- Quickdraw McLaw
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One of our readers called Tumbledorf writes in with the following question:
I’m leaving my firm to go into solo practice. I have a very common last name – might as well be “Smith.” That means there are approximately 900,000 “Smith Law Offices,” “Smith Law Group,” etc. Also, there’s no way I would ever be able to get a simple domain like smithlaw.com Something like smithlawofficenevada.com might be possible, but it’s really long and guaranteed people will leave the “nevada” part out.
I am on the fence about generic names like “Hot Desert Law Center”. But that might be practically necessary to get a reasonably short domain name.
Thoughts? Obviously it can’t be something that implies the firm is bigger than just me. What is good and what just sounds dumb? Does anyone even care? What is best for clients? (I do civil litigation mostly.)
Smith Law Firm / Group (for a solo?)
Smith Law Center (www.
[Generic geographic reference] Law (e.g., High Desert, Desert, Red Rock, etc.)
Lawyer McLawface
A completely made-up word? (e.g., “zillow”)
Other ideas? What say you?
Thanks!
Reminder: Today is the first day to submit nominations for the Board of Governors. You only have until April 27, 2018, to get them in.
Reminder: Today is the first day to submit nominations for the Board of Governors. You only have until April 27, 2018, to get them in.
I have a related question: what is the reasoning behind the generic names like "Hot Desert Law Center"? Why does John Smith personal injury attorney now ALSO have a seemingly separate name for his practice like "Zebra Law, LLC"?
(1) So that every time someone leaves the firm you don't have the change the name; (2) Consumers/clients remember trade names easier than attorney names ("One LLP" is easier to remember than "Polsinelli, Smith, Jones, Ruettiger & Swenson"); (3) trade names translate state to state easier than personal names.
Whether we like it or not, we are a business.
Your domain is not as important anymore. However, branding of your name is. You can PPC your name for less than $250 a month in your worst case scenario.
As a law firm marketing consultant and coach for over 20 years I will say this: We do not have enough info to help you. There are 2 major types of law practices with little overlap. Business (your law firm) to business law (most IP, all Ins def, business lit & transactions, etc.) and business (your law firm) to consumer law (PI, Family, trust/estate, crim/dui defense, etc.).
Both are marketed very differently. Choice of domain name(s), PPC, blog/content marketing, networking, even referrals from clients and other lawyers ALL MUST support your primary practice area, and maybe one or two others.
Lastly, whatever your competition is doing to market; do it ten times better or market yourself very differently.
Anyone looking for more tips can email me at NewClients@aol.com. Initial calls and meetings are always available at no charge. Delivering value to your prospects before they sign a retainer or write a check is a great way to get great clients.
Depends on the type of clientele you're trying to develop. I'd go for the professional-sounding name, e.g. Law Office of John Smith. We've got too many Pandas, Zebras and Half-Price Lawyers. Really a question of how much you want to spend on advertising.
Call me the "ghost of legal practice present" but come on, it's 2018! To all who didn't notice, branding is a big part of current day marketing and that includes for lawyers. Will potential clients remember "Good Times Marijuana Law" or some jumble of names straight out of the 1850's? I think if your market is anything other than capturing stuffy big law clients, set up a brand or two. You can ALWAYS have "Law Office of Boring G. Smith, PLLC" and set up some an FFN or two for branding purposes if you can't let go. Some may disagree but I think there's lots of room for creativity and with the internet bigger than ever you might want to stand out using the tools available to you.
It must be a slow news day.
I recall the "rock and roll lawyers" went over big….
Three new Advance Opinions from the Supremes, including a decision on giving the Government stays in Coroner v. LVRJ and what happens when you breach a settlement agreement in Cain v. Price.
Lawyer McLawface for the win.
Lawyer McLawface is perfect
Hotair McWindbag PLLC FTW
Okay, everyone. You see that nominations for BOG is opening. So now is the opportunity for everyone who is disenchanted to support a candidate, or a slate of candidates, who are opposed to random audits or other issues of concern.
But none of that will happen. People simply bitch endlessly how leadership has failed them, but they never support "change" candidates for BOG.
Instead, as always, incumbents will circulate form letters about the supposed accomplishments of themselves and the BOG, and they will get re-elected.
I submitted my BOG nomination form this morning. I am hopeful that additional "change" candidates will also apply.
Andrew – thank you for doing so. I admire all the work you have done with Inns of Court and for offering substance in the random audit debate. You have my vote and thanks!
Andrew has my support as well.
I submitted my BOG nomination form this morning as well. I am against the random trust account audits and would like less bar bureaucracy and more transparency.
Thank you, Casey and Andrew both. I agree with the people who write that to improve things you need to work not just criticize. It would be a breath of fresh air to not just add new measures each BOG president term but to evaluate what's working and what isn't and maybe roll back what isn't.
Ha! I am against the random trust account audits and would like less bar bureaucracy and more transparency. … says the guy who pushed for the appellate court….
I will be submitting my nomination form shortly as well. Coming from a small firm, I see exactly how expensive and time consuming the random audits would be. I also believe the BOG needs more transparency and accountability to its members.
Boyd '10 rockin' the damn boat. Got my vote, Jessica.
I recently had Andrew Craner as an arbitrator for a PI case. He was fair and I would use him again. I'm voting for him.
Please let us know who is nominated, because I am voting for new BOGS. I am tired of the power trips. We get plenty of that down at the RJC.
Hey, I put this question on here a while ago but I thought I'd ask again because I haven't had any luck so far. I'm looking for a good psychologist to help me deal with my anxiety and panic attacks. Does anybody have a good recommendation? Maybe one who has a lot of experience helping people in high-stress jobs?
I've been in litigation for 10 years and over the past two years my anxiety levels have gone through the roof. I'm fairly certain I've got a general anxiety disorder now because I'll get it even when I have nothing to worry about. Hopefully somebody here can help me out and I'm sure there are others who could use some good counseling but haven't thought to ask.
10:28 – you probably want a therapist and a psychiatrist. The former will be better for talking and therapy, and the latter can prescribe medication. Kristy Muir at Central Psychiatry works well with lawyers in prescribing medication to help with depression and anxiety. In my experience, a psychiatrist is more fungible than a therapist because of the inherent clinical nature of prescribing.
Finding a therapist may take visiting several different ones until you find one that's a good fit.
Calling the bar's lawyers helping lawyers helpline can also help refer you to a therapist to talk to (it's what I did several years ago when I was having the same issues you're describing).
Hope that helps!
Thank you 10:28 for posting this. I am in the same boat. I am reduced to reading on the internet about what to do with anxiety and panic attacks. So, please share what you learn and thank you for asking about this. You are not alone!~
Hey! I didn't see your question before, but props to you for seeking help. You say psychologist, but with anxiety, you may want medications to help too. Choosing a mental health provider is a personal decision and what works for one may not work for another. That said, here are two recommendations I will make: For counseling, try Geri Smith http://www.gerismithcounselingcenter.com/home.html For psychiatry, try Curtis Child http://lasvegaspsychiatryllc.com/
Good luck friend.
Carrol Marquis. She is very good with attorneys and couples (if needed)
I'm an attorney who was feeling crippled by anxiety about 4 years ago. A bad boss and too much responsibility turned me into a blubbering mess who couldn't get anything done.
I started seeing a therapist and separately saw my GP for medication. I'm on a good prescription now that keeps me pretty even without making me feel like I'm a flat-liner.
Good luck. It can get better.
Melanie Ocampo with Alliance Mental Health Specialist. 702-486-0427. She has experience treating litigators – myself. She'll give you all the meds you want, but she isn't a pill pusher. She will also recommend therapy if you need it. Sometimes you just need to get over a hump, other times you may actually have a condition that needs more treatment. I thought it was just litigation for me but the job just put me over the edge from dealing with other issues. Litigation is a life suck. Do yourself a favor, get help. You may learn to love the job and scale back the stress – I have and I was a complete train wreck ready to drive my car off a bridge less than two years ago. Go see Melanie. They take nearly all insurance as well. Good luck.
Phone number correction for Melanie Ocampo- (702)485-2100
Oh and yes – what @10:28 and @11:24 say are correct. Skip the therapy initially and go to a psychiatrist. Therapy nearly killed me and drained my bank account. Quacks all over town. Melanie is actually a PA, but she can is better than other Psychiatrists I've seen – and if there's some major issue over here head (and there won't be) she'll send you to her boss.
Can I get Adderall and Ambien?
(Attention Judges and Magistrates, take it easy on us. We're fragile– beyond pacifism.)
You need that to appear in front of Cadish.
Go to one of the local dispensaries and get an indica. Best anti-anxiety medication ever. Vape if you're health conscious.
It hit me at the ten year mark – got on meds and tried several different options (psych, therapist, etc.) but to be honest the options in Vegas are garbage. There are some docs who will see you via Skype for therapy if that helps.
This is a great thread. Is there any way the mods could sticky this thread (or something similar) to the sidebar? Would be helpful to have this info readily available.
Hillary Boone (a therapist) has been greatly helpful for me. 757-751-0137
Thanks for all the advice. I should have been a bit more detailed. I have been seeing a psychiatrist for about a year but we're still trying to work out what meds are most effective for me. Seems like I get stable and then every 3-4 months the panic attacks come back. I know I should also see a therapist so I can learn some coping techniques to deal with the stress mentally as well. That's why I'm specifically asking for recommendations for a therapist. I haven't been able to find a good one yet.
I agree though, it would be helpful to have this kind of thread more readily available on this blog because I think a lot of attorneys deal with this silently, which is what leads to depression and worse. There's no shame in seeking help.
I know this may sound flippant, but my friends with this problem (there are so many, WTH???)find that although meds are slowly helping, they still have problems and yoga helps them cope with the attacks crop up. Something about the breathing exercises and focusing, mindful some flibbertygibbett. Sorry for the ignorance, but it seems to actually help.
@ 10:28, my advice based on experience, skip the counselors and psychologists and go see a psychiatrist first. You may have a personality disorder or other physiological condition needing medication, and if so, then you'll waste your time at counselling without medication and appropriate allopathic care. The psychiatrist can refer you to counselling if he or she believes it would help. The psychiatrist also can order medical tests to make sure you don't have some other physiological condition causing your symptoms like hypocholesterolemia.
Agree with this. Also, lots of counselors/therapists are quacks, and it can be tough to evaluate that from the outside. If you find a reputable psychiatrist and get a counselor recommendation from him or her, you are less likely to end up with a quack. (trick is making sure the psychiatrist isn't a quack, but I think that's less likely than a counselor who could have any number of backgrounds.)
Agree with this. I had to deal with this for my daughter, and it is important to get on the appropriate meds first, and then you will be able to tackle therapy (and your work, quite frankly) better. Your psychiatrist will also be helpful on referrals to therapists.
I'd hire Dr. Bob Hartley(a.k.a. Bob Newhart).
Applications Sought for Assistant Bar Counsel Position
The State Bar of Nevada is currently accepting applications for Assistant Bar Counsel. This is a full-time, exempt position with the Office of Bar Counsel in the bar's Las Vegas office. Responsibilities include, but are not limited to, representing the state bar in all discipline matters and working closely with investigators on matters of alleged attorney misconduct by conducting research, interviewing witnesses, and analyzing documents and court filings.
Further information on the position is available online.
Qualified applicants may submit their resume, salary requirements, a writing sample and a completed state bar application for consideration to hrobc@nvbar.org.
Who left? Who is leaving? Or are we staffing up to get ready for all of the new business that the audits are going to bring?
Is this the fourth or fifth posting in the last 12 months? Farmer must be hard to work for or super picky.
Not Farmer. It is Stan. Completely Stan.
So, I am curious. Having they been hiring people and firing them within weeks? Or, just not hiring anyone? Because the Bar has been re-posting this listing every couple of months. I have no idea how many attorneys work as assistant bar counsel.
They have been hiring them but it appears that they are in massive man-up mode. The conjecture its related to audits seems well founded. The conjecture that it is just Stan utilizing the huge influx of money that he is getting from the new fees which accompany suspensions ($2500 suspension fee; $2500 reinstatement fee for anyone suspended over 6 months) that Stan is gearing up to start scorching the Earth.
So, essentially the same as the Judicial Commission: we have new money and there is a new sheriff in town. Clean up mode. Maybe it is needed. Maybe I should've chosen a field with more supportive associations.
"There is a new sheriff in town…" stolen from me and Stan the man who can stand on his head.
There have been people jumping ship there too, not so long after they arrived. It's Farmer. Stan could have ameliorated that problem but he hasn't, and he is too rigid in his approach for anyone who has a brain.
Who has jumped ship? Barker is gone/run out on a rail depending who you ask. Mincavage was allegedly fired. Who else has jumped?
Former Judge Barker was an assistant bar counsel??
His wife.
7:42 here. Having met Farmer, I don't think she plays well with smart females. Stan, on the other hand, seems a fan. Wonder how that plays out?
I have not only met Kim but once regarded her as a "friend". Admittedly in meeting her you know that she is the sort of friend upon whom you never turn your back. Ever. But I could maintain that kiss kiss smooch smooch, smile like crocodiles at each other– thing.
Stan is a fan because that is how things work in the SBN. Kim got Stan the job at the behest of the Supremes. They have a mutual interest which is in keeping their jobs and keeping the 7 supremes (and indirectly BoG) happy. BoG Meetings are about what is best for the BoG. I have been in those meetings. The best interests or wishes of the Bar Membership are never discussed in any detail.
Any slate of candidates which includes a thorough audit of the destruction which Kim Farmer has caused to the State Bar of Nevada will get my vote and I will actively campaign for that slate.
So how exactly does Kim get fired if a new batch of "change" BOGs is elected?
What's this job pay? I couldn't find a pay scale anywhere.
Commission. 10% of whatever sums you find missing when auditing a firm and 20% of any sanctions that you have levied against an attorney.
I understand that libraries take time to update. But when the official website for the State of Nevada has Rules of Civil Procedure which state:
NEVADA RULES OF CIVIL PROCEDURE
ADOPTED BY THE SUPREME COURT OF NEVADA
____________
Effective January 1, 1953 and Including Amendments Through March 1, 2016
Does anyone know why Judge Israel is always angry from the second he takes the bench? What is wrong with that guy?
He is not that angry in my experience.
He is in, over his head. His anger helps him cope with his anxiety caused by not knowing what he is doing. Anger puts others on edge; he is hoping to distract those to whom he radiates anger, from the obvious…that he does not know civil law. He is also lazy, which causes him guilt. Instead of trying to become more knowledgeable, he uses anger to cope.