By Mark Baumann, an attorney in Washington State, and director of ICCI What is the difference between the words lawyer and attorney? Defining those in practical and ethical terms gives lawyers the ability to clarify flexible services they offer. Most […]
By Mark Baumann, 2026 Pay-as-You-Go is an ethical and client-centered billing method which can reduce uncollected fees. It allows lawyers to rely less on the advance fee (“retainer”) and trust accounting system, or even to eliminate it. PAYG naturally helps
Sandra Schillling and Mark Baumann will talk about ethical and alternative business practices at the Washington State Bar Association’s 3rd annual Small Town and Rural Summit in Ellensburg, Washington. Sandra Schilling is counsel for the WSBA’s Professional Responsibility Program, and
The study below confirms what many divorce lawyers know – abuse in relationships is carried on after separation. It also confirms what many lawyers sense but don’t acknowledge – abuse victims are at a high risk of giving up too
The Polyvagal Theory (PVT) offers useful insight into what drives conflict. Based on hard neurobiology science, PVT describes behavior governed by the autonomic nervous system such as the fight/flight/freeze system (FFF) and Social Engagement System (SES). Simply put, PVT posits
Sending a message that a person is bad and unresponsive to change is likely to engender a contemptuous response, according to this study. The researchers found that contempt has not been well studied, and is similar to anger, but differs
This study identifies a variety of emotions that motivate care, such as love, compassion, and generosity. Other research by law professor Clark Cunningham has found that what clients want from their lawyer is in large part to be cared about.
This important meta study & responsive comment confirm childhood neglect/abuse impacts brain shape and function, and that attachment is the primary issue. Lead authors Teicher and van der Kolk are both heavyweights in the science fields. Teicher and Samson reviewed
Equipoise describes the lawyer’s art of balancing opposing interests and states while remaining poised for action. It’s also useful for judges and mediators. It is often necessary to take time to consider two positions, and the pressure to jump into
Genes, environment and… brain parasites affect human thinking and behavior. 25 years of research studies consistently suggest that the protozoa called Toxoplasma Gondii (T. Gondii), found in cat feces, is the likely cause for increased reward and risk taking in people. Many
This research offers insight into why a client-centered approach, truly letting the client make decisions, can help avoid ethical problems. The researchers found that people with a high tendency to seek power are more likely to give advice than those
In a parenting context, mindfulness was nicely defined and training both the parent and child was found to provide the most beneficial impact for families. This meta study looked at the contribution of mindfulness-based therapies for children and families, and
The most common motivations for why emerging adults (ages 18-26) take risks are personal growth, achievement, to avoid missing out, and enjoyment/satisfaction. The findings from this study could be helpful in understanding what motivated your client towards less-than-functional behavior, and
Client motivation is a function of safety, connection, mastery, autonomy, and purpose, all of which a counselor can support. Dan Pink’s book Drive* offers business oriented research on motivation which interestingly identifies mastery and autonomy, and clarifies the fifth component,
Integration within the context of the Integrative Client-Centered Model (ICCM) has multiple meanings. Primarily, it’s hard to optimize information processing and decision making when various personal and interpersonal factors are unbalanced. Body, mind, relationships Integration refers to the integration of
In this 4 second looping video, two axonal growth cones make a connection in the brain.
From the Human Connectome Project. https://www.humanconnectome.org. Blue represents energy moving up and down in the brain, red indicates left-right movement, and green indicates front to back movement.
This 50 second video shows the brain activity of a juvenile zebra fish, which has translucent skin at this point in its development. It uses a new light sheet imaging technique. From WIRED Science, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YLVdRPVj-XM.
February 15, 2026, for the WSBA Solo and Small Practice section. We know the surface level needs that clients have. Are they and you aware of their below-the-surface-level needs? Some of these needs are not spoken and some are unknown
