Ahead of the Curve
April 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
"‘ZOOM FATIGUE’ IS TAXING THE BRAIN. HERE'S WHY THAT HAPPENS."
A really interesting article about how our brain takes in all of these virtual meetings and how exhausting this can be. Video calls seemed an elegant solution to remote work, but they wear on the psyche in complicated ways. The unprecedented explosion of video calling in response to the pandemic has launched an unofficial social experiment.
Learn more.
Resource: Julia Sklar, National Geographic (requires free subscription)
"TWO ERRORS OUR MINDS MAKE WHEN TRYING TO GRASP THE PANDEMIC"
Arthur Brooks writes about how our minds confuse disappointment with regret and confuse uncertainty with risk. Disappointment and uncertainty are inevitable, but we don’t have to turn them into suffering. Ruminating over what might have been and what might happen will reliably deliver unhappiness. If you practice eliminating these mental errors during the pandemic, you’ll be happier today, and better equipped to deal with the hard parts of ordinary life, whenever it resumes.
Learn more.
Resource: Arthur C. Brooks
"DIGITAL EARS EVERYWHERE: LAWYERS' HOME TO IoT DEVICES STOKE PRIVACY CONCERNS"
Lawyers working outside the purview of their firm's IT department worry they may expose clients' sensitive information when phone calls are made around internet-connected appliances.
Learn more.
Resource: Victoria Hudgins, LegalTech News (requires free subscription)
"MANAGING THE BIG RISK OF BRINGING YOUR EMPLOYEES BACK TO WORK"
For many CEOs, this will be the first time dealing with life-or-death human physical safety — and there are a whole lot of issues to consider.
Learn more.
Resource: Edward D. Hess, Chief Executive
"PERFECTIONISM WILL SLOW YOU DOWN IN A CRISIS"
Almost overnight, the game has changed for leaders. Just a short time ago, pre-coronavirus, we seemed to be in a relatively stable world where many factors were known and predictable, and achieving success looked like the pursuit of perfection. But in a crisis, when reality is changing by the day (or even by the hour), when there is no way of knowing with certainty what lies ahead or the best course of action to take, there is no time for perfection.
Learn more.
Resource: Rasmus Hougaard and Jacqueline Carter, Harvard Business Review
"PUT ON A SHIRT FOR VIDEO HEARINGS, JUDGE TELLS ATTYS"
A Florida judge is issuing an urgent plea to attorneys during the coronavirus pandemic: Please put on a shirt before logging in to a court hearing via videoconference.
Learn more.
Resource: Carolina Bolado, Law360
"HOW TO SPEAK UP AND GET YOUR VOICE HEARD ON CONFERENCE CALLS, EVEN AS A RESERVED PERSON"
Getting your voice heard in meetings isn’t just a struggle for junior employees. In fact, I’ve had senior executives and leaders at nearly every leading company seek out coaching to improve their confidence while communicating.
Learn more.
Resource: Melody Wilding, Forbes
"4 TIPS FOR LOOKING YOUR BEST ON YOUR NEXT VIDEO CALLS"
The new normal for most people is now working remotely and communicating by platforms such as Zoom and Microsoft Teams. So, it’s important to look professional on camera, just as you would in person.
Learn more.
Resource: Julie Brown, ABA
"STOP TRYING TO BE PRODUCTIVE"
The internet wants you to believe you aren’t doing enough with all that “extra time” you have now. But staying inside and attending to basic needs is plenty.
Learn more.
Resource: Taylor Lorenz, The New York Times
"LAW FIRMS NEED TO SAY IT'S OK TO BE HUMAN RIGHT NOW"
Feel like crying? Or maybe like complaining, cursing, screaming or all the above? If so, you are not alone these days. Even in the most sophisticated, polished and staid professional cultures, nerves are fraying, facades are cracking and composure is slipping. Let’s be real: The situation we’re facing sucks big time, and we all know it.
Learn more.
Resource: Patrick Krill, Law.com
