Briefs

JURISNOTES, COURTESY OF TWO OSB MEMBERS

JurisNotes.com began publishing intellectual property notes in April. OSB member Margie S. Schweitzer edits the twice-weekly e-mail publication, featuring summaries of the latest intellectual property cases and UDRP (Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy) decisions, articles and news features.

OSB member Amy Barnhouse, who handles marketing, notes that two-month trial subscriptions are being offered. Visit www.jurisnotes.com to sign up with no obligation to continue after the trial period. All subscribers (trial and regular) will receive a complimentary firm or company ad on the site, complete with links.

Bulletin contributor Peter Ackerman describes the site as 'a very useful and cost-efficient service.' He adds: 'Case summaries appear well written and typically include a link for the full text. It also has handy news items. I also like the fact that the length is right (not too long, not too short).'

JurisNotes is actively seeking IP-related articles for publication. Interested in sharing? E-mail Margie@JurisNotes.com. For pricing information, contact Barnhouse by e-mail at Amy@JurisNotes.com.

'MAKING WORK WORK FOR YOU'

Former ABA Journal editor and publisher Gary Hengstler is the author of 'Making Work Work for You,' a new manual that has a little help from at least one of our Oregon members.

The manual, written to facilitate professional development and career satisfaction, is structured as a roundtable discussion about styles and activities that make for a successful law practice. Hengstler selected lawyers and judges from different areas of practice who have managed to retain their enjoyment of the legal profession and who agreed to discuss their approaches. The six participants, including Multnomah County Circuit Court Judge Ellen Rosen-blum, focus on strategies for dealing successfully with clients, colleagues, support staff, judges and court personnel, opposing counsel, the family and the media.

The cost is $39.95, plus shipping and handling; manuals can be ordered from the ABA by phone, (800) 285-2221, or online at www.abanet.org/cle (product code #V01MWWB).

Two other new items of interest from the ABA Center for Continuing Legal Education include: The Lawyer's Guide to Balancing Life and Work, Taking Stress Out of Success, a three-part audio program based on lawyer George Kaufman's book of the same name; and 73 Ways to Win, A Treasury of Litigation Tactics and Strategies, available on video or audio. For more information contact the ABA service center at (800) 285-2221.

NO NEED TO ASK JEEVES

It's not necessary to use a general search engine when going online to seek legal help, although that is where many people presumably begin their online quest.

As more people have been going online to seek legal help or to just figure out where to get started, the American Bar Association has launched www.findlegalhelp.org, offering users information on a variety of legal concerns, including how to: find a lawyer; obtain free legal help; work out disputes with a lawyer; and decide if they can handle simple legal matters themselves.

WORK-LIFE BALANCE LESS IMPORTANT TO LAWYERS

The top reason attorneys change jobs is professional development opportunity, according to a major new study by the NALP Foundation for Research and Education. The second most frequently cited reason for a job change is practice interest, followed by financial incentives, work environment and work/life balance.

The large-scale study involved about 2,000 law firm associates who graduated from 1989 to 1999 and made a lateral move to their current law firm between January 1999 and March 2000. Professional development interests ranked as the number one motivating factor for job changes, chosen as the primary factor by three-quarters of associates who recently moved. Issues related to work-life balance were far less important as a whole, chosen by one-quarter of associates, ranking fifth out of five factors and lagging considerably behind financial incentives (at 57 percent) and work environment (at 48 percent).

Professional development was the number one factor for men, women, minorities, non-minorities, graduates from 1995 and earlier, or graduates of 1996 and later. While women were most likely to select work-life balance, it still ranked fifth among women respondents, just as for all other groups.

The study is called 'The Lateral Lawyer: Why They Leave and What May Make Them Stay.' For more information, call (202) 667-1666 or e-mail info@nalp.org. +