December 15, 2022
Volume XII, Number 349
December 15, 2022
– The Ultimate Lawyer Time Off Checklist by: Kamron Sanders
– Improving Liquidity Through Real Estate Sale and Leaseback…by: Simone Wijngaard and Alexander van Hövell
– PTO Announces Cancer Moonshot Expedited Examination Pilot Program by: Bernard P.Codd
– Do Law Firms Use HubSpot? by: CRM News and Updates, Lawmatics
– The State of ESG Reporting in Australia by: Clive Cachia and Adam Levine
December 14, 2022
– Certain Green Cards Getting 24-Month Extensions as USCIS Deals With…by: Michael H.Neifach
– Australia: Climate and Sustainability-Related Financial Disclosure…by: Jim Bulling
– New Washington State Guidance A Reminder That More State Pay…by: Aaron Vance
– NLRB Unleashes New Damages Against Labor Law Violators by: Mark J.Neuberger
– Illinois Appellate Court Weighs in on Biometric Data Policies by: David M.
Poell and Kari M.Rollins
– FTC Issues Green Guides Questionnaire by: Phyllis H.Marcus
– Webinar Recording: Navigating Today’s Privacy Compliance…by: Cynthia J.
Larose
– US Executive Branch Update – December 14, 2022 by: Stacy A.Swanson
– AML Bill Key to Busting Russian Oligarchs by: Stephen M.
Kohn and Grace Schepis
– New York State Provides Protection for Use of Leaves of Absence by: Jonathan A.Wexler
– US Executive Branch Update – December 13, 2022 by: Stacy A.
Swanson
– Looking Ahead to 2023: Pay Transparency Developments by: Allan S Bloom and Evandro C Gigante
– What Does 2023 Hold for California COVID-19 Supplemental Paid Sick…by: Benjamin A.Tulis
– AND ANOTHER ONE! TCPA CLASS DISCOVERY LIMITED: Third Party Subpoena…by: Jenniffer Cabrera
– Speak Out Act Takes Effect, Enhanced Data Privacy Obligations for…by: George Carroll Whipple, III
– California Starts Mandating Employee Bereavement Leave in 2023 by: Paul R.Lynd
– GREAT LEGAL WORK: TCPA Defendant Wins a HUGE Certification Victory…by: Eric J.Troutman
– 401(k) Compliance Check #12: Don’t Borrow Trouble – Correcting…
by: Belinda S.Morgan
– FDA Published Food Safety Culture Literature Review by: Food and Drug Law at Keller and Heckman
– Does a business have to provide a privacy notice directly to a…by: David A.Zetoony
– New Privacy Enforcement Act Commences in Australia by: Cameron Abbott and Rob Pulham
– NYC Delays Enforcement of Automated Employment Decision Tools Law to…by: Lindsay Colvin Stone
– U.S.Department of State to Update Design on Nonimmigrant and…by: Ashley K.Kerr
– Cannon Fire: Newly-Famous Judge Stays All Discovery in TCPA Class…
by: Eric J.Troutman
– Why Do Law Firms Need CRM? by: CRM News and Updates, Lawmatics
– This California Rule by: Keith Paul Bishop
– UK Parliament Considers Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Bill…by: Emma Thomson
December 13, 2022
– DOL Issues Final Rule Amending Investment Duties Regulation –…
by: James Frazier
– Renewed Era of Crypto Assets Growth in Hong Kong by: Jay Lee
– Division I Universities Must Be Ready for Changes to the NCAA…by: Paul V.Kelly
– Damages in Pre-Certification Discovery are Premature, Discovery…by: Jenniffer Cabrera
– When Chains Change, Do NFTs Stay The Same? How Hard Forks May Affect…by: Jason H.
Finger
– COVID-19: A Roadmap to Fraud Investigations: Office of Inspector…by: Stephen D.
Bittinger
– Update: OFCCP Plans to Disclose EEO-1 Data for Non-Objecting…by: Abby M.
Warren
– DOJ Antitrust Division and HHS OIG Enter into Partnership to Increase…
by: Diane Hazel
– Can Discovery Be Compelled from a Party? Possession, Custody, Control…by: Kathryn C.Cole
– Weekly Bankruptcy Alert December 13, 2022 by: Bankruptcy & Creditors’ Rights
– All Things Chemical® Podcast: TSCA Regulation of Articles: The Saga…by: Lynn L.Bergeson
– Energy & Sustainability M&A Activity — December 2022 by: Thomas R.
Burton, III and Sahir Surmeli
– Energy & Sustainability IP Updates — December 2022 by: Brad M.Scheller
– SEC Reopens Proposal on Stock Buyback Rules by: Erin Reeves McGinnis
– Chips Chatter: December 5-12, 2022 by: Pablo E.Carrillo and Ludmilla L.Kasulke
– How Many Behavioral Advertising Trackers Do Websites Deploy Currently? by: David A.Zetoony
– FRB Proposes Climate-Related Financial Risk Management Principles by: Daniel Meade
– Energy & Sustainability Litigation Updates — December 2022 by: Jacob H.
Hupart
– Cross Border Recognition, 25 years on: the view from each side of the…
by: Michelle N.Saney
– A New Era of Technology in the Private Markets by: Louis Lehot and Christopher Converse
– New York City Postpones Enforcement of Automated Employment Decision…by: Simone R.D.Francis
– New Law Seeks To Curtail Coerced Debts by: Keith Paul Bishop
– Republican SEC Commissioners Continue to Criticize Proposed Climate…
by: Jacob H.Hupart
December 12, 2022
– Raters gonna rate…but there’s a bright side! by: Daniel B.Guggenheim
– SEC Awards More than $20 Million to Whistleblower by: Mary Jane Wilmoth
– Estate Planning for Football Season Ticket Holders by: Katherine M.
Szymanski and Rebecca K.
Wrock
– American Hospital Association Urges DEA to Issue Special Registration…
by: Nathaniel M.Lacktman
– EPA Announces $25.7 Million in Grants to Support Water Systems in…
by: EPA
– Weekly IRS Roundup December 5 – December 9, 2022 by: Tax Practice Group McDermott Will Emery
– CMS Announces Strategy on Value-Based Payments for Specialty Care by: Anahita Anvari
– DOL Proposes Self-Correction Option and Other Changes to Voluntary…by: Justin S Alex
– The City of Los Angeles’ Fair Work Week Ordinance Requires…
by: Tomi Oshita
– Recent Developments in Telehealth Enforcement by: Sara Helene Shanti and Danielle Vrabie
– ESG INVESTING AND PROXY VOTING: DOL’S NEW FINAL RULE by: Kristina M.Zanotti and Ruth E.Delaney
– IN A NEW YORK MINUTE, Telemarketing Laws Are Changing! by: Angelika Munger
– More Places, Less Spaces: California is Driving Down Development Costs by: Amanda S.Lee
– Bereavement Leave Becomes Mandatory in the Golden State by: Kaleb N.Berhe
– New Year Brings New Laws for Illinois Employers by: Mikela T.
Sutrina and Katherine H.Oblak
– Decision in U.S.
v.Holland by: Gabriel L.Imperato
– Top Five Labor Law Developments for November 2022 by: Jonathan J.
Spitz and Richard F.Vitarelli
– “Cold-Pressed Juice” Lawsuit Permanently Dismissed by: Food and Drug Law at Keller and Heckman
– USPTO Releases New Guidelines Shortening the Response Deadline in…by: Luna M.Samman
– ‘No Exit’: SEC Sanctions Investment Adviser for Impeding…by: Peter D.Hutcheon
– TradeTalk China: December 2 – December 9, 2022 by: Pablo E.Carrillo and Ludmilla L.Kasulke
– $10.3 Million in Grants Awarded to Improve the Health of Long Island…
by: EPA
– RE-STRUC: Tax Changes as of 2023 by: Thomas van der Vliet and Louisa van Isselmuden
– The CAC Assessment Collection – Part 2: What Must Be Done Before…by: Amigo L.Xie and Dan Wu
The Ultimate Lawyer Time Off Checklist
Since lawyers are constantly on the go, taking a vacation, even for a few days, may seem out of the question.
They may be drowning in paperwork and trying to stay on top of their clients’ casework.However, lawyer time off can benefit the entire firm and how clients are serviced.It helps the lawyer recharge, avoid burnout, and enjoy a well-deserved vacation.When they return, they can be refreshed and ready to give clients their undivided attention.
However, taking a vacation as a lawyer requires planning to ensure clients’ cases go smoothly and thoroughly savor their time off.
To stay organized before, during, and after vacation, consider this ultimate lawyer time off checklist.
Why Lawyers Should Take Time Off
As a lawyer, you need to take time off to:
Be more present, focused, and organized for clients
Rest and recharge
Alleviate and manage stress
Attorneys don’t typically have a solid work-life balance, as they must dedicate countless hours to law firm management and tend to clients.
Tensions run especially high during busy seasons.For example, according to the U.S.Department of Justice, aggravated assaults rise during the summer months, which may demand more of a criminal defense attorney’s time than at any other time of year.
High-stress work environments that allow little time for breaks can affect a lawyer’s mental and emotional well-being.Although it may be difficult to escape these taxing situations, certain lawyer stress management techniques can make a difference.For example, they can take more breaks throughout the day, prioritize sleep, set aside time to exercise, and listen to music they enjoy.
1.Schedule Time Off With Care
Picking the right time to go on vacation can help reduce the stress you might experience.Otherwise, you would be so preoccupied thinking about work that it would spoil your time off.So, when planning your trip, figure out when things are typically slower for you, upcoming trial dates, conferences you want to attend, and other essential tasks.
2.
Create a Communication Plan
Once you have an idea of when you’re going on vacation and for how long, notify your staff, clients, colleagues, and the courts as soon as possible.They’ll appreciate the heads-up and be able to start planning their workload around your absence.
You may also want to consider:
Instructing your staff on what work they need to complete while you’re away
Giving them your contact information in case of an emergency
Informing them of when is the most appropriate and inappropriate times to contact you
Telling everyone about your vacation in advance may make them less inclined to get in touch with you while you’re away.
3.Organize Your Workload
Although you’ll be off work, you must still fulfill certain obligations.According to the American Bar Association (ABA), your workload “must be controlled so that each matter can be handled competently.” Of course, you don’t want to be working on a case while you’re on vacation.
Instead, take care of crucial tasks you must complete before you leave.
You don’t have to do everything a day or two before, though.If you can, set aside some time each day in the few weeks leading up to your vacation.
That way, you’re not rushing to finish, can better attend to the task at hand, and prevent your cases from suffering.
4.Delegate Work As Needed
You want to ensure that workflow continues as smoothly as possible while you’re on vacation.In doing so, delegate work accordingly and consider:
Filling in your colleagues and staff about your current cases and giving them background information on clients
Having someone cover you while away, whether it’s one of your colleagues or a freelance lawyer
Putting together a succession plan in case you get hurt or something unexpectedly prolongs your trip
Utilizing workflows to help ensure your staff’s consistency and work progression
These steps can be simplified by having centralized law practice management software.PracticePanther empowers your firm to seamlessly delegate work to stay with features like automated workflows which allow you to track progression at a glance and assign staff as necessary.
5.
Set Your Tasks on Autopilot
While you’re away, you want to keep your practice up and running.If you’re a solo or small to medium size firm, you may be working with a lean staff.
Without overloading staff, you can find areas to automate tasks while you’re away, like client intake.
PracticePanther’s automated client intake form can help you capture leads even when you’re not working.Easily add the custom intake forms to your firm’s website and watch the leads funnel into your Contacts.You can also create an automated message so clients know you’ll be following up with them soon or if you have a virtual receptionist, they can help process prospective clients.
Automated intake forms allow help your firm to:
Cutt down on tedious paperwork
Ensure you receive all the necessary information about the client
Provide an on-demand way to generate new business
Define your brand with the ability to add your logo
Selecting a service that sustains your firm without skimping on legal client communication can help you take a well-deserved break and can be a great stress relief.
6.Prepare Your Calendar
In the weeks leading up to your vacation, regularly check your calendar to ensure you don’t have any important meetings or events while you’re away.
It can be easy to mix up dates or have a miscommunication with a client.
With that, you may consider investing in legal software that offers legal calendar management, which can allow you to:
Set deadlines, availability, and meetings
Sync with your Google or Outlook calendars
Invite clients to events
Assign tasks to staff
Give you a bird’s eye view of what to expect for the upcoming months
Having the ability to seamlessly customize your calendar to fit your schedule and keep you organized will ease your departure from the office.
7.Plan for Your Return
When you return to the office, your inbox may be flooded with emails.Thankfully, you can avoid the stresses that come with that by:
Organizing your email and setting up a filter and filing system
Tagging emails from your high-priority clients and colleagues or the courts
Unsubscribing from newsletters you don’t read anymore
Unsubscribing from standard spam emails
You may also want to block out some time in the week when you return to catch up on emails and casework and touch base with clients and colleagues.Jumping back into your daily grind can overwhelm you quickly, especially after a relaxing time away.
8.Get Your Legal Billing in Order
Even though you’re away, client payments may still be due.Rather than leaving your friends or family during your vacation to figure out billing, a legal billing software can help automate all associated tasks for you, such as:
Sending invoice reminders
Offering online payments
Tracking how much time you spent on each client’s case
Customizing your desired payment plans
With a standardized legal billing process and PracticePanther’s built-in payment solution, PantherPayments, your clients have the flexibility to pay in a variety of methods they’re comfortable with.
From online payments, payment plans, or a client portal, your clients can pay their invoices in mere seconds from anywhere.Not only does it enhance efficiency and accuracy, but it also saves you the awkward conversation with a client about ensuring their timely payments.
9.Consider Your Law Firm Marketing
Yes, you want to keep your law firm growing, even if you’re on vacation.However, doing a big campaign or trying out new law firm marketing techniques may not be ideal when you’re on vacation.The idea is to maintain your current marketing performance.
Though you may not be as accessible, prospective clients don’t have to feel it.As we discussed, automated intake forms are a great way to sustain lead generation.
You can also schedule paid advertisements or social media posts to give the sense your firm is active.
10.Set Yourself Away
It may seem obvious, but you must let everyone know that you’re going to be away from the office and for how long as well as an alternative contact.It can be as simple as an out-of-office message on your email, voice messaging systems, or even your website.
This small price of communication can save your firm from losing a prospective client, or missing communication from current clients or colleagues.
Outlook on Lawyer Time Off
You put in long hours prioritizing your clients, colleagues and managing your firm.After all that, you deserve a vacation.
Not only can it help give you a change of scenery and mental reset, but it will also allow you to be fully present for everyone you work with.
If you can’t take a vacation just yet, take short breaks throughout the day and develop healthy habits to keep your energy and focus high..