@BrianInkster

Today we’re tweeting with @BrianInkster, the Law Awards of Scotland’s 2006 *Solicitor of the Year*

1. rianInkster thank you for joining us today on Twitter. Tell us: who is @BrianInkster?
   Thanks for inviting me. The 7th child of a Shetland fisherman, a solicitor, businessman and husband to Nicola of @pagepark
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2. Tell us about your law practice.
   Inksters (@inksters): Based in Glasgow, 10 years old, doing: http://ow.ly/jJgA with a great team: http://ow.ly/jJhf
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3. What type of clients do you represent?
   Individuals, small businesses, builders, farmers, crofters, fishermen, salmon and mussel farmers, a local authority etc.
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4. That’s a very diverse group. What would you say is the single most important legal issue affecting those clients?
   The legal processes involved. Much could be done by Govt. to streamline these: e.g. as done with ARTL: http://ow.ly/jJo7
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5. What do you tell every new client before you start working for them?
   What our terms of business and basis of charging is, as required to do at the outset by The Law Society of Scotland @lawscot
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6. Can you tell us about one of the more significant client representations you’ve had?
   Moncrieff v Jamieson: The House of Lords recognised that there is a servitude of parking in Scotland: http://ow.ly/jJrY
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7. Why do your clients hire you?
   Because we mix “good old traditional values with an innovative approach to delivering legal services” (Donald Findlay QC)
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8. Makes sense…. Will the reforms of the Legal Services Act affect your practice and firm? If so, how?
   We are seeking to combat it by becoming the first Scottish member firm of QualitySolicitors.com: http://ow.ly/jJxO
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9. That’s an interesting tactic. What are the advantages and disadvantages of practicing in a jurisdiction like Scotland?
   A small country with laws distinct from England/Wales. That size/uniqueness provides advantages that can be disadvantages.
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10. Your firm, Inksters Solicitors, is known for being “just that little bit different.” What exactly is that difference?
    All will be clear from a short (6min) film I made earlier: http://ow.ly/jJFn – I will make a cup of tea while you watch it.
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11. Nice story. Clearly that style and approach benefit the firm. How do they benefit your clients?
    Clients get added value to the services we provide and nice little extras: like the ability to pay their accounts online 🙂
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12. How do you market your practice?
    Good service, the web (with SEO), 6 Twitter streams, direct mail, press releases, lectures, articles, events, sponsorship
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13. Besides Twitter, what other Web 2.0 tools do you use?
    LinkedIn, 3 websites: http://ow.ly/jJVm including TV & Radio: http://ow.ly/jJVn (YouTube next – you heard it here first!).
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14. Can’t wait! What specific impact on referrals and/or client engagements have you realized from Web 2.0 activities?
    22% of new clients have emanated from www.inksters.com since November 2008. We did not get new clients from our old website.
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15. That’s a great result! How much time do you spend each day developing / enhancing your brand?
    Almost every waking moment and perhaps some sleeping ones: if I manage to tune my subconscious mind in correctly 🙂
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16. A true social networker.. Let’s switch gears: What’s the most significant issue currently facing the legal profession?
    The recession. Law firms must accept that it is here and adapt to survive through it.
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17. What will the legal landscape look like in 10 years?
    Maybe not quite “The End of Lawyers” (@RichardSusskind). But there will be less of us doing more (with technology).
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18. What would you do if you weren’t a lawyer?
    A modern day Alan Whicker with a television series called, of course: “Inkster’s World”.
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19. Perhaps we’ll see the beginnings of that on your YouTube channel…. How do you want to be remembered?
    As a lawyer who made a difference to his clients, staff, law students, other lawyers and to the development of Scots Law.
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20. What do you do when you’re not working?
    As revealed on podcast to @Charonqc I am taking Tango dancing classes with my wife. I like to travel: next stop Argentina.
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21. What advice can you pass along to lawyers currently under- or unemployed due to the economic crisis?
    Develop an expertise in the area of law you are interested in: write, blog, tweet and lecture. Embrace technology.
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22. And our final question for you: what advice do you have for people going to law school today?
    Be prepared for the potential of a career outside law. Study, if you can, at Strathclyde University, where I lecture 🙂

Two valuable pieces of advice to close this great twitterview. Thank you very much for answering our questions today

And thank you, Lance, for twitterviewing me. I enjoyed it.

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