Futurelawyer

#WhyIAmASolo - I Don't Have To Worry About My Former Employer Erasing Me.

This morning, I came upon a Twitter thread initiated by the King of Law Blogging and my friend, Kevin O'Keefe, about what happens to blog posts by a lawyer when he leaves a law firm. The responses were all over the place, and dealt with the initial employment contract terms relating to Intellectual Property, and moral and legal issues, and so forth. It was an interesting discussion which I will never have to worry about, because I am the law firm. If I leave, I am dead. I suppose there might be some discussion about legacy blog posts and issues in my probate estate; but, I will have shuffled off this mortal coil, and I will either be in the hands of a merciful deity and won't care, or I will no longer exist, and won't care. I suppose this is a cautionary tale for you bloggin lawyers with employers. Better check the terms of your employment agreement. If you don't own your work, better crank up Paul Simon, and "get yourself free".

Have You Ever Come To The Right Place!

I Have GOT To Remember Not To Have My Next Heart Attack Near This Sign.

Lord, take me now. 

Virtue Signaling - It Can Be A Good Thing.

Virtue Signaling. When I consider the modern pejorative, "Virtue Signaling", which is a way of criticizing someone for tooting their own horn about some moral stand that is popular in the present, I think about the the Emily Dickinson poem about a frog. "I'm nobody, who are you? Are you nobody too? How dreary to be somebody, how public like a frog, to tell your name the livelong day, to an admiring bog". On the one hand, virtue signaling can be a good thing, as it can give us the impetus to do worthy acts. "Act as if..." and you might become what you tout. My mom always used to tell me: "Son, if you don't toot your own horn, somebody else will". When we consider the Internet and Social Media, there is now a huge soapbox on which we can stand and tell our name the livelong day to an admiring bog, and the whole world beyond the forest. The problem with modern virtue signaling comes from the hypocrisy of the signalers. If you loudly proclaim your moral superiority by taking a popular moral stand; but, act or think differently in your actual life, you are not only being dishonest with the world. You are lying to yourself. I get it. Modern tolerance for contrarian viewpoints is at a low ebb. Cancel culture can take your job, your reputation, and your friendships if you espouse an unpopular viewpoint on social media. Our "free" society is at a crossroads. I choose to cross the road on the side of authenticity. That is why I say the name "Redskins" with pride, which is a team I have supported since the beginning of my life. It is not meant to insult, but to glorify. That is why I am such an outspoken advocate of "free speech", even speech we may hate. That is why I support the police, without whom we would be living in chaos. There are many ways to signal our views and opinions these days. Try to be honest and authentic when you do. It helps to find a livelihood that can't be taken away by brain dead zealots wearing suits.

How Will The FutureLawyer Get To Work In 2030?

Man Flying Giant Drone. If I live for another 10 years, it is possible that I will be flying to work on a "Back To The Future" style device; but, a bit bigger and with four propellers. This $20,000 prototype isn't a real product yet; but, we have the technology. We can make him faster! How cool would it be to pull into the parking lot on this thing?

Solo Lawyers Find Power In The Internet.

Make Money Monday With Our Free Clause Of The Day. Carolyn Elefant, who publishes MyShingle.com, is publishing a new guide for solos, that incorporates sample legal clauses for lawyers, such as clauses for the initial employment agreement. Solos have a limitless resource in the Internent, and Carolyn has led the way. The Internet levels the playing field for solos, and it has made everything available to all. Thanks, Carolyn.

The Only Shocking Thing Here Is That No One Was Hurt Making This Sign.

You Will Be Able To Travel To Europe This Summer...But Will You Want To?

Vaccinated U.S. Tourists Will Be Allowed To Travel To Europe This Summer./ I had to cancel a couple of long planned trips to Europe and the West Coast when the Pandemic hit last year. I ate some part of the expenses because I reserved through third parties, like Booking.com (be careful with them); but, on the whole, I saved a lot of money on short term visits. Now, even though we are fully vaccinated, I have chosen to follow many U.S. citizens, and will be traveling Florida, and later America, in an RV. It really is like taking a hotel room with you, and, even at $3 to $4 a gallon, and 12 miles per gallon, it is way cheaper than hotels. You are required to take your time, and you see a lot more than from the window of an airplane. In fact, in addition to being safer, I can drive anywhere in Florida in under 5 hours, and I used to spend that much time on a 50 minute flight. And, nobody will be measuring my toiletries. Modern technology means that we can also travel these days with our entertainment, work, and anything we want on mobile computers and tech. I remember a slogan from years back: "See America First". I think I will try that.

 

Is The Next FutureLawyer Office A Helicopter?

Chinook Office. Those of us of VietNam age; even those of us who served but didn't go overseas, remember the H47 Chinook Helicopter, if only from evening TV news. These workhorses did a lot of flying. I haven't looked at unusual office space in a while, and this popped up on Facebook. It is close by, in Plant City, and has been overhauled into office space. For $60,000, I could see this as a replacement for my current office, in a converted house. Anyone interested?

How To Keep The FutureLawyer Out Of Your Bar.

Some bars don't deserve my presence.