On December 14-15, 2017, the MerusCase team will be attending the Louisiana Association for Justice CLE conference in New Orleans, Louisiana. We’ve attended our fair share of conferences, conventions, and CLE events, and we’ve seen many types of CLE courses. It’s very common for CLE events to feature Ethics seminars, and for good reason — most states’ bar associations require one or more hours of “Ethics” CLE per reporting period.

(Check your state’s requirements here: https://www.americanbar.org/cle/mandatory_cle.html )

At MerusCase, we focus on legal ethics issues, particularly digital ethics in law practice. In the internet age, technology is vital for growth. A law firm without a website will inevitably struggle to compete with a firm that with an established a web presence. A firm without digital file storage is just waiting for a paper file to get lost. Even though technology is a clear benefit to the average law firm, there is still potential for ethical issues.

In this post, we'll cover a few common digital ethics issues that a growing firm might encounter.

As a legal professional, you are always concerned with victory. You believe in your clients' cases, and you want them to win for the sake of justice, the Constitution, and apple pie. This is an admirable pursuit. We at MerusCase believe in you and your quest. So much so, you could say that we have made an entire product and company in service of your cause[1]. MerusCase's purpose, its raison d'être, is to help you do what you do better. We are constantly perfecting our product in service of you and your clients so you can reach ultimate victory. In a couple of weeks, we are going to unveil MerusCase 5.0. I know what you're thinking. 

You’re a legal professional. You know law things. You are a discerning, intelligent, and refined individual. Shouldn’t your Thanksgiving feast reflect your acquired tastes and sensibilities? We at MerusCase think so. We have compiled a one-stop shop for your favorite Thanksgiving recipes, with the appropriate legal flair. Don’t leave your work at the office (do you ever?). Bring it home with you to share with your friends, family, and loved ones. 

The best part of buying a new tech gadget is that first hour after opening the box. Everything is sleek and shiny. Each feature has exciting possibilities. All you can think about are the many ways that your new device will make your life better. Then, the honeymoon phase is over, and you must realistically consider how this device fits into your average day. That part isn’t nearly as much fun, which is why many people end up using their new gadget as a very shiny, expensive paperweight.

So, how can the average user go new iPad owner to iPad master? Brett Burney, a legal and technical consultant, saw this as an opportunity to share his experience and help firms use technology more efficiently. He created "iPractice on an iPad," an online course focusing on using the iPad to its full potential in a legal environment. The course consists of short video ‘sections’, which are then grouped into Modules based on a specific topic (e.g. “Managing & Organizing Files”). 

As a companion piece to our previous blogs documenting the employee search process (HERE), I, Arielle, the actual product of said employee search, have decided to write a piece on how one can impress during their first week on the job[1]. And so, here are a number of my own tried and true tips to dazzle and wow your bosses and coworkers alike: