Is the recession finally over? Some say Yes!

PricewaterhouseCoopers says the worst of the recession is over for law firms. Is it over for you too? Let us know by voting on our survey.

Read the complete article about the PricewaterhouseCoopers survey at: http://www.abajournal.com/news/survey_says_worst_of_recession_is_over_for_law_firms/

NYCLA's Mentoring Program

The overwhelming number of voters in the latest poll are interested in participating in NYCLA's pilot mentoring program. We at the Task Force on Professionalism are very excited about this program.

NYCLA’s Task Force on Professionalism conducted a study on ways legal proficiency and professionalism can be improved. Interviews and focus groups were held at large, mid-size and small firms. A key theme that emerged from the interviews and focus groups was the need for mentoring of young attorneys as the best way to increase professionalism among lawyers and increase their professional satisfaction. To that end, the Task Force and NYCLA’s CLE Institute has developed a Pilot Mentoring Program. To learn more about the program and apply, follow this link: http://www.nycla.org/index.cfm?section=CLE&page=NYCLA%20Pilot%20Mentoring%20Program

Changes in store for the legal profession--your predictions?

We know changes to the legal profession are coming: generated by dissatisfaction with the old practice model of billables and face time--lawyers want more personal time and time to raise families, and a realistic economy--companies have become more conscious of the costs of legal counsel. The topic gets interesting when you think about what form these changes will take: will it be a minor move to more flex-time, or an earth shattering overhaul (see http://taskforceonprofessionalism.blogspot.com/2009/05/id-like-reply-memo-in-size-8-please.html). A recent article in the ABA journal discussed one practitioner's characterization of proposed changes as "insipid" and hindered by pesky ethics rules. Read more at:
http://www.abajournal.com/news/most_law_firm_reform_ideas_are_insipid_and_inadequate_consultant_says/

Grab bag of a post

I won't go as far as to say that I lost all control and discipline (blame summer), but I can't deny a noticeable lag in posts. I hope to rectify that short-lived lapse with this mixed bag of a post and more regular follow-ups.

First, Congratulations Justice (as of tomorrow's swearing in) SOTOMAYOR.

Second, unsurprisingly, the overwhelming majority of voters in our Red Flags survey did not welcome the government regulation of their firms. For a fuller discussion of the issue follow this link: http://www.nycla.org/siteFiles/Publications/Publications1269_0.pdf

Third, (trend watch) as more and more firms trim or eliminate their summer classes, I am wondering if this represents a seismic change in law firm practice to a more intimate, a pre-1980s, type of firm, or is this a short-lived, belt-tightening regimen just waiting to revert back to the gut-busting excess of 2000 (oh, those lunches of summer '00).

Before you go, vote on the new survey; it's a premonition of sorts.

More on the Red Flags Rule

The Law Journal has recently picked up on this very important issue. See Daniel Wise's article "FTC Rule on Identity Theft Draws Strong Criticism From Bar Groups" from July 01, 2009. He writes "The New York State Bar Association Monday became the latest bar group to protest new Federal Trade Commission rules requiring lawyers to become involved in preventing identity theft . . . . The state bar's objections follow those submitted last week by the American Bar Association and the New York County Lawyers' Association.


The article also mentions our blog (thanks, Daniel): "The New York County Lawyers' has set up a platform on its Web site . . . where its more than 10,000 lawyers [as well as other members of the legal community] can vote on whether they support or oppose the FTC rule." So, step up and vote, we want to hear from more of our 10,000 NYCLA members and from other members of the legal community who happen to be surfing the site.