Category Archives: Tips

Attorney Tip #6 – Be Upfront

Posted on July 18, 2014 by The Legal Reformer

When a client brings you a matter that will likely result in fees higher than the matter’s value, do you advise him/her of that fact?  If you hesitated to respond “yes,” even in the slightest, this tip is for you: … Continue reading →

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If It Can Happen To Dan Rather . . . It Can Happen To You

Posted on July 3, 2014 by The Legal Reformer

In Chapter 10 of his memoir, Rather Outspoken: My Life In The News, famed news reporter Dan Rather discusses his 2007 breach of contract lawsuit against CBS for removing him from the CBS Evening News anchor chair.  Mr. Rather’s experience … Continue reading →

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Time To Check Beneficiaries?

Posted on June 27, 2014 by The Legal Reformer

LPR does not write about the law, as we are not a law firm.  But the story of a man who reportedly intended for his retirement to be distributed to his four children after his death — which because of a … Continue reading →

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What Legal Consumers Can Learn From Apple

Posted on May 10, 2014 by The Legal Reformer

A jury recently awarded Apple just shy of $120 million in its latest patent infringement lawsuit against Samsung.  In the first lawsuit, Apple was awarded $1.1 billion.  But as Jay Yarow of the Business Insider implies in his article, Samsung’s Lawyer Absolutely … Continue reading →

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“Is Your Lawyer’s Bill Too High?”

Posted on April 12, 2014 by The Legal Reformer

We have written about HALT.org (Help Abolish Legal Tyranny) in previous posts and its work for transparency in attorney discipline and reporting on state bar associations’ secrecy in the handling of attorney ethics complaints.  HALT also has a number of self-help brochures … Continue reading →

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Judge’s “Cautionary Tale” About Online Legal Forms

Posted on April 5, 2014 by The Legal Reformer

Last week the Supreme Court of Florida issued an opinion interpreting a will prepared using an online form.  The opinion specifically addressed how property acquired after the will was signed was to be distributed in the absence of a residuary clause (a catch-all provision) … Continue reading →

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Finally . . . A Legal Reality Show!

Posted on March 13, 2014 by The Legal Reformer

For some time we have been lamenting around the water cooler that there is no reality show to educate legal consumers by showcasing different legal situations and ways to resolve them, much like the show The Doctors.  What a great resource … Continue reading →

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Legal Consumer Tip #6 – Contract Terms Are Binding

Posted on March 7, 2014 by The Legal Reformer

Read all contract terms — you will be bound to them. While this oft-stated advice seems simple enough, many legal consumers don’t read all contract terms before signing, and even fewer stop to think about how the terms will play … Continue reading →

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The Client’s Paradox

Posted on February 21, 2014 by The Legal Reformer

In today’s times when people need a lawyer to do almost anything, the choice of which lawyer is very important.  But as the number of lawyers to choose from has increased exponentially, the choice has become infinitely more complex.  A … Continue reading →

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Attorney Tip #5 – Talk Like A Lawyer

Posted on January 30, 2014 by The Legal Reformer

No, we don’t mean speak to your clients using “legalese.”  We mean the exact opposite. On January 1, 2012, the ABA Journal re-published “More Than Just Words: This Is What It Really Means to Talk Like a Lawyer” by Jim … Continue reading →

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