In the legal profession, individual achievements such as closing a big case can often take the spotlight…but there’s one aspect that should never be forgotten when it comes to setting the stage for success: teamwork. Excellent collaboration is essential in delivering the best outcomes for clients and fostering a productive workplace. It can also raise the morale and wellbeing of your coworkers. Teamwork is the silent hero that keeps everything flowing smoothly.

If you feel the collaboration at your law firm could be improved upon, then you’ve come to the right place. Here are six strategies to promote improved collaboration in your workplace that will hopefully leave you feeling inspired and ready to tackle new ideas!

Create a culture of communication. Between the rise of remote work and a competitive, high-pressure work environment, communication can often become lost in the background of busy attorney life. However, streamlined, effective communication can do so much for any workplace! Make sure you’re encouraging open communication between your team members where all voices are valued, regardless of the level of experience. No one should ever feel like they can’t share their opinion or ask for help.

Regular, weekly team check-ins are a great way for everyone to stay on top of the latest information. It’s also healthy to spend a little time broaching non-work topics, as this can help your team grow closer. Deeper connections mean improved collaboration in the long run! Plus, it just makes people happy.

Invest in the right tools. There are plenty of tools available to take your firm’s collaboration to the next level. Slack is great for direct messages and quick communication, when you’re tired of waiting on people to get back to you through email. You can also hop into a quick voice huddle if written communication is just not cutting it. Microsoft Teams is another great option to bridge the communication gap and excels at scheduling and hosting video conferences.

If you’d like something more in the vein of project management, look no further than Trello or ClickUp. Both are highly favored for their ability to organize projects, track tasks, and ultimately improve your workflows. If communication is often a pain point for your team members, maybe some project management software is just what the doctor ordered.

Cross-pollinate departmental knowledge. Everyone has different skillsets and backgrounds, but it still can’t hurt to broaden one’s horizons. It’s always good for different departments to get to know one another and understand the work everyone does. Encourage the occasional brainstorming session where departments can discuss pain points, work on problem-solving, or just simply get to know one another better.

Foster camaraderie with team building activities. Tight deadlines can often leave little time for team-building efforts. Do your best to secure a space for team building when these moments do exist. Perhaps things slow down a little during the summer or there’s a day you can get together around the holidays. It may seem arbitrary to some, but camaraderie has a direct line to morale, productivity, and (of course) collaboration. Nothing brings people together like delicious food or a little friendly competition. If there’s no time during work hours, the occasional after-work happy hour or trivia contest could be a fun idea.

Or better yet, kill two birds with one stone: use PBI CLE as an opportunity for team building among your attorneys while simultaneously checking off compliance! Enroll your team in a live webcast or even an in-person event where they can learn and network together. Afterwards, you can host a follow-up discussion at your firm and reflect on what you learned.

Promote mentorship. Every day can be a learning opportunity if you keep an open mind! Facilitate growth among your employees by pairing junior attorneys with senior attorneys. A structured mentorship program with regular check-ins and feedback loops will be incredibly helpful to those new to the profession. Odds are, maybe they will even be able to teach you something in return!

Recognize and reward collaboration. It’s crucial to let everyone know that their hard work is not going unnoticed. Incentives are a great way to motivate your team. Don’t ever hesitate to highlight a successful team effort during meetings. Does your firm ever recognize an employee of the year? Try introducing this program but give the power to the rest of the firm, letting them nominate who they think deserves it. It might even open your eyes to collaboration efforts you weren’t even aware of.

Take some time to reflect on the strengths and weaknesses of your team or perhaps invite them to start a conversation on where they think improvements could be made. Collaboration isn’t simply “working together.” It’s taking the time to create an environment where every voice matters, and effective teamwork and communication can deliver better outcomes for your clients. Don’t ever underestimate the power of collaboration!

“Burnout” has become quite the buzzword in the past few years, particularly among the legal community, where discussions of mental health are of utmost importance. In case you didn’t already know, burnout is defined as the state of complete mental, physical, and emotional exhaustion. It can creep up on the most dedicated attorneys and measures must be taken to ward against it. After all, how can you assist others if you yourself are drowning?

In the past, we published an article on how to recognize the symptoms of burnout, a very valuable read, especially if you suspect that you or a loved one may be suffering from it. If you’d like to learn more, take a few minutes to read that first article before returning to this one and learning five methods that can help combat burnout.

Read on.

Prioritize work-life balance. It’s not enough to say that you value work-life balance. You have to mean it and follow through. Draw boundaries between your professional and personal lives. Learn how to unplug from work and resist checking your email or tackling tasks when you should be resting. If your workload is busting at the seams, learn how to say no to new responsibilities without the guilt, or else you might find yourself overwhelmed.

It’s much easier to prevent burnout than it is to banish it! Cultivate a healthy work-life balance and you’ll never have to experience that feeling of being utterly drained.

Streamline your workload. It’s time to put a magnifying glass on your professional life and ponder where improvements could be made. Don’t hesitate to get creative with it; there are plenty of ways to streamline your workload. It could be as simple as relying more on the members of your firm. Don’t be afraid to delegate tasks when necessary.

Embracing technology is another way you could make life easier. Maybe it’s time you integrated artificial intelligence into your firm. Or perhaps what you need is new project management software to really keep you organized. Identify the pain points of your career and seek out if a solution exists.

Embrace mindfulness. Being mindful of what your body needs can improve your mental health. Make sure you’re eating well, carving out time to exercise, and taking a little time to meditate or self-reflect each day. A mere ten minutes of meditation and deep breathing can reduce stress. Ask yourself…what relieves stress in your life? A relaxing massage or running a marathon? Make room in your schedule for your favorite stress-relieving activities and you will feel much better for it.

Read this past blog to learn more about mindfulness or check out these simple ways to self-care.

Seek support. Networking is important to every attorney…but what about a support network? You should be able to lean on your family, friends, and colleagues during difficult times. It will go a long way for your well-being. If that’s not possible, consider joining a bar association (such as the PBA!) where you can discuss challenges and rely on your fellow attorneys.

If needed, don’t hesitate to seek professional support. Lawyers Concerned for Lawyers is a confidential helpline provided at no charge to Pennsylvania lawyers. Learn more here.

Remember your passion. Sometimes it gets dark, and we lose sight of what’s important, but know that the sunrise is never far off. Look within you to remember your “why” …the reason you decided to take on the challenges of being an attorney. Keep the flame of your passion for your profession burning. After all, you play a valuable role in so many lives! Don’t forget that!

It’s time to start the new year off on the right foot! What better way to set yourself up for success than mastering an effective morning routine for 2025?

Starting your day right is especially important in a high-stress profession such as law. A good night’s sleep and a helpful morning routine can improve your mental clarity and boost your productivity for the day. It can also be something to look forward to and help motivate you to get out of bed each morning. So why not give it a shot?

Remember: even if you don’t consider yourself a morning person, that doesn’t mean you can’t have a morning routine!

Wake up early. At least, as early as you can while still being a functional human being. Too little sleep and too much sleep both have consequences. Instead of making it about getting up early, focus on getting the perfect amount of sleep for your body. You know yourself best. Waking up early will get you a good jumpstart on the day, but don’t do it at the detriment of your energy and focus.

Use that extra bit of time in the morning to set your intention for the day or practice a little mindfulness to clear your head. Steer clear of immediately hopping onto your phone or laptop. Not just to avoid the stressors of work notifications, but to give your brain time to fully transition into wakefulness. Read more on why you shouldn’t check your phone first thing in the morning here.

Have a hearty and healthy breakfast. So many people love to skip breakfast, but it’s the most important meal of the day for good reason! Be sure to eat a big breakfast full of nutrients. Meals including protein, such as meat or eggs, will keep you feeling full longer, and give you plenty of energy to take on the day. Avoid foods with high sugar content, such as cereal, which cause sugar crashes that will leave you feeling sluggish in the afternoon. Pair your healthy breakfast with a tall glass of water because our bodies often need extra hydration in the morning. Once you’ve done that…

Get your body moving. Nothing will wake you up faster than movement. Once your body is moving, your brain will have no choice but to follow. As a busy attorney, you probably don’t have time to hit the gym for an hour (and if you do because you wake up super early, kudos to you!). Nothing says you have to start each day with strenuous exercise. It could be a 10-minute morning yoga session or a quick walk around the block–bonus points if you can get some sunlight on your face. Natural light keeps your circadian rhythm in top shape and helps you wake up faster.

Don’t even have time for that? Then create a morning playlist full of your favorite songs that get you hyped. Listen to them as you move about and prepare for the day ahead. Feel free to throw in a little bit of dancing if you’re really feeling the beat.

Get your brain moving, too. It’s gotten to the point where I never skip a daily Wordle, or my new favorite word-finding game, Strands. Each game only takes a few minutes to play unless you get majorly stumped. It’s the perfect way to wake up your brain while sipping on that morning cup of coffee. A classic crossword puzzle is another great option. Or you could wake up your brain with a little bit of journaling before diving into your day.

Review your calendar. Now it’s time to shift into work mode. What are your priorities for the day? Do you have a to-do list? If not, time to get started on one. Make sure you’re tackling the hardest tasks when you’re at your most productive! If you have a court appearance, practice positive visualizations for what’s to come. You got this!

Measure the impact. Observe how you’re feeling after trying this routine for a month. What’s working for you? What could use improvement?

Try your new routine for a month, or at least 21 days, which is how long it takes to form a habit. Once you form a habit, you will move automatically and not need so much brainpower to perform these tasks, making them easier as time goes on.

Want to build some CLE into your morning routine and check compliance off your list? Check out PBI’s upcoming live webcasts here!

Ready for 2025? It’s certainly promising to be another interesting year. Technology continues to evolve at a rapid pace. The conversation on various workplace models carries on. Through it all, the legal world is tied to every change, and it’s more imperative than ever for attorneys to stay informed.

At PBI, our goal is to help you do just that with timely CLE and helpful blog posts. So here are 3 major trends to keep an eye on in the coming year.

Artificial Intelligence. It should come as no surprise that AI tops this list. Ever since its conception, it has continued to learn and adapt at an almost frightening speed. However, embracing change rather than resisting it always get you farther in the end–the American Bar Association found that firms bringing AI into the fold saw a 20% increase in productivity back in 2023. However, the majority of attorneys surveyed were unsure about AI or had no interest in purchasing it. Over a year later, is it time for a change in perspective?

One thing is certain: AI is going to inspire new laws and affect current ones. Even if you have zero interest in integrating this technology into your firm, you can’t close your eyes to it completely. PBI offers quite a few on-demand courses on the subject, aiming to keep you informed on how artificial intelligence is influencing society, being integrated into practices, and much more. Check them out here.

How can AI be applied to legal work? It can streamline tedious work such as drafting contracts, reviewing documents, and analyzing case law, freeing lawyers up to deal with more pressing matters. Some predict AI could become virtual legal assistants who enhance client services in new ways. In a competitive industry such as law, AI can offer a much-needed edge over the competition.

Take it from this creative marketer who initially resisted AI and now fully embraces it–it really can enhance your workflow or help you out of a rut. Keep an open mind in the coming year as AI continues to evolve and demonstrate what it can do.

Flexible Work Models. Since Covid, remote work is coveted by many, and hybrid work has taken law firms by storm. Many young professionals are prioritizing flexibility. Offering a hybrid work environment is a smart way to attract top talent to your firm. It’s worth it for attorneys to keep an eye on the advancements made, and what’s yielding positive results.

For example, leveling up your technological skills and mastering virtual collaboration tools ties in with successful remote work. Apps such as Microsoft Teams, Slack, and Zoom can help you stay connected with your team and maintain a presence in your firm. Project management software, such as ClickUp or Monday, promotes organization and accountability. If you’d like to take your tech skills up a notch, check out our ongoing CLE series “Technology 101 for Legal Professionals,” which covers various topics of value to attorneys.

Of course, being a lawyer is about building relationships–between your client, your coworkers, and your fellow lawyers. When you want to forge lasting connections, nothing beats being face-to-face. Hybrid work is certainly the best of both worlds in that respect.

The legal landscape must continue to be innovative and adaptable as the workplace continues to evolve and settle into a “new normal.”

Client Expectations. As we abandon the mantra of “this is the way we’ve always done it” and try new things, client expectations continue to change as well. This shift in technology has put traditional hourly billing models under a microscope. Clients are now seeking greater transparency in legal costs, with a preference for flat fees or value-based billing. This will encourage a focus on efficiency and results. Like anyone else, clients also value flexibility and might seek the option for remote consultations. Proactive communication is a pillar of the attorney-client relationship.

With everything going digital, clients will also expect robust cybersecurity measures to keep their information safe, and more tailored legal solutions that address their specific needs. A more personalized approach to each case will leave clients satisfied. Firms who prioritize client satisfaction experience higher retention rates in the long run. And who doesn’t want to keep their clients happy?

What trends are you keeping an eye on as we head into the new year?

As always, thanks so much for reading Raising the Bar! Have a wonderful holiday and we’ll see you in 2025!

Can we all agree that 2024 went by way too fast? 2025 is now rounding the bend, whether we’re ready for it or not. Have you settled on your New Year’s resolution yet?

If you have yet to zero in on your resolution and you’re looking for something a little more creative than “get to the gym to burn off all those calories from cookies and pie,” we’ve got your back. Here are 8 New Year’s resolutions, specifically tailored to hard-working attorneys like you!

Update your wardrobe or office. New year, new you! Refresh your closet with tailored, confidence-boosting attire perfect for the office or courtroom. If you’re already feeling stylish and savvy on that front, then turn your attention to your office. Maybe you’re in need of a paint job or new, ergonomic chairs. Or perhaps your tech needs an update to keep your workflow streamlined. Ensure you make a good first impression when your clients step through the door!

Attend a conference or an institute. If you’ve never been, this is your sign to go! Attending an in-person event is a wonderful way to expand your network and stay on top of the latest legal news. PBA has a number of meetings and events each year, including a February trip to Barbados for the PBA Midyear Meeting. If you’d rather stay closer to home and score some compliance credits, PBI hosts in-person institutes across Pennsylvania to help you do just that. Check out what’s coming up here.

Publish an article. Why not share a little bit of your expertise in the new year? There are plenty of opportunities get your knowledge published in a legal journal or bar association news. You could even take the bull by the horns and start your own blog or podcast. Just make sure you’re not sharing any confidential details that your clients wouldn’t want you to!

Run for a bar association position. Maybe this is the year you step into leadership! Consider serving on a committee or running for a position in your local or state bar, if the opportunity arises. Make 2025 a year for major growth!

Become a mentor. This is an excellent way to give back to the profession. You can make a real difference in a law student or young attorney’s life with your guidance. If this sounds like something you’re interested in, submit a mentorship application here.

Travel to a new country. Sometimes, you’ve got to give yourself permission to get away from it all. Plan a stress-free vacation to recharge and revitalize. Or better yet, check a new destination off your bucket list! Embrace a new culture and make new memories while leaving work at the office. You deserve it.

Host a CLE webcast. Did you know PBI is always looking for new sponsors and faculty? We offer over 200 live webcasts a year and you could be the star of the next one! By partnering with us, you can gain exposure to over 65,000 attorneys across Pennsylvania and beyond, reached through our targeted marketing efforts. It’s a fantastic opportunity for anyone looking to gain exposure to a dedicated audience of legal professionals while also making a meaningful impact in the field of continuing legal education. Shoot an email to [email protected] if that sounds like something you would be interested in!

Master a new skill. There are all sorts of emerging fields in the legal world. Broaden your expertise by delving into topics such as AI law or cybersecurity. Or you could aspire to master something outside the law, but still beneficial to lawyers everywhere, such as work-life balance or stress management. Take a class that will enhance your personal development, whether that’s inside or outside of the courtroom.

Or make it a fun, new hobby! Make 2025 the year you finally sign up for that cooking class or purchase that camera to give photography a shot. Don’t leave it on the backburner any longer. After all, new experiences make our lives richer.

None of these float your boat? Then check out last year’s blog full of resolution ideas for 2024!

Our last winter survival guide was quite popular, so we’re back with seven more tips to get you through the cold, dark days ahead! After all, the shorter days of winter can wreak havoc on your mental health and bring about what is known as SAD: Seasonal Affective Disorder. These “winter doldrums” are very real and can cause symptoms of depression.

When you work in the legal world, it’s vital to stay on top of your mental health. Let’s delve into how you can conquer the winter blues together—and don’t forget to check out our first winter survival guide for even more great tips!

Hibernate. Okay, not literally since we’re not bears, but be sure to get quality sleep on these chilly nights. Break out those cozy comforters and heated blankets! Humans are built to rise and fall with the sun. Once it gets dark out, we start producing melatonin to help us fall asleep, which makes it difficult to rally and get things done after the sun disappears. Don’t try to fight basic biology; it’s natural to need a little bit more sleep during the winter, and it will keep your immune system strong. Treat yourself to a little hibernation during the colder months!

However! Don’t sleep too much or you might find yourself even more tired. Try to keep it under ten hours and find exactly how much sleep leaves you feeling energized and refreshed!

Moisturize. The cold, dry air of winter can be rough on your skin. A humidifier is a great option to add moisture to the air in your home. Update your skin routine to match the season as well. After each shower or bath, use your favorite lotion before drying off to lock in moisture. Exfoliating once a week will help remove dead, flaky skin and allow you to better absorb moisture. We all have different skin types, so experiment to find out what products work best for you! Remember to drink plenty of water because hydration is key, and don’t forget ChapStick!

Stay connected. It’s easy for our social lives to thrive in warm weather, but don’t isolate yourself from your friends just because the weather turned cold. Technology keeps us more connected than ever. Take advantage of this fact because staying in touch with your loved ones will make these dark days brighter. Ask friends and family members how they’re doing. If it’s too cold to get outside, invite everyone over for a nice dinner, movie night, or board game night…or don’t even invite them over! Go on a virtual adventure from your couch with a multiplayer video game or play online party games such as Broken Picturephone or Jackbox Games. Commiserate over voice chat as you do. Winter is the perfect time for indoor game nights.

Enjoy comfort food. This is the season for hot chocolate, hearty stews, sizzling pans of mac n’ cheese, and of course, your favorite freshly baked pies and cookies. Comfort food might not always be the healthiest option, but it’s called comfort food for a reason. If it makes you happy, it’s doing you some good. And if you happen to pack on a few extra pounds over the holidays, no biggie—that’s what cozy oversized sweaters are for.

However, don’t forget to eat lots of fruits and veggies, too. Their vitamins will help keep your spirits and energy up!

Shake it up. Try new things! New experiences are a great way to pass the time and lift your spirits. Use this time to check something off your bucket list or try a new hobby such as a winter sport or an indoor class. Or you could explore your local area for hidden gems. Check out that restaurant or museum you always pass on your way to work. Make it a goal of yours to sample new foods and leave an online review describing your experience. If you shake things up, you’ll find yourself remembering this past winter more fondly.

Practice manifesting. Wait, what? Shouldn’t that say “gratitude,” with how often gratitude is mentioned on this blog? Well, I’m shaking it up, just like I suggested. While gratitude focuses on the past and present, manifesting is all about looking towards the future and reflecting on what you hope to get out of it. It includes setting goals, visualizing your success, and training your mind to focus on the positive (not unlike practicing gratitude). A quiet, snowy landscape is the perfect place to practice manifesting.

Get away from it all. You tried getting extra sleep. You’re making sure to get sunlight on your face. You’re moisturizing. And yet, you still can’t defeat the winter blues. What then? If you have the vacation time…just leave! Head somewhere warm and become the envy of all your coworkers. Live it up on a cruise or at a resort. Late January or early February is the perfect time to slide in a vacation and escape the dead of winter. Just make sure you unplug and enjoy your vacation to the fullest.

Enjoy these next few months and stay warm! And if you still need credits for December compliance, know that PBI has your back with a plethora of on-demand offerings and upcoming live webcasts. Check them out here!

Who’s ready for Thanksgiving? I know I am. Before we dive into a sea of gravy and mashed potatoes, it might do a little good to take some time to reflect. A couple weeks back, we touched on how practicing gratitude can help you achieve peace and promised to share more on the topic before Thanksgiving. Well, here it is! Read on to find out the many different ways you can practice gratitude to bolster a more positive outlook on life and ultimately improve your mental health.

It must be said–we at PBI are incredibly thankful for you! Thank you for enjoying our CLE and taking the time to read this blog. Have a warm, safe holiday, and be sure to eat plenty of food!

Start a journal. One of the most popular methods of practicing gratitude is having a gratitude journal. Put aside a little bit of time each day, perhaps before you drift off to sleep, to ponder three things that made you happy that day. Big or small; anything that made you smile. You could also write about what you are grateful for in the grander scheme of things. There are no rules. Make an effort to add journaling to your routine and you will find yourself feeling happier in the long run. Before you know it, you have a book of warm memories and simple joys to look back on.

If writing is not your style, try making a “vision board” instead. Fill it with inspiring quotes, images, and reminders that will help you stay appreciative of each day.

Create a gratitude jar. The new year isn’t too far off and if you’re looking for a new resolution to try out, here’s an idea. Instead of writing what you’re thankful for into a journal, write these special moments down on little scraps of paper to put into a jar. Watch the jar grow fuller as the year goes by. Then, at the end of the year, pop open the jar and soak in all the good things that happened to you throughout the year. This is a wonderful exercise to do with the whole family. Or, if you find yourself faced with a particularly challenging day, feel free to sift through the jar for a bit of comfort and nostalgia.

Take reflective walks. It’s time to head outside for a brief digital detox! Put aside the phone and your earbuds to truly immerse yourself in nature and take in the world around you. During your walk, take time to meditate on what you are grateful for and what challenges you have overcome during your life. Pay special attention to what you see, hear, and feel during this walk. Revel in the warmth of the sun or the pitter-patter of rain on your umbrella. Admire the seasonal decorations on your neighbor’s porch. Listen to the birds and note the many different kind of flowers you may stumble across. Their beauty is brief; they won’t be here forever, but their memory can last a lifetime. Enjoy every moment.

Express gratitude. A simple word of thanks can go a long way with others. It’s a great little habit to foster positivity and form mutual respect. If you’d like to go the extra mile, get some fun post-its and write thank-you notes for your loved ones. Or if that’s not your style, keep it to a simple text message. We don’t tell our loved ones often enough what they mean to us. If you take the time to express your gratitude, you might find yourself receiving it back, which is a wonderful feeling.

Volunteer. Nothing feels better than giving back to your community or donating to a cause you believe in. Working with the needy also serves a reminder of how little some people have, what is truly important in life, and everything you have to be thankful for. The holidays are the perfect time to give back and experience fulfillment from these acts of kindness.

The PBA has plenty of volunteer opportunities in which you can share your legal expertise with young people or assist your neighbors in need. Learn more here!

Happy Thanksgiving from PBI!

PBI’s 2024 Real Estate Institute is just around the corner! Get ready to gather in Philadelphia and catch up on the year’s most significant case law, current legislation, practice fundamentals, trends, and strategies on Friday, December 6. A host of topics will be covered including risk management, title insurance, ethics, and (you guessed it) artificial intelligence.

As promised, we’re going to tackle how artificial intelligence is affecting various sectors connected to law practices. Let’s delve into the relationship between AI and real estate together.

Property Valuation. AI is transforming how properties are viewed, bought, sold, and valued, helping to streamline the real estate process with every advancement made. You might notice upon visiting a website such as Zillow that there are property value estimates for each home. This is thanks to AI-powered Automated Valuation Models (AVMs) that use data, recent sales, and neighborhood characteristics to generate quick, reliable estimates. This reduces the need for time-consuming manual appraisals. AI can also assess market trends and economic factors for an even more accurate estimate.

The Buying Process. AI has also simplified and personalized the buying process, making it easier to find homes according to your preferences and budget. AI chatbots are on standby to answer basic questions and assist in scheduling tours. Or you can tour homes from anywhere with a virtual, augmented reality tour! You can click through the house and move around as if you were there walking around in person.

Money makes the world go ’round, which is why AI has been utilized to create a smoother buying and selling process in all things.

Legal Considerations. What’s one way all of this can affect lawyers? One issue that many have with AI is the way it learns. It relies on a massive amount of personal and behavioral data to back up its research and predictions. Since this technology is so young, many don’t secure the necessary permissions for what it’s using for its education. This raises concerns about data privacy and security–another important topic for attorneys. In fact, this Friday is PBI’s Data Privacy Update, which will highlight the transformative influence of AI on privacy regulations. With AI evolving every passing day, we need to keep up the conversation to truly understand its influence.

There’s also the question of fairness in AI decision-making. AI bias can sometimes lead to distorted results or reinforce harmful biases that impact how properties are valued. Like the humans it learns from, AI is not perfect.

The Future of AI and Real Estate. The landscape of real estate has always been ever shifting, but now more so than ever. Ultra-personalized buyer experiences are merely one facet of this artificial diamond. AI also plays more and more of a role in market forecasting, city planning, digital property, and more…but never forget that it’s not without its flaws. It’s crucial that attorneys stay abreast of the many updates and advancements being made in their field. Luckily, that’s just what PBI is here to do with timely CLE on the hottest issues around! Check out what’s coming up here and ensure you never miss a compliance deadline.

Keep an eye out for more AI-centered articles on Raising the Bar in the future!

As we leave behind a contentious election and head into the hectic holiday season, the idea of finding your peace might feel more impossible than ever–especially for a busy lawyer such as yourself (who may or may not have December compliance looming ahead). That’s not going to stop us from sharing a bit of advice, though. Cultivating your inner peace is a surefire way to improve your mental health and live a happier, healthier life. Here are six strategies to help you find your peace.

And as always, PBI is here to help your compliance be stress-free. We’ll be bringing you all sorts of options for live and on-demand courses throughout the next two months so that you can check December compliance off your list early. Check out what’s coming up here!

Be present. Sometimes, it’s really hard to live in the moment. You might be dwelling on the past, thinking ahead to the future’s lengthy to-do list, or simply lost in the digital depths of your phone. This present moment is where life is taking place. Let go of the past (which cannot be changed), the future (which cannot be predicted), and put down your phone to look at the world around you.

Learning to be more present will create stronger memories for you to look back on. It also drives home the fact that our time is precious. Don’t let the consumption of media completely overtake your life. Be present in the important moments, and even the little moments that don’t seem to carry so much weight. You will feel better for it.

Commit to yourself. We make a lot of promises to ourselves that we don’t always follow through on. “I’m going to eat better…I’m going to get that task done…I’m going to spend less time staring at my phone…” As always, easier said than done. Humans come well-equipped with excuses that prevent us from achieving every single one of our goals. “I’ll start eating better come tomorrow…I’m too tired to do that task today…my phone makes me happy so I’ll just keep scrolling…” It’s too easy to dump everything on your future self, but the fact is, your future self is not going to be much different from your current self, and will continue to keep putting off self-improvement.

Take accountability for all versions of yourself. The more times you break these promises, the easier it gets to do so. It weakens your will. You will feel so much better for following through on these commitments. Not only is it an investment of self-improvement, but you will grow a stronger will and learn to trust yourself.

Embrace contentment. People are obsessed with the idea of chasing happiness, but happiness should not be the goal. Most days are ordinary. Happiness is never a constant and arrives for short periods of time, as anger and sadness do. If you’re in the constant pursuit of happiness, you may find yourself disappointed and always wanting more. Reframe your goal and set your sights on embracing contentment. To be content with what you have, with living in each moment. Happiness is wonderful, but temporary. Coming to understand this will aid you in finding that inner peace.

One shining rule in pursuing contentment is to never compare yourself to others. Focus on your own life, value what you have, and know that everyone is fighting their own battle, no matter how it looks from the outside. Never use others’ lives to judge the value of your own.

Be kind. From a young age, we’re told to be kind, that it takes very little effort…and yet, we all too easily seem to forget that. Each day, you should set an intention to treat others with respect, kindness, and patience, because you have no idea what challenges those around you are facing. Think of your loved ones and treat strangers with the same kindness you’d hope to see your loved ones receive from others.

Remember that the one thing no one can take away from you is your character. At the end of the day, people might forget what you said, but they will never forget how you made them feel.

Practice gratitude. Our minds tend to focus on the negative. We covet what we don’t have. We dream of what could make our lives better, easier. What if we put that energy towards being appreciative instead? Take time to reflect on how far you’ve come or what circumstances have improved in your life. Learn to appreciate the little things like the sun on your face, the joyful song of a robin, or the act of a friend reaching out with something that reminded them of you. Don’t take the little things for granted. Taking time to practice gratitude can completely shift your outlook on life.

As we approach Thanksgiving, keep an eye out for a future blog post on the many different ways you can practice gratitude in your life.

Focus on what you can control. As we mentioned before in this blog about mindfulness, not everything is within your control and the sooner you accept that, the more at peace you will be. Let the things you cannot control drift away like leaves down a stream. Worrying about them will only stress you out. There is nothing to be gained from this. Spend your energy on what you can control instead.

All of these methods can serve you in achieving inner peace. All it takes is training your mindset and forming good habits. And if you ever do find things getting to be too much for you in this stressful profession, help is always available.

We at PBI wish you a peaceful rest of 2024 and a stress-free compliance period!

In a world where artificial intelligence is increasingly woven into everyday life, distinguishing between human-generated content and AI-driven creations can be a tricky task. From chatbots and virtual assistants to deepfake videos and automated news articles, AI is shaping how we consume information and interact with technology. Whether you’re a professional navigating AI-powered tools in the workplace or just a curious consumer, understanding how to spot AI can help you make more informed decisions. This guide will equip you with the key indicators to look for when identifying AI content and provide tips for staying one step ahead in the digital landscape.

Remember how last year we posted a blog that was entirely written by AI? Yep…AI just wrote that introductory paragraph. It’s a little scary how far technology has come, isn’t it? At a single glance, you can easily be fooled by an AI-generated deepfake, but with a little observation and critical thinking, you can learn AI’s patterns and shortcomings so that you’ll be able to more easily identify what is artificial and what is created by a human being. Not such a bad skill to have in today’s chaotic world!

And if this subject interests you, keep an eye out for future blog posts all about AI!

Spotting Deepfakes. The very idea of false images can be quite unnerving. Imagine someone trying to use one in a court case and it slips under the radar! AI-generated art is also viewed unfavorably within creative communities because takes away jobs from real artists. So how do you distinguish a real from a fake? As they say, the devil’s in the details, and that’s where AI struggles the most. Specifically, hands, skin texture, and facial features (especially teeth) can wind up looking distorted. The background could also be warped or the lighting unrealistic.

Here’s a recent example of a two deepfakes that went viral: a little girl, a victim of Hurricane Helene, clutching a puppy on a boat. Look closely. In one picture, she appears to be missing a finger, while in the second picture, she has grown an extra one. Her skin looks a little bit too smooth while her expression is so exaggerated it borderlines cartoonish. And if you compare the two pictures against each other, you’ll notice that the color of the puppy and the boat changes.

AI’s shortcomings with imagery are further emphasized in video. It struggles with natural human movement, changing expressions, moving colors or shadows, and more. However, AI is learning all the time and there may come a day when it’s able to perfect its weaknesses. Until then, approach dramatic, viral images with a critical eye for detail.

Uncovering AI-written content. This one might be a bit trickier as AI grows more complex with each passing day. AI lacks nuance so it will often fail to grab the larger context of what it’s writing. It has the tendency to get wordy, repeat the same information, or reuse the same sentence structures without worrying too much about how it will flow. As I pointed out last time, it has lots to say with little substance.

It also doesn’t always get its facts right, either. Look no further than the time Google AI suggested putting glue in pizza or eating one small rock per day for digestive health. Delicious. (AI will never replicate my sense of humor, either).

Detecting AI-generated voices. That’s right: AI even has the capabilities to learn voice mimicry. Sometimes it’s used innocently, like posting a video of a popular character singing a silly song. Other times, it’s downright frightening, as there have been reports of people using AI’s voice-cloning technology to learn the voices of our loved ones and use them in a scam to steal money. If you ever find yourself on the receiving end of this scam, take a moment to breathe and really listen. AI voices have difficulty with emotion and the pronunciation of more uncommon words. They might also have unnatural pauses. The perpetrators in these scams only use a small sample of AI because they know too much might give away that this isn’t a real person.

As always, listen to your gut if something strikes you as strange or unnatural! All of this is why it’s more important than ever for lawyers and lawmakers to stay on top of this fast-changing technology.

Hey ChatGPT…did I miss anything? Let’s ask AI directly if it has any other advice for us:

“For spotting AI-generated text, specific tools or software can help detect AI-written content. Resources like plagiarism checkers that include AI detection capabilities would be helpful.”

Thanks for the tip! If you’re interested in such a thing, ChatGPT recommends GPTZero, which is specifically designed to detect AI-generated text, including its own content. It pays special attention to patterns, perplexity, and variance in sentence length; something humans have higher amounts of.

I’ll leave you with this conclusion written by ChatGPT, which is certainly different from the usual tone and cadence of Raising the Bar. With the help of this blog, hopefully you can continue to hone your skills in identifying what’s “real” and what’s “artificial!”

“As artificial intelligence continues to advance and seamlessly integrate into our daily lives, the ability to recognize AI-generated content is becoming a vital skill. From discerning fake images and videos to spotting AI-written text and cloned voices, staying informed helps us navigate an evolving landscape where the line between human and machine is becoming ever more blurred. Remember, even as AI grows more sophisticated, it still has limitations that give it away—whether in distorted details, unnatural phrasing, or awkward voice inflections. By sharpening our observational skills and utilizing available detection tools, we can better safeguard against misinformation and protect ourselves from AI-based scams. Stay vigilant, stay curious, and continue learning about AI’s impact to stay one step ahead in this rapidly changing digital world.”

It’s true: PBI sends a lot of emails–but how else will we keep you up to date on all of the top-quality courses coming your way?

However, some of you might have recently noticed a distinct lack of PBI emails and reached out about it. As it turns out, some supposedly helpful bots and email filters are not being so helpful when it comes to staying on top of your compliance. Here’s a quick read on why you should open PBI emails and how you can ensure our stress-free CLE always reaches you.

What is bot-filtering? Did you know bots make up more than half of total web traffic these days? Not to worry; most bots are doing you a service. For example, Google’s search engine bots scrape through websites in order to present you with the best results. Email bots take on the form of security, filtering out emails it deems suspicious into a spam folder or blocking them completely. Unfortunately, they don’t always get it right.

The importance of engagement. Emails can get booted to the spam folder for a myriad of reasons including improper authentication, deceptive subject lines, a low IP or domain reputation, or too many attachments. Of course, PBI has a solid reputation. We don’t engage in shady sales tactics and only send emails to those who have signed up to receive them.

The number one reason that PBI can end up in your spam folder is because of low engagement. If you bypass one too many of our emails, your filters will start to think of us as spam and start sending us there instead, causing you to miss out on upcoming webcasts, great deals, and more. In order to prevent this, all you need to do is take one second out of your day to click on a PBI email every so often! Then you’ll stay considered an “engaged” customer.

Another solution? Whitelist PBI! Whitelisting is the act of telling your system to always accept emails from specific senders. If you add [email protected] to your whitelist, we will never get marked as spam and always be able to deliver pertinent information straight to your inbox.

If you’re wondering how to access your whitelist in Gmail, Outlook, or another app, check out this helpful guide from Clean Email.

Aside from ensuring that you receive PBI emails, this is useful information to know in general. You never know what’s going on behind the scenes with AI anymore. Take control of your inbox with this knowledge!

In the past ten years, the words “cancel culture” might have reached your ears, particularly during the height of Covid-19 when it became somewhat of a pastime for some. But what exactly is cancel culture? Is it good or bad? And does it affect lawyers? It certainly does, but you might know it as defamation, libel, and slander. Let’s dive in deeper to what exactly cancel culture is and what it means for you.

Now let’s get into it!

What is cancel culture? Depending on who you ask, you might come away with a number of definitions to describe cancel culture. Some might view it favorably, describing it as a way to hold someone accountable for their unsavory past actions, sully their reputation, and put them on a sort of blacklist. Others will tell you it is a form of censorship and mob mentality that can destroy a person’s career.

At its core, “canceling” is the act of calling someone out (usually on social media) for offensive behavior and then proceeding to boycott them. For example, one might refuse to go see a movie that a problematic actor is in, or shop at a store that has differing political views. Anything can be cancelled: a person, a business, a brand. Social media has helped fuel the expansion of this so-called “culture” and it continues to be mired in controversy. If one thing is for certain, it has many facets.

What are the pros? Cancel culture is complex and has certainly done its share of good. It has brought important conversations, such as the #MeToo movement and Black Lives Matter, to the forefront and singled out public figures who have gotten away with too much for too long. Canceling is embraced as a form of accountability that can bring about social change. Calling out offensive content is a way to confront the issue, hold people to higher standards, and serve as a warning for others who engage in harmful actions. It can even bolster a movement to see someone face justice in those cases the justice system has failed.

For those everyday citizens who might be cancelled for something much less than a major crime, it can be viewed as a teaching moment, if done respectfully. It’s a chance for someone to learn from their mistakes and grow.

What are the cons? Unfortunately, canceling has gotten out of control and some take it too far as they chase the feeling of “delivering justice.” Misinformation on the internet is rampant and an individual or a business could easily be “canceled” by nothing more than a single lie or a quote taken out of context, ruining their livelihood. Some are calling for history to be erased to “cancel” people who died hundreds of years ago. Others view canceling as the solution to minor disagreements. They would rather form a like-minded mob and commence public humiliation or use cyberbullying tactics rather than hold a civil discussion. Mobs will often pile onto someone before they even have all the facts, peppering them with insults or even death threats. They may even assign traits or values to the victim that they do not possess, warping their character to fit their narrative. Such a thing can be hazardous to one’s mental health.

For some, cancel culture has become an unhealthy obsession. As soon as the spotlight shines on a new face, some people take it upon themselves to go digging through their online history for anything they can use against them. A stupid post they made in their youth suddenly turns into a weapon against them. However, people change and grow all the time. There’s also the matter of free speech. Is it okay for society to play the role of prosecutor, judge, and jury through the medium of social media?

How does cancel culture affect lawyers? With cancel culture running rampant, defamation lawyers might find themselves with a lot on their plate. A client might want to sue for defamation of their business and have a negative review taken down. Or maybe they need assistance in lessening the damages and crafting an apology. It is essential to gather all the facts and get ahead of the narrative. If a client continues to engage with those trying to cancel them, it could further land them in hot water. Even sincere apologies will often be torn apart and used as further fuel for the fire.

Sometimes, no action is necessary. Time could be the solution instead of a court case. People will grow bored and move onto the next debacle if you give them nothing new to latch onto. If you feel this situation doesn’t warrant a full-blown court case, advise your client there are other options, such waiting it out or sending a cease-and-desist to the person who created the original defamation post.

Don’t forget, you can learn more about defamation in tomorrow’s course!

How can it be improved? Cancel culture is not going away anytime soon and there is much that can be improved upon. “Think before you act” could not be more relevant here. People need to take time to gather the facts and understand context before jumping onto the cancel train. It would also be useful for everyone to analyze their own motivations for doing so and ask what will be gained through this course of action. Finally, throwing around hateful words is just fighting fire with fire. Building bridges will always get you farther than burning them, and that goes for many instances in life.