@douglasreiser

May 14th, 2010

Douglas Reiser

Founder, Reiser Legal LLC

Author, The Builders Counsel Blog

LEED Accredited Professional

Today we’re tweeting with LEED AP @douglasreiser, a Washington state construction lawyer and blogger

  1. @douglasreiser thank you for joining us today on Twitter. Tell us: who is @douglasreiser?
    So glad to be here today, thank you for having me on…..
    1st a husband, then a worker, idea monger, brewer, sportsman & worst of all – a Cleveland sports fan. these define me from 12 to 12
  2. Well this just might be your year…. Tell us about your law practice.
    a 24 hour shop in my head. i built a remote practice that follows wherever i go. goals = access, comm., efficiency & understanding
    ……and i hope you are right about the Cavs (presumably you didnt mean the Browns or Indians!)
  3. Very interesting. What type of clients do you represent?
    those inundated w. construction concerns. the focus is on the business, their risks & protection. I also rep breweries, my hobby
  4. Nice hobby…. What is the single most important legal issue affecting your clients?
    Risk. businesses dont understand its extent; it comes at all angles, in all they do. I locate those risks and eliminate/reduce them
  5. What do you tell every new client before you start working for them?
    That im here when you need me. you can find me 24hrs/7 days a week. i’ll clear my table to help you, because i love the challenge.
  6. Am sure they appreciate. Tell us about one of the more significant client representations you’ve had.
    significance is in the eye of the beholder. i think its green builders that i help wade through liability. new challenge for all.
  7. Why do your clients hire you?
    im a person, like everyone. im tangible; im understood. i lived/breathed construction on & off the job. people feel comfort in that
  8. What’s the busiest area of your practice right now? Is that typical?
    public contracting. today’s only fish in the pond 4 builders. i help obtain jobs & preserve rights. its atypical; recent explosion
  9. Tell us about your LEED AP certification. What does it mean? Why is it important to your clients?
    LEED AP isnt a gold key 2 green building; attys should never hide behind it. A step to learning what should be uniform in building
  10. What’s the next big legal battleground in green construction law? How is it expected to play out?
    field is set to determine performance liability + GBCI LEED challenges & the Int. Green Const. Code could spawn work for attorneys
  11. How do you describe what you do to people you meet at a cocktail party?
    im myself. lawyers drink wine – i drink beer (Stout/IPA). Im approachable in that image. sports are the best icebreaker in building
  12. You blog at The Builders Counsel blog (http://bit.ly/aWm9R8). What’s your strategy? How do you decide what to write?
    i heard @kevinokeefe say “listen” is key word in social media. 100% agree. I found the best group of talkers; i listen + add my bit
  13. Indeed. Besides Twitter and your blog, what other Web 2.0 tools do you use to market your practice?
    I have two blogs + @Avvo, @LinkedIn, @legalriver, Plaxo, Justia, @consupo, LawyerLink, Legal Guru, etc. – i try & be everywhere.
  14. What specific impact on referrals and/or client engagements, if any, have you realized from Web 2.0 activities?
    People want an answer. Any atty can say you should consult an attorney/I need to see more. we’re transparent online; people like it
  15. How much time do you spend each day developing and enhancing your brand / marketing your practice?
    way too hard to quantify; its all the time. i try to listen to the online community all day & respond when i have a worthy thought.
  16. Understood. Let’s switch gears: what is the most significant issue currently facing the legal profession?
    progression v. ethical restraint. A lot of attys are afraid to go Web 2.0. They are missing out and i feel its not fair to them.
  17. What will the legal landscape look like in 10 years?
    trans. tasks by legal biz’s w/o malpractice, billable hr., the office & a suit. Court battles: less formal, less paper & less fight
  18. Interesting perspective. What would you do if you weren’t a lawyer?
    your easiest question. own a brewery, create a web of distribution 4 craft brewers around US & fight the 3 tier system. retirement.
  19. What do you do when you’re not working?
    go outdoors w/ my beer writer wife (@beerblotter). travel around the world. check out new buildings in SEA. agonize over CLE sports
  20. How do you want to be remembered?
    As a worker. someone who worked hard to find answers & innovate. dont need my name in gold; dont need a plaque. just happy clients
  21. What advice can you pass along to lawyers currently under- or unemployed due to the economic crisis?
    reinvent what you know about law. be innovative. find something you know and advocate for it loudly. people will find your voice.
  22. Our final question for you: what advice do you have for people going to law school today?
    dont look back at law, look ahead. At school, find a job/opp that gives you a 1st hand look at practice. go Web 2.0 now! dont wait

good advice, Doug. Thanks very much for tweeting with me today; I enjoyed learning more about you / your practice.

Thanks so much for having me on today. Your questions were great!


Comments are closed.

    TWEN·TY-TWO TWEETS

    \twən-tē tü twētz\ (noun)

    1. live Twitter interviews with practicing lawyers who tweet
    2. a forum where lawyers tell their stories, one tweet at a time
    3. the hottest legal marketing mash-up on Twitter

     

    4th Annual ABA Journal Blawg 100