LARRY RICE: on Alimony

Attorney Larry Rice speaks about Tennessee law for alimony. His lecture enlightens listeners on the reality of alimony, including the different types of alimony and the factors that influence the final rulings for alimony in divorce cases.

To view the complete video, please see the link below.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QP9b7-U36VY

"Montana Supreme Court Considers Access Restrictions"

This really needs to happen. Currently, the law in most states gives open access to very private information in divorce cases for anyone who wants to view the information. This is bad for the parties involved (identity theft, disclosing selling terms for homes, etc.) and bad for the children involved (who did nothing to get their private information out there to begin with). Legislators please fix this.
-Larry Rice

To view this entire article, click here:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/12/19/AR2010121901827.html

Private Companies Financing Divorce Litigation

The idea in the attached New York Times article sounds really great for many reasons including the prevention of conflict of interest between clients and lawyers. However, as with so many things, the devil is in the details. If you read closely, you will see they are only talking about financing for mega divorces. My feeling is that if you have less than $10 million you need not apply. In those mega divorces, the non dominant parties (often the wife, but not always) can apply to the court for interim or pendente lite fees, attorney fees, and suit expenses. Good judges grant these, it solves the problem and it is available for both the mega divorces and the middle class divorces.

Larry Rice
Attorney at Law

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/05/business/05divorce.html?_r=1&src=busln

NICK RICE Honored as a "Rising Star" for Innovative Work

Lawyers recognized as “rising stars” have generally been practicing for 10 years or less, but Nick Rice’s experience goes back further than that.

Photo: Lance Murphey

Rice is the third generation in his family to practice law, and he started his training at the age of 12, learning to research under his father’s tutelage.

“It started off with me getting to come in to work with my dad on the weekends,” Rice said. “He started teaching me how to do research, how to look up cases and how to look up statutes in the law library that they had in the firm at the time. When I got good enough, they started paying me. I’d get to do the research as the fun part, but my main task was all of the gofer work.”

***TO READ THE FULL ARTICLE, VISIT THE LINK BELOW***

http://www.memphisdailynews.com/editorial/Article.aspx?id=54477

Author: Susan Agee, The Daily News

Larry Rice SUPER LAWYER and Associates Nick Rice and Jennifer Bellot RISING STARS

Larry Rice, Senior Partner at Rice, Amundsen & Caperton, PLLC, is the only Mid-South Super Lawyer certified as a Family Law Specialist. Mr. Rice’s book, The Complete Guide to Divorce Practice, published by the ABA is the standard reference for lawyers across the nation. He founded the Divorce and Family Law Section of the MBA and co-founded the Family Law Section of the TBA.Nick Rice is a Rising Star. Nick graduated from The University of Tennessee in Psychology and received his J.D. from the University of Memphis. He has presented several CLE lectures. In 2001, Nick co-founded a charity that distributes grants to local charities. He holds an annual fundraiser for International Children’s Heart Foundation. Nick is recognized by the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation as one of Memphis’ Finest Young Professionals.

Jennifer Bellott is a Rising Star. Jennifer is a 2005 graduate from McGill University in Montreal, Quebec, Canada and the University of Memphis School of Law. Jennifer was the National Best Advocate in the 2008 ABA National Appellate Advocacy Competition. She also served as the Associate Justice for the 2007 Advanced Moot Court Competition and as an Associate Editor for the University of Memphis Law Review.

Rice Team Member Andrea Schultz becomes a Certified Paralegal

Rice, Amundsen and Caperton Law Firm is proud to announce that Andrea Schultz, paralegal to Nick Rice, has successfully completed the two-day Certified Paralegal examination. Andrea is among only forty (40) Certified Paralegals in the Memphis area.

The CLA/CP program involves successful completion of a comprehensive examination covering the topics of communications; legal research; ethics; human relations and interviewing techniques; legal terminology; judgment and analytical ability and substantive law.

Andrea graduated Summa Cum Laude with an Associates degree in Paralegal Studies. She is a member of the Memphis Bar Association, the National Association of Legal Assistants, the Greater Memphis Paralegal Alliance and the LEX Honor Society. In the past, Andrea has served on the board of Memphis Paralegal Association and as a Committee Chair for the Greater Memphis Paralegal Alliance. She was also profiled in National Paralegal Reporter, a monthly periodical of NFPA (National Federation of Paralegal Associations).

FOR ALL ATTORNEYS READING THIS BLOG: Suggestions or Improvements?

Our system is based on not only my experience and my father's experience, it is also based on all of the lawyers who have made suggestions. This includes both national and international attorneys.

I am re-doing my Interrogatories and Request for Production of Documents.

I am requesting suggestions, improvements, better forms or even inappropriate comments. Unfortunately, the formatting of this blog will not allow me to attach .pdf or Word documents. So for a copy of my most current form of my Interrogatories and Request for Production of Documents, contact Kristin Campbell at kcampbell@ricelaw.com.

My goal is that this form be the best that it can be.

Once we have that, I will be glad to share my final form with anyone who contributes as well as with anyone who asks for a copy.

It will also appear in the upcoming 25th anniversary edition of The Complete Guide to Divorce Practice.
Look for its release in the summer of 2012 at a theater near you!

Thank you for your help.

Larry Rice Speaks to Mediation Class at Memphis Law School

I believe that mediation is a valuable tool in resolving divorce, custody and family law issues. Not only do I recommend it for my clients in appropriate cases, I have served as a mediator and I have lectured on mediation around the country.
On Wednesday, September 15, I was downtown at the new University of Memphis Law School speaking to a class on mediation with my associate Jennifer Bellot and two other lawyers. For the class, we were able to use a case that Jennifer and I had mediated with two other lawyers. The mediator on the actual case, Hayden Lait, invited me to speak at his mediation class. In order to present the information to the class, we went through the case documents and changed the names and information. We spoke for and hour and thirty minutes.
One of the strong points I made is that preparation is the key to success in mediation. The other key is proper technological tools which include a portable computer, printer and scanner. Our team uses these techniques in mediation so if the mediation is successful, everyone can leave the mediation with signed documents. With these approaches, our “fall apart” rate (those cases that are settled at mediation and then fall apart that night or the next day) can be reduced to virtually zero. Mediation, like all lawyers' tools, is useful, but it is most useful if it is done right. We believe that we have developed techniques and approaches that increase our clients’ success at mediation.

-Larry Rice

Nick Rice Appointed to TBA's Executive Committee

I am very proud that my son, Nick Rice, has been appointed to the Tennessee Bar Association, Divorce and Family Law Section, Executive Committee. Nick has been an excellent lawyer. I have been so proud of him, both as his father and as a senior partner working with him. This marks the first occasion where two generations have served on the Executive Committee.

Receptionist Position at Rice, Amundsen & Caperton, PLLC

Rice, Amundsen & Caperton, PLLC is a firm of 3 partners, 2 associates, and 12 staff who are wholly dedicated to service and excellence in their practice .

Qualified candidates must have excellent organizational and time management skills, as well as be detail-oriented and able to work in a team environment. The firm prefers a bright, energetic person who plans to stay with the firm and who has experience with WordPerfect and Microsoft Word, Excel, and Outlook. The person we are seeking must also possess excellent communicative skills, in that the candidate must be capable of speaking eloquently and clearly. The job itself entails a full range of responsibilities. The daily work includes the following tasks: answering and returning phone calls; receiving and responding to emails; photocopying, scanning, and faxing documents; postage; greeting and assisting clients visiting the office; relaying incoming faxes to the attorneys and paralegals; and administrative work.

Benefits include parking, health insurance and 401(K) retirement. Salary is commensurate with experience.

Qualified individuals may send their resume and a cover letter via facsimile indicating their words per minute (WPM) typing average, desired salary range and references to Kristin Campbell at 901-526-6702, or they may send it to kcampbell@ricelaw.com. A background check will be performed.

Looking for Paralegal/Bookkeeper

The downtown domestic relations law firm of Rice, Amundsen, & Caperton, PLLC has an opening for a paralegal to do part-time bookkeeping and to support two partners.

Qualified candidates must have a paralegal degree or certificate and two to three years litigation experience as well as the ability to handle heavy case loads while keeping an accurate track of their time. The candidate must have good analytical, organizational, time management and communication skills, as well as be detail-oriented and able to work independently in a team environment. The firm prefers a bright, energetic person who plans to stay with the firm and who has experience with WordPerfect, TimeSlips, Quickbooks Pro, and Microsoft Outlook, Excel and Word.

Benefits include parking, health insurance and 401(K) retirement. Salary is commensurate with experience.

The job entails a full range of activities in the field of divorce practice. The daily work may include assisting the partners with the following: initial client intake; communication with clients and attending client meetings; drafting pleadings; drafting correspondence; indexing depositions; organizing client files; drafting and sending mail-outs to clients; maintaining case charts; filings at the courthouse; managing document production and discover; assembling, organizing and analyzing documents; attending hearings; receiving dictation and taking notes during conferences and depositions; legal research; preparing for trial, mediations, hearings and depositions; tracking deadlines; answering phones and returning phone calls; receiving and responding to e-mails; photocopying documents; billing; and administrative work.

Amy Amundsen is the chair of the MALS Campaign, vice-president of Leo Bearman, Sr. American Inn of Court, past president of the MBA- focuses on Matrimonial law-divorce, custody, and asset and debt distribution.

Coble Caperton has a varied practice of business, probate, civil and domestic law.

Qualified individuals may forward their resume and a cover letter indicating their words per minute (WPM) typing average, desired salary range and references to Kristin Campbell at 901-526-6702 (fax) or e-mail at kcampbell@ricelaw.com. A background check will be performed.

A Good Time and a Great Cause

This last weekend Senior Associate Nick Rice was honored by the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation as one of Memphis’ finest young professionals. Nick was one of thirty individuals granted this award, and he was honored based on his outstanding contributions to his organization and the community, and for his unwavering commitment to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. The event was located in the Teton Lodge at the Memphis Zoo, and several other members of the Rice Team attended the event as well. A good time was had by all for a great cause. Included are some pictures of the event.

With the Heat Comes Help

It is once again summer in Memphis, which means that for the next few months we will all be oppressed by the insufferable heat and humidity that Memphis is so well known for. However, at Rice Law, summer also brings about clerks from the Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law located in downtown Memphis. This year we are fortunate to have three outstanding clerks join our team: Tracy Bradshaw, Sam Byrd and Erin O'Dea. For the duration of the summer months, these clerks will both assist and learn from the paralegals and lawyers at Rice Law, and they will (hopefully) return to school in the fall with a newfound appreciation for Family Law.

Tracy Bradshaw

Tracy just finished her second year of law school at Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law. Tracy received her Bachelor’s of Science from the University of Alabama in 2006, after studying abroad for a semester at the Universidad de Granada in Spain. Tracy served as a staff member of The University of Memphis Law Review in the 2009-2010 school year, and will be a Notes Editor of The University of Memphis Law Review for the upcoming 2010-2011 school year. Tracy has participated in many intraschool and interschool Moot Court competitions. Tracy’s team placed as the Champion team for the Cecil C. Humphreys Advanced Moot Court Competition in Fall 2009. Tracy then went on to be a team member in the American Bar Association National-Appellate Advocacy Competition in Spring 2010. Tracy’s team placed as Regional Champion when they competed in San Francisco, and then went on to argue at the National level in Chicago. Tracy serves as a Graduate Assistant to a Professor of International Law at Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law, and she is an active member of the Student Bar Association. In her free time, Tracy enjoys traveling, running, and photography.

Sam Byrd

Sam Byrd is currently attending Cecil C. Humphrey School of Law where he is a candidate for graduation in 2012. Upon graduation, Mr. Byrd intends to practice family law in Chattanooga, Tennessee with his father, Mitchell A. Byrd, who is a Certified Family Law Specialist by the National Board of Trial Advocacy.

Mr. Byrd began working as a paralegal at his father’s firm in 2002. Mr. Byrd graduated Cum Laude from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga in 2009 with bachelor’s degree in Political Science with a concentration in Legal Studies.

Erin O’Dea

Erin O’Dea just completed her second year at the Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law. Last year, Erin was elected to represent her class as a member of the Student Bar Association. Erin used her position on the SBA to co-chair the 2nd Annual Race Judicata, a 5K race, which raised over $6,000 for Memphis Area Legal Services. This year’s race doubled in size from the previous year, and also doubled the amount of money raised for MALS. Erin will serve as the Treasurer of the SBA next year, and hopes to double Race Judicata’s profits again.

Erin is originally from Memphis. She graduated from White Station High School in 2001, and went on to attend the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, where she learned to love the color orange, and appreciate the environment. She majored in Environmental Studies, with a minor in Sociology. She lived and worked in Nashville for almost two years before returning to Memphis to attend law school. Erin is looking forward to spending the next year with the Rice Team, learning about Family Law and developing the skills needed to become a successful trial lawyer from a couple of the most sought after and well respected attorneys around.

Welcome to About Divorce Blog!

Welcome!

Rice Law (Rice, Amundsen & Caperton, PLLC) is a Memphis, Tennessee-based law firm that specializes in Family Law. Our blog, About Divorce Blog, will cover issues that team members face daily when dealing with clients and issues on matters of divorce. Please check back weekly for updates.