blog | Julian Summerhayes

The fallacy of the cost/benefit paradigm – Julian Summerhayes

The exalted cost/benefit analysis is a specious proposition. You cannot predict with (any) precision: The outcome of the case; The costs; The actual …

The Essentials to building a (successful) career in law – Julian Summerhayes

There is an inevitability about the legal profession. All the signs are, from a career perspective, it is headed West. I sense a slow, nervous trajec…

The essence of social media – Julian Summerhayes

Part I It’s easy: Show up Create Share And, do it all over again the next day, and the one after that. Too many people talk about social media as if …

The Essence of Brand You … – Julian Summerhayes

… REINVENTION. One thing I have learnt from being at the coalface for over 30 years (yes really), is you can’t afford to stand still. Too many people…

The Environmental Tipping Point – Julian Summerhayes

“You don’t know who is important to you until you actually lose them.” ― Mahatma Gandhi Forget Gladwell’s book. I’m talking about the point at which …

The end of our days – Julian Summerhayes

Thank you, life. Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to be here, to be me and to live — even for a brief moment. We know it: we’re lucky to be …

The Dot.2.Dot of Social Media Engagement – Julian Summerhayes

You know the drill. Find an outline you recognise, join the dots, and, Hey Presto, a picture appears out of the ether. You know what I am going to sa…

The deception of happiness – Julian Summerhayes

When you ask someone what they want in life, they default, always, to the ‘H’ word. “I just want to be HAPPY.” And I get that. First, though, you nee…

The crucible of our life – Julian Summerhayes

Is death. Or at least that’s what I believe. Everything we do or believe in should be informed by our endings — of all kind. But that’s not how it wo…

The creative act is everything – Julian Summerhayes

Perhaps it’s the space I occupy, but I’m always surprised how few people are willing to have a go at producing creative material of any sort. Let’s f…

The creative act – Julian Summerhayes

Yesterday, I cleaned my office; I’m on holiday for the rest of the week, and I’m hoping to catch up with a few other (necessary) household chores. It…

The compromise of life? – Julian Summerhayes

Life is to be lived. Not by expanding the scope of daily activity, but growing spiritually, emotionally and intellectually. Too often we are seduced …

The client retainer letter ~ WOW or yawn? – Julian Summerhayes

When I started in private practice we talked about Rule 15 letters, which set out certain regulatory requirements and the scope of the retainer. They…

The calendar never, ever lies

“Resistance will tell you anything to keep you from doing your work. It will perjure, fabricate, falsify, seduce, bully, cajole. Resistance is protea…

The Business of Your Business Card

Blog by Julian Summerhayes. 699 words. It was easy: Name. Firm name. Contact details. But now: Name. Firm name. Email. Website. Skype. QR code. Video…

The best job in the World – Julian Summerhayes

“It isn’t me, he’d say, stepping out of a landscape that offered, he’d thought, the backdrop to a plausible existence until he entered it; it’s just …

The Age of Uncertainty

Blog by Julian Summerhayes. 1038 Words. Look around you. Do you know where the Good Ship ‘LEGAL’Â is headed? Right now, you need wise counsel to stee…

The Age of the Anthropocene – Julian Summerhayes

In today’s monologue, I share a few thoughts about the issues affecting our planet and the need for urgent action. Yes, I realise you know all this b…

The age of separation – Julian Summerhayes

In yesterday’s blog I offered my opinion on our separation from nature and our non-human brothers and sisters. I think it’s worth reflecting on again…

Thank You. Thank You. Thank You. – Julian Summerhayes

How many times a day do we say these treasured, precious, disarming, smile bringing-forth, charming and beguiling words? Not nearly enough. I had the…

Take more out of the day than it does out of YOU – Julian Summerhayes

You turn up to work. Files in front of you. The clock starts ticking. And bills (because it’s month end) to generate. But it doesn’t stop there. You …

Take Away the Numbers and What’s Left? – Julian Summerhayes

I have mentioned the eponymous Tom Peters and his oft quoted expression: “Hard is soft. Soft is Hard.” If you read In Search of Excellence you will u…

Surrender to life – Julian Summerhayes

“some moments are nice, some are nicer, some are even worth writing about.” ― Charles Bukowski, War All the Time I know what you’re thinking. Surrend…

Subversive – Julian Summerhayes

â€œThe sad truth is that most evil is done by people who never make up their minds to be good or evil.â€� â€• Hannah Arendt, The Life of the Mind Yes…