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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. click here

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. click here

A day after President Obama signed the new law last week as part of a government spending bill, U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer of San Francisco asked a federal prosecutor whether the change would affect the sentencing of a Mendocino County pot grower, who pleaded guilty to charges requiring at least five years in prison. 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

Federal prosecutors aren’t prepared to concede anything. While the Justice Department hasn’t spoken publicly on the meaning of the new law, saying only that it’s under review, the legislation - an amendment to a government spending bill - is loosely worded and subject to varying interpretations. read more