Welcome to the 2022 Well-Being Week in Law! The OAAP is excited to celebrate this event and provide support for the well-being of members of the Oregon legal community. Each of the five days in Well-Being Week will focus on one dimension of well-being, and our daily blog post will include activity suggestions to “watch,” “read,” and “do” to enhance your well-being in that area.
In addition, the OAAP attorney counselors will hold a 45-minute chat on Thursday, May 5, 2022, at 12 p.m. to discuss social well-being and opportunities to increase engagement. No sign-up required – just come as you are.
Let's start the week off strong with Physical Well-Being!
Featured Posts
Let It Go: Retention and Destruction of Original Client Documents
If you find yourself grappling with the responsibility to safeguard original client documents, consider the following tips. They’ll not only protect your clients’ interests but will also streamline your document retention system, allowing you to “let it go” with confidence.
Outsourcing Work to Virtual Receptionists or Assistants
When current resources are stretched to their limits and you need help meeting demands, hiring staff can become essential. If you want someone who can work from wherever, a remote staff person is often the first thought—but you should also consider outsourcing to a virtual receptionist or assistant.
Cozy and Connected at the Coast
Takeaways and highlights from the OAAP's 14th Annual Wellness Retreat for Lawyers Identifying as Women or Nonbinary at the Surfsand Resort in Cannon Beach.
Shape Your Work With Pro Se Parties
Clear communication with pro se parties can help prevent misunderstandings and allow you to better work with them and obtain the information you need to represent your client competently and diligently. Focus on building a professional relationship with them that clearly defines roles and interests. Consider the following tips when interacting with a self-represented litigant to help avoid potential ethics or malpractice issues.
Moderation During the Holidays
It’s that time of the year when traditions are often at the center of how we think, feel, and behave in many situations. It’s a time when it is easy for us to feel we have something of a permission slip to act in ways we otherwise might not. Nowhere is this more evident than with our use of alcohol during the year-end holidays, when drinking rates spike significantly for much of the population.
‘Tis the Season: Managing Your Practice During the Holidays
The holiday season is in full swing, and many attorneys are taking some well-deserved time off to relax and recharge or travel to see family. A break from work during the holidays is a great way to prevent burnout and reconnect with friends and loved ones. It can be difficult, however, for lawyers to truly disconnect due to billable hours and client demands.
Artificial Intelligence: Entering a "New" World
To lessen the risk of malpractice and ethical violations, legal professionals need to understand the different types of AI so they can make intelligent decisions about which programs they may want to integrate into their practice.
File Management: Tips for Managing the Chaos
No two firms will likely have the exact same file management procedures, but file management best practices apply to everyone. Understand your storage options and best practice tips to ensure that your client files are being managed properly.
Turning the Page: Three Key Questions to Plan Your Exit
Whether anticipating retirement, making a career change, or just looking to leave private practice, law firm owners must decide how they want to transition. As you begin this process, review your options by asking yourself these three key questions.
Google Business Profiles: Take Advantage of Free Marketing
There is no one marketing algorithm that works for all legal professions, because each firm is unique. There is, however, one free and easy tool that everyone can use.
Check Washing: Don’t Get Hung Out to Dry by This Reemerging Scam
Check fraud, particularly “check washing,” has increased significantly over the past year. Here are some tips to protect yourself from check washing.
SLAY THE EMAIL DRAGON WITH HELP FROM MERLIN
How many hundreds — or thousands — of emails are in your inbox right now? At what pace is that number growing? Are you confident that an urgent message isn’t lurking in your queue? Does your computer constantly ping and pop up notifications? If these questions speak to the current state of your email account, you may have a problem. These are all telltale signs that a destructive dragon is living in your inbox.
Changing the Conversation Around Eating Disorders
Food is a necessity in our lives. Our society, however, has some very unhealthy pressures around disordered eating and distorted views of body image. It would make sense that a group of people facing heightened stress levels—such as attorneys—would find themselves in food-related challenges as a way to cope.
Can We Talk? Audio Conferencing Options and Tips
These days, video and audio calls are the new standard. Consider incorporating audioconferencing into your practice if you haven’t already done so.
Advance Planning Can Go a Long Way to Prevent Overload
Lawyers often take on too much. Regardless of how much we want to help, there are only so many hours in the day that we can dedicate to our jobs. Try some of these ways to better manage your calendar before things get out of control.
Welcome, New Lawyers: A Conversation with PLF Claims Attorney Bradley Tompkins About Avoiding Malpractice
A brief conversation with PLF Claims Attorney Bradley Tompkins about common malpractice risks and how to handle them