Feature Story | Virginia Lawyers Weekly

Interview season: The good, the bad and the funny

By Lauren Ellerman
Published: November 23, 2009

Given the number of lawyers, law firms and law students in the United States, I would guess there is probably an average of one law firm interview occurring every hour a day in the United States.
With that many conversations occurring between total strangers, most lawyers have experienced at least one awkward, hilarious or memorable law [...]

4th Circuit’s Wilkins jumps back into private practice

By Fred Horlbeck
Published: November 17, 2009

GREENVILLE, SC–When Billy Wilkins returned to private practice after retiring from the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in 2008, he vowed to be a “hard worker” in his new job at Nexsen Pruet.
A year later, Wilkins has 10-hour workdays, a Greenville office with memorabilia on the walls and a desk laden with neatly organized [...]

Risk reduction: Security steps may be inconvenient, but they heighten court safety

By Peter Vieth
Published: November 16, 2009

Scores of Virginia courthouses have been studied for security risks in the past several years as part of a program initiated by the Supreme Court of Virginia. Reports on the findings of assessment teams are confidential, but lawyers and the public may find a few extra inconveniences as security is tightened at many courthouses.
Some [...]

Databases aid expert witness research

By Nora Lockwood Tooher
Published: November 16, 2009

Companies are competing for litigators’ dollars with new products aimed at helping them find the lowdown on expert witnesses.
Last year, LexisNexis acquired IDEX, a database of more than 1 million records on more than 200,000 legal experts. And in July, TASA Group, a Pennsylvania-based expert witness consulting and referral firm, introduced its “Challenge History [...]

Need for Speed

By Peter Vieth
Published: November 9, 2009

To take a break from his legal work, Richmond lawyer Stephen Harper likes to take his car for a spin through the countryside.
In Harper’s case, however, the car is a race-prepared Nissan Sentra and the “countryside” is the scenic three-and-a-quarter-mile road course at Virginia International Raceway (VIR) near Danville. Or perhaps the twists and [...]

Marketing tips: Writing a great bylined article

By Dolan Media Newswires
Published: November 9, 2009

Bylined articles are useful tools in marketing and public relations. In addition to showcasing a particular expertise, the byline format allows the writer a forum to express views unfiltered by an editor or other contributor.
If the topic has a long enough shelf life, electronic or hard copy reprinting can be a relatively cost-efficient way [...]

E-discovery in arbitration: How to hand-tool your agreement

By Hon. Rosemarie Annunziata (Ret.)
Published: November 2, 2009

Limited discovery has long been the hallmark of arbitration proceedings. This approach to discovery correlates well with arbitration’s principal values: the containment of costs and the efficient and speedy resolution of disputes.
The rules promulgated by arbitral tribunals such as JAMS, the American Arbitration Association and the CPR Institute, provide for limited discovery, and are consistent [...]

Salary survey: New lawyer pay down, many starts postponed until new year

By Alan Cooper
Published: October 26, 2009

The path to partner at a mid-sized to large law firm used to grow narrower at every turn, but the way was well-defined.
Good grades in the first year of law school led to a summer clerkship after the second year. The clerk performed well and was invited to be an associate. He or she started [...]

Legal Web sites, bloggers face new online marketing guidelines

By Correy E. Stephenson
Published: October 26, 2009

For the first time in almost 30 years, the Federal Trade Commission has issued guidelines governing testimonials and endorsements – and for the first time, included guidance that covers bloggers and other online social media platforms.
The Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising, which were unanimously approved by the Commission, will [...]

Tips for maintaining a healthy office

By Nancy Byerly Jones
Published: October 26, 2009

1. Know what kind of firm and reputation you want to build and in which direction you want your “ship” to be heading.
2. Create, share and review often your firm’s mission statement
3. Make sure all employees understand the firm’s philosophy, mission and goals. Of course, make sure all partners understand it and buy [...]

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