Read more from The Estrin Report

“Pushing Legal Research Beyond Google”

Good article about Internet research, specifically for paralegals: "When it comes to sleuthing for information there are no hard and fast rules for paralegals, except maybe this one: Don't ignore the Internet. "The courts may notice if you do. "Last year, an Indiana appeals court agreed to dismiss a lawsuit because the plaintiff took three years to find a postal address and serve...

Paralegal reports beatings by Gitmo guards

And to this news report, we say a hearty "good work"! "Guards at Guantanamo Bay bragged about beating detainees and described it as common practice, a Marine sergeant said in a sworn statement obtained by The Associated Press. "The two-page statement was sent Wednesday to the Inspector General at the Department of Defense by a high-ranking Marine Corps defense lawyer....

“Yours, Mine and Ours: What You Need to Know About IP”

Sounds like a very informative (& fun!) roundtable discussion: "This summer, an employee of the Coca-Cola Co. made news when she -- along with two others -- allegedly attempted to steal trade secrets from Coke and sell them to PepsiCo Inc. It's not every day that a company goes public when someone tries to loot its intellectual property, but Coke's decision to do so garnered national...

“Ontario Paralegals Say NO to Regulation by Lawyers!”

Very strong press release from Ontario paralegals: "The Ontario Justice Committee hearings regarding Bill 14 (Access to Justice Act) are coming to a close at Queen's Park. One thing is very certain . . . Independent paralegals in Ontario are in a David and Goliath fight for the very survival of their profession!! "If Schedule C to Bill 14 is enacted, without amendment, Ontario...

“OnSite E-Discovery Ranked As Top Ten Provider”

And the company says that the jump to top ten ranking in one year validates its customer-centric focus: "OnSite E-Discovery, a global e-discovery and forensics firm serving law firms and corporations, recently received notable recognition as a Top 10 electronic discovery service provider in the 2006 Socha-Gelbmann E-Discovery Survey. The survey, published by independent technology...

“Adobe Acrobat Updates Likely to Lure Lawyers”

Okay, these changes sound very helpful! "Another chapter in the history of Adobe Acrobat opened Monday, and this one includes some juicy plot points that might tantalize the legal industry. "Acrobat 8 now devotes a whole toolbar to redaction features allowing you to mark, apply and 'Search & Redact.' You can use different colors to delineate why you redacted certain portions (red...

“Lycoming County Paralegal Association Establishes Scholarship”

Good for the association & the person this scholarship honors: "The Lycoming County Paralegal Association is honoring one of its members by establishing a scholarship fund for legal assistant/paralegal students at Pennsylvania College of Technology. "The Maxine Stiffler/Lycoming County Paralegal Associate Scholarship Fund will provide an annual award of $250 to a student in the...

Enron task force receives top award

Good news -- paralegals serving on that task force are included: "U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales this week bestowed his office's top annual award to federal prosecutors, FBI agents and paralegals who have served on the Justice Department's Enron Task Force, including those involved in this year's fraud and conspiracy trial of former Enron chairman Ken Lay and former CEO Jeff...

More Paralegal Bios/Profiles!

Love seeing these acknowledgements of paralegal contributions: Vermont's Paul, Frank & Collins (too bad only attorney profiles include photos): Melanie F. Black, Heather A. Moreau, Robert L. Scott, & Carie A. Tarte Missouri's Hazelwood & Weber LLC: Louise Pratt, Renee Avis, Cynthia M. Brooks, Terrah E. Stallcup Indiana's May Oberfell Lorber: Deborah L. Denman, Pamela S. Hartman,...

Why attorneys (& paralegals?) quit

This survey focused on lawyers, but wouldn't paralegals say the same things? "What causes good attorneys to jump ship? The answer: A bigger title and more money are the chief reasons. "Twenty-six percent of attorneys polled recently said they would leave their current jobs for opportunities to advance professionally. Twenty-one percent of said a pay increase would be their primary...