JANE FREEDMAN LAW LLC

Consumer data has never been more valuable than it is today—and almost every business which can collect it, does. As a result, privacy policies, which must disclose a company’s policy in regard to its data collection practices and uses, are now more important than ever.

A few weeks ago, a friend of mine learned that he was being paid less than a few of his peers in similar positions at his company. He had been there for more than 15 years and this newfound knowledge caused some upset. It seemed unfair that these people, who joined the company long after he did, but were in similar positions, were making more money than he was.

I recently had a long conversation with a fellow mom about our 11-year-old daughters. We were discussing how chatty they are with us, and each other—but in school, they are quiet. We quickly attributed it to the, shall we say, unruly boys in their 5th grade class that they find a bit overwhelming.

From a young age, we are taught to avoid failure at all costs. But no matter how bad it feels at first, if you pay attention, something good will come of it.

This week is the one-year anniversary of the launch of Jane Freedman Law. It seemed like a good time to reflect and share some lessons learned in the process of creating my firm.

What's more important, being respected or liked? Both, of course. But start with showing your competence and you'll see much will fall into line.

Have you ever been in a situation where you felt like you needed to be someone else to be successful? Don't do it. Here's why.

I love helping to navigate the ins and outs of the law to address business challenges. And, of course, it’s nice to get paid for doing this. But, I also love the things that don’t come with a paycheck. Some people call it “giving back.” But, to me, it’s what you get back that's most rewarding.

How many times have you been in a position where you've had to deliver feedback that was negative—or constructive (the new negative)? Here's my take on how it can be done successfully and appropriately.

I'm fascinated by the lengths people will go to get the answer they want. In the legal profession, we call that “forum shopping”—asking multiple people for an opinion in a quest to get the opinion you are looking for.

We’ve all experienced those conversations where, when you walk away, you wonder if anyone other than yourself heard anything you had to say. I’ve been in many of those conversations and, honestly, have caused a few as well. However, over time, I’ve learned how to avoid this situation

Negotiating a deal or an agreement can often be stressful. But it represents the beginning of a relationship. So it's not only important to get the terms you desire, but that all parties walk away feeling good about what they got (or gave).

Far too often, I've seen a client, myself included, select a service provider based on cost—because that provider offered a lower per unit rate. However, after engaging service providers in various industries, I've come to learn that the lowest rate does not always represent the best price or quality and can be more expensive in the long term.