Better Lawyer

Fall 2008

• I Am A Lawyer - Now What
  "So, what do you want to be when you grow up?" is a question that all kids, and some adults, are asked repeatedly.
• Practicing Law in an Electronic World
  As recent law school graduates, many of us had the ability to download bar study materials to our iPods, completed law school examinations, and perhaps even the bar exam from our laptops...
• The Truth About What Clients Really Want
  In dealing with the courts, we learned early on how to communicate effectively with judges, no matter what their attitude towards us, or the facts of the case.
• Always Consider Jury Instructions Before Going to Trial
  You're preparing for trial. You've practiced your opening statement, you can't wait to impreach the other party, your witnesses are prepared, you've thought about voir dire questions, and you know how to admit your evidence.
• Legal Writing Tip: Aid Your Readers with Effective Document Design
  Many new lawyers spend endless hours researching and writing important documents and pleadings without spending ample time giving thought to effective document design.
• How Do Young Lawyers Rate Communication
  "One of the problems with communication...is the illusion that it has been accomplished."
• Telecommuting and Flip-Flop Fridays - Where does an associate know to draw the line on casual dress
  New lawyers face questions and concerns different from those just a year ago.
• Book Review - Making Your Case - The Art of Persuading Judges
  Let's put the bottom line first: is the new book by Justice Scalia and Bryan Garner worth reading and owning? Yes.
• The Lighter Side of the Law
  Our profession is a serious one, full of lasting consequence and human complexity.
• Getting to Work - It's as Easy as Riding a Bike
  Spiraling gas prices. Frustrating traffic jams. Expanding waistlines. Environmental degradation. There are many reasons to consider cycling to work.
• Tis the Season - A New Lawyers Guide to Holiday Party Navigation
  Office and client holiday parties are an excellent opportunity to build your professional network, connect with the client that you have been looking for an "in" with and catch up with friends and colleagues in the community.
• Welcome to Columbus - Introduction to Downtown Living
  Whether you have relocated to Columbus, or are just growing out of your law school apartment, Columbus offers several options, renting or buying, for downtown living for younger lawyers.

Spring 2008

• Better Lawyer - Message from the Chair
  I recently attended a pretrial conference where all three of the lawyers present were “new lawyers.” We were all several minutes early and spent the time before the conference talking with one another in the hallway.
• Beware the Traps of Email
  One of the easiest ways for young lawyers to get into trouble is through the careless use of email. Evidence of what can go wrong with email is easy to find.
• Changing Jobs in a Legal Career - Leaving Gracefully
  The reasons to change jobs vary, but the fundamentals of a successful transition are universal. As with most situations attorneys face, the most important consideration in changing jobs is the effect of your transition on the clients you help represent.
• Dealing with Pro Se Parties
  It is said that a person who represents him or herself has a fool for a client. The Ohio Rules of Professional Conduct, effective February 1, 2007, seek to protect said “fools” by setting forth specific guidelines...
• Firm V In-House - A Junior Lawyer's Dilemma
  I began my legal career at Porter, Wright, Morris, & Arthur, where I was an associate for two years. I then left the law firm to pursue an in-house counsel opportunity at a Fortune 500 company.
• It's Really Okay to Begin a Sentance with BUT or AND
  Whether a sentence should begin with a conjunction has been debated for centuries. Although folklore condemns the practice, no credible source does so. And condemnation of the practice is not supported in books on rhetoric, grammar, or usage.
• Simple Steps to Prepare For and Prevent Household Emergencies
  Most people tend to think that a fire, flood, gas leak, tornado, hurricane or other catastrophe will never happen to them in their home.
• So You're Getting Married
  Getting married is a wonderful occurrence that brings together friends and family like no other single event in your life. If you have been in a wedding, you’ve seen first hand some of the planning, organization, family dynamics, and cat herding...
• Spring, When a Young Man's Fancy Turns to Thoughts of Golf
  Golf and the law have a long history. Its fact, the first recorded reference to golf was a 1471 proclamation by King James II of Scotland banning the sport because it took time away from soldiers’ archery practice.
• Utilizing Time Created by A Lull in Assignments
  Due to the state of the U.S. economy and a number of other factors, legal experts and forecasters agree that law-firm associate hours were markedly down in 2007 as compared to previous years.
• Voices of Our Community - by Janica A. Pierce
  As President-elect for the Women Lawyers of Franklin County (“WLFC”), I am responsible for organizing and arranging speakers for the luncheon series.
• You Need a Marketing Plan, Now - by Nicole VanderDoes
  Do you have a marketing plan? There is no excuse for your answer to be anything other than yes. A marketing plan is easy to create and will significantly impact your future. Whether you call it marketing, networking, rainmaking...