Chuck Newton

Mel Torme - Sweet Georgia Brown , Just in Time

Multitasking Results In ... Excuse Me, My Phone Is Ringing...

The New York Times has a great article on the perils of multitasking ...

Um ... Wait a minute ... I'm on the phone ... Just a sec ... Let me check my email ... Oops, there's the FedEx guy .. Now, where was I ... Okay ... Yep ... Multitasking ...

I Have Been Slaga-ed, Again! HA!!

I really do not know what category in which to place this blog -- education, fun, humor, of interest, research?  In a strange way it is all of those things.  Maybe, just maybe, it is because I have, and am, working at home and living through the teenage thing.  But, if you are not reading Sandy Slaga's Blog you are missing out.  I personally think it ranks up there with Erma Bombeck's work (but then I am probably dating myself considerably).  My favorite Bombeck books?  The Grass Is Always Greener Over The Septic Tank, and If Life Is A Bowl Of Cherries, What Am I Doing In The Pitts?  I remember Bombeck use to call motherhood the "second oldest profession".  Slaga, from what I can tell is a mom, a lawyer, with teenagers, stuck at home.  That can only lead to great writing.  Recently, she has blogged about Anatomy of a Teenage Bathroom, describing her son's bathroom cleaning skills, and Boobs by Vicki, comparing her bra hunting days with that of her daughter.  (My wife tells me the stories).  What fun to laugh at ourselves (and at Sandy).  These are short reads and they take my mind off my work for a short while.  Thanks for the break, Sandy.  Much appreciated.

Opposing Counsel Are Not The Only Ones Subject To Demeaning Lawyers

Look, I will be the first to admit that I am not perfect.  Maybe I should not be throwing the first stone.  Law is a stressful business and, as such, everybody has their moments.  However, I think we can all agree that there are way too many lawyers that are always in the moment.  That is the reason that I found this letter excerpt from a legal secretary at a Big Law firm, located on Bob Sutton's Work Matter Blog,who works with too many of these people very telling.  I believe it demonstrates that we, as opposing counsel, are not the only ones that are subject to the wrath and attitude of these asses.  People of this nature tend to bite the hand that feeds them.  It is hardly productive.  It is demoralizing.  When will something be done?

UH Law Moving Up

Not that we did not always know here in Houston, but the University of Houston Law Center is back on the move.  There is good news buried in the recent U. S. News & World Report recent law school rankings.  Not only is UH Law listed in the top rankings, but shows one of the largest increase in ranking of the top 100 law schools, increasing 10 spaces since last year.

Jenkens & Gilchrist Bites The Dust

In what I guess is the realization of the maxim that pigs get fat and hogs get slaughtered,   Jenkens & Gilchrist will shut its doors after being ordered to pay $76 million in federal penalties for its alleged role in creating illegal tax shelters.

Truth Justice & Credibility

A Cat Got Your Tongue

Dan Hull has a great post on his blog entitled Asking Clients for Work: "Why Are Lawyer So Shy?" It is interesting in that it reflects a general dislike among many lawyers to never ask for work.  They want to nail up a shingle and then wonder why business does not come to them.  Or, they sit around moaning as to why they cannot get more business.  Then eventually they will try advertising because it is somehow more comfortable for them to not personally confront the issue of asking directly for employment with a potential client. 

Tip: Keeping Contact Information Readily Available On Basecamp Is Easy And Desirable

If you use Basecamp for notes, calendaring and collaboration purposes, you will want to keep particular information, such as contact information on your client, court and opposing counsel readily available on this service.  I do this by going to the "Overview" of a case or project I have set up, then clicking on the "Settings" link, which is located on the upper portion of the page on my right hand side.  This takes me to the "Projects Setting" page.  This page contains a "Overview page announcement" section.  In this section I add the names, addresses, telephone numbers, and email addresses (which are highlighted so when you click on them it brings up your email client) for my clients, the court and opposing counsel.  I also list such relevant things as the case number, and a brief description of the dispute.  Right under this section there is a check box that says, "Yes, display this announcement on the overview page".  You want to remember to click this box.  Then go to the bottom of the page and click "Save Changes".  The information will then appear on the "Overview" section of this project or case, and will always be available to you and your team no matter where anybody is located.

Technoshock? Yikes!!

Susan Cartier-Liebel has a great post on "technoshock". It is, in short, when you feel overwhelmed by the technology you need (and you are in solo practice).  Susan defines it as, "when the advancement of technology is so fast-paced that it outstrips the ability of the individual to comprehend it".

Here is the truth of the matter.  I am not a nurd or a geek.  I feel a sense of technoshock every single day.  But, technoshock is really about apprehension.  It is kind of like your first semester of law school in that regard.  It is not the test at the end of the semester that kills you, it is all of the apprehension leading up to it.  You just have to dive in and operate on faith to a degree that everything will turn out alright.