Search Results for “Michael Heatherly”

Friday 5: What’s in the October 2014 NWLawyer

Halloween is around the corner, and the October 2014 issue of NWLawyer is full of treats! Check out these thrilling articles in your issue or read the magazine online.

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Five Things that Have NOT Changed Since I Started Practicing Law

In my last post, I described five significant changes in the practice of law that have developed since I got my license in 1991 (less conventional library research, paper replaced by e-documents, more emphasis on marketing, etc.). But in writing that piece, I couldn’t help but also think of the things that have not changed, […]

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WSBA Turns 125: Read All About It in NWLawyer

Can you believe the WSBA is turning 125 years old? It doesn’t look a day over 30, even though it’s actually older than General Motors, IBM and the Boy Scouts of America. But as announced here, the Bar has a year’s worth of events to commemorate its founding and first century and a quarter of […]

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5 quick tips to streamline your writing

You know the old joke about having to write a long letter because you didn’t have time to write a short one? That’s the essence of good writing and editing. Shorter is almost always better, so long as meaning remains clear. Following are simple tips to tighten your writing, based on some of the most […]

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Friday 5: Stress Busters for the Busy Lawyer

Psychological stress is one of the most destructive internal forces affecting your body and mind. Many in our profession struggle daily to keep stress at bay so we can perform at our best and maintain good health. Following are a few simple things you can do right now to help fight stress: Get a pet. […]

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Dwyer v. Cappell: Court upholds lawyer’s right to quote judges’ praise in website advertising

In advertising on your law firm website, wouldn’t you love to feature praise like this from judges? [Your name here] is, I think, an exceptional lawyer, one of the most exceptional lawyers I’ve had the pleasure of appearing before me…

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Off the Grill and Into the Fire

Summer is nearly upon us and many members of our profession look forward to this season of outdoor cooking in the beautiful Northwest. Well, I’m not one of them. Indoors or out, I cook about as well as I imagine Queen Elizabeth would play ice hockey. If a meal is going to take more preparation […]

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A Dozen Practice Tips, Via Aphorisms

Although a word to the wise is sufficient, to be on the safe side, I am providing the following 775 words for your edification. This is not because I assume you are unwise, but because a little learning is a dangerous thing, and a job worth doing is worth doing well, or something like that. […]

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Friday 5: Tips for Negotiating

NWLawyer editor Michael Heatherly shares lessons from his 8 years as a mediator. Having been a civil litigator for 22 years and also a mediator for the past 8, I estimate I’ve been involved in settlement of more than 600 cases. I can’t say whether I’m better or worse at it than anyone else with similar […]

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Thinking Like a Lawyer vs. Thinking Like an Arbitrator

I posted previously about how “thinking like a lawyer” — an appropriate mindset when serving as an advocate — can be a hindrance when acting in a different law-related role: that of a mediator. Here, I’ll share my thoughts on the mental adjustments a lawyer needs to make when serving in another dispute resolution capacity: […]