Nicole Black, The Daily Record Newswire
Over the past year or so I’ve reviewed a number of different books for various publications. Although I, of course, had a few criticisms of each book, overall the books provided a ton of useful and relevant information for lawyers seeking to either gain an understanding of the current legal landscape or improve various aspects of their law practices.
So, I figured why not share with you, my loyal readers, my reading list. Hopefully you’ll find at least one book that piques your interest that you can read beachside this summer.
First, let’s take a look at the “big picture” books that address changes in the 21st century legal landscape. One book that provides a great introduction to the changes wrought by technology and globalization in the 21st century is “Tomorrow’s Lawyers” by Richard Susskind. This book is aimed at current law students and recent law graduates and provides advice for this newest generation of lawyers as they venture forth into our esteemed profession. According to Susskind, although it’s a turbulent and ever-changing job market, it will be full of varied opportunities for young attorneys.
Next, there’s “The Lawyer Bubble” by Steven J. Harper, a book that examines the current crisis faced by the legal profession evidenced by imploding law firms, an overabundance of lawyers and an increasingly competitive legal environment.
Harper places much of the blame on the actions of law schools and large law firms following the 2008 economic collapse. He examines the forces that brought us to where we are today and then focuses on ways to fix the problem. It’s a fascinating read.
Of course, let’s not forget about the more practical books I’ve reviewed. First, there’s local attorney Jill Paperno’s book “Representing the Accused.” This book is written to provide fledgling criminal defense lawyers with advice on just about every aspect of every stage of representing a criminal defendant. From discovery and subpoenas to cross-examination techniques and sentencing considerations, Jill provides invaluable tips and advice from the trenches throughout the book. It’s a must-read for young attorneys.
Another book for written for current law students and recent graduates is “The Marble and the Sculptor” by Keith Lee. In this book, young attorneys and attorneys-to-be are given tools to assess whether a career in the law is a good fit, and if so, how to go about making the most of their chosen field by taking steps to become the best lawyer that they can.
For young lawyers and more seasoned lawyers alike, there’s “Client Science: Advice for Lawyers on Counseling Clients through Bad News and Other Legal Realities” by Marjorie Corman Aaron. This helpful book is full of useful information for lawyers seeking to learn how to better communicate with and counsel their clients. You’ll find that it is overflowing with helpful analysis and recommendations based on scientific studies focused on effective communication techniques.
And, last but not least, there’s “Cybersleuth’s Guide to the Internet” by Carole Levitt and Mark E. Rosch, a book that provides a ton of information and guidance for lawyers seeking to use the Internet to conduct investigative and legal research.
It covers just about everything, including how to locate background information on a person, asset location, evidence of a judgment or lien, and how to conduct legal research on a dime using free or low-cost online resources. It’s a must-read for the 21st century lawyer.
So buy one of these books — or two — and spend some time reading them this summer. Sooner, rather than later, you’ll be well on your way to improving your law practice and positioning your law firm to flourish in the new world environment!
—————
Nicole Black is a director at MyCase.com, a cloud-based law practice management platform. She is also of counsel to Fiandach & Fiandach in Rochester and is a GigaOM Pro analyst. She is the author of the ABA book “Cloud Computing for Lawyers,” coauthors the ABA book “Social Media for Lawyers: the Next Frontier,” and co-authors “Criminal Law in New York,” a West-Thomson treatise. She speaks regularly at conferences regarding the intersection of law and technology. She publishes three legal blogs and can be reached at niki@mycase.com.
