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The Best of MLF 2005: Looking Back at the 'Benchmark' Year
November 30, 2005
Well, it's been an exciting year here at <i>Marketing the Law Firm</i>. As with past practice, this month's issue will be a look back at the year that was. In this issue we will present February (the January issue recaps part of 2004) through July.
Using Client Profiles for Future Case Management
November 30, 2005
After a rigorous search, which involved input from key firm personnel including our IT director, paralegals, attorneys, senior managing partners, and the Chief Operating Officer, we selected Client Profiles as our case management solution. Since the selection, we have been able to revolutionize the way our users access, share and update information related to all cases and matters; have seen firm-wide adoption of 100%, and are realizing numerous technology-related cost savings and productivity enhancements.
Investigative Discovery: Using Technology to Build Case Strategy
November 30, 2005
During a recent assignment, we were asked to assist a client in evaluating potential litigation involving conspiracy and fraud claims arising out of a complex multi-party transaction. For the task, the client arranged for us to have access to approximately 35 gigabytes of e-mail data restored from a critical time period. With the equivalent of approximately 2 million pages needing review, we immediately faced two contradictory challenges. First, how to effectively review a large body of data in a short time while keeping staffing tight and costs down. Second, and equally important, how to leverage our existing knowledge of the issues to identify and drill down deep into significant documents, test our legal theories and strengthen the strategic recommendation our client was seeking.
Merging Firms, Merging Information
November 30, 2005
For many firms there are significant advantages to increased scale. Broader geographical coverage and increased expertise enable firms to provide a more complete offering to their large clients, who operate in an increasingly global world. Given the sometimes difficult task of opening new offices and the competition amongst firms for partners, many firms choose to grow through merging.
<b>Practice Tip:</b> Find Wireless Nirvana in a 3G Network
November 30, 2005
The term "3G" proclaims the next revolution in wireless technology. It refers to the much-ballyhooed third generation cellular network services, currently available in the United States from Verizon, Sprint and Cingular. But after all the hype, is 3G living up to its broadband promise?
Big Win For ERISA Plaintiffs
November 30, 2005
In an important win for plaintiffs in ERISA cases, the Third U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled that the "doctrine of ratification" cannot be used to justify retroactive application of a change to a pension plan if it would have the effect of reducing a worker's accrued benefits.
What In The World Is Going On With Lawyer Retirement Planning?
November 30, 2005
In Part One, the author provided an overview of what lawyers (and their firms) were doing about retirement planning, including a discussion on firms that do not use unfunded obligations ' The First Camp. Part Two examines firms that use unfunded retirement obligations, and the current trends in partner retirement planning.
<b>Professional Development University</b> Leadership, Legacy and Self Determination: A PD Exercise for the New Year
November 30, 2005
I suggest, for the purpose of this brief column, that law firm leaders begin with the end in mind. Once we know where we want to go as leaders, then we can begin to chart a course that may lead us and others to that legacy destination or to one that exceeds our expectations and takes us into uncharted territory.
Employee Blogging: What Employers Don't Know Could Hurt Them
November 30, 2005
Technology offers employers significant advantages, but it can be a double-edged sword. Technology has created issues that employers have never dealt with before ' and bases for liability employers have never confronted before.
Deconstructing The Grokster Decision
November 30, 2005
Serendipity used to be a popular notion. While the term may have fallen from favor, the concept itself still makes appearances ' often surprising ones (as one would think). And while serendipity is not something you would expect to be associated with the U.S. Supreme Court, that is precisely where it was last sighted, specifically in the June ruling in <i>Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer v. Grokster</i>.

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