@humanracehorses

Today we’re tweeting with employment lawyer @humanracehorses, who may well be the first 22 Tweets interviewee to play the oboe

1. @humanracehorses thank you for joining us today on Twitter. Tell us: who is @humanracehorses?
   I solve workplace issues for employees who have been treated unfairly & for employers looking to improve their workplace.
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2. Tell us about your law practice.
   Mix of employment discrimination claims & defense work; human resources; w/a smattering of PI and estate work here & there.
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3. What type of clients do you represent?
   Big mix on employee side; on employer side, clients tend to be businesses where the bookkeeper is still the “HR director”
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4. And what would you say is the single most important legal issue affecting those clients?
   People spend about half their waking hours at work; if there are going to be conflicts, they’re likely to be on the job.
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5. What do you tell every new client before you start working for them?
   If you hire me, you get me, not a lower level associate. I am much easier to reach by email (or Twitter!) than by phone.
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6. Tell us about one of the more significant client representations you’ve had.
   Settled 2 cases alleging race, gender and retaliation against an airline. Came very close trial on the 2nd case.
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7. Why do your clients hire you?
   I ask the “Harry Potter” question at the very first consultation. “If I were a wizard, what could I do for you” (cont’d.)
   I make my focus getting what the client wants; not what I might want if I in their shoes. It’s all about the client.
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8. Indeed. What’s the most active area of your practice at the current time? Is that typical?
   Retaliation claims are big now. E/ees are aware of their rights & more likely to complain about discrimination.  (cont’d.)
   Also handling several non-competes where departing employees looking to be freed up to find better positions.
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9. How has the economic crisis changed the relationship between employers and employees? Are the changes permanent?
   For now employers have upper hand; employees are desperate to keep jobs even under bad conditions. Benefits more important. .
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10. What’s the next big battleground of discrimination in the workplace? How will it be resolved?
    1) Gender identify/affinity; acceptance of LGBT issues. 2) More anti-retaliation and whistleblowing laws.  (cont’d.)
    3) Genetic information. 4) Leave policies. As baby boomers age, more expansive family leave protection will be needed.
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11. Looks like conflicts to continue a while… How do you describe what you do to people you meet at a cocktail party?
    I solve employment & workplace problems, or as I like to say “We take the heartache out of HR”.
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12. You blog at Human Racehorses (http://bit.ly/cYQlbm). What are your blogging objectives? Are you meeting them?
    Much of my work comes from other lawyers; I think (at least I hope) the blog helps raise my “brand awareness.”  (cont’d.)
    I try to focus on the quality of my blog posts rather than the frequency. I hope that’s not a mistake. It shouldn’t be.
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13. Agreed. Besides your blog and Twitter, do you use other Web 2.0 tools to market your practice? Which ones?
    I answer lots of questions on Avvo (http://is.gd/90y5A) & “My Employment Lawyer” (http://is.gd/90ygi). I’m on LinkedIn too.
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14. What specific impact on referrals and/or client engagements, if any, have you realized from Web 2.0 activities?
    Neither LinkedIn nor Facebook generate any business (I don’t use FB that way); Avvo has generated several paying clients.
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15. Congrats for that! How much time do you spend each day developing / enhancing your brand?
    Not enough. I try to blog more often. I’d like to do a podcast. But I try not to ‘waste’ my tweets.
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16. What is the most significant issue currently facing the legal profession?
    You can’t be a worker bee without clients any more. Without a clientele, you are soon to be or are already unemployed.
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17. Interesting perspective. What will the legal landscape look like in 10 years?
    1) Expanded use of referral networks for solo/small firms; 2) Diminished use of billable hour  (cont’d.)
    3) More virtual versus in person clients. 4) More of a national or regional practice than archaic state-based model.
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18. What would you do if you weren’t a lawyer?
    Playing in an orchestra or band (I play alto sax & piano, too). Writing; composing. Maybe studying/teaching Shakespeare.
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19. How do you want to be remembered?
    My role model is George Bailey of “It’s a Wonderful Life.” I’d like to be remembered as somebody who helped others.
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20. What do you do when you’re not working?
    Listening or playing music; playing tennis; walking or hiking. Reading (at least when I’m on vacation). Watching soccer.
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21. What advice can you pass along to lawyers currently under- or unemployed due to the economic crisis?
    a niche or expertise and be really good at it. Find clients you can help. Everything else will follow. Avoid mediocrity.
    Last answer, I mean FIND a niche…..  (thank Twhirl for the unwanted edit.)
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22. And our last question for you: What advice do you have for people going to law school today?
    Be sure it’s what you *really* want to do. Expect to find fulfillment outside of law practice – it’s a jungle out there.

That’s good advice. Thank you for the twitterview: I enjoyed it very much.

Likewise; thanks for the opportunity to chat. Keep up the good work. I look forward to your future “Twitterview.”

test Filed under Twitterviews | Tags: Blawger, Employment, Philadelphia | Comments Off on @humanracehorses