August 26, 2016 nº 1,783 - Vol. 13
"To achieve great things, two things are needed; a plan, and not quite enough time."
Leonard Bernstein
In today's Law Firm Marketing, How to promote your law firm when you hate marketing
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Why is Clinton's foundation so controversial ?
The Bill, Hillary and Chelsea Clinton Foundation is an international charitable organization founded in 1997, originally to establish the Bill Clinton presidential library. Unlike personally endowed "private foundations" that serve as a pass-through for donations to other groups that do the on-the-ground work, the Clinton Foundation is an "operating foundation" - which means it primarily conducts its own charitable activities. It has been lauded as force for good in the world. It has also been condemned as a "slush fund" for the Clinton family and a front for official corruption. Either way, it has become a growing source of discomfort for a Hillary Clinton presidential campaign that would much rather have voters and the media focus on Donald Trump and his finances.
The foundation reports that it has raised $2bn, employs more than 2,000 workers and maintains an annual budget of more than $223m. The Clinton Foundation's list of donors who have given more than a million dollars is a hodgepodge of international aid organizations, national governments, corporations and wealthy international elites. An organisation that brings in billions of dollars in donations from around the world and is operated by an ex-president and a possible future president who served at a high level in another presidency creates all sorts of possible conflicts of interest. It's something the Obama White House was keenly aware of when it vetted Clinton for the secretary of state job in 2009. She signed a document in which she promised to remove herself from participation in any matter that could have a "direct and predictable effect" on the foundation unless she had a written waiver from the administration. Despite these paper pledges, Clinton critics assert that the foundation created the possibility that donors could unduly influence Clinton's official actions and provide individuals with special access to her. The 2015 book Clinton Cash by Peter Schweizer laid out numerous examples of Clinton Foundation donations that were followed by State Department actions that were favorable to the donor. The FBI field offices recommended launching a formal probe into the possibility of criminal conflict of interest between the foundation and the State Department. But the Justice Department, which had conducted its own review, concluded there were no grounds for a formal investigation.
Federal regulations on transgender patients challenged
Several state and religiously affiliated organizations filed suit in federal court Tuesday regarding the Affordable Care Act's rule banning discrimination on the basis of sex, including gender identity. The plaintiffs include the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, the Franciscan Alliance, the Christian Medical & Dental Association, and Kansas, Kentucky, Nebraska, Texas and Wisconsin. The lawsuit argues that the ACA's rule forces doctors to administer treatments that would be against their religious beliefs. The plaintiffs assert that doctors would be forced to perform sex change operations on children averse to the doctors' judgment and the children's development. Many medical associations argue that medical care related to transitioning is medically necessary and the National Center for Transgender Equality (NCTE) maintains that doctors will not be forced to administer procedures against their better judgment, but will be required to make sure that transgender people can get necessary treatment.
1- France and Germany press for access to encrypted messages after attacks. (Click here)
2- Nigeria banks banned from foreign currency deals. (Click here)
3 - Canadian Mounties Allow Officers to Wear Hijab. (Click here)
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China jaywalkers given instant road safety lesson
A city in eastern China is teaching jaywalkers a lesson about road safety by setting up makeshift classrooms near major intersections. Anyone caught dodging the traffic in Xuzhou, Jiangsu province, is taken to one of the roadside rooms straight away and taught about traffic laws by local police officers. During the hour-long class, jaywalkers are taught 30 basic rules and shown video footage of collisions to illustrate the danger of breaking traffic laws. They must then pass a test before being allowed to leave.
How to promote your law firm when you hate marketing
By Tom Trush
For many attorneys, a dislike for marketing is as common as business cards at a networking event.
And that's understandable.
After all, marketing is often seen as a necessary evil -- an expense that steals attention from product or service development, client work, and sales
But if you're among those with an aversion to marketing, ask yourself this ..
Do you hate marketing, or do you hate the lack of response you get when marketing?
You see, I find the dislike frequently comes from frustration. After all, if your marketing generates responses that lead to more sales, how could you hate it?
Furthermore, when your marketing performs, it becomes an investment -- not an expense -- that produces a measurable return.
Right?
So let me give a few quick tips for making your marketing more successful
> Communicate with prospects/clients on a regular basis If you're not building lists of these people right now, you're overspending on your marketing. Worse yet, you're missing major opportunities to position yourself as a trusted resource in your industry.
> Deliver more value than your competitors. In today's world, value is often in the form of help. Prospects expect you to dedicate resources, share you expertise and make their well-being a priority before you pitch your product or service. So don't hold back -- give away great tips.
> Remove the risk of working with you. As I detail in my new book, people don't trust you. So you must overcome this disbelief. What concerns keep people from contacting you? Address and prove these fears wrong -- and don't hesitate to guarantee a desired outcome.
> Market consistently. Avoid running promotions only when you need leads or revenue. If you want to build trust and establish yourself as a helpful resource, then reach out to prospects/clients for reasons that benefit them more than you. Remember, consistency creates trust.
> Create an experience. Most marketing gets ignored because it's boring. But the fact is, the more boring your industry, the more opportunities you have to attract attention. Solve problems, share tools, tell stories, interview experts, ask and answer
Tom Trush is available at [email protected]
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© Trey Ryder
FREE LAWYER MARKETING ALERT: If you'd like to receive Trey Ryder's weekly Lawyer Marketing Alert, send an e-mail to [email protected]. Write "Subscribe LMA" in the subject line and write your name and e-mail address in the body of the message.
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US criticizes EU in tax probes
The US Treasury Department has warned the European Commission about taking action against US companies over tax avoidance allegations. The commission is investigating tax deals granted to US companies for setting up headquarters in Europe. Next month the EU is expected to deliver its decision on Apple. The company could be hit with a multi-billion pound bill for unpaid taxes. The commission said there was "no bias against US companies" in the probes. The US regulator said action by Brussels would make it into a "supra-national tax authority" overriding the tax codes of its member states. It also said Brussels was using a different set of criteria to judge cases involving US companies, adding that potential penalties were "deeply troubling". Several companies including Apple, Amazon and Starbucks are under investigation by the European Commission over allegations of tax avoidance.
California lawmakers approve extension of climate change law
California lawmakers voted Wednesday to extend the state's landmark climate change law — the most aggressive in the nation — by another 10 years, resisting fierce opposition from oil companies and other business interests to keep the program alive at least through 2030. The move keeps alive the legal framework that underpins California's wide-ranging efforts to fight climate change, from a tax on pollution to zero-emission vehicle mandates and restrictions on the carbon content of gasoline and diesel fuel.
Italy quake: Emergency declared as hopes for more survivors fade
Italy has declared a state of emergency in the regions worst hit by Wednesday's earthquake as hopes of finding more survivors fade. Prime Minister Matteo Renzi has pledged €50m ($56m) in funds for rebuilding. At least 250 people are now known to have died and 365 were injured. In addition to the funds, Renzi cancelled taxes for residents and announced a new initiative, "Italian Homes", to tackle criticism over shoddy construction. It follows criticism in the Italian press over building standards in high-risk areas. Some of the buildings that collapsed had recently been renovated.
Brazil police charge Lochte over robbery claim
Police in Brazil have charged US swimmer Ryan Lochte with making a false statement about being robbed at gunpoint during the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.The police statement also recommends that the court issue a summons for the gold medal winner. The US State Department said it was aware of the request. Lochte flew out of Brazil after the Games before he could be questioned about the alleged false claim. The crime faces a maximum penalty of 18 months in prison and the 32-year-old can be tried in his absence. However, it is understood that if Lochte did attend the hearing he could agree to pay a fine like fellow swimmer Jimmy Feigen, who was with him during the incident. Feigen agreed to donate nearly $11,000 (£8,300) to a Brazilian charity to resolve the case. The US and Brazil have an extradition treaty which Brazil has flouted in the past. Authorities in the US could take the same stance if Lochte is found guilty.
Putin is building a great Russian firewall
To protect the nation from terrorism, a new law requires ISPs to store all web traffic, including private chat rooms and e-mails, for as long as six months. The law requires internet service providers such as cell phone operators and search engines to store all Russian traffic, including all private chat rooms, e-mails, and social network posts, for as long as six months at their own expense as of July 1, 2018. The providers, which include global giants such as Facebook’s WhatsApp, must also surrender encryption keys to Russian security services. The backers of the measure argue that by giving the Kremlin total access to internet traffic, the guardians of public safety will never be taken unawares. The law is one of about a dozen enacted over the last four years to police Russia’s cyberspace and cordon it off from the global net.
California High Court upholds tenure law
A California Supreme Court upheld the state’s controversial teacher tenure law. On Monday, the high court said that it would not take up a lawsuit by a group of students, who claimed that the tenure laws made it impossible to fire incompetent teachers and hurt students in poorer neighborhoods.
Ukraine prosecutors file charges against 18 top Russia officials
Prosecutors in Ukraine on Monday announced charges against 18 top Russian officials over the annexation of Crimea in March 2014. During a press conference Prosecutor General Yuriy Lutsenko announced the charges stating that those named were suspected of committing "particularly grave crimes against Ukraine's national and public security, peace and international order."
Colombians celebrate as peace deal is reached with Farc rebels
Hundreds of Colombians have celebrated an historic peace accord between the government and left-wing Farc rebels, signed after 52 years of conflict. The announcement was broadcast live on Wednesday from Havana, Cuba, where peace talks have been held for almost four years. The conflict has killed an estimated 260,000 people and displaced millions. President Juan Manuel Santos called the deal "the beginning of the end to the suffering, pain and tragedy of war". Both sides have agreed to work together to address social exclusion, to deliver justice to the victims of the conflict and build a stable and enduring peace. The agreement comes after two years of secret talks and almost four years of formal negotiations.
DOJ sues Georgia for segregating students with disabilities
The Department of Justice (DOJ) filed suit against Georgia on Tuesday alleging that the state discriminates against students with behavior-related disabilities. The DOJ argues that the state's Georgia Network for Educational and Therapeutic Support Program (GNETS) violates the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) prohibition on the "unnecessary segregation of persons with disabilities in state programs, services, and activities."
Kenyan President signs law capping interest rates
Shares of Kenyan banks plunged after President Uhuru Kenyatta signed a law that caps the interest rates lenders can charge on loans and set minimum payments on deposits. Kenyatta assented to amendments to the Banking Act, requiring that lenders peg credit costs at 400 basis points above the benchmark central bank rate. The law also compels financial institutions to pay interest of a minimum of 70 percent of the so-called CBR on deposits.
VW to pay $1.2 billion to US dealers hurt by diesel scandal
The settlement, still subject to a federal judge’s approval, is meant to address lost sales and the declining value of Volkswagen dealerships.
Debate over Mylan's EpiPen
Mylan just injected some adrenaline into the American health care debate. The company, which makes the EpiPen, a device used to treat life-threatening allergy attacks, on Thursday bowed to political pressure over the affordability of the treatment. A complex and opaque system may encourage high prices for drugs, but it does not force the likes of Mylan to jack them up. This episode does more to expose flaws than fix them. Criticism of Mylan has mounted in recent weeks as children head back to school and parents buy the devices to protect against peanut and other life-threatening allergies. Multiple lawmakers and the Democratic presidential candidate, Hillary Clinton, spoke out against the fivefold increase in the cost of an EpiPen since 2008. The list price for two is about $600, 400-percent increase. In a bid to defuse the situation, Mylan is offering coupons to more customers. Other families will get additional help from the company so that they will have to pay nothing out of pocket. Mylan refused to reduce the list price of EpiPen or rule out further increases. Mylan’s price increases for the allergy treatment device highlight a common tactic in the industry: raising prices just before a generic competitor reaches the market.
Texas law restricting craft brewers declared unconstitutional
A judge in Austin has declared a 2013 law that made it illegal for Texas craft brewers to sell territorial rights to distribute their beers is unconstitutional. The ruling says the government had no compelling state interest in restricting the ability of brewers to be paid for their distribution rights. The law was included in a package of laws, including four that benefited small craft brewers in other ways. But the distribution measure, inserted at the behest of some of the largest wholesalers in Texas, remained a point of contention with brewers even after all of the laws went into effect.
French High Court to rule on burkini ban
A local ban on wearing head-to-foot burkini suits at French beaches went before France’s highest administrative court, in a sign of how a clampdown on Islamic dress in the wake of terror attacks is roiling the country.
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