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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
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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