The Jury Is Out

We continue our discussion on jury nullification with examples we’ve encountered in recent cases and offer tips on how you can address possible nullification issues through argument, motions in limine or jury instructions. Our best advice is to keep your eyes open through every step of the case and be prepared to take up the issue with the court.

Can a jury render a verdict that is outside the law? And if so, can you encourage them to do so? We’ll discuss the history of jury nullification, how some attorneys try to suggest that jurors can or should ignore evidence, and ways you can use voir dire to try to identify jurors who may consider nullification.

Management expert Angela Louis discusses the unique challenges facing plaintiff’s firms and suggests key traits every successful office administrator should have. She also offers tips on how to continuously support the firm’s “brand” of excellent work by putting long and short-term processes in place.

Are you spending more time running your firm than handling your cases? That’s the tipping point when you should hand off those responsibilities to a qualified legal office manager. Angela Louis, the Simon Law Firm’s award-winning Director of Administration, lends insight into this critical multi-tasking role.

We are seeing more deadlocked juries in which jurors refuse to discuss the facts of the case. Today’s discussion addresses not only the legal implications of a refusal to engage in productive discourse and compromise, but the implications to our government’s function if verdicts cannot be reached in the courtroom. What can we do?

Our final episode with Ferne Wolf of Silverstein Wolf covers your ethical obligations during document discovery, how to respond to a document dump and when to ask for documents in native form.

In Part Two of our discussion with Employment Law Attorney Ferne Wolf, we take an in-depth look at rule 30B6, issues regarding designating corporate witnesses and how to handle refusals to disclose insurance coverage.

Have you noticed more attorneys objecting to written discovery? Why? In this three-part discussion, Employment Law Attorney Ferne Wolf examines how the rules of professional conduct overlap with the civil rules regarding written discovery, and offers rules you can use to keep the process moving.

Are you satisfied when your firm is “good enough”? Professional development coach Elise Holtzman challenges you to strategically examine your workplace and your personality to improve your business, create more successful communication and develop the leadership skills you and your firm need to succeed.

Would you like to generate more business? Elise Holtzman is founder of The Lawyer’s Edge, a leadership development firm that helps attorneys become more proactive about business development and career acceleration.