Enjoy the summer weather at one of these fun Washington destinations. Summer is in full swing in Washington, and you know it won’t last for long. Pack an overnight bag, sign off Casemaker, and enjoy the beautiful weather at one of these fun Washington destinations. Your billable hours will be there once the rain starts […]
Read More…“I knew I could ace law school if I just read the law like I read Torah.” My name is Erin Sperger. I am an attorney and I am Torah observant. (If you’re not familiar with what this means, the video below is a good introduction.) This is what I call myself, since people demand labels. […]
Read More…Sitting all day puts you at an increased risk for diabetes, weight gain, and heart attacks. Take a stand, literally. Most attorneys suffer from a life-threatening disease. The ailment may not come from monkeys, birds, pigs, or secret government-run chemical factories, and Dustin Hoffman may not be chasing it across California with Rene Russo. (That’s right, […]
Read More…Because July 30 is just around the corner! Law students all over the country are suffering through final exams and looking forward to summer. That is, unless you’re a 3L and the bar exam is looming on the horizon. In 2010, I took the bar exam in Nevada, and in 2013 I took the exam […]
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The goal is to feel rejuvenated by the time we spend away from our work, as opposed to feeling avoidant of our responsibilities. A computer has 2 competing purposes: a mind organizer and a mind eraser. The tool we use to refine our thoughts in precision crafted legalese is married to the ultimate implement of […]
Read More…ABA President Laurel Bellows says “Talking about work-life balance is fraud.” Does she have it right? American Bar Association president and 35-year litigation veteran Laurel Bellows was interviewed recently by Chicago Grid. In the interview, Bellows talks about finding clients in unlikely places (like the women’s restroom), but she focuses on work-life balance. Her take? “Talking about […]
Read More…March is Women’s History Month. Learn what the 2012 WSBA membership study revealed about women in the legal profession. March is Women’s History Month, a month is dedicated to highlighting the contributions of women across the globe. The Washington State Bar Association is working to spread awareness of the accomplishments of women in the legal profession […]
Read More…NWLawyer Editor Michael Heatherly shares how video games made him a better litigator. I started my video game indulgence as a kid with Pong, Space Invaders and Asteroids. I didn’t play much in my younger adult years, but I rediscovered gaming as a parent, occasionally venturing into my son’s chaotic, Star Wars-themed room to challenge him […]
Read More…Attorney Timothy MB Farrell recounts a day of maritime mediation and thrilling maritime mishap. Read Part I: Hawaii to San Francisco My second unforgettable sailing adventure occurred in 1995, a couple of years after the Hawaii to San Francisco trip. By this time, I had found a maritime law job representing injured seamen before the U.S. Federal District Court […]
Read More…Attorney Timothy MB Farrell’s legal training leads him to the non-legal opportunity of a lifetime. I have had several unforgettable sailing trips related to the law. The first was a cruise from Hawaii to San Francisco in 1991. The second was my first broach in Puget Sound in 1995. The third was an inter-island race in […]
Read More…Suitcase? Check. Tooth brush? Check. Legal treatise? Check. Learn more about pro bono opportunities abroard. Volunteer travel, or “voluntourism,” is on the rise with those looking for an experience abroad that goes beyond mai tais on the beach (not that I’m knocking mai tais or the beach!). While we frequently hear about doctors volunteering at […]
Read More…NWLawyer Editor Michael Heatherly’s list of hypothetical tribute band names, with goodies like “Meetwood Flac” and “French Kiss.” Remember those aptitude tests from high school? I scored really well in the areas of nursing and agriculture, which was weird, because there were probably no two academic areas in which I had less knowledge, interest, or […]
Read More…Going to the “dark side”: an attorney’s story of transitioning from plaintiff work to defense work. One of the things I often get asked is why I made the transition from plaintiff’s work to defense work. The answer is really complex, personal, and not a story I am likely to tell unless I know you […]
Read More…As we ring in the new year, many of us make resolutions for self-improvement. While shedding holiday-season pounds may be the most common goal (I’m actually eating a cookie as I write this), it’s also a great time to assess your career and work on the areas you want to strengthen. But without the right […]
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Procrastination and lawyering seem to go hand in hand. Legal work is intricate and precise, and legal concepts are hard to communicate to most people. This can leave you feeling alone with your burden. There are so many elements of lawyering, such as being organized, using time efficiently, being a productive writer, and being financially […]
Read More…The legal profession ranks among the highest professionals with significantly depressed members. In an October 2011 article written for De Novo, I explored the reasons attorneys are more likely depressed, and potentially suicidal, than their white-collar peers. In that same article, I also argued that attorneys who suffer from mental health disorders, such as chronic […]
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