Hoosier Lawyer

Everything Set for Solo & Small Firm Conference

Everything is set for the Fourth Annual Indiana Solo & Small Firm Conference!  The materials are prepared and the speakers are ready -- all that remains is for you to be there!

The Conference kicks off Thursday with the Golf Outing, which tees off at 11 a.m., and Boot Camp starting at 1:30.  The Welcoming Reception begins at 5 p.m. at the South Bend Marriott.

Walk-in registration is $250.  The rooms at the Marriott have been sold out. Because of Notre Dame Alumni weekend and the Sunburst Marathon, room in South Bend may be difficult to find.  However, a recent check showed plenty of rooms available in Mishawaka, which is adjacent to South Bend, and only a short drive to the Convention Center and Marriott, where the Conference is being held.

See YOU there!

Avlod Getting Spyware

Spyware can be a tremendous headache for anyone using a computer. The best way to avoid the headaches is to avoid getting spyware in the first place. 

"How to Avoid Getting Spyware" is a valuable article well worth reading.  Take a look.

Thanks to Tom Mighell who pointed out this article on his outstanding legal technology blog: Inter Alia.

Networking -- Key Step in Building Your Practice

Small businesses (such as solo & small firm lawyers) miss BIG opportunities when they fail to network.  So says "The Lesson is to Network," a recent article in Business Week.  The Q&A article addresses the basic questions of why and how to network.

Carolyn Elefant brought this article to my attention in her outstanding My Shingle blog for solos and small firms. 

Providing networking opportunities is one of the key objectives of the Indiana Solo & Small Firm Conference, set for South Bend, June 2-4.  Make sure to bring at least 100 business cards with you to the Conference -- and be prepared to spread them around.

If you have not yet registered, there is still time to do so.  The brochure and registration form is available at http://www.inbar.org/ -- or you can register at the Conference.

Great Deal for Road Warriors -- and Others Looking for a USB Hub

With all the devises we hook up to our computers, you can never have too many USB ports.  If you need to add more USB ports, there is a great deal at Sam's Club on a very portable 4-port USB hub for $12.50.  That's right -- $12.50!

I purchased it at the Greenwood store.  On-line, the price is listed at $16.84 -- which is still a good deal.

It is very compact, and perfect for keeping in my laptop bag.  But you can also use them for your home or office desktop -- anyplace you need to plug in USB devises. 

South Bend Conference to be Biggest Yet -- But There's Still Room for YOU!

The Fourth Annual Indiana Solo & Small Firm Conference, June 2-4 in South Bend, will be the biggest yet.  But there is still time to register and join a record number of your colleagues at this Conference. Brochure and registration form is available at www.inbar.org

With two weeks still remaining, Conference registrations have surpassed the total for last year.  Registration for all events connected with the Conference are also "up," including increased registrations for Boot Camp, the Golf Outing, the Welcoming Reception, and spouse-guest activities.

The block of rooms reserved for the Conference at the South Bend Marriott Hotel have been sold.  Because South Bend is also hosting the Sun Burst Marathon and Notre Dame Alumni Weekend, the Marriott is completely sold out. 

But this does NOT mean you have to stay home!  Plenty of lodging is available at many hotels which are only a short drive to the South Bend Convention Center.  Also, some people who already have rooms have indicated a willingness to share their room and expenses on the GP Listserve.   Check out the listserve, or call one of the hotels listed below.

Here are a few places where rooms were still available as of May 21.

Comfort Inn Comfort Inn & Suites
5640 North Main Street, Mishawaka, IN 46545
(574) 247-4000

Hampton Inn South Bend/Mishawaka
445 University Drive, Mishawaka, IN 46617
(574) 273-2309

Courtyard South Bend/Mishawaka
4825 North Main Street, Mishawaka, IN 46545
(800) 321-2211

Fairfield Inn South Bend/Mishawaka
425 University Drive, Mishawaka, IN 46545
(800) 228-2800

Carlton Lodge Mishawaka
420 West University Drive, Mishawaka, IN 46545
(574) 277-2520

Days Inn of Mishawaka
2754 Lincoln Way East, Mishawaka, IN 46544
(574) 255-3519

For those wanting something different -- this B&B is listed in the book "1,000 Places You Have to Visit Before You Die" --  It's about 40 minutes away, but it might be worth the trip. And as of May 21, there was still availability for both June 2 and 3.

Checkerberry Inn (Click here for link) Featured in the book, "1,000 Places to See Before You Die" by Patricia Schultz! (574) 642-4445

IN TRIAL . . .

I'm in trial this week -- so no new posts until Saturday.

-- Steve

Indiana Family Law Blog Providing Valuable Resource for Hoosier Lawyers and Families

If you haven't done so already, check out Indiana Family Law blog.  The site is the work of South Bend lawyer William Wilson.  Bill is posting some really nice articles that include updates on recent family law cases, important resources for family lawyers, and astute observations and commentary.

Bill practices in South Bend with the firm of Anderson, Agostino & Keller. PC

If you practice family law, you should consider adding Bill's site to your newsreader, or check it frequently for new postings and updates.

World From Above -- Google Maps Add Satellite Images

Those innovative folks at Google have added another cool service  -- and one which can be useful. 

Google Maps has added satellite images.  Although not all areas of the country are covered, the detailed images available for most urban areas are amazing. And best of all -- it's free!

Just go to Google Maps, then click on the "satellite" button in the upper right corner.  What was on your screen as a map will appear as a satellite photo.

I must admit, it's fun to play with.  The image with this article is the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and Brickyard Crossing Golf Course.  And this is not at the closest image available.

But these space images can also be useful in your practice. I have used satellite images to put together exhibits for zoning cases.  They vividly demonstrate the relationship of properties and the development of the area at issue.  And most recently I've used satellite images and the annimation feature in PowerPoint to actually show the paths of two vehicles as they converged in what became a fatal traffic accident.

Take a look! 

What's Wrong with the World -- Part I

Sometimes I just wonder how the rest of the world thinks.

Legal Affairs Magazine, the self-proclaimed voice of the "intersection of law and life", recently issued its list of the 25 Most Influential Legal Thinkers.

The list understandably includes 5 Supreme Court Justices (hmmm . . . wonder what the other 4 think?) and notalble 7th Circuit judges Richard Posner and Frank Easterbrook.  But the list also includes NINE law professors, including media hound Alan Dershowitz and three reporters, including Nina Totenberg!

What does Nina Totenberg have to do with legal thinking? ! ! !

Not a single practicing lawyer is on list.  Not ONE ! ! !

Somewhere along the line, there is a BIG group of people out there who have little contact with real life.

Keep Your Dog-Gone Cases Out of Federal Court

Seventh Circuit Judge Richard Posner, never one to be timid, has told litigants to keep their doggone cases out of Federal Courts.  Ruling that the plaintiff was "barking up the wrong tree," the 7th Circuit has issued an order to show cause why the Court should not "put the bite" on the plaintiff for bringing a frivolous federal lawsuit.

In the case of Sherry Wall v. City of Brookfield, Ms. Wall claimed here civil rights were violated when the City took possession of her Doberman and wouldn't give it back.  Instead, the City gave "custody" of the dog to the local humane society, which cared for the dog for 60 days until it was returned to Ms. Wall.

But there was more to the story.  In a "biting" opinion, Judge Posner pointed out that Ms. Wall's dog was picked up while running loose -- something which had occurred on NINE (!) other occasions.  Unpersuaded by aesthetic appeal of Dobermans and lawyers ("What's black and brown, and looks good on a lawyer? A Doberman), Judge Posner then "un-leashed" his wrath on Ms. Wall.

"It is impossible to discern a federal interest. There is no suggestion that the plaintiff belongs to a discriminated-against minority . . .that Brookfield intended to sell the Doberman in order to retire the town debt, (or) that leash laws challenge values embedded in the federal Constitution or federal laws . . . This is a neighborhood squabble over a dog, a squabble properly to be resolved at the neighborhood or local level rather than by federal judges sitting in Milwaukee and Chicago."

Heed the warning!   Make sure you "bone up" on the law before you take your puppy case to federal court. 

Thanks to Indianapolis lawyer Ronald Waicukauski for letting me know about this decision.