Legal Articles

U.S. Supreme Court Decision Bolsters the Fact That Arbitration Provisions Are Here to Stay… For Now

December 18, 2012 – 152 views

On November 26, 2012, the U.S. Supreme Court once again endorsed the arbitration of employment-related agreements. The Court held that if a contract contains an arbitration provision and there is a subsequent challenge to the validity of the contract, the arbitrator – not a court – must hear that challenge. In so holding, the Court reaffirmed its earlier precedent that when a contract contains an arbitration provision, the Federal Arbitration Act (“FAA”) trumps state law... Full Story 

HIT THE DECK! What the Overturn of Illinois’ Ban on Concealed Carry Could Mean for Employers

December 13, 2012 – 139 views

On December 11, 2012, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit issued a decision finding Illinois’s ban prohibiting civilians from carrying concealed weapons to be unconstitutional. What does this mean for employers?... Full Story 

Best Practices for Legal Content Writing

December 10, 2012 – 125 views

One of the best ways for a law firm to reach existing clients and find new leads is through content writing. Not only is this technique cost effective, it's perfect for showcasing your legal knowledge and gaining trust. Here are some ways to get the most out of content writing and improve your search rank... Full Story 

Election 2012 Fallout

December 6, 2012 – 115 views

Elections have consequences. Indeed, there is no question that over the course of 2013, what certain employee-side advocacy groups may not be able to accomplish through federal legislation, will likely be achieved through administrative rule-making and judicial activism. Of significance, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), a 5-member administrative agency comprised of the President’s hand-picked appointees, is set to continue the push for more of a presence in the day-to-day operations of the non-union workforce; regardless of industry. For example... Full Story 

Uses and Abuses of In Limine Motions

December 4, 2012 – 136 views

The careful planning of motions in limine is an important part of trial preparation. This is because these motions are the vehicle used to ask the court to exclude inadmissible evidence or evidence that should not be considered by the trier of fact. Given the difficulties of handling evidentiary disputes in front of a jury, the value of resolving evidentiary issues prior to trial cannot be stressed enough. There are three basic categories of motions in limine that are regularly used. While these are not exclusive, most in limine issues will fall in one of these three categories as discussed below... Full Story 

Alaska Court of Appeals Revisits Copelin in Grossman v Alaska

November 30, 2012 – 91 views

In a written opinion released September 7, 2012, the Alaska Court of Appeals revisited and clarified an Alaska Supreme Court decision from 1983. In 1983, the Alaska Supreme Court held that a person arrested for driving under the influence (DUI) has the right to attempt to contact an attorney before deciding whether or not to submit to a breath test... Full Story 

Integrating Legal Process Outsourcing into Your Firm

November 26, 2012 – 128 views

While talk of business outsourcing manufacturing jobs to other countries has been an ongoing point of contention in the political arena, legal process outsourcing, or LPO, has been around for decades, originating in the 1950’s and restricted at that time to patent services. Legal process outsourcing refers to the practice of getting support services from an outside legal firm or separate legal support services company, often existing outside of the United States. Traditionally, the more time-consuming and burdensome tasks within a law firm are delegated to paralegals and interns within the law firm. A primary advantage to outsourcing some or all of these tasks is cost-management... Full Story 

US Supreme Court Decides to Review Missouri DUI Ruling

November 22, 2012 – 174 views

On September 25, 2012, the US Supreme Court agreed to hear an appeal filed by the state of Missouri seeking review of a Missouri Supreme Court decision on warrantless blood draws in DUI cases... Full Story