Former client follow up
Plus: ABA annual meeting recap | Legal skills for the future law school
The legal profession isn’t static; our practices shift to meet our clients’ needs, technological advances and policy changes. This week’s newsletter highlights that flux.
A new survey on the legal skills shaping law school curriculum offers insight into how future lawyers will be trained, while a podcast from the Law School Admission Council explores the trends influencing the admissions pipeline. Together, they give practicing attorneys a window into—and a say about—the profession’s next chapter.
But first, did you see the SCOTUS-themed back-to-school supplies?
Everyone grieves in their own way.
Lawyer quits her job and joins her daughter on Only Fans in wake of ex-husband’s death.
The right to delete yourself after death.
With the rise of AI, estate planners should start asking clients if they want their family to be able to digitally resurrect them after death.
TS12 is coming.
So McCune Law Group will soon be able to translate a new batch of Taylor Swift lyrics into legalese.
Putting this to a vote.
What do you call SCOTUS’s emergency docket/shadow docket/non-merits docket?
Preparing for practice
The typical law school experience has changed quite a bit over the past few decades. And it is poised to change even more. How it changes is an open question, but Logan Cornett of the Institute for the Advancement of the American Legal System (IAALS) at the University of Denver, and the Law School Admission Council (LSAC) are trying to answer it. To that end, they are asking attorneys to take this survey on lawyer competencies.
The purpose of this study is to understand the skills needed for law practice and the degree to which different types of educational experiences teach them. The answers will update the groundbreaking Foundations for Practice project launched in 2014.
Why this matters: There’s no better way for law schools to figure out what they need to be teaching than to ask current lawyers how they developed the skills they use most. Spending 20 minutes to take this survey could help shape the law school experience for the next 20 years. (Take the Survey)
From stuck to scalable
Midsize law firms operate in a tough middle ground—too big for manual processes, yet without the resources of the largest players. A modern practice management platform can centralize operations, automate admin work, speed up billing, strengthen compliance and has the potential to improve staff retention. Together that can create the foundation to scale profitably and confidently.
Why this matters: Practice management platforms consolidate workflows, reduce risk, and create the capacity midsize firms need to expand and strengthen client service. (Legal Tech Daily)
The future of law
If the info above about the survey sponsored by the Law School Admission Council (LSAC) caught your eye, you may also be interested in tuning into this podcast by LSAC on the trends shaping law school admissions. Keeping Up to Data with Susan Krinsky distills information about the LSAT and the people taking it, the volume of law school applications and the demographics of aspiring attorneys into bite-sized episodes so you can get a clear snapshot of the legal education landscape. So if you’re wondering how changes in admissions policy, testing or diversity initiatives might ripple through the profession, this podcast offers the context you need to see the big picture and prepare for what’s next.
Why this matters: For practicing lawyers, this podcast is about anticipating change. The makeup of incoming law school classes can forecast shifts in practice areas, geographic markets and even law firm culture a few years down the road. By staying informed through LSAC’s expert analysis, you can get ahead of those shifts, whether you’re hiring, mentoring or simply watching for competitive trends in your market. (Keeping Up to Data)
- Court system hack puts witnesses at risk
- Zillow faces multiple legal challenges
- Following up with the lawyers who quit over their firm's deals with the Trump admin
- Everything you need to know about Ghislaine Maxwell’s defense attorney
- Recapping the ABA’s annual meeting
The art of the follow-up
The end of a matter often feels like the natural end of your relationship with a particular client. You’ve delivered the work, closed the file and moved on to the next item on your to-do list. But if you want a steady pipeline of repeat or referral business, that’s a mistake.
John Hinson of Spotlight Branding argues that touching base with your former clients is one of the best ways to get new business. In this article, he outlines several ways for doing so that are not awkward or salesy.
Why this matters: Maintaining a connection with your former clients is one of the easiest and most cost-effective strategies you can use to build your book of business. Periodic reminders that you still exist and care about how your clients are doing after their check has cleared means you will be top of mind when new issues crop up. (Legal Marketing Blog)
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Raise the Bar is written and curated by Emily Kelchen and edited by Bianca Prieto.