Recognition for Ex Libris Juris in 2017

This has been quite an active year for the Harris County Law Library. We're proud of our many accomplishments, and we're looking forward to a number of new and exciting projects in 2018. 

As a reader of this blog, Ex Libris Juris, you're familiar with the kinds news and information we provide. We cover everything from new library resources and tips for more effective legal research, to trends in legal technology and, on occasion, legal history. This year, we were honored to be recognized dozens of times by Texas Bar Today, the State Bar of Texas daily roundup of the best blog posts published in the state. On eight occasions, Texas Bar Today selected our blog for its weekly compilation of the top ten blog posts. Subject matter for the selected blog posts has varied considerably, covering such diverse topics as digital currency, the right-to-repair movement, legal chatbots, access to justice, daylight savings time, and geography and the law. We have been proud to share the Texas Bar Today Top Ten Badge on social media and grateful for the attention -- and blog traffic -- it has brought us. 

We have also been included several times on the American Association of Law Libraries KnowItAALL daily email newsletter. Being recognized by our professional peers is a true honor. We appreciate the attention from AALL and always feel proud to be included among our law librarian colleagues, 

We're excited about the upcoming year and eager to begin contributing more news and ideas to the diverse array of content that those in the Texas law blog community create and share online. Happy New Year, everyone! 

New Year's Day Holiday Hours

The Harris County Law Library wishes you happiness, good health, and prosperity in the new year. 

Latest & Greatest – Advising Small Businesses

By Steven C. Alberty

Published by Thomson Reuters

KF 1659 .A94 1989

It’s Small Business Resource Month here at the Harris County Law Library. Today, we’re looking at one of the featured resources: the aptly titled, Advising Small Businesses by Steven C. Alberty. Written for lawyers who represent and counsel small businesses, Advising Small Businesses, offers practical information on all aspects of small businesses from their organization through their operation and ultimately their termination. Detailed and exhaustive, this three-volume treatise offers its readers a thorough analysis of the following topics:

• Choice of entity, including the advantages and disadvantages of each and the tax implications arising from each type of entity;
• Available financing options, such as debt financing, government financing, and venture capital financing;
• Applicable state and federal securities laws;
• Corporate operations, including shareholder voting, buy-sell agreements, and powers, duties, and liabilities of corporate directors and officers;
• Business transactions, such as insurance coverage, antitrust laws, franchising, and intellectual property;
• Employee relations and compensation; and,
• Dissolution and liquidation.

As a companion to this treatise, the Harris County Law Library also has in its collection, Advising Small Businesses: Forms. This indispensable set provides attorneys with practical tools in the shape of “ready-to-use” forms and checklists, which include sample letters, operating agreements, employment policies, and closing documents.

If you an attorney who owns, operates, manages, or advises small businesses, we hope you’ll find this resource helpful. For additional resources that you can find here at the Law Library and online, visit our Events page.

Christmas Holiday Hours

The Harris County Law Library wishes you and yours a warm and wonderful holiday season. 

Holiday Hours

The Harris County Law Library and other Harris County offices will be closed on Monday, December 25, and Tuesday, December 26, for the Christmas Holiday, and on Monday, January 1, for New Year's Day. More information about county office holiday closures is available on the Harris County website.

Software Solutions for Your Small Business or Law Practice

December is Small Business Resource Month at the Harris County Law Library. All month long, we're featuring resources, tailored for solo and small firm attorneys, who own, operate, manage, or advise small businesses. 

Finding the best law practice management software to meet the needs of your small firm can be a challenge. There are many different options to choose from at a range of prices and levels of sophistication. The Legal Tech Institute at Harris County Law Library provides links to several law practice management software packages, along with a link to the American Bar Association Legal Technology Buyer's Guide. While we do not endorse any particular product or service, we do list a limited number of affordable options.

Features offered by the various programs are similar. In general, they offer functionality for client communications, billing and accounting, task management, document automation, time tracking, and calendaring. Comparing how the programs differ is key. The following are good questions to ask when deciding which law practice management software is best for you?

• Is it a cloud based system? How much data storage is provided? Is access secure for you and your clients? 
• Is there a mobile version for access on the go? How good is it? Does it provide access to all features or is it limited?
• Does it integrate with any third-party programs such as Box, Dropbox, Fastcase, Google Drive, Office 365 or Quickbooks?

After exploring your options, contact the chosen providers to request a free trial and/or a guided demonstration. Then, let the software work for you. Using a law practice management program to automate routine tasks will boost your business, giving you more time to focus on serving your clients' needs.