OverFlow Legal

Blind people can use specialized keyboards as well as software that converts Web sites and documents into speech or Braille. But such technology won't work if a site is improperly coded, as the plaintiffs alleged about Target.com. The case pressed the legal question of whether the protections of the federal Americans with Disabilities Act could be extended to businesses' Web sites. The Judge ruled that the federal ADA and state Civil Rights Act both apply to businesses' Web sites. Both Amazon.com and RadioShack announced agreements with national blindness organizations to improve their Web sites for visually impaired customers.

Discovery fights are all to common. Typically, these fights are more about gamesmanship than substance. Sounds like these legal eagles got what they deserved. I wonder if it was the client or lawyer who decided to delay, obstruct and anger the judge.

What a concept! Clients have been footing the bill to train lawyers to do the basics for years. We applaud each of the firms noted in this article for focusing on client service, rather than billable hours.

How does a law firm ge this deep into a matter without knowing there is a problem?

This bumpy ride affects more than just the partners and associates. Legal support staff also feel the pain. I have discussed with legal staff colleagues on the trickle down affect that this is having on some of us. The conversation focuses on how legal staff members are expected to deal with increased work loads without being adequately compensated. Reasons state on why this is happening is because firm partners are refusing to hire additional staff when other attorneys are added or are reducing the overall number of staff members through firings or lay-offs in hopes to reduce some of the firms expenses. It is understandable that a firm needs to find ways to reduce what is going out the door if what is coming in is also declining. However, expecting staff members to work more and be paid less is not the way. It may work in the short-term, but over time this may force legal staff members to move into other industries that have more comparable pay and benefits for the work being performed, cause a reduction in the number of individuals moving into the legal support field, have available fewer experienced candidates for firms to choose from, and continue the unfavorable reputation that attorneys seem to have following them. Even though it may seem like staff members are a dime-a-dozen, highly experienced and top-quality support staff are priceless when it comes to making sure a firm is offering the best work product and legal services possible for its clients.