Want to be more productive at work?

Well, David Allen of Getting Things Done fame recommends some very good productivity software:  "MindManager Pro - Find out how mindmapping can transform the way you think about, and organize information while you collect, capture, and manage ideas. You can also view a replay of The Best Kept Secrets of Productivity, David's recent webinar on mindmapping. "TypingMaster Pro - Gain...

“The Real World According to Summer Associates”

Ah, who doesn't like to work with summer associates? "Law students today are a serious bunch. 'Although I appreciate the fancy lunches, dinners, ball games, retreats, etc., I am more interested in experiencing what life actually will be like as a first-year associate,' reads one typical remark from an intern at Heller Ehrman in Menlo Park, Calif. 'Make sure summer associates have enough work...

‘What’s in an e-mail sign-off?’

It's sometimes hard to write meaningful letters, but email communication is even more challenging: "CHAD TROUTWINE, an entrepreneur in Malibu, Calif., was negotiating a commercial lease earlier this year for a building he owns in the Midwest. Though talks began well, they soon grew rocky. The telltale sign that things had truly devolved? The sign-offs on the e-mail exchanges with his...

“Free Services to Inspire Your Cellphone”

Helpful NY Times techie, David Pogue, offers up a batch of useful cell phone services: "With every passing month, cellphones are becoming even more useful. Sure, it’s nice that they let you call people from the road. But lately, their reach has grown, thanks to clever programmers making links between the cellular world and the Internet. "Here, for your gratitude-generating pleasure,...

”Mock Jury’ Site Readies Launch”

Found this new service on the always-informative blog, Robert J. Ambrogi's Lawsites: "A Web site offering mock juries where lawyers can test their cases is now online and preparing for a formal launch in January. Called TrialJuries, the site will allow lawyers to submit their cases and have them 'decided' by online jurors similar to those who would serve on an actual jury at trial." You...

CNN’s Nancy Grace Sued Over ‘Grilling’ that ‘Led to Suicide’

When does an aggressive interviewer go too far? Guess we'll find out with this wrongful death lawsuit: "Relatives of a mother who committed suicide after CNN's Nancy Grace aggressively questioned her about the disappearance of her son sued the network and the talk-show host Tuesday, accusing Grace of pushing the woman over the edge. "Melinda Duckett shot herself to death on Sept. 8, one...

“Law Firm’s ‘Trial-in-a-Box’ Rescues Cases”

Well, this approach to get-there-quick-litigation sure sounds smart! "Any serious trial law firm must have the capability to 'parachute' into a problem case and try a matter on short notice. At Houston's Beirne, Maynard & Parsons, we have developed a comprehensive program to deal with remote trials, which we call 'trial-in-a-box.' This consists of custom-made cases that house separate...

10 ways to train your boss

Such very helpful tips for advancing your career! "Takeaway: If your boss routinely ignores you, withholds praise, or offers little guidance or feedback, you might need to take action. IT pro Becky Roberts looks at some ways you can get your boss on the right track. "Got a lousy boss? Never gives you guidance or the praise you so richly deserve? Never takes you to lunch? Worse, do you...

“Who’s to Blame When EDD Vendors Go Boom?”

I hate it when companies "go boom," but this article really discusses what happens "when vendors let you down": "If you engage in e-discovery, chances are you depend on vendors to help you harvest, process, search and filter digital evidence. But is that a dependency that blurs the line between lawyer and service provider? "Selecting responsive information, planning...

Paralegals miss out on 15% Christmas bonus

Not expecting much holiday cheer at this firm's year-end parties! "Paralegals and professional support lawyers at Slaughter and May will receive a bonus this year of just 3%, despite the rest of the lawyers at the firm pocketing a 15% boost under the firm’s recently introduced scheme."Slaughters’ new system will see a flat-rate bonus of 15% of salary paid to all fee-earners;...