Ahead of the Curve
January 2020
PURPOSE
The Professional Development Advisory Committee’s (PDAC) purpose in providing you this communication is to further its goal of periodically sharing topical information regarding the legal industry. Our hope is that one or more of the updates will provide a spark of insight to assist with your work on behalf of ALA as well as within your firm or legal department.
Past Issues
"WHY WE FALL FOR PHISHING EMAILS — AND HOW WE CAN PROTECT OURSELVES"
New research on the psychology behind phishing reveals where some of our biases and weak points lie. By being aware of our mental tendencies and our vulnerabilities, we can help safeguard ourselves from ever falling for the bait, says cybersecurity expert Daniela Oliveira." An interesting article about studies and how we make decisions — System 1 is fast, intuitive, and emotional or System 2, which is slow and deliberate. Good read if you like the psychology of things (and want to make sure your elderly mother or grandmother doesn't give away the farm!) :)
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Resource: Lauren Schenkman, IDEAS.TED.COM
"‘MARIJUANA AND THE WORKPLACE: WHAT’S NEW FOR 2020?"
Employers have been grappling with confusing marijuana laws for years—and the rules are getting tougher to navigate as more states add employment protections.
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Resource: Lisa Nagele-Piazza, JD, SHRM-SCP, SHRM (may require a SHRM membership)
"‘IAN WAS NO DIFFERENT FROM YOU’: WIFE SAYS LEGAL MARKETER’S SUICIDE IS A LESSON IN ADDRESSING MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES"
ALA members need to lead more now than ever in helping our law firms, our legal departments, our courts and other government agencies address the mental health issues plaguing our industry. But, we have to put our oxygen masks on first! Read this great article by Dr. Marny Morrison Turvill; clearly, she knows how critical this movement to #RemoveTheShame is to our industry.
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Resource: Marny Morrison Turvill, Law.com (requires a free subscription)
"UBER POLICY CALLS FOR REFRESHER ON ABA CONFIDENTIALITY RULES"
Uber Technologies has added language in their ride share agreement that allows the driver to record conversations in their car. Attorneys should be aware of this when discussing client matters in an Uber or conducting telephone calls involving otherwise privileged client information.
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Resource: Paul Boehm, Law360 (requires a free subscription)
"GET TO THE POINT"
A nice article on suggestions to cut the verbiage from your writing, make sure every word counts and sentence construction is terse. Meant for attorneys but really good comments and suggestions that everyone can use.
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Resource: Theda C. Snyder, Attorney at Work
"CRACKING THE CODE OF SUSTAINED COLLABORATION"
Ask any leader whether his or her organization values collaboration, and you’ll get a resounding yes. Ask whether the firm’s strategies to increase collaboration have been successful, and you’ll probably receive a different answer. “No change seems to stick or to produce what we expected,” an executive at a large pharmaceutical company recently told me. Most of the dozens of leaders I’ve interviewed on the subject report similar feelings of frustration: So much hope and effort, so little to show for it." let me know if you have an issue with access. I was able to read it without signing in, etc.
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Resource: Francesca Gino, Harvard Business Review
"HOW THE BEST MANAGERS IDENTIFY AND DEVELOP TALENT"
Seven excellent tips from Harvard Business Review on building talent on your team.
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Resource: Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic and Jonathan Kirschner, Harvard Business Review
"WORKPLACE CULTURE MATTERS"
This article includes some great interviewing techniques that are new and unique.
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Resource: Alexander Alonso, SHRM-SCP, SHRM
"5 INTERVIEW QUESTIONS THAT WILL HELP YOU HIRE BETTER PEOPLE"
This article includes some great interviewing techniques that are new and unique.
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Resource: ideas.ted.com
"FIVE REASONS LAWYERS AVOID RETIREMENT"
Being aware of the obstacles is the first step in planning for life after law.
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Resource: Camille Stell, Attorney at Work
"THE BEST TECHNOLOGIES OF THE 2020s ARE THE BEST TECHNOLOGIES OF THE 2010s"
The technologies that will change legal in the 2020s may not be "new" technologies at all, at least in the short term. In fact, many legal tech experts agree that the next decade will be defined by technologies you know, applied in new and novel ways.
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Resource: Zach Warren, Law.com (requires free subscription)
"WHY LAWYERS NEED TO BE TAUGHT MORE ABOUT EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE"
The evidence suggests that emotional intelligence (EI) — the ability to engage with your own and others’ emotions — is highly useful for lawyers in numerous ways. Polly Botsford investigates how EI can help lawyers and the current degree of interest being taken by law firms and companies in developing lawyers’ EI.
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Resource: Polly Botsford, International Bar Association
"LAW FIRM ACCOUNTING AND TAXES"
A nice overview of income and taxes, and how to make it a positive experience. This would be for a beginner.
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Resource: The Lawyerist
"A FUTURE FOCUS: THE SUCCESS OF LEGAL TECH DEPENDS ON TRANSFORMATION, NOT AUTOMATION"
Legal technology has incrementally shifted law in recent years, but true transformation isn't incremental. The next decade has the potential to change that.
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Resource: Zach Warren, Law.com (requires free subscription)
"THESE PHRASES WILL HELP YOU REFRAME A NEGATIVE MINDSET"
When you’re stuck in a “not good enough” headspace, changing what you tell yourself can completely turn things around.
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Resource: Marina Khideke, Thrive Global
