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Martindale Nolo Surveys Online Marketing Trends
September 28, 2014
Among the key findings: 65% of the respondents said they spend more than half of their marketing budgets on online initiatives; and 40% spend more than 75% of total marketing budgets. 42% said the best performing advertising mediums were lead generation services. Beyond that, search engine optimization efforts were chosen by 18% of responders; 14% cited search engine marketing, such as Google Adwords in pay-per-click campaigns. Perhaps surprisingly, only 4.1% cited blogging and social media....
September 28, 2014
Among the key findings: 65% of the respondents said they spend more than half of their marketing budgets on online initiatives; and 40% spend more than 75% of total marketing budgets. 42% said the best performing advertising mediums were lead generation services. Beyond that, search engine optimization efforts were chosen by 18% of responders; 14% cited search engine marketing, such as Google Adwords in pay-per-click campaigns. Perhaps surprisingly, only 4.1% cited blogging and social media....
Primary Research Group Survey on Attorney Tablet Use
September 28, 2014
I am always interested in surveys that provide information on attorney iPhone and iPad use, and the latest report that I have...
September 28, 2014
I am always interested in surveys that provide information on attorney iPhone and iPad use, and the latest report that I have...
Protecting Inheritances in Divorce
September 28, 2014
When Karen’s grandfather passed away, Karen inherited a substantial amount of money. Yet during Karen’s divorce, her husband threatened to take half of her inheritance. Because Karen’s story resonates for many individuals going through divorce, it is important to know how to protect gifts and inheritances. Firstly, it noteworthy to mention that whether a particular asset can be divided as part of a divorce settlement depends on how it is classified: separate property or marital property....
September 28, 2014
When Karen’s grandfather passed away, Karen inherited a substantial amount of money. Yet during Karen’s divorce, her husband threatened to take half of her inheritance. Because Karen’s story resonates for many individuals going through divorce, it is important to know how to protect gifts and inheritances. Firstly, it noteworthy to mention that whether a particular asset can be divided as part of a divorce settlement depends on how it is classified: separate property or marital property....
Abacus Unveils System that Puts Lawyers’ Desktops in the Cloud
September 27, 2014
Abacus Data Systems, the San Diego company long known for its AbacusLaw practice management system, branched off in a whole new direction today with the launch of Abacus Private Cloud (APC), a secure, hosted, cloud-based environment for law firms to run all their technology and applications. The idea is to free law firms from the burdens of IT management and the expense of IT installation and maintenance. With APC, law firms need no special hardware or software and no network infrastructure. Instead,...
September 27, 2014
Abacus Data Systems, the San Diego company long known for its AbacusLaw practice management system, branched off in a whole new direction today with the launch of Abacus Private Cloud (APC), a secure, hosted, cloud-based environment for law firms to run all their technology and applications. The idea is to free law firms from the burdens of IT management and the expense of IT installation and maintenance. With APC, law firms need no special hardware or software and no network infrastructure. Instead,...
Law Firms Often Fail to Analyze ‘Past Due’ Bills
September 27, 2014
A recent survey by LexisNexis of 309 U.S.-based law firms found that more than 73 percent of them have past-due client accounts. Firms are not being paid in a timely manner. Many lawyers and legal professionals reported being uncomfortable asking for past-due invoices, some saying it made them feel “greedy,” calling it “distasteful” and indicating it damages relationships. However, the same survey found that most of the firms owned and employed billing software, but fail to use the analysis...
September 27, 2014
A recent survey by LexisNexis of 309 U.S.-based law firms found that more than 73 percent of them have past-due client accounts. Firms are not being paid in a timely manner. Many lawyers and legal professionals reported being uncomfortable asking for past-due invoices, some saying it made them feel “greedy,” calling it “distasteful” and indicating it damages relationships. However, the same survey found that most of the firms owned and employed billing software, but fail to use the analysis...
LexisNexis Launches Major Revamp of Lexis Advance (With Screencaps)
September 27, 2014
It has been four years since LexisNexis unveiled its first Lexis Advance product, originally called Lexis Advance for Solos....
September 27, 2014
It has been four years since LexisNexis unveiled its first Lexis Advance product, originally called Lexis Advance for Solos....
Regulating the Internet of Things: First Steps Toward Managing Discrimination, Privacy, Security & Consent
September 27, 2014
The consumer “Internet of Things” is suddenly reality, not science fiction. Electronic sensors are now ubiquitous in our smart phones, cars, homes, electric systems, health care devices, fitness monitors, and workplaces. These connected sensor-based devices create new types and unprecedented quantities of detailed, high-quality information about our everyday actions, habits, personalities and preferences. Much of this undoubtedly increases social welfare. For example, insurers can price automobile...
September 27, 2014
The consumer “Internet of Things” is suddenly reality, not science fiction. Electronic sensors are now ubiquitous in our smart phones, cars, homes, electric systems, health care devices, fitness monitors, and workplaces. These connected sensor-based devices create new types and unprecedented quantities of detailed, high-quality information about our everyday actions, habits, personalities and preferences. Much of this undoubtedly increases social welfare. For example, insurers can price automobile...
Celebrity Photo Theft: Lessons for Outside Counsel
September 27, 2014
In legal education conferences we hear that cybersecurity is very much on the minds of in-house lawyers. It’s one of the things that “keeps them up at night” (that and Jon Voight on Showtime as Mickey Donovan). Working with the corporate computer nerds, in-house lawyers are slowly learning what their company is doing to protect information and how it can improve. Meanwhile, data theft seems to be surging as threats arise from a variety of avenues, ranging from disgruntled employees to external...
September 27, 2014
In legal education conferences we hear that cybersecurity is very much on the minds of in-house lawyers. It’s one of the things that “keeps them up at night” (that and Jon Voight on Showtime as Mickey Donovan). Working with the corporate computer nerds, in-house lawyers are slowly learning what their company is doing to protect information and how it can improve. Meanwhile, data theft seems to be surging as threats arise from a variety of avenues, ranging from disgruntled employees to external...
For Bank of America, Dealmaking to Turn the Page
September 26, 2014
Negotiation often marks a new beginning: of a partnership, a project, or employment relationship. At other times, the goal of dealmaking is as much about reaching an ending as it is about moving forward. That’s the attitude with which Bank of America wrapped up its settlement negotiations with the Department of Justice (DOJ) last month. For years, the bank has faced investigations and litigation related to mortgage lending in the years leading up to the 2008 financial crisis. Its talks with...
September 26, 2014
Negotiation often marks a new beginning: of a partnership, a project, or employment relationship. At other times, the goal of dealmaking is as much about reaching an ending as it is about moving forward. That’s the attitude with which Bank of America wrapped up its settlement negotiations with the Department of Justice (DOJ) last month. For years, the bank has faced investigations and litigation related to mortgage lending in the years leading up to the 2008 financial crisis. Its talks with...
Combating Structural Bias in Dispute System Designs That Use Arbitration: Transparency, the Universal Sanitizer
September 26, 2014
Employers and businesses adopt adhesive arbitration clauses as a means to manage the risk of litigation and perceived “runaway” jury awards. Mandatory or adhesive arbitration describes the power of an economically stronger repeat player to impose an adhesive binding arbitration clause on the weaker, usually one-shot, player. In this brave new world, how can we combat structural bias built into dispute system designs (“DSDs”) that include mandatory or adhesive arbitration clauses? This essay...
September 26, 2014
Employers and businesses adopt adhesive arbitration clauses as a means to manage the risk of litigation and perceived “runaway” jury awards. Mandatory or adhesive arbitration describes the power of an economically stronger repeat player to impose an adhesive binding arbitration clause on the weaker, usually one-shot, player. In this brave new world, how can we combat structural bias built into dispute system designs (“DSDs”) that include mandatory or adhesive arbitration clauses? This essay...
