@JeenaBelil
July 16th, 2009
Long Island Auto and Motorcycle Accident Attorney
The Law Office of Jeena R Belil PC
Former Managing Counsel, AutoOne Insurance, and First Party New York Regional Coordinator, Travelers Insurance
Today we’re tweeting with Long Island auto & motorcycle accident attorney and adoption advocate @JeenaBelil
- @JeenaBelil, thank you for joining us today on Twitter. Tell us: who is @JeenaBelil?
Former insurance co. managing counsel – downsized in ’07. Now, solo home-based litigator. I haven’t looked back.
- - Tell us about your law practice.
40% Personal Injury, 50% Insurance Coverage Litigation, 10% Other Disputes
- - What type of clients do you represent?
NYers who have been injured through the negligence of others & heath care providers who are denied No-Fault payments for services.
- - What is the single most important legal issue affecting those clients?
The complexity and instability of New York No Fault Law and Serious Injury Threshold. New court decisions come out daily
- - What do you tell every new client before you start working for them?
That no outcome is guaranteed and that settling a matter is not the same as losing the case.
- - Tell us about one of the more significant client representations you’ve had.
At my former gig, I had my name on more than 10,000 active cases in NYC & Long Island.
- - Wow – significant indeed! Why do your clients hire you?
Clients have said that they like my personal approach & that I break down the litigation process for them into bite-sized pieces.
- - What’s the most active area of your practice at the current time? Is that typical?
I’m knee-deep in bill of particulars & discovery responses. Want to help? Very typical. I’m creating the blueprints for trial
- - You’ve been on both sides of the personal injury case, having worked in-house w/2 insurers. Isn’t that contradictory?
No. It’s like an ADA going into criminal defense after a few yrs. I’m comfortable arguing either side of an insurance issue.
- - What’s the *real* value of your in-house experience for your clients today?
I offer an inside perspective on insurance claim handling, decision-making and defense to my clients….a look under the hood.
- - I image that’s a very valuable perspective. How do you market your practice?
I use high and low tech. Today, I struck up a conversation with a person in the post office who owns laundromats….
He offered to put my cards on his bulletin boards, networking with other small biz owners, and, of course, Web 2.0.
- - Besides Twitter and your blog (http://bit.ly/mTOCL), what other Web 2.0 tools do you use?
3 FB pages, LinkedIn, JD Supra, list serves, e-zine, guest blogs, AVVO. Also, I’ll be on future episode of www.bearockstar.tv
- - THREE FB pages? Hmm. What are the strategic objectives driving your Web 2.0 activity? Are you meeting them?
Concurrently create interest in my legal services & give a peek at my personality. Folks will know me before they may need me. Yes.
- - Makes perfect sense. What specific impact on referrals / client engagements have you seen from your Web 2.0 activities?
About 50% of my clients come directly from my Web 2.0 marketing efforts.
- - That’s very impressive. How much time do you spend each day developing / enhancing your brand?
I consider it my 2nd job & I weave it through my work day. I’m either learning something new or applying it
- - Clearly that effort is paying off. What is the most significant issue currently facing the legal profession?
In my line of work, it is the staggering amount of time lawyers spend in court waiting around.
- - What will the legal landscape look like in 10 years?
We are going retro & techno at same time: > solos & home offices. My wish: Video-conference cases w/ judges, web-based depositions.
- - What would you do if you weren’t a lawyer?
I’d be doing stand-up comedy and starving. : )
- - Good thing you went to law school, then…. How do you want to be remembered?
As one of my daughter’s role models.
- - What do you do when you’re not working?
Adoption education and awareness, having lots of fun with my kid, getting psyched for kid number 2. Oh yeah…dinner & laundry!
- - What advice would you pass along to lawyers currently under- or unemployed due to the economic crisis?
Stop saying “I can’t….”
- - And our last question: What advice do you have for people going to law school today?
Take as many clinics as you can. You will get practical experience & you will help those in need…
and during your career, don’t forget to say “please” & “thank you”
That’s great advice to close this great twitterview! Thank you so much for answering our questions today
Thank you so much for the opportunity.
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| Tags: Blawger, Insurance, Long Island, Personal Injury |
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@steigerlaw
June 9th, 2009
Personal injury lawyer at the Law Offices of Lowell Steiger
Author of Lowell Steiger’s Personal Injury Law Blog
*
Today we’re tweeting with Los Angeles personal injury lawyer @steigerlaw, who treats his clients with the respect they deserve
Hi How are you today?
- @steigerlaw, thank you for joining us today on Twitter. Tell us: who is @steigerlaw?
A lawyer who loves representing injured people, caretaker by nature. Fighting the good fight for my clients :-)
- - Tell us about your law practice.
I represent people who were hurt by vehicles (cars, motorcycles, buses, etc.) defective products, slip/trip & fall accidents.
- - Can you tell us a little bit more about the clients you represent?
Anyone who has been physically hurt by someone else’s negligence (fault). Also rep workers who haven’t been paid OT, meal breaks
- - What is the single most important legal issue affecting those clients?
There are 2 important legal issues/Q’s for injured people: (1) Who was at fault and (2) did this event actually cause the injuries?
- - What do you tell every new client before you start working for them?
I care what happened 2u, UR not a number. Your job is to get better, I’ll handle the legal part & guide you thru the entire process
- - I’m sure that is reassuring to hear. Tell us about one of the more significant client representations you’ve had.
Yng motorcycle rider paralyzed when car turned left. We settled 4 just under $8 million 4 lifetime care BUT it was heartbreaking
- - Why do your clients hire you?
Other than the bowl of candy on my desk? Zealous representation, thorough explanations, no BS, respect 4 client as a person in pain
- - People do seem to gravitate toward the desks with candy…. How has your practice evolved since you became a lawyer?
At 1st it was just me. Now I have lawyers & staff working on cases so that clients get all the attention that their cases require
- - What would you say is the most difficult aspect of being a personal injury lawyer?
Insurance companies denying fault or that my client is actually injured! That attitude infuriates me and I FIGHT them to the end.
- - I’m sure your clients appreciate that. How do you market your practice?
Nontraditional marketing. Clients come thru referrals, social media, my blog, word of mouth. I do what I love, that brings clients
- - You blog at Lowell Steiger’s Los Angeles Law Blog (http://bit.ly/3VNJRy). Who do you write for? Why should they read it?
An eclectic group who read it because they’re interested in the topics at hand. I include other points of view, relevant links, etc
- - You’ve been blogging since 2006. What led you to start blogging about personal injury law?
Blogging is #1 way to start a dialogue w/that great big world out there. Personal injury law is my passion, that’s what I blog about
- - Why did you decide to join Twitter? Has it proven to be a valuable effort?
I joined Twitter without a clue and found idea and resource exchanges, professional connections. Twitter is an incredible tool.
- - It certainly is (& you clearly have a clue now). Beyond Twitter and your blog, what other Web 2.0 tools do you use? Why?
I subscribe to a lot of legal and medical blogs and newsletters to keep me current and give me ideas that help me advise my clients.
- - What specific impact on referrals and/or client engagements (if any) have your Web 2.0 activities provided?
My clients’ cases benefit from my access to so many incredible people whose ideas and experience help me think & act outside the box
- - That’s an interesting perspective. How much time do you spend each day developing / enhancing your brand?
Tweet for about an hour with my morning cup of Joe & throughout the day. I guess it’s branding but I think of it as communication
- - It’s both, isn’t it? Let’s switch gears: what is the most significant issue currently facing the legal profession?
Big business trying to block consumers’ access to the courts through “tort reform” under myth of frivolous lawsuits (see next Tweet)
Frivolous lawsuits are, in my opinion, a myth and the forces stating otherwise must be addressed http://tr.im/nVXi
- - What will the legal landscape look like in 10 years?
Hard to say (no crystal ball). We have to fight to maintain current rights & restore those lost during the last administration
- - What would you do if you weren’t a lawyer?
That’s tough – I’d write about law (Grisham doesn’t need to worry too much yet) & work w/animal rescue organizations.
- - How do you want to be remembered?
As a loving partner, son and friend, someone who did good for others
- - What do you do when you’re not working?
Spend time with family, friends and dog, write, watch movies, go to open houses, drive around beautiful L.A. (I love L.A.)
- - Our last question for you is: what advice do you have for people going to law school today?
Find the passion in what you do. If you love what you do, good will follow. Law is a wonderful profession.
Thanks for inviting me. This was a wonderful experience. I appreciate what you’re doing @22Twts !
This was a great twitterview. Thank you very much for answering our questions today
You’re welcome!! Thank you, too. I’ve enjoyed the experience and look forward to reading other Twitterviews. Lowell Steiger
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@bmarler
June 2nd, 2009
Personal Injury and Products Liability Attorney
Managing Partner of Marler Clark L.L.P., P.S.
Food Safety Advocate
Author of Marler Blog, as well as Botulism Blog, Campylobacter Blog, Cryptosporidium Blog, Cyclospora Blog, E. coli Blog, Enterobacter Sakazakii Blog, Food Poison Blog, Hepatitis A Blog, Listeria Blog, Mad Cow Blog, Norovirus Blog, Salmonella Blog, and Shigella Blog
Today, we’re tweeting w/ @bmarler, Food Safety Advocate, MP of Marler Clark, Food Poisoning Lit Lawyer, Blogger, Husband, Father
- @bmarler, thank you for joining us today on Twitter. Tell us: who is @bmarler?
I am a trial lawyer who focuses on food safety issues.
- Tell us about your law practice.
For the last 16 years I have been involved in every major food borne illness case in the US.
- That’s an impressive elevator speech! What type of clients do you represent?
Primarily children sickened by food they consume.
- What is the single most important legal issue affecting your clients?
Proving causation – what food item made them ill.
- What do you tell every new client before you start working for them?
Great question – I tell them I am there 24/7 for them.
- Under circumstances imagine that’s reassuring. Tell us about one of the more significant client representations you’ve had.
Tough question – probably the $15.6M I got for one girl sickened in the Jack in the Box E. coli case.
- Why do your clients hire you?
other than my good looks? I think because of our knowledge of the subject, our experience and results.
- Maybe it’s all four…. What would you say is the most difficult aspect of representing victims of food poisoning?
Certainly dealing with the death of a child. I have three daughters and simply can not imagine it.
- Why did you step in to get Michael Pollan’s book, “The Omnivore’s Dilemma,” back on the curriculum at Wash State U?
Couldn’t help myself – It was the right thing to do. It is a book that should be read at WSU and all colleges.
- Indeed. A couple of months ago you offered $25K to charity if you got 25K Twitter followers. Are you still pursuing that?
I got to 2,500 followers and donated $2,500 to cancer research. I am waiting on the next 2,500 followers and have a growing list.
- Hope this helps… You are one of the–if not THE–country’s food poisoning law experts. What’s the secret of your success?
I work hard, very hard (some say too hard) – I am focused, organized and passionate.
- How do you market your practice?
Frankly, by always putting the client first and doing quality work.
- Your primary blog is Marler Blog (http://bit.ly/xeenE). Who do you write it for? Why should they read it?
In part I write it for myself –somewhat like a diary. I hope I give some insight into an aspect of the costs of food poisonings.
- You have 10+ blogs on food illnesses. Are issues so unique as to require disease-specific blogs?
They are, but I think they are a useful place to put our spin on the news about bugs.
- For victims imagine it’s very useful. Have your Web 2.0 activities had an impact on referrals or client engagements?
I think it is a way to show that we know what we are doing.
- How much time do you spend each day developing / enhancing your brand?
Honestly, I just try and do my job and the rest takes care of itself.
- Let’s switch gears: what is the most significant issue currently facing the legal profession?
Maintaining high legal standards for ethics while experiencing more and more competition.
- What will the legal landscape look like in 10 years?
I think it will be more fasted-paced and more competitive. I’m clearly over 50.
- What would you do if you weren’t a lawyer?
Flip of the coin – USDA Undersecretary of Food Safety Inspection Services or US Senator from Washington State.
- You clearly like a good challenge…. How do you want to be remembered?
Frankly, as people know me now – hard-working, straight-forward and truthful.
- What do you do when you’re not working?
LOL – is there something other than working? I love what I do so much that it seldom feels like work.
- That’s great. Our final question for you: what advice do you have for people going to law school today?
Do not be lazy. Work hard to make yourself invaluable to your clients and your community.
That’s great advice. Thank you very much for a very interesting twitterview today
No, thank you.
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| Tags: Blawger, Food Safety, Personal Injury, Products Liability, Seattle |
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