Futurelawyer

#WhyIAmASolo - I Can't Be Forced To Retire.

As I age, I do slow down, and I suppose you could call it semi-retired. But, having a job that has a deadline, after which you are forced to retire, is not my type of job. We all want to have some autonomy in our lives. Solo practice brought that to me. Of course, there are monetary sacrifices for such a life. But, freedom of action doesn't really have a price.

#PoetryFriday - Tarot.

He studied her
as she placed the cards
upon the table.
It felt like a polygraph exam.
Did she hear his beating heart?
Could she sense his prayer
for a future of loving her
Could she read in the cards
the desire in his body,
and the anticipation in his voice?

Or, was it all a game?

She read the cards
aloud.
He already knew that he was bound to the past,
a past that carried only broken love
and broken promises.
He was, however,
a willing participant in her seduction.
He would go where she led him.

He was a budding plant,
growing towards a powerful sun,
reaching for the sky,
a boy-man,
learning to love.

The cards told him
that he had much work to do.

Space Law - One Reason There Will Always Be Lawyers.

As Outer Space Becomes More Accessible, Space Lawyers Will Be In Greater Demand. This ABA article by Danielle Braff is an excellent primer on the legal issues likely to arise from the exploration of space. Wherever humans interact, relationships and disputes will require order and judgment. Who owns the resources mined from the moon and other planets? What happens if a private space flight company crashes a ship with passengers on board? What are the relationships between countries vis a vis the U.N.’s Outer Space Treaty’s nonappropriation principle?  How should the U.S. Commercial Space Launch Competitiveness Act of 2015 be interpreted in specific fact situations? Most lawyers alive today won't likely be space lawyers; but, the time is coming. Don't go west, young man. There is no west left. Go to space, young woman. There lies the unknown.

The FutureLawyer Lives In The Most Humid City In The U.S.

Pinellas Park and St. Petersburg Are The Most Humid In the U.S., Study says. Okay, the study that says the FutureLawyer's home city of St. Petersburg, Florida, is the most humid in the U.S. was done by a London based group. But, since it rains all the time there, I suppose London does have some knowledge of humidity. But, it is true that, here in Florida, we pay a price for a climate that seldom gets below 60 degrees, even in Winter. Summers can be brutal, especially in July and August. But, the invention of air conditioning brought a degree of comfort even to those months, so we hardly feel it. And, I will trade our humidity for the warm climate any day. There is a reason all you Northerners retire here. By the way, the FutureLawyer does will drafting and probate administration, in case any of you snowbirds plan to retire and die here. We may be humid; but, we also have no income tax. 

Samsung Tab S5e 4G LTE - Sometimes, The Old Tech Is Better Than The New Tech.

Tab S5e - The Lightest And Thinnest Tablet Ever. I am known, if for anything, as being an early adopter of tech. I own just about every tech gadget that has been introduced in the last 30 years of the computer and Internet revolution. I have purchased, and used, if only for a little while, over 40 Smartwatches, dozens of Smartphones, and many tablets and notebook computers. So, when I say that the Samsung Galaxy Tab S5e, with 4G LTE connectivity, has been in my bag or carried on my person for two years, I must like it a lot. At 400 grams (.88 pounds), it is thin and light, and I bring it out whenever we travel, or go to a restaurant, or a Doctor's office, or anywhere that a notebook computer (even a 3 pound ultralight) would be too much. Believe it or not, while you really will see a difference in the performance of the new 5G phones, and a 5G Hotspot has enough speed for several computers for the family when you travel, a tablet used for browsing the web, perusing social media, reading EBooks and newspapers, and Email and other stuff, works just fine at 4G LTE. The newer tablets, right on up to the current crop of 5G Tab S7s, weigh 1.3 pounds, and are bulkier. Half a pound makes a big difference when you are carrying a tablet around. The world renowned Samsung screens on the older tablets like the S5e are brilliant and the color pops. You can still buy the S5e, for less than $400 in some places. The new, heavier, tablets start at $700 and up. As much tech as I have purchased in the past 30 years, lighter and thinner is always better. Your tablet or other computer can't be too thin or too light. The best part is that, unlike body weight, you can shave the pounds off of your tech instantaneously. Just buy smart.

Being The FutureLawyer Is A Tough Job.

It is difficult to be me. Telling the world about the latest evil technology that will take over law practice, and make lawyers obsolete, is not my idea of a good time. And, the fact that my tech futurist bones are telling me that, in the future, Terminator Robots will be roaming the countryside, blowing humans away, is frightening. But, doom and gloom sells, so technologists keep touting the next advance as a necessary progression for the human race and lawyers, specifically. The only problem here is that the natural progression of technology heads to a robot controlled world conclusion. But, don't cry for me, fellow lawyers and citizens. I have a plan to download my consciousness into a robot with an indestructible exoskeleton, and to live forever.

#WhyIAmASolo - I Don't Have A Boss Glaring At Me All Day.

Solo law practice has its disadvantages; but, obnoxious supervision isn't one of them. I get to practice law on the matters I want, and I don't have another lawyer micromanaging me, or telling me what to do, and when. There aren't any colleagues around gossiping about how hard or how little I work, and I don't have to worry about taking off for an afternoon when I feel like it. Solo practice brings freedom to be me, and I can dress how I want, say what I want, and be myself, without judgment or retribution. Even if you are a partner in BigLaw, can you honestly say there aren't eyes on you all the time? Can you really do what you want every day? If not, ask yourself whether the big money and prestige are worth it. Sure, I would like to make the big bucks; but, I would rather be able to live my life as I wish, even if, as in Steinbeck's "Travels With Charlie", I "slob for a time in utter laziness".

First World Problems - Should The FutureLawyer Upgrade To The Boox Note Air 2?

First Look At The Onyx Boox Note Air 2. Decisions, decisions. As many of you know, I have been using the Boox Note Air for a few months now, and it has replaced paper in my note taking. I make a PDF of my daily calendar, and keep an annotated calendar throughout the day. I use the notepad feature to take notes in a variety of circumstances. I have converted my paper checklists and information gathering forms into electronic forms that I complete on the Note Air. The best part of the Note Air, however, is its access to the Android PlayStore, which gives me access to thousands of Android apps. I can check email, browse the web, play chess, and a myriad of other functions, all in sync with my color tablet and smartphones. It is a great EReader and I seldom read on the tiny Kindle PaperWhite anymore. I can transfer PDFs of documents, contracts, pleadings and any other document to the Note Air, and read them, with the full power to annotate with an electronic pencil. So, what is the problem? Well, Onyx has upgraded the Note Air to version 2. It has more memory, an octa-core processor, and claims to have a better writing feel. Alas, since I am happy with what I have, $500 for a new one seems a bridge too far. You, however, have the opportunity to get in on the ground floor. Lucky devils.

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There Is A Time To Stop Arguing Your Case.

Litigators learn early the lesson that making an argument for too long a time can be counter-productive. There comes a time when the lawyer just needs to shut the hell up.