The Best Ways to Teach Yourself to Code

If you want to learn how to code, taking your first steps into this huge universe might seem like a daunting, if not intimidating task. Here’s the big secret: There are plenty of free (and inexpensive) resources you can use to give yourself all the help you need, teach yourself new techniques, and make this learning…

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Author: Melanie Pinola and Gloria Sin

Jim Calloway’s Law Practice Tips relaunches as a member of the LexBlog Network

I’m Jim Calloway and, among the many things I have done,  I’ve been a blogger covering legal technology, law office management, legal ethics and similar subjects since January 2005.

Several challenges forced me to take a blogging hiatus last year. But, as the saying goes, every challenge brings with it an opportunity. I am very pleased to announce that Jim Calloway’s Law Practice Tips Blog is being relaunched this month as a part of the LexBlog network. I’ve got some big plans for some new content. But since I haven’t been blogging regularly for a few months, I’ll hold off on making big promises. Here are some important things for you to know:

1) If you previously subscribed to my blog via email or RSS, you will need to resubscribe here. I’m not inclined to automatically import previous subscribers because they haven’t heard from me in months.

2) We have imported the content from the old Typepad blog into this one, but content more than three years may still have some bad links. Both the ABA and the OBA website changed since those posts, killing many older links. I’m working on either repairing or deleting the older content. The old blog will be deleted near the end of the year.

3) Because I am, in effect, walking away from many subscribers, I need some help from my readers. If you have read my blog posts before or seen my legal tech presentations either in Oklahoma, at ABA TECHSHOW or in your area, I’d appreciate you sharing a link to this post or just to my blog with someone you know or through your social networks. Whether they visit my blog periodically or subscribe (which the LexBlog platform makes very simple), it’s more motivating to write blog posts when you know they will be read. So, a little help please.

There’s more ahead. So stay tuned.


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Author: Jim Calloway

Digital Edge Podcast: Building a Cutting Edge Virtual Law Firm

Building a Cutting Edge Virtual Law Firm is the subject of our July 2019 Digital Edge Podcast. (Our 138th podcast!) Our guest is Brooke Moore, the founder of MyVirtual.Lawyer, an online law firm model providing flat fee and subscription based limited scope services. She also co-founded MyVirtual.Lawyer for Attorneys which provides automation and consulting assistance for lawyer. Brooke’s mission is to make legal help available and affordable for everyone and to offer a flexible, sustainable law firm model that helps forward thinking lawyers succeed. Brooke is a member of the ABA TECHSHOW 2020 Planning Board.

I’ve co-presented with Brooke on limited scope representation previously. She is a pleasure to learn from and I hope you enjoy the podcast. But not all virtual firms are the same. Many provide limited scope services and provide affordable legal services to consumers. But the virtual law practice idea could also appeal to corporate clients who are happy with videoconferenced consultations with their lawyer combined with some personal meetings. Many larger firm lawyers are questioning the amount of overhead they have and its impact on their rates.

A virtual law firm might also appeal to a lawyer who only wants to practice part-time, perhaps because of family care-giving responsibilities.  I have mentioned to other lawyers who are thinking about retirement that this might be a way to practice law in a way consistent with retirement that also provided some income. One thing for certain is that the solo lawyer contemplating a virtual law firm will need to be a tech-savvy lawyer.

I hope you enjoy our podcast.


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Author: Jim Calloway

If asked to mediate my divorce, must I say ‘yes’?

When a couple’s relationship has become so unraveled that they are seeking a divorce, there may be a certain amount of ill-will between them. Still, one or both parties may want to at least try to reach an out-of-court settlement and may ask their estranged spouse to join them in mediating the divorce. In addition, sometimes mediation is ordered by the court in a divorce case. In these situations, is a person in Texas obligated to attend divorce mediation sessions?

Mediation is a way of negotiating a divorce settlement. The mediator is a neutral third party who oversees conversations between the spouses, facilitating discussions that could lead to an agreement on the issues. Some couples who are on amicable terms may choose mediation, but, if there is a lot of ill-will between the parties, can one spouse refuse to participate?

If mediation has been ordered by a judge, then both parties must attend and participate. Failure to do so could cause the resisting party to be held in contempt of court. However, if one spouse requests mediation without a court order, then the other is free to decide whether they want to participate.

It can help to provide your ex with a written response regarding your decision to mediate your divorce. This can show your willingness to cooperate if you agree to mediation or it can provide your reasoning if you decline.

With the help of the mediator, even couples who can barely speak to one another could still give mediation a go. And, if they are not ordered by the court to do so, they may still want to consider mediation as a means of avoiding litigation.


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Author: On behalf of Katie L. Lewis of Katie L. Lewis, P.C. Family Law