Opinion - The Indiana Lawyer

Bell & Grass: 3 things to know about attorneys’ social media

September 30, 2020 | James J. Bell and Stephanie L. Grass

Because our parents (who have trouble with remote controls) are now officially on Facebook, we can safely assume that close to all attorneys are using social media. Using social media is simply an inexpensive and convenient way to get the word out about your law firm. However, there is an element of risk that comes along with an attorney’s use of social media. These risks were highlighted in July, when the Indiana Supreme Court Disciplinary Commission listed social media’s many “minefields.”

DTCI: Working while sick? It’s different in the COVID-19 era

September 30, 2020 | From DTCI

In the age of COVID-19, having a system that incentivizes employees to work while sick is not tenable. Most of the symptoms of COVID-19 overlap with the symptoms of illnesses such as strep throat, bronchitis, sinus infection and other viruses that are so common when the weather turns cold. As we well know, if an employee’s illness turns out to be COVID-19, working while sick could be a medical calamity or worse for a vulnerable coworker.

Jones: The curious case(s) of Carter Lake: Small town, big decisions

September 16, 2020

Few small cities or towns can claim to be the center or the impetus for a U.S. Supreme Court decision. However, Carter Lake, Iowa, with a population that has never eclipsed 4,000 people, can count no less than three.

Stafford: Holcomb’s calculation leads voters to risk health or liberty

September 16, 2020 | Dave Stafford

Crises present tests of leadership, and Holcomb’s milquetoast excuses for not backing no-excuse mail-in voting during this time will haunt him and define him. This is easily his worst hour in a long political career.

JLAP: Lawyers benefit from holistic wellness programs

September 16, 2020 | Rebecca Berfanger

Before the pandemic, large law firms and legal departments in Indiana were among 187 signatories around the country who pledged to encourage attorneys to focus on wellness and wellbeing as part of an American Bar Association initiative. Since March, some of the programs have added or adapted programming to virtual programs, including yoga and meditation.

Plugged In: When it comes to data breaches, security starts with you

September 16, 2020 | Deanna Marquez

Although many of us prefer to believe that we are protected and that our IT department, antivirus and malware tools are keeping us safe from all account hacking threats, it is vital that we understand our role in keeping our own accounts safe.

Hammerle on … “The Personal History of David Copperfield,” “Tenet” and “The New Mutants”

September 16, 2020 | Robert Hammerle

Movie reviewer Bob Hammerle submits his first movie reviews of the pandemic era that might be called the good, the bad and the puzzling.

Quick: Law firms embrace new ways to communicate during COVID-19

September 2, 2020 | Jon Quick

While once it was almost imperative that lawyers needed to meet in person with clients, that is not necessarily the case anymore. Many law firms have embraced newer platforms to keep in touch, including all forms of social media. That’s a good thing and will be used long after this pandemic is over.

Bont: White-collar prosecutions decline amid COVID-19 pandemic

September 2, 2020 | Jonathan Bont

The onset and continuation of COVID-19 distancing precautions has led to fewer criminal prosecutions in general and fewer “white collar” prosecutions in particular. White collar criminal investigations are dependent upon search warrants for business records, witness cooperation and grand jury testimony. It shouldn’t come as a shock to anyone that witnesses are even less welcoming of government agents into their homes and offices (and government agents are certainly less inclined to make such visits) at this time.

Dreyer: Question while working remotely — Will we ever meet again?

September 2, 2020 | David J. Dreyer

The pandemic has become a mother of invention. But when we return, as we are all committed, to whatever “new normal,” let’s pledge as much “in-person” as the ongoing 21st century court system will allow.

DTCI: 3 insights for retaining and supporting women lawyers

September 2, 2020 | From DTCI

I genuinely believe that law firms and organizations are committed to retaining and supporting women. To that end, I offer the following insight to individuals seeking to support the success of their women colleagues.

Sugarman and Thomas: Nonstick coating emerging as a sticky regulatory problem

September 2, 2020

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) has identified PFAS as an “emerging contaminant.” The agency has released two peer-reviewed documents addressing health impacts posed by the chemicals. EPA also listed PFOA and PFOS on its Contaminant Candidate List (CCL) — which means they are now subject to regulatory decision making and information collection.

Hammerle on … Court humor: The sequel

September 2, 2020 | Robert Hammerle

I thought I would revisit a few court stories that hopefully you will find a bit amusing. Good grief, maybe we can laugh our way out of this lousy pandemic shutdown.

Young: John Lewis’ legacy shows path forward

August 19, 2020 | Ahmed Young

A collective approach to evaluate, critique, plan and deconstruct inequities within the legal system is the only way we can improve a legal construct created more than 240 years ago. How do we, in the state of Indiana, synthesize our efforts into a coordinated plan of action that addresses statewide and local issues of inequity?

Bush: Employer strategies in responding to the racism pandemic

August 19, 2020

While there is no playbook outlining the exact steps employers should take to address issues related to racial injustice, there are several actions employers can take to promote racial equity both inside and outside of the workplace.

Pro Bono Matters: Indiana’s pro bono reporting system reflects growing participation

August 19, 2020 | Kristina Coleman and Emily Kile-Maxwell

Whether you’re interested in adding pro bono to your practice for next year’s reporting requirements or are simply interested in increasing the number of hours you spend on reportable pro bono legal services, there are several ways you can get involved.

Smith: Indiana Court of Appeals upholds employer’s noncompete

August 19, 2020

The Indiana Court of Appeals recently published a decision that is instructive about noncompete agreements. It is one of the rare noncompete cases that does not contain the phrase: “Indiana courts are reluctant to enforce noncompete agreements because they constitute a restraint on trade.”

Brown: More remote employees? Time to review trade secret policies

August 19, 2020

In the ongoing work conditions surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, business owners may consider that their principal concern is how to make it easier and more efficient for employees to do their jobs remotely. But as businesses streamline connections and move information from office hardware to home computers, they should not forget to safeguard the trade secret information that may be moving around.

Letter to the editor: SCOTUS discriminates against pro se litigants

August 19, 2020

It is ironic that the highest court in our land, charged with ensuring that the rules and laws of the country are fair and legal, is itself guilty of enacting a most unfair and arguably unlawful rule explicitly forbidding unrepresented litigants from participating in the Supreme Court oral argument process.

Hammerle on… Court humor

August 19, 2020 | Robert Hammerle

Even though court appearances are rare these days, let me reflect on some funny moments that I treasure.

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