Psychological Assessment: Evaluating the Evaluations
December 27, 2004
In an article scheduled for publication in the April, 2005 edition of the <i>Journal of Child Custody</i> (in press), Gould-Saltman, an experienced family law attorney, opines that attorneys like tests because they "break things down to numbers, and we understand numbers." She adds: "Tests give the sense [emphasis added] of objectivity to counterbalance the much more subjective clinical portion of a custody evaluation." In commenting on the MMPI-2 in particular, Gould-Saltman expresses the view that it is "probably the most well-liked test among lawyers because it offers 'hard numbers' rather than ephemeral concepts." If only it were this simple.
Litigation
December 27, 2004
Recent rulings of importance to you and your practice.
Leveraging Specialty Libraries
December 27, 2004
Like many firms, our law library collection and the prime real estate space it consumed at our offices in Chicago were realistic targets for cost-cutting consideration. The challenge for many law librarians has been to reduce costs while still ensuring their firms' attorneys and research staff have access to the right information they need when they need it.
Peachtree Software Review
December 27, 2004
Peachtree software has been on the market for more than 25 years, and while in recent times it has played second string to QuickBooks, it doesn't have to anymore. Since this product line was acquired by Best Software, the maker of Timeslips, Peachtree has been transformed from the ugly duckling to the beautiful swan.
Chronology Best Practices
December 27, 2004
A fact chronology can be a tremendous asset as you prepare a case for trial. Yet, the majority of chronologies fail to live up to their full potential. Here are some simple steps that will help you get the most out of yours.
Practice Tip: 'It's NOT Electronic Paper'
December 27, 2004
As the courts and clients struggle with the growing complexities of electronic information, the federal judiciary has begun exploring proposals aimed at addressing the challenges of electronic discovery. While several of the current federal proposals are still open for comment, it is worth taking a moment to consider the fundamental properties of electronic data and how conventional thoughts on evidence do or do not apply. As comforting as it would be to think of electronic evidence as just digital paper, the reality is that there are some inherent properties of electronic evidence that make it fundamentally different from conventional evidence.
Challenges And Adjustments In A Merger
December 27, 2004
There is a drama that is acted out every day on the stages of hundreds of law firms throughout the world. Firm A, which may have been a local, regional or even national firm, has recently merged into (read "acquired by") Firm B, a larger national or international firm, and the partners from Firm A are adjusting to being part of such a huge firm. <br>There are many pluses to becoming part of a much larger firm ' but there are also many differences and challenges. If the merger is to be successful, the partners in Firm A must anticipate the differences and challenges and Firm B must recognize them.
Around the Firms
December 27, 2004
London firm DLA and the partners of Piper Rudnick started off December with a vote to merge the two firms, and thus the New Year brings about the world's third-largest law firm measured by lawyers ' and fifth-largest measured by revenues.
Making Merged Firms Work As One
December 27, 2004
Finding a merger candidate can be a daunting process. However, integrating a merged group of attorneys into a "new" firm's culture, practice environment and organizational structure so that attorneys from both firms work as one may be a greater challenge.
Codifying Competencies
December 27, 2004
When law firms recruit, train, evaluate and promote lawyers, what ideal do they have in mind? What model of lawyer performance are they pursuing: what balance of knowledge, skills and capabilities, work management, ethics, character and commitment, client service and business development? Attempting to put into words our notion of successful performance is a prerequisite to consistency in how we recruit, train, evaluate and promote. It would also appear to be a pre-requisite to fairness and effectiveness in setting expectations among new lawyers and helping them achieve those expectations.
