@vbalasubramani 2.0
April 22nd, 2010
Founder, Focal PLLC
Author of Spam Notes
Blogger at Eric Goldman’s Technology & Marketing Law Blog
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Today we’re tweeting with @vbalasubramani, Seattle-based internet-tech lawyer and author of the blog “Spam Notes”
One of our first twitterviewees one year ago, @vbalasubramani has returned to 22 Tweets to help us celebrate our first anniversary
- @vbalasubramani thank you for joining us again on Twitter. For those who weren’t here a year ago: who is @vbalasubramani?
thanks Lance, and good to be back! I’m a Seattle-based lawyer, and blogger @ blog.ericgoldman.org & @ spamnotes.com
- - What does your practice look like today? Is it different from last year? How?
it’s similar – covers the range of online issues. I did start a firm (w/a partner)..this has been great
- - Congrats! How have internet / spam laws changed over the past year? What does that mean for your clients?
online rules are fluid .. privacy is a looming issue, as it was last year; platforms (FB) are becoming more relevant
- - What’s the most active area of your practice at the current time? Is that (the new) typical?
online disputes have been particularly active, content scraping, cybersquatting/domain name issues, the usual
- - What do you tell every new client before you start working for them?
litigation is uncertain, time consuming, and often unfair – always explore a business solution
- - That clearly hasn’t changed over the past year…. Why do your clients hire you?
because I am a prolific twit? kidding .. quality work, efficient, responsive, creative & interested in the space?
- - How do you describe your work to someone you meet at a cocktail party?
tough ? (not many cocktail parties in Seattle that I go to) I represent internet/media companies in disputes & advise them on risk
- - You need to get out more…. How has the economic crisis affected your clients?
ha! most are doing ok .. everyone is trying to save $$, but this has resulted in more work coming my way
- - How have your marketing objectives evolved over the past year? What’s driving that evolution?
I enjoy blogging, but I’d like to create more client-friendly content..the social web has helped me see how this may be useful
- - What do you consider to be the biggest change in the legal profession over the past 12 months?
law firms finally realized they don’t hold all the cards vis a vis clients..also a basic change in the young lawyer’s place
- - Indeed. If you had last year to do all over again, what would you do differently? Why?
turn away more work and be much more selective – the intangible (non-monetary) effects of the work you do are significant!
- - Interesting. You recently blogged about making a “clean break” from your blog to start a new 1. How did that end up?
I’ve been blogging at Prof. Goldman’s blog, which rocks (hope to continue that) .. I may launch another blog as well
- - You touched on this earlier: how has your social media and social networking activity evolved over the past year?
lots more Twitter! I’m pretty unstructured about SM, I’ve tried to regulate it, but that’s not my personality
- - Have you seen any impact on referrals and/or client engagements coming from your Web 2.0 activities?
no direct retention or referrals, but that’s not my goal – I do it for fun, to stay informed, and chat with folks
- - Last year “a loss of confidence in the system” = most sig issue facing legal profession. Still true? Why or why not?
fair statement, the client/firm/associate/billable hour dynamic has (unresolved) issues..the basic structure needs tweaking
- - What’s the next big frontier of technology for the legal profession?
telepresence? – inexpensive technology that ‘simulates’ face-to-face?..minority report?..there’s always the iPad :-)
- - What will the legal landscape look like in 10 years?
for starters I may be retired ;-) .. types of matters that typically go to a lawyer may narrow, lots of private resolution
- - Retire? Sounds like a set-up for the next question…. What would you do if you weren’t a lawyer?
own a restaurant, or a B&B, maybe have a cooking show or magazine (better yet a blog – I hear this pays!)?
- - How do you want to be remembered?
as a contributor and a positive force
- - What do you do when you’re not working?
Travel, yoga, enjoy family, food and cooking
- - What advice can you pass along to lawyers currently under- or unemployed due to the economic crisis?
opportunities always exist in downturn..get experience..blogging is a great way to immerse yourself & demonstrate commitment
- - And our last question for you: what advice do you have for people going to law school today
be wary of echo chamber advice, focus on the fundamentals (esp. writing), enjoy life outside of the law – thanks Lance!
Great advice. Thanks again for coming back for a follow-up twitterview. It was a pleasure to tweet with you again.
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@Prutschi
April 13th, 2010
Toronto Criminal Lawyer
Partner, Adler Bytensky Prutschi
Author of “The Crime Traveller,” Precedent Magazine
Blawger on Slaw.ca
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Today we’re tweeting w/ Toronto crim lawyer, occasional blawger at Slaw.ca & author of “The Crime Traveller” for Precedent @Prutschi
- @Prutschi thank you for joining us today on Twitter. Tell us: who is @Prutschi?
Criminal defence lawyer. Amateur travel writer (@CrimeTraveller). Tech geek. Father. The order depends on the day.
- - Tell us about your law practice.
We have 3 partners, 3 associates and a student. Together, we defend shoplifting to murder and everything in between.
- - What type of clients do you represent?
My “typical” client is hard-working, middle class, and has never been in trouble with police before.
- - And what is the single most important legal issue affecting that “typical” client?
Combination of access to justice (legal fees are expensive) and bail conditions (which are often worse than the potential sentence).
That was cheating. I chose two. Sorry. :)
- - Happy to let it slide… Tell us about one of the more significant client representations you’ve had.
I acted for a mortgage broker in a multi-million $ mortgage fraud. His career was obviously on the line. Acquitted.
- - Congrats to both of you. Why do your clients hire you?
Clients take comfort from our combination of experience, professionalism, tenacity and compassion.
- - What do you tell every new client before you start working for them?
Clients must trust my professionalism while still being a partner in the litigation. I need honesty & realism in order to help them.
- - What’s the most active area of your practice at the current time? Is that typical?
Domestic assaults and impaired driving (#DUI). These are common, vigorously prosecuted, and form a big chunk of our work.
- - What led you to start your own firm with your current partners?
We all hail from big commercial firms. We were looking to help clients when the stakes were highest – criminal law.
- - Well it sounds like it was the right move. How do you market your practice?
Mostly by referral from non-criminal lawyers. Word of mouth from satisfied clients. And our website – www.CrimLawCanada.com.
- - How do you describe what you do to people you meet at a cocktail party?
I keep the system honest so that if you’re ever caught up in it (& don’t assume you won’t be), u can count on a fair trial.
- - You blog occasionally at Slaw.ca (http://bit.ly/d5IoHs). Who do you write for? Why should they read it?
Slaw is mostly lawyers but I consider my audience anyone interested in mature discussions on difficult criminal law issues…
…I challenge people to think critically about how our system works and what “fairness” means in the broadest sense.
- - Are there others in your firm as plugged in to Web 2.0 as you are? Was that a conscious decision?
As the youngest partner, I’m a natural fit for Web 2.0. The others ignore it but our incoming student (@JoelWelch) is on board.
- - What specific impact on referrals and/or client engagements, if any, have you realized from Web 2.0 activities?
Impact has been indirect. Web 2.0 has helped garner media attention which in turn has led to name recognition and client calls.
- - How much time do you spend each day developing / enhancing your brand?
I think about my brand constantly but it only takes 10min/day to tweet something meaningful or 2hrs/mth to develop a good blog post.
- - Good points. Let’s switch gears: What is the most significant issue currently facing the legal profession?
In criminal law it’s the government’s misguided “get tough on crime” policies. They make great sound bites but terrible law.
- - What will the legal landscape look like in 10 years?
Lawyers will catch up to where the rest of the world is today technologically. Of course that will still leave us 10yrs behind. ;)
- - What would you do if you weren’t a lawyer?
Be a travel journalist/photographer and call myself The Crime Traveller. Oh wait. I already do that. @CrimeTraveller.
- - I thought that sounded familiar…. How do you want to be remembered?
As someone passionate about justice and committed to fairness who was respected equally by crown prosecutors, judges and clients.
- - What do you do when you’re not working (or traveling or taking travel photos or writing about travel…)?
Play with my daughters or blow off steam through my love of video games (my home office sports an #XBox, #PS3 and #Wii).
- - Sounds like fun…. What advice can you pass along to lawyers currently under- or unemployed due to the economic crisis?
Network constantly. Understand your brand. Leverage new technology/media. Treat every person you meet as a future referral source.
- - And our final question for you: what advice do you have for people going to law school today?
Take every practicum/clinical opportunity you can. Seek out courses taught by practitioners. Volunteer in the field.
That’s good advice. Thank you very much for tweeting with me today; I enjoyed learning about you and your practice.
Thank you for the interview. It was great sharing the twitterverse with your followers today.
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22 Tweets from 22 Blawgs: Blawg Review #257
April 4th, 2010
22 Tweets hosted Blawg Review #257 last week, and put together a special version of Blawg Review: each blawger whose post was listed was interviewed. A one-question interview. In a tweet.
The responses received have been compiled below to create 22 Tweets’ first 22-lawyer twitterview:
- @charonqc What would you say is the most significant issue facing the legal profession today? Can it be resolved? How?
@22twts Survival in a rapidly changing legal services market is major issue and pricing – as crime barristers are finding. Adapt or die?
- - @chinahearsay What’s the legal story behind the Google pullout of China? Will there be a public dispute? Who has the upper hand?
[response not yet received]
- - @danharris Can foreign companies doing business in China expect short-term repercussions from Google and Rio Tinto?
@22twts No repurcussions for biz FROM Google & Rio Tinto, but should put them on their guard.
- - @smbayard How important are safe harbors for ISPs to the development of emerging economies in general and the BRIC economies in particular?
[response not yet received]
- - @jayshep Do you ever turn down work because a potential client just doesn’t get value billing? How do you convince the ones on the edge?
@22twts In 3+ yrs, only 2% of prospects expressly chose hourly billing vs going with our fixed fees. Clients get it, want it.
Convincing clients about fixed fees = educating them about value to them of solving problem, not amount of hours or work
- - @cruiselaw You represent a diverse group of people in your practice. What is the single most important legal issue affecting your clients?
@22twts Blawg Review #257 http://bit.ly/cJn6lU Most important legal issues for cruise law clients?
most important issue for crew members is liability for ship injuries and bad medical care . . .
. . . . otherwise cruise lines abandon sick and injured crew in Jamaica, Trinidad, Honduras, India.
Most important issue for cruise passengers is liability for sexual assaults, overboards, and other crimes . . .
. . . justice is fleeting for victims on foreign flagged cruise ships in international waters after cruise line cover up.
- - @PaulBKennedy You blog about a diverse range subjects. What are your objectives for your blog? Are you meeting them? How have they evolved?
@22twts My blog is a creative outlet for me. If a prospective client wants to know what I’m about — they can read my blog and find out.
When I first started the blog there were some marketing goals — but as the blog evolved, so did my idea of what I wanted out it.
As long as I enjoy putting material out there, the blog is serving its purpose.
- - @jonathanturley How do you decide which client representations to take on? Are you attracted to them by the legal issues or the people?
[response not yet received]
- - @lawandbaseball Why did you become a lawyer? Have your views changed since you’ve been practicing?
@22Twts I became a lawyer because I thought I could help the many people I saw getting screwed by the judicial system. That hasn’t changed.
- - @RonColeman What’s the next big battlefield of intellectual property law? How will it help define the next decade?
RT @22twts: What’s the next big battlefield of IP law? | Big issues in each of TM, (c) and patent. “IP” is an artificial category.
- - @loweringthebar Was it hard to convince your firm’s leadership to let you blog? Are there ever editorial conflicts? How are they resolved?
@22twts I would probably not have been able to convince them had I actually asked for permission first. Strongly recommend not doing so.
Once established, reveal blog existence, point out world has not ended. Success of strategy depends on not doing anything stupid.
In the case of a humor blog, being relatively funny helps a lot. Editorial conflicts mostly avoided by common sense/self-censorship.
Have usually been successful at this. (Tourette’s a real problem though.) Also, law firm not mentioned much at first. Build slowly.
- - @bmarler Will the Health Care reform legislation have any impact on victims of food-borne illnesses? On the regulation of food producers?
@22twts – Good Questions – Answer – http://bit.ly/azL93X
- - @btannebaum What will the legal ethics landscape look like in 10 years? Will the profession be struggling with the same issues it is today?
@22twts in 10 yrs state Bars will have realized overregulation of social media failed & we’ll have one rule for all lawyer communication.
- - @turkewitz You’re an active Web 2.0 participant. What specific impact on business, if any, have you see from your online activities?
Does Blogging Bring Clients?http://bit.ly/9QJ74V @lancegodard#sm
- - @lawbaron You review law schools on your site. What advice do you have for people going to law school today?
@22Twts At times you may feel you are the dumbest in class. You are not. Well, technically someone has to be the dumbest. Maybe it is you.
I encourage law students to enroll in your school’s clinic programs. It will give you a wonderful advantage.
- - @popehat You’ve been blogging for a long time, on a very wide range of topics. What drives your blogging? Does it make you a better lawyer?
@22twts I blog because I enjoy the community, particularly with my co-bloggers and regular commenters.
Also, because it’s an opportunity to be creative, be more genuinely expressive, and be satisfyingly blunt. Can’t do that in a brief
I suppose I do it because I don’t have the time or the guts to write a book. Plus, I just want attention.
Does it make me a better lawyer? Well, I think it sharpens my writing and analytical skills, when done with care. Also…
… it exposes me to issues that I might not otherwise read about. Sometimes those are useful in making creative arguments.
Finally, it helps me meet very smart lawyers I can learn from. But no clients. I blog semi-anonymously, very much on purpose.
- - @RickHorowitz What can society do to help kids like your client whose mental health issues land them in jail? More funding? Better training?
@22twts I’ll drop everything to get to your unsolicited request for pro bono consultation as soon as I handle the stuff I wanted to do.
- - @gideonstrumpet What would you say is the most difficult aspect of being a public defender?
@22twts Lucky enough not to have the more popular PD problems: funding, excessive caseload, etc.
Most difficult aspect, then, is fighting the presumption of guilt that most criminal defendants “enjoy”.
Not content with answering that in 140 chars, I wrote a bit more: http://bit.ly/bi133Y
- - @ScottGreenfield What’s the most significant challenge facing lawyers today? How is it changing the profession? Is there a fix?
@22Twts Deal: Most significant problem is downward ethical spiral of marketing, putting lawyers in hotpants.
Fix is backlash against scorched earth marketing, resurgence of dignity, integrity, excellence and honor.
If enough lawyers stand up for professionalism, we can stop the race to the bottom and earn back the public’s respect.
Lest we forget this vision of the future. http://bit.ly/1hcZKr
- - @prutschi Tell us about one of the more significant client representations you’ve had. What was it about? Why was it important?
@22twts I recently acted for a former NFL player (now runs a children’s charity) wrongly accused in a gun case. Reputation meant everything.
- - @MarkWBennett The SCOTUS stay is clearly a win for Skinner, but what does mean for the rest of us? Why is it a “triumph of civil litigation”
@22twts It’s a triumph of civil litigation because civil litigation achieved something in a criminal case that criminal litigation couldn’t.
For the rest of us, Skinner’s stay is a reminder of the role of the Law of Requisite Variety in the practice of law.
- - @stephkimbro You must meet many potential clients who worry about VLO security. What’s the one thing that convinces them to hire you?
@22twts I let clients to my VLO know that their homepage uses same tech banks & govt. agencies use to encrypt & secure data.
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@matthewdevries
March 18th, 2010
Construction Attorney
LEED Accredited Professional
Partner, Smith Cashion & Orr, PLC
Author of Best Practices Construction Law
Today we’re tweeting with LEED AP @matthewdevries, a Nashville-based construction lawyer and blogger
- @matthewdevries thank you for joining us today on Twitter. Tell us: who is @matthewdevries?
Thx. Best description: Christ follower. Husband. Dad to 5 (soon 6) kids. Construction Atty. Speaker. Author wannabe.
- - Tell us about your law practice.
My practice: 75% Construction; 25% Commercial Litigation; 10% blogging,marketing,speaking. That’s 110% practice!!!
- - You’ve probably underestimated it at that…. What type of clients do you represent?
My clients: Owners, A/E, contractors, subk, suppliers. This yr also included many pro-bono clients, nonprofits
- - And what is the single most important legal issue affecting those clients?
Issue affecting clients: hard economic times affect everything, from contract drafting to claims to liens to collection
- - What do you tell every new client before you start working for them?
I tell every new client that I will pour my heart into their case, give them my all, but I will always play by the rules
- - Am sure they appreciate that. Tell us about one of the more significant client representations you’ve had.
Major representation included huge win for road builder following wk long trial. On appeal now …
Other major representation involved guiding a local homeless non-profit and helping w/construction of new facility
- - Why do your clients hire you?
I hope clients hire me for my work ethic, experience, litigation track record. But it may just be my good looks (NOT)
- - What type of billing arrangements are your clients requesting? Is that typical?
Primary billing arrangement remains hourly. Had a number of blended terms lately: reduced fee + contingency (mostly liens)
- - Tell us about your LEED AP certification. What does it mean? Why is it important to your clients?
LEED AP = certification involving @usgbc; means you have understanding of green bldg practices & LEED Rating System …
LEED AP is imp to clients b/c they need advice on new risks and how to allocate that risk on green projects
- - More and more builders are adapting green building techniques. What are some of the legal dangers of “going green”?
Dangers of going green: new risks & failed expectations. Contracts are mechanism to address both of these.
- - How do you describe what you do to people you meet at a cocktail party?
Anyone who meets me knows I love my wife/kids. As father and atty, I prepare for unknown. I am a chaos manager! …
If they ask “what is construction law” I say contract disputes, arguments over concrete, payment disputes, falling buildings
- - You blog about a wide variety of topics. What’s your overall blogging strategy? How do you decide what to write on?
I blog about the things that interest my clients, whether strictly construction, leadership, technology, family …
…my friend @cordellparvin had a good post yesterday: http://bit.ly/dBb0di It’s easy to find topics. Hard to find the time
- - Indeed. Besides Twitter and your blog, what other Web 2.0 tools do you use to market your practice?
Other Web 2.0 tools: LinkedIn somewhat; Facebook for friends and family, although I see others using FB for business.
- - What specific impact on referrals and/or client engagements, if any, have you realized from Web 2.0 activities?
Impact of Web2.0: Gets my name out. New speaking opportunities. Few new clients from cold calls. Mostly name recog, though.
- - How much time do you spend each day developing / enhancing your brand?
Don’t tell my partners but I spend about 1hr per day (+/-) developing my brand. I am getting more efficient though b
BTW, none of them Tweet, so I think I’m safe…
- - Mum’s the word…. Let’s switch gears: what is the most significant issue currently facing the legal profession?
Ouch. Tough one … ETHICS! “First thing we do is kill all the lawyers” Was a compliment long ago. Now, butt end of a joke …
Was heckled by participant in presentation last week for being “Atty”. That mentality is what we have to change.BTW, none of them Tweet, so I think I’m safe…
- - Yikes. That doesn’t sound like fun. What will the legal landscape look like in 10 years?
Legal landscape in 10yrs: Hopefully we are more efficient in our work by relying on technology. More virtual work.
- - What would you do if you weren’t a lawyer?
If not a lawyer, I would love to be motivational-family-leadership speaker guy and author! I still may be day … Watch out!
- - How do you want to be remembered?
What’s up with the tough questions? Save the zingers for the end? …
I would want to be remembered by legacy of raising good kids who love God, work hard, serve others, enjoy life to fullest.
- - What do you do when you’re not working?
Not working. What’s that? When not “at” work, I manage chaos at home, make gourmet meals, enjoy kids. Golf sometimes.
- - What advice can you pass along to lawyers currently under- or unemployed due to the economic crisis?
Unemployed attys, find your passion! Here are a few posts I did on this issue: http://bit.ly/5hvpnV and http://bit.ly/cTAUIG
- - And our last question for you: What advice do you have for people going to law school today?
Hate to do this, but see prior answer. Can’t stress enough how imp it is to love what ur doing. Find that out b4 law sch.
No apologies needed; it’s good advice. Thanks for tweeting with me today; I enjoyed it very much.
Thanks for the interview. I enjoyed it! Gotta run. New chaos: family member w/kidney stones! Thanks again.
Good luck!
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@humanracehorses
February 23rd, 2010
The Law Office of Harold M. Goldner
Author, HumanRaceHorses blog
Second Oboe in the Lansdowne Symphony Orchestra
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Today we’re tweeting with employment lawyer @humanracehorses, who may well be the first 22 Tweets interviewee to play the oboe
- @humanracehorses thank you for joining us today on Twitter. Tell us: who is @humanracehorses?
I solve workplace issues for employees who have been treated unfairly & for employers looking to improve their workplace.
- - Tell us about your law practice.
Mix of employment discrimination claims & defense work; human resources; w/a smattering of PI and estate work here & there.
- - What type of clients do you represent?
Big mix on employee side; on employer side, clients tend to be businesses where the bookkeeper is still the “HR director”
- - And what would you say is the single most important legal issue affecting those clients?
People spend about half their waking hours at work; if there are going to be conflicts, they’re likely to be on the job.
- - What do you tell every new client before you start working for them?
If you hire me, you get me, not a lower level associate. I am much easier to reach by email (or Twitter!) than by phone.
- - Tell us about one of the more significant client representations you’ve had.
Settled 2 cases alleging race, gender and retaliation against an airline. Came very close trial on the 2nd case.
- - Why do your clients hire you?
I ask the “Harry Potter” question at the very first consultation. “If I were a wizard, what could I do for you” (cont’d.)
I make my focus getting what the client wants; not what I might want if I in their shoes. It’s all about the client.
- - Indeed. What’s the most active area of your practice at the current time? Is that typical?
Retaliation claims are big now. E/ees are aware of their rights & more likely to complain about discrimination. (cont’d.)
Also handling several non-competes where departing employees looking to be freed up to find better positions.
- - How has the economic crisis changed the relationship between employers and employees? Are the changes permanent?
For now employers have upper hand; employees are desperate to keep jobs even under bad conditions. Benefits more important. .
- - What’s the next big battleground of discrimination in the workplace? How will it be resolved?
1) Gender identify/affinity; acceptance of LGBT issues. 2) More anti-retaliation and whistleblowing laws. (cont’d.)
3) Genetic information. 4) Leave policies. As baby boomers age, more expansive family leave protection will be needed.
- - Looks like conflicts to continue a while… How do you describe what you do to people you meet at a cocktail party?
I solve employment & workplace problems, or as I like to say “We take the heartache out of HR”.
- - You blog at Human Racehorses (http://bit.ly/cYQlbm). What are your blogging objectives? Are you meeting them?
Much of my work comes from other lawyers; I think (at least I hope) the blog helps raise my “brand awareness.” (cont’d.)
I try to focus on the quality of my blog posts rather than the frequency. I hope that’s not a mistake. It shouldn’t be.
- - Agreed. Besides your blog and Twitter, do you use other Web 2.0 tools to market your practice? Which ones?
I answer lots of questions on Avvo (http://is.gd/90y5A) & “My Employment Lawyer” (http://is.gd/90ygi). I’m on LinkedIn too.
- - What specific impact on referrals and/or client engagements, if any, have you realized from Web 2.0 activities?
Neither LinkedIn nor Facebook generate any business (I don’t use FB that way); Avvo has generated several paying clients.
- - Congrats for that! How much time do you spend each day developing / enhancing your brand?
Not enough. I try to blog more often. I’d like to do a podcast. But I try not to ‘waste’ my tweets.
- - What is the most significant issue currently facing the legal profession?
You can’t be a worker bee without clients any more. Without a clientele, you are soon to be or are already unemployed.
- - Interesting perspective. What will the legal landscape look like in 10 years?
1) Expanded use of referral networks for solo/small firms; 2) Diminished use of billable hour (cont’d.)
3) More virtual versus in person clients. 4) More of a national or regional practice than archaic state-based model.
- - What would you do if you weren’t a lawyer?
Playing in an orchestra or band (I play alto sax & piano, too). Writing; composing. Maybe studying/teaching Shakespeare.
- - How do you want to be remembered?
My role model is George Bailey of “It’s a Wonderful Life.” I’d like to be remembered as somebody who helped others.
- - What do you do when you’re not working?
Listening or playing music; playing tennis; walking or hiking. Reading (at least when I’m on vacation). Watching soccer.
- - What advice can you pass along to lawyers currently under- or unemployed due to the economic crisis?
a niche or expertise and be really good at it. Find clients you can help. Everything else will follow. Avoid mediocrity.
Last answer, I mean FIND a niche….. (thank Twhirl for the unwanted edit.)
- - And our last question for you: What advice do you have for people going to law school today?
Be sure it’s what you *really* want to do. Expect to find fulfillment outside of law practice – it’s a jungle out there.
That’s good advice. Thank you for the twitterview: I enjoyed it very much.
Likewise; thanks for the opportunity to chat. Keep up the good work. I look forward to your future “Twitterview.”
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@beej777
February 11th, 2010
Corporate solicitor, Lees Solicitors LLP
Social media enthusiast
Author of Peninsulawyer
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Today we’re tweeting with corporate solicitor, social media enthusiast & the 1st 22 Tweets interviewee from the Wirral, UK
- @beej777 thank you for joining us today on Twitter. Tell us: who is @beej777?
My pleasure…Corporate lawyer, husband & father, Apple geek, real ale fan & outdoors enthusiast (not necc. in that order)
- - Tell us about your law practice.
I help my clients buy, sell and invest in businesses and companies and advise them on company law and commercial contracts.
- - What type of clients do you represent?
I act for a wide range of business clients from sole traders to listed companies, but mainly Wirral and Merseyside based
- - What is the single most important legal issue affecting those clients?
Managing tension between a seller (who wants a clean break) and a buyer (who wants seller to underwrite their legal risk)
- - What do you tell every new client before you start working for them?
the exact scope of the work I will do and what it will cost them. Sounds obvious, but many solicitors don’t.
- - That certainly makes sense. Tell us about one of the more significant client representations you’ve had.
To me they are all significant – for the clients I represent their deal is usually a huge (or once in a lifetime) event
- - Good point…. Why do your clients hire you?
According to their feedback because I am “personable, trustworthy and cost effective” & give “professional, creative” advice
- - You spent several years at a top global firm before joining a small regional firm. What led you to make that change?
At @LeesLLP we focus on <£5m transactions so my clients are owner managers, not acquisitions directors. It’s more rewarding…
… and it is easier as a smaller firm to embrace social media & web 2.0. The big firms over here frankly don’t understand it.
- - Interesting. How is the economy affecting your clients? Are you seeing any signs of recovery?
Instructions are up, but lack of credit from banks is stifling transaction volumes and forcing more creative deal structures
- - What’s the most active area of your practice at the current time? Is that typical?
Web 2.0 st/ups (Wirral = silicon peninsula?!) and businesses sold 2 management instd of trade buyer. V diff fr 24 months ago
- - How do you describe what you do to people you meet at a cocktail party?
I usually say that I am a corporate solicitor. Most people don’t know what I mean and we move on to something more exciting!
- - Another good point…. You blog at Peninsulawyer (http://bit.ly/cbqPp). Who do you write it for? Why should they read it?
Hopefully not just lawyers! For inside view of how social media & tech are changing legal practice (& my sparkling prose!)
- - Besides Twitter and your blogs, what other Web 2.0 tools do you regularly use?
LinkedIn, Facebook, FourSquare, StumbleUpon and Delicious mainly. Can’t see Google Buzz making the list at the moment!
- - What specific impact on referrals and/or client engagements, if any, have you realized from Web 2.0 activities?
We have gained new clients from Twitter and LinkedIn, but the biggest benefit is in relationships, authority and reputation
- - Indeed. How much time do you spend each day developing / enhancing your brand?
At least an hour, but much of it slots into spare moments throughout the day and evening. More than that today!
- - And we greatly appreciate that! What is the most significant issue currently facing the legal profession?
in UK, a perfect storm:- recession, 2012 deregulation under LSA (http://bit.ly/bzHg2X (expand)) and enterprise 2.0 / legal tech
- - What will the legal landscape look like in 10 years?
To answer that I will (loosely) paraphrase Bill Gates:- …
in 10 yrs the way solicitors work now will be obsolete. Only question is whether we make it obsolete or if someone else will
- - What would you do if you weren’t a lawyer?
I nearly became a soil scientist b4 I chose law, but if money was no object ski bum in winter, liveaboard sailor in summer!
- - How do you want to be remembered?
Not necessarily for my legal career or as first Wirral solicitor on Twitter! Hopefully as a good father
- - What do you do when you’re not working?
Try and spend time with Leo (our little boy), run & sail when I can (but promised my wife no marathons this year!)
- - What advice can you pass along to lawyers currently under- or unemployed due to the economic crisis?
Focus on relationships w/ clients and other lawyers – when the market improves those networks will be critical
- - And our final question for you: what advice do you have for people going to law school today?
You have to call where the profession will be in 10 years and how you will fit. Focus on this as much as your law books.
Very valuable advice. Thanks very much for tweeting with me today.
thank you – it’s been great fun. First interview I have done with a beer in one hand!
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| Tags: Blawger, Corporate Law, Wirral UK |
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