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@dancanon
December 19th, 2009
Today we’re tweeting with @Dancanon: employment and civil rights lawyer, musician, yogi, cancer hater and more
Hi tweverybody.
- @Dancanon thank you for joining us today on Twitter. Tell us: who is @Dancanon?
One of the guys I practice with is always calling me an evil genius. The “evil” part is a fair cop, so I’ll go w/ it.
– - Could be worse, I suppose…. Tell us about your law practice.
Mostly civil rights litigation, mostly plaintiff-oriented. Lots of race & sex discrimination, lots of 1983 cases.
– - What type of clients do you represent?
We try to stick with the little guy: individuals, some small businesses, the underdog. Good for the conscience.
– - Good for those individuals, too, I’d wager. What is the single most important legal issue affecting those clients?
Generally – abuse of authority and/or the sheer ignorance of people often in charge of your job, housing, freedom, etc.
– - What do you tell every new client before you start working for them?
I’ll do my best, but no guarantees. (And if you hear guarantees from a lawyer, run.)
– - Tell us about one of the more significant client representations you’ve had.
Probably this one, which is still going: http://chronicle.com/article/Judge-Orders-U-of-Louisville/47925
– - Wow. That’s significant indeed. Congrats on the win. Why do your clients hire you?
You’d have to ask them. I think I’m pretty down-to-earth, reachable, & I try to explain risk/benefit every step of the way.
– - What’s the most active area of your practice at the current time? Is that typical?
Unemployment. Also some really bad race discrimination cases right now for some reason. Not typical. ADA & sex cases more common.
– - Is unemployment the biggest challenge your clients facing due to economic crisis? How are you helping them get through it?
Yes, I think so. I try to work on a contingency-fee basis as much as possible. Ppl w/o jobs simply cannot pay $xxx.xx/hr.
– - Indeed. How do you market your practice?
Not very well, I’m afraid. But hey, there’s this interview, so *someone’s* heard of me…
But seriously, I’ve been fortunate enough to be involved in some kinda media-hyped stuff, so that helps.
– - How do you describe what you do to people you meet at a cocktail party?
Usually just say “I’m a civil rts lawyer.” Most ppl get that, and don’t immediately hate you like if you say “trial lawyer.”
– - Hadn’t thought of that. You blog at Conflicts Check (http://bit.ly/7VH8hH). Who do you write for? Why should they read it?
I dunno, still trying to find my legs w/ that thing. I just hope I’m writing stuff that is relevant to someone, somewhere.
– - Besides Twitter and your blog, what other Web 2.0 tools do you regularly use to market your practice?
Just Facebook, I guess. I’ve been trying to get a @ProjectAiko as a receptionist, but I don’t know if that counts.
– - What specific impact on referrals and/or client engagements, if any, have you realized from Web 2.0 activities?
I’ve had a lot more opportunity to let people know what I do. So, of course, you’re more likely to get the right clients …
I’ve tried to run a really transparent practice, letting tweeps know what kind of cases I’m working on, etc.
– - A sensible approach for sure. How much time do you spend each day developing / enhancing your brand?
I know Twitter lawyers are all into that, but who has time? Practice cases right, let ppl know what you do, & they’ll come to you.
– - Let’s switch gears. What is the most significant issue currently facing the legal profession?
No idea. It probably has something to do with the @btannebaum and @nikiblack feud.
– - What will the legal landscape look like in 10 years?
Probably even more confusing, because there’s a big technology gap that is widening. …
Hopefully more state courts will do online filing, but that can be bad for luddite lawyers, and there are lots of them.
– - What would you do if you weren’t a lawyer?
Worry less, but probably beat myself up about not doing something more meaningful.
– - How do you want to be remembered?
I’m not prepared to answer that, but I hope I’ve got a few decades to think it over.
– - What do you do when you’re not working?
Always have been a musician. Teach guitar. A little theatre. Drink lots of coffee. Beat myself up for not working enough.
– - What advice can you pass along to lawyers currently under- or unemployed due to the economic crisis?
Use free time to develop a niche, & tell ppl about it. But go after something interesting, not just lucrative. #clicheadvice
– - And finally, our last question for you: What advice do you have for people going to law school today?
Don’t go unless you’re sure you want to practice. And try to be nicer than I was. I was grumpy the whole time.
Solid advice. Thanks for tweeting with me today; I enjoyed it.
Thanks for having me!
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