Thomson Reuters expands services to federal government customers

Thomson Reuters has recently formed a Federal Government Initiative that will work across the entire company to serve U.S. government customers.

The new initiative will draw on the company’s existing legal, scientific, tax and other specialized products to create intelligent information solutions addressing the needs of U.S. federal government users.

Kurt Lieberman, senior vice president in the Thomson Reuters Professional Division, says that the company has hired Pamela Graff as the general manager for the Federal Government Initiative.

Ms. Graff most recently was president of PhyAmerica Government Services, where she helped double the firm’s government services revenue since 2007.

In this video interview, hear from both Kurt and Pamela about this new business initiative:

 

Posted by Angelique Schaffer, senior communications specialist, Thomson Reuters  

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Top 10 legal issues of 2008

As the year comes to a close, FindLaw has revealed its list of the top legal issues on the minds of consumers in 2008.

The list was compiled from FindLaw.com’s most visited legal topics, the top consumer legal questions on FindLaw Answers and the most searched lawyers on FindLaw.com.

Here’s the list:

• Home Foreclosure & Renter’s Rights

• Politics & Obama

• Voters Rights

• Digital Distractions

• Dog Laws

• Highly Regulated Products

• Grandparents’ Rights

• Creating a Will

• Who keeps the Ring?

• Teen Rights

Click here for more information about FindLaw’s top 10 list, including consumer and legal commentary.

Posted by Kevin Hunt, senior communications specialist, Thomson Reuters 

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The Headnote of the Day

Last October, West launched the Headnote of the Day as a way to highlight West headnotes that are especially “humorous, profound or interesting.”

Using the text of the headnote – plus, an illustration especially suited to it – the Headnote of the Day is designed to offer a diversion during a legal professional’s day.

Headnotes, of course, summarize points of law in judicial rulings. They are written by West attorney editors and classified within the exclusive West Key Number System®.

The Headnote of the Day is the brain child of Al Maleson, a senior copywriter at West, who in addition to writing advertising during his workday also gets to choose which headnotes to publish.

But it’s not easy.

“I am continually trolling for headnotes,” Maleson says. “I go into ALLCASES on Westlaw and enter various search terms in the Headnote (HE) field. I enter search terms likely to dredge up headnotes that are amusing, serious or profound. I also enter random combinations of words. My goal is to bring up a wide variety of issues thus increasing the odds that I will find a variety of interesting headnotes.”

Maleson says a good Headnote of the Day has one or more of the following qualities – though, obviously, no single headnote will have them all:

• It is clear and easy to understand
• It is amusing
• It states a fundamental principle or value of American law
• It has strong appeal to a specific segment of the population (Californians, baseball fans, bankruptcy lawyers, etc.), which might encourage people to forward the headnote
• It lends itself to a good illustration
• It doesn’t deal with matters that are especially morbid, depressing, violent or otherwise likely to be offensive or upsetting to readers

Maleson estimates he’s received between 75 and 100 suggested headnotes from West customers and fellow West employees. Most months, he uses up to five of these suggested headnotes.

Illustrations for the Headnote of the Day are done by Curt McAloney.

You can subscribe to the West Headnote of the Day by email or click on the Headnote of the Day page on the West website, or check out the archives back to last October. A Westcast podcast with Maleson also is available.

Posted by Kevin Hunt, senior communications specialist, Thomson Reuters 

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Reducing waste at work

The Eagan, Minn. facility of Thomson Reuters has been recognized with a 2008 Minnesota Waste Wise Leader Award for success in waste reduction, recycling, employee education, environmentally friendly purchasing and energy conservation.

Curt Schmidt, an environmental compliance engineer at Thomson Reuters, says the company’s commitment to the environment is demonstrated every day through things like paper and aluminum recycling, a carpool program, a “Green Fair” for employees and an internal company blog about the environment. 

Waste Wise Leader Award winners are chosen once a year by a panel of judges comprising the Minnesota Waste Wise Board of Directors, the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency staff and past award winners.

Waste Wise is an affiliate program of the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce. The two other winners of its 2008 Leader Award are Great River Energy in Maple Grove, Minn., and Marvin Windows and Doors in Warroad, Minn.

The efforts of Thomson Reuters in Eagan also are featured in Waste Wise’s Annual Report.

To learn more about the program, visit the Minnesota Waste Wise Web site.

Posted by Kevin Hunt, senior communications specialist, Thomson Reuters 

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Westcast: The importance of a great quote

“It is the trade of lawyers to question everything, yield nothing and talk by the hour” – Thomson Jefferson.

What lawyer, or anyone for that matter, hasn’t needed to find a memorable, stirring or funny quote for a speech?

A great quote can certainly come in handy when you’re looking to inspire people, make them laugh or  – in the case of a lawyer - persuade people to believe in a particular point of view.

Here to help is Thomas J. Vesper’s Uncle Anthony’s Unabridged Analogies: Quotes and Proverbs for Lawyers and Lecturers, published by West.

Vesper has collected more than 25,000 proverbs, quotations and other famous sayings and has organized them by topic and author. He’s been writing them down, with a little help here and there, for 30 years. They include quotes from the Bible, and many famous names including William Shakespeare, Winston Churchill and Will Rogers.

Of course they also come from a not-so-famous name, Vesper’s Uncle Anthony. Here’s a sampling of his wisdom, regarding justice:

“I always heard that Justice was blind, but I didn’t think she was lame too! I seen her blindfolded, but where’s her crutches? She needs crutches!”

And this quote, an appropriate one for the purpose of Vesper’s book:

“Quotations found in books of that stuff are like bullpens for lawyers, when you find yourself in a jam you can go to your best quote like a good closer or middle relief pitcher.”

Vesper says he sees his book helping lawyers find quotes that can make their arguments and points “a lot more credible.”

So, just how important are words to a lawyer’s work? Well, Vesper answers that question with a quote, of course, from Mark Twain:

“The difference between the right word and the almost-right word is the difference between lightning and a lightning bug.”

Vesper offers more insight into his love of quotes in this Westcast podcast.

Posted by Kevin Hunt, senior communications specialist, Thomson Reuters 

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2008 Technology Awards from LTN

It’s Gold for Elite and ProLaw in the 2008 Technology Awards from Law Technology News. Elite and ProLaw are part of Thomson Reuters.

Gold awards went to:

• Elite Billing Manager in Time and Billing for Large Firms
• Elite Records Manager in Records Management Software
• ProLaw in Case Management Software for Small & Mid-Sized Firms

LTN will hand out its Technology Awards at LegalTech New York on February 2, 2009. Full results are on the LTN Web site.

Posted by Kevin Hunt, senior communications specialist, Thomson Reuters 

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FindLaw launches Financial Crisis page

At a time when consumer bankruptcy filings are on the rise and home values continue to fall, FindLaw has launched “Financial Crisis: From Wall Street to Main Street,” a special page on FindLaw.com to offer legal information, news and expert commentary from FindLaw legal specialists on today’s credit crunch and foreclosures.

The site includes information on the law of home ownership, bankruptcy law, strategies for rebuilding credit and home equity do’s and don’ts.

Posted by Kevin Hunt, senior communications specialist, Thomson Reuters

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E-discovery expert offers advice

Electronic discovery’s rise as a critical component of civil and criminal cases has been swift.

Mistakes in the records management process can prove costly to the bottom line, and in the courtroom, after e-discovery efforts get underway.

“The problem comes not just in searching for electronic material, it’s the searching for it in dozens of locations,” says Jay Grenig, professor of law at Marquette University Law School. “The costs can become exceptional because of the difficulty in determining where those locations are.”

Grenig says the major part of the cost is in the review of the electronic information that is discovered and logged.

“The real cost comes from the privilege and relevance review, going through these documents to make sure that you have not disclosed something that is privileged or protected by work product,” says Grenig.

Grenig says organizations need to ask three questions:

• What is a record?
• How long are we required to retain them?
• What do we do when it comes time to preserve or protect our records?

Grenig is a co-author of “Electronic Discovery and Records Management Guide: Rules, Checklists and Forms, 2008-2009 ed.” from West LegalWorks, with Mary Pat Poteet and Browning E. Marean. Their book takes a proactive approach to discovery of electronically stored information, with an emphasis on proper planning.

“About a third of the book is devoted to records management,” says Grenig. “If you’re going to control these costs you have to think about it at the beginning. You have to have a program to determine when you should destroy documents. You’ve got to cull. You’ve got to get rid of stuff that you don’t need to keep. Because if you don’t, when the lawsuit comes, you’re going to be going through a lot of overburden in order to get to the vein of ore.” Hear from Grenig about how long records should be kept and the need to stop automatic delete systems (1:20).

“Electronic Discovery and Records Management Guide: Rules, Checklists and Forms, 2008-2009 ed.” is available on the West Web site.

Posted by Kevin Hunt, senior communications specialist, Thomson Reuters

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The future for hedge funds

Hedge funds have been an important part of capital markets for the last several years. When the capital markets were healthy and flourishing, hedge funds were very active in encouraging companies to increase shareholder value.

In the last few months hedge funds have not fared as well, leaving investors and the counsel that represent them looking for answers in the courts.

“With the capital markets in a downturn, hedge funds have faced new problems,” says Stephen Fraidin, partner at Kirkland & Ellis LLP and co-chair of a West LegalEdcenter conference coming up Dec. 11 in New York.

“Hedge Funds: Issues and Opportunities in Today’s Capital Markets” will examine current Issues affecting hedge fund activism, the response to activism, how to prepare and respond to a hedge fund attack, and distressed hedge funds.

“People want guidance and we’re gonna try to give them some guidance,” says Fraidin. “I’m hoping that the various participants on the panels, some of whom typically represent hedge funds and some of whom typically represent companies that are the target of hedge fund activism, are going to be able to have a healthy interchange of views so that the people who attend the conference will get a sense of the two sides of the story.” Hear more from Fraidin in this audio clip (:50).

Conference attendees include hedge fund COOs, CFOs, general counsel, portfolio managers and attorneys representing hedge funds.

To register for “Hedge Funds: Issues and Opportunities in Today’s Capital Markets” call 800-308-1700 or go to West LegalEdcenter.com.

Posted by Kevin Hunt, senior communications specialist, Thomson Reuters

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Free webcast about social networking

If you’re a legal professional and you’re not taking advantage of social networking yet, the time is now. Legal blogs, Web sites and publications have been buzzing for months about the benefits social networks offer a lawyer’s practice.

“It’s important to understand that as a lawyer you have to do more than just stay in the library, be in the courthouse or negotiate contracts,” says Ed Poll, founder of LawBiz Management Company. “There’s more to the practice of law than just applying the craft. Social networking needs to be part of a lawyer’s workday.”

Poll, and management consultant David Nour, will present a free live webcast on West LegalEdcenter titled, “Social Networking for Lawyers” on Tuesday, Dec. 9 at 2 p.m. Eastern.

They can explain how to develop a meaningful online presence on social networking sites that enhance a lawyer’s visibility and search engine ranking, as well as bring in new business.

“It’s really important for lawyers and law firm leaders to understand that their clients are into social networking and this may be just that tool that they are looking for to connect,” Poll says. “Lawyers need to know what’s happening in the technology world, even if they’re not gung-ho on implementing every aspect of it.”

Hear Poll’s suggestion for getting started in social networking, in this audio clip (:42).

Register for the free webcast on West LegalEdcenter.com.

Posted by Kevin Hunt, senior communications specialist, Thomson Reuters

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Is today’s jury listening?

Sonya Hamlin knows what the jury is thinking. No matter what their age, gender, or job. So it’s no wonder lawyers turn to her for advice to help make their case in courtrooms across the United States and around the world.

“Dramatic changes have taken place in how jurors learn and listen, in what they care about and believe in and what new approaches they need from advocates now,” says Hamlin. “Lawyers who are still stuck in yesterday’s format of simply standing up and talking need to understand what else they now need to consider as they plan and present every aspect of a trial.” 

Hamlin cites three major issues that she says “have changed everything radically” in the jury box:

• Technology – “We don’t talk to each other now, we type! We get our information about anything online, on our own, fast and easy,” Hamlin says. “So, learning from someone talking at us has lost its power and credibility. And our attention span is now one and a-half minutes.”
• Generational differences – “We now have four generations sitting on the jury: seniors, baby boomers, generation X and generation Y. They’re almost from different planets. Reaching each one requires new information in order to reach and persuade them.”
• Multicultural diversity – “We have people on juries who have become American citizens but are conditioned by other societies, other governments and other kinds of laws.”

Hamlin is considered a pioneer in courtroom communication, having created and taught the first such course at the Harvard Law School. Today, she lectures worldwide and consults on cases with law firms, analyzing jury issues about cases and what advocacy skills are needed, preparing witnesses, developing strategies and creating visual presentations of evidence.

Hamlin’s landmark books “What Makes Juries Listen” and ”What Makes Juries Listen Today” are now joined by her latest title, from West Legalworks, titled “Now What Makes Juries Listen.” It reflects the changing attitudes and behaviors of today’s jury members and gives new techniques and approaches for every aspect of the trial. 

You can hear more from Hamlin in this Westcast podcast. Hamlin also will be featured in a continuing legal education (CLE) program on West LegalEdcenter, which we’ll update you about when it gets scheduled.

Posted by Kevin Hunt, senior communications specialist, Thomson Reuters

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