Recession. It's an ugly word. And it can mean ugly things for businesses of all sizes and all types. Lawyers are no exception. When you last read us, the first rumblings of difficult times were just emerging. Now, we find ourselves in the throes of a worldwide economic downturn that will affect us all. But it's not all doom and gloom here at Lawyers Alert. We think you'll find some interesting and timely reading in this issue.
Some articles might help take your mind off the current economic situation, like Guy Desmarais' discussion of the duties of trustees, and my review of a taxpayer's recent million-dollar judgment against the Canada Revenue Agency. Other articles will help you develop strategies to deal with the economic downturn in your practice. Jay Jaffe tells lawyers how to maximize their online presence in spite of the economy in "Web 2.0 and the Recession: Little Guys Can Finish First." Gerry Riskin highlights some of the unique management issues and strategies for dealing with the economic crunch in his portion of a LAWPRO panel discussion on "Surviving the Slide: What Firms Should (and Shouldn't) Do to Ride Out the Economic Storm."
There is always a market for competent legal advice, even in the roughest economic times. But lawyers must be adaptive. A slowdown in some legal areas can reveal opportunities in other areas. We at Lawyers Alert encourage you to find those opportunities, and we hope we can help a little bit. Good luck!
Duane Chris, Editor
lawyersalert@collinsbarrow.com