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I have heard that another problem with bonuses in small-law general practice is that it has to be the right amount. If it is too low, you will get a disgruntled employee and his productivity and morale will suffer. But if it is too high, you may be providing seed money for him to quit and do something else. Or worse, start a competing practice. I think the latter line of thinking is suspect because most new attorneys do not want to start their own practice unless they absolutely have to or they are 100% certain that they will make serious money immediately. read more

I want to talk about two year-end issues that solo practices and small firms deal with. The first is one of ATL’s favorite topics. The other is year-end business planning. I’m sure there are many other year-end issues that should be covered, but I don’t want to leave you with TL;DR rambling on Christmas Eve. read more

In a sharp reversal of federal drug policy, Congress has prohibited the Justice Department from interfering with laws in California and other states that allow the medical use of marijuana. And the turnabout caught the immediate attention of federal judges, who want to know its impact on some recent criminal convictions under the federal law that classifies pot as one of the most dangerous drugs. read more

When Graves was charged with illegal cultivation in 2012, the judge noted, federal law barred any evidence of medical use, but the new law might make that information relevant now. In fact, Graves’ lawyer has said some of his client’s plants were for medical patients. A day earlier, another judge in the same courthouse postponed the sentencing of a Humboldt County man who claimed his pot crop was all for medical use, in compliance with state law. click here

Sponsored by two California congressmen, Republican Dana Rohrabacher of Huntington Beach (Orange County) and Democrat Sam Farr of Carmel, the amendment prohibits the government from spending money to prevent 32 states - California and 21 others that allow the medical use of marijuana, and 10 more that legalize hemp oils - from “implementing their own state laws.” click here