Briefs

GOT A MINUTE FOR LEARNING?

Lane Powell Spears Lubersky has teamed with 1 Minute Learning Corp. to develop an innovative tool to educate employers and employees on key employment law issues. Lane Powell provided subject matter expertise and commentary on the complexities of the law. The 'It's Your Business!' 1ML.com interactive courses include training on five topics: The ADA and disability law, preventing sexual harassment (one for employers and one for employees), successful hiring and successful termination. Demonstrations are available at the website, www.1ML.com.

2001 SURVEY OF LAW FIRM ECONOMICS

Altman Weil has released its annual survey focused on law firm revenues and expenses, billable hours, overhead, margin, billing rates, compensation and more. The annual survey lets firms compare performance data with peer firms in similar size, geographic and practice categories. Almost 20,000 lawyers, 5,833 paralegals and 399 U.S. firms participated in this year's survey, including 10,289 partners/shareholders, 8,878 associates and 819 active counsel.
Some highlights from the year 2000:

• For all firms, average 2000 gross receipts per lawyer increased by 6.7 percent. Average total expenses per lawyer were up 4.1 percent, and the increase in average net income per lawyer was 8.8 percent.
  
• Mid-sized firms (76-150 lawyers) really gained, with gross receipts per lawyer up 14.4 percent and net income per lawyer up 16.7 percent in 2000.
  
• Total compensation (salary and bonus) was up across the board. The median total compensation per lawyer for equity partners rose 5.3 percent in 2000 to $225,918 per lawyer. Associates' median total compensation rose nationally by 6.1 percent to $96,824 per lawyer. (Associates in the South topped the charts at $108,377 per lawyer.)
  
• Starting salaries for recent law school graduates continued to climb - up 16.7 percent nationally in 2000. Increases were most notable in small- to mid-sized firms, with 21-40 lawyer firms increasing median starting salaries by 19.7 percent in 2000; 41-75 lawyer firms up by 8 percent; and 76-150 lawyer firms up 13.4 percent.
  
• Standard median hourly billing rates increased 6.8 percent for equity partners/shareholders, 5 percent for non-equity partners and 3.3 percent for associates.
  
• Median billable hours were virtually unchanged from 1999.
  The survey on CD-ROM can be purchased from Altman Weil Publications for $725 by calling toll-free 888-782-7297, or at the website, www.altmanweil. com. There is also a 2001 Small Law Firm Economics Survey, containing data from firms of one to 12 lawyers, available for $395.
  

NEW PUBLICATIONS OF INTEREST

The Path to Pro Bono: An Interviewing Tool for Law Students, was created by the ABA Standing Committee on Pro Bono and Public Service as a tool to help applicants evaluate a law firm's commitment to pro bono. The goal is to educate law students on how to ask firms about their pro bono efforts and practices. The brochure will be distributed to all ABA-accredited law schools. It is also available online at www. abanet.org/legalservices/ pbpubs.html by clicking on 'The Path to Pro Bono' link.

Making Your Record: Courtroom Guidebook for Attorneys and Law Students, by Leticia Araujo Perez, professional courtroom reporter, provides insight into how a courtroom really works. Legal training is often short on guidance for appropriate courtroom demeanor. This little book aims to demystify the practical aspects of courtroom formalities so often neglected in law schools. The 126-page paperback is available for $16.95 from the National Institute of Trial Advocacy by phone at (800) 225-6482 or through the website, www.nita.org.

TRI-STATE RECIPROCITY: THUMBS UP

The Oregon Supreme Court approved our tri-state reciprocity rule in July, which becomes effective Jan.1, 2002. Under the rule certain Idaho, Washington and Oregon lawyers will be admitted to practice in the other two states without having to take additional bar exams.

Basic requirements: ABA law school graduation, prior passage of one of the three states' bar exams, three years' practice immediately preceding application and 15 hours of CLE on the practice, procedure and ethics of the new state(s).