What a beautiful start to fall! I hope you are all having a great October, and have fun plans for Halloween.
As many of you know, our law firm is virtual, meaning that our attorneys, paralegal, legal assistants/office managers and I all work from our own home offices. Although my set up was initially viewed as being quite novel when I began running my firm virtually sixteen years ago, now, an increasing number of attorneys are interested in the virtual model as an affordable and efficient way to practice law. Clients benefit from the model as well, because it helps legal services to remain affordable by reducing costs associated with a law practice. It’s especially exciting that I was recently able to share my thoughts and expertise regarding this subject in both a New Zealand article and a local presentation! First, in late August, an interview with me was included in an article published in the Auckland District Law Society’s LAWNEWS, discussing whether virtual law practices are the “way of the future”. And, in late September, I was pleased to present Ethical Considerations Involved in Practicing in a Virtual Law Firm for the Washington State Bar Association (WSBA) Ethics in Civil Litigation seminar.
The third and final article in my series on attorney rating systems was recently published in the American Bar Association’s GPSOLO eReport. This article, entitled If You Play, What Should You Say? discusses four recent ethical advisory opinions and the guidelines they provide to help an attorney decide whether or not to reply to a negative online review, and how to avoid negative reviews in the first place. Please take a look and let me know what you think! I view legal ethics as being a critical part of my obligations as an attorney. It’s a privilege to be able to speak and write on this topic!
Sherry has also been very busy! As the Web Editor for the Washington State Bar Association’s Real Property, Probate & Trust (RPPT) Section, Sherry serves as an Ex Officio member of that Section’s Executive Committee. The RPPT Section is a professional organization for attorneys in Washington State who practice in the areas of real property, probate and trust law. It aims to assist its members in achieving the highest standards of competence, professionalism and ethics in their practices, through its work supporting attorneys engaged in the practice of law in these areas. In September, Sherry participated in the RPPT Section’s Executive Committee retreat in Woodinville. It was a productive meeting, and Sherry also found time to enjoy biking on the nearby Sammamish River Trail. It was a well-spent weekend away, but Sherry’s cat, Chinook, (Director of Printer Services) was rather upset about being abandoned for the weekend.
Although we are a virtual firm, we enjoy meeting in person at least twice a year for team building activities, dinner and conversation. Our September 25 meeting was productive and fun, as we again invited Jessica Butts, business coach, author, Myers-Briggs expert, and all around awesome person, to chat with us about our personality types and how these types play out in our work and our personal lives. We came up with improved ways to work together, and learned more about ourselves in the process. Jessica also gave each of us a copy of her fantastic new book, Live Life from the Front Seat.
Finally, many of you know I serve on the Board of Directors of Tennis Outreach Programs (TOPs), a local non-profit organization which is committed to “empower youth for lifetime success through tennis, education, fitness and character development regardless of economic circumstance”. The 2015 TOPspin Auction is October 24, and we would love to see you there! Our whole team is attending, and is looking forward to checking out some incredible auction items and enjoying a great evening supporting our local youth through tennis.
As always, I would love to hear your questions and comments. If you have any questions about our law firm and the work we do, please contact me or visit our (new and improved!) website.
Recent Updates from Our Blog
Corporations: An Evil Invention? Or a Straight-Up Business Entity?
This post from Stacey examines historical attitudes about corporations. Is a corporation an evil invention designed to promote greed and excess? Or, is a corporation simply a business entity – complete with a Board of Directors, officers, and shareholders?
Thinking about creating a partnership? In this post, Stacey explains why a partnership may not be the best choice for your new (or existing) business structure.
What Small Businesses Need to Know About Social Media
In this post, Sherry explains the importance of smart social media for small businesses, and why small business owners need to be especially careful about how they conduct their social media activities from a legal perspective.