Lawyers Are Heroes of the Trump Resistance

Lawyers Are Heroes of the Trump ResistanceLawyers Are Heroes of the Trump ResistanceJust hours after President Trump signed his immigration executive order barring entry to nationals of seven majority-Muslim countries, lawyers got to work to fight the ban. Attorneys from the National Immigration Law Center, the ACLU, and law students from Yales Worker and Immigration Law Center worked all Friday night putting togetherbei a complaint seeking to free two Iraqi men detained at JFK airport and any other travelers so detained because of the travel ban. The complaint was filed early Saturday morning in federal court in Brooklyn, argued that day by an ACLU lawyer, and by Saturday evening the court had enjoined the government from removing any individuals affected by the ban.This quick legal response to the travel ban was repeated all over the country. Lawyers from large firms, immigration groups, and civil rights organizations filed similar petitions in Virginia, Georgia, California, and Wa shington, and met with similar success in the courts. Throughout the weekend and into this week, lawyers of all stripes have worked 24 hours a day at international arrivals terminals at JFK, Newark, Dulles, LAX, OHare, and other airports to represent travelers affected by the executive order. They have created makeshift legal offices in airport cafes and public spaces, stringing together laptops and printers and organizing shifts by Facebook, email, Twitter, and Google Docs. Even the governments top lawyer became part of the legal response to the executive order when acting attorney general Sally Yates announced that Justice Department lawyers would not defend Trumps order against legal challenges. The president quickly fired Yates and replaced her with a U.S. Attorney who agreed to rescind Yates order.Immigration is just one front for the legal fight against Trumps unorthodox presidency. Last week the ethics watchdog Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) sued President Trump for violating the foreign emoluments clause of the Constitution by failing to divest from his many businesses. The once-obscure clause bars the president from accepting any present, emolument, office, or title, of any kindwhatever from foreign governments. The ethics lawyers assert that Trump is receiving cash and favors from foreign governments through guests and events at his hotels, leases in his buildings, and valuable real estate deals abroad.Today brought the news that the city of San Francisco has sued Trump over his executive order withholding federal funds from so-called sanctuary cities. Several of the largest US cities- including New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Philadelphia, Denver, Boston, and Washington, DC- have enacted some form of protection to undocumented immigrants. The lawsuit, filed by San Franciscos city attorney alleges that the order violates the 10th Amendment, which reserves powers not granted to the federal government to the states.These su its are likely just the tip of the iceberg. The president is signing executive orders without running through the modell channels, with little of the legal oversight that normally goes into lawmaking. The orders that he has made so far have been easy to attack legally, and some draft orders that have been leaked are on even shakier legal ground. Trump either doesnt understand or doesnt care what he can legally and constitutionally do, and he is acting about as quickly on as many fronts as possible. There will be more and more legal challenges and the independent judiciary will start to overrule the White House orders with more frequency.The ACLU has collected more than $70 million in online donations since election day, about five times as much as the group has collected in online donations in the past three years combined. With Republicans controlling both houses of Congress and the Democrats in disarray and lacking any spine, the two pincers (opposing Trump) have to be litigation and citizen action, ACLU Director Anthony Romero said over the weekend.Often hated and the butt of many a joke, lawyers are becoming the heroes of the resistance to the Trump presidency. That alone may be proof of a parole that has been oft-repeated since the election This is not normal.Follow Vault Law on TwitterVaultLawand follow Vault on InstagramVaultCareersandFacebook

11 surprising habits of truly powerful people

11 surprising habits of truly powerful people11 surprising habits of truly powerful peoplePower gets a bad rap, but only because people pursue it for the wrong reasons. When power is pursued for the right reasons, it can be a tremendous force for good.Niccolo Machiavelli spread the belief that people can only become powerful by exploiting the worst aspects of human nature.One of these teachings was, A wise ruler ought never to keep faith when by doing so it would be against his interests. Machiavelli was essentially saying that youre an idiot if you keep your promises or stick to your values when youd benefit more by breaking them.Follow Ladders on FlipboardFollow Ladders magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and moreNot only did we hear it from Machiavelli, but also from plenty of voices in our own time, such as Robert Greene, who said, The key to power is the ability to judge who is best able to further your interests in all situat ions. Its no wonder so many people think that the only way to get power is to be a jerk.Fortunately, Machiavelli and Greene had something in common They were both wrong. Recent research from UC Berkeley shows that when it comes to power, nice guys finish first. The researchers found that the most powerful people (according to ratings from their peers) were those who were the most considerate and outgoing. They also found that those who were the most Machiavellian- using things like gossip and manipulation to gain power- were quickly identified and isolated and ended up with no power at all.Studies like these are rehabilitating powers bad rap. Power isnt inherently evil, and it isnt inherently bad to seek power. Without power, you cant accomplish anything, good or evil. Even those who want elendhing more than to make the world a better place, cant do so without exerting the influence of personal power. Its the abuse of power and the underhanded things people do to achieve it that cau se problems.People who earn and use power wisely have a profound impact on everyone they encounter. Yet, they achieve this power only because they exert so much influence inside, on themselves. We see only their outside we see them innovate, speak their mind, and propel themselves forward toward bigger and better things. Yet, were missing the best part. The confidence and wherewithal that make their influence possible are earned.And while what people are influenced by changes with the season, the unique habits of powerful people remain constant. Their focused pursuit of excellence is driven by eleven habits, which you can emulate and absorb until your power and influence expandThey dont wait for a title to leadIts important not to confuse power with authority. The right title can give you authority, but it cant give you power. On the other hand, you dont need a title to be powerful. You can lead without being a boss and you can have a powerful influence upon your workplace and commu nity without a title.Theyre graciously disruptivePowerful people are never satisfied with the status quo. Theyre the ones who constantly ask, What if? and Why not? Theyre not afraid to challenge conventional wisdom, and they dont disrupt things for the sake of being disruptive they do so to make things better.They think for themselvesPowerful people arent buffeted by the latest trend or by public opinion. They form their opinions carefully, based on the facts. Theyre more than willing to change their mind when the facts kooperation it, but they arent influenced by what other peoplethink, only by what theyknow.They focus only on what really mattersPowerful people arent distracted by trivialities. Theyre able to cut through the static and clutter, focus on what matters and point it out to everyone else. They speak only when they have something important to say, and they never bore people with idle banter.They master conflictPeople tend to err on one of two extremes when it comes to co nflict some are passive and avoid conflict altogether, while others seek out conflict aggressively, thinking that this will make them powerful. People who master conflict know how to approach it directly and assertively, yet constructively. Truly powerful people do not react emotionally and defensively to dissenting opinions- they welcome them. Theyre humble enough to know that they dont know everything and that someone else might see something they missed. And if that person is right, they embrace the idea wholeheartedly, because they care more about the end result than being right.They inspire conversationWhen powerful people speak, their words spread like ripples in a pond. Influencers inspireeveryonearound them to explore new ideas and to think differently about their work.They know their strengths and weaknessesPeople who get seduced by power and, therefore, start abusing it are often blind to their own weaknesses. To become truly powerful, you have to see yourself as you reall y are and to position yourself to use your strengths for the greater good. That means taking a clear-eyed look at your strengths and your weaknesses and owning them both completely.They grow and leverage their networksThose who grow power the Machiavellian way dont bother with people who arent useful to them. People see this coming a mile away, and it doesnt win any friends.Truly powerful people know how to make lasting connections. Not only do they know a lot of people, they get to know their connections connections. More importantly, they add value to everyone in their network. They share advice and know how, and they make connections between people who should get to know each other.They ask for help when they need itIts easy to mistakenly assume that powerful people never ask for help from anybody. Asking for help when you dont know the answer or cant do it all by yourself is not a sign of weakness its a sign of strength. It sends the message that youre not so insecure as to put your ego above the mission.It takes a tremendous amount of confidence and humility to admit that you need assistance, and asking for assistance is critical, because theres nothing worse than trucking down the wrong path when youre too embarrassed or proud to admit that you dont know what youre doing.They believePowerful people always expect the bestThey believe in their own power to achieve their dreams, and they believe that others share that same power. They believe that nothing is out of reach and that belief inspires those around them to stretch for their own goals. They firmly believe that one person can change the world.They do itnowWay back in 1894, Orison Swett Marden made an important point Dont wait for extraordinary opportunities. Seek common occasions and make them great. Weak men wait for opportunities. Strong men make them. If you put off growing your power until the right opportunity comes along, its never going to happen. Powerful people know that developing power is a lot like lifting weights or running a 5K. The only way to strengthen those muscles is by using them, so stop making excuses and just start. You know what you believe in, you know who you are, and you know what you want to become, so act like it. Yes, it will be uncomfortable at times, and yes, some people will tell you youre doing it wrong, but the only way to achieve power and use it for good is to get out there and do it.Bringing It All TogetherBoris Yeltsin once said, You can make a throne of bayonets, but you cant sit on it for very long. Forget everything youve heard about power, because, in the end, the nice guys really do win. Whether you call it power or influence, its okay to want it and its okay to have it. You just have to pursue it and use it with integrity.Have you seen people abuse power? Please share your thoughts in the comments section below, as I learn just as much from you as you do from me.This article first appeared on Linkedin.You might also enjoyNew neurosc ience reveals 4 rituals that will make you happyStrangers know your social class in the first seven words you say, study finds10 lessons from Benjamin Franklins daily schedule that will double your productivityThe worst mistakes you can make in an interview, according to 12 CEOs10 habits of mentally strong people

Heres How You Can Write a Compelling Business Feasibility Study

Heres How You Can Write a Compelling Business Feasibility StudyHeres How You Can Write a Compelling Business Feasibility StudyIf you think you have a great idea for a new product, such as a homemade cherry jam handed down to you by your grandmother, it may be time to bring your idea or product to market. You may have even received so many compliments that you feel it could be a genuine business opportunity, which is great, but youll probably need to do some research to see if the idea will actually bring in any real profits. Whats a Feasibility Study? A business feasibility study is a process that tests your ideas viability. It helps you to get a handle on whether your idea will fly or if its likely to flop. Feasibility studies can also serve as a basis for creating a ?small business plan and a marketing plan, both of which youll also need going forward. A typical feasibility study titelbilds six areas, starting with a description of your business, the market, technology youll ne ed to use, financial and organizational details, and a conclusion of how youll move forward. Before starting the report, you can do some basic research to see if your idea has enough going for it to take the time to compile the report. These 10 steps and considerations can get you started on answering that question and working through your own study. Assess Potential Customer Demand Ifyoure thinking of selling your cherry jam in your area, start your research by visiting grocers and surveying their shelves. Do theyhave a paltry display with very few jam products? Thiscould mean that theresno demand for your product. Next, go to the Internet. Do a keyword search for your product if you plan to sell it online. If it looks like a lot of people are doing a brisk business selling cherry jam or a similar product, theres a good chance that demand exists for what you intend to sell. Assess the Competition Find out who youre up against. Lets say youd like to sell your jam at the loca l farmers market. Stop by the market at least twice, once on the busiest day and once on the slowest day. See how many- if any- vendors are selling jam, and sample their products. You should be able to judge fairly easily if your product is oben liegend or unique to those that youll be competing against. If you plan to sell your jam online, see if theres a leading brand that dominates the market and already has a devoted customer base, then sample it. Starting Your Feasibility Study Now youre ready to get started on your study, and that begins with understanding it in mora detail. A feasibility study typically includes six sections or components a description of your business, a market feasibility study, a technical feasibility study, a financial feasibility study, an organizational feasibility study, and your conclusions. Begin gathering necessary the information youll need to address all these issues. What do you need to accomplish to make your business work? What are some pot ential problems you might encounter? Devise some marketing strategies. Commit all this to writing- youll refer back to it a time or two or 10. Writing a Market Feasibility Study Prepare the market components of your feasibility study first, including a description of the industry, the current market, the anticipated future market potential, and industry trends, the level of your competition, sales projections, potential customers and clients, and other revenue-generating resources. Your challenge is to keep all this as brief as possible. Eliminate wishful thinking in your assessment of the current market and your competition and be conservative with your sales projections. Writing a Technical Feasibility Study The technical feasibility study focuses on the technical and logistical factorsthat must be in place so your business canproduce, store, and deliver its products or services to the public. A technical feasibility study includes details like the kinds of materials, labo r, technology, and transportation youll need, as well as where your business will be located. Remember, a loan officer or investor will be reading this, and yours is probably not the first feasibility study hes ever encountered. Hes experienced, you have his attention, and youre taking his time. He expects your study to be polished and professional. So give a comprehensive accounting of what you expect to need to get your business off the ground, including technology, materials, labor costs, and transportation and shipping costs in clear, concise order. Writing a Financial Feasibility Study The information included in your technical feasibility study must be supported by your financial feasibility study. Your technical feasibility study should flow seamlessly and directly into this component. Heres where youll address estimated startup capital. Identify and list your sources of capital, and the explain estimated potential returns on investments. Dont overlook an explanation of h ow an investor can expect to be paid for his support of your business. Your financial feasibility study should be comprehensive down to the most minute detail. Dont assume that your reader already knows or anticipates hearing this information. Make sure your projected capital is adequate to cover the technical and logistical factors youve already outlined. Writing an Organizational Feasibility Study This covers the important details of your businesss organizational structureand will help you make your feasibility study and your business plan more attractive to potential investors and clients. An organizational feasibility study defines the legal structure of your businessand offers pertinent professional background information about the founders, the partners, and other principals involved in the venture if any. It can be helpful to include a code of ethics here, along with your businesss principles and practices. Address issues of employee training and accountability, as well a s anti-discrimination and other labor policies. Feasibility Study Conclusions Heres where yousummarize and draw the conclusions you want your potential investors and customers to understand. You dont want to introduce statements here that have not been supported by the data and other information youve already presented. Your previous study components must support your conclusions clearly and without question. Use this section to enforce items youve already mentioned and to make sure previous points are crystal clear. Stick to facts. Avoid comments and phrases like, I think, or I believe. Other words to avoid include hope, anticipate, and opinion. Your reader wants facts, not speculation. Presenting Your Completed Feasibility Study This last but perhaps most important step involves assembling your feasibility study into a professional-looking package, as you might be presenting this report to several different parties. While contents key, the presentation is equally important because you want to engage people from the start or they wont pay attention to the details. Make sure your cover letter is personalized and has impact. Design a cover sheet and assemble a table of contents. Gather everything in a neat, professional binder or portfolio. Should You Hire an Expert Consultant? If you dont have thetime to complete a feasibility study, it might make sense to hire a consultant to manage and conduct it for you. Ask colleagues for referrals and thoroughly research consultants with expertise in your chosen product or service area. Learn what their fees are. If you decide to hire someone, be clear that you want his report to be as objective and honest as possible. Otherwise, roll up your shirtsleeves and get to work. Youcanwrite a useful and worthwhile feasibility study if you take your timeand educate yourself a little first.