NYCLA Board Adopts Task Force on Professionalism Report

On January 11, NYCLA's Task Force on Professionalism's "Report on Professionalism" was adopted by the NYCLA Board of Directors. James B. Kobak Jr., NYCLA's president elect and chair of the Task Force said, "The work of the Task Force follows NYCLA's tradition of taking on questions of serious concern to the legal community and citizenry of New York in a frank and congenial manner from a diversity of perspectives."

To download a copy of the report, visit www.nycla.org and go to the "News" section on NYCLA's homepage.

A SDNY Judge's insight on the Future of Litigation

I have provided a link to a prophetic article written by US District Judge Shira A. Scheindlin regarding the future of litigation, published in the NY Law Journal on February 5.

Judge Scheindlin addresses five changes to the practice of litigation and how they "affect the bench and bar: (1) jurisdiction; (2) pleading standards and case tracking; (3) vanishing trials and changing jury culture; (4) alternative dispute resolution; and (5) the impact of electronic communications on civil and criminal litigation."

Full text of the article can be accessed from the link below:

http://alm-editorial-us.msgfocus.com/c/13VlOzeoAUkg7SbEZM

Our collective crystal ball is not working

Our last poll asked "How long will the drop in attorney demand and association salaries/ billing rates last?"

Your answers were an even split among three of the four choices: 33.33% of voters think that within a year or two we will return to 2006 levels; 33.33% of voters don't expect to see a full recovery for at least five years; and 33.33% of voters think the drop in salaries and billing rates is the new norm and will not change EVER

only time will tell who is right in their prediction.

There is one telling piece of information from this latest survey, however--no one voted that their rates have increased and are earning more than ever.

Make sure to cast your vote on the new poll, on the right of the screen.