Blumberg Blog

During the 1800’s, it was common for lawyers to attract clients by hanging a shingle and advertising in newspapers.  In the early 1900’s, lawyer advertising was restrained by ABA rules, but the situation changed in 1977 when the Supreme Court extended First Amendment protection to lawyer advertising.  By the late 1900’s, advertising became more common and some firms began using commercials on radio and television. The situation changed in the 2000’s as firms migrated their marketing to websites and social media. 

About 50 years ago, the Beatles released an innovative album called Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band. The album contained a hit song titled Getting Better that told John Lennon’s personal experience with self-improvement. Companies like Nestle, Mayo Clinic, and Toyota have used an improvement strategy known as Kaizen to make better products and increase market share. Focus on improvement can similarly help lawyers build their practice. Read on for professional development tips for lawyers and resources for implementing them at your firm.

First, the entire rental history for each rent-regulated unit within the building must be obtained from DHCR, which records date back to 1984. Once these records are procured, each legal annually registered rent for all regulated units must be scrutinized for increases. If there are any increases, they must be explained. This is particularly vexing for those increases related to Major Capital Improvements (MCI), which allowed landlords to hike the rent by 6% in NYC and 15% outside of NYC under the prior laws after improvements were made benefiting the tenants. For all increases, all of the backup (invoices from contractors, canceled checks for payments, etc.), must be furnished. If the supporting documentation cannot be produced, or, alternatively, if the documents are inadequate, the rent may be deemed “unreliable,” rendering the asset toxic. The level of toxicity of the asset is largely dependent upon the amount of the overcharge and the time during which the rent was overcharged. Therefore, it is highly advisable for landlords to forego the purchase of any such toxic asset, especially in buildings where there are many potential overcharge claims where the owner does not possess backup. 

The ABA recently simplified its dues structure and added new membership benefits. The ABA expects these improvements to increase revenues and add 83,000 members over the next 4 years.  Lawyers can similarly raise revenues by offering alternative fees and providing exceptional services. Read on for tips to strengthen client relations and create opportunities for revenue growth. 

Journaling has been used since ancient times to capture thoughts, keep reminders, and record events. An early example is a journal maintained by Roman Emperor Marcus Aurielius (161-180) who kept notes of his personal meditations. More recent journalizers include George Lucas, Nelson Mandela, and Ronald Reagan. Journaling is a low-cost method for preserving history, promoting productivity and improving health. Read on for tips about journaling and resources for starting a diary or journal. 

NEW YORK, November 12, 2019 (Newswire.com) – Blumberg announces the launch of Julius©, a free web portal providing its registered agent (RA), annual report (AR) and corporate service customers an advanced standard of service. The Julius dashboard gives instant access to details of each entity’s data, upcoming deadlines & renewal dates, and access to process of service documents – with email notification of annual and biennial deadlines where applicable. Process will be sent by email, saving days in the time allowed for process to be answered. An important feature for professionals who are obligated to notify clients about process received.