chevron-down Created with Sketch Beta.

    YourABA April 2017

     

    Professional Development

    Mentoring new lawyers yields rewarding experiences for both parties

    Many law firms, bar associations and law schools have mentoring programs, but “the success of the mentor-mentee relationship depends highly on both parties committing time and energy to the partnership,” said Dan Cotter, partner at Butler, Rubin, Saltarelli & Boyd LLP in Chicago, in an article in the spring issue of TYL entitled, “The Positives of Mentoring.”

    Featured Articles

    Lawyer Wellness

    10 must-dos when serving as a caregiver for family, friends

    The U.S. population is increasingly aging, and adults of all ages are stepping into the role of helper or caregiver for a family member. More and more, attorneys are being asked to provide at least preliminary advice on navigating the many legal challenges of caregiving. The ABA’s Commission on Law and Aging developed the following 10 basic legal “To Do’s” for caregivers to understand and address:

    Lawyer Wellness

    8 tips on bouncing back from a setback

    Lawyers are expected to be their best in and outside of the courtroom. Many lives can depend on them, including their clients and their families. Developing resilience is critical for lawyers to maintain fitness to practice and to avoid running afoul of the Model Rules of Professional Conduct or applicable state rules. Lawyers need to be able to rebound quickly from setbacks, face challenges with a positive perspective and feel energized rather than depleted from their work.

    Practice Management

    Compensating nonlawyer employees

    Bringing in business is essential for law firms, and lawyers thusly associated are evaluated on their prowess in this area as well as their practice skills. But nonlawyer employees can also be valuable in this regard, and have access to networks of individuals that may or may not be available to the lawyers in a firm. The question arises if a lawyer’s compensation is based in part on how much business they bring to the firm, why not likewise motivate and reward a nonlawyer employee?