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@Prutschi
April 13th, 2010
Toronto Criminal Lawyer
Partner, Adler Bytensky Prutschi
Author of “The Crime Traveller,” Precedent Magazine
Blawger on Slaw.ca
Today we’re tweeting w/ Toronto crim lawyer, occasional blawger at Slaw.ca & author of “The Crime Traveller” for Precedent @Prutschi
- @Prutschi thank you for joining us today on Twitter. Tell us: who is @Prutschi?
Criminal defence lawyer. Amateur travel writer (@CrimeTraveller). Tech geek. Father. The order depends on the day.
– - Tell us about your law practice.
We have 3 partners, 3 associates and a student. Together, we defend shoplifting to murder and everything in between.
– - What type of clients do you represent?
My “typical” client is hard-working, middle class, and has never been in trouble with police before.
– - And what is the single most important legal issue affecting that “typical” client?
Combination of access to justice (legal fees are expensive) and bail conditions (which are often worse than the potential sentence).
That was cheating. I chose two. Sorry. 🙂
– - Happy to let it slide… Tell us about one of the more significant client representations you’ve had.
I acted for a mortgage broker in a multi-million $ mortgage fraud. His career was obviously on the line. Acquitted.
– - Congrats to both of you. Why do your clients hire you?
Clients take comfort from our combination of experience, professionalism, tenacity and compassion.
– - What do you tell every new client before you start working for them?
Clients must trust my professionalism while still being a partner in the litigation. I need honesty & realism in order to help them.
– - What’s the most active area of your practice at the current time? Is that typical?
Domestic assaults and impaired driving (#DUI). These are common, vigorously prosecuted, and form a big chunk of our work.
– - What led you to start your own firm with your current partners?
We all hail from big commercial firms. We were looking to help clients when the stakes were highest – criminal law.
– - Well it sounds like it was the right move. How do you market your practice?
Mostly by referral from non-criminal lawyers. Word of mouth from satisfied clients. And our website – www.CrimLawCanada.com.
– - How do you describe what you do to people you meet at a cocktail party?
I keep the system honest so that if you’re ever caught up in it (& don’t assume you won’t be), u can count on a fair trial.
– - You blog occasionally at Slaw.ca (http://bit.ly/d5IoHs). Who do you write for? Why should they read it?
Slaw is mostly lawyers but I consider my audience anyone interested in mature discussions on difficult criminal law issues…
…I challenge people to think critically about how our system works and what “fairness” means in the broadest sense.
– - Are there others in your firm as plugged in to Web 2.0 as you are? Was that a conscious decision?
As the youngest partner, I’m a natural fit for Web 2.0. The others ignore it but our incoming student (@JoelWelch) is on board.
– - What specific impact on referrals and/or client engagements, if any, have you realized from Web 2.0 activities?
Impact has been indirect. Web 2.0 has helped garner media attention which in turn has led to name recognition and client calls.
– - How much time do you spend each day developing / enhancing your brand?
I think about my brand constantly but it only takes 10min/day to tweet something meaningful or 2hrs/mth to develop a good blog post.
– - Good points. Let’s switch gears: What is the most significant issue currently facing the legal profession?
In criminal law it’s the government’s misguided “get tough on crime” policies. They make great sound bites but terrible law.
– - What will the legal landscape look like in 10 years?
Lawyers will catch up to where the rest of the world is today technologically. Of course that will still leave us 10yrs behind. 😉
– - What would you do if you weren’t a lawyer?
Be a travel journalist/photographer and call myself The Crime Traveller. Oh wait. I already do that. @CrimeTraveller.
– - I thought that sounded familiar…. How do you want to be remembered?
As someone passionate about justice and committed to fairness who was respected equally by crown prosecutors, judges and clients.
– - What do you do when you’re not working (or traveling or taking travel photos or writing about travel…)?
Play with my daughters or blow off steam through my love of video games (my home office sports an #XBox, #PS3 and #Wii).
– - Sounds like fun…. What advice can you pass along to lawyers currently under- or unemployed due to the economic crisis?
Network constantly. Understand your brand. Leverage new technology/media. Treat every person you meet as a future referral source.
– - And our final question for you: what advice do you have for people going to law school today?
Take every practicum/clinical opportunity you can. Seek out courses taught by practitioners. Volunteer in the field.
That’s good advice. Thank you very much for tweeting with me today; I enjoyed learning about you and your practice.
Thank you for the interview. It was great sharing the twitterverse with your followers today.
