Jay Reeves

Did you know the NCAA Basketball Tournament celebrates its 83rd birthday this year, having been started in 1939? And did you know the original field was only eight teams, growing over time to the current 68-team event? Or that the only time there’s been no final game was in the COVID-disrupted season o… Read More

Here’s some free advice: if you want to make your clients happy, don’t give them too many choices. That may sound counterintuitive. After all, it’s their case. They’re the Ultimate Deciders. Your job is to supply the map, point out different routes to the destination, and let them choose. Read More

Will binge-watching Tiger King or Making a Murderer improve your trial skills? Possibly, says one litigator and aficionado of true crime TV and podcasts.  “Most, if not all of us, know someone in love with true-crime documentaries (if we aren’t that person ourselves),” writes Oklahoma… Read More

Here’s some risk management advice: if you’re in a virtual trial, don’t use the chat function to coach your client while testifying. You might wind up having your law license suspended. That’s what happened to an Arizona lawyer who consented to a two-month suspension after being repo… Read More

Real estate lawyers are prime targets for wire fraud scams, and the NC State Bar recently ruled that closing attorneys may be accountable for losses resulting from such scams. In 2020 Formal Ethics Opinion 5, the State Bar discussed a lawyer’s responsibility to avoid fraudulent attempts – such as… Read More

The NC State Bar has issued a comprehensive study of the secure leave policies that apply to state trial and appellate courts. The report, released in October 2021, is the result of nine months of study by a State Bar subcommittee that solicited input from lawyers and gathered data from judges, judicial offi… Read More

  COVID is causing an unprecedented number of law associates to jump from one firm to another – and partners are also changing firms, though not as rapidly. Just look at the numbers: nearly 14,000 associates made lateral moves in the first three quarters of 2021 – a 51 percent rise from the… Read More

You might think Search Engine Optimization is only for firms with big marketing budgets, but you can do it effectively on a shoestring.  And the benefits are manifold. For instance, SEO can boost walk-in clients as well as website traffic. And when done correctly, it enhances the client’s experie… Read More

The NC State Bar has proposed adding a new comment to Rule of Professional Conduct 1.1 regarding awareness of implicit bias and cultural differences. Here is the language of the proposed comment: “[9] A lawyer should be aware of implicit bias and cultural differences relative to a client or … Read More

Although the first application deadline for the NC bar exam in July has already passed, it’s not too late to apply for the summer test. Non-licensed applicants have until March 1, 2022 to submit a “late” filing for the July exam. The fee is $1,100. Licensed attorneys also have until March 1… Read More

Future bar exam takers will be spared having to learn the intricacies of the Uniform Commercial Code. They’ll also be given actual pleadings and contracts to work on, and they’ll be allowed to use library materials for short-answer questions. Those are some of the changes recommended by the Nati… Read More

This Valentine’s Day, if you’re seeking a sweet role model for your Law Life, look no further than Minnie Minoso. Saturnino Orestes Armas Miñoso – better known by baseball fans as “Mr. White Sox” or “The Cuban Comet” or just Minnie – was not only a wonder on the ballfield. He was also a trailblazer ...   Read More

The legal services sector keeps getting more crowded – especially in Arizona, where a non-lawyer company has just been approved to work in tandem with a law firm to provide a range of services for corporate clients.  The new entity, which will be known as ElevateNext, was given the green light by … Read More

  Valentine’s Day is a time of hearts, love and chocolate, but did you know the holiday began as a pagan fertility festival?  The celebration of Lupercalia is believed to have begun in Rome some 2600 years ago to honor  Faunus, the Roman god of agriculture. And it was a pretty rowdy affai… Read More

  In these evolving and uncertain times, it’s more important than ever to create a positive and cohesive office culture. A team that plays together stays together. And it’s more productive. So how about throwing a Valentine’s Day party? Invite all staff members and their partners/sign… Read More