Tech Tip: Summer Travels? There Are Apps for That
For most of us, summer is a time for a little rest and relaxation. For those lawyers that can vacate completely, here’s a tip:
Through a free LogMeIn account, get remote access to your office computer without the hassle of setting up and configuring a Virtual Private Network (VPN).
LogMeIn is secure, easy to use – and free. The free account doesn’t let users transfer files from within the session, but you can either email them to yourself or if you are using a tool such as Dropbox, Google Drive, or Box.com, you can drag files to those folders on your office computer and then access them from your remote system.
LogMeIn Hamachi is a free option for up to five users. Up to 32 workers can get access to one network with access to their own files only, for $29 per year. Lawyers can also mix free and paid accounts, depending on the travel situation.
Need to organize your travel? Check out travel apps such as TripIt.
Source: Nerino Petro, State Bar Practice Management Advisor
If only there were an app that would watch my kids on vacation, life would be good!
By the Numbers: 1.94:1
The ratio of new law graduates to new law jobs in Wisconsin, according to The Atlantic, which posted “The Absolute Worst States for Job Hunting Law School Grads” in early June.
With a rank of 27, Wisconsin is in the middle of the pack. Mississippi has it worst, with 10.53 graduates for every one job.
Best place to go? Wyoming, Alaska, or Nevada, with less than one graduate for every new law job.
Quotable: “DOMA undermines both the public and private significance of state-sanctioned same-sex marriages; for it tells those couples, and all the world, that their otherwise valid marriages are unworthy of federal recognition.”
– U.S. Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy in a 5-4 majority opinion striking down a key part of the federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) in June that denied federal benefits to same-sex couples even if legally married under state law.
It’s a landmark decision, especially for the 13 jurisdictions that recognize same-sex marriage. However, the ruling does not affect the people of Wisconsin, which banned same sex marriage in 2006.
Out there: What? I’m Richer Than That!
Forbes Magazine, which publishes an annual list of the world’s richest people, has been sued by a billionaire from Saudi Arabia, who says the publication libeled him by claiming he was worth only $20 billion. He’s worth almost $10 billion more than that, he says. The suit was filed in a British court, according to Reuters.
At $30 billion, Prince Alwaleed bin Talal would move ahead of several U.S. billionaires, including Google’s Larry Page, Amazon’s Jeff Bezos, and several heirs to the Wal-Mart fortune.
World’s richest person in 2013? According to Forbes, its Mexico telecommunications mogul Carlos Slim Helu. At a net worth of $73 billion, Helu ekes out Bill Gates, who is only worth $67 billion.
Good Ideas: 5 Tips to Keep Clients Happy
Producing quality work aside, there’s five simple things lawyers can do to keep clients happy, courtesy of the Attorney at Work blog:
- Don’t wait for them to call you. Give them a courtesy call to check in. “Whoever heard of a lawyer who makes house calls? Imagine their surprise! And delight!”
- Compliment your client. Lawyers often tell clients what they did wrong. A simple compliment can go a long way. If your business client has a good grasp of the legal principles at work, say so.
- Preventive Medicine (Law). The lawyer often cleans up messes. Take the time to explain how your client can prevent them in the future.
- Hedge client expectations. Things come up, so don’t overpromise. Instead, under-promise and over-deliver. “Promise you’ll have the documents ready by Friday, but call Wednesday to schedule time Thursday morning for the client to come in and sign.”
- Thank your client often. The client doesn’t have to choose you. Say thank you when she returns your call promptly. Say thank you when you are referred to someone she knows, and when you are paid, and when you are complimented … even when she thanks you. “No, thank you. It’s been a pleasure to work with you.”
From the Archives: Barbee’s Revolution
Fifty years ago this year, attorney Lloyd Barbee started Wisconsin’s modern civil rights revolution.
In 1963, Barbee and the NAACP’s Milwaukee branch tried to end de facto school segregation through civic action, but failed. Barbee then filed a lawsuit, arguing that it was not enough that Wisconsin school laws were racially neutral: Milwaukee must take affirmative action to integrate its schools.
Barbee waged a lonely battle against formidable opposition for more than a decade, but he eventually triumphed.
In Amos v. Board of School Directors (1976), federal judge John Reynolds ordered Milwaukee to implement a desegregation plan. The controversies that Barbee raised continue to this day, but he deserves great credit for forcing Wisconsinites to examine issues too long ignored.
Photo: Stop School Segregation March, Milwaukee WI 1964. Lloyd Barbee Collection. WHI (X3) 45523, State Historical Society of Wisconsin.
