As you consider the 2014 marketing plan for your business or organization, a blog can be an important part of your overall strategy. Why?
1) Blogging improves the search engine results of your website.
2) Blogging boosts your social media marketing strategy.
3) Blogging gives your business a platform for thought leadership.
For more specific tips, including ideas on content and writing style, read the full post on ReachLocal Blog. Although the article specifically targets law firms, the ideas are applicable to all businesses.
Thursday, December 26, 2013
Friday, December 20, 2013
The Curious Case of Edward Snowden
Although our firm does not typically practice in the area of international law, one of our attorneys recently published a guest blog post with the North Carolina Journal of International Law and Commercial Regulation analyzing the international legal issues raised by the case of Edward Snowden, the whistleblower who leaked classified national security documents earlier this year.
During the summer of 2013, the world was captivated by the story of National Security Agency whistleblower Edward Snowden. Currently living in Moscow on a temporary grant of asylum, Snowden has charged the Obama Administration with two related violations of international law: (1) that it interfered with his right to seek asylum; and (2) that by revoking his passport, it had made him stateless.
Read the entire blog post courtesy of the North Carolina Journal of International Law and Commercial Regulation.
During the summer of 2013, the world was captivated by the story of National Security Agency whistleblower Edward Snowden. Currently living in Moscow on a temporary grant of asylum, Snowden has charged the Obama Administration with two related violations of international law: (1) that it interfered with his right to seek asylum; and (2) that by revoking his passport, it had made him stateless.
Read the entire blog post courtesy of the North Carolina Journal of International Law and Commercial Regulation.
Monday, December 2, 2013
The Ethics of Cloud Computing
A previous blog post discussed best practices for attorneys and businesses who use “cloud computing” to store information on remote computer servers.
The Ohio State Bar Association’s Professionalism Committee has now issued an informal advisory opinion to give ethical guidance for Ohio attorneys regarding storing client data in the cloud. Although the opinion is designed for attorneys, the general principles are applicable to other businesses as well. In its opinion, the committee advised attorneys to select a proper cloud computing vendor; protect client confidentiality and property; appropriately supervise the vendor; and communicate with the client.
Read the full opinion or an excellent discussion in the association’s Ohio Lawyer magazine.
The Ohio State Bar Association’s Professionalism Committee has now issued an informal advisory opinion to give ethical guidance for Ohio attorneys regarding storing client data in the cloud. Although the opinion is designed for attorneys, the general principles are applicable to other businesses as well. In its opinion, the committee advised attorneys to select a proper cloud computing vendor; protect client confidentiality and property; appropriately supervise the vendor; and communicate with the client.
Read the full opinion or an excellent discussion in the association’s Ohio Lawyer magazine.
Tuesday, November 26, 2013
Telecommuting: A Reasonable Accommodation?
A recent analysis of telecommuting growth and trends found that between 13 and 30 million Americans may be working from home at least one day a week.
Employers may not realize that employees who work remotely may impact the organization's responsibilities under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). According to federal Equal Opportunity Employment Commission guidelines, allowing a disabled employee to work from home may be a reasonable accommodation under the ADA.
The Employment Law Lookout blog has some good tips for employers who need to evaluate these reasonable accommodation requests:
So how does an employer decide whether working from home can be a “workable” accommodation? The answer lies with the essential job functions and their application in practice.
First, identify the essential functions of the position. The job description is usually a good place to start – but make sure it is accurate. Second, decide whether some or all of those functions can be performed at home.
Employers may not realize that employees who work remotely may impact the organization's responsibilities under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). According to federal Equal Opportunity Employment Commission guidelines, allowing a disabled employee to work from home may be a reasonable accommodation under the ADA.
The Employment Law Lookout blog has some good tips for employers who need to evaluate these reasonable accommodation requests:
So how does an employer decide whether working from home can be a “workable” accommodation? The answer lies with the essential job functions and their application in practice.
First, identify the essential functions of the position. The job description is usually a good place to start – but make sure it is accurate. Second, decide whether some or all of those functions can be performed at home.
Tuesday, November 19, 2013
Detroit's Bankruptcy and Your Charitable Donations
Last month, federal proceedings began to determine whether the city of Detroit is eligible to file for bankruptcy. As part of the city’s process to review its assets, Detroit hired the renowned auction house Christie’s to appraise the priceless works of art by Picasso, Monet, Rembrandt, and others housed at the Detroit Institute of Arts.
This action is controversial because it could lead to an art sale and a potential violation of ethical guidelines prohibiting a museum from deaccessioning – selling art from its collection - for any purpose other than acquiring more art. Institutions who violate these guidelines risk losing accreditation and creating controversy in the art world.
Aside from affecting a museum’s collection, Detroit’s move is also extremely relevant to clients or donors. Clients often donate art to museums to meet their tax or estate planning goals, or simply to improve their community. Detroit’s bankruptcy filing is another warning that it is essential to have a carefully drafted agreement before donating property to a museum.
Most art is donated without strings or explicit constraints on sales, so a clearly written document ensures that the donor’s wishes are known and that the museum will abide by those wishes. For example, agreements may explicitly say that a particular piece may never be sold or may never be sold for operating expenses of the institution.
Attorneys and donors should also inquire about a museum’s deaccessioning policies. Since Detroit’s bankruptcy filing, the DIA has amended its deed of gifts to clearly state that the donated work can only be sold to buy more art. But most institutions are not so clear, relying only on ethical guidelines.
As museums face financial difficulties and courts may be more likely to allow the sale of donated artifacts, traditional ethical guidelines may no longer be enough to prohibit a sale. Attorneys and donors would be wise to seek additional protections.
This action is controversial because it could lead to an art sale and a potential violation of ethical guidelines prohibiting a museum from deaccessioning – selling art from its collection - for any purpose other than acquiring more art. Institutions who violate these guidelines risk losing accreditation and creating controversy in the art world.
Aside from affecting a museum’s collection, Detroit’s move is also extremely relevant to clients or donors. Clients often donate art to museums to meet their tax or estate planning goals, or simply to improve their community. Detroit’s bankruptcy filing is another warning that it is essential to have a carefully drafted agreement before donating property to a museum.
Most art is donated without strings or explicit constraints on sales, so a clearly written document ensures that the donor’s wishes are known and that the museum will abide by those wishes. For example, agreements may explicitly say that a particular piece may never be sold or may never be sold for operating expenses of the institution.
Attorneys and donors should also inquire about a museum’s deaccessioning policies. Since Detroit’s bankruptcy filing, the DIA has amended its deed of gifts to clearly state that the donated work can only be sold to buy more art. But most institutions are not so clear, relying only on ethical guidelines.
As museums face financial difficulties and courts may be more likely to allow the sale of donated artifacts, traditional ethical guidelines may no longer be enough to prohibit a sale. Attorneys and donors would be wise to seek additional protections.
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