Category: Practice Tips & Helpers

A suspect is forced by the FBI to unlock an iPhone using facial recognition–ABA Journal

An Apple iPhone X user, suspected of possessing child pornography, was forced by the FBI use facial recognition to unlock their phone.

Forbes, Endgadget and CNET all have coverage.

Forbes reports this is the first known case where law enforcement in any country has compelled someone to unlock their phone using Apple Face ID.

On Aug. 10, the FBI searched the Columbus, Ohio, home of Grant Michalski. Using his face, Michalski unlocked his phone at the FBI’s request, at which point the agent was able to go through chats, photos and any other accessible material.

Read more…

New York Issues Final Model Sexual Harassment Policy and Training Guidelines – Bond, Schoeneck & King PLLC

By: Subhash Viswanathan

On October 1, the New York State Division of Human Rights issued its final model sexual harassment policy and training guidelines to assist employers in complying with the new sexual harassment legislation that will become effective October 9, 2018.  One piece of good news for employers is that the Division’s final training guidelines no longer require that employers train all employees by January 1, 2019, as the Division initially proposed.  Instead, according to the FAQs, employers will have until October 9, 2019 — a full 12 months from the effective date of the legislation — to complete the training for all employees
 

DiNapoli: Calls to Investigate Violations of Do Not Call Law Going Unanswered

Do Not Call registry complaints by New York state residents have more than doubled since 2014 to more than 450,000 annually, but only two cases were referred for enforcement action in 2016 and 2017 combined, according to an audit released today by State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli.
 

Simplify a tedious deposition review with technology–ABA Journal

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Another technology tool designed to streamline the litigation process is deposition review software, which assists lawyers with the typically tedious process of reading, reviewing and annotating deposition transcripts during the pretrial process. These programs enable paperless depositions by storing digital transcripts in the cloud, which are then accessible from any compatible device.
 
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ATL Clio Solo and Small Firm Compensation Report 2018

Reliable, detailed compensation information for solo practitioners and small-firm attorneys is scarce. Above the Law in partnership with Clio created Solo and Small Law Firm Compensation Report for the benefit of law students looking to join a small firm as well as practicing attorneys looking to benchmark their own compensation.
 

How to Create a Law Firm Brochure – SOLO in COLO

Written By: Michael L. Goldblatt

The recent modernization of the American Bar Association’s model rules on lawyer advertising give a boost to marketing activities by firms of all sizes.  Although it may take years for state regulators to adopt the new ABA rules, many marketing activities are already permitted. For example, firms commonly use electronic marketing tools like online directories and websites. Many firms also use printed marketing materials like business cards and firm brochures. This article explains how solo lawyers and small firms can create an affordable brochure to attract new clients and offer additional services to existing clients. The tables accompanying the article provide cost details and links to samples and online providers.
 

Users fret over Chrome auto-login change – Naked Security

by 

Users were complaining this week after discovering they’d been logged in to Google’s Chrome browser automatically, after logging into a Google website.
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Recently… Matthew Green, assistant professor at Johns Hopkins University and a cryptography expert, discovered that an update to Chrome has been signing users into their Chrome browsers whenever they logged in to a Google website. He blogged about it in full here.

Facebook Warns Memphis Police: No More Fake “Bob Smith” Accounts | Electronic Frontier Foundation

BY DAVE MAASS

Facebook has a problem: an infestation of undercover cops. Despite the social platform’s explicit rules that the use of fake profiles by anyone–police included–is a violation of terms of service, the issue proliferates. While the scope is difficult to measure, EFF has identified scores of agencies who maintain policies that explicitly flaunt these rules.

Read more…

How to Protect Yourself from Social Security Scams–Kendall at Home

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The phone rings. It’s a representative from the Social Security Administration and, fortunately, the call wasn’t too long. The caller just needed to have some basic information confirmed, like your address and date of birth. And, oh. Yes. Your social security number, bank account number and “new” Medicare number. If you don’t respond, the caller warns, assets can be frozen until the situation is resolved, and/or other dire consequences may occur.
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Albany Law School – Sustaining New York’s Farms: Legal Solutions for Farm Business Futures

Stephanie A. Bugos
Stephanie A. Bugos

Dear GP Section members:

 

The General Practice Section is pleased to co-sponsor the following program. The impetus behind this event is to increase the number of New York attorneys who are equipped to counsel clients who are in the important but vulnerable farm industry. If you are interested in gaining the interdisciplinary competency required for farm business counseling, please consider attending.

 

Sustaining NY’s Farms: Legal Solutions for Farm Business Futures

Wednesday, October 3, 2018

9:00am – 3:30pm

thINCubator, 326 Broad St., Utica, NY

 

Farm businesses are fundamental to New York State’s economy and the agricultural food and product diversity that the state is renowned for. Yet many of these businesses are struggling to survive into the next generation. This Continuing Legal Education program is designed to provide attendees with an in-depth understanding of the diverse legal solutions available to farm businesses planning for sustainable futures.

 

(Note: The accredited provider for this course is Albany Law School’s Institute of Legal Studies, not NYSBA.)

 

View flyer

 

Registration and details:

alumni.albanylaw.edu/farmfutures