DEC. 2-15, 2015

In this issue of Indiana Lawyer, we take a closer look the results of our September 2015 survey of the legal community. Indiana University Maurer School of Law professor William Henderson, who analyzed the results, found the survey reveals signs of fundamental change in the legal profession. The survey shows attorneys are encouraged to promote themselves through social media. Lawyers like their careers, but wouldn't recommend someone else go into the profession, according to the survey.

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NOV. 4-17, 2015

Figuring out how to balance the demands of practicing law with the needs of a family is a struggle that female attorneys have long faced, but increasingly male attorneys also want to be able to take time for their families. A recent ethics opinion from the Indiana State Bar Association on flat fees has some attorneys debating as to whether its advice is practical. There's been a small uptick in the number of J.D. advantage jobs, which reflects changes in the economy and legal profession.

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OCT. 21-NOV. 3, 2015

For more than 10 years, Judge Frances Gull has spearheaded efforts in Allen County to make the jury process easier and more convenient. She made jury duty less burdensome by incorporating technological advances that help potential jurors feel more comfortable and is being recognized nationally for her efforts. Attorneys caution against estate plans that place behavioral conditions on heirs. As part of our 25th anniversary coverage, we posed five questions to five attorneys admitted to practice in Indiana in 1990.

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Sept. 23-Oct. 6, 2015

Now that Indianapolis' pay-to-play system that divvied judgeships between Democrats and Republicans has been ruled unconstitutional, it's up to the General Assembly to figure out how Marion County should select it's judges. Proposals to increase the state-imposed $1.25 million cap on damages in medical malpractice cases have some unlikely supporters: Indiana hospitals. Recently, Barnes & Thornburg and the Indiana Bar Foundation honored Shirley Shideler during a special reception at the firm's Indianapolis office to pay homage to her legacy and to recognize other women blazing trails in the legal field.

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