After Counseling Fails, Many Sue Therapists
The growing popularity of therapy for everything from marriage troubles to drinking problems has the mental health care community paranoid about lawsuits. Legal and health care experts say that therapists today face a greater risk of being sued than ever before, particularly given the 55% divorce rate and the breakdown of the family.
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Fight over Policing of Expert Testimony Heats Up
In three recent decisions, courts in North Carolina, Florida and Kansas have expressed displeasure with ... extra-judicial attempts by the medical profession to police its own members. This article looks at these recent cases and the impact of those cases on expert witness testimony in medical malpractice litigation.
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Insanity, Drugs and the Family Code
Go to your favorite Internet search engine and run a search for 'stupid laws.' You will come up with thousands of hits for sites that report it is illegal to spit on the ground within 5 feet of another person and the like. Most of these 'laws' are probably just urban myths. However, the California Family Code (and in all probability the codes of most other states) does contain laws that should be looked at more carefully. Some of our statutes are in need of modernization. Others are poorly worded, and others just make no sense. We can and should expect more of our legislature.
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Professional Development University: Ahead of the Curve
Why are law firm partners, associates and staff retreating? Has the battle become so intense that the commanders believe the troops need to pull back, refresh and reorganize? Or cut their losses and move on? Is it a time away from the daily grind of billable hours and client demands that provides everyone with a minute to breathe on the firm's dime? Is it reward or retribution? Is there a moment or two of professional development that will be recognized as CLE? Is it the new leadership's moment to deliver the 'new message' to a captive audience? Is it a time for partners and executives to take a few steps back so they can make greater progress on key business objectives in the coming months? This article answers those questions.
Features
The Birth of the Inclusionary Firm
The recent death of Peter Drucker, one of America's greatest business philosophers ' a man who substantially changed the practice of American management ' brought forth an abundant burst of adoration and glorification from all corners of the business and journalistic world. Articles and memorials quoted extensively from his works.
Sprinting Toward a Brick Wall
The Baby-Boomer generation entered the practice of law in unprecedented numbers, carrying lofty expectations and the collective willpower to engender unprecedented billable hours. Now this tsunami of active lawyers is moving toward senior status, phase-down and retirement. Despite the complex emotions engendered by retirement, the Baby-Boomer generation of lawyers ' and the law firms in which they have participated or help build ' <i>must</i> plan their future.
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Associate Compensation Increases
Among professional service firms, there is a definite increase in competition for talent. But competition for talent could indicate a commensurate increase in salaries and billing rates that will probably put tremendous pressure on law firms to be more efficient and effective in the delivery of legal services. This pressure will change a law firm's business model and culture. How will the staffing and business models change, and how will law firms use these trends to improve their competitive position? These issues are the focus of this article.
Features
The Place to Network: Sincerely Yours
These days, a good measure of cynicism seems to be <i>de rigueur</i> for any intelligent citizen.
Listening Your Way to New Business
According to a German proverb: 'A man has two ears and one mouth so that he hears much and speaks little.' Mark Twain followed up the thought by saying: 'If we were meant to talk more than listen, we would have two mouths and one ear.' And I'll add: We were given two ears and one mouth, and they should be used in that proportion in a sales call.
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