@thatlawyerdude
December 29th, 2009
Crisis Trial Lawyer
The Law Offices of Anthony J. Colleluori & Associates, PLLC
Author of that lawyer dude and Long Island (Criminal) Trial Law blogs
Today we’re tweeting w/crisis trial lawyer @ThatLawyerDude, who helps people put their lives back together after others abandon them
- @ThatLawyerDude, thank you for joining us today on Twitter. Tell us: who is @ThatLawyerDude?
I’m Tony Colleluori & I am a father of two, married 24 years & enjoy practicing law.
- - Tell us about your law practice.
I take the cases other lawyers throw their hands up at. We want the cases no one else can handle. The“Bet the Farm”work.
- - Wow. I’m sure you have a lot of stories…. What type of clients do you represent?
I work w/ anyone who has been touched by a criminal charge or act. from Class Actions 2 White Collar Crime 2 Murder etc.
- - and what’s the single most important legal issue affecting those clients?
Finding Quality representation at a price they can afford, & getting fair treatment in Court during the Internet Age
- - Tell us about one of the more significant client representations you’ve had.
I took on an innocent kid whose 1st attorney wanted him 2 plead guilty & serve 8 years. We investigated & won his case.
I also just won one of the biggest verdicts in Prison Civil Rights cases 4 a paraplegic who was mistreated in jail
We proved that the Jail was “deliberately indifferent to his needs & left him to rot. No help, no proper medical care
- - I’d read about the last case. Both are fantastic results. Must be terribly satisfying. Why do your clients hire you?
B/c I care about them. Not as a case, but as humans, w/ hopes & dreams. I don’t judge them. I know I represent good people.
Most of my clients have experienced first hand the wrath of the law. It’s been used to defeat them. I even the field 4 them
- - That’s great. What do you tell every new client before you start working for them?
I care about them & their family, I’ll B there 4 them 24/7/365, & that I’ll do everything I can legally do to help them
I also tell them not to worry anymore Until I do, and I never worry EVER ;)
We look after the small things, ie new DWI client, needs a ride to get to court or office? We have a driver on staff
a kid needs a 12 step program but is afraid to go alone? I go with them.
- - You devote a lot of your time to pro bono work. How do you decide what work to take on?
I take pro & lo bono from NYS & EDNY Assigned Counsel panels, The EDNY pro bono panel & selected work from clergy.
If it interest me & I think it will change the life of the client or the state of the world, I’m usually in.
I’m a sucker when it comes to Roman Catholic Nuns and Judges. If they ask I usually say yes
- - Tell us about the Outstanding Service Award from the Nat’l Assoc of Criminal Defense Lawyers. Why were you selected?
I co-authored an amicus brief w/ John Marshall, that caused the USDOJ to change the way it prosecuted Marijuana cases.
- - What led you to become a criminal defense lawyer? Have you always had the same passion for it (yes, it shows!)?
Thank you. I’ve always had a strong libertarian streak. As a historian, I understand Government seeks to expand power…
I wanted to take on the task to protect our Bill of Rights from Government’s power grab. As a kid I was fascinated by …
Perry Mason, & real cases: The Rosenberg case, the Crimmins case, & by F. Lee Bailey’s book the Defense Never Rests
- - Your clients are very lucky that you followed that passion…. How do you market your practice?
I write, teach, I network w/ others. I stay active in bar assoc. & in my community, I use Avvo.com & other Internet tools.
- - You have 3 blogs (http://bit.ly/cztgp http://bit.ly/TcIl6 & http://bit.ly/tHjG6) How are they different? Why three?
That Lawyer Dude is my main blog, it’s about the way law & life intersect. Long Island (Criminal) Trial Law, …
is a Trial Tech. teaching blog. It portrays my wider view of “Criminal Law” discipline. It defines a crisis lawyer’s job
The Positive Review is going 2B a restaurant review & only features places I like. If I don’t like it, I don’t eat there.
- - Why did you decide to become active on Twitter? Has it been a worthwhile endeavor?
I took a while 2 “get it” but once I did, I saw an opportunity 2 interact w/ my “crowd” & learn from others. Twitter rocks!
I find Twitter helps me get my message out and exposes me to other’s messages. I think it is better than an RSS feed.
- - Besides Twitter and your blogs, do you use other Web 2.0 tools? Which ones?
I have a website through “Getlegal.com” and I love Avvo.com. I think Facebook, Linkedin & Solosez are important too.
- - What specific impact on referrals and/or client engagements — if any — have your Web 2.0 activities provided?
I get about 50% of my new work from Web 2.0 activities. It is a great way for people to learn about me. …
A web referred client is as likely to retain me as a lawyer referred client & usually is more savvy about my work & my fees…
they come ready to retain. I waste a lot less time and get a much better return on the time I spend meeting w/them.
I take it seriously. The web has been good to me It helped me to reach people I didn’t have the resources to reach
- - How much time do you spend each day developing / enhancing your brand?
every waking minute I am enhancing my brand: at the gym, at Mass, playing poker. I love what I do, it’s part of my fabric.
- - Indeed. Let’s switch gears now. What is the most significant issue currently facing the legal profession?
Keeping bright people in the profession & finding ways 2 stop them from burning out. We need 2 focus them on bar activities
We need Courts 2 be run by judges & not admins who put form B/4 substance, we need 2 worry @ quality of life. life’s2 short
- - What will the legal landscape look like in 10 years?
We’ll B using the web as a mainstay of our life, but successful lawyers will be those that best mesh hi tech w/ hi touch
- - What would you do if you weren’t a lawyer?
I have no idea! I’m a pretty good singer, I’d have followed that. Law is more fun. There is always Tournament Poker :)
I’ve only ever wanted to be a lawyer. I used to go to court and watch cases being tried when I was 10 yrs old
My poor mom must of thought she was raising a sociopath LOL!
- - Wow. I think I just watched the Flinstones at 10…. How do you want to be remembered?
As a loving Husband, a good Father, a worthy opponent & a strong advocate for Civil Rights, Liberty and Personal Freedom.
- - What do you do when you’re not working?
I raise awareness & $$$ 4 Scleroderma Foundation, Play poker & hang out w/ my best girl & best friend for 25 years.
I love going to new Restaurants and old favorites. I like to sing and I love being w/ my two sons. They’re interesting men
- - And our last question for you: what advice do you have for people going to law school today?
First thank you for having me Lance.
Go ‘cause U R called 2 the law. Don’t go 2 get rich, or 2 help others, Go ‘cause it’s vital 2 U! If U do, the rest will come
That’s great advice, and this was a fantastic twitterview. Thanks very much for doing it, and keep up the great work
Thanks again. You too and happy New Year to all. I hope it is healthy and prosperous.
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| Tags: Blawger, Criminal law, Long Island, Trial |
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@marshallrisaacs
April 14th, 2009
Business / Corporate Litigation and Personal Injury Trial Lawyer
Author of two blawgs: Summary Judgement and Smallville, the New York State Bar Association’s official blog for solo and small firm attorneys
Tenacious, Unrepentant Litigator, Negotiator and Draftsman
Today, we’re tweeting with trial lawyer and blawger @MarshallRIsaacs, who recently blogged “Twitter: For Birds, Not Lawyers”
- @MarshallRIsaacs, thank you for joining us today on Twitter. Tell us: who is the person behind @MarshallRIsaacs?
Thanks for having me. I’m a born and bred New Yawker. Tenacious litigator. Independent thinker. Fisherman. Loyal friend.
- Tell us about your law practice.
I’m a litigator and trial attorney handling commercial, breach of contract & tort cases.
- What type of clients do you represent?
Various businesses and individuals: publicists, nightclubs, construction contractors, web designers, even an adult video company!
- Another 22 Tweets first, I believe…. What is the most important legal issue affecting your clients?
Breach of contract! So many people use cheapy forms downloaded from the web. I refer to these fondly as “lawsuits waiting to happen”
- What do you tell every new client before you start working for them?
I can’t guarantee how much it will cost or how long it will take. I can only guarantee that I’ll give it my all.
- How is the economic crisis affecting your clients?
There’s more litigation but fewer who can afford it. Thankfully, my firm is small & nimble so I can be flexible with fee structures.
- What was the most significant client representation you’ve had?
I lost a big $ slip/fall case against a top-name Plaintiff’s firm but convinced the appeals court to reverse. Case dismissed!
- That’s a great result! How were you able to convince them?
I kept my brief under 140 characters. : ) Just good old fashioned lawyering.
- Perhaps *great* old fashioned lawyering might be more fitting… Why do your clients hire you?
I know what I’m doing and I’m extremely generous with my time and advice.
I think you should adjust the camera, Lance. You’re not getting my good-side.
- Sure I am…. How do you market your practice?
Referrals & Adwords. Also, a lot is done in court: I’m proud to say that many of my referrals come from former adversaries.
- That’s a sign of true respect. How much time do you spend each day developing / enhancing your brand?
24/7/365. I AM my brand and I try to convey it in everything I do. (Sappy, but true!)
- If it works… You wrote that Twitter is for birds, not lawyers (http://bit.ly/VfYhc). Why are you on Twitter then?
Lots of tweople post articles that get my goat; Makes 4 great blogging. For blogless esqs, Twitter’s no more than an AOL chat-room
- So Twitter good for feeding blawg traffic? Have you realized any professional value from your activity on Twitter
Kevin O’Keefe and I would both disagree with the blog-traffic statement. Maybe we’ll discuss it for another time!
OK, if you agree to come back for another twitterview….
Yes. The NYSBA stumbled upon my blog “Summary Judgment” thru Twitter and invited me to write for them. http://bit.ly/2cZuCD
- How will your NY State Bar Association blog (http://bit.ly/2RXU) differ from your personal blog?
I’m going to have to watch my Ps & Qs! There’s an under/over on how long I can last…want in?! LOL
- I’d bet on long…. Beyond Twitter and blogging, what other social networking tools do you regularly use?
I love Facebook. Where else could I discover that if I were a dog I’d be a golden retriever?
- Tenacious, generous… it makes sense. What’s the most significant issue currently facing the legal profession?
Unemployment.
- Indeed. So what will the legal landscape look like in 10 years?
There will be just as much hot air but a lot less paper.
- What would you do if you weren’t a lawyer?
I’d be the almost-award-winning author of numerous unfinished novels!
- I’m guessing that career path is more crowded than you might think…. How do you want to be remembered?
I’d like to be remembered as someone who always tried to do the right thing…and was the first to acknowledge when I didn’t.
- What do you do when you’re not working?
Dating. Wait a minute, you said NOT working. Make that sleeping.
- Again, there’s no doubt a good story there that’ll have to wait for next twitterview. What languages do you speak?
CPLR (Civil Practice Law and Rules). This is a language unto itself and actually has its own translator at the U.N.
- Our last question of the day: what advice do you have for people going to law school today?
Don’t let ‘em convince you that only grades matter. Compassion, persistence and a pressed shirt are just as important.
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| Tags: Blawger, Business Law, New York City, Trial |
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