Former Legal Technology Founder Receives Seven Year Prison Sentence for Fraud and Forgery
Between 2016 and 2018, Human&Legal published a series of posts concerning Derek Bluford, a figure who was once considered a rising star in the legal technology startup sector. Bluford’s prominence declined following a 2016 report of his settlement in a lawsuit. This legal action charged him with impersonating a lawyer, forging legal documents, and fraudulently […]
Advancing Legal Service Delivery: A New Think Tank for Business Model Innovation
An international consortium of seven legal industry leaders and experts, spearheaded by U.K. consultant Richard Tromans, has established a new think tank to catalyze transformation within the legal business model. The initiative focuses specifically on optimizing the methods by which corporate and commercial legal services are delivered and billed. The think tank, named Changing Legal, […]
Adapting Legal Practice: Key Strategies for the Evolving Workplace
The events of the past year have fundamentally altered the operating environment for legal professionals and law firms. These unprecedented challenges, however, have also yielded valuable lessons and new opportunities for growth. This week, the Human&Legal Resource Center features a whitepaper from NetDocuments that specifically addresses the unique obstacles confronting the legal industry today and […]
A Tribute: Remembering Leaders and Contributors in Legal Technology and Innovation
This reflection pays homage to members of the legal technology and innovation community whose lives concluded during a difficult year. Their collective impact on the legal profession, through technological advancement, commitment to access to justice, and leadership in practice management, continues to resonate. The Foundation of Support The passing of Jill Marie Arneson O’Keefe, wife […]
Judicial Review of Public Health Orders: Varied Outcomes in “Reopen” Litigation
Lawsuits challenging governors’ and mayors’ public health orders issued in response to the COVID-19 pandemic have been filed across the United States, yielding mixed judicial outcomes. This legal analysis examines the varied results, referencing a specific case in Maryland and contrasting it with decisions in other states. Grounds for Judicial Success and Failure The success […]
Social Media Moderation and the Scope of the First Amendment
The issue of social media content moderation frequently raises questions regarding the applicability and scope of the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. The fundamental principle at the heart of this discussion is the distinction between governmental actors and private entities in the realm of free speech. The First Amendment serves as a vital safeguard, […]
The Supreme Court Considers Religious Exemption and Discrimination Law
The intersection of discrimination law and religious exemption recently garnered significant attention at the U.S. Supreme Court, with two distinct matters highlighting the complexities of this contested area. Case One: Religious Organizations and Foster Care Policy In one development, the Supreme Court granted review to a legal challenge concerning Philadelphia’s foster care policy. The case […]
Copyright Infringement Litigation Arises from Viral “Wrong on So Many Levels” Meme
The pervasive sharing of a popular internet meme has led to a copyright infringement lawsuit. The meme in question features a photograph of an array of carpenter’s levels, each modified with the word “wrong” taped onto it, and is commonly captioned with the phrase, “This is wrong on so many levels.” Background of the Dispute […]
First Amendment Challenge to Exclusive Union Representation for Public University Employees
The legal landscape surrounding public employee unions continues to evolve, focusing on the rights of individual workers under the First Amendment. While the Supreme Court addressed the matter of compulsory financial support in Janus v. AFSCME, a new challenge is emerging against the mandate of exclusive representation. The Precedent Set by Janus v. AFSCME In […]
The Equal Rights Amendment: Analyzing the Legal Validity of Recent Ratification Efforts
The Equal Rights Amendment (ERA), a measure initially proposed by Congress in 1972, has recently seen renewed legislative action. Following the approval of resolutions by lawmakers in both houses of the Virginia legislature endorsing the amendment, an Associated Press story—in line with proponents’ characterization—described these actions as a “ratification,” as “final,” and as making Virginia […]