YOUNG LAWYERS DIVISION
Resources for refreshing your recollection
As a young lawyer , it is easy to put your head down , work hard , and end up reinventing the wheel . We may figure something out after a lot of needless time , forgetting about the vast array of resources available to make our lives easier . Speaking for myself , there was a long period of time where I had no idea how many useful resources existed for young lawyers ( which also can help seasoned lawyers ). As the SCBAs Young Lawyers Division President , I want to use this month ’ s article to remind folks of the many resources available to help us in our practice .
Let ’ s begin with Continuing Legal Education . A young lawyer ( or a seasoned lawyer ) can get every needed CLE credit for free through Legal Fuel . You can find free CLEs satisfying the technology requirement , the ethics requirement , and requirements for special certification areas from Business Litigation to Appellate to Civil Trial and beyond . Legal Fuel has detailed information on starting your own law firm , managing your practice , marketing your firm , running firm finances , technology , and COVID- 19 resources . All in all , it is one of the most impressive collections of information and free CLEs that has ever been assembled . If you don ’ t know about it , or you ’ ve forgotten it existed , now is a great time to revisit this resource . If you are in need of a CLE credit and on a budget , this is the place to go . I have personally taken CLEs from Legal Fuel that have been useful in my practice in multiple domains , such as Conducting Depositions Online : What You Need to Know , The Ethics and Mechanics of Online Reviews , and Remote Online Notarization .
How about if you have questions about Social Media ? The Florida YLD has a resource called the Social Media Pocket Guide . Published in February 2021 , this resource answers questions about ethics as applied to Social Media . Websites ,
YLD PRESIDENT ’ S COLUMN
Patrick McArdle , Esq . McArdle Law , P . A .
blogs , networking sites , Twitter , Facebook , LinkedIn , and Newsletters . Additionally , rules concerning testimonials and responding to negative reviews online are discussed . This great resource is a good starting point for the constellation of questions that can arise in your practice as it relates to Social Media , and which can be supplemented with The Florida Bar ’ s more extensive Handbook on Lawyer Advertising and Solicitation .
What about if you or a young lawyer in your firm is expecting a child ? Again , the Florida Bar YLD has a resource . It is called A Practical Guide to Parental Leave for Employers : What to Expect When Your Employee is Expecting . This resource gives guidance on the proper way to approach discussions about parental leave , on how to navigate the issue of parental leave and return to work , as well as assisting attorneys in their transition back to work . This issue is perennial , and knowing the policies , procedures , and conversations that make the most impact for employers and employees can be the difference between strengthening and alienating young lawyers from their firms .
Another program you may not be aware of , and one that I forget about too , is Lawyers Advising Lawyers . In this program , a lawyer identifies the legal issue with which they want advice and the area of law under which the legal issue falls . Then , this lawyer is paired with a lawyer who has more than five years experience and has volunteered to be an advisor in that field . Within 48 hours , the advising lawyer will contact the inquiring lawyer and , after a thorough conflict check , discuss the issue . For many small firms , having this system available can be a huge benefit . Being able to discuss a complicated legal issue with a fellow lawyer knowledgeable in the field is a major help . And if an issue you
aren ’ t familiar in your area of practice arises ( for example , if a medical malpractice client in my practice declares bankruptcy ), speaking to a bankruptcy lawyer in this venue to get a sense of the terrain can be a huge help .
Finally , while some lawyers don ’ t get involved in specialty organizations in their area of practice , these organizations have tremendous resources . From listservs to databases full of depositions and forms , specialty organizations allow young lawyers to ensure they are not starting off from square one . It also allows seasoned lawyers to pick up new areas of practice with less friction . In my case , being a member of the Florida Justice Association and Manasota Trial Lawyers Board has allowed me to access tremendous resources in my field ( medical malpractice litigation ) that would otherwise not be available . Other organizations geared toward specific fields provide analogous benefits .
At a minimum , I hope this article provided a reminder of the many resources out there to help us in managing our work and professional lives . As we move into another year of uncertainty , we can at least be sure that resources exist to help us thrive in our lives and our practices .
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THE DOCKET · OCTOBER 2021 7