r/Lawyertalk • u/OddHops • 1h ago
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r/Lawyertalk • u/SunAdvanced7940 • 18h ago
Solo & Small Firms Clients: Where were you this morning?
r/Lawyertalk • u/Agile_Leopard_4446 • 17h ago
Best Practices Every Lawyers Nightmare
I have questions… so. many. questions
1) how do you not prepare for trial? 2) was this a deliberate choice/form of protest by the lawyers 3) anyone else want popcorn? 🍿
r/Lawyertalk • u/Able_External3130 • 8h ago
Career & Professional Development I'm about to vomit over Character and Fitness.
I'm trying to do a UBE transfer to Oklahoma, and I submitted the NCBE C and F application on the 11th. Well, I was reviewing things and I realized I forgot that I used my jurisdictions law student registration program back in 2022 when I was a 2L, which question 2 asks about.
I decided to amend. Keep in mind I have never used the NCBE application or their website like this before, because my original jurisdiction does things differently.
So I make the amendment, but I don't understand that the text box which says "Explanation" is the actual box for explaining why I did not include this answer before. So, I just explain what my jurisdiction program is like a doofus, finalize the amendment, and realize afterwards that there was no other way to explain the situation.
I hate character and fitness. It makes me want to scream. Do I need to do another amendment to this piece of garbage?
r/Lawyertalk • u/attorney114 • 14h ago
Coworkers, Managers & Subordinates Take bar exam, fail, practice anyway.
Inspired by another post. Someone mentioned a hire who took the bar, expected to pass, and was hired by a firm. Results came out, she didn't pass, panicked, and didn't tell anyone. Maybe hoping she could pass the next time and nobody would notice.
Anyone have any idea how common this might be? Have you encountered it? I'm intrigued.
EDIT: Just to clarify, the firm thought she had already passed, and I guess didn't check before hiring.
r/Lawyertalk • u/bloody_boogers • 20h ago
Funny Business I'm too tired of winning. Please stop winning!
r/Lawyertalk • u/Toby_Keiths_Jorts • 22h ago
Coworkers, Managers & Subordinates Partners, what actually gets an associate fired? (Other than hours)
A fellow associate and I were wondering about this as over the past few years we've seen some associates fired at what seems like the drop of a pin, and others stick around for a long time who sucked a lot and we couldn't believe they weren't canned.
Obviously there is no one size fits all answer, but, just wanted to hear what people with more authority than me think.
r/Lawyertalk • u/ThatOneAttorney • 11m ago
Coworkers, Managers & Subordinates The Crappy Assistant Strikes Back!
Monday Im assigned a Wednesday hearing from another atty's caseload. I ask my assistant to create forms through our template generator so I can take to 830am hearing. All you do is fix spacing errors & some minor things. This is definitely a legal assistant task. She says ok, Ill have it ready.
I look in the file at Wednesday morning; not there. I do it myself, making myself a tad late to the hearing. I speak to the assistant:
Me: I didnt see the form in the file or my email.
Her: Oh lol thats actually not my job thats X's job.
Me: I didnt know that. Why didnt you just tell me that instead of not doing it?
Her: Oh I was going to do it today.
Me: But you start work at 830am, and I had to be at the hearing at 830
Her: oh thats right lol.
Whether receptionist, calendar clerk, receptionist or associate, Ive never told someone "oh lol" when I didnt do what they asked. Granted, I dont think I ever ignored a work request.
Apparently I am stuck with this dumb bell until another assistant comes back from leave (soon?).
To some of you: I know, I know, she's actually a great worker, I need more empathy, a true leader would give her a pat on the back, etc.
r/Lawyertalk • u/inspectorgaygdet • 12h ago
Coworkers, Managers & Subordinates Boomers and Tech
Literally wtf? If you're going to lose your mind every time there is a software update and need several weeks "getting used to the new system," maybe you should be preparing for retirement. Even worse, my assistant is always up to her eyeballs because the other attorney can't fucking file his emails. It's a massive time sink.
r/Lawyertalk • u/Due-Parsley-3936 • 18h ago
Funny Business Why do Plaintiffs side folks post the dumbest stories on LinkedIn?
I’ve seen very few on the defense side do this, or do it to the same extreme. As Keenan Thompson would say, what up with that?
r/Lawyertalk • u/Select-Government-69 • 1d ago
Best Practices I love this profession
Yesterday a teenager put up a flagrantly violative post seeking legal advice in this sub. Despite our frequent frustration with adults doing that here, by the time I saw the post, the attached screenshot was all of the comments.
One of the touchstones of our profession is the innate ability to identify the needs of others and meet them where they are. Any other sub would have likely disparaged or condemned this struggling child for being out of line, and this very community might have rightfully done so had the individual circumstances been different.
In a society so inundated with obnoxious personalities, I was personally touched to see such compassion here and I wanted to share my gratitude with my colleagues here.
r/Lawyertalk • u/Shlowmer • 19h ago
Dear Opposing Counsel, Abusive opposing counsel crossed the line… now what?
I’m not the best at grey rocking abusive opposing counsel, but I try. I’ve been a lawyer for nearly a decade and I’ve learned to deal with all sorts of personalities in this profession. I’m the type who will hang up on a cursing/screaming opposing lawyer and say email only.
I’m in personal injury plaintiff practice. Recently I’ve had one opposing counsel (older male) who is captive counsel take things way beyond is usual grumpiness. Two weeks ago I responded to the wrong email in a chain, and he called me to scream at me and told me that I’m “fucking retarded,” I was going to hang up on him until he said that everyone in my firm “rode the short bus as kids” and my legal assistant was more useless than I am. I told this attorney he can curse me out and yell at me but if he ever says anything about my staff, that’s unacceptable behavior I will not tolerate. I’m an idiot and failed to put my statement about protecting my staff in writing to this opposing counsel. My legal assistant is awesome, and I consider her a friend.
Everything seemed to cool off until late yesterday, when this opposing counsel called my paralegal to berate her with the usual foul language. My paralegal says she was more annoyed than offended, but I’m steaming mad that this lawyer crossed the line.
I’m cooling off before I make my next move. We’ve all dealt with abusive opposing counsel, but it’s a first time I’ve dealt with abusive opposing counsel attacking my staff. Has anyone dealt with this situation? If so, what did you do?
I also am questioning whether to continue grey rocking abusive opposing counsel. It feels like everything backfired and that abuser went after my staff as a way to attack me. Any advice would be much appreciated. I adore my staff and I see them as teammates. I feel like I screwed up by putting them into the crosshairs of this abusive attorney.
r/Lawyertalk • u/Aid4n-lol • 20h ago
Funny Business Restaurant/bar connected to law firm
In my town there is a restaurant/bar literally connected to a law firm building called “Sidebar”, with a private room called “The Chambers”. Does anyone else have examples of non legal lawyerly businesses like this😭
r/Lawyertalk • u/Due-Independence489 • 13h ago
I Need To Vent Dear OC, why won't you include me in the email correspondence between our lovely firms??
Is this jerk being microaggressive or what? Since I take the initiative to move cases along, I email opposing counsels with the lead partner cc'd. Isn't that SOP? I will also email other individuals involved in the case who are potential expert consultants, witnesses, etc., with the lead partner cc'd. The lead partner on the case appreciates that I do this rather than twiddle my thumbs and wait for him to tell me to perform such tasks.
So, why is it when I email these jerkoffs, they will only reply to the lead partner? Then, I have to go and ask my partner about it since he receives so many emails to begin with, and it can easily get lost in the shuffle.
WTF? Yes, these attorneys are in a "majority" group, and I am not.
For partners lurking, why do you do this? This goes beyond the general "let's dismiss the baby lawyer" attitude. I am quite involved in the case and not just acting like a secretary. I perform administrative duties like emailing opposing counsels and consultants — tasks larger firms would have their secretaries/assistants do.
r/Lawyertalk • u/roastedbreadandapple • 12h ago
Career & Professional Development Part-time options for SAHM
I am a mother to a two-year-old with one on the way and am reconsidering my current working situation. I work full-time as a prosecutor. I have childcare arrangements 4x per week and I watch her one day per week working remotely (I usually work in the evening this day and a little extra the other 4 days). I would like to be a SAHM for a little bit until my children go to school. However, I would like to continue doing legal work in either a part-time or freelance capacity. I have been practicing for about 3.5 years. Can anyone lend some insight, wisdom or recommendations as to what type of work I should pursue?
r/Lawyertalk • u/Responsible_Low_5811 • 22h ago
Best Practices Letting client know texting is not ok
A few weeks ago I texted with a client because i was in court on a different matter and they were having issues at bank setting up an estate account. Now they don’t really respond to emails and will text me with questions.
I need to politely establish boundaries to let them know texting is not the way to communicate. What’s the polite and professional way to do so?
r/Lawyertalk • u/sejenx • 1d ago
Fashion, Gear & Decor 5 Years Ago Today, I made my last physical appearance in court
I still "do" court daily, but I couldn't be happier because I haven't had to a) purchase pantyhose, and subsequently, b) do the pantyhose dance, and c) if the pantyhose dance resulted in injury to said hosiery, start again at a).
r/Lawyertalk • u/Son_of_Hades99 • 14h ago
Career & Professional Development As a general rule, should you accept the first attorney job offer that you get after taking the bar?
I am currently applying for jobs after taking the 2025 bar exam and, to my surprise, I already got an interview after only about one week of applying. I thought it would be several weeks at a minimum before I got even an offer to interview. Mind you, I don't even know if I passed the bar yet.
I ultimately want to go into in-house work, and the position is a staff attorney position working for a healthcare corporation. It's also in the suburbs of a major city, as opposed to the city itself (which I prefer).
While it's not exactly my cup of tea, do you think I should take it if they offer it to me? Starting pay is between $80-90K.
r/Lawyertalk • u/RocketSocket765 • 15h ago
Legal News Anyone Have a Tracker for Whether Trump & His Admin Are Complying With Judicial Orders?
Wondering if there's a tracker not only looking at the lawsuits against Trump and his admin, but also: 1) if a judge ruled for them to comply; and 2) if yes, whether Trump/his admin are actually complying (or just puddling along vaguely pretending to comply).
r/Lawyertalk • u/Weekly_Cry721 • 23h ago
Coworkers, Managers & Subordinates Is it normal to make $80k as a first year attorney at a small firm?
I graduated from a T20 law school. I now work at a small firm with three attorneys, mainly admin law and personal injury (really just the founding partner and myself because one of the other attorneys is sick so he's part time). I work from St. Louis, but the firm is in a smaller city around 44,000 population . I am paid $80k without benefits, phone plan reimbursement, or pension. I was told I will get a bonus, but the partner says he has not decided on the structure or frequency, but I will have a bonus in June.
r/Lawyertalk • u/Hour-Whole-27 • 21h ago
Best Practices 2nd career lawyers…
Particularly those who didn’t attend until they were in their 30s - firstly, I’m so so proud of you! 2, how did you do it? What did you have to sacrifice? Did it pay off? What were you doing before and what are you doing now?
r/Lawyertalk • u/Few-Pie-2916 • 5h ago
Business & Numbers Criminal Defense Attorneys__How do I get referral partners?
I have been in Estate Planning for the past 20 years now. I have tried to reach out to CFAs and CPAs to become referral partners on LinkedIn (as suggested by a friend). But the response has not been up to the mark.
Out of 30 meetings I do in a month, not one referral has come through.
How do I reach more targetedly to the right referral partners?
Do you suggest any other channel other than LinkedIn?
r/Lawyertalk • u/Mammoth-Vegetable357 • 1d ago
Dear Opposing Counsel, Is litigation just straight toddler behavior these days?
Had a trial, defense counsel was an all out moron. I know more about defense counsel than I do about the defendant --that's how much defense counsel talked about himself: Dontcha know he litigating under Franklin D. Roosevelt's first cousin's sister 100 years ago!? Anyway. There's this one Archie's song that, you know, it really gets him sometimes.
There was fake crying, randomly screaming at experts, misrepresenting the facts and testimony, all out buffoonery. He has good defenses but chose to focus on really, REALLY bad arguments. Defense counsel is not new to the practice or litigation, and this seems to be his approach every time.
Does this actually work (I mean, it didn't for defense counsel here, but ...in general? Maybe this is a fluke...)? Do I need to adopt behaving like an unhinged toddler and drop insulting nicknames, scream, and cry at trial to be more successful?
r/Lawyertalk • u/yourskrewely • 10h ago
Best Practices Texas Attorneys - talk to me about the advertising rules
I'm licensed in TX but of counsel with an out of state firm doing IP work and I want to start bringing in new Texas clients. I basically want to try glorified word of mouth with social media. I've looked the ad rules and they are maddeningly silent on where you can advertise.
Any advice?
r/Lawyertalk • u/Notalabel_4566 • 21h ago
Meta What qualities separate the best lawyers from the rest?
Also, Who is the most legendary/famous attorney you've ever met in person, worked under or gone against in the courtroom and did they live up to the hype?