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Why Law Firms Need R&D Investment
August 25, 2014
Lawyers hardly ever talk about research and development. We might be the only major industry or professional sector that fails to do so. Last year, total spending on R&D by the world’s 1,000 largest companies was about $638 billion, according to the Strategy& 2013 Global Innovation 1000 Study. The 10 companies that spent the most on R&D (from Volkswagen to Johnson & Johnson) shelled out a little less than $100 billion themselves. Five of the ten companies on that list were in the health-care...
August 25, 2014
Lawyers hardly ever talk about research and development. We might be the only major industry or professional sector that fails to do so. Last year, total spending on R&D by the world’s 1,000 largest companies was about $638 billion, according to the Strategy& 2013 Global Innovation 1000 Study. The 10 companies that spent the most on R&D (from Volkswagen to Johnson & Johnson) shelled out a little less than $100 billion themselves. Five of the ten companies on that list were in the health-care...
Google Law Review Rankings 2014
August 25, 2014
As the fall law review submission season heats up, everyone faces a bewilderingly vast array of different law reviews. How should...
August 25, 2014
As the fall law review submission season heats up, everyone faces a bewilderingly vast array of different law reviews. How should...
FINRA Announces Arbitration Task Force Created to Address Criticism
August 25, 2014
The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA“) recently announced the formation of a task force that will examine possible improvements to “the transparency, impartiality and efficiency of FINRA’s securities arbitration forum for all participants.” The 13-member Arbitration Task Force includes six members of the financial industry and seven members of the general public. The Task Force will reportedly consider possible improvements and enhancements to current FINRA arbitral procedures....
August 25, 2014
The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA“) recently announced the formation of a task force that will examine possible improvements to “the transparency, impartiality and efficiency of FINRA’s securities arbitration forum for all participants.” The 13-member Arbitration Task Force includes six members of the financial industry and seven members of the general public. The Task Force will reportedly consider possible improvements and enhancements to current FINRA arbitral procedures....
Improving Judicial Performance in Matters Involving International Arbitration
August 25, 2014
University of Missouri School of Law Associate Professor S.I. Strong has published a book chapter entitled Improving Judicial Performance in Matters Involving International Arbitration in Selected Topics in International Arbitration: Liber Amicorum, Julio César Betancourt, 2014, Forthcoming; University of Missouri School of Law Legal Studies Research Paper No. 2014-19. In her chapter, Professor Strong examines how best to ensure that judges enforce international commercial and investment arbitration...
August 25, 2014
University of Missouri School of Law Associate Professor S.I. Strong has published a book chapter entitled Improving Judicial Performance in Matters Involving International Arbitration in Selected Topics in International Arbitration: Liber Amicorum, Julio César Betancourt, 2014, Forthcoming; University of Missouri School of Law Legal Studies Research Paper No. 2014-19. In her chapter, Professor Strong examines how best to ensure that judges enforce international commercial and investment arbitration...
Six Out of Ten Attorneys Now Use an iPhone
August 24, 2014
In both 2014 and 2013, the survey revealed that 91% of attorneys use a smartphone. (In 2012 the number was 89% and in 2011 the number was 88%.) For the past four years, there has been a slight correlation between law firm size and smartphone use. In 2014, for example, 86% of solo attorneys reported using a smartphone, 89% in firms of 2 to 9 attorneys, 95% in firms of 10 to 49 attorneys, and for firms with 100 or more attorneys, 96% use a smartphone. As a whole, though, it is fair to say that...
August 24, 2014
In both 2014 and 2013, the survey revealed that 91% of attorneys use a smartphone. (In 2012 the number was 89% and in 2011 the number was 88%.) For the past four years, there has been a slight correlation between law firm size and smartphone use. In 2014, for example, 86% of solo attorneys reported using a smartphone, 89% in firms of 2 to 9 attorneys, 95% in firms of 10 to 49 attorneys, and for firms with 100 or more attorneys, 96% use a smartphone. As a whole, though, it is fair to say that...
Over 400,000 Attorneys Use An iPad
August 24, 2014
Last year, based on the 2013 survey, I concluded that over 400,000 attorneys were using an iPad based on the survey numbers and the assumption that there are about one million attorneys in the U.S. This year, I still believe that there are over 400,000 attorneys using an iPad, but the 2014 survey results on lawyer tablet use were surprising to me in two respects. First, lawyer tablet use is not growing nearly as much as I had expected. In 2011, 15% of attorneys reported that they used a tablet...
August 24, 2014
Last year, based on the 2013 survey, I concluded that over 400,000 attorneys were using an iPad based on the survey numbers and the assumption that there are about one million attorneys in the U.S. This year, I still believe that there are over 400,000 attorneys using an iPad, but the 2014 survey results on lawyer tablet use were surprising to me in two respects. First, lawyer tablet use is not growing nearly as much as I had expected. In 2011, 15% of attorneys reported that they used a tablet...
Update on North Carolina Bar’s Resistance to Change
August 24, 2014
In a previous post, I discussed the North Carolina’s Bar fight against an amendment to the definition of the practice of law that...
August 24, 2014
In a previous post, I discussed the North Carolina’s Bar fight against an amendment to the definition of the practice of law that...
Which Students Belong in Law School? Law Prof Offers an Answer
August 23, 2014
The need has never been greater for “idealistic, wise and ethical” lawyers to help resolve legal questions about issues ranging from the need for gun restrictions to the proper construction of the Constitution. But that doesn’t mean the current crop of 1Ls should all be in law school, according to George Mason law professor Michael Krauss. Writing at Forbes, Krauss describes two groups of law students, and says only one group should pursue a law degree. Krauss says you should be in law school...
August 23, 2014
The need has never been greater for “idealistic, wise and ethical” lawyers to help resolve legal questions about issues ranging from the need for gun restrictions to the proper construction of the Constitution. But that doesn’t mean the current crop of 1Ls should all be in law school, according to George Mason law professor Michael Krauss. Writing at Forbes, Krauss describes two groups of law students, and says only one group should pursue a law degree. Krauss says you should be in law school...
Tech Test Could Give Law Firms Incentive to Make Efficiency Gains
August 22, 2014
First they ignore you. Then they ridicule you. Then they attack you. Then you win. As a legal technology trainer, I'm eagerly anticipating the winning that should accompany the launch of the Suffolk Flaherty Legal Technology Audit. For more than a year, I’ve been working on the automated version of the LTA alongside the eponymous Casey Flaherty and Suffolk Law’s Andrew Perlman. The LTA is finally ready for prime time. Casey developed the LTA when he moved in-house. He was motivated by what...
August 22, 2014
First they ignore you. Then they ridicule you. Then they attack you. Then you win. As a legal technology trainer, I'm eagerly anticipating the winning that should accompany the launch of the Suffolk Flaherty Legal Technology Audit. For more than a year, I’ve been working on the automated version of the LTA alongside the eponymous Casey Flaherty and Suffolk Law’s Andrew Perlman. The LTA is finally ready for prime time. Casey developed the LTA when he moved in-house. He was motivated by what...
Fifth Circuit Says Decision to Remand a Dispute Back to Arbitral Panel for Clarification May Not be Appealed
August 22, 2014
The United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit refused to review a district court’s decision to remand a dispute back to the original arbitral panel. In Murchison Capital Partners, LP v. Nuance Communications, Inc., No. 13-10852, a limited partnership (“Murchison”) claimed that Nuance Communications (“Nuance”) fraudulently induced the partnership’s members to approve a merger with Nuance in return for a lump sum payment and contingent future revenues from a specific software...
August 22, 2014
The United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit refused to review a district court’s decision to remand a dispute back to the original arbitral panel. In Murchison Capital Partners, LP v. Nuance Communications, Inc., No. 13-10852, a limited partnership (“Murchison”) claimed that Nuance Communications (“Nuance”) fraudulently induced the partnership’s members to approve a merger with Nuance in return for a lump sum payment and contingent future revenues from a specific software...
