<b>Practice Tip: </b> A Balanced Approach to Evidence Collection
December 28, 2006
The plethora of tools designed to make quick work of searching digital files appear to make most data collection tasks trivial. Products such as Google Desktop Search, DTSearch, Microsoft's Lookout and X1's eponymous set of search tools index digital files and e-mail, while providing fast and accurate search results. Of course, the promise of these tools stands in direct contrast to the warnings that litter industry trade publications, admonishing that anything less than a 'forensic' collection could be considered indefensible ' at best leading to a ruling for adverse inference, and at worst resulting in sanctions.
Technology and Policy Issues with Acquiring Digital Collections
December 28, 2006
Undeniably, one of the biggest content growth areas for electronic information resources is with the digitization of print materials. For well over a decade, lawyers have had full-text access to court cases, statutes, regulations and thousands of news sources the day they are published. What wasn't available until fairly recently was electronic access to deep historical collections of materials such as law reviews or legislative documents, let alone court filings or records. For materials of this nature that were available, they could rarely be obtained as scanned documents in collections that are easy to use.<br>In acquiring access to new digital collections, law firms and other information consumers need to think about issues of cost, technology requirements and ease of use. Beyond that, merely acquiring a new collection will not ensure that all people who need the information will know it exists when the need for that information arises. This article addresses several topics relating to digitized collections, framing the discussion by first discussing two legal-specific digitization projects available for private law firms.
<b>Media & Communication Corner: </b>Looking Back at the M&C Professionals Series
December 28, 2006
In the midst of 2006, Jaffe's public relations group turned its attention to some of the most notable law firm media and communications professionals currently working in house. Thanks to the candor of these people, we were able to provide snapshots of their work, their departments and their insight about law firm marketing. On behalf of the Jaffe authors, I again thank all of the participants for their time and their thoughtfulness. As we wrap up 2006, let's look back at some of the highlights in the series.
<b>Corner Office: </b>Growth: An Imperative For Survival
December 28, 2006
Do your current clients provide a steady stream of work that keeps all your lawyers busy? Are new clients constantly knocking at your door with new work based solely upon your firm's reputation? If that's your situation, stop here and read no further. You are in law firm nirvana.<br>Unfortunately, the other 99% of you managing partners are not so lucky.
More from the Best of MLF 2006
December 28, 2006
In last month's issue, we covered the best of MLF from February to and including June 2006. In this issue, we will take a look back at July through November.
Case Notes
December 28, 2006
Highlights of the latest product liability cases from around the country.
The Michigan Dioxin Study: Help for Defendants in Toxic Tort Litigation
December 28, 2006
In August 2006, the University of Michigan's School of Public Health released the initial report in its ongoing study of dioxin exposure in central Michigan. <i>Measuring People's Exposure to Dioxin Contamination Along the Tittabawassee River and Surrounding Areas</i> (August, 2006) ('Report') (<i>www.umdioxin.org</i>). The University study was prompted by concerns among the population of Midland and Saginaw Counties that dioxin-like compounds from Dow Chemical Company facilities in Midland had contaminated parts of the city of Midland and sediments in the Tittabawassee River (Report, p. 5). The study was not designed to evaluate health effects, but rather to determine whether there was a relationship between levels of dioxin in residential soils and household dust and levels of dioxin in people's blood. <i>Id.</i> It also evaluated other factors that could influence blood dioxin levels such as age, diet, hobbies, and employment. <i>Id.</i>
Confident Communication Key to Success
December 28, 2006
The glass ceiling is alive and well in America's 200 largest law firms. According to a survey released last October by the National Association of Women Lawyers (NAWL), women make up a paltry 16% of equity partners, 16% of governance committee members and 5% of managing partners in these firms. NAWL says the firms should double the number of women equity partners and corporations should reach the same target with chief legal officers by 2015. Even so, the percentage of women in equity and leadership roles in the legal profession would still fail to reflect that women now represent about 50% of all law school graduates. <br>Do women attorneys have a particular need for communication skills development? Yes.
Some Questions ' and Answers ' on Managing a Law Firm
December 28, 2006
As law firms have continued to grow and the practice of law has become even more of a business, firms are now giving serious attention to how to manage the firm. As they cope with this issue, firms raise many questions. Here are some of the ones they most frequently ask us as consultants ' and our answers.
