To bill (per hour) or not to bill (per hour)? That. Is the question. In today’s shaky economy law firms are talking about (and implementing) alternative payment methods to the traditional billable hour as corporations and other clients are less ...

Tagged with: billable hour billing fee law firm Recession wall street journal washington post work

WASHINGTON — The U.S. job market slowed in March as companies hit the brakes on hiring amid uncertainty about the economy’s growth prospects. The unemployment rate dipped, but mostly because more Americans stopped looking for work. The Labor Department said ...

Tagged with: Ben Bernanke Business consumers democrats Economy gasoline prices hiring job growth job market Labor Department mitt romney republicans spending Stocks Unemployment unemployment rate work

I had the pleasure of moderating a Maryland State Bar Association Young Lawyers Section Education Committee panel presentation Thursday night. Our topic: “Navigating Discovery as a Young Lawyer.” It was a great panel, if I do say so myself. The ...

Tagged with: advice attorney career Civil court discovery forms jobs judge Judges law firm litigation MSBA practice resources trial work young lawyers

Forgive me for what will be a short post. Forgive me for any lack of wit. I’m tired. Why? I was really sick for a week in January and had to take a week off at the beginning of this ...

Tagged with: family firms friends job jobs profits sleep work workers workplace

Have you ever gotten in line at 4:30 in the morning to apply for a job? One person did that Saturday for a chance to work at Maryland Live! Casino, said Lynn Norris, the company’s vice president of human resources. ...

Tagged with: application employees employment jobs maryland live casino Slots work

As I read Sarah’s post about time spent outside the office, a flood of different thoughts passed through my mind. First, I always feel like I have no time for anything. Second, bar associations? I can’t even figure out why ...

Tagged with: advice associate dogs family goals jobs law firm lawyer MSBA networking organization priorities time management work work-life balance

The continual pressure to do more with less has placed greater stress on in-house attorneys and has often pushed their work-life balance out of kilter. Too often attorneys place professional achievement ahead of a balanced life, resulting in emotional and ...

Tagged with: attorney balance cle credit h. ward classen life work

I ran across a thought-provoking article a few weeks ago: “High-achieving women need more than a bubble bath.” By “high-achieving” women, the article means women who are accomplishment-focused and achievement-oriented— yes, that includes you, my fellow attorneys! Actually, I found ...

Tagged with: advice attorney balance career firms jobs law firm Law School lawyer mentor new lawyers stress vacation work workplace young lawyers

Ninety Maryland employees of Northrop Grumman Corp.’s Electronic Systems sector will be laid off, the company announced Tuesday. The cuts are part of a 400 person company-wide reduction. In October, the Fall Church, Va.-based defense contractor announced plans to cut ...

Tagged with: defense contractor employees jobs layoffs Manufacturing Northrop Grumman Corp. work

It’s that time of year, when the holidays are over and reality sets in. Back to the grind. I find myself busier than I can remember in years past, although I’m sure that is not the case. I probably made the ...

Tagged with: advice firms holidays list priorities stress work workplace