@FLSALawyer
December 8th, 2009
Chicago-based Employment lawyer
Associate, Maduff & Maduff, LLC
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Today we’re tweeting with labor & employment lawyer @FLSALawyer, who also tweets as @gourmetlawyer
- @FLSALawyer thank you for joining us today on Twitter. Tell us: who is @FLSALawyer?
I am a pssionate individual w/ a drive to help people. I love to cook, and learn something new everyday.
- - Tell us about your law practice.
Civil rights firm in the emp. sector. We do everything. Inc. contract negotiations 4 execs 2 collective action litigation
- - What type of clients do you represent?
Ranges from 7-figure executives to blue color, on the line, steel manufacturing workers.
- - That is a broad range of employees. What is the single most important legal issue affecting them?
Job security & being pd wht they R owed; Some emp. believe it is more cost effective 2 break the law, rather than follow it.
- - What do you tell every new client before you start working for them?
Litigation is a long, hard process. I expect every client to work closely with me to achieve their goals.
- - Tell us about one of the more significant client representations you’ve had.
We represent over 750 employees at US Steel in Gary Works seeking unpaid wages. We just defeated SJ. We hope to go national.
- - Good luck with that. Why do your clients hire you?
We’re experienced, diverse, friendly, & client goal drive. We adapt & provide affordable options 2 meet needs.
- - What’s the most active area of your practice at the current time? Is that typical?
Severance negotiations and non-competes are more active than usual. Unpaid wage actions continue to be a trend as well.
- - How is the evolution of the workplace changing the legal status of the employee / employer relationship?
It’s becoming less of a partnership. Emp. R look 2 stretch the boundaries at ee’s expenses. Need 2 work tgthr. (cont) …
… A happy employee is one that will be much more productive and cost less in the long run.
- - How do you market your practice?
Significant online presence, large network of similarly minded attys, and word of mouth
- - And how do you describe what you do to people you meet at a cocktail party?
I help employees get paid what the law says they should.
- - You also tweet as @GourmetLawyer. Why two accounts? How do your tweets differ?
W/ ths acct I’m focusing on my professional, lawyer side. My other acct lets me explore my other interests w/o interfering.
- - How does your firm’s leadership view your active Twitter presence?
Good & bad. There’s some concerns, but it’s all about being open and frank about it. It’s a good thing.
- - What specific impact on referrals and/or client engagements, if any, have you realized from Web 2.0 activities?
I’ve received clients from fantasy gaming friends and a few other attys on the web (cont…)
I’m in a unique biz where literally every1 is a potential new client, both those employed and not
- - How much time do you spend each day developing / enhancing your brand?
15/30 mins a day. We’re in the process of developing a more interactive updated website.
- - Sounds like good ROI for your efforts…. What is the most significant issue currently facing the legal profession?
Imo, atty conduct. So much money is wasted b/c of a ridiculously mindless and pointless atty bickering.
- - Interesting perspective. What will the legal landscape look like in 10 years?
More online filing. More attys crossing state lines as legal issues become more national. Possibly a federal bar.
- - What would you do if you weren’t a lawyer?
I’d own and cook in my own espresso bistro on the streets of northern Italy
- - How do you want to be remembered?
I want everyone I meet to leave knowing I made a difference, no matter how small.
- - I’m guessing I know at least a partial answer to this one…. What do you do when you’re not working?
haha, i bet u cn. Cook w/ my wife. Prepare 4 ou new baby. I luv just being w/ my wife, family & friends w/ gd food & wine.
- - I knew it! What advice can you pass along to lawyers currently under- or unemployed due to the economic crisis?
Be diligent, work hard. Never give up. Network. The attys getting jobs typically know the people that are hiring them.
- - And our last question for you this afternoon: what advice do you have for people going to law school today?
Treat law school like a job. Set a schedule so you can get all your work done (e.g. 10 hour days, 5-6 days/wk). Don’t stress
That’s good advice. Thank you very much for tweeting with me today; I enjoyed learning more about you and your practice.
A huge thanks and to @22twts and @lancegodard for the opportunity to participate in this unique and gratifying twitterview.
Congrats too on the baby news — one more demanding client on the way….
Ain’t that the truth.
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@steveimparl
September 29th, 2009
Internet, e-commerce and small business lawyer
Owner, Law Office of Steven D. Imparl
Author of Lawyer-Boxer’s Blog
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Today we’re tweeting w/ @steveimparl who provides mindfulness-based legal services for internet, e-commerce, and small business
- @steveimparl thank you for joining us today on Twitter. Tell us: who is @steveimparl?
Thanks, Lance! I’m a son, brother, and friend—regular guy who’s a lawyer, writer, barbershop baritone, and amateur boxer.
- - Taking fighting for your client’s rights to a new level?… Tell us about your law practice.
Transactions & counseling for small businesses, mostly in Internet/e-commerce, trademark, & copyright, but no litigation.
- - What type of clients do you represent?
Small companies operating online: retailers, IT integrators, Web hosts, consultants, content publishers, some individuals.
- - What is the single most important legal issue affecting those clients?
In general, avoiding potential disputes of any kind; with the recession, no one wants to spend money now to resolve them.
- - That makes sense. What do you tell every new client before you start working for them?
“I am here to help you succeed & avoid problems. Please remember that and help me to help you. Your success is my success.”
- - Tell us about one of the more significant client representations you’ve had.
Helping a Web hosting company acquire a smaller one. The sale was good for both parties and went very smoothly.
- - Why do your clients hire you?
My IT background & ability to understand technology, attention to detail, and willingness to go the “extra mile” for them.
- - What’s the most active area of your practice at the current time? Is that typical?
Business-to-business (B2B) agreements. It’s not quite typical; the recession is making everyone a bit more conservative.
- - You “wrote the book” on Internet Law (http://bit.ly/3rhKJ). Isn’t it evolving faster than you can publish updates?
Not quite, but staying current is a huge challenge! STP, my publisher is great. I get to do quarterly updates. That helps …
Also, my editor, Christine Merriman, is awesome. She’s very supportive and enthusiastic about the book, so it all works.
- - I’d imagine that “huge challenge” is an understatement…. How do you market your practice?
Twitter, Facebook, blog, LinkedIn, and other social networks; staying in contact with clients & referral sources regularly.
- - How do you describe what you do to people you meet at networking events?
Very briefly! Then I let the other person ask questions. They always do, and we have an enjoyable and productive chat.
- - You blog at Lawyer-Boxer’s Blog (http://bit.ly/89bFk). Who is it written for? Why should they read it?
Boxing is my main fitness activity. I’ve been boxing on and off since I was a boy. It has been a good networking sport …
so I am integrating these activities in a blog. Anyone can read it, but it’s oriented toward lawyers and boxing fans.
- - Interesting combo. You have at least 3 active Twitter profiles. Why separate the feeds? Doesn’t that dilute your brand?
You must mean @ilawguide and @cloudcomplaw. I separated them at the request of some of my followers. Far from diluting …
my brand, this approach lets me provide specific followers with information that interests them most. Also, many of my …
followers of @ilawguide and @cloudcomplaw look me up as @steveimparl, & follow me here, too, so it works fairly seamlessly.
- - What specific impact on referrals and/or client engagements have you realized from Web 2.0 activities?
It’s awesome! I’ve picked up some great work from LinkedIn & now have several promising prospects on Facebook and Twitter.
- - That’s great! How much time do you spend each day developing / enhancing your brand?
Lance, I spend at least 90 minutes a day on focused activities, like social networking, to keep my name visible out there.
- - Well it seems to be working. What is the most significant issue currently facing the legal profession?
To me, it’s: “How do we provide first-rate, cost-effective services for our clients, while taking good care of ourselves?”
- - What will the legal landscape look like in 10 years?
In 10 years, I foresee many more lawyers using technology to help them enjoy a much greater work-life balance.
- - What would you do if you weren’t a lawyer?
Hmm…full-time writer, linguist, historian, paleontologist, musician, professor, motorcycle racer—I need several lifetimes!
- - Another motorcycle racer? Seems to be a trend on 22 Tweets… How do you want to be remembered?
As a good, honest, kind man who overcame huge adversity and used his abilities to the fullest, for his and others’ benefit.
- - What do you do when you’re not working?
Walking, meditating, bicycling, reading, hanging with family & friends, running www.maledepression.com, and boxing.
- - What advice can you pass along to lawyers currently under- or unemployed due to the economic crisis?
Hang in there! This is a temporary crisis, but we live in an abundant universe and we humans have boundless potential.
- - What advice do you have for people going to law school today?
Reconsider, and if you still decide to attend, have a backup “plan B” for how you can use your J.D., if you decide …
traditional practice isn’t for you. Also, hold law school administrators accountable—they’re making a lot of $$$ off you.
That’s a useful perspective. Thank you so much for answering our questions today; this was a great twitterview
And thanks for talking with me, Lance! Your questions got me thinking about many important issues, and it’s a great format. Thanks!
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