of the interview is to separate facts from beliefs. For example, if the witness says, "It happened around 12:15 p.m.," the interviewer should ask, "How do you know it happened around 12:15 p.m.?" to make sure that you are getting a solid fact, not a guess or belief. In general, questions can be classified in terms of the breadth of information they seek to elicit.³ Asking a question the right way can facilitate getting the proper answer. Basically, there are four categories of questions: open-ended, leading, yes/no, and narrow.⁴

Open-ended Questions

Open-ended questions give the client or witness the latitude to control the subject matter. For example:

·      What can we help you with?

·      What have you been having problems with?

This type of question lets the client or witness tell his story in his own way. Usually, the interviewer loses control, and the client or witness tends to ramble. Some people will not talk at all when asked this question. In general, the use of the open-ended question is limited. There are times, however, when it can be very useful, as is illustrated later in this chapter under "Learning from Interview Models."

Leading Questions

Leading questions tend to call for a direct-possibly a yes or no-response, often suggesting the desired answer. For example:

·      You didn't have your seat belt on, did you?

·      You were going 65 mph, weren't you?

This type of question does not test the validity of the response and may distort the response. On the other hand, it tends to get an answer from the client or witness that she may not voluntarily give.

Yes/No Questions

Yes/no questions definitely call for a simple yes or no answer. For example:

·      Were you driving the car?

·      Was your driver's license valid at the time of the accident?

Narrow Questions

Leading questions and yes/no questions are two types of narrow questions, which are the opposite of open-ended questions. They not only select the sub­ject matter, but also can select certain aspects of the subject matter to be dis­cussed. For example:

·      Where was the stop sign located on Elm Street?

·      Who was in the car at the time of the accident?

 You should vary your questions to include all types. Determining the type of question that will elicit the desired information is a skill developed over time and through trial and error. Of course, the client or witness's personality will guide you as well.

• Importance of Listening
  

Listening well is just as important as questioning well. First, by listening to the client or witness, you establish a good rapport. Everyone likes to talk, and client or witness will probably be eager to talk about the problem. He will appreciate your attentive listening. In addition, by controlled listening, you will obtain a lot of information. Controlled listening is knowing when to interject a question and when to steer the client or witness in another direction. He will likely ramble at times and you must redirect him to the point of the interview.

 

      When you encourage the client or witness to keep talking by your silence, or by an expression indicating that she should continue, you are practicing passive listening. When you reflect upon what the client or witness is saying by a comment or a repetition of something she said, you are practicing active listening, meaning that you are participating openly in the listening process. You should probably practice active listening more often than passive. In addition, you may summarize what the client or witness has said to let her know that you understand and to give her the opportunity to correct any misunderstandings on your part.

• Learning from Interview Models
  

Here is a three-stage model for conducting a client or witness interview:⁵

Before you enter any interview, it is imperative that you be properly briefed by your attorney. The paralegal-client dialogue typically begins with your having a preliminary understanding of the client's problem and having a grasp on what the salient points are in the attorney's eyes. Your goal is to assist your attorney in gathering the facts necessary so that your attorney can properly represent the client. When you understand what your attorney needs from the client, you can proceed to gather information.

A Three-Staged Interview

 There are undoubtedly several ways of approaching the task of ascertaining the facts relating to the client's problem and tentative or possible legal position. This general approach should be useful. Under this approach, the process of ascertaining the facts surrounding the client's problem and legal position is divided into three stages: (1) Preliminary Factual Identification, (2) Chronological Factual Overview and (3) Factual Development and Verification.

A case may require one or more interviews for you to complete these three stages. It is important to gauge the time spent on the interview and to break into separate sessions. The client is usually feeling emotional during the first interview, thinking that he or she has been wronged and is seeking justice. Fatigue in you, as the intent listener, and on the part of the client, as he unravels emotionally, will make a long interview lose its effect. Consider having a second and perhaps a third interview before advancing to the Chronological and Factual Devel­opment and Verifications Stages.

 

1.                Preliminary Factual Identification Stage. In [this] stage, the paralegal asks the client to provide a general description of at least the following: (1) the underlying trans­action or incident that caused the problem, and (2) the facts surrounding the transaction or incident. During this stage, you should encourage the client to de­scribe the foregoing matters in whatever way seems comfortable. You should refrain from imposing any particular order on the client's presentation and allow the client to proceed in a free-flowing narrative. You should ask only for a general description and refrain from asking for any details or interrupting with questions.

2.                Chronological Factual Overview Stage. During [this] stage, encourage the client to provide a step-by-step chronological narrative of the past transaction or incident which underlies the client's problem. Ask the client to proceed from the point where the client believes the problem began, and follow through, step-by-step, up to the present. During the Overview, you should not attempt to obtain a detailed elaboration of the various points mentioned by the client during the chronological narration.

 

the purposes of the Overview and the restrictions against detailed probing, this form of question seems quite appropriate as the chief form of interrogatory. The question attempts to keep the client focused along a chronological track, and may minimizes the risks of interrupting normal paths of association. This form of questioning gives the client an opportunity to provide clues that might be lost if the paralegal were to try to discover all significant facts through a series of narrowly focused questions. As will be repeatedly noted in this chapter, the paralegal will not have the capacity to develop all the facts concerning a particular transaction by sitting back and thinking about how such an event might have occurred, and then asking did this, that, and the next thing happen.

 

3.                Factual Development and Verification Stage (Determining What Facts Are Possibly Applicable). The objective of the Factual Development and Verification Stage is to conduct an investigation that will reveal what facts will be necessary to be supported or verified through investigation and evidence. To accomplish this objective, the paralegal should undertake at least two tasks. There should be an endeavor to determine (1) what facts need to be ascertained, and (2) which of the possibly applicable facts must be further explored or investigated. Why the distinction between possibly ascertainable facts and the facts that need further study? One of the major defects that occur in legal interviewing by paralegals is distinguishing solid facts from weaker facts. The paralegal recognizes facts that suggest the possible applicability to the case, investigates these, and concludes the inquiry. The paralegal fails to look into other facts other than those that immediately "leap to mind." If the paralegal can learn to think of the Factual Development and Verification Stage as requiring, first of all, an effort to see how many facts might be applicable before trying to determine which are viable. Line up all points and let the attorney make the final judgment.

 

Determining what facts may possibly be applicable requires a very specific focus. At the conclusion of the Overview stage, you must consciously ask, "Given these facts and what I know about the attorney's desires and concerns, what other facts, regardless of how weak or strong they may now appear, might my attorney need to properly represent the client? Certain facts and information will perhaps be obvious, but your mental effort must be geared toward the development of the maximum number of possibilities. Critical to the success of this endeavor will be your knowledge of the substantive theories your attorney has determined may need support; the more substantive knowledge that you have in your head; the more successful you will be in executing this task.

 

What about the situation where you, for one reason or another, have little or no substantive knowledge of the legal theories that are potentially relevant and what facts are needed to support it? (By my definition, you have substantive knowledge of a legal theory when you have general familiarity with the basic substantive elements of the cause of action or defense involved as set forth by your attorney.) Where you lack adequate substantive knowledge the available choices seem to be: (1) adjourn the meeting and ask your attorney for guidance; or (2) go back through the Overview to learn more detail about the story in general since the additional detail might aid subsequent investigation. What must be noted, however, is that if the client appears to need immediate help, the latter choice will probably be called for? Keep the client's interests foremost in your mind and get guidance from your attorney when necessary.

This model is an example, but not a hard and fast way in which you must operate. Through time you will develop your own style of interviewing, and you should.

 

·                   Ending the Interview

You need to be aware of the time so that you end the interview within the time constraints you and the clients have in your schedule. If you begin the interview by telling the client or witness how much time you will spend with him, it will be easier to culminate the interview when necessary.

A good way to end the interview is to summarize what will be done next and what needs to be done. It is a good time to present documents that need to be completed or forms to be signed. Make sure that the client or witness understands completely what he is supposed to do next and also when you or your attorney will be back in touch with him. Letting the client know what steps you and your attorney will take next will ease the client's mind and prevent an unnecessary call from him.

Walk the client or witness to the door, shake her hand, give her your business card, and explain to her that you may have to call her again. (Even though you think that you have all the information, often you will find that you have to call her again and ask an additional question or clarify a point.) Exhibit 5.2 is a checklist of the basic instructions you might give a client in a personal injury case.

·             Documenting the Interview

 

Documenting the interview is usually accomplished by preparing an intake memo, an end product of the interview. The intake memo is comprised of the notes taken during the interview. It serves several purposes:

(1) It documents the interview; and. 2) It prevents any future misunderstanding about the information

 

·        Avoid speaking to anyone about the accident unless authorized by your attorney. (This includes the client's own insurance company unless otherwise directed by your attorney.)

·        Send to your attorney copies of all bills incurred as a result of the accident. Include bills for property damage such as, vehicle repair or vehicle rental expenses, personal property that was in the vehicle at the time of the accident and was damaged. In addition, include medical and hospital expenses, pharmaceutical expenses, and medical supplies such as, crutches, braces, and other necessary items.

]Portions of this model were taken from Binder and Price Legal Interviewing and Counseling, Ch. 5.

---

Forms may be found in the Paralegal's Litigation Handbook and will be posted on the ParalegalFocus.com website in late May 2009.

Every Law Firm Employee Should be Marketing

MARCH 10, 2009

Legal Marketing Secrets Blog

Michael Ulrich

The layoffs and de-equitization won't stop.

It's ugly out there. White & Case recently announced it was laying off 200 associates and 200 staff; Morgan Lewis (55 attorneys and 161 staff); and K&L Gates (36 associates and 79 staff).  White & Case has signaled that partners will soon be showed the door. According to the WSJ Blog,

in a memo circulated today, the firm says it expects to undertake: An evaluation of our partnership, which will result in a reduction in the number of our partners, commensurate with current and anticipated business needs.

In this economy, every employee must become a salesperson. You can't afford to have anyone on staff who isn't doing some marketing effort. Secretaries, associates, paralegals and other support staff should be incented to form and cement relationships with clients, encouraging current clients to refer more, or unearthing new opportunities.  Even receptionists can have a sales attitude. When trained and incented, these people can become solid lead generators.

But how do you turn someone who doesn't have a sales personality into one who seeks out and seizes sales possibilities?

Start by developing a meaningful reward system and give them the knowledge and skills to take the plunge.

Training and rewards is the key.

Eleven Tips to Ensure Your Relatives Can Find All Your Vital Records

When my mother passed, it was an extremely emotional time, and my four siblings and I struggled to find all of the important papers we needed to put her affairs in order. I always thought my mother was organized, but I soon found out, yes she was organized but in her own way, which none of us understood.

When I came across this article in my local paper, the Santa Rosa, CA Press Democrat, I wished these information was known to me then. The authors of the column ELDER ADVOCATES are Len Tillem and Rosie McNichol, elder law attorneys in Santa Rosa, CA. [Omitting the introduction, I quote...]

"After you pass away, the last thing you should want is for your loved ones to
search through your belongings in a morbid scavenger hunt to find your will,
trust, stock certificates, or other important papers. They shouldn't have to
lift up your mattress to look for your safe deposit box key. They shouldn't have
to waste a month waiting for new account statement to comes in the mail so they
can learn where you invested your savings.

To avoid these difficulties, you should organize your personal and financial data. This is where the list comes in. Collect the information described in this list and give a copy to your children or close relatives, or kept it somewhere safe and let your family know where to find it. In case something happens to you, the List of Eleven is one of the best ways to ensure that your relatives can find all your vital records.

THE LIST OF ELEVEN

1. The name of the bank where you have your safe deposit box, its number, and the location of your key.
2. The account numbers for all of your insurance policies, health, life, auto, home, burial, etc., and the names, addresses, and telephone numbers of your insurance agents.
3. A list of your stocks, bonds, mutual funds, and the name and address of
your broker.
4. The names of the banks or savings and loans for each of your
accounts, and the account numbers, or even copies of account statements.
5. The location of your cemetery plot or mausoleum niche.
6. The location of your will or trust and the name of your attorney.
7. Your credit card numbers.
8. Your Social Security number.
9. The name and address of your mortgage holder, the account number, and amount of the outstanding debt.
10. The name and address of your accountant, and where your past income tax returns are located.
11. The type of memorial or funeral service you want."

If you think this is too hard to do yourself, consider how hard it will
be for your children to deal with after you pass away. Take a few minutes to get
organized.
_________________
Len Tillem and Rosie McNichol are elder law
attorneys in Santa Rosa, CA. Contact them at http://www.lentillem.com/.

CELIA C. ELWELL'S, RP - LEGAL LINKS

All Trial Lawyers and Trial Judges Should Read This Article, the (new) legal writer blog
http://tiny.cc/QF8cp
‎
Final Arguments of Supreme Court Term Filled with Big Cases, Law.com
http://www.law.com/jsp/article.jsp?id=1202430013410
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Attorney Loses Law License Over Unpaid Student Loans, by Leigh Jones, Law.com
http://www.law.com/jsp/article.jsp?id=1202430012415
‎
Law Profs Sue West, Say ‘Sham’ Pocket Part Identified Them as Authors, by Debra Cassens Weiss, ABA Law ‎Practice Today
http://tiny.cc/s74m2
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Some Law Firm Clients Ban 1st-Years, Says Morgan Lewis Chair, by Martha Neil, ABA Law Practice Today
http://www.abajournal.com/weekly/some_clients_ban_1st-years_says_morgan_lewis_chair
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Kentucky Adopts “Lawyer Squeal Rule,” by Debra Cassens Weiss, ABA Law Practice Today
http://www.abajournal.com/news/kentucky_adopts_lawyer_squeal_rule/
‎
Top Ten Tips for Effective Utilization of Paralegals, by Altman Weill, Inc.
http://tiny.cc/z5Cxk
‎
Marketing Focus: Client Referrals, by Peter Roberts, ABA Law Practice Today
http://www.abanet.org/lpm/lpt/articles/mkt04092.shtml
‎
Technology and Time-Keeping Can Help You Capture More Time, by Reid F. Trautz and Dan Pinnington, ‎ABA Law Practice Today http://www.abanet.org/lpm/lpt/articles/tch04091.shtml
‎
Some Helpful Tips from a Partner to an Associate on How to Handle Writing Assignments, Legal Writing ‎Prof Blog
http://tiny.cc/YFVN9
‎
Practice pointer - how to handle citations to those pesky, disappearing websites, Legal Writing Prof Blog
http://tiny.cc/Mk4zr
‎
Defense Lawyers: How to Prepare Witnesses for Depositions, The Trial Practice Tips Blog
http://tiny.cc/sB4mT
‎
Impeachment During Cross: What Really Matters, The Trial Practice Tips Blog
http://www.illinoistrialpractice.com/2009/04/impeachment-during-cross-what-really-matters.html
‎
Effective Quotations and Shorter Briefs, the (new) legal writer blog
http://tiny.cc/V4KhS
‎
A Bounty of Tech-Related Practice Tips, The Trial Practice Tips Blog
http://www.illinoistrialpractice.com/2009/03/tips.html
‎
The Library of Congress Launches YouTube Channel, Law Librarian Blog
http://lawprofessors.typepad.com/law_librarian_blog/2009/04/lc-launches-youtube-channel.html
‎
Westlaw PeopleMap
http://west.thomson.com/westlaw/public-records/libraries/peoplemap/default.aspx
‎
Part 2: The Grilling by Mary Mack - Angry Ostriches, Judge Scheindlin, Malcolm Gladwell, Jack Nicholson, ‎Pretend Lawyers, Volunteers for America, and a Tad More!, E-Discovery Team Blog
http://tiny.cc/v7Iub
‎
Managing RSS Feeds, Unclutterer Blog
http://unclutterer.com/2009/04/17/ask-unclutterer-managing-rss-feeds/
‎
Bookmarking Tip for Acrobat, PDF for Lawyers
http://www.pdfforlawyers.com/2009/03/bookmarking-tip-for-acrobat.html
‎
How to Bates Stamp Using Acrobat, PDF for Lawyers
http://www.pdfforlawyers.com/2009/03/how-to-batesstamp-using-acrobat.html
‎
PowerPoint FAQs, The PowerPoint FAQ - PowerPoint Help
http://www.pptfaq.com/index.html
‎
Seven Ways to Ruin a Powerpoint Presentation, CIO Insight Blog
‎ http://tiny.cc/9Wjfe
‎
Reality Check: The Impact of Legal Technology on Lawyers, Law Librarian Blog
http://tiny.cc/XpkMP
‎
New Tweeter Service for Legal Professionals, Law Librarian Blog
http://tiny.cc/AkVcy
‎
The WeFollow Twitter Director, Law Librarian Blog
http://lawprofessors.typepad.com/law_librarian_blog/2009/04/the-wefollow-twitter-directory.html
‎
Dive Into Deep Web Research, by Kim Walker, Legal Technology Blog
http://www.law.com/jsp/legaltechnology/pubArticleLT.jsp?id=1202429965898
‎
Social Media for Lawyers – Part 9: Social Mention, by Gina F. Rubel, The Legal Intelligencer Blog
http://tiny.cc/EkXW3
‎
Spammers Can Get Your E-mail Address from Google Profiles, Digital Inspiration Blog
http://www.labnol.org/internet/email/gmail-address-in-google-profile/8219/
‎
Learn the Rules on Fax and E-Mail Ads, James H. Laskey, Fernando M. Pinguelo and Andrew D. Linden, ‎Legal Technology.com
http://tiny.cc/zZPs6
‎
Competitive Intelligence - A Selective Resource Guide, Updated and Revised March 2009,by Sanbrina L. ‎Pacifici, LLRX.com http://www.llrx.com/features/ciguide.htm
‎
ebook on Social Networking for Lawyers: The How, What, Why and the Importance of NOW!, by Carolyn ‎Elefant, JD Supra Blog
http://www.jdsupra.com/post/documentViewer.aspx?fid=4523296c-275e-49e4-8e31-15bd6231b1c2
‎
iPhone J.D. (A blog devoted to lawyer’s use of iPhones)
http://www.iphonejd.com/iphone_jd/
‎
Remember the Milk
http://www.rememberthemilk.com/‎

DISCLAIMER: I have gathered these links from various resources on the Internet. The materials here ‎are provided for informational purposes only. They are not meant to constitute legal advice, and no ‎one should act or rely on any information provided without seeking the advice of an attorney. The ‎links and articles listed do not necessarily reflect my own opinions or those of my employer and its ‎clients. They are provided merely because they may be of interest. If you share anything on this list ‎with others by any means, or use its information to add links to your blog or web site, please give me ‎credit for collecting the information and please give appropriate credit to the authors and original ‎sources. See http://www.copyright.gov/. If you share or publish these links in any newsletter or e-‎publication, I would appreciate a subscription (please send to paceccce@cox.net).
‎
Your e-mail address will not be shared with any other person on this list or with any vendor or other ‎third-party - period. If you know of someone who wishes to be added to this list, please ask them to ‎subscribe by sending me a private e-mail to pacecce@cox.net . If you wish ‎to be removed, please send me a private e-mail to the same e-mail addresses. Once notice is received, ‎your e-mail address will be promptly removed.
‎
Thank you.
‎
Celia C. Elwell, RP
Registered Paralegal
Norman, Oklahoma
pacecce@cox.net

Why Blogs are Good for Law Firm Marketing

Posted on April 14, 2009 by Larry Bodine
Why Blogs are Good for Law Firm Marketing

Excerpted from the New York Times:
It's clear that blogs are excellent business development tools, because they establish the author as an expert to clients and attract calls from the news media. The power of blogs to influence what people buy -- and which law firms to retain -- is now established. This face is underscored by a recent study reveals, that power is significant — so much that a majority of blog readers say blogs are useful when they make purchases.

The study, which polled 2,210 people found that the increase in blog readership from 2004 to 2008 was 300 percent; 47 percent of online consumers now read blogs.

Half of blog readers said blogs were useful when they were considering what purchases to make, and more than half of that group said they looked at a blog just when they were about to buy something.

“This is what people are trusting more and more,” said Valerie Combs, vice president for communications at BuzzLogic, a company that analyzes social media and operates an Internet advertising network and that commissioned the study from Jupiter Research. “What we’re seeing online, increasingly, is that people are relying on peer opinion.”

Blog readers are also more likely to trust advertising on a blog than on a social network like Facebook, the study found; 25 percent said they trust blog ads, with 19 percent trusting social network ads.

CELIA C. ELWELL'S, RP - LEGAL LINKS

A Tip for PowerPoint Presentations, Jim Calloway’s Law Practice Tips Blog
http://jimcalloway.typepad.com/lawpracticetips/2009/01/a-tip-for-powerpoint-‎presentations.html
‎
In-House Counsel’s Failure to Do Legal Research Costs the Client a Multiple Damages ‎Award, Legal Writing Prof Blog
http://lawprofessors.typepad.com/legalwriting/2009/02/friends-don’t-le.html
‎
Work Product Doctrine Defended in Textron, by James E. Merritt, Hollis L. Hyans, ‎Edward L. Froelich, Morrison & Foerster
http://www.mofo.com/news/updates/files/15174.html
‎
Can You Look it Up?, by Marshall Krantz, CFO Magazine
http://tiny.cc/GNvHb
‎
GCs Warned to Prep Litigation War Chests, by Brian Katkin, Law.com
http://tiny.cc/fuOJq
‎
National Safety Council Says Cell Phones Should be Banned While Driving, by Tom ‎D’Amore, Personal Injury Law Update
http://tiny.cc/WOVzL
‎
Pfizer Vows To Disclose Physician Payments, by Jane Akre, InjuryBoard.com
http://tiny.cc/dvfSW
‎
Costco Decision Could Significantly Change Scope of Attorney-Client Privilege, by ‎Michael A. Sands and Dan Ko Obuhaych, Fenwick & West LLP
http://www.mondaq.com/article.asp?article_id=72734&lk=1
‎
‎“Secret” Life Insurance Triggers Suits, by Tresa Baldas, The National Law Journal
http://www.law.com/jsp/nlj/PubArticleNLJ.jsp?id=1202427898741
‎
Lawyers Face High Learning Curve During Real Estate Crisis, by James Podgers, ABA ‎Law Journal
http://tiny.cc/wapY3
‎
Self-Marketing is Key to Being a Top Lawyer, by Shai Littlejohn, Law.com
http://tiny.cc/H66TF
‎
When You Go to Heaven, Will Your Practice Go to Hell?, Jim Calloway’s Law Practice ‎Tips Blog
http://tiny.cc/pGSvv
‎
Blog Notes “Extraordinary High Rate of Staff-Alone Layoffs,” by Debra Cassens Weiss, ‎ABA Journal
http://tiny.cc/glU5K
‎
E-Discovery Update: Revisiting ESI Agreements and Court Orders, by Conrad J. Jacoby, ‎LLRX.com
http://www.llrx.com/columns/ediscoveryesiagreements.htm
‎
Losey’s E-Discovery Team Links, FloridaLawFirm.com (links to e-discovery websites)
http://floridalawfirm.com/links.html
‎
IT Workers Read Your Personal E-mail and U.S. Law is Generally OK with That, E-‎Discovery Team Blog
http://tiny.cc/g65nN
‎
Free PACER Site Shuts Down After Mass Download by Open Records Advocate, by ‎Debra Cassens Weiss, ABA Journal
http://tiny.cc/FHU9M
‎
The Bluebook in an Ideal World, The Blawgraphy
http://www.lukegilman.com/blawg/2009/02/01/the-bluebook-in-an-ideal-world/
‎
Legal Educations Commons Launched by CALI, Law Librarian Blog
http://lawprofessors.typepad.com/law_librarian_blog/2009/01/legal-education.html
‎
First Arrow, by Raymond Ward, the (new) legal writer
http://raymondpward.typepad.com/newlegalwriter/2009/02/first-arrow.html
‎
A Word on Jury Instructions, by Raymond Ward, the (new) legal writer
http://raymondpward.typepad.com/newlegalwriter/2009/02/a-word-on-jury-‎instructions.html
‎
Friends Don’t Let Friends Edit Friends - It’s the Law!, Law Librarian Blog
http://lawprofessors.typepad.com/legalwriting/2009/02/friends-don’t-le.html
‎
FOIA Facts: President Obama’s FOIA Memorandum and When Change Will Actually ‎Occur, by Scott A. Rhodes, LLRX.com
http://www.llrx.com/columns/foia54.htm
‎
A Compilation of State Lawyer Licensing Databases, by Andrew Zimmerman and Trevor ‎Rosen, LLRX.com
http://www.llrx.com/features/lawyerlicenses.htm
‎
Ten Tweets About Twitter, the [non] billable hour
http://tiny.cc/VMZwv
‎
First Impression about the LexTweet Reflection, Simple Justice Blog
http://tiny.cc/ZHCad
‎
What Kind of People are Following You on Twitter?, by Amit Agarwal, Digital ‎Inspiration Blog
http://www.labnol.org/internet/people-following-on-twitter/6980/
‎
Visual Computer Forensic Analysis, by Keith Jones, Legal Technology.com
http://tiny.cc/TlHpX
‎
Worried About Gmail Losing Your Files? Law Librarian Blog
http://lawprofessors.typepad.com/law_librarian_blog/2009/01/worried-about-g.html

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
‎DISCLAIMER: I have gathered these links from various resources on the Internet. The materials here ‎are provided for informational purposes only. They are not meant to constitute legal advice, and no ‎one should act or rely on any information provided without seeking the advice of an attorney. The ‎links and articles listed do not necessarily reflect my own opinions or those of my employer and its ‎clients. They are simply provided because they may be of interest.
‎
If you share anything on this list with others by any means, or use its information to add links to your ‎blog or web site, please give me credit for collecting the information and please give appropriate credit ‎to the authors and original sources. See http://www.copyright.gov/. If you share or publish these ‎links in any newsletter or e-publication, I would appreciate a subscription (please send to ‎paceccce@cox.net). Your e-mail address will not be shared with any other person on this list or with ‎any vendor or other third-party - period. If you know of someone who wishes to be added to this list, ‎please ask them to subscribe by sending me a private e-mail to pacecce@cox.net ‎‎. If you wish to be removed, please send me a private e-mail to the same ‎e-mail addresses. Once notice is received, your e-mail address will be promptly removed.
‎
Thank you.
‎
Celia C. Elwell, RP
Registered Paralegal
Norman, Oklahoma
pacecce@cox.net
________________________________________
‎


‎ ‎

‎2008 Law Department Legal Outsourcing Study

New Study Available Now ‎

Incisive Legal Intelligence is pleased to present the Law Department Legal Outsourcing Study ‎‎– examining trends in outsourcing legal matters within corporate law departments. Find out ‎who the key decision makers are, average budget for legal spend, how resources are ‎allocated among various legal sectors, and the extent to which companies catalogue and ‎analyze value and service received from external law firms. ‎

The 2008 survey queried senior management at public and private companies in a variety ‎of industries and sizes. Survey responses indicate several trends emerging in this area:
‎
‎• While larger companies (revenues of $1 billion or more) employ as a rule a significantly ‎greater number of outside law firms than smaller companies (revenues under $1 billion), it ‎is these large companies that are most eager to reduce over the coming year the number ‎of firms they use.
‎
‎• Moving forward, most firms indicate decreases in the percentage of legal work ‎outsourced, which will undoubtedly have an impact on their overall legal spend for the ‎coming year.
‎
‎• The recommendations of corporate executives and firm reputation are most valuable to ‎GCs when in the planning and qualifying of outside counsel.‎

Click here to ORDER NOW!
For more information regarding Incisive Legal Intelligence products or subscriptions, ‎please visit www.incisivelegalintel.com or contact us at ili@incisivemedia.com or (888)770-‎‎5647. ‎

ParalegalFocus.com Introduces Alex Lubarsky, Esq., as Its New Technology ‎Columnist who will write "Paralegal Technology & Beyond."

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Santa Rosa, CA. March 19, 2009

Alex Lubarsky, Esq., author of the forthcoming, “Computer Applications for ‎Paralegals” (Aspen) will write a column for www.ParalegalFocus.com on ‎Litigation Support and eDiscovery. The focus of the column will be on technology ‎subjects, such as Summation, Concordance, CaseMap, Introspect, EnCase, and ‎other software applications to help paralegals expand and refine their knowledge.‎ Today paralegals' are becoming increasingly involved in making technology decisions in addition to working closing with attorneys on litigation teams.

Due to our readers' demand for more information on technology, paralegal author Carole Bruno ‎announces that Attorney Alex Lubarsky, a certified Summation and Concordance ‎trainer, will author a column on Paralegal Technology & Beyond on www.ParalegalFocus.com to share his expertise. ‎

Lubarsky is an instructor of Legal Technology at California State University East ‎Bay and other campuses. Mr. Lubarsky has spoken on electronic discovery ‎issues at over sixty key industry events nationally and internationally.‎

A prolific legal author and instructor for over a decade, Lubarsky has written on ‎technological subjects in several publications, including Law Office Computing. ‎He recently co-authored the chapter on electronic discovery for the California ‎State Bar Continuing Education (CEB) book on internet law. Lubarsky has taught ‎at the university level for over eight years. He maintains a Blawg (Alextronic ‎Discovery).‎

Mr. Lubarsky is currently Regional Director at Renew Data Corporation, which ‎provides electronic evidence and data migration services that enable law firms ‎and corporations to manage digital data, email, and user files as evidence. The ‎company offers solutions for audits, eDiscovery, and investigations. It provides ‎litigation response planning, forensic investigation services, electronic data ‎extraction, and litigation production services.‎

A practicing litigator and electronic evidence consultant, Mr. Lubarsky has ‎provided expert testimony in various high profile litigation matters. ‎Before devoting his efforts to eDiscovery and legal technology full time, Mr. ‎Lubarsky was a community-based attorney working in areas, such as immigration ‎and bankruptcy law.” ‎

‎“I am very excited about Alex sharing his expertise with our readers on
www.ParalegalFocus.com. Mr. Lubarsky will make a significant contribution to ‎our paralegal readers’ knowledge base,” said Bruno. “We ‎are fortunate to have him join us as a regular columnist.”‎

For more information, see www.ParalegalFocus.com.‎
Contact: Carole Bruno
Phone: (707) 569-7409‎
Email: carole.bruno@comcast.net
URL: www.carolebruno.com

‎###‎

Chapter 13 Training Seminar

When: March 27, 2009
Where: Denver, Colorado
Cost: $189.00
Details: http://www.713training.com/seminar

Chapter 13 bankruptcy petition skills are needed by thousands of attorneys across the United States. The only problem is that these skills are not taught in any law school or paralegal course. NOW IS YOUR OPPORTUNITY to secure your financial future by learning the skills you need to work for attorneys and help people in the bad financial times we are currently living. With the knowledge you learn at this exclusive and unique Chapter 13 Training Seminar, you can immediately begin working for bankruptcy attorneys in any state either virtually (from your home office) or as an employee at almost any bankruptcy law firm.

Workers' Compensation Practice for Paralegals by J. Griffin Morgan, Esq. and Lynne J. DeVenny, Sr. Paralegal

Workers' Compensation Practice for Paralegals is a 2008 textbook and practice guide for paralegals and other legal professionals who work in the area of workers' compensation law. The book addresses practical tasks associated with the law office management of workers' compensation cases, including an overview of workers' compensation law, determining compensable claims, evaluating and accepting cases, reviewing and summarizing medical records, investigating claims, obtaining evidence, drafting pleadings and preparing for mediations and hearings. More complex tasks, such as handling catastrophic injuries and death claims, Medicare Set-Aside Arrangements, third party claims and bankrupt defendants, are also discussed. Each chapter includes practice tips to help paralegals become proficient in the practice of workers' compensation law, as well as references to find the most up-to-date information regarding various aspects of workers' compensation practice. Sample documents are included to illustrate the kinds of documents paralegals may draft in a typical private law practice.  

Workers' Compensation Practice for Paralegals is unique because it is written specifically for paralegals by an attorney/paralegal team with a combination of over thirty years of practice in workers' compensation law. In addition, both authors have experience teaching law and paralegal students in college settings. Recognizing that there are excellent state-specific workers' compensation reference books already available for workers' compensation practitioners, this book is intended to guide and train paralegal students, working paralegals and other legal professionals new to the practice of workers' compensation law. Straightforward and easy to read, it provides its readers with an overview of the essential skills necessary to perform substantive work on any workers' compensation case, as well as the tools to find the information they need to make a significant contribution to a workers' compensation practice, whether it be their own state-specific rules and forms, Medicare's current WCMSA requirements or medical references. 

Workers' Compensation Practice for Paralegals addresses a number of significant practice tasks related to handling workers' compensation claims, including:

• ▫           Determining compensability of a claim under a workers' compensation act
  
• ▫           Analyzing injury by accident cases
  
• ▫           Analyzing occupational disease cases
  
• ▫           Investigating a workers' compensation claim
  
• ▫           Understanding and organizing medical records and medical information
  
• ▫           Preparing for a workers' compensation claim trial
  
• ▫           Ethical rules and considerations in litigating workers' compensation cases
  
• ▫           Conducting discovery in contested workers' compensation cases

Workers' Compensation Practice for Paralegals may be obtained by contacting Carolina Academic Press, http://www.cap-press.com/books/1748

Co-Authors Information:

J. Griffin Morgan is an attorney and managing partner of Elliot Pishko Morgan P.A., as well as an adjunct law professor at Wake Forest University School of Law. His attorney profile may be viewed athttp://www.epmlaw.com/morgan.html.

Lynne J. DeVenny is a senior legal assistant Elliot Pishko Morgan P.A., who specializes in workers' compensation, serious personal injury, and wrongful death cases. She has an associate degree in Paralegal Technology from Davidson County Community College and a bachelor's degree in English Literature from Salem College. She is a former adjunct paralegal instructor at Forsyth Technical Community College in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. She has lectured at North Carolina Academy of Trial Lawyers (NCATL http://www.ncatl.org/) paralegal and attorney continuing education seminars;  authored articles for NCATL's Legal Assistant Division newsletter, Discovery;  held several terms as Publications Chair and Membership Chair for NCATL's Legal Assistant Division;  and was a Site Coordinator for NCATL's Wade Edwards High School Mock Trial Regional Competition (http://www.ncatl.org/?p=15288) in Winston-Salem, North Carolina for many years.  Her interests include advocating for adoption through state foster care systems, the mentoring of young people through Big Brothers Big Sisters of America (http://www.bbbs.org/site/c.diJKKYPLJvH/b.1539751/k.BDB6/Home.htm) and for education and research to cure sickle cell disease (see Sickle Cell Disease Association of America at http://www.sicklecelldisease.org/). 

USLegalForms.com Wins Top Ten Reviews™ 2009 Gold Award

Paralegals can service the public as well as lawyers these days

In  a way I envy the lawyers today. They have so much more freedom to practice than I did when I practiced law back in Pennsylvania many years ago. In the old days, we were not allowed to solicit business. It was an offense to even suggest a need for your services. This prohibition goes back to British courts which considered it unseemly for members of the bar to be doing what they considered "stirring up trouble among the populace." Today, lawyers advertise everywhere if they want to. There is no longer any disrepute in advertising. Heck, lawyers do it, doctors do it. (No fleas have yet been sufficiently educated to do it).

In the dark old days, there was a clear line between lawyers and non-lawyers and never was the line to be crossed. I know many lawyers whose secretaries were far more expert at producing documents than the lawyers themselves. But they remained secretaries and the lawyers were responsible for every word, even if t...

For more of this story, click on or type the URL below:

http://www.azbiz.com/articles/2009/01/30/opinion/columnists/lionel_waxman/doc49834daa52b05365631828.txt

 

 

BOOK REVIEW: Lessons From the Top Paralegal Experts

POSTED IN A PARALEGAL’S BLOG: Book Recommendations by Christine M. Parizo, R.P.

Tuesday, February 3, 2009

There are only so many times you can read about procedure before you start to ask yourself, what should I be doing, really? It's one thing to know the rules; it's a whole different ballgame when you're talking about the day-to-day aspects of a paralegal career. Most paralegal books are theoretical “How-To” books but offer few words in the way of practical applications. Not this one.

In Lessons from the Top Paralegal Experts: The 15 Most Successful Paralegals in America and What You Can Learn from Them, Carole Bruno found fifteen paralegals who know what they're doing and were able to flesh out the job descriptions and fill in the details that somehow were missed in paralegal courses. I've found all sorts of useful information, and I end up flipping through it on a regular basis. Something new always jumps out at me, and I'll take that tidbit to work and implement it and think, "Why didn't I think of this?!" Bruno picked paralegals in a variety of specialties: litigation, intellectual property, commercial and residential real estate, bankruptcy, corporate and business, and family law, and wrote concise, useful tips from each of these paralegals that can be practically applied to the job.

Even better, the profiles are broken down into bite-size pieces of information, which makes it easy to read in a busy schedule. This is a useful book that is a fantastic reference for any paralegal.

HELPFUL LEGAL LINKS AND RESOURCES by Celia Elwell, RP

A Tip for PowerPoint Presentations, Jim Calloway’s Law Practice Tips Blog
http://jimcalloway.typepad.com/lawpracticetips/2009/01/a-tip-for-powerpoint-presentations.html

In-House Counsel’s Failure to Do Legal Research Costs the Client a Multiple Damages Award, Legal Writing Prof Blog
http://lawprofessors.typepad.com/legalwriting/2009/02/friends-don’t-le.html

Work Product Doctrine Defended in Textron, by James E. Merritt, Hollis L. Hyans, Edward L. Froelich, Morrison & Foerster
http://www.mofo.com/news/updates/files/15174.html

Can You Look it Up?, by Marshall Krantz, CFO Magazine
http://tiny.cc/GNvHb

GCs Warned to Prep Litigation War Chests, by Brian Katkin, Law.com
http://tiny.cc/fuOJq

National Safety Council Says Cell Phones Should be Banned While Driving, by Tom D’Amore, Personal Injury Law Update
http://tiny.cc/WOVzL

Pfizer Vows To Disclose Physician Payments, by Jane Akre, InjuryBoard.com
http://tiny.cc/dvfSW

Costco Decision Could Significantly Change Scope of Attorney-Client Privilege, by Michael A. Sands and Dan Ko Obuhaych, Fenwick & West LLP
http://www.mondaq.com/article.asp?article_id=72734&lk=1

“Secret” Life Insurance Triggers Suits, by Tresa Baldas, The National Law Journal
http://www.law.com/jsp/nlj/PubArticleNLJ.jsp?id=1202427898741

Lawyers Face High Learning Curve During Real Estate Crisis, by James Podgers, ABA Law Journal
http://tiny.cc/wapY3

Self-Marketing is Key to Being a Top Lawyer, by Shai Littlejohn, Law.com
http://tiny.cc/H66TF

When You Go to Heaven, Will Your Practice Go to Hell?, Jim Calloway’s Law Practice Tips Blog
http://tiny.cc/pGSvv

Blog Notes “Extraordinary High Rate of Staff-Alone Layoffs,” by Debra Cassens Weiss, ABA Journal
http://tiny.cc/glU5K

E-Discovery Update: Revisiting ESI Agreements and Court Orders, by Conrad J. Jacoby, LLRX.com
http://www.llrx.com/columns/ediscoveryesiagreements.htm

Losey’s E-Discovery Team Links, FloridaLawFirm.com (links to e-discovery websites)
http://floridalawfirm.com/links.html

IT Workers Read Your Personal E-mail and U.S. Law is Generally OK with That, E-Discovery Team Blog
http://tiny.cc/g65nN

Free PACER Site Shuts Down After Mass Download by Open Records Advocate, by Debra Cassens Weiss, ABA Journal
http://tiny.cc/FHU9M

The Bluebook in an Ideal World, The Blawgraphy
http://www.lukegilman.com/blawg/2009/02/01/the-bluebook-in-an-ideal-world/

Legal Educations Commons Launched by CALI, Law Librarian Blog
http://lawprofessors.typepad.com/law_librarian_blog/2009/01/legal-education.html

First Arrow, by Raymond Ward, the (new) legal writer
http://raymondpward.typepad.com/newlegalwriter/2009/02/first-arrow.html

A Word on Jury Instructions, by Raymond Ward, the (new) legal writer
http://raymondpward.typepad.com/newlegalwriter/2009/02/a-word-on-jury-instructions.html

Friends Don’t Let Friends Edit Friends - It’s the Law!, Law Librarian Blog
http://lawprofessors.typepad.com/legalwriting/2009/02/friends-don’t-le.html

FOIA Facts: President Obama’s FOIA Memorandum and When Change Will Actually Occur, by Scott A. Rhodes, LLRX.com
http://www.llrx.com/columns/foia54.htm

A Compilation of State Lawyer Licensing Databases, by Andrew Zimmerman and Trevor Rosen, LLRX.com
http://www.llrx.com/features/lawyerlicenses.htm

Ten Tweets About Twitter, the [non] billable hour
http://tiny.cc/VMZwv

First Impression about the LexTweet Reflection, Simple Justice Blog
http://tiny.cc/ZHCad

What Kind of People are Following You on Twitter?, by Amit Agarwal, Digital Inspiration Blog
http://www.labnol.org/internet/people-following-on-twitter/6980/

Visual Computer Forensic Analysis, by Keith Jones, Legal Technology.com
http://tiny.cc/TlHpX

Worried About Gmail Losing Your Files? Law Librarian Blog
http://lawprofessors.typepad.com/law_librarian_blog/2009/01/worried-about-g.html

 DISCLAIMER: I have gathered these links from various resources on the Internet.  The materials here are provided for informational purposes only.  They are not meant to constitute legal advice, and no one should act or rely on any information provided without seeking the advice of an attorney.  The links and articles listed do not necessarily reflect my own opinions or those of my employer and its clients.  They are simply provided because they may be of interest.

If you share anything on this list with others by any means, or use its information to add links to your blog or web site, please give me credit for collecting the information and please give appropriate credit to the authors and original sources. See http://www.copyright.gov/.  If you share or publish these links in any newsletter or e-publication, I would appreciate a subscription (please send to paceccce@cox.net).  Your e-mail address will not be shared with any other person on this list or with any vendor or other third-party  - period.  If you know of someone who wishes to be added to this list, please ask them to subscribe by sending me a private e-mail to pacecce@cox.net <mailto:pacecce@cox.net>.  If you wish to be removed, please send me a private e-mail to the same e-mail addresses.  Once notice is received, your e-mail address will be promptly removed.

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Colorado Community College Now Offers a Fully Accredited Associate of Arts Degrees, Assoc of Applied Science Degrees & Paralegal Certificate Program

Colorado Community College Now Offers a Fully Accredited Associate of Arts Degrees, Associate of Applied Science Degrees & Paralegal Certificate Program

Denver, CO  - February 15, 2009

Although the recession has hit America hard, the high demand for paralegals makes it an attractive choice for a new and rewarding career, regardless of age. Students can register online at www.ccconline.org, whether in or out of the state of Colorado, at Community College Online’s 24/7 Online accredited Degreed and Paralegal Certificate Program.

Today paralegals are fulfilling an important role in an expanding and graying population that increasingly requires legal services, especially in areas such as elder issues and health care. With technology continuing to stimulate increasing demand for legal services in intellectual property, paralegals are assuming more responsibility. The growth of prepaid legal plans also should contribute to the demand for legal services, according to BLS.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that employment of paralegals is growing much faster than the average, as employers try to reduce costs by hiring paralegals to perform tasks once done by lawyers. It predicts that the employment of paralegals and legal assistants will grow 22 percent between 2006 and 2016. Competition for jobs should continue; experienced, formally trained paralegals should have the best employment opportunities, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2008-09 Edition, www.bls.gov/oco/oco20016.htm)

CCCOnline's program offers the same level of courses to those taught at most paralegal schools. Contracts, torts, family law, criminal law, and civil litigation are a few of the core courses required to complete the paralegal program. Paralegals must be proficient in legal research and writing. Its course offerings either enable students to earn a certificate or fully accredited Associate of Arts Degrees, Associate of Applied Science Degrees in Paralegal or a Paralegal Certificate entirely online.

The Higher Learning Commission is a Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools that accredits Colorado Community Colleges. CCCOnline is a consortium of the thirteen member colleges in the Colorado Community College system that includes Dawson Community College of Montana, Northwest Missouri State University, and Pickens Tech of Denver.

CCCOnline recently added fifteen new courses. Classes run concurrently every semester; courses run in 10 and 15-week sessions. Students can get the proper education to enter the workforce at their own convenience, without the hassle of traveling or tight schedules. A paralegal is an on-demand professional, performing substantive legal tasks similar to an attorney. Both the private and public sectors across the nation employ paralegals. Hiring paralegals to perform tasks once done by lawyers reduces costs and increases the availability and efficiency of legal services. Pegged as hot commodities, paralegals are performing a wider variety of duties, making them more useful to businesses.

BLS reports that wages start in the mid-30’s and moves upward to 60k per year depending on private or government based positions. Legal Assistant Today magazine reports that the national average salary for paralegals in 2007 increased 3.7 percent to $52,979.

At CCCOnline, an Associate’s degree is only 30 credits; a Paralegal Certificate requires only 21 credits. Most paralegals entering the field have an associate degree in paralegal studies, or a bachelor’s degree coupled with a certificate in paralegal studies. If experienced paralegals want to change specialties or bolster their resume, they may take one or two specific paralegal courses online.

BLS predicts that private law firms will continue to be the largest employers of paralegals, but that a growing array of other organizations, such as corporate legal departments, insurance companies, real estate and title insurance firms, and banks also hire paralegals. Corporations in particular are increasing their in-house legal departments to cut costs. In part because of the range of tasks they can perform, various small and medium-sized establishments are also increasingly employing paralegals in all fields of law.

Contact:

Diane van Os, Program Chair, and CCCOnline

PH:         303-216-0013

www.ccconline.org

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L.A. entertainment lawyers join Robins Kaplan

Wednesday, January 21, 2009

Los Angeles Business from bizjournals - by Jennifer Niemela of the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal

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Robins, Kaplan, Miller & Ciresi has launched an entertainment and media practice, the firm announced Wednesday.

Six attorneys and their staff joined the firm’s Los Angeles office from another California firm, Dreier Stein Kahan Browne Woods George in Santa Monica.

The attorneys are Michael Plonsker, Yakub Hazzard, Mark Passin, Lauren Sudar, Rori Starr Silver and Jeanine Percival Wright. Plonsker and Hazzard were co-chairs of Dreier’s entertainment practice group, and they will serve in the same capacity at Robins Kaplan.

“We are proud to welcome these outstanding attorneys to our firm,” said Roman Silberfeld, managing partner of the Los Angeles office. “They are at the top of their fields and are well-positioned in the television, film and music industries.”

Minneapolis-based Robins Kaplan has more than 250 attorneys at offices in Atlanta, Boston, Los Angeles, Minneapolis and Naples, Fla.

jniemela@bizjournals.com | (612)288-2138