ABA Section of Litigation's Sound Advice

Multitasking is a concept we are all familiar with, but it is often too difficult to actually work in our lives. Listen as Teresa Beck offers tips and practices to help you develop or maintain a healthy balance for your life.(12:11 min)

Hear law professor and author John Lande outline the advantages of working closely with opposing counsel––before and during a trial. Despite attorney fears of appearing weak this type of strategy often serves both the attorneys and their clients. (11:28 min)

Hear Eric English and Paul Genender as they describe the use of settlement counsel during trials. Although they are not always needed, hiring settlement counsel can make life easier for the trial counsel and may help your client achieve their desired outcome. (11:28 min)

The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals has certified questions to the Texas Supreme Court that have the potential to expand the scope of the contractual liability exclusion. Jim Warren explains how courts interpret this exclusion and what the final decision by the Fifth Circuit may mean for construction contractors in Texas and beyond. (8:39 min)

Listen as Bob Will, cochair of the Trust Estate Litigation committee, gives the first in a series of tips for intake on a trust case. Although not always used, an engagement letter may help alleviate confusion as the case progresses. (6:31 min)

David Michael outlines steps to take before you move for summary judgment in an employment discrimination case. (5:27 min)

David Gresen explains why when financial documents don’t seem right during a divorce proceeding – it may be time to bring in a professional to take a closer look. (6:58 min)

Listen as Professor Bent Pattison and current law student and former foster-care child Lori Bullock discuss three critiques of legal representation brought forth by young people who are in the child-welfare system. (7:56 min)

Civil litigation generally involves direct claims by an injured party against a wrongdoer. Derivative actions are different. Hear as Jeff Gardner explains how this exception works and the ways in which it may affect your clients. (8:54 min)

All attorneys want to do their best for their clients, but sometimes mistakes happen. Listen as Elizabeth Timkovich shares advice on how to protect both the attorney-client and attorney-work product privileges. (15:56 min)

In the first installment of the series, Lourdes Rosado and Bob Schwartz tackle the topic of staffing and putting together a multidisciplinary team. Listen each month for more advice on starting or expanding legal services for children. (13:24 min)

Ethics professor and longtime litigator Mike Downey outlines four issues that attorneys should address when clients are considering litigation loans. (6:48 min)

Before investing time and energy on behalf of your clients, you should first determine whether their product is a consumer product. Laura Walther outlines the differences between types of products. (6:35 min)

Real estate attorney Edward Bloom discusses potential problems while handling commercial lease disputes, and ways to prevent them. (9:18 min)

Although Dukes v. Walmart gave more teeth to the commonality requirement and made it more difficult to achieve class certification under Rule23, certifications continue. Hear David Prahl as he discusses changes to requirements for commonality and what this means for you. (10:13 min)