Around the time of my recent fiftieth birthday, I was frequently asked about any profound or revelatory thoughts I had experienced. I always felt that my responses were a little underwhelming. After some reflection, however, I realized it might not have been my responses that were the issue, but the framing of the question.
I came to this realization, in part, during rides home from school with our two boys. If I asked our fourth and sixth graders what they learned at school that day, I frequently got responses like, “not much” or “nothing interesting” or “the same old stuff.” But if I asked what they had done at school, or their favorite activity, the responses were far more animated and more complete.
“Don’t worry, be happy.” Perhaps you remember the popular 1988 song that encapsulated a worldview. If it were only that easy, though, especially with the practice of law. It’s true that a person with a positive outlook tends to be happier and have more friends. We all want to be that person who is the life of the party, or at least be friends with them. But how can we, with the daily stresses faced with our law practices and client expectations, build or maintain a positive viewpoint on our law practice? Here are a few thoughts.
It’s important to keep your faults in perspective, recognizing them not as insurmountable flaws but as opportunities for growth. Everyone has imperfections, and acknowledging them with humility can pave the way for self-improvement. Similarly, we will make mistakes when practicing law. The good news is that there is often more than one way to accomplish a legal objective, and that mistakes are not always fatal to a case.
https://ncbarblogprod.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Blog-Header-1-1030x530.png00Professional Vitality Committeehttps://ncbarblogprod.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Blog-Header-1-1030x530.pngProfessional Vitality Committee2025-02-18 08:54:352025-02-18 08:54:46Thriving, Not Just Surviving: Tips for a Positive Law Practice
My last post on AI focused on simple and practical ways that artificial intelligence can make everyday tasks in the legal field more efficient. In this post, I will give more examples and introduce specific AI tools other than large-language models (LLMs) to utilize in legal practice. While I no longer work in a traditional paralegal role, I am still working in the legal field in a nonprofit with a focus on operations and program management. I look back on the years when I did work as a paralegal and can identify ways that AI could have enhanced my work.
https://ncbarblogprod.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Blog-Header-1-1030x530.png00Paralegalshttps://ncbarblogprod.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Blog-Header-1-1030x530.pngParalegals2025-02-04 11:08:132025-02-04 11:08:13Ethical and Practical Uses of AI for Paralegals: Part 2
Fifty
Featured PostsAround the time of my recent fiftieth birthday, I was frequently asked about any profound or revelatory thoughts I had experienced. I always felt that my responses were a little underwhelming. After some reflection, however, I realized it might not have been my responses that were the issue, but the framing of the question.
I came to this realization, in part, during rides home from school with our two boys. If I asked our fourth and sixth graders what they learned at school that day, I frequently got responses like, “not much” or “nothing interesting” or “the same old stuff.” But if I asked what they had done at school, or their favorite activity, the responses were far more animated and more complete.
Read more
Thriving, Not Just Surviving: Tips for a Positive Law Practice
Featured Posts“Don’t worry, be happy.” Perhaps you remember the popular 1988 song that encapsulated a worldview. If it were only that easy, though, especially with the practice of law. It’s true that a person with a positive outlook tends to be happier and have more friends. We all want to be that person who is the life of the party, or at least be friends with them. But how can we, with the daily stresses faced with our law practices and client expectations, build or maintain a positive viewpoint on our law practice? Here are a few thoughts.
It’s important to keep your faults in perspective, recognizing them not as insurmountable flaws but as opportunities for growth. Everyone has imperfections, and acknowledging them with humility can pave the way for self-improvement. Similarly, we will make mistakes when practicing law. The good news is that there is often more than one way to accomplish a legal objective, and that mistakes are not always fatal to a case.
Read more
Ethical and Practical Uses of AI for Paralegals: Part 2
Featured PostsMy last post on AI focused on simple and practical ways that artificial intelligence can make everyday tasks in the legal field more efficient. In this post, I will give more examples and introduce specific AI tools other than large-language models (LLMs) to utilize in legal practice. While I no longer work in a traditional paralegal role, I am still working in the legal field in a nonprofit with a focus on operations and program management. I look back on the years when I did work as a paralegal and can identify ways that AI could have enhanced my work.
Read more