Legal Ethics for New Attorneys

Ethical Issues re: Accepting Payments from a Third Party, Fee Agreements, and Third Party Presence

Marianne Barth
Seltzer | Caplan | McMahon | Vitek

You recently opened your own law office specializing in family law, and are scheduled to meet with your first client, Winnie, who is interested in having you prepare a prenuptial agreement as to her upcoming marriage to Harry. 

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The 4-Hour-Per-Day Rule

Practicing law for the first time comes with its fair share of stressors and unknowns. One of the first things you’ll need to determine is how much you can expect to charge for your services. Will you be able to set an hourly rate that’s reasonable for an attorney in your area, and provides enough income to meet your needs?

Features

California Case of the Month: California Supreme Court Creates New Employees vs. Independent Contractor Test

Patrick Klingborg
Lincoln, Gustafson & Cercos, LLP

Phillip Simpler
Paul, Plevin, Sullivan & Connaughton LLP

On April 30, 2018, the California Supreme Court issued a much-anticipated decision in Dynamex Operations West, Inc. v. Superior Court (Case No. S222732).  The decision represents a substantial change to a fundamental California employment law standard: the test for whether a worker is classified as an employee or an independent contractor.  

Trademark Strategies in the Cannabis Industry

Khanh “Kenny” Glatzel
Attorney at Law

Trademarks are essential assets of any business. Customers identify products by trademarks. Historically, trademark law has been a federal issue. Trademarks are registered with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), and as a result, trademark litigation typically takes place in federal courts. That is, until cannabis commerce blooms.

IRS Properly Reconstructs Attorney’s Income: The Importance of Trust Fund Accounting through the Lens of Tax Litigation

Shawn Spaulding
Attorney at Law

As attorneys, we are all familiar with the trust fund accounting requirements found in Rule 4-100 of the State Bar of California Rules of Professional Conduct. Failure to follow Rule 4-100 can result in significant disciplinary action. But, the importance of proper trust fund accounting is not limited to the Rules of Professional Conduct.

Tips from the Pros

Becoming A Superstar

Isabel Eustaquio
Associate Director of Career Services
Thomas Jefferson School of Law

In today’s world, it is difficult to build a stellar legal career because the practice of law is such a competitive industry. One cannot simply produce quality legal work and assume the rest will fall into place. That is too passive a road to take for those who want to achieve legal superstardom.