ISBA preparing to roll out health insurance for members
A novel new health insurance program is touted by the Indiana State Bar Association as providing better coverage at lower cost, particularly for solo practitioners and small law firms.
Midsize law
Articles
Laterals remain prized law firm commodity, but offices also tapping new attorneys
Six intellectual property attorneys walked out of one law firm, boarded the elevator in their downtown Indianapolis office building and pushed the button for a competing law firm on the 19th floor. Thus, Frost Brown Todd last month bolstered its Indianapolis IP practice group by luring the entire intellectual property team from SmithAmundsen’s Indiana office. The move underscored what law firms say is a competitive job market where experienced lawyers are the hottest commodity.
Web Exclusive: Women lawyers find freedom owning law firms
Indianapolis attorney Yasmin Stump is among women lawyers who made a change to regain control over the time she spent in the workplace and become the ultimate decision maker in their careers. Stump and others chose to take a risk and open her their practices.
Report: Law firms fail at collecting client satisfaction feedback
According to a new report, only 4 percent of nearly 2,000 lawyers surveyed regularly collect formal client feedback in the form of surveys, interviews, etc., to measure client satisfaction. The dearth of law firm client satisfaction data complicates business development and referral prospects.
J. Lee McNeely recognized as Legendary Lawyer for distinguished career
A small-town attorney with a folksy manner and sly wit, J. Lee McNeely never wanted to be anywhere other than his hometown of Shelbyville. The Indiana Bar Foundation named him the 2018 Legendary Lawyer in recognition of his public service, community service and contributions to the legal profession during more than 50 years of practice.
Fighting fear, stigma of impairment due to mental health issues
Legal employers interested in helping colleagues impaired by issues such as substance abuse, depression or cognitive degeneration now have a versatile toolkit they can customize to meet the needs of their attorney and the organization.
Attorneys must be mindful of how they discard digital technology
Just as an attorney would shred outdated paper documents, contacts stored in a cellphone and files on a hard drive must be kept private when the old devices are discarded.
Hoosier law firms promoting women leadership before, after #MeToo
Across Indianapolis, women were being tapped to lead their law firms before the #MeToo movement, either as practice group chairs, committee leaders, managing partners or a combination. But the movement has sparked additional conversations in their law firms, giving credence to gender equality efforts that were already in place.
Plaintiffs firm Cohen & Malad celebrates half century
In 50 years of practice, the law firm that is now Cohen & Malad LLP has evolved from a small general practice, taking whatever legal problem walked in the door, to a 20-plus attorney operation that serves a wide range of cases from family law to bankruptcy to class actions.
Working hard or hardly working: Survey says half of partners not busy
It’s frustrating for any high-performing employee: You’re glued to your computer, fingers furiously flying across the keyboard to finish your report, brief or project. Then you look over and see a co-worker chatting with a friend, playing on their phone or scrolling through their Facebook feed, seemingly without a care or a deadline to meet.
As mergers surge, Indiana law firms not finding suitors
The legal industry continued two trends in the first quarter of 2018 — the white-hot pace of law firm combinations is getting hotter, and none of the acquisitions involved a firm either based in Indiana or with an office in the Hoosier state.
Scopelitis announces opening of Seattle branch
Indianapolis-based Scopelitis, Garvin, Light, Hanson & Feary, P.C., announced Monday the opening of a new Seattle branch. The new location brings the firm’s total U.S. offices to 14.
Law Firm Succession Planning: What are the driving forces in law firm succession plans?
Because attorneys are problem-solvers, our services are in ever-increasing demand. Many of us baby boomers and our parents are living longer and facing many living options in our retirements, as well as health issues.
Med-mal, PI firm reorganizes, ready for next 38 years
After almost 38 years in business, Montross Miller Muller Mendelson & Kennedy has undergone a significant reorganization. Two founding partners, John Muller and Tilden Mendelson, retired in 2017, and all four associates — Nathan Miller, Belinda Kunczt, Brad Kallmyer and Kerri Farmer — have been made partners.
Emerging smart contracts offer possibilities and risks
Though the idea of smart contracts was first proposed by computer scientist Nick Szabo almost 25 years ago, only recently has true potential of the format begun to be realized. Smart contracts soon may change the way many lawyers practice.
Retired detectives now providing litigation support services to attorneys
Persistence, experience and a healthy dose of intuition — with those three attributes, two retired Indianapolis police officers have created a litigation support operation that local attorneys say provides invaluable investigative work and strengthens their cases.
Now hiring: Labor statistics project paralegal job market booming
They’re the silent saviors, the unsung heroes of the practice of law. Without them, most attorneys agree the show could not go on. So, it’s no surprise that the paralegal job market is in the midst of a growth spurt predicted to last for at least eight more years.
Pass-through tax break passes over attorneys
The sweeping changes that came with the overhaul of the federal tax system included a deduction for pass-through businesses, but attorneys and other professional service providers were brushed aside and likely will not be able to reap that tax break.
Study: Many law firms unprepared for future challenges
Are law firms simply fighting the last war? Are they preparing for the future, or are they stuck in the past? Those questions are at the center of a report released Thursday that focues on stagnating demand growth, declines in productivity and a rise in expenses.
2018 outlook: Litigation spending up, law firm rosters down
In a legal market that continues to ask firms to do more with less, there is a bright spot expected to bring about a possible business increase in 2018: litigation.