By Jim Calloway and Julie Bays Law office technology tools increasingly impact how lawyers practice law. I recently talked to a lawyer who said, “Okay, I’ve had the third client ask me about client portals. So, I guess it is time to set one up.” Every lawyer needs to understand the basics of cybersecurity. The...

By Jim Calloway The OBA Solo & Small Firm Conference is back, bigger and better than ever! It will be held June 23 – 25 at the Choctaw Casino Resort in Durant, with more educational sessions and more fun. Registration is now open, as is the OBA hotel room block. Visit the conference website www.okbar.org/solo...

By Jim Calloway Lawyers haven’t always begun their careers by enrolling in law school. Before there were many law schools, a period of study under a lawyer or judge (a practice then called "reading the law") was required, usually followed by an oral exam. The standards for these apprenticeship admissions were occasionally unevenly applied in...

By Jim Calloway It’s the time of year for New Year’s resolutions. Well, since this comes out in mid-January, it is the time when many New Year’s resolutions have already been made and broken. But with the new year ahead, it is an appropriate time to reflect on your law firm and the goals you...

By Jim Calloway The Sound of Music is often associated with the holiday season, even though the movie doesn’t contain content we would normally think of as relevant to the holidays. One reason is that in the days before streaming, family-friendly content was often broadcast by networks during this season. Many people have memories of...

By Jim Calloway I had no idea how many law firms answered their phones with “Hello L’office” until I went to work for the OBA. But it’s not limited to Oklahoma. I have received the same greeting calling lawyers’ offices in many states. Obviously, the intended greeting is “Hello Law Office,” but when you are...

By Jim Calloway How lawyers handle their billing has long been a topic of discussion in our field. Traditionally, it was a simple process. Record your time. Prepare invoices by listing all these billing entries multiplied by the lawyers’ hourly billing rates and adding expenses clients should pay. Send out the billing on the same...

By Jim Calloway There has never been a time it was more important for lawyers to have good technology skills. The smaller your law firm, the more important this is. What do lawyers need to master for their personal technology skills? That depends on many factors, including the lawyer’s type of practice. Since the theme...

By Jim Calloway One thing you do not learn in law school is what clients you should not represent. Veteran lawyers have hopefully learned what potential clients they should avoid, but it is still not a perfect process. Almost every lawyer has a story of that client they wish they had never represented. I’ve had...

By Jim Calloway A lawyer’s final duty to the clients is often appropriately shutting down their law practice in a way that ensures clients’ interests are protected, which may include providing clients with appropriate departing advice and perhaps a referral to successor counsel. With proper advance planning, this can be handled more efficiently. The closing...