Popular Articles from the CPM ICYMI Newsletter (October – December 2025)
Every week subscribers receive the ICYMI enewsletter from the NCBA Center for Practice Management. The newsletter highlights tips, tools, trends, and techniques to help your law practice. The following are a few popular links from the past issues of the newsletter.
18 Lawyers Caught Using AI Explain Why They Did It (10/2/25)
Every week, there is a new example of lawyers (and judges) relying on AI-generated content that contains hallucinations like links to imaginary opinions and other erroneous information. Of course, the answer is to check the work the AI has generated so you aren’t hit with sanctions and possibly national embarrassment. So why do we keep seeing lawyers behaving badly? This eye-opening article documents the excuses lawyers who got caught have made for not checking their work. Spoiler alert – they usually blame someone else. Don’t forget you have a duty to supervise!
7 Things Productivity Experts Do When They Fall Behind On Work (10/2/25)
Even productivity experts can get overwhelmed by tasks and deadlines. This article offers some of their solutions to get back on track. A persistent theme is delegation and prioritization.
Shared Spaces, Separate Practices: The Lawyer’s Guide to Smart Office Sharing (10/31/25)
Often, solo and small firm practitioners explore office-sharing arrangements as a way to reduce overhead, foster collaboration, and maintain flexibility. While the benefits are compelling, the risks and ethical considerations are equally important. What do lawyers need to know before entering into or continuing a shared office space arrangement?
Legal Research Trapping You in an “AI Tunnel”? Use a Toe-hold to Get Out (11/7/25)
Rebecca Fordon, a law professor and librarian, advises on how to interact with AI-powered legal research tools to avoid falling into what she terms the “AI Tunnel,” where repeated questioning can narrow your results. She recommends starting with AI for initial guidance, and then shifting to traditional resources like treatises, headnotes, and citators to ensure thorough legal research.
How to Stop Spam Calendar Invites from Automatically Appearing in Outlook (11/7/25)
Although many individuals are aware of the risks associated with spam and phishing emails, a new form of spam is emerging in the guise of calendar invitations. If your Outlook calendar is configured to automatically accept invitations by default, it may inadvertently allow spam events into your schedule. Craig Bayer provides guidance on modifying a straightforward setting to mitigate this issue.
Everyday Habits That Transform Legal Work (11/21/25)
This blog post, originally published in Law Practice Magazine by Catherine Sanders Reach, highlights practical habits for legal professionals to boost productivity and security. It recommends auditing notification settings, batching email checks, using “Do Not Disturb” modes, and compartmentalizing alerts. These steps help minimize distractions, reclaim focus, and fortify digital defenses, making daily legal work smoother and safer.
Gmail Is Removing “Check Mail from Other Accounts” (11/21/25)
Gmail will discontinue the “Check mail from other accounts” feature in 2026. Users who rely on Gmail to manage multiple email accounts should prepare by exploring alternatives such as email forwarding or using dedicated email clients to avoid disruptions in their workflow.
A Costly Lesson from the Northern District of California on Online Juror Research (11/21/25)
Suppose you are researching jurors on the web, including their social media accounts. This tale of warning from the North District of California should serve as a reminder to check not only your ethics opinions but also see if the court has any standing orders prohibiting the use of certain social platforms because they notify users that someone has looked at their profile. In North Carolina, see 2018 FEO 5, as well as Rules 4.4(a), 8.4[1], and 3.5. And check with the court!
Keep AI Browsers Out of Your Enterprise, Warns Gartner (12/12/25)
Gartner advises organizations to restrict the use of AI-powered browsers due to potential security and compliance risks. Law firms should review their technology policies and educate staff on safe browsing practices to safeguard confidential information.
How to Stop This $475,000 Email Scam from Happening to Your Law Firm (12/12/25)
This article from Mark Palmer writing for 2Civility details a costly email scam targeting law firms and provides actionable steps to prevent similar incidents, including staff training and email verification protocols. Wire fraud isn’t just an issue for real property firms.