All About Tom Mighell The Senior Counsel Of Cowles and Thompson And A Writer Of Inter Alia The Internet Legal Research Blog And Information About Technological Breakthroughs, Defense Law Firm, Internet Research Techniques, Law Students And More.

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THE LARGEST COLLECTION OF LEGAL JOBS ON EARTH
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Tom Mighell: Senior Counsel at Cowles & Thompson and
Author of inter alia, a Weblog
[By Mary Waldron]
Tom Mighell, Senior Counsel at the Dallas, TX, firm Cowles & Thompson for the past 16 years and author of the Internet
legal research blog inter alia, is not just any lawyer. He is a pioneer in his field out to revolutionize the current legal system
by sharing technological breakthroughs and educating lawyers about how to become more effective. Mighell’s contributions
as an insurance defense attorney, as well as a litigation technology support coordinator and webmaster, have begun to
accelerate the entire law community’s advancement in terms of technological awareness.
Mighell realized that he wanted to dive into a literally instantaneous. On the downside, important, information available to help
career in law back when he was a member of lawyers are now usually caught up in messes them; they just need to know how to find it.
the debate team in high school. His passion of emails and messages that must be In addition to assisting lawyers who wish
for fighting for the well-being of others answered within 24 hours, which can prevent to develop more technological expertise,
began developing then and there, and it has them from getting other work done. “I think Mighell publishes the “Internet Legal
not left him since. “Some would say that I that it is a real double-edged sword because, Research Weekly Newsletter,” which reports
like arguing a lot. I prefer to think of it as on the one hand, it is tremendously powerful on need-to-know technological methods
advocacy—advocating a position and working and it allows you to keep in contact with your and resources for saving lawyers time and
to solve health problems,” he said. clients, but on the other hand, it allows you increasing their productivity. The passion
to keep in contact with your clients during that Mighell has always had for helping
Working in an insurance defense law firm, times when you maybe do not need to be people has evolved into a desire to help
Mighell and his associates primarily deal working, or you need to be concentrating on lawyers improve their games so they can
with personal injury defense issues for other areas of life,” Mighell said. However, better serve clients.
various companies. Because of his interest technologically educating other lawyers can
in looking after the health needs of others, help ease some of the mechanical madness Along with his weekly newsletter, for the
Mighell specializes in daycare liability. that accumulates as a result of more past four years, Mighell has been posting a
He usually covers cases for places where efficient means of communication. weblog called inter alia, Latin for “among
kids spend a lot of time, such as camps, other things,” in which he shares information
gymnastics studios, and karate studios. In addition to covering his usual cases and regarding legal technology and computer
Mighell also visits daycare centers to train keeping his firm’s website updated, Mighell security measures. Publishing at least one
employees on how to avoid lawsuits and has begun to transition himself into more item every day, Mighell coordinates with
protect themselves and the children they of a technical authority role, working with other lawyers who write blogs, introducing
take care of. The majority of his work over lawyers and teaching them how to make their many new ways in which lawyers can use
the life of his practice has been centered jobs easier, so they can focus on what really their blogs to contribute to the legal field
on defense in the area of personal injury. matters: studying cases and connecting with and educating fellow lawyers and general
In addition to his love for law and helping clients. Since he began this venture, Mighell Internet users alike. The more today’s
others, Mighell also lends a strong hand to has shifted his workload to “20% lawyer,” lawyers read blogs like Mighell’s, the
his company in the area of technical support. which has allowed him to dedicate himself more they further their legal educations.
almost completely to the improvement of Blogging is also useful in terms of educating
Currently, Mighell is beginning to use his technology in his law firm. Lawyers are current clients and marketing practices to
extensive knowledge of law to help others usually too busy to educate themselves about prospective clients. It can eliminate the tasks
in his field and in related fields, aiming to the latest software, programs, and Internet of creating and sending out newsletters to
promote technology as a tool to make the research techniques. Oftentimes, lawyers clients, potential clients, and other lawyers.
system simpler and more efficient. For end up searching Google in attempts to find
instance, as a result of improvements in information to fulfill their needs, eventually Having been in the field of law for almost 20
communication technology, email and cell running themselves in wasteful circles. years now, Mighell has a wealth of advice
phones have made communications between Mighell hopes to show lawyers that there and information to share with young law
lawyers, their clients, and other law affiliates is relatively simple, yet comprehensive and students. He knows that there must be a
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2. LAWCROSSING
THE LARGEST COLLECTION OF LEGAL JOBS ON EARTH
LAW STAR www.lawcrossing.com 1. 800.973.1177
concrete balance of work and recreation. mentally healthy. Law students need to ON THE NET
Before law students graduate, they must research the types of law jobs they are
learn how to prioritize and decide how much interested in and the constraints those jobs inter alia
they want their social lives to be affected may place on them. It is very challenging www.inter-alia.net
by their jobs. Mighell advises, “Learn to to get out of some jobs once you have
understand that it is not all about the work, committed yourself. Mighell warned, “Once Cowles Thompson
unless you want it to be all about the work.” you get into a job, it is often more difficult to www.cowlesthompson.com/index_flash.cfm
It is important to do something that makes get out of it. Usually, the handcuffs can be
one happy; finding a balance between work quite tight once you get into a situation.” Dallas, TX, City Hall
and the rest of one’s life is the key to staying www.dallascityhall.com
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