REGARDING “THE BLAWG 100,”
December, page 32: Good list.
I found a few new blogs to
check out.
I’m glad to see some excellent business-of-law blogs such
as Rees Morrison’s Law Department Management blog and
Ron Friedmann’s Strategic Legal
Technology blog (which I see as
more of a business-of-law than a
technology blog these days, although it is a hybrid that mixes
the two themes well). It’s interesting that no blogs dedicated
to legal process outsourcing
made the list this year.
Paul C. Easton
Taichung, Taiwan
HOW ABOUT ADDING THE 10 WORST
blogs next year? There are some spectacularly awful
ones out there.
As a biotech/pharma IP practitioner (U.S. patent
agent) with my own solo practice, I rely on numerous
blogs to keep me current. I particularly like Dennis
Crouch’s Patently-O and Gene Quinn’s IP Watchdog,
although I find Patent Baristas annoying and overly
relied upon by numerous in-house counsel I know.
I also read some corporate counsel, Supreme Court
and health law blogs.
Finally, folks other than attorneys (legal administrators, legal secretaries, paralegals, etc.) read these
blogs on a daily basis. Typical of the ABA Journal to
ignore the fact that the rest of us exist!
Alexandra J. “Sandy” Baran
Palo Alto, Calif.
FOUR-FOOTED JUSTICE
IN RESPONSE TO “GOING TO THE
Dogs—in a Good Way,” December, page 11, I think dogs should
receive some justice too. Instead
of breeding dogs for the purpose
of serving humans, we should be
getting them out of the shelters
if we want them so badly. Unfortunately, the Assistance Dogs International webpage states: “In
general, during a visit to the shelter only 1 to 5 percent of the dogs
might qualify.” It also discourages
people from starting programs out
of a love for dogs because it’s really “about helping people.” As
an animal lawyer, I advocate for
the welfare of animals, not the
killing of dogs in shelters.
Jill Ballard
San Diego, Calif.
SOLO OUTLOOK
DEBORAH L. COHEN’S “SO YOU WANT TO GO SOLO YOU
Sure?” in the November issue, page 48, raises a lot of
good points.
It’s one thing to want to break free of the constraints
of working for someone else. However, as with any
entrepreneurial venture, there are major risks (and potential rewards) to consider before making that leap.
This article does a great job of pointing them out and
provides some valuable suggestions and resources to
those of us thinking about going solo.
Denise M. Quimby
Chicago
NOTARY ISLAND
YOUR ARTICLE “NOTORIETY FOR NOTARIOS,” DECEMBER,
page 62, fails to mention that in the jurisdiction of
Puerto Rico all notaries must be lawyers authorized
to practice in this jurisdiction. In addition to the bar
examination, you must take an additional examination
to be certified as a notary public.
As indicated, you must be an attorney, but not all
attorneys are notaries. That is, you may decline to
take the notary public exam and even if certified as
a notary public you may decide not to practice this
aspect of the profession. Notary practice is strictly supervised by the Supreme Court of Puerto Rico, and
many lawyers have been disbarred not only as notarios
but have also lost their attorney license for violations
of the rules governing the practice of notaries.
Carlos M. Cardona
Carolina, Puerto Rico
MY 29 YEARS OF BEING A SOLE PRACTITIONER HAVE
been lonely, stressful, and without a moment of feeling any financial security. Yes, it is nice to take off
for a day of walking or touring without accounting to
anyone, but this freedom can be equally enjoyed in a
small firm.
The absence of a nearby learned colleague off of
whom to bounce ideas and problems generates a sense
of isolation. Sure, it is always possible to talk with colleagues down the street, but the stark reality is that
your brain and your desk are all you have.
Furthermore, only a handful of sole practitioners are
lucky and blessed enough to find a long-term, loyal legal assistant. Believe you me, when an assistant quits
with short notice, the hell of sole practice strikes again.
However, an undeniable sense of accomplishment
does result from deriving a living from practicing law
for clients produced by one’s own efforts.
If a lawyer chooses to pursue sole practice with
knowledge of the serious downsides and a resolve to
