Most of us, including busy lawyers, often feel like there are not enough hours in a work day to get all tasks done. To be sure, time management is a difficult task to master by all. When it comes to the legal profession, attorneys and staff alike are juggling multiple critical tasks at one time.…
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Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act: Recent SCOTUS Decision
/in International/by Ancillary LegalForeign Sovereign Immunities Act: Recent SCOTUS Decision Last year, the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) made multiple decisions addressing the application of the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act (FSIA). This federal law was enacted in 1976, creating the legal presumption that foreign nations are not subject to the jurisdiction of American courts. There…
How to Improve Your Virtual Litigation Skills
/in Legal Careers/by Ancillary LegalAlthough we are two years out from when the COVID-19 outbreak shut down the world, it is not yet clear what our “new” normal will actually look like on the other side of the pandemic. That being said, the likelihood that the transition to virtual litigation that has occurred over the past two years is…
Hague Convention Service: Understanding the Process
/in international service/by Ancillary LegalWhen it comes to international service of process, the Hague Convention is the most common method used to effectuate the service of legal papers intentionally. This is because, in major part, more and more countries have become signatories to the international treaty. Below is a brief explanation of how this process works and will help…
Best Practices for Lawyer Networking
/in Legal Careers/by Ancillary LegalMany think that success in the legal profession happens by working hard, high billable hours, and serving clients. While it is true that these are all important things that will help launch a successful career, more and more attorneys are realizing that knowing how to generate business in a digital world through networking best practices.…
Hague Convention: Child Abduction
/in Hague Convention/by Ancillary LegalChild abduction is a serious issue, particularly when it happens on an international level. It is estimated that every 40 seconds a child is abducted or goes missing in the United States. Globally, about 8 million children are abducted each year. The Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction (“Hague Abduction Convention”)…
How to Serve Someone Outside of Your State
/in Process Server/by Ancillary LegalIf you need to serve someone or a company a lawsuit outside of your state, it is important to know how to do that properly. Service outside of the plaintiff’s state is more frequent than you may realize. Process servers estimate that up to 25% of their service requests originate from out of state. While…
Need to depose a witness located in the United Kingdom? What U.S. Lawyers Should Know.
/in international service/by Ancillary LegalIf you need to depose a witness located in the United Kingdom on behalf of one of your American clients, there are several things you should know. Below is a basic primer on the process, what to expect, and what pitfalls to avoid. Subpoena or Agreement of Testimony Lawyers who are wanting to depose a…
Court Reporting: Common Misconceptions
/in Court reporting/by Ancillary LegalCourt Reporting Misconceptions For those who work outside of the legal industry, it can be difficult to understand how important court reporters are to the legal field. And, not surprisingly, as more and more lawsuits are filed in American courts the value of a neutral record of all aspects of legal proceedings — inside and…
How to Serve Someone in Mexico
/in international service/by Ancillary LegalHow to Serve Someone in Mexico It happens more often than you would think that a plaintiff needs to sue a defendant who does not live in the United States. No matter what type of case you may be pursuing, a series of issues may arise regarding providing the soon-to-be defendant notice of any pending…
California Courts Determine Employers Need Not Provide ‘Suitable Seating’ to Workers
/in Legal Careers/by Ancillary LegalA California appellate court earlier this year gave a significant victory to employers in the state in a decision that provided the latest guidance on the current state-wide litigation on “suitable seating” for employees under state law. Specifically, these cases examine a California employer’s obligations, if any, to its employees to provide them with suitable…
Time Management Tips for Attorneys
/in Legal Careers/by Ancillary LegalMost of us, including busy lawyers, often feel like there are not enough hours in a work day to get all tasks done. To be sure, time management is a difficult task to master by all. When it comes to the legal profession, attorneys and staff alike are juggling multiple critical tasks at one time.…
Hungary’s Asylum Criminal Law Violates European Union Law, According to EU Court
/in International/by Ancillary LegalThe EU’s Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) recently ruled that Hungary’s law that criminalizes organization support for asylum seekers violated European Union law. Hungary’s Law The law at issue is Hungary’s asylum law. The law restricts asylum admissibility, permits restrictions on freedom of movement for offending suspects, and criminalizes activities that aids…