3 Ideas to Make the Most of Drive Time
As an attorney practicing in predominantly rural areas, I drive a lot. It is not uncommon to spend 6 hours behind the wheel on a day when I have court or in-person appointments in a secluded county. For someone who already feels like my schedule is packed, taking that much time to drive somewhere can be frustrating. Out of that sentiment, I have developed several ideas to make the most of those days. Photo from Peter Black on Flickr CC BY-SA 2.0. Pre-Travel Checklist Developing a list of what needs to be brought makes for less prep-time and l…
Immigration Rhetoric and Political Correctness
In 1980... (see video below) I have grown frustrated with the improper entanglement of being pro-American and anti-immigration. This applies to both ends of the political spectrum. Life is too complex and nuanced to reduce down to a one-size-fits-all-bumper-sticker answer. I think the over simplification and subsequent tribal chest pounding does a disservice to all involved after either side picks which outrage to use to ignite their base as opposed to presenting real solutions to problems. The way we talk about immigration is a great case-stu…
Figuring Out the Picture in your Client’s Head
In case you didn't know, I love Stuart Diamond’s book on negotiation called Getting More . I reference the process in that book at least weekly, if not daily. My copy sits on my desk at work and is often where I turn when confronted with an issue that I don’t know how to address. That isn’t to say it is the source of all knowledge, but the process therein has helped me collect the relevant pieces of a problem and evaluate the situation in ways that can lead to better outcomes. And when you are a professional problem solver, like attorneys …
Using Tone to your Advantage
I play the guitar. It is one of those non-law-related things in my life that keeps me sane. If you’ve ever played or seen an electric guitar, you’ll know that there are knobs on there, like these... The knobs control the volume of the guitar’s output and the tone , or sound of the guitar through the amp. Tone knobs appear not only on the guitar but on guitar effects, that can substantially change how the guitar sounds... And even on the guitar amplifier, which is what projects the guitar’s sound to the world... Tone knobs can be wired to do d…
Creating a Better Initial Client Interview
Initial client interviews are important for a lot of reasons. Here are two ways you can create a better initial interview no matter which side of the desk you are on. Understand the Purpose of the Interview Understanding the why of something can greatly influence the what and the how. As for initial client interviews, “[t]he purpose … is to obtain as much information in respect to the situation presented by the client … [and] to sell the attorney’s services.” By moving from an unstructured and reactive interview to one that is pointed …
