@nikiblack

March 12th, 2009

Nicole Black

Of Counsel to Fiandach & Fiandach, a Rochester, New York law firm

Co-author of Criminal Law in New York, a Thompson-West publication

Author of Daily Record Column (Dolan Media)

Author / publisher of Legal TweetsSui GenerisPracticing Law in the 21st CenturyWomen Lawyers–Back on Track, and Legal Antics

Winner of the first Shorty Award in #law 

For our 1st interview, we’re tweeting w/ @nikiblack, Shorty Award in #law winner and arguably 1 of the best known lawyers on Twitter

Not just a practicing lawyer, she’s a prolific blogger, a legal writer, a law tech consultant & author of “Twitter 101 for lawyers”

  1. Thank you for helping launch @22Twts. Tell us: who is the person behind @nikiblack?
    Hi there. My pleasure–looking forward to it. Simply put, I’m a lawyer, author, & legal blogger.
     
  2. What type of law do you practice and where?
    Criminal defense. I’m of counsel to Fiandach & Fiandach, a DWI defense firm in Rochester, NY.
     
  3. Who do you represent in your practice?
    People who have been charged with Driving While Intoxicated.
     
  4. What is the most important legal issue affecting your clients?
    Protecting their rights after they’ve made a common mistake-operating a motor vehicle after drinking alcohol.
     
  5. What do you tell every new client before you start working for them?
    Our office will do the best that we can for you.
     
  6. What is the most significant client representation you’ve ever had?
    I was an asst public defender for 4 yrs-While working in appeals dept., I was successful in appeal of a murder conviction.
     
  7. Tell us about the case and how it turned out the way it did
    People v. Sierra-47 NYS2d 89-Client was charged w/ shooting innocent bystander when defending himself from shots…cont.
    by his brother. Jury instruction re: self defense=confusing & erroneous-charges dismissed & client released from prison.
    Client re-indicted-plead to manslaughter, more appropriate charge for his conduct & mental state-received no more jail time.
     
  8. Congratulations on that outcome. Why do your clients hire you now?
    DWI defense clients hire our office in order to receive arguably the best defense in the Upstate New York area…cont.
    Lawyers hire me 2 learn how 2 use Web 2.0 technologies in their practices, save $, reduce stress & better serve clients.
     
  9. What would you say has been your greatest professional accomplishment in your career so far?
    The appellate win described above and co-authoring the Thomson-West treatise “Criminal Law in NY”–http://bit.ly/7oZpL
     
  10. How do you sell your practice?
    Speaking at seminars and using Web 2.0 technologies: the internet, blogs, Twitter and other forms of social media.
     
  11. How much time do you spend each day developing / enhancing your brand?
    Approximately one hour or so. It varies.
     
  12. You publish four blogs. That’s a lot. Why so many?
    I have a variety of interests that I enjoy exploring & each blog serves a different purpose for me. And, I enjoy writing;)
     
  13. What would you say is the most significant issue currently facing the legal profession?
    Accepting technology, incorporating technology into legal practices and staying on top of technological changes.
     
  14. Switching gears, what has been your greatest personal accomplishment?
    Becoming a mother. It changed me more than I ever thought possible.
     
  15. Why did you become a lawyer?
    Although it sounds cliché, to make a difference in the the world and make it a better place.
     
  16. What would you do if you weren’t a lawyer?
    Something involving creativity and/or technology-perhaps a graphic designer, web designer, or author.
     
  17. How would you like to be remembered?
    As a kind, interesting person who laughed at life, made a difference and left her mark.
     
  18. Where did you go to school?
    University of Rochester for undergrad and Albany Law School.
     
  19. Just a few more questions, Niki. What do you do when you’re not working?
    Spend time with my family, cook & enjoy wine. I also spend a lot of time on the computer-can’t seem to stay away from it;)
     
  20. It must be the influence of Twitter! What languages do you speak?
    English with basic understanding of Spanish and some knowledge of Italian. I can also read Hebrew, but don’t understand it.
     
  21. What’s one thing you’ve done that no one would ever imagine?
    White water rafting in Jackson Hole, WY. I’m not at all outdoorsy, so people that know me would be surprised to learn that.
     
  22. And the 22nd question: what advice do you have for people going to law school today?
    Your law degree is just one weapon in your arsenal. A law degree does not limit your options-it expands them.

That’s useful advice in today’s economy. Thank you so very much, @nikiblack, for doing this interview to help us launch 22 Tweets

Thanks for speaking with me. Enjoyed it very much;) 

    TWEN·TY-TWO TWEETS

    \twən-tē tü twētz\ (noun)

    1. live Twitter interviews with practicing lawyers who tweet
    2. a forum where lawyers tell their stories, one tweet at a time
    3. the hottest legal marketing mash-up on Twitter

     

    4th Annual ABA Journal Blawg 100