19 traits of successful lawyers

These are taken, verbatim froma young lawyer's blog. I am in this place where I really want my firm to grow and be the best that we can be. I offer these up, as much for me as for you:


Never be satisfied with your level of development; always try to better than you were before.
Avoid comfortable situations. Do things even if you don’t like them, because you know they’re important.
Set goals. Don’t just feel you SHOULD do something, but rather that you MUST do it.
Don’t blame others. Resolve problems. Any setback is an obstacle that must be overcome.
Take risks. But take them with wisdom. Don’t take risks without planning. Evaluate and proceed with confidence and without fear.
Have vision. Develop the ability to foresee in your mind the results you want even before you start with your plan. Learn to see the beginning from the end.
Don’t be a slave to work. Make time to rejuvenate yourself, so you can be more productive.
Learn to handle yourself well under pressure. No one can have confidence in an individual who is always nervous and pressured.
Be objective. Don’t take failures personally.
Understand the nature of energy. If you apply sufficient force to a goal, progress will be made.
Learn to nurture. Build up and nurture others. Always leave things better than how you found them.
Become sociable. Enjoy being with others.
Become self disciplined. Don’t let habits, desires and failures control you, rather learn to control yourself.
Be courageous.
Have FAITH in yourself. Don’t doubt. Demonstrate your faith with actions and works.
Live in the present. Don’t live with yesterday’s laurels nor with tomorrow’s aspirations. Do your best NOW.
Forget about past errors. Don’t base today’s decisions on yesterday’s mistakes. Hope and live for today’s success and in the future.
Be quick to forgive, forget, and to keep going with on with life. This applies as much to yourself as with others.
Learn to stand on the shoulders of predecessors. Build on what others have done. Don’t destroy what others have done just advance your own agenda.

Wait time statistics For Hartford Social Security Cases

NOSSCR reports the most recent processing time for hearings before an ALJ in Hartford is 375 days. That is 17th best in the Nation. To put things in perspective, the shortest wait time is in Houston at 283 days, and the longest is Chicago at 712 days---close to two years.

Jim Pomeranz This Year's Pomeranz-O'Brien Award Recipient

Attorney James L. Pomeranz of Glasonbury's Pomeranz Drayton and Stabnick was the recipient of this year's Pomeranz O'Brien Award given by the Worker's Compensation Section of the Connecticut Bar to a member for their outstanding contributions to the field of worker's compensation law. The award was presnted to a standing ovation by those of us attending tonight's Worker's Compensation Section dinner meeting.

The award is named after Jim's father, the late Edward Pomeranz (for whom my own dad worked, many years ago) and the late Ed O'Brien, Sr., a great practitioner in the field of worker's compensation who also served the State as a Compensation Commissioner for many years before his death.

I have known Jim for 21 years in my practice of worker's compensation and can think of no finer recipient for this award. Jim has always been a true gentleman and scholar in my dealings with him, both as a friend and as an adversary. He is a rare breed in the practice of law today---a man who can be taken at his word.

My heartfelt congratulations to "Jimmy P" for this well deserved honor. Jim, you do the bar, and especially those of us practicing in the realm of worker's compensation law proud

Fifth Time in 6 Years

http://boston.redsox.mlb.com/news/gameday_recap.jsp?ymd=20080923&content_id=3533813&vkey=recap&fext=.jsp&c_id=bos

CT Worker's Comp Commission Mandates Electronic First Reports Effective 2009

The Text of Commissioner Mastropietro's Memorandum reads as follows:

WCC Electronic Filing of First Reports of Injury Memorandum - September 17, 2008

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MEMORANDUM NO. 2008-03

TO:	Commissioners, District Administrators, Self-Insureds, Insurance Carriers, Attorneys, Unions, Legal Advisory Panel and Advisory Board Members
FROM:	John A. Mastropietro, Chairman
DATE:	September 17, 2008
RE:	Electronic Filing of First Reports of Injury Mandated

Effective January 1, 2009 the Workers' Compensation Commission is instituting a policy that all First Reports of Injury filed pursuant to § 31-316 must be transmitted electronically to the Chairman's Office.

Prior to the effective date of the above policy, the Workers' Compensation Commission has accepted both electronic and hard copy submissions of First Reports of Injury. However, recognizing that business communications are now largely accomplished through electronic transfers, the Workers' Compensation Commission is mandating that First Reports of Injury be filed electronically with the Chairman's office. We believe this step will help reduce costs and will expedite the forwarding of information that may be necessary for claims processing. This will also allow us to better meet the mandate of Public Act 08-03, the new statute requiring notification of claim filing information.

Access to web based filing is an available alternative for low volume submitters.

In the event you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact this office.

Costs Increase Approved For certain WC Claim case exoenses

WCC Revised Professional Guide Memorandum - September 17, 2008

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MEMORANDUM NO. 2008-05

TO:	Commissioners, District Administrators, Workers' Compensation Advisory Board, Legal Advisory Panel, Medical Advisory Panel, Medical Practitioners, Self-Insureds, Insurance Carriers, Attorneys, and Unions
FROM:	John A. Mastropietro, Chairman
DATE:	September 17, 2008
RE:	REVISED Professional Guide for Attorneys, Physicians and Other Health Care Practitioners; Guidelines for Cooperation

By memorandum dated September 27, 2002, the Workers' Compensation Commission adopted and issued the Professional Guide for Attorneys, Physicians and Other Health Care Practitioners; Guidelines for Cooperation.

The following revisions to the guidelines are effective October 1, 2008:

1. Where appropriate, photocopy charges for physicians will increase to 65 cents per page;
   
2. Deposition fees will increase to $500 per hour;
   
3. Fees for Formal Hearing Testimony for the Treating Physician will increase to $550 per hour;
   
4. Fees for Formal Hearing Testimony for the Employer/Respondent's Examiner will increase to $650 per hour.
   

THESE ARE COSTS THAT YOUR LAWYER INCURS IN REPRESENTING YOU IN A WC CASE. IT IS REASONABLE TO ASSUME THESE INCREASED COSTS WILL BE PASSED ON TO THE CLIENTS.

For your convenience, copies may be downloaded from (the Connecticut WCC) website at:

http://wcc.state.ct.us/download/acrobat/proguide.pdf