Category «Communication Skills»

Citizens’ social media can provide an antidote to propaganda and disinformation

Robert W. Gehl, Ontario Research Chair of Digital Governance for Social Justice, York University, Canada raises an important issue about a recent Pew report on current state of digital media, news and right-wing propaganda. Gehl states the report misses a large number of alternative social media sites that actively and effectively oppose the right-wing propaganda. This distracts us from real-world solutions to the problems of online hate speech, disinformation and surveillance capitalism.

Subjects: Communication Skills, KM, Legal Research, Social Media, Technology Trends

Your Resume: Portrait or Passport Photo? Career Development for Lawyers—And Other Ambitious People

Jerry Lawson discusses how a good resume is more like a stylish portrait photo. A top portrait photographer uses lenses, lighting, composition, props and other tools to bring out the subject’s best features in an original way. Your resume should do no less for your professional qualifications. This actionable guide clearly identifies the elements and components that comprise an outstanding resume for attorneys and other legal professionals.

Subjects: Communication Skills, Competitive Intelligence, Job Hunting, KM, Legal Profession, Search Engines, Social Media

Presenter’s Guide Series, Part II – Dealing With Difficult Questions

Attorney Jerry Lawson is a legal tech expert with decades of experience delivering effective presentations. In this, the second part of a multi part series, Lawson shares insightful recommendations and techniques to successfully manage what can be challenging interactions with audience members during the course of a presentation.

Subjects: Communication Skills, Communications, Continuing Legal Education, Education, Presentation Skills, Training

Is Remote Work a Thing Now?

Heather Gray-Grant is a business strategist, marketing expert and executive coach who works primarily with small to medium sized law firms. In her article she shares lessons learned on how to effectively manage remote working by law firm attorneys and staff along with the significant implications respective to marketing, HR, technology, firm strategy and administration.

Subjects: Communication Skills, Communications, KM, Law Firm Marketing, Legal Profession, Recruiting, Telecommuting

Handling Questions: A Presenter’s Guide

OK, you have gotten through the body of your presentation satisfactorily. Time to relax, right? Nope. There is one hurdle left: The question and answer period. This is when some presenters wilt and others shine. With a few tips, some experience and a modicum of intestinal fortitude, you can shine every time. Jerry Lawson’s extensive experience as a speaker is put to good use in this article as he provides best practice advice for each stage of your presentation.

Subjects: Communication Skills, Communications, Presentation Skills, Training

It’s not just bad behavior – why social media design makes it hard to have constructive disagreements online

Good-faith disagreements are a normal part of society and building strong relationships. Yet it’s difficult to engage in good-faith disagreements on the internet, and people reach less common ground online compared with face-to-face disagreements. There’s no shortage of research about the psychology of arguing online, from text versus voice to how anyone can become a troll and advice about how to argue well. But there’s another factor that’s often overlooked: the design of social media itself. Amanda Baughan and her colleagues investigated how the design of social media affects online disagreements and how to design for constructive arguments.

Subjects: Communication Skills, Communications, Social Media

The Post-Pandemic Law Practice: What Lawyers Need to Know

Nicole L. Black’s third article in a series discusses the value of an expansive new report from the ABA, Practicing Law in the Pandemic and Moving Forward: Results and Best Practices from a Nationwide Survey of the Legal Profession. The results cover a broad overview of topics ranging from the impact of the pandemic on the legal profession to post-pandemic expectations and recommendations for both legal employers and individual lawyers.

Subjects: Communication Skills, Healthcare, KM, Law Firm Marketing, Legal Profession, Management

Librarian, Market Thyself

Caren Luckie, Research Attorney at Jackson Walker LLP, acknowledges what so many of us know, that during COVID work from home we have all been very busy, and in many cases, even more than in past years. With no direct, in person contact with customers and clients, Luckie offers proactive ways to build and maintain visibility and value.

Subjects: Communication Skills, KM, Law Librarians, Legal Research Training, Library Marketing, Presentation Skills, Training