You want to grow your firm, but you also want to grow it the right way. I want to be able to hire staff, but not spend every waking hour training them. I want to draft my motions and orders, but I don’t want to get bogged down in the minutiae of drafting (like having … Continue Reading
Many immigration attorneys are working from playbooks that looked very different from just a year ago. As lawful pathways narrow, backlogs grow, and federal policies change, attorneys are adapting their strategies to help clients navigate a more complex immigration system. The 2026 State of U.S. Immigration report from 8am provides a data-driven look at the … Continue Reading
One of the most problematic misconceptions I encounter is the belief that simply having a malpractice policy means you are covered for anything that might go wrong in your practice. Unfortunately, that’s just not the way it is. As with every other type of insurance, a malpractice policy is a contract with specific terms, conditions, … Continue Reading
Texas Elder Justice Coalition leaders invite all professionals who respond to the crisis of elder fraud and financial exploitation to attend the Texas Elder Justice Coalition Summit from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday, June 18, at the Austin Public Library Central Branch in Austin. According to the 2025 FBI Internet Crime Report, older Texans … Continue Reading
Many legal professionals are already using AI tools to streamline routine drafting, preliminary research, and document review. According to the 2026 Legal Industry Report from 8am™, 69% of surveyed legal professionals say they personally use general-purpose AI platforms such as ChatGPT and Claude for work, up from 31% in 2025. At the firm level, 46% … Continue Reading
If you’re interested in law, the number of degree options can get confusing fast! You might hear about the JD, the LLM, legal studies degrees, joint degrees, and doctoral programs, all while trying to figure out which one actually fits your goals. Some paths are built for people who want to become licensed attorneys. Others … Continue Reading
For many small and midsize law firms, “financial reporting” means pulling numbers from multiple systems. Time tracking lives in one platform, invoices in another, payments elsewhere, and trust accounting may be maintained separately. Individually, each system works, but collectively, they create gaps. When financial data doesn’t live together, your clarity disappears.… Continue Reading
The disconnect between the cost of legal services and the financial realities of many households has several implications for law firms. By offering financing through a third-party lender, attorneys can receive payment upfront while providing clients with a more manageable path to representation.… Continue Reading
As a native Houstonian, I’ve lived through my share of disasters. From hurricanes, freezes to those so-called “500-year floods” that arrive every few years. As a Texas attorney, I’ve also had a front-row seat to something far more encouraging: watching our legal community step up for clients, colleagues, and communities when things go sideways.… Continue Reading
Accurate bookkeeping and reporting are crucial for law firms, not only for internal clarity but also for maintaining compliance with IRS regulations. One key step is handling the IRS 1099 form series correctly. While it may seem like extra paperwork, properly managing 1099s ensures your records are accurate and helps you avoid tax issues. Explore … Continue Reading
Everything’s bigger in Texas—including its potential to redefine the future of legal practice. According to a recent Smokeball survey on legal technology and wellness, Texas lawyers are ready for change. They’re more curious and less skeptical about adopting new legal technology than their peers across the country. Roughly one in three Texas respondents identified as … Continue Reading
AffiniPay, the team behind LawPay, MyCase, CasePeer, and DocketWise, is now 8am™. This marks a new chapter in how we support professionals like you—we’re more connected, more purposeful, and more invested in your success than ever before.… Continue Reading
I once asked several of our claims attorneys to identify the top habits they felt new lawyers should develop from day one. With one exception, their list covered what I expected. And yet, the more I thought about that one exception, the more I realized how right they were. In a nutshell, they all felt … Continue Reading
Lawyers didn’t enter the profession to chase down templates or reformat documents. Yet, loads of time is still spent on work that doesn’t require legal expertise. That’s where Artificial Intelligence (AI) becomes your practical best friend. Repetitive tasks? Offloaded. Brainpower? Redirected to strategy and client care.… Continue Reading
By leveraging modern legal technology, firms can gain the clarity and control needed to strengthen their operations and support long-term success. In this article, we’ll explore three pillars of financial wellness for law firms.… Continue Reading
We surveyed over 2,800 legal professionals and covered a wide range of technologies that impact law firms, including artificial intelligence (AI) and generative AI. We also explored how law firm leaders approached the adoption of essential software, ranging from financial management platforms to tools that enable flexible office arrangements and remote work.… Continue Reading
The Texas Bar Foundation has awarded a $12,000 grant supporting the 2025 Texas Elder Justice Coalition Summit, a gathering of frontline professionals confronting the crisis of elder fraud and financial exploitation, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. June 10, 2025 at the Amon Carter Event Center at Lena Pope in Fort Worth.… Continue Reading
After a while, you learn that the most useful numbers aren’t always the obvious ones. Billables and revenue matter — but they won’t tell you everything. The additional insight comes from tracking a few key metrics, month after month. Here are three metrics worth putting on your monthly agenda. They dig deeper than surface-level stats … Continue Reading
Ah yes, the billable hour – a lawyer’s ticket to unlimited wealth, or so we think anyway. If we’re not careful, it’s also a ticket to stress, countless headaches, and often for new lawyers and even experienced ones, total burnout. And the three main perks of billable hours can also be your downfall if you’re … Continue Reading
Your Security is Our Priority As a lawyer, maintaining client and staff confidentiality is a top priority. At LawPay, we understand concerns about data security and are committed to protecting your information and answering any questions you may have.… Continue Reading
Sometimes lawyers will try to find a way to creatively lawyer their way around an issue that stands in the way of a decision they wish to make. For example, during a CLE event, two lawyers in attendance tried to convince me that my position on the resolution of conflicts of interest was wrong. They … Continue Reading
If you are a solo attorney, you need to have a designated backup attorney, if for no other reason than to enable you to take a true vacation now and again. Of course, doing so can also make sure that your client’s interests are protected in case of an unforeseen circumstance such as an illness … Continue Reading
Effective billing language is crucial for attorneys to maintain a positive client experience, avoid payment disputes, and foster transparency in billing practices. In this guide, we’ll provide sample language for fee agreements and tips to ensure a seamless billing process.… Continue Reading
PayPal, Venmo, Google Wallet—with so many convenient digital payment options available, it’s no surprise that online payments have become the norm and most people’s preferred payment method for everything from groceries to professional services. Let’s consider what that means for the legal industry and your firm.… Continue Reading
