LAWYERS BAD (AND COSTLY) TIME HABITS
In the frenzied pace of practice, too often we overlook the
personal costs of our haphazard time habits and
excuse-making rationales. It's the psychological blind spots
that prevent more effective behavior. Let's explore the
psychology of time management and the emotional issues that
can lead to self-sabotaging or stress-inducing behavior.
http://www.lexisone.com/balancing/articles/srfeb2004.html
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HARNESSING THE ADVANTAGES OF THE INTERNET
For small firms and solo practitioners, the Internet is the great equalizer.
Firms with one employee or a thousand can handle legal research, electronic
filing, marketing and communications equally. In the year 2004, this
is not news. But what is amazing is that there are still lawyers practicing
out there who barely utilize the features the Internet can offer them.
For those lagging behind, here's a brief primer on what firms, big and
small, should be doing.
(more)
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CHARITABLE FUNDS INC., UPCOMING EVENTS
NLAP Charity Run - Race Judicata
Saturday, April 24, 2004
Registration - 8:00 a.m., Race - 9:00 a.m.
Chalco Hills Recreation Area, Wehrspan Lake, Omaha
Proceeds to benefit NLAP Fund that offers help
to lawyers, judges, and law students troubled by substance abuse problems,
stress, depression and other problems that may impair their ability
to perform in a competent and professional manner.
NSBA's 1st Annual Greater Nebraska Golf Tournament - Sponsorship
Information - Golfer Registration
Friday, June 18, 2004
Shotgun Start - 1:00 p.m.
Wild Horse Golf Club, Gothenburg
Proceeds to benefit the Volunteer Lawyers Project
which is the NSBA's statewide volunteer legal services project and
referral network founded on the belief that all citizens should have
access to the legal system, regardless of ability to pay.
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS!
NSBA's 8th Annual Golf Scramble - Sponsorship
Information - Golfer
Registration
Friday, August 27, 2004
Shotgun Start - 12:30 p.m.
Wilderness Ridge Golf Club, Lincoln
Proceeds to benefit the Volunteer Lawyers Project
which is the NSBA's statewide volunteer legal services project and
referral network founded on the belief that all citizens should have
access to the legal system, regardless of ability to pay.
THANK
YOU TO OUR SPONSORS!
CFI's Barristers' Ball
The First Annual Barristers’ Ball "Starry Starry Night
" is scheduled for April 30, 2005 in Omaha. Dance the night
away under the stars with the bank Galaxy as they wheel through the
heavens. Swirl with the galaxies, flash with meteors and soar with
comets.
The evening promises to be an event to remember, so mark your calendar
and be prepared for a festive night of fun and entertainment.
Proceeds to benefit the Volunteer Lawyers Project
which is the NSBA's statewide volunteer legal services project and
referral network founded on the belief that all citizens should have
access to the legal system, regardless of ability to pay.
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THE NSBA MENTORING COMMITEE AND YOUNG LAWYERS SECTION INVITES YOU
TO ATTEND THE BEST PRACTICES SERIES
The Nebraska State Bar Association's Mentoring Committee and Young
Lawyers Section are co-sponsoring the Best Practices Seminar Series.
Lawyers who were recently admitted to practice are invited, free of
charge, to attend the series. Each session is focused on a wide range
of substantive topics and offeres practical training for new lawyers.
The series also identifies available resources to aid in the practice.
The series will feature two half-day seminars and one full day seminar.
The half-day seminars will be held in Kearney on April 21 and May 17,
2004 at the Kearney Holiday Inn. The full day seminar will be in Ogallala
on May 5, 2004 at the Ogallala Bayside Golf Club. Click here for the
registration form.
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ABA TECHNOLOGY SHOW
March 25-27
Sheraton Chicago Hotel & Towers
Chicago, Illinois
ABA TECHSHOW is
the world's leading legal technology conference, and the only technology
conference and exposition developed by and for lawyers and other legal
professionals. Our program attracts more than 1400 attendees from around
the globe.
If you can only attend one conference on technology and its role in
the practice of law, this is the one.
The NSBA is a Program Promoter for this event and NSBA Members who
register by February 26, 2004 receive a $100 discount off the
registration fee.
To receive this discount use the NSBA's Program Promoter Code when
registering. The code is PP2.
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2004 NSBA TECHNOLOGY SEMINAR AND EXPOSITION
The NSBA is pleased to announce the presentation of a comprehensive
program and exposition of the newest developments in technology in the
practice of law. The seminar is May 7-8, 2004 at the Cornhusker Hotel
in Lincoln. Thank you to our generous sponsors who include Thomson-West,
Ex-Cel Solutions, Inc., The Daily Record, Tabs3 & PracticeMaster
Software, The Nebraska Association of Legal Assistants, NSBA General
Practice Section, NSBA Law Practice Management Section, NSBA Business
Law Section and the NSBA Young Lawyers Section. Click here for the registration
form.
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YOUNG LAWYERS GOLF TOURNAMENT
Mark Your Calendars! The date and location for the 2004 YLS Golf Tournament
is July 30, 2004 at Indian Creek Course in Elkhorn. Click
here for the link of the course.
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UPDATED NSBA WEBSITE
The official website of the Nebraska State Bar Association is getting
an "extreme makeover."
All of the same great information and resources are there in a new user-friendly
environment.
Check it out while we finish getting
it all set up. We will be going "live" with the new site on
Monday, March 8.
The address will still be www.nebar.com
Send us your comments and suggestions.
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NCLE SECTION CALENDAR
Click here for a calendar
of CLE programs to be offered in upcoming months.
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CONSTRUCTION LAW SEMINAR
Construction Law Today - March 26 in Lincoln, Nebraska: For more information
about this program, which will take you from beginning to completion
of a construction project, click here.
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PROBATE AND ESTATE PLANNING SEMINARS
Probate Seminar is March 4th and Drafting Under Nebraska's Uniform
Trust Code is March 5- Register for one or both days. Click here for
the registration form.
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2004 YLS PRACTICE SEMINAR
The Young Lawyers Practice seminar is Friday, March 19, 2004 starting
at 8:45 a.m. at the UNL Law School in Lincoln. Click here for the registration
form.
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PRACTICE TIP: YOUR PROFESSIONAL LIABILITY INSURANCE DEDUCTIBLE
The intended purpose of deductibles in any line of insurance is to
spread a portion of responsibility to the Insured which, in turn, may
serve to encourage the Insured to avoid activity which could result
in a claim. The utility of deductibles in lawyers professional liability
insurance has been debated by various providers of insurance. Some feel
strongly that deductibles can be an effective tool in minimizing hazardous
activity and keeping costs down. Others believe with equal conviction
that deductibles do not achieve such goals and end up costing the insurer
collection efforts and damage to the
insurer-insured relationship.
The size and, to a lesser extent, the longevity of the firm's existence,
are factors to be considered by both the insurer and insured when selecting
a deductible. Ideally the deductible should be large enough to transfer
a portion of the given risk and result in a measurable premium saving
without placing an undue financial burden on the law firm.
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PRACTICE TIP: GIVING A LITTLE REASSURANCE
Buyer's remorse is not limited to the purchases of consumer electronics
and automobiles. Many clients also experience second thoughts about
the lawyer they just hired. To reassure your new clients that they have
made the right choice, immediately show a little extra client care.
Send each new client a brief thank you letter with a "gift."
The "gift" could be a recent copy of your firm newsletter,
a recent topical article you authored, a business card that lists an
unpublished telephone number for the client to reach you in an emergency,
or a book related to their legal issues that shows you care about them
as a client (You get the idea). Then follow-up with a personal telephone
call several days later to let your client know you have begun work
on the matter, let your client know it is a no-charge call. This immediate
special attention helps to retain clients and build positive long-term
relationships.
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CASEMAKER™ TIP #19: HOW DO I FIND A FEDERAL CODE SECTION?
Casemaker™ contains the basic federal code. However, searching
by section number can be problematic. Enclosing a section citation in
parentheses in a basic search, such as "42 usc 1983", should
result in at least one hit, the statute, and it should be the first
item if there are others in the list. Without the parentheses there
will be 1190 hits to sort through. If you use "42 u.s.c. 1983"
there will be no hits because the searchable terms in the data base
don't have periods between the letters. But, if you leave out the parentheses,
42 u.s.c. 1983, there will be 615 hits, most on the phrase 42 u.s.c
since it appears in that form in the comments to various statutes. The
actual statute you were after and which should be at the top of the
list is likely to be either buried in the middle somewhere or nowhere
to be found on the list.
Confused? I was and I tried many variations and examples. My recommendation
is use to use the browse feature when you know the citation and only
want the specific statute.
Other questions? Send them to me and perhaps we can create a tip for
the use of the other NSBA members.
Doug Kluender
dkluender@law7000.com
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