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Lawyer, Code Thyself
Chances are you don't need to be convinced of the merits of learning to program or, in the parlance of today's startup culture, learning “to code.” You already understand not only the professional opportunities it opens but also how it empowers you to solve your own problems: Don't like your website? Build a new one. Think your network security isn't strong enough? Improve it. Want to deliver legal services over the Web? Code a platform for it. You also understand that “coding is the new typing.” As software disrupts industry after industry, the winners will be either those writing the code or those who understand enough about coding to organize others to do it. If you need additional convincing, search for Sam Rysdyk's “Ignite Style” talk called “Law Students Should Learn to Code” on the ReInvent Law Channel from Michigan State University Law School.
Coding Resources
The next question is: “How?” Included here are a few resources to which legal professionals can turn to acquire these key skills. But first, a quick disclosure because this is a legal publication: I am a lawyer and an aspiring/slowly-learning coder. I am obviously convinced of the need to learn to code and I can personally vouch for some of these resources. But beyond simply informing, my hope (intention) for this piece is to encourage those who have been thinking about it but didn't know where to start to take the plunge and start coding. A secondary aim is to spur those who haven't thought about learning to program to not only think about it, but to also convince them of the significant opportunities that await in combining an understanding of the law/legal system and the ability to build software systems.
Major Differences In UK, U.S. Copyright Laws
This article highlights how copyright law in the United Kingdom differs from U.S. copyright law, and points out differences that may be crucial to entertainment and media businesses familiar with U.S law that are interested in operating in the United Kingdom or under UK law. The article also briefly addresses contrasts in UK and U.S. trademark law.
The Article 8 Opt In
The Article 8 opt-in election adds an additional layer of complexity to the already labyrinthine rules governing perfection of security interests under the UCC. A lender that is unaware of the nuances created by the opt in (may find its security interest vulnerable to being primed by another party that has taken steps to perfect in a superior manner under the circumstances.
Strategy vs. Tactics: Two Sides of a Difficult Coin
With each successive large-scale cyber attack, it is slowly becoming clear that ransomware attacks are targeting the critical infrastructure of the most powerful country on the planet. Understanding the strategy, and tactics of our opponents, as well as the strategy and the tactics we implement as a response are vital to victory.
Legal Possession: What Does It Mean?
Possession of real property is a matter of physical fact. Having the right or legal entitlement to possession is not "possession," possession is "the fact of having or holding property in one's power." That power means having physical dominion and control over the property.
The Stranger to the Deed Rule
In 1987, a unanimous Court of Appeals reaffirmed the vitality of the "stranger to the deed" rule, which holds that if a grantor executes a deed to a grantee purporting to create an easement in a third party, the easement is invalid. Daniello v. Wagner, decided by the Second Department on November 29th, makes it clear that not all grantors (or their lawyers) have received the Court of Appeals' message, suggesting that the rule needs re-examination.