@paulhajek
February 9th, 2010
Solicitor of the Senior Court of England and Wales
Principal, Clutton Cox Solicitors
Blogger on Conveyancing and the Housing Market, Wills and Probate
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Today we’re tweeting with @PaulHajek, Solicitor of the Senior Court of England and Wales and prolific legal blogger
- @paulhajek thank you for joining us today on Twitter. Tell us: who is @paulhajek?
A Croatian father, a Belfast Catholic mother, and now a sole practitioner I have been an oppressed minority virtually all my life
- - Tell us about your law practice.
Clutton Cox is a traditional non contentious high street practice with 3 solicitors with emphasis on residential property.
- - What type of clients do you represent?
Your average man and woman in the street, and a few company clients
- - And what would you say is the single most important legal issue affecting those clients?
In Conveyancing, our legal system from time immorial(1189) is robust enough for clients not worry about too many legal issues
- - Yeah, guess 800+ years of precedent could do that… What do you tell every new client before you start working for them?
Don’t worry about a thing. Some even take this advice
- - Tell us about one of the more significant client representations you’ve had.
From my sporting background, some Olympic athletes and international rugby stars
- - Why do your clients hire you?
Reputation and repeat business and referral from realtors/estate agents. And increasingly from the internet
- - What’s the most active area of your practice at the current time? Is that typical?
Property or Conveyancing always has and always will be our main focus
- - How has the economic crisis affected your clients? Have you seen any signs of improvement in the UK?
Job loss and mortgage rationing are main culprits. Slight improvement but still uncertainty over strength of recovery
- - You bill all your work on a fixed-fee basis. Is that common in the UK? How do UK clients react to fixed fees?
In Conveyancing and Wills yes, rare in Probate work. My experience clients much prefer it. Total peace of mind and guaranteed
- - How do you describe what you do to people you meet at a cocktail party?
Property Lawyer, Home Information Pack Provider and Legal Services Marketer, Internet Marketing Evangelist. Nice Bloke
- - You host ten different legal blogs on your website (http://bit.ly/drlVFK). Why so many? Who are they written for?
Whatever takes my fancy. All are property based with Wills and Probate. Written to help and inform clients and potential new clients
- - Besides Twitter and your blogs, what other Web 2.0 tools do you regularly use?
I do not think my demographic is Facebook, but I remain open minded. Have dabbled in LinkedIn. Do a lot of article marketing
- - What specific impact on referrals and/or client engagements, if any, have you realized from Web 2.0 activities?
I am just beginning to get benefits of internet marketing. My client income from the web alone this year should be around $100,000
- - Wow, that’s fantastic! Congrats. How much time do you spend each day developing / enhancing your brand?
70% development with 30% fee earning. I have 2 other solicitors in the practice. I research and prepare my blogs in the evenings
- - Sounds like the right mix. Let’s switch gears: what is the most significant issue currently facing the legal profession?
Without doubt Deregulation in 2012, allowing non legal entrants into the legal services market so called “TescoLaw”
- - What will the legal landscape look like in 10 years?
A few big national and regional brands, with many more sole practitioners than now,after the fallout in2012 and onwards
- - What would you do if you weren’t a lawyer?
I love legal marketing. My company ActionMove, + new company internet marketing for solicitors as a JV with marketer @boydbutler
- - How do you want to be remembered?
Cor Blimey , he was good lawyer. What was his name again?
- - What do you do when you’re not working?
With my wife,2 daughters, Sports,TV(Mad Men, 24) Music. My favs are Spurs, BathRugby ,Chicago Bears and The Who (pre Superbowl!)
- - What advice can you pass along to lawyers currently under- or unemployed due to the economic crisis?
Blog and tweet, better than CV and you will get found. Very few solicitors with social media skills, create your niche.
- - And our last question for you: what advice do you have for people going to law school today?
If lucky enough to get training contract great, if not, use law degree to open other doors. There is so much more to choose from now
That’s great advice. Thanks very much for the interview today; I enjoyed learning more about you and your practice.
and thank you, as my Floridian cousin would say it’s been a blast!. Now who ’s winning the football?
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@dgvelaw
January 26th, 2010
Adoption, Estate Planning, Residential Real Estate Attorney
Author of Massachusetts Wills, Trusts, and Estates
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Today we’re tweeting with @dgvelaw, a Massachusetts lawyer who helps people add to, protect, and move their families
- @dgvelaw thank you for joining us today on Twitter. Tell us: who is @dgvelaw?
Thanks for having me – very excited about this!
Deadhead feminist Atty-Mama (5, 3 & 5 mos), fun wife, big sister, DD, loyal friend, clients’ trusted family advisor for life
- - Tell us about your law practice.
DGVE law helps pp add to, protect, & move their families: adoption, estate planning, residential real estate
- - What type of clients do you represent?
most DGVE law clients are in their 30s-40s, own homes in the Greater Boston area & are parents of minor children
- - And what would you say is the single most important legal issue affecting those clients?
legally protecting their kids- naming guardians & ensuring kids’ $ is protected until they’re mature enough to receive it
- - Important matters indeed. What do you tell every new client before you start working for them?
we date b/f we get engaged- I tell prospective clients a little about me, ask about them, then we can see if rel. would work
- - I like that analogy. Tell us about one of the more significant client representations you’ve had.
I’ve had the privilege of becoming the trusted family advisor to an extended family, helping each of them…
Also very excited about clients who started w/me for estate planning & are now in the process of adopting!
- - Why do your clients hire you?
I’m genuine, friendly, deeply empathize w/my clients & want to help them in as easy a way possible- they can sense that immediately
- - What’s the most active area of your practice at the current time? Is that typical?
Estate Planning (Wills, Trusts, Guardians for Kids, Living Wills) though Real Estate & Adoption have been picking up lately
- - What’s the most common mistake people make with respect to estate planning. How can they fix it?
Avoid/delay. No certainty but death/taxes but never know when disability/death will come, what cost, or how old kids’ll be…
always better to plan calmly than react in crisis. DIY estate planning = close second- that’ll be big news going forward.
- - Heard it here first…. You charge flat fees for your work. How long have you done that? How has it changed your practice?
did some hrly billing as I was taught when I first went solo. It was awful for me & the clients. I decided never again &…
everyone’s happier this way. It fosters more & better communication & engenders more good will all around.
- - That makes sense. How do you describe what you do to people you meet at a cocktail party?
I help pp add to (adopt), protect (plan for disability & death), & move (homes) their families in empowering, friendly way.
- - You blog at MA Wills, Trusts, and Estates (http://bit.ly/SXyj1) What objectives drive your blog? Are you meeting them?
I aim to educate & motivate in easy nonthreatening way to plan NOW/spare families later & believe I’m meeting those goals.
- - Besides Twitter and your blog, what other Web 2.0 tools do you regularly use to market your practice?
FB Fan Page where I regularly interact w/others & also post items related to real estate & adoption. http://bit.ly/4ArcgA
- - What specific impact on referrals and/or client engagements, if any, have you realized from Web 2.0 activities?
I’ve had a # of clients via FB & met wonderful colleagues nationwide & found great referral partners locally via Twitter…
referred to me or Googling, Clients often say they checked out my website & blog & “liked my vibe”
- - How much time do you spend each day developing / enhancing your brand?
I enjoy connecting w/pp on deeper level, find my friendships on & offline personal & professional in origin lead to the best…
word-of-mouth “brand enhancement.”Also 1 day/wk on my biz & mkting plans, learning what they didn’t teach in law school!
- - It seems to be working well. Let’s switch gears: what is the most significant issue currently facing the legal profession?
Mistrust of lawyers nothing new, but fear of being “taken” financially exacerbated right now. Disconnect I’m seeing w/…
clients who feel can’t afford all legal services need, so gamble instead trying DIY approach or w/less comprehensive plan…
don’t like it but I get it. Something’s better than nothing, so I do what I can to make high quality affordable & accessible
- - What will the legal landscape look like in 10 years?
not clairvoyant but I’d love to see more respect for less conventional e.g. dedicated home offices & flex hrs enabling more…
atty-parents to be happier being w/their kids & continuing to serve pp as we worked so hard for so long to learn to do.
& lots more DIY legal attempts – yikes!
- - What would you do if you weren’t a lawyer?
Spanish Literature Prof. at forward-thinking U. teaching a series of classes from El Quijote! Makes me happy just thinking about it!
- - How do you want to be remembered?
positive role model/loving, safe harbor for daughters; still-fun-to-hang-out-with wife & friend; clients’ trusted advisor for life
- - What do you do when you’re not working?
5yo 3yo 5mo 2 cats house & DH, but we make time for great TV (recorded to watch when we can), friends & family. I don’t sleep much.
- - I can imagine…. What advice can you pass along to lawyers currently under- or unemployed due to the economic crisis?
As Mama Odie tells Princess Tiana u gotta dig down deep/figure out what u REALLY want, then work hard to make THAT happen.
- - Wise words. Our final question for you: What advice do you have for people going to law school today?
Make sure heart’s really in it/know why or don’t go. Do what’s always worked for U. Avoid fearful dramatic competition like plague.
Thank you for a very interesting interview; I enjoyed learning about you and your practice very much.
It was my pleasure – thanks so much!
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@tessashepperson
October 13th, 2009
Residential Landlord and Tenant Law Solicitor
Owner of Landlord Law, an online legal information service
Today we’re tweeting w/ UK solicitor @tessashepperson, who specializes in residential landlord and tenant law
- @tessashepperson thank you for joining us today on Twitter. Tell us: who is @tessashepperson?
Thank you for twitterviewing me! Who am I? Solicitor, wife, mother, blogger, author, Dr Who fan, the list is endless
- - Tell us about your law practice.
I am a sole practitioner, and work through my website service www.landlordlaw.co.uk – a 1:many service
- - What type of clients do you represent?
Mostly private residential landlords, some tenants and letting agents, occasionally other solicitors too
- - What is the single most important legal issue affecting those clients?
Hard to single out one issue. The credit crunch has affected us here, as it has everywhere, & caused problems eg with rent
- - That’s understandable. What do you tell every new client before you start working for them?
As I practice via the internet I rarely meet clients face to face. I send them my standard ‘client care’ email
- - Interesting; I hadn’t thought about that. Tell us about one of more significant client representations you’ve had.
Alas I have had no big cases. However I am a trail blazer in the delivery of legal services via the internet
- - Why do your clients hire you?
Because I really understand my niche. Although I do less casework now, the subscription service is more important
- - What’s the most active area of your practice at the current time? Is that typical?
Just now I’m doing a lot of writing, blogging, talks at landlord events & wkg towards a web-site upgrade. Fairly typical
- - You offer legal info via subscription for landlords & tenants. What are benefits of this model for clients?
a 1:many service is more efficient than 1:1, so it is less expensive. I help people do to things for themselves
- - How do you market that practice?
A few ads, writing articles for relevant journals, my blog , twitter, but most people seem to find me through Google
- - How do you describe what you do to people you meet at networking events?
I run an online legal information service for residential landlords and tenants
- - You blog at Landlord Law Blog (http://bit.ly/qLRGh). Who is it written for? Why should they read it?
I started it 3-4 years ago as somewhere I could comment on issues + I thought it wd be fun. Readers can learn a bit & ask Qs
- - Interactive approach (like service). What’s the general sentiment in the UK regarding lawyers using social media?
I recently mentioned Linkedin at a lawyers mtg & got asked if it was an online dating site! A few eg @BrianInkster get it
- - Wow. What specific impact on referrals and/or client engagements have you realized from Web 2.0 activities?
Blog: My stats show that many visitors come to my website from my blog & it has helped raise my profile. Twitter: its early days
- - How much time do you spend each day developing / enhancing your brand?
My husband tells me, too much! But it is always in my mind, say 25/7?
- - 25/8? A lot of time either way…. What is the most significant issue currently facing the legal profession?
In England we have a new Legal Services Act. But above that I think the internet/web 2 will have a profound effect
- - What will the legal landscape look like in 10 years?
People will expect to do business online as a matter of course. Most legal sources will be freely available online, but …
… people won’t understand it so will still need us. More work than lawyers now care to think about will be commoditised
- - Interesting. What would you do if you weren’t a lawyer?
I really enjoy writing so would probably have ended up as some kind of writer.
- - How do you want to be remembered?
An innovator who pioneered the online delivery of legal services for ordinary people
- - What do you do when you’re not working?
I enjoy reading detective novels, cooking, watching Doctor Who, and spending time with my lovely family
- - What advice can you pass along to lawyers currently under- or unemployed due to the economic crisis?
Decide what you really want from life, then work out how to achieve it. There is usually a way, you just have to find it
- - And our final question for you: what advice do you have for people going to law school today?
Try to get some wk experience in a law office first, if you find you enjoy law, then go for it, otherwise do something else
That’s valuable advice to close this interesting twitterview. Thanks so much for staying up late to tweet with us!
It was a pleasure! Best wishes from across the pond!
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@jeantien
August 20th, 2009
Immigration and Real Estate Attorney
The Law Office of Chen F. Tien
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Today we’re tweeting w/NYC immigration lawyer @JeanTien, who strives to develop lasting partnerships with her clients
- @JeanTien, thank you for joining us today on Twitter. Tell us: who is @JeanTien?
Thx 4 hvg me. I am a fun-loving Wife, Daughter, and idealistic Lawyer w/high hopes of making a difference in the world.
- - Tell us about your law practice.
I hv a NYC-based practice that focuses on immigration law. I also do real estate transaxns & help businesses w/their legal needs.
- - What type of clients do you represent?
Both individuals & businesses. I have clients nationwide and outside of the US too. It’s great!
- - What is the single most important legal issue affecting those clients?
Eligibility 2 become perm. res & US Citizens. W/o proper identification…
immigrants can’t get jobs, health care, or any other benefits that we enjoy…
and it’s impt that they hv access to the same benefits.
- - What do you tell every new client before you start working for them?
That I’m their biggest advocate & they can trust me with their case.
- - I’m sure they appreciate hearing that. Tell us about one of the more significant client representations you’ve had.
I worked on an asylum case, where I tried 2 protect the wife from being deported back 2 China where she wld be prosecuted…
4 violating the 1-Child policy & separated from her Husband & baby daughter here in the US. It’s significant bc families shld…
be allowed to stay together in an environment where they can live w/o fear.
- - Wow. That’s powerful stuff. Hope it turned out well. Why do your clients hire you?
They trust me & kno I am here 2 protect their best interest. I help them thru the immigration process …
which is a very personal experience & can take a major toll on their emotions/lives.
- - What’s the most active area of your immigration practice at the current time? Is that typical?
Currently, it’s family-based petitions, which I heart bc I’m helping families stay 2gether. Yes, it’s typical 4 my practice.
- - You started your career at Goldman Sachs. What led you to leave that culture and set up an immigration law firm?
I felt unfulfilled @ GS & wanted 2 do sthg more rewarding. Luckily, I was downsized & took the opp. 2 follow my dream…
of becoming an entrepreneur & helping others thru my immigration practice. See, I told u I was idealistic! LOL.
- - What’s the status of immigration law reform? Is it still perceived to be a priority for the President / American people?
Unfortunately, it’s currently on hold. Obama’s admin has communicated 2 the public that it’s a priority…
but so far, it feels like a big “tease”. More needs 2 be done, esp. w/current economics…
Some still think it’ll happen this yr but I doubt it.
- - How do you market your practice?
Networking & Web 2.0 activities. I’m also planning on hosting a seminar soon, so stay tuned for that!
- - You recently started a Facebook fan page for your firm (http://bit.ly/tj3GO). Would you recommend others do the same? Why?
Good ques. My fan pg is pretty new (about 2 wks) so it’s hard 2 say if I wld rec others 2 create 1…
So far, it has been helpful w/informing ppl I kno of my practice.
- - Sounds like recommendation to me… What are the strategic objectives driving your Web 2.0 activity? Are you meeting them?
My obj. this yr is 2 create permanent relationships & brand recognition. Oh & 2 generate revenue! LOL. So far, so good.
- - Luck w/both! What specific impact on referrals and/or client engagements have you realized from Web 2.0 activities so far?
Thanks! So far, I’ve landed an engagement & a number of serious inquiries from these activities, esp. from Avvo.
- - Congrats – you’re moving in the right direction. How much time do you spend each day developing / enhancing your brand?
Omgosh. A significant pt of my day. I am my brand, so I am developing/enhancing it by meeting w/other attys…
attending CLEs, volunteering, & marketing. activities
- - Let’s switch gears: what is the most significant issue currently facing the legal profession?
Re: immigration, our policies need chg. Fear cannot dictate policies & excuse the mistreatment of illegal immigrants in this ctry.
- - What will the legal landscape look like in 10 years?
I think lawyers will catch up & adopt (maybe embrace?) technological advancements, resulting in a few less trips to court.
- - What would you do if you weren’t a lawyer?
Hmm…philanthropist & bakery owner. I wld LOVE 2 open my own cupcake shop & animal rescue shelter. What a mix, right? :D
- - That makes THREE 22 Tweets interviewees who’d like to be bakers… Hmmm. How do you want to be remembered?
LOL. I guess we all hv a creative side yearning to escape. :) …
I’d like 2 B remembered for my sincerity and passion, especially to help those who can’t help themselves.
- - What do you do when you’re not working?
I am currently immersed in house renovations. Other than that, I spend time w/family & friends & watch lots of reality tv!
O & go see @britneyspears in concert! :D
- - There’s gotta be a story there! What advice can you give lawyers currently under- / unemployed due to the economic crisis?
Take this opportunity to explore other careers & interests. Don’t be afraid of change. Also, make sure to network!
- - And our last question of this twitterview: What advice do you have for people going to law school today?
1. Ur GPA doesn’t define u; 2. BIGLAW is not 4 everyone & that’s ok; 3.trust ur instincts – don’t B afraid 2 set ur own path
That’s valuable advice. Thank you so much for answering our questions and making this a great twitterview!
This was fun! Thank u so much for the opportunity to share my story & thanks to everyone who listened! :D
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@BrianInkster
August 11th, 2009
Solicitor of the Year: Law Awards of Scotland 2006
Founder of Inksters Solicitors, the first Scottish Law Firm to Twitter
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Today we’re tweeting with @BrianInkster, the Law Awards of Scotland’s 2006 *Solicitor of the Year*
- @BrianInkster 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
- - 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
- - What type of clients do you represent?
Individuals, small businesses, builders, farmers, crofters, fishermen, salmon and mussel farmers, a local authority etc.
- - 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
- - 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
- - 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
- - Why do your clients hire you?
Because we mix “good old traditional values with an innovative approach to delivering legal services” (Donald Findlay QC)
- - 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
- - 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.
- - 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.
- - 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 :-)
- - How do you market your practice?
Good service, the web (with SEO), 6 Twitter streams, direct mail, press releases, lectures, articles, events, sponsorship
- - 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!).
- - 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.
- - 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 :-)
- - 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.
- - 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).
- - 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”.
- - 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.
- - 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.
- - 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.
- - 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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| Tags: Crofting Law, Glasgow, Property, Real Estate |
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@AndreaGoldman
July 14th, 2009
Construction, business and real estate disputes attorney
Author of Home Contractor v. Homeowner Blog and the Massachussets Builders Blog
Today we’re tweeting with construction, business and real estate disputes lawyer, arbitrator and mediator @AndreaGoldman
- @AndreaGoldman, thank you for joining us today on Twitter. Tell us: who is @AndreaGoldman?
I am an advocate and neutral who uses all of my tools to resolve disputes, adviser to construction companies, exercise fanatic, mom.
- - Tell us about your law practice.
I spend about 80% of my time litigating and negotiating settlements, 15% on arbitration and mediation and 5% on writing contracts.
- - What type of clients do you represent?
I represent builders, contractors, construction companies, homeowners and businesses resolving disputes and writing contracts
- - What is the single most important legal issue affecting those clients?
For residential contractors: staying in compliance with the law. All of construction-having good contracts that protect them.
- - What do you tell every new client before you start working for them?
My job is to take a disaster in your life and turn it into something you can move on from. A lawsuit is not a good way to make $$.
- - Tell us about one of the more significant client representations you’ve had.
Represented Perini v. Missouri with my partner. Suit about construction of a bridge that was delayed due to concealed conditions…
Represented four homeowners whose property was damaged by a mudslide caused by faulty excavation and grading by developer.
- - Why do your clients hire you?
I am known in my community as a business, construction lawyer and neutral. I am responsive to clients and mindful of their budgets.
- - All very good reasons! What’s the most active area of your practice at the current time? Is that typical?
Both homeowners and contractors/construction companies call about disputes that are too small to handle. It’s the bad economy
- - How do you help your clients to decide the best way to resolve a construction dispute?
It’s simple: likelihood of success on the merits combined with ability to collect on a judgment and the amount of potential damages
- - You weren’t always a solo practitioner. Why did you make the leap? How long did it take to feel established?
I had the opportunity to form a partnership. It dissolved and I had already established a practice. It took 18 months from scratch.
- - That’s quite impressive. How do you market your practice?
I run lawyer dinners, network, write two blogs, write articles, give presentations, belong to a builders’ association and web 2.0.
- - Busy. You blog on contractor disputes (http://bit.ly/wIPUD) & MA builders (http://bit.ly/16pcIX) Who reads them? Why?
Contractors, builders, construction firms, lawyers and consumers. They are intended to be the “’go to” sites for construction in MA.
- - Besides Twitter and your blog, what other Web 2.0 tools do you use?
Well, I have two websites, one of which is a consortium of construction lawyers that I am developing. LinkedIn, Facebook, etc
- - What specific impact on referrals and/or client engagements have you seen from your Web 2.0 activities?
I get about 40% of my clients from the Internet, so the impact is huge. More people are finding their service providers on the web.
- - Wow – that IS huge. How much time do you spend each day developing / enhancing your brand then?
Too much time! I need to find more balance because I need to write more blogs posts, make a Facebook fan page and write articles.
- - Seems to be a widespread problem…. What is the most significant issue currently facing the legal profession?
Changing our billing practices. I believe that hourly billing is unproductive. Clients prefer value billing and knowing fees.
- - Indeed. What will the legal landscape look like in 10 years?
People will continue to specialize. There will be fewer lawyers but they will be happier because they want to be in the profession.
- - Interesting perspective. What would you do if you weren’t a lawyer?
I would open a dessert and dancing café and make all of the desserts. Would showcase local talent and offer games, puzzles for use.
- - That sounds like fun! How do you want to be remembered?
As a genuinely caring person who helped a lot of people, raised fabulous kids and was really fun to be around.
- - What do you do when you’re not working?
I exercise every day, which takes a lot of time. I hang out with my kids, read, love to cook and sew. I also love movies /theater.
- - What advice would you pass along to lawyers currently under- or unemployed due to the economic crisis?
Keep your hand in the profession by volunteering. Learn new skills. Stay up on new developments in your field. Network like crazy.
- - And our last question for you: what advice do you have for people going to law school today?
A law school education teaches you a new way to think. Make sure you love it. Law is a business, learn how to run a business .
This was a great twitterview; thank you very much for answering our questions!
Thank you Lance! This was really fun and forced me to think more about my practice.
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