COVID REPEATS 10: DON’T MAKE THE MISTAKE OF THINKING A JUDGE IS THE USHER: MORE ADVICE FROM MORE WISE PEOPLE
Here we are looking at advice given in January 2017 from contributors across Twitter all of whom volunteered advice to young lawyers. Every one of these is basically a pearl of wisdom. It is important that I point out that…
THE (NOT SO) LONELY LITIGATOR’S CLUB 16: SHAYLLA SHABBIR: THE PUPIL’S VIEW
This is the time of year when pupil barristers are starting to be let lose to hone their skills in courts and tribunals up and down the country. At the moment they are stuck at home. I asked pupil barrister …
COVID REPEATS 9: A LOT OF WISDOM ABOUT LEGAL PRACTICE FROM A LOT OF PEOPLE
This is a repeat of a post that contained a lot of wisdom from a lot of people. Lawyers (including judges) on Twitter sent in dozens of contributions on advice to young lawyers. All of it is worth repeating (and…
THE (NOT SO) LONELY LITIGATOR’S CLUB 15: TIM PHIPPS: A SHORT TRIP ACROSS THE HUMBER
In our attempt to gain members from a wide geographical area we move away from the major cities and taking a trip over the Humber Bridge. However, once over the bridge, we are not going very far. The first turning…
COVID REPEATS 7: WHAT THEY DON’T TEACH YOU AT LAW SCHOOL V: WEAR SUNSCREEN & HAVE A PLAN
Here I am repeating advice given by a former chairman of the Bar in Kuala Lumpur. Many of the challenges and difficulties that (at some time) you may think are specific to you, are in fact universal issues that lawyers…
THE (NOT SO) LONELY LITIGATOR’S CLUB 14 : ANONYMOUS DISTRICT JUDGE (2): EXERCISING A “RIGHT OF REPLY”
Our 14th club member is also anonymous. A second District Judge provides some insight into the difficulties of continuing to work throughout the problems caused by COVID-19. Where are you working from now? Home. A market town 60 miles…
THE (NOT SO) LONELY LITIGATOR’S CLUB : CENRIC CLEMENT-EVANS: ein haelod cyntaf o Gymru
I am keen we have as wide a geographical spread of members as possible, so the next member is based in Wales. Cenric Clement-Evans, solicitor, lecturer and campaigner, based in Cardiff. Where are you working from now? I was…
COVID REPEATS 6: WHAT THEY DON’T TEACH YOU AT LAW SCHOOL 4: OWNING AND FIXING YOUR MISTAKES
Here we are re-visiting a post based on at an article by Elizabeth Collura in Lawyerist.com – Recognisizing, Owning and Fixing Your Mistakes. This is short but to the point. Mistakes happen, they are rarely disastrous. It is a failure to address…
THE (NOT SO) LONELY LITIGATOR’S CLUB 12: ANONYMOUS DISTRICT JUDGE (1)
I haven’t quite worked out the logistics of our club having anonymous members (I will have to check the constitution carefully). However there are advantages to anonymity, a District Judge (in fact more than one) have agreed to join and…
CONCENTRATION, CORONAVIRUS AND WORK: SOME SITES THAT MAY HELP
One of the difficulties caused by coronavirus is a problem in concentration and focusing. Even people who habitually work from home have increased problems in settling down. Here is a list of links that may help. The advice given may…
COVID REPEATS 5: WHAT THEY DON’T TEACH YOU AT LAW SCHOOL 3: SURVIVE AND THRIVE
Here I am repeating really good, well thought out guidance from the Young Lawyers Group of the Law Society of South Wales. Quite honestly this is the type of guidance that every lawyer starting their career should be given. There…
THE (NOT SO) LONELY LITIGATOR’S CLUB 10: PAUL NICHOLLS
The normally ebullient solicitor Paul Nicholls joins our club as a very special member. Paul has been seriously ill with coronavirus, hospitalised, ventilated and was given a 50% chance of survival. He is now back at home and working. Against…
COVID REPEATS 4: WHAT THEY DON’T TEACH YOU AT LAW SCHOOL 2
The fourth “repeat” looks at the second in the series, based on one article by Susan Carter Liebel 9 Things I wish they’d taught me at Law School. “Here I want to recommend a specific article by Susan…
COVID REPEATS 2: DEADLINES AND PROCRASTINATION: HOW DO YOU DEAL WITH IT?
Working in unusual conditions, often away from the office, and in the midst of a pandemic can sharpen the mind. For many of us, however, it makes work more difficult. It is worthwhile repeating a post from last year with…
THE (NOT SO) LONELY LITIGATOR’S CLUB 8 : ANDREW KING
The next to join the club is Andrew King co-owner of Lennons Solicitors. Working from home with his wife and four young sons (6, 2 and 1 year old twins…) Andrew has been involved in a remote trial during this…
KEEPING YOUR LAW FIRM GOING IN THE CORONAVIRUS CRISIS (10): GUIDANCE FROM NEW ZEALAND
Here we look at guidance to lawyers from New Zealand. The series on “Lawyers in Lockdown” is particularly illuminating, it shows that these issues are universal. We are far from alone. New Zealand The New Zealand Law Society has a…
KEEPING YOUR LAW FIRM GOING IN THE CORONAVIRUS CRISIS (9): CANADA
In the 9th in this series we look at advice to and from lawyers in Canada. All of these links offer practical advice which can be used in the UK, and beyond. Canada In ‘COVID-19: law firms going remote, some…
KEEPING YOUR LAW FIRM GOING IN THE CORONAVIRUS CRISIS (8) ADVICE FROM AUSTRALIA THAT MAY BOWL YOU OVER
I have spent part of lockdown watching “The Test” – a series about Australia’s cricket team. I have been rooting for the Aussies all the way (except when they played England of course). With the degree of planning and preparation…
KEEPING YOUR LAW FIRM GOING IN THE CORONAVIRUS (7): GUIDANCE THAT IS BORN IN THE U.S.A.
The thing about an international pandemic is that many of the problems we face are universal. Lawyers across the globe are dealing with very similar issues in relation to maintaining a firm throughout the COVID-19 crisis. Here we look at…
THE (NOT SO) LONELY LITIGATOR’S CLUB 7: SIMON (“SPIKE”) MULLINGS
The seventh member of the club is legal aid practitioner, Simon Mullings, who describes himself as “a long-beard housing law caseworker and newly anointed co-chair of the Housing Law Practitioners’ Association.” 1. Where are you working from now? I am…
THE (NOT SO) LONELY LITIGATOR’S CLUB 6: JONATHAN EXALL
I have been looking for the experiences of newly qualified litigators, these have been difficult to find. Eventually I found one newly qualified lawyer I could “persuade”. Working as a solicitor at Chadwick Lawrence in Leeds – Jonathan Exall Where…
THE (NOT SO) LONELY LITIGATOR’S CLUB 5: GILL EDWARDS
The newest recruit to the club is Gill Edwards a Partner acting for claimants in the clinical negligence department of Potter Rees Dolan, currently working from home in Mobberley with a partner, two teenagers and a dog. 1 Where are…
THE (NOT SO) LONELY LITIGATOR’S CLUB (4): ELIZABETH THOMAS
Elizabeth Thomas knows a thing or too about “remote” working and was the ideal candidate to be the next member of our club. Elizabeth is a Partner in Healthcare Litigation at Hempsons (London) but has been working from home for…
THE (NOT SO) LONELY LITIGATOR’S CLUB (3): LUCY MILLS
The next to join our club is Senior Associate at Stewarts Law Lucy Mills. Lucy is working from home, in a desk on a landing, with two boys aged 3 and 5 in the house. Like so many people she…
THE (NOT SO) LONELY LITIGATOR’S CLUB (2): NIGEL POOLE QC
Second up in this series is Nigel Poole QC who is balancing the job of carrying on working alongside being Head of Kings Chambers. Nigel’s view of the importance of social interaction in the workplace is important, it balances the…
THE (NOT SO) LONELY LITIGATOR’S CLUB (1): HILARY WETHERELL
I have meant, for some time, to start a series looking at how litigators up and down the country are dealing with working in social isolation. Hopefully shared experiences and advice will mean that we are not so lonely. I’m…
WORKING FROM HOME WITH KIDS: GUIDANCE FROM THE NICE PEOPLE ON TWITTER AND USEFUL LINKS
Not only are many people having to adapt to working from home and the kids are there too. This obviously creates many problems. I asked if anyone on Twitter had any tips and got some helpful replies. I have put…
WEBINAR ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND PERSONAL INJURY LAWYERS 31st MARCH 2020: NOW WITH SPECIAL CORONAVIRUS SECTION
The long-planned webinar tomorrow on Social Media and the Personal Injury Lawyer is still going ahead *. This will now include a lengthy session on useful social media links and helpful sites for lawyers during the coronavirus crisis. THE…
USEFUL LINKS: SUPPORT FOR INDIVIDUALS (WELLBEING AND HEALTH)
Continuing with the series on useful links, here we look at links to help with health and wellbeing. MENTAL HEALTH SAMH is Scotland’s national mental health charity and has been around since 1923. They have a page dedicated…
USEFUL LINKS: SUPPORT FOR LAWYERS DURING THE CORONAVIRUS CRISIS (BECAUSE LAWYERS ARE PEOPLE TOO…)
The third in the series on useful links. Here we look at help and guidance for lawyers. GENERAL GUIDANCE The Law Society offers advice and updates on Coronavirus for the legal profession, including advice for: employers firm owners, managing partners and…
WORKING FROM HOME – WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM MY FRIENDS (1): GUIDANCE FROM THE NICE PEOPLE ON TWITTER
Once resource we can freely use is help from friends and colleagues on social media. I asked the good people of Twitter to give advice about working from home. Here are some of the replies (I may have missed some…
STAYING SANE AS A LITIGATOR 9: SHARING THE “PAIN”
Most of the burden of complying with time periods and court orders lies with the solicitor. However a solicitor’s life can be made easier by making sure that all those concerned with the litigation process know of the deadlines involved…
2019 AND CIVIL PROCEDURE THE YEAR IN REVIEW: WELL BEING: LOOKING AFTER OURSELVES SO WE CAN LOOK AFTER OTHERS
This year has seen a large number of posts on avoiding stress and dealing with the difficulties that lawyers can have in litigation. MARCH: FIND MUGGLES AND DISCONNECT FROM YOUR WORK: “LAWYERS JUST NEED TO HAVE FUN” March had…
STAYING SANE AS A LITIGATOR 8: SURVIVING CHRISTMAS
Christmas can be a time of great stress as well as great joy. The stresses for litigators can be just as great, working to deadlines which are not Christmas or family friendly. Add to this the problems of the office…
2O19 AND CIVIL PROCEDURE THE YEAR IN REVIEW (5): WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM MY FRIENDS – CONTRIBUTIONS FROM TWITTER
This year has seen a number of posts where contributions have been drawn from Twitter threads, with people accepting invitations to write on particular points. The advice is usually practical and sometimes profound. This is an appropriate time to remind…
STAYING SANE AS A LITIGATOR 7: PREVENTING LAWYER SUICIDE
This is a major topic, and not one that I write about lightly. It arises from an event I attended last week in Leeds in relation to men’s mental health in the legal profession. I tweeted about attending very briefly…
DEALING WITH THE BEREAVED CLIENT: USEFUL LINKS AND GUIDANCE (2019)
This is the time of year when Hilary Wetherell and I travel round and give the APIL course on “Fatal Accidents, Practice, Procedure and Compassion”. The course deals a lot with the law and procedural aspects of fatal accidents. However…
STAYING SANE AS A LITIGATOR 6: WORKLOAD: THE IDEAL CASELOAD OR “BURY EVERYBODY” – WHICH IS MORE PROFITABLE?
This is unlikely to be the last post on this topic. Workload is likely to be the main source of stress for most litigators. The very basic issue of what is an appropriate caseload for litigators is often complained about…
STAYING SANE AS A LITIGATOR 4: : A HALLOWEEN SPECIAL: KNOWING THE EVERYONE HAS LITIGATION NIGHTMARES
Litigation gives rise to its own pressures. Every litigator with any degree of experience will have horror stories. I thought it worthwhile repeating the advice given by the lawyers of Twitter for Halloween a few years back. You will see…
STAYING SANE AS A LITIGATOR 3: SLEEP
I imagine that every single medical practitioner agrees on the importance of sleep in an individual’s health. It affects both physical and mental well being. Yet lawyers are ranked second amongst the most sleep deprived professions. Studies indicate that lawyers…
TRAVEL AND ACCOMMODATION FOR LAWYERS: ADVICE FROM THE LEGAL TWITTERATI (& OTHERS)
The latest “advice from Twitter” concerns travel and accommodation. What tips to people have about the best, and most economic, means of travel and accommodation for work. These are the early pieces of advice. It may well pay to check…
LAWYERS AND HOLIDAYS 2 – ADVICE FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD : GOOD READING FOR UNICORNS
Following on from the post yesterday where lawyers gave advice on avoiding stress on work when going on and coming back from holiday it is worthwhile looking at the general guidance that is available. “Lawyers have holidays without stress?…
LAWYERS – GOING ON HOLIDAY AND AVOIDING EXTRA STRESS: ADVICE FROM TWITTER
Since we are in the middle of the holiday season I have noticed how some people are reporting that going on, and coming back, from holidays is a stressful experience. I asked the lawyers (and others) on Twitter to give…
BEING A LITIGATOR “WHAT I’D TELL A YOUNGER ME”: SUE HARRIS – DIRECTOR AT WALKER MORRIS
For this interview we move to Yorkshire, more specifically to Leeds and the offices of Walker Morris. Sue Harris is one of those energetic people who do a tremendous amount outside their work. A litigator who works in construction and…
ADVICE TO A NEWLY QUALIFIED LITIGATOR 4: THE GOOD STUFF ABOUT BEING A LITIGATOR – FROM NICE LAWYERS
This is the final post in this series. Readers may be best advised to keep coming back to it. I have asked on Twitter for positive views and contributions about being a litigator. As an incentive there is a prize…
ADVICE TO A NEWLY QUALIFIED LITIGATOR 3: THINGS WILL GO WRONG, ADMIT IT, DEAL WITH IT AND NEVER, EVER, EVER ATTEMPT TO HIDE IT
At sometime in everybody’s legal career there is likely to be a situation when mistakes are made and everything points to you. Mathew Hickey puts the point succinctly in Rocket Lawyer “There will be moments in your legal career when things…
ADVICE TO A NEWLY QUALIFIED LITIGATOR (2): BE LEGALLY STREETWISE : A LITIGATION CLIENT’S STRATEGY MAY POSSIBLY BE TO BLAME YOU
In the second in this series I am reminding everyone of a very useful post from Darlingtons solicitors . I said at the time it was first written that it deserved wider publication, and they kindly agreed I could reproduce it. …
BULLYING AT WORK: HOW DO YOU DEAL WITH IT? CONTRIBUTIONS FROM TWITTER
The earlier post dealt with useful links for dealing with bullying at work. Some people on Twitter also started to contribute. Additional contributions welcome, on Twitter or in the comments section to this blog. Mary Aspinall-Miles A topic that I…
PUTTING AN END TO BULLYING IN THE LEGAL PROFESSION: USEFUL LINKS
I was sad to read a Tweet from a practising barrister earlier today. The barrister tweets anonymously (and thus candidly). They describe a terrible situation of bullying within the legal profession and their decision to “bite back”. This led me…
WHEN THINGS GO WRONG IN LITIGATION (AND ONE DAY THEY WILL)- TELL SOMEONE, HAVE A PLAN, DON’T LIE, AND READ STEVE CORNFORTH’S BLOG
Steve Cornforth’s blog contains a post this week “Why does this keep happening?” He points to, yet another, case of a fee earner ” whose career in in tatters because they have tried to cover up mistakes”. The post contains…
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