New Blawg

Marquette Laws Adds Faculty Weblog

Bill Gratsch — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 11:36:58 GMT

Marquette Law has recently added an official Faculty Blog, which makes five (official and unofficial) weblogs from the school.

Check them out via any of the links below:

Now Here is a Legal Niche: Virtual World Coverage

Bill Gratsch — Tue, 30 Oct 2007 09:28:03 GMT

One of the characteristics of the blawgosphere that I frequently encounter is its ability to focus on the narrowest of legal niches. That is, one (or more) of the participants in the blawgosphere's ability to focus on the narrowest of legal niches. Indeed, I am beginning to believe that the breadth of legal news and developments coverage in the blawgosphere may be more important than simply the raw number of blawgs out there.

Case in point, Virtually Blind, a blawg which covers legal news, issues, and events that impact virtual worlds.

Written by intellectual property lawyer Benjamin Duranske, the focus of the blawg is laid out in the first post, From the Editor: Welcome to Virtually Blind:

Welcome to Virtually Blind. This site will cover both real-world legal developments that impact virtual worlds and also in-world legal issues — collectively, “virtual law.”

Virtual worlds are fast becoming big business. Second Life recently registered its two-millionth account. Brands like IBM, Adidas, Toyota, Dell, and MTV have established Second Life presences. And there’s more to it than Second Life. Persistent-world games like World of Warcraft are massive hits, as much for their “virtual world” role-playing possibilities as for the virtual creature-slaying. Gaming systems are converging with computers, putting devices that can run virtual-world clients and persistent-state gaming environments in millions of living rooms.
What does this mean? Where people go, laws and government aren’t far behind. Will a real-world lawsuit help clarify the status of digital property? Will criminal charges result from in-world activity? Will someone’s in-world private legal system become the de facto standard? Will attorneys practicing law in-world get in trouble with real-world ethics bodies? Will someone bring a civil suit for emotional distress inflicted by an avatar?
These questions will inevitably arise, and virtual law will just as inevitably become part of the modern legal landscape. It should be interesting.

Looking for more information? Stop by the Second World Bar Association (yes, there is one and it has its own website).

Good stuff.

Legal Times Joins the Blawgosphere

Bill Gratsch — Fri, 02 Mar 2007 13:09:30 GMT

Legal Times has joined the blawgosphere in the form of The BLT: The Blog of the Legal Times. As Editor in Chief James Oliphant noted in his February 20 post, The BLT is Served:

Hey look, it's a blog.
Not exactly revolutionary at this point is it? So why would Legal Times do it, other than, of course, to slavishly follow journalistic convention.
That's the cynical reason. The real reason is the opportunity this medium affords us, one that despite the wretched excess of blogs polluting the net remains very real, particularly in the areas this publication watches.

Mr. Oliphant's post expands on the reasons Legal Times started its weblog, and I found it to be a thoughtful commentary well worth reading. He makes a number of good points, as you should read for yourself, but I wanted to highlight his final paragraph as I think he has hit one of the nails right on the head:

Our other hope is that with these posts, you might get to know the people who make up this publication in a way that will never come through in print. We have an informed, intelligent, eclectic group of journalists who undoubtedly will have something to say that extends beyond the boundaries of our coverage. Even better, it's possible this could become the best of journalistic endeavors, an interactive community where our readers can contribute as much as our writers. Hey, everyone can have a dream.

Anyone who has been active in the blawgosphere for any length of time will tell you they have at the least, networked with, and the most, made friends with, a variety of people spread out across the world. Most of whom they may never have connected with otherwise. You need look no further than a company like Microsoft, which has opened a huge number of doors to disparate groups (from programmers to reporters) by simply taking some of the mystery out of the business in the form of employee weblogs. Mr. Oliphant is right. In terms of getting to know someone, there is a major difference between reading their formal print articles and getting their more informal weblog posts. And the exchanges often prompted by the latter are usually the first step in the process.

Thanks to Bob Ambrogi for the heads up on the Legal Times site.

Boy Scouts Are Prepared...and Blawging

Bill Gratsch — Wed, 29 Nov 2006 22:01:26 GMT

I was pleasantly surprised to see the Boy Scouts of America National Council had decided to blawg via its Legal Issues Website & Blawg. Very cool.

The website provides many resources related to ongoing litigation involving the Boy Scouts, while the accompanying blawg provides legal updates and news items regarding key issues currently being resolved by the court system.

Talking Niches: Hotel Law Blog

Bill Gratsch — Fri, 03 Nov 2006 20:03:27 GMT

Here is another interesting example of a blawg focused on a fairly narrow area of the law.

This time, specifically focused on Hotel and Hospitality Law. Hotel Law Blog .

From Jim Butler, a top hotel lawyer who "devotes 100% of his practice to hospitality, representing hotel owners, developers and lenders." Check it out the link above.

California, Land Use and Family Law

Bill Gratsch — Mon, 30 Oct 2006 04:00:00 GMT

California, Land Use and Family Law covered in today's new blawgs:

AppelBlawg - Comment and analysis on developments in California law in the areas of legal malpractice, construction law, business litigation, securities litigation, arbitration, trust and fiduciary litigation.
Kelo and Beyond - For the moment, I’ve taken a step away from practicing law. However, I still enjoy keeping watch over the wonderful world of land use.
Kevin Hickey Law Blog - Blog content focused on family law and civil litigation.

2 Law Professor Blawgs

Bill Gratsch — Mon, 23 Oct 2006 08:00:00 GMT

Two law professor blawgs recently submitted to the directory:

Aviation Law Prof Blog - Edited by Professors Brian F. Havel and Michael S. Jacobs, along with Research Fellow Andrew Eastmond.
Legal Profession Blog - Covering Legal Ethics. From S. Alan Childress, Professor of Law, Tulane Univ. Law School; Michael S. Frisch, Ethics Counsel, Georgetown Law Center; and Jeffrey M. Lipshaw, Visiting Associate Professor (2006-07), Tulane Univ. Law School

Law Marketing, Int'l Dispute Resolution

Bill Gratsch — Thu, 19 Oct 2006 08:00:00 GMT

Law firm marketing and International Dispute Resolution covered in today"s new blawg entries:

Birge"s Law Firm Marketing Network - Welcome to Bob Birge"s Law Firm Marketing Network Blog, designed, researched and driven to provide marketing and business development solutions to innovative lawyers and law firms.
Open Discourse: International Dispute Resolution - The purpose of this forum is to provide information and analysis regarding developments in the field of international dispute resolution. The intent is to provide a meeting place to discuss important issues in international arbitration, mediation and other dispute resolution mechanisms.

More Criminal Defense & Legal Marketing Blawgs

Bill Gratsch — Wed, 18 Oct 2006 08:00:00 GMT

Criminal Defense and Legal Marketing in today"s new blawgs:

Canadian Criminal Law Blog - Canadian criminal law blog by the Vancouver lawyers of Gibbons Fowler Nathanson. Topics include the Canadian criminal justice system, recent caselaw, and legal ethics.
Criminal Defense Lawyer: Austin, Texas - Criminal Defense Lawyer in Austin, Texas on DWI, Assault, Marijuana, Possession of Controlled Substances, Theft and other Penal Code offenses. Discussing caselaw, statutes, defenses, public policy and legislation.
The Legal Marketing Blog - From Tom Kane, a former practicing attorney, and the principal of Kane Consulting, Inc., a legal marketing consulting firm.

2 Criminal Defense Blawgs

Bill Gratsch — Tue, 17 Oct 2006 14:28:58 GMT

Two Criminal Defense blawgs recently added to the directory:

Anita Witness - Gumshoe for the defense. From a Criminal Defense Investigator.
StandDown Texas Project - Identifying and Advocating Best Practices in the Criminal Justice System.