Law Practice Resources

One Legal Expands Online Court Filing Service

One Legal LLC, announced the expansion of its online court filing service to eight additional states. One Legal now offers next-day filing with any court of general jurisdiction in Idaho, Kansas, Maryland, New York, Oklahoma, Texas, Utah and Washington using OneLegal.com. This first-of-its-kind service simplifies the state court filing process dramatically by enabling litigation professionals to file documents, pay court fees and receive confirmation without leaving their desks.

OneLegal.com is the ideal tool for filing documents with a local court, and is particularly valuable when filing court documents in other jurisdictions—whether it be in another county or state. It eliminates the need for litigation professionals to print, sort and prepare documents by hand. It also removes the administrative burden of determining the correct filing fee while reducing the potential of missing a filing deadline.

Skipping the Party to Pay It Forward

MD Law Firm Implements $30k Philanthropy Program to Celebrate its 30th Anniversary.

Stein, Sperling, Bennett, De Jong, Driscoll & Greenfeig, P.C., one of suburban Maryland's largest full service law firms, today announced that it is celebrating its 30th year by giving $30,000 back to the community rather than spending it on the typical anniversary party. With greater aspirations than its traditional holiday charitable giving program, Stein Sperling designed a year-long philanthropic initiative to provide financial support to deserving charities within the Metropolitan Washington, D.C. area. Approaching its actual anniversary in October 2008, the Firm’s “30 for 30 Program” has finalized the first phase of direct gift projects largely focused on serving children in need.

Money Laundering Online Training Set for Unveiling

“Money Laundering Awareness” covers the basics of money laundering & risk management.

In these troubled financial times, it is crucial that legitimate businesses don’t waste time and money and exposing themselves to possible legal action.

The Money Laundering Regulations changed in December 2007 and cover accountants, tax advisors, auditors & insolvency practitioners.

However, as recently as 31st July, the respected website financeweek.co.uk suggested

“It is now more than six months since the Money Laundering Regulations 2007 became law and any unofficial grace period from the authorities is well and truly over. Yet there remains a significant number of regulated businesses that have not managed to put their compliance house in order.”

(source http://www.financeweek.co.uk/item/6266 )

Usually covered by boring text books, this online course brings the dull subject of money laundering awareness alive.

This course is aimed at all levels of staff working in accountancy and financial services. It features the highest quality graphics and is written in plain English.

There is no special software to download and because it is online, it is accessible anywhere by anyone.

Sharp End Training Director Jonathan Senior said

“We have worked tirelessly in the last few weeks translating accountancy gobbledygook and jargon into plain English that normal people understand. We want this course to be useful for all staff not just those with accountancy or financial training”

One clear duty on firms is to provide evidence of staff training on money laundering. This course does that easily & cheaply” he added

Prices start at just £25 per user including full online management reporting dashboard to keep tabs on who has done what. However, managers can register for exclusive priority free access in advance of the 17th September launch by registering at www.money-laundering-training.co.uk

Osgoode Hall Law School Renamed Max Beaver School of Law, in Honor of Former Student

(Toronto, ON) Harry Whithers, former Dean of Osgoode Hall Law School, today announced that the school's Board of Governors has unanimously agreed to rename the venerable institution in honour of former student Maxwell Beaver. Henceforth, the school that has educated many of our country's top lawyers and judges will be known as the Max Beaver School of Law.

"We have been discussing for some time, just how we could honour Max" stated Dean Whithers. "He is widely regarded as one of the great legal minds of our generation and we are proud that his name will forever be associated with our school".

Mr. Beaver, who has long been compared with such legendary figures as Justice Felix Frank'n'Furter, inexplicably abandoned a promising career in law after leaving Osgoode Hall for the last time almost thirty years ago. Rumours persist that he is planning a return to law on his 65th birthday in 2020. Mr. Beaver has steadfastly refused to comment on this speculation.

At a re-dedication ceremony this morning on the campus of York University, Mr. Beaver was characteristically enigmatic. When asked to describe what the honour meant to him, Mr. Beaver, who has lived most of the past three decades in seclusion, would only offer a terse "no comment".

Solo Practitioner Attorneys Have Greater Risks

(Los Angeles, CA) What happens to legal files if an attorney become incapacitated or dies? What could happen to the attorney-client trust funds? Who would take possession of the clients' files? What happens to the attorney-client privilege? Who will sell the practice? Who is allowed to look at a client's file? Can you make your law practice ready for sale?For sole practitioners, these questions pose significant risks as well as great planning opportunities, as long as planning is done before incapacity.

Esquire Innovations Releases iCreate version 5.0

v5.0 legal desktop suite provides full Microsoft 2007 compatibility.

Esquire Innovations, Inc., a leading provider of Microsoft Office integration software services and applications for the legal market, today announced the release of iCreate Version 5.0, its comprehensive and integrated template and macro creation and automation tool. Version 5.0 boasts complete compatibility with Microsoft Office 2007 and Windows Vista resulting in workflow automation utilizing Microsoft's ribbon concept, a more accessible feature set, as well as dramatic document creation and automation speed increases.

iCreate V5.0 revolutionizes the use of templates and automation by providing firms with a highly customizable application which can be customized by in-house staff without VBA or programming experience, and is simple to administer. This newest version includes many attractive features and useful functionality including:

Fastcase to Provide Free Legal Research with State Bar of Arizona

New member benefit from Fastcase will bring next-generation law library and free legal research to desktop of every lawyer in the state of Arizona.

Fastcase today announced an agreement with the State Bar of Arizona to provide free next-generation legal research to all SBA members. This exclusive member benefit will deliver federal and state law onto the desktop of every lawyer in the state.

The agreement includes law from Arizona and all 50 states, as well as federal law. Members log in to the service through the website of the State Bar of Arizona, http://www.myazbar.org/.

Law Firm Marketing Ignorance Rampant With Attorneys

Law Firm Marketing Ignorance Rampant With Attorneys

Solo and small firm attorneys are the most ignorant. Darwin's rule of survival of the fittest will cull the litter in a brutal fashion if this ignorance continues. Is there a solution?

Law firm marketing needs to be the first thing on every attorney's mind if they are interested in avoiding bar complaints, legal malpractice, working longer and living a life of professional poverty. Many attorneys have sort of "tunnel vision" when it comes to marketing. This "tunnel vision" about marketing in law practice management also makes them vulnerable to being "ripped off" by vendors who prey on their ignorance and results in bad outcomes for their clients according to Henry Harlow, an attorney marketing coach. Harlow says "Among the biggest waste of money promoted by vendors selling to lawyers is delivered by website-building vendors in general and law firm marketing search engine optimization (SEO) firms in particular. It does not stop there either. Online legal directory sites, TV, radio, print and yellow page salesmen capitalize on the 'marketing challenged' attorney as well."

Esquire Innovations Releases iScrub Version 5.0

Esquire Innovations Releases iScrub Version 5.0

iScrub 5.0 for metadata management released. Metadata management tool to address electronic discovery and law firm security concerns.

Temecula, CA (PRWEB) March 27, 2008 -- Esquire Innovations, Inc., a leading provider of Microsoft Office integration software services and applications for the legal market, today announced the release of iScrub version 5.0, the latest upgrade of its metadata removal and management utility for Microsoft Office (Word, Excel & PowerPoint) and PDF files.

iScrub v5.0, an enterprise-wide application for metadata removal and metadata management in law firms, uses sophisticated technologies to remove visible metadata and clean the hidden or difficult to reach file elements. It also provides a centralized administration feature that allows firms to establish, protect and control the metadata removal settings. Version 5 integrates with MS Office 2007. Based on Office 2007 XML document structure, iScrub has the ability to examine, protect, mine, and manage metadata in much more thorough fashion.

Legal Expert Connection Projects Top 10 Law Firm Practice Areas of Media Interest in 2008

Legal Expert Connections Projects Top 10 Law Firm Practice Areas of Media Interest in 2008

The top 10 law firm practice areas of interest to the media, based on current news events, are projected to be real estate, government, intellectual property, international, privacy, immigration, trusts & estates, environment, employment and health care. Attorneys and legal marketers are advised to plan their 2008 communications strategy accordingly, notes law firm marketing consultant Margaret Grisdela.