Practically every day, in one legal publication or another, you're going to read about how the billable hour will eventually meet its demise. Whether this occurs in the next 10-20 years is questionable. What we do know, is that CorporateAmerica is pushing back hard against inflated hourly rates including paralegal rates that can go as high as $250.00 per hour or more. When news broke...
Finally, a firm that is honest about what it's doing. Only, I'm not so sure this is good news for paralegals. It may be good news for graduate students in India and for clients opting for lower cost legal fees. It seems like you can have one or the other but never both. Howrey has opened an office in India. "It's not outsourcing," insists Robert Ruyak, managing...
I'm telling you, when a field pops, it really pops. Apparently, the increased use of electronic discovery has resulted in a new set of practitioners: e-discovery special masters.According to The Daily Record, a special master is an officer of the court appointed to help with its proceedings, and may perform functions such as taking testimony or advising the court as a neutral expert....
Now here's an interesting situation: Brian Valery, a paralegal working for Anderson, Kill, a pretty large firm in Washington, D.C. ups and decides he's going to tell his colleagues and supervisors that he's going to law school. After a time, he decides he's going to let them know he passed the bar. Impressed with his work and obviously in good with the partners, the firm hires...
Paralegals exist in third world countries and are often the heroes of the villages. A fascinating article in The New Nation, illustrates just how important paralegals are to one village in Bangladesh. Banchte Shekha: Development Program for Women and Children was founded by one woman, Angela Gomes-a tall, vibrant women in her early forties in this country where thatch and bamboo huts...
You can't get away from the the legal market is beginning to slow quite dramatically. Especially hard hit have been paralegals and attorneys working in the securities, finance and real estate sectors. Not to mention what's happening out here in Los Angeles with the continuing Writers Guild strike. Companies and law firms have begun layoffs of attorneys and paralegals and despite the roar of the...
With the doom and gloom news about slow growth and possible recession swirling around us, there appears to be a light at the end of the tunnel. Wait! It's not a train coming at us. It's actually good news. According to a press release from Robert Half issued today, The hiring of paralegals is expected to remain steady as law offices continue to build teams to handle...
Well, it was bound to happen sooner or later. Or, maybe it's happened and we just don't know about it. A dispute between Sullivan & Cromwell and e-discovery vendor, Electronic Evidence Discovery (EED) has escalated into all out war as S&C files a suit in state supreme court in Manhattan while EED countersues in Seattle. The original suit filed by S&C alleges that EED which...
It’s not unusual for a firm to use tough tactics when litigating a case. But tough tactics cost Patricia Dillman, (a litigation support manager who came up through the ranks as a paralegal) her job. This story seems to be everywhere. After working under three bosses in less than a year, Dillman, the director of Holland & Knight’s litigation support group, decided to look for a fresh...
If you have ever spent more than 3 hours waiting on a tarmac, trapped in a huge metal contraption with screaming babies, no food, overflowing toilets and stale air, you will definitely view the Airlines as the Monster of the Century. Unbelievably, an airline industry trade group has filed a notice of appeal in its challenge to New York state's new law requiring better treatment of...