5 New Year's Resolutions Legal Professionals Can Make for Resilience in 2021

 

Like most of us, I am grateful that 2020 is coming to an end. Between the business chaos, political disruptions, social disruptions, and all the changes happening in our lives, we are all thinking more in terms of survival than life improvement.

When a new year approaches, it becomes the time when people usually think about changes they can make to improve their lives. These are otherwise known as New Year’s resolutions, however with the uncertainly facing us in 2021, many people are just trying to make it day by day.

Best Practices in Record Keeping for Notaries

Keeping a consistent record book is the single best thing a notary can do to protect himself against allegations of misconduct. A good record book will include the date and time of the notarization, the type of notarial act, the name, address, signature and type of identification of the signer, and any other important notes. Even in states where a record book isn't required, its use is universally recommended.

Actionable Steps for You to Show That Black Lawyers Matter

So, you’re passionate about equality in the legal profession? How passionate? What actions does your passion lead you to?

The issue of Black and minority access to business opportunities in the legal profession is one that remains far from being fixed, despite numerous decades of stated understanding and support for the concept of equality by General Counsels of most companies. Indeed, while temporarily enflamed by the passions of the moment, General Counsels have repeatedly pledged their support to hold law firms accountable for increased recruitment, and for providing access to good work, business and overall equality to Black lawyers and those of color. But so far to no avail. 

A Message to the LPL Community

Dear Legal Process Lady Community,

From Ahmaud Arbery to Breonna Taylor to George Floyd, the sequence of recent racially charged events has exacerbated the trauma that our communities are experiencing. This is true for our readers, their families and our associates.

I watched the video of George Floyd’s last moments with horror and disbelief as he cried for help while others watched without action. I immediately switched to the mindset of a mother and pondered how I can protect my children from the injustice they may inevitably experience because of the color of their skin. As a parent of two young men and leader of a diverse legal system, I implore all of us to work together to ensure we treat one another with dignity, respect and value the diverse views we bring to create our community spaces.

Legal Process Lady (LPL) is based in the most affluent African American county in the nation. While these calamitous events occurred in different parts of the United States to men and women who represent a cross-section of our nation, what they have in common is their race. Our LPL community has been inundated with videos, statements and images depicting anger, violence and calls for change. We have witnessed an outpouring of uprisings globally, nationally, regionally and locally where diverse groups have converged to affirm that they want their voices heard.

Social media occupies a unique place in our society. We cannot ignore the reality that students look to legal support professionals for clarity, understanding and empathy. However, we are not without our own challenges as a legal community. We must confront and challenge our own biases when it comes to who can and does achieve. We must guard against collective complacency and act with fierce urgency in our pursuit of equity.

Within LPL, we believe that all associates share the responsibility for a safe and supportive environment that contributes to excellence in legal support services.

Today, we reaffirm our understanding of the need for legal professionals to help chart the path forward when uprisings occur. We underscore our commitment, as a social media legal platform, to equity, social justice, diversity and inclusion among our core values. As we close this spring season and transition to planning for the next, we aim to ensure our readers and associates have the tools they need to contribute to communities confronting institutional racism, bias and discrimination.

While we will always emphasize the importance of spiritual, economical, financial and personal excellence, each of our readers, regardless of race or ethnicity, must feel affirmed, valued and cared for within our nation in order to achieve that goal. That work starts with each of us, every day in every neighborhood for every human.

Sincerely,

The Legal Process Lady

DC Superior Court General Order Regarding Debt Collection Cases (Issued May 7, 2020)

The District of Columbia has enacted emergency legislation prohibiting certain debt collection activities during the period of the public health emergency and for 60 days after its conclusion (the “Covered Period”). 1 Currently, the declaration of a public health emergency has been extended by the Mayor to May 15, 2020, making the prohibitions of the emergency legislation effective through July 14, 2020. Among other limitations, the Act prohibits creditors and debt collectors of consumer debt from filing new collection lawsuits and garnishments. 

To promote efficient administration of court operations and in the interests of justice during the Covered Period, the Court issues this Order to address certain cases on the debt collection calendar during the Covered Period. A case covered by this Order is not necessarily a “collection lawsuit” as defined in the Act. All creditors and debt collectors who are or may be affected by the Act should review it before filing new “collection lawsuits” as defined by the Act or taking other action that may be prohibited by the Act. Parties remain responsible for compliance with the Act regardless of whether a case is covered by this Order.

Read the full General Order Here.

How To Protect Your Process Serving Business From COVID-19

News about COVID-19, or the coronavirus, is blasting over news channels, social media feeds, and in regular conversation. Whether you are stocking up on toilet paper or think the reaction is overblown, there are steps you can take to protect yourself and your process serving business from the coronavirus.

Starting Off Right In 2020

Another year has come and gone and you, like everyone else, are likely busy with the hustle and bustle of the holiday season. It is important, however, to keep the momentum of the year going by working on your business plan for the coming year. Having a clear vision of what you want to accomplish and how you will accomplish it are the keys to becoming even more successful in the near future. While your plan should be specific to your business, here are a few universal ways to get started off on the right foot in 2020.  Thank Your Customers. This is the simplest and one of the most often overlooked ways to show appreciation to your customers. After all, they are the reason you are successful. Without them, you wouldn’t have a business. Take some time to send them a personalized “thank you” card or make a quick phone call letting them know how grateful you are for their past business and how much you look forward to continuing to work with them in the coming year. Learn Something New. There have been so many recent changes in the notary/ mortgage/title industries due to revisions in law and technology that it may be difficult to keep up when working in your business. In the upcoming year, set aside time in your schedule to take a class, read up on industry changes, learn a new skill, or join an association relevant to your business. Knowledge is power, and it is the key to running a sustainable business. Review Your Finances and Adjust. Take a look at what your expenses were last year. How can you reduce your expenses in the upcoming year? What assignments were most profitable and least profitable? Break down your business by the numbers and set realistic expectations as to how you will perform financially in the new year. Market Your Notary Business. Decide how you want your business to grow this year and what marketing endeavors will help you achieve those goals. Create a plan, with a time frame, that shows exactly how, when, and to whom you are marketing. Set some time aside every week just to work on your marketing plan. Make Sure Your Business is Industry Compliant. While there aren’t many hard and fast rules for notaries, there are some suggested guidelines that, if followed, will vault you to the top of most companies’ preferred vendor lists. Check to see if your E&O insurance provides adequate coverage. For notaries whose errors and omissions insurance policy terms are not consecutive with their terms of office, this is a good time to ensure that their policies are still active and renew them or purchase new ones if necessary. Make certain your background check is from a preferred vendor and that it’s less than a year old. Review how you are protecting personal information and find ways to make your technology and processes more secure. Stock Up on All Necessary Supplies. Take advantage of holiday season savings when it comes to standard office supplies you use every day - paper, pens, staples, etc. This is also a great time of year to reorder business cards. The beginning of a new year is also a good time to re-ink your official notary stamp to ensure that every impression continues to be perfectly legible. Also, buy a new notary record book if your current one is almost full. Continue the Good and Fix the Bad. Assess all aspects of your notary business from last year. Identify what procedures and tasks went well and not so well. Keep doing what worked, but for things that didn’t? Review, revamp, and revise. The Legal Process Lady wishes you and your loved ones peace, health, happiness, and prosperity for the upcoming New Year. Legal disclaimer: An excerpt of this article was originally published on December 2018 by American Association of Notaries. The Legal Process Lady seeks to provide timely articles for legal support proprietors to assist them with information and ideas for managing their legal businesses and enhancing their legal educations but makes no claims, promises, or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained. Information in this article is not intended as legal advice. We are not attorneys. We do not pretend to be attorneys. Though we will sometimes provide information regarding federal laws and statutes and the laws and statutes of each state, we have gathered the information from a variety of sources. We do not warrant the information gathered from those sources. It is your responsibility to know the appropriate laws governing your state.