LPMT eNews

You can also obtain MCLE credits by reading articles which have appeared in past issues of The Bottom Line. Read the article, take the quiz, and you have earned an hour of self-study MCLE credit. This is a quick and easy way to obtain required MCLE credits. Read more

The public and attorneys have an opportunity to submit written comments about policy issues before the Board of Trustees. These issues may include proposals such as revisions to the sample fee agreement forms, changes to the California Board of Legal Specialization, and ethics opinions. Comments may be directed to the address listed on each proposal. Read more

In 1736, Ben Franklin uttered the famous phrase: “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” At the time, he was speaking to a group of his fellow Philadelphians about the need for fire prevention measures throughout the city. Today, nearly 300 years later, those words have proven to be utterly prophetic. Read more

Failing to understand how to choose a document review method, may run afoul of an attorney’s ethical obligations. Under ABA Model Rule 1.1, attorneys owe a duty to provide competent representation of their clients. Embedded within an attorney’s duty of competence is the duty to stay “abreast of changes in the law and its practice, including the benefits and risks associated with relevant technology.” See ABA Model Rule 1.1, cmt. 8. In California, Rule 3-110 of the California Rules of Professional Conduct governs an attorney’s duty to act competently. Read more

The front lines in tech literacy training. I spent Friday (3/8/19) in Rochester, N.Y., for the second-annual Solo and Small Firm Conference of the Monroe County Bar Association. It was a stark reminder of how far we still need to go in getting lawyers up to speed on technology. But it was also a demonstration of the important role a small bar can play in educating lawyers about tech. Read more

In an ideal world, you will always get exactly where you are supposed to be at the time that you are expected to be there. In real life, delays happen. Perhaps you got tied up at the office, in court, in a deposition that went longer than you expected, etc. So sometimes you need to let someone know that you are running late but you are on the way there. You can always send someone an email or a text that says exactly that, but the iPhone gives you some other options that might be even more useful for you. Read more

As I type this, my iPhone is tucked away inside my desk drawer under lock and key. It’s been there all day, completely out of sight. I’m slightly anxious about the notifications I might be missing, but only slightly; it’s a manageable level that’s not distracting. Read more

For one thing, clients don’t just storm the door because you’ve hung a shingle. Unless you have a significant book of business that will follow you from your last firm, you’re going to have to work hard to find people who want to pay you money to practice law. Read more

CHANGES IN THE LAW 2019 - CORPORATE [the following changes were found in Parasec Alert, the Newsletter of Parasec, National Entity Formation and Compliance [https://www.parasec.com/news/alert/AlertArchive/alertJan2019.html]] CALIFORNIA: AVOID STATE TAXES; DISSOLVE BEFORE STATE DEADLINE Qualified business entities that file for dissolution with the California Secretary of State by January 15 will not be charged any state franchise taxes for 2019. Eligible entities include corporations, LLCs, LLPs, LPs, and nonprofit corporations. If you need assistance with dissolving your entity, give us a… Read more

Just recently, we were graced with changes to our Gmails when the G Suite team created ways for us to download emails, undo and redo actions, and even strikethrough words in the text of our messages. Read more