Blawg Review #66

G'day. What took you so long to get here? (It's Australia, not Austria!)

This week there’s some surprising news from the lawyer who is credited with creating the word "blawg" as well as stimulating posts from new and well-established bloggers from around the world.

Blawg Review is a weekly carnival of law-related blogs. And Blawg Review #66 is special because it is the first time Blawg Review has been hosted by a non-US host let alone someone from Australia or even the Southern Hemisphere.

A little over 2 years ago I left a legal practice that I had spent 27 years helping to grow: it was gut-wrenching at the time but I found that writing and reading blogs helped me focus and re-focus on what I really wanted to do . Do I love what I'm doing? Absolutely. I'm a solo and I work from home on corporate advisory matters with clients I like. If I had $20 million and 10 years to live would I still do it? Good question but I'm not likely to walk the Kokoda trail.

I believe that diversity is important, so let's start.

News of the week

I have always admired the wit and knowledge of Denise Howell so the news this weekend that she has been fired by expanding global firm Reed Smith is surprising (but she's not throwing tomatoes like Amanda Congdon did at Rocketboom). In a long post Denise explores her feelings and touches on themes that I believe are important if professional service firms (not just lawyers) are to be successful in providing value to their clients as well as providing satisfying careers and work-life balance for their staff (particularly women). Ernie the Attorney, Dennis Kennedy and Gerry Riskin all support the Love Filter approach. Whatever the reasons for the separation, I suspect that her employer will later realise it has undervalued Denise's contributions.

Sometimes life's going to hit you in the head with a brick. Don't lose faith. (Steve Jobs).

Last week a class action for $1 billion was commenced in Washington by US farmers against Australian company AWB Limited over its involvement in the UN Oil for Food Program. Want to know more about the Cole Inquiry into AWB? Start with my Squidoo Lens.

Australians love sport and last week we joined the rest of the world watching the World Cup soccer final especially the sending off of French star Zidane. A French lawyer says he’ll go to court to order a replay . (Here's some replays, for him.)

The Socceroos got to the second round of the tournament. How far did USA get? ;-)

Bill Heinze at I/P Updates says TGIF for the end of World Cup Soccer

Work/life balance

Arnie Herz at Legal Sanity comments on a post by Ernest Svenson in "lawyering and growing through self-revelation".

One of my own favourite past posts is One year on: you've got to find what you love , with thanks to the speech of Steve Jobs quoted above and the positive thoughts from Curt Rosengren.

Bruce MacEwen at Adam Smith Esq says Don't Let Your Firm's "Core Values" Inspire--Cynicism

Does The Devil … Draft Interrogatories? . I don't know, but in Australia at least one lawyer thinks Hell has Harbour Views.

And to put it all into context, Australian economist Andrew Leigh discusses the startling relationship between death and taxes and asks "does taxing death discourage it?".

Global

Anupam Chander is Professor of Law at the University of California, Davis. His research focuses on the regulation of globalization and digitization. He discusses Gitmo and the Search for a "Lawless" Zone--like Outer Space

Professor Joseph Scott Miller at The Fire of Genius points to this week's issue of The Economist which  has three fun pieces. All of them focus, in one way or another, on Internet-centered phenomena, including The Long Tail.

Professor Glenn Reynolds at InstaPundit hosts The Glenn and Helen Show: Interviewing Chris Anderson About the Long Tail

The Berkman Center for Internet and Society at the Harvard Law School hosts a round-up of international bloggers at Global Voices Online.

Privacy is a global issue and the Canadian Privacy Law Blog recounts the story of a victim of a data breach.

Canadian Law Professor Michael Geist refers to a new study on employee workplace surveillance.

Asian blogs make up a big part of the blogosphere these days but as close as Australia is to Asia we are still predominantly English-speaking. To give you a glimpse of the cultural differences here's a post from Singapore Law Blog on a partnership between three Gods and a law firm.

Creativity and technology

At Bazpat, Brisbane patent attorney Barry Eagar discusses software patent issues covered at his recent ABA presentation and trip to the USA.

At Weatherall's Law, Melbourne Professor Kim Weatherall continues her posts about the Australia-US Free Trade Agreement by discussing the Oz version of the the Digital Millennium Copyright Act  and the Australia-US Free Trade Agreement . She also contributes to group blog Law Font.

Marty Schwimmer looks at trademark issues in virtual worlds.

QUT Lecturer Peter Black at Freedom to Differ follows some of the debate about US Senator Stevens observation that "the internet is a series of tubes" (discussed in this Jon Stewart video).

And Justin Patten at UK blog Human Law  says legislators don’t know enough about the internet and technology.

Next week's host Antitrust Review points to a primer on net neutrality.

Ron Coleman at Likelihood of Confusion discusses a fight between Louis Vuitton and Dooney & Bourke over handbags.

Israeli Patent Attorney (and magician) discusses the copyright implications of removing sex and bad language from films in the IP Factor.

The Orange Rag (UK) links to resources from Legal Technology Insider.

Have a Blaugh at a cartoon about Friendster.com being  awarded a patent on managing real-life relationships.

Professional firm management

Matt Homann at the [non]billable hour discusses "the top 10 things they never taught me" and May I Help You With Anything Else .

David Maister is bemused that you can innovate by standing still, that "best friends" are now accepted as an innovative option to a global partnership.

The Marcus Perspective reviews changes which mean that tomorrow’s law and accounting firms will be substantially different from the professional firms of the last 100 years.

Blogging

If you've got this far and you're interested in blogging then I recommend these links:

• Corporate Engagement on the new Australian text Uses of Blogs
• blogging basics from Dennis Kennedy
• Australian Darren Rowse on the A-Z of Professional Blogging

Thanks for visiting

Blawg Review has information about next week's host, and instructions how to get your blawg posts reviewed in upcoming issues.

Photocredits: Anna Jacobson (Disclosure: Anna is my daughter).

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