Atlanta Lawyers

Although we are two years out from when the COVID-19 outbreak shut down the world, it is not yet clear what our “new” normal will actually look like on the other side of the pandemic. That being said, the likelihood that the transition to virtual litigation that has occurred over the past two years is here to stay is pretty high. This includes some aspects of remote depositions, mediations, court hearings, and even trials being an option that will remain for the foreseeable future.

Virtual Litigation Pointers
Below are some practical tips for lawyers to effectively and persuasively advocate on behalf of clients in a virtual litigation setting, according to Law.com.
● Preparation is key: Attorneys and their staff are no longer expected to struggle when dealing with video conference technology–even if it is unfamiliar to them. While lack of familiarity can be a forgivable issue in a less formal setting, it is distracting and takes away from even the best case in the context of a virtual hearing or deposition. For this reason, you should always confirm the type of service that will be used, have emergency IT contact information on hand, consider downloading the program on a second device in the event of sudden wifi loss, and even schedule a trial run if needed.
● Be Open to New Procedures: Many courts have specific rules regarding introducing witnesses and evidence, using exhibits and other details during an in-person court appearance. Some rules may not transfer over easily (or the same) to remote hearings and depositions. Because courts do not always provide amended guidelines pertaining to virtual proceedings, working together with opposing counsel to agree on ground rules prior and, if necessary, jointly submitting this to the court.
● Appearance Still Matters: Most lawyers adopt the same dress code for virtual court appearances and depositions as what they would use when conducting these proceedings in person. In the early stages of the pandemic, some judges made news headlines for reprimanding counsel for dressing too casually. Before appearing, review your video set up including microphone, lighting, and camera angling. Also, keep a straight face at all times as you are on video and any facial reactions will likely be seen by all.

Final Thoughts
It is important to understand that presenting a case virtually is more than just merely looking into your computer’s camera. For this reason, all lawyers will benefit from taking a prep course for virtual proceedings and applying what is learned to develop skills that can be used throughout their legal careers. And, hopefully, the above tips can help you smoothly navigate virtual litigation.

If you need help with online depositions, we can help.

For help with service of process, visit us here. 

Many think that success in the legal profession happens by working hard, high billable hours, and serving clients. While it is true that these are all important things that will help launch a successful career, more and more attorneys are realizing that knowing how to generate business in a digital world through networking best practices. Below are tips for networking in our modern society, according to the National Law Review.

Online Networking Practices
The majority of attorneys obtain business through in-person connections and word-of-mouth referrals. However, after the world experienced the COVID-19 pandemic shut downs, in-person events became non-existent; now as the world reopens, these events are limited. Such scenarios make it more difficult for attorneys–both newly minted ones and those growing their firm–to build their book of business without these interactions. Lead generation, where third party companies that market your firm bring you potential clients for a fee, is important, but shifting this and networking over to be mainly online can be a difficult task.

Tips for Gaining Clients
Below are several types of ways you can get your firm’s online networking game on track.
● Client referrals: Perhaps one of the simplest, quickest, and cheapest ways to bring in new clients is through the creation of a client referral program. Doing so will help maximize the potential for a repeatable referral process. Attorneys should be sure that any client referral program complies with any bar rules and have clear guidelines for others to know about the program as well as its benefits and eligibility.
● Client reviews: Similar to word-of-mouth referrals, client reviews–which are often done online on third-party sites or your firm’s website itself– have a strong impact on potential clients. Your law firm (and its attorneys) should encourage clients to leave positive reviews to help others find you more easily.
● Testimonials and case studies: A pillar of law firm marketing, case studies and testimonials provide detailed information about a successful case, including examples and actionable takeaways. A potential client may come across a testimonial or case study that is similar to their circumstances and may prompt them to contact (and retain) the firm.
● Content creation: Firms can leverage subject matter knowledge by writing content that answers general legal questions, address common concerns, share client success stories, or even discuss a recently decided case that came down from the court. Whether in written or video form, content creation is critical to lead generation.

For help with service of process, including international process, contact us here. 

For help with depositions and court reporting, contact us here.

Most of us, including busy lawyers, often feel like there are not enough hours in a work day to get all tasks done. To be sure, time management is a difficult task to master by all. When it comes to the legal profession, attorneys and staff alike are juggling multiple critical tasks at one time. As a result, efficiency is essential to not just getting the legal work done, but also keeping clients happy. If you are unable to manage your time, then it is nearly impossible to be efficient. Below are some tried and true time management tips for lawyers that will hopefully help you properly prioritize your to-do list and better manage your day-to-day work.

●Use a Calendar and To-Do List: Managing your time is much easier when you can easily see the tasks you have to perform laid out in front of you. More importantly, it is best to see due dates well ahead of time — something a calendar and to-do list system can provide. Whether you prefer pen-and-paper or a specific app, organizing tasks and deadlines will help you be efficient, timely, and accountable. This can also allow you to schedule personal events as family is also important.

●Set Deadlines: It is no secret that the practice of law is full of externally-imposed deadlines. It is also important, however, to set your internal deadlines for everything that needs to be done, including daily, routine tasks. These internal deadlines should be respected just like court deadlines. Setting time frames to return calls, answer emails, and send out correspondences will help you avoid the temptation to procrastinate.

●Do Not Multitask: While doing many things at once is often second nature for most attorneys, however, studies show performing numerous tasks at once makes you less efficient on each individual task. So, while psychologically you think you are getting more done, you are not.

●Stop Over-Committing and Ask for Help: Most lawyers have trouble saying no to work. Many attorneys feel that they cannot or are not allowed to refuse. When you are handling too many tasks, you cannot perform those tasks well or up to the standards expected by you and your clients. If you are at capacity, turn down additional projects, so you may focus your full effort on your current clients and activities. Alternatively, you can delegate those tasks to others. While you may be able to do it better, that does not mean you can do it all yourself.

The above tips should be able to help attorneys at any stage of their career not only produce better work and have happier clients but experience a healthier work-life balance.

To save yourself time on your domestic and international process service, court reporting, and deposition needs, you can contact us at Ancillary Legal and Elizabeth Gallo Court Reporting.

In the second part of our trial tips series, we continue to provide guidance for young lawyers and more experienced ones who want to succeed at trial, or at least put their best case forward. Below are more tips from the American Bar Association (“ABA”) on preparing and conducting trials.
● Create Witness Outlines, Not Questions. The best way is to prepare an outline of areas of questions for witnesses instead of preparing questions ahead of time. Doing so allows you to tell a story through conversation instead of reading exact questions that prevent a fluid question-and-answer witness session. Do, however, have certain questions prepared to ask on redirect to establish a fact or to impeach on cross-examination.
● Expect evidentiary issues. Know the rules of evidence extremely well prior to trial. Re-read the rules so that they are fresh in your mind. Expect to anticipate objections and be prepared to address those objections. If you have a complicated evidentiary issue, prepare a short memo ahead of time so you have a roadmap for your arguments before the court. Be sure to include legal citations and provide the memo to the judge during arguments.
● Use Effective Visual Aids. Even in civil litigation cases, both judges and jurors expect a visual presentation of the case. These visuals should be used during opening statements, when you are examining witnesses, and during closing arguments. The aid will help tell your story visually and support your theory of the case.
● Draft Closing Arguments. Make sure that your closing statement cites both the evidence and the applicable law that supports the merits and theme of your client’s case. Your closing argument should be prepared before trial begins. Create an outline prior to trial that cites testimony and exhibits you expect to be admitted at trial; you can modify your closing as the evidence evolves during trial.
● Observe and Listen. Pay attention to the facial expressions of the jurors and the judge during trial. Also, be sure to listen to the messaging being given to the judge and jury. The questions asked or rulings made by a judge will typically indicate how he or she is thinking regarding important issues and who may be winning the case.
While trial textbooks and other books are vital to preparing for trial, it is best to take a practical approach. Make sure you are prepared for unexpected surprises. Also, ask for help from an attorney who has tried cases before. Experience is the best teacher.
For more trial tips, go to the ABA’s website. For assistance with depositions and court reporting visit us today.