Technology Untangled: Is it time for lawyers to ditch smartphones?
Have we become overly attached to our smartphones? Is it time to set them aside and revert to a simple dumb phone? This question has been on my mind quite a bit lately.
Opinion
Articles
Maurer: No owning history — the First Amendment and creative freedom
A recent California right-of-publicity case is a victory for people who wish to create content related to the facts and stories of noteworthy individuals or events.
Brown: Ounce of prevention for business IP assets worth pound of cure
Clients developing new businesses need strategies and concepts regarding the intellectual property assets encompassed in the new business even before the articles of incorporation are filed.
Pinkus: A big decision on software and copyright fair use
Few of us get through a day without relying on software based on the Java or Android platforms, and every day for a decade the companies behind them have been locked in battle. Oracle and Google are litigating whether 11,500 lines of Java source code copied verbatim by Google can be used by it for free under the “fair use” defense to infringement in the Copyright Act.
Start Page: Is it time for lawyers to #deletefacebook?
This article will provide an overview of the issues surrounding this current Facebook faux pas, with a focus on what questions lawyers should be asking themselves.
Hammerle on… ‘Love, Simon’, ‘The Death of Stalin’
“Love, Simon” is a cinematic gem floating in a sea of nearly unwatchable movies. “The Death of Stalin,” directed by Armando Iannucci, is a dark, inventive film surrounding the death of Soviet dictator Josef Stalin in the early 1950s.
Dean’s Desk: Death penalty for drug dealers unconstitutional (and unwise)
The death penalty for a defendant who did not participate in a violent felony that resulted in the death of someone simply would not pass constitutional muster and is clearly a step backward from policy, public health, and constitutional perspectives.
Law Firm Succession Planning: The restraining forces in law firm succession planning
Practicing law when we are no longer able can have real consequences, which can come in the form of malpractice claims, disciplinary action, or both.
Quality of Life: The pursuit of excellence vs. perfectionism
The important thing is to keep a positive attitude and strive to do your best. Many people give up when they can’t be perfect all the time — and an all-or-nothing attitude can be detrimental to a person’s performance and self-esteem.
Eye on the Profession: Young lawyers, join a bar. Firms, support them
To my friends who run law firms and businesses that employ young lawyers … invest in them! You are penny-wise and pound-foolish if you are not supporting young lawyer membership in bar associations.
Terrell and Macchia: Don’t let #MeToo become #YouToo in the workplace
The #MeToo movement has rocked the workplace lately with women and men speaking out about acts of harassment that they have suffered on the job at the hands of their supervisors and co-workers.
Bankovich and Pauli: Ruling on sexual orientation leaves landscape unsettled
A recent Second Circuit case adds to Title VII’s interpretation of protected classes and holds that discrimination based on sexual orientation is prohibited by federal law.
Hammerle on … No good movies
Forgive me, but no meaningful reviews with this edition. While a trip to New Orleans for a nephew’s wedding kept me out of the theatres, the truth is that all the films released over the last several weeks are so placid that even a diehard fan like me couldn’t justify buying a ticket.
Federal Bar Update: A primer on intervention as of right by non-parties
Intervention — Rule 24 allows a non-party to intervene in a pending action as of right in limited circumstances, either as of right or permissively.
Plugged In: A few pointers on spring cleaning, technically speaking
Swimming in a sea of sticky notes and piles of follow-up items, spring cleaning often includes time for desk reorganization. Technically speaking, there are several tools that can help reduce the need for these paper reminders.
Braun: Programs available to fund costs of protecting environment
For the State of Indiana to remain competitive in the 21st century and to attract and retain businesses and an educated workforce, it is vitally important that the quality of life for its citizens include clean air, soil and water.
Hammerle on … “Black Panther,” “Annihilation”
“Black Panther” succeeds for multiple reasons. “Annihilation,” however, does not.
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.
JLAP: For the love of therapy dogs
Reggie Wayne comes to work at Plews Shadley Racher & Braun nearly every day. While he neither prepares dispositive motions nor closes deals, he provides a great benefit to the firm. Reggie is a certified therapy dog.
Criminal Justice: What does it take to make an obstruction case?
We know all too well by now that making a single false statement to law enforcement is a crime, but what does it take to tip the scale toward “obstruction of justice”?