Chuck Newton

ARE YOU INTERESTED IN POSSIBLY JOINING ME IN A THIRD WAVE SUMMIT OR SABBATICAL TO JAPAN NEXT SUMMER? PLEASE LET ME KNOW!

Did you know the Biblical Sabbath is the origin for the present-day practice of "the weekend", meaning Saturday and Sunday in which most do not have work scheduled, or where, like me, your work schedule is more relaxed.  It comes from the Hebrew Shabbat meaning literally a "ceasing" in work.  It is meant to be a hiatus.  Also from this comes the concept of sabbatical, which is an extended version, which traditionally lasted a year.  But, in recent time sabbatical has come to mean any extended absence in one's career in order to achieve something.

Many times what we want to achieve away from work is just a better understanding of things.  We just want to get away and experience new and much different surroundings.  To open up our minds to new possibilities.  To avoid the mental restrictions and constraints under which we live from day to day.

There is just something about being away for a while, and I do not mean simply near a computer or cell phone in a different location.  I mean out of pocket and mysteriously away from the action long enough to consider other things and other factors that might positively impact our lives.  To get away to someplace you might not otherwise go on your own.

So, although I have not made any plans, I would like your input on what I am thinking.

I am thinking about ditching it all for a week next summer, leaving the country for a more foreign culture, in an effort to see how the rest of the world lives and works -- literally.

I am thinking about a Third Wave conference, or really more of an un-conference of sorts (a sabbatical if you will) wherein we legal professionals (lawyers, assistants, law students, techies, consultants, bloggers and the like) can commune and discuss with each other the concepts, the benefits and the nuts and bolts of the Third Wave Practice of Law, including the home-based practice, the virtual law firm, the niche practice of law, cheap tech, marketing and growing a non-traditional law practice, and collaboration, just to name areas.  While, at the same time, getting our minds clear and our horizons adjusted and calibrated properly, by experiencing a different culture, a different environment, seeing the sights, and studying really comparative law or legal practices.  How does the law differ in different places of the World?

CLE would be great, and with some planning there is no reason why this could not be added or achieved so as to kill two birds with one stone.  This might also add some tax incentive to the trip.

Get away from the kids, the pets, and the pressures of the home and office for a week.  Leave the cell phone and the email behind.  Travel and experience and share and learn in a group of like minded law professionals.

I am thinking that maybe we can plan a trip together to Japan thinking that what will change our perspective culturally will assist us in changing our perspective about the practice of law in our country, and allow us to more fully understand what is truly possible.

It also goes to better understanding and appreciation of the concept of work-life balance or blending.

Japan, it would seem, would offer us that difference, enjoyment and entertainment we all want.  And, with its mass transit, it could very well offer us something reasonably affordable.

My daughter, Mary, knows the county well, has worked there, has a degree in Japanese and is fluent.  Many in Japan speak English as well.  She could be our guide, and in that she will have finished her third year of law school by that time, she fits in our criteria and has our interest at heart.

I would hope that along with seeing the traditional sights, that we could arrange to visit a Japanese law school, a law firm and government offices to get a perspective how how things differ and not.

I understand that it is a lot to consider, but I would like to be able to gauge the interest out there for such a trip next summer.  There is no reason to go to the effort over the next year if there is not enough serious interest.

So, here is what I would ask of you.  If you would be interest in attending such a retreat and learning experience next summer (alone or with your significant other), please email me and let me know.  I want to start by compiling a list of possible participants that want to understand more about the Third Wave practice of law and other cultures.  I am looking for both newbies and those who would have the capability and would care to share your expertise with everyone about related matters, such as law firm tech, blogging, marketing, networking, collaborating, niching a practice, working from home, unbundled legal services or the like.  Obviously, there is no obligation at this point and no money to put down for the trip, but I would like to have a list of people who would be greatly interest.

Email me at -

chuck@chucknewton.net

And, give me your contact information and any ideas that you might have for such a trip.

Other bloggers and social media types, please help me spread the word to other legal professionals.  Your assistance would be greatly appreciated.

If we get enough interest, we will start planning and organizing something more formal for your review.

Do You Participate In Religious Lawyer Organizations?

I do not necessarily do ,although I have attended meetings in the distant past and I certainly do not have a problem with anybody else that does join and attend these organizations.  Although it is obvious that most lawyers do not explore this possibility you have to wonder why.  Why not feel comfortable with those that think like you in many ways?  Maybe it should be at least a casual relationship that all of us should consider.

Jewish attorneys have organizations such as the American Association of Jewish Lawyers and Jurists, the International Association of Jewish Lawyers And Jurists, and the Jewish Lawyers Guild among others.

Catholics have the American Catholic Lawyers Association, The International Catholic Lawyers Society, the Catholic Lawyers Society, and the Catholic Lawyers Guild among others.

Protestants generally have more general Christian organizations such as ChristianLawyers.Com, the Christian Legal Society, Christian Trial Lawyers Association, among others.

Muslim's have the National Association of Muslim Lawyer (NAML), the Muslim Bar Association of New York (MBANY), the Muslim Bar Association of Chicago, and the Bay Area Association of Muslim Lawyers (BAAML) among others.

After all, the practice of law and the make up of lawyers are not divorced from the concept of faith.  We trust and worship our God, although maybe in different ways and among a number of different religions.  But, we do have faith in common, or that confident belief and trust in the truth and trustworthiness of God.  Why should we not explore that more deeply?  Why should we, in our own way, not try to feel more comfortable in fellowship with those that believe as we do?

Of course I think we all have to strive better to be more tolerant of others that do not necessarily believe as we do, but there is nothing wrong with associating with others that do believe as we do.

The Wedding

I have received a lot of email and communications concerning the wedding of my daughter Mary.  It was a very nice wedding.  Here are a few photos taken by some people.  The officials ones are not back, yet.

The first picture is at the rehearsal dinner when the bride's mother and I share a cry after we are told by the bride that we have to, of course, finish paying for her JD/MBA.

The picture of the two families (or I guess three families now).  We are on your left of the bride as you look at the picture.

My four children from you left to right.  Patricia (PJ), Mary, Charles II (Charlie), and Mark.

A picture of the bride.

Dad and daughter.

Bride and groom dance.

Mary Gets Married

Well, my oldest daughter gets married on Saturday, June 13, 2009.  How somebody juggles all of the tasks and duties she has, I am not sure.  I do not know how her husband to be will handle this little ball of fire, but I ask if the world is ready for this over achieving lawyer - -

 

5 Cholesterol Myths

Okay now, what is this doing on a law blog?  I know, if you want health news you will visit a health website.

But, this is important for a couple of different reasons to lawyers.  First, there is so much disinformation out there concerning health, that I am tired of every lawyer I know being on edge or feeling guilty for what they eat.  Second, I get tired of just being on guard and on edge myself about these issues.  I work at home, and I eat primarily home prepared food, even at lunch.  (Can you say "good old fashion leftovers").  It is stressful watching colleagues struggle and in fighting the temptations I have sometimes.  I get tired of seeing others and worrying myself that if I eat an egg, or butter my bread that I am sacrificing my health and the financial well being of my family.

So, on Health.Com I found The Top 5 Cholesterol Myths, and I wanted to share them with you.  They are:

Myth 1: Americans have the highest cholesterol in the world.  Not true.  We are in the middle range.

Myth 2: Eggs are evil.  They have dietary cholesterol, but this type of cholesterol is not necessarily as harmful as once thought.  When dietary cholesterol intake rises, your body compensates by producing less of its own cholesterol.

Myth 3:  Kid's cannot have cholesterol problems.  Research has shown that atherosclerosis — the narrowing of the arteries that leads to heart attacks—can start as ear;u as age eight.

Myth 4: Food is heart-healthy if it says "0 mg cholesterol".  It is believed to be the least important. Saturated fat (found in animal foods and dairy products) and trans fats (found in packaged foods) appear to have a far greater impact on low-density lipoprotein (LDL), the so-called bad cholesterol that causes atherosclerosis, than dietary cholesterol.

Myth 5: Cholesterol is always a bad thing.  High cholesterol can be dangerous, but cholesterol itself is essential to various bodily processes, from insulating nerve cells in the brain to providing structure for cell membranes. That's why your body makes the white, waxy substance (about 75% of the cholesterol in your blood is made by the liver and cells elsewhere in your body).

Jiffy Lube Law Blog

I am trying out a new blog on Solo Practice University.  Some of the articles are re-purposed from the years of work and the, approaching 2,000 posts, on this blog.  However, the blog will be more tightly focused on highlighting the niche practice of law, and mainly to provide examples of niche practices as I find the.  It is called JIFFY LUBE LAW, as it reflects the basis of what is a profitable and desirable niche.  You can visit Jiffy Lube Law by CLICKING HERE.  I would encourage you to take a look and add it to your blog reader.

Thinking Inside The Box

Thinking outside of the box?  I must admit I do not think I have ever appreciated the term.  To me it is kind of a throw away term or saying.  Much like hearing another person on a design show mispronounce the word Voilà!  Most discard the 'v' sound.  Others ignore the 'w' sound.  It is just much overused like a teenager constantly interspersing every sentence with the word "like".  Besides, it derives from the French meaning "there".  So, just use the word "there".  Likewise, "thinking outside of the box" is a throw away term, well over used, and like Voilà! it is really just used to get someone's attention.  What does it mean anyway?  Nothing much.

Besides, whether creative or unimaginative, inspired or untalented, cool or square, do not we all really think inside the box?

We as a people are use to boxes of sorts.  We essentially work in boxes, we live in boxes, we drive in boxes, we move with boxes, we even post on blogs that resemble one dimensional boxes.  We stick are computer components in boxes.  Our churches are boxes. We attend law schools, which are boxes. We carry stuff in briefcases that are essentially boxes.  We cook in pots and pans, which are really just boxes.  So, we are essentially boxed in, are we not?  More importantly we are boxed in by choice, because it is better to think inside the box and not out.

We have a better chance rearranging and thinking through problems that we can see, feel and understand the parameters.  Everything outside of our boxes are too big, too complex, too diverse, too distant, around which we just cannot get our heads.  So, really, thinking outside of the box does not offer anybody a guarantee of inspiration.  It is simply easier (or should I say possible) to be creative inside the box of details and constraints.  It is easier to figure out how to improve the box than it is figure out how to rearrange open, infinite, empty space.

Ernie Schenck, the author of the book The Houdini Solution writes, "the biggest secret of productive creative people is that they embrace obstacles, they don’t run from them. In their minds every setback is an opportunity, every limitation is a chance. Where others see a wall, they see a doorway".

It is okay to consider escaping from a box, but trying to think outside the box most often results in chaotic brainstorming.  In the Third Wave Practice of Law we propose escaping from particular types of boxes.  But, where do you go to find refuge?  Other boxes!  We can leave a practice area for another, but that is leaving one box for another.  Or, it is leaving one box and creating a new box in which to reside.  We can move our law practices home, but that is leaving the big box downtown and moving into the box that is your house.

What we are talking about is building a structure that encourage idea development.  But, this occurs inside of a box -- maybe a different box, but a box nonetheless.

In terms of the Third Wave, we are more concerned with changing boxes and then reorganizing boxes to operate more efficiently, cheaply and with a greater degree of satisfaction.

In writing this post, I found this video interview with Keven Coyne.  It is pretty interesting.

1,700 And Growing

This blog has surpassed 1,700 posts.  That is a lot of content.  It represents a good deal of time and a whole lot of thought.  But, I appreciate your readership.

Easter Is Here

I guess it means different things to different people, but it is a good time regardless, and it is here.

I Have Decided, If You Work At Home You Need One Of These