Corner Office: What Every Lawyer Should Know About the Economics of a Law Practice
July 31, 2007
Why do so many lawyers know so little about the economics of practicing their profession? Not surprisingly, it's because their law school education did not address any of the business aspects of practicing law. So most young lawyers join law firms with little understanding of how they operate and without a clue as to what it takes to make a law practice successful and profitable. Many lawyers, especially those who join large firms, manage never to master these concepts ' and in many cases work hard at avoiding them.
Verdicts
July 31, 2007
Recent rulings of importance to you and your practice.
Highlights of Recently Enacted Tax Laws for Law Firms, Clients, Lawyers, and Staff
July 31, 2007
This article addresses two significant changes made by the Small Business and Work Opportunity Tax Act of 2007 ('Small Business Act') ' the new preparer penalty provisions (up to 50% of the fee for preparing the tax return), which have broad implications for attorneys who offer tax advice to their clients and the revised kiddie tax provisions, which now reach a substantially larger group of children. This article also details pertinent changes made by the Tax Relief and Health Care Act of 2006 ('TRHCA'), which extend the time for several tax cuts that had expired at the end of 2005, make certain tax breaks more beneficial, and provide greater flexibility regarding health savings accounts. Noteworthy new TRHCA provisions are highlighted that can benefit law firms and their clients, as well as individual attorneys and staff members and their families.
Apology Programs Are Hot News
July 31, 2007
There has been a great deal of publicity in the medical community about apology programs ' programs that encourage doctors to affirmatively admit medical mistakes to patients and their families. While there is a lot of support for the idea, there is also a good deal of controversy over whether these programs actually work to reduce litigation and the cost of medical malpractice claims. What, realistically, can apology programs do ' and what can they not do?
Court Clears Disclosure of Doctor Peer Reviews
July 31, 2007
Confidential physician peer reviews may be disclosed to plaintiffs in federal discrimination and antitrust cases in three federal circuits, even though all 50 states and the District of Columbia recognize a privilege against disclosure of the performance ratings. This growing federal-state divergence will make federal courts more attractive to plaintiffs filing civil rights suits involving doctors, attorneys say. At the same time, it may have a chilling effect on peer review participant candor and on the ability of health care facilities to recruit peer review team members.
Telemedicine, Pharmaceuticals and the License to Practice
July 31, 2007
When a patient receives substandard care from a health care provider practicing telemedicine from a different state, the question is presented: Which state has jurisdiction over the transactions? The answer to this will depend on the two (or more) states involved and the circumstances of the case, but in the civil context it will generally come down to the usual questions of 'minimum contacts,' the parties' expectations, etc. What happens, though, when local prosecutors wants to hold a practitioner in another state criminally liable for practicing medicine within their state?
News Briefs
July 31, 2007
Highlights of the latest franchising news from around the country.
