@andrewmmorris

Today we’re tweeting UK crim lawyer, singer/songwriter/guitarist & former support artist for Peter Green & Friends @andrewmmorris

1. @Andrewmmorris, thank you for joining us on Twitter. Tell us, who is @Andrewmmorris?
   I am a solicitor advocate (Criminal Law) by day and a singer/songwriter and composer by night.
   –
2. Tell us about your law practice.
   I am a criminal solicitor specialising in Crown Court cases and representing those charged with serious criminal offences
   –
3. Exactly what type of clients do you represent?
   Those charged with criminal offences, but these can range from the very minor to the most serious
   –
4. And what would you say is the single most important legal issue affecting those clients?
   the right to defend themselves against allegations to protect their freedom
   –
5. What do you tell every new client before you start working for them?
   I don’t have a set phrase about what I tell a client, it depends on each clients situation as I have to act in their best interest
   –
6. Makes sense…. Tell us about one of the more significant client representations you’ve had.
   This is really difficult for me to go into these cases. I have a duty of client confidentiality. But think Rumpole of the Bailey!!
   –
7. Fabulous! And that last tweet may also work as an answer to this question: Why do your clients hire you?
   am not sure why they hire me.I like to think Its because the client has confidence in my ability to defend them passionately
   –
8. That’s a strong selling point…. What’s the most active area of your practice at the current time? Is that typical?
   don’t have those kind of stats but there is always need for a criminal lawyer, as you can imagine especially in the current climate
   –
9. Indeed. Tell us a bit about your successful second career as a singer / songwriter / musician: http://mysp.ac/gs7oAJ
   Yes, played at glastonbury, supported @MarillionOnline , supported Peter Green, released two EPs, now writing for @Imagem_Music
   –
10. Wow. Does composing and performing music make you a better lawyer? In what ways?
    Performing certainly does, gives you confidence in public speaking and in court. Also teaches you team work when playing in a band
    –
11. How do you manage to juggle two very demanding careers? Do you think you’ll ever have to choose between the two?
    When you do two things you love its never hard to find time to do both, although my wife might disagree(!)
    –
12. How do you describe what you do to people you meet at a cocktail party?
    I say am a lawyer by day, musician by night like a wierd superhero. People’s reactions are different but most people are intrigued.
    –
13. I certainly was…. When did you become active on Twitter? What were your objectives then? Have they changed?
    My objectives were to meet like minded people and learn more from others and as a forum to express myself and to promote my music.
    –
14. What does the leadership of your firm think of your Twitter / other social media presence?
    I don ‘t represent my firm on Twitter. I only represent myself and my music.
    –
15. I see. All the same, have your Web 2.0 activities led to any opportunities for your practice?
    Not yet!!
    –
16. Perhaps one day…. Let’s switch gears: What is the most significant issue currently facing the legal profession?
    For Criminal law its the Legal Aid budget in the UK , which is undergoing consultations to shake up the fee structure.
    –
17. What will the legal landscape look like in 10 years?
    Solicitors and barristers profession may be merged or at least they will be working together under the same professional body.
    –
18. I probably know the answer to this one, but what would you do if you weren’t a lawyer?
    yes its pretty obvious! A songwriter or composer – but I am very happy with my career as it stands and have never had to choose
    –
19. How do you want to be remembered?
    As a lawyer who cared about the cases I was involved in and always gave 100%. A Musicians who wrote a few decent songs!
    –
20. What do you do when you’re not working (assuming there is such a time…)?
    Writing songs, composing for Film and TV, playing live. I also like to keep up to date with legal developments, caselaw etc.
    –
21. What advice can you pass along to lawyers currently under- or unemployed due to the economic crisis?
    Stick with it as there is always the need for solicitors and lawyers in out litigious culture these days.We are a vital trade
    –
22. And our final question for you: What advice do you have for people going to law school today?
    That getting any experience you can is vital to securing a training contract, be proactive and believe in your abilities

Two good pieces of advice. Thank you for tweeting with me today; enjoyed learning about you and your practice

thanks for the interview, really enjoyed it.

Filed under Twitterviews | Tags: Criminal Defense, United Kingdom | Comments Off on @andrewmmorris

@mirriam71

Today we’re tweeting w/ criminal defense attorney, mom of maniacal twin boys, former Ass’t Attorney General and Ass’t DA @Mirriam71

1. @Mirriam71, thank you for joining us today on Twitter. Tell us: who is @Mirriam71?
   I’m a mom, lawyer, wife. I have a blog called notguiltynoway. Just coming back after a hiatus at home with the twins
   –
2. Tell us about your law practice.
   I’m a solo practitioner w/ an office in Takoma Park, MD. Opened in May of this year. So far, so good.
   –
3. Congratulations! What type of clients do you represent?
   immigration and criminal defense, and frequently both at the same time. I toyed with gp, but I know what I’m good at and this is it.
   –
4. What is the single most important legal issue affecting your clients?
   Freedom. They want to stay in U.S., not go to jail or have liberty impeded. Is it a legal issue? I don’t know.
   –
5. Critical issue either way…. What do you tell every new client before you start working for them?
   Google or their bff’s cousin isn’t their lawyer, I am. Their case is unique. They have to trust me and not the internet.
   –
6. Tell us about one of the more significant client representations you’ve had.
   Drug client. Went into drug court, came out the other side. Got invite to 40th bday, invite said “he’s 40 because of you”
   –
7. Wow. That’s powerful. Why do your clients hire you?
   not bc of my website! Maybe bc I’m honest? I’m trying to figure that out so I can add it to my website. : )
   –
8. Tell us about Afghans for Civil Society. What do they do? What do you do for them? Why?
   they do charitable work in Afghanistan. Dad is in Kabul so I help w/getting medical supplies to the hosp where he works.
   –
9. You spent several years as an Assistant DA before joining a criminal defense firm? What led you to make that change?
   when I realized justice isn’t really blind. I was incredibly naive. 9/11 changed that for me. And, I’m much better at this.
   –
10. What are the biggest challenges facing criminal defense lawyers? How do you respond to them, day in and day out?
    people don’t get what we do. We can give them the right answers, but its hard to explain how we can do it.
    also, the CDL bar is divided and bc of that, the govt is able to get away with a lot of shit.
    –
11. Wish I had 23 Tweets; would love to hear more…. How do you describe what you do to people you meet at a cocktail party?
    I tell them I’m a CDL and imm lawyer. They say “wow, that’s cool” I say “yeah, it really is” I tell them I fight the Man.
    –
12. You blog at Not Guilty (http://bit.ly/9V5Mjb). Who do you write it for? Why should they read it?
    I write for myself & for @ScottGreenfield. & for folks who think this stuff isn’t their problem. Read it bc it’s awesome.
    –
13. I agree 100%. Your blog posts are often very personal. Where do you draw the line between your public and private life?
    in 2004 when I started I was anon & had 4 readers. It was never intended as mktg. Now I have to think more about that line.
    the infertility posts are very personal. But they are searched a lot. I leave them up bc it gives people hope. Stay tuned!
    –
14. Why did you decide to become active on Twitter? Has it been a worthwhile endeavor?
    @MarkWBennett told me I’d find like minded people. I thought it was stupid & a waste of time. Twitter! Ha! I was wrong.
    –
15. Have your Web 2.0 activities led to any referrals or client engagements?
    I don’t really understand web 2.0 but I’ve gotten referrals from folks I’ve initially ‘met’ online. Not twitter though.
    –
16. What is the most significant issue currently facing the legal profession?
    We still get a bad rap. Too many lawyers still doing bad work. It needs to stop. We need to regulate ourselves better.
    –
17. What will the legal landscape look like in 10 years?
    If you’d told me 3 yrs ago it would be like this now I would’ve called you a liar, so I have no idea what 10 yrs will bring
    I hope we go back to having real offices though. I’m old fashioned like that.
    –
18. What would you do if you weren’t a lawyer?
    go to culinary school. Or a professional break dancer. A breakdancing chef? There’s nothing else I’d rather do, honestly.
    –
19. How do you want to be remembered?
    as someone who doesn’t suck, who did good work and who gave a shit. That’s not a lot to ask, right?
    –
20. Not at all. What do you do when you’re not working?
    I run, chase my kids around, listen to records (the vinyl kind) plan vacations I never go on and hang out w/friends
    –
21. What advice can you pass along to lawyers currently under- or unemployed due to the economic crisis?
    volunteer, get experience. Catholic charities always needs help. Don’t fall into the contract atty trap. It’s a dead end.
    –
22. And the final question of our interview: What advice do you have for people going to law school today?
    If you don’t want to practice law, don’t go. It’s hard work. Don’t do it half assed.

Thanks so much for this great interview. I really enjoyed tweeting with you and learning about you and your practice

thank you! It was pretty fun actually.

Filed under Twitterviews | Tags: Blawger, Criminal Defense, Immigration, Washington DC | Comments Off on @mirriam71

@Prutschi

Today we’re tweeting w/ Toronto crim lawyer, occasional blawger at Slaw.ca & author of “The Crime Traveller” for Precedent @Prutschi

1. @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.
   –
2. 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.
   –
3. What type of clients do you represent?
   My “typical” client is hard-working, middle class, and has never been in trouble with police before.
   –
4. 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. 🙂
   –
5. 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.
   –
6. Congrats to both of you. Why do your clients hire you?
   Clients take comfort from our combination of experience, professionalism, tenacity and compassion.
   –
7. 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.
   –
8. 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.
   –
9. 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.
   –
10. 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.
    –
11. 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.
    –
12. 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.
    –
13. 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.
    –
14. 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.
    –
15. 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.
    –
16. 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.
    –
17. 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. 😉
    –
18. 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.
    –
19. 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.
    –
20. 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).
    –
21. 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.
    –
22. 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.

Filed under Twitterviews | Tags: Blawger, Criminal Defense, Toronto | Comments Off on @Prutschi

@anthonybushnell

Today we’re tweeting w/ crim def & civil lit lawyer @anthonybushnell, who provides smart legal representation – for real people

1. @anthonybushnell thank you for joining us today on Twitter. Tell us: who is @anthonybushnell?
   Thanks Lance! Attorney, dad, believer in a good and merciful God, thus trying to treat others & clients the way I want to be treated
   –
2. Tell us about your law practice.
   I do criminal defense and litigation, which varies from helping homeowners with contractors to dealing with unpaid wages.
   –
3. What type of clients do you represent?
   A lot of individuals and small to mid-size businesses. Most people are ordinary folks who get stuck with legal problems.
   –
4. What is the single most important legal issue affecting those clients?
   Cost of legal services and access to legal help. Most people are slow to seek #legal help; they think they can’t afford it.
   –
5. Indeed. What do you tell every new client before you start working for them?
   I can’t guarantee the results in litigation or a criminal matter, but I will work my hardest and get the best I can for you.
   –
6. Tell us about one of the more significant client representations you’ve had.
   Represented a guy pro bono who had a court order put on him with no notice or process. Had to go to appeals court to fix it.
   –
7. Why do your clients hire you?
   I provide high-quality legal work and personal attention, but keep my rates very reasonable so real people can afford it.
   –
8. What’s the most active area of your practice at the current time? Is that typical?
   Litigation right now. It varies, but seems to average 60% litigation / 40% criminal. I also do some prosecution on contract.
   –
9. You tweet a lot re work/life balance. How do you maintain the right mix in the face of time-sensitive client needs?
   I remind myself that clients get better service when I’m balanced and healthy. Taking my family time is serving them too.
   –
10. That does make a lot of sense. How do you market your practice?
    Thanks. Relationships with other attorneys – trying to help each other and genuinely invest in each other. Websites and SM.
    –
11. How do you describe what you do to people you meet at networking events?
    I provide legal services regular people need and make a priority to keep it affordable. I can help people who some can’t.
    –
12. What were your goals in becoming active on Twitter? Have they changed?
    I started tweeting to connect with clients. I’ve found best & fav use is keeping up on legal news & building relationships.
    –
13. Besides Twitter, what other Web 2.0 tools do you regularly use to market your practice?
    LinkedIn. I also post about my practice on Facebook, but use it primarily for friendships. Just remind people what I do…
    …Minnesota Bar also has a website called www.mypracticelaw.org – like LinkedIn/Facebook for lawyers.
    –
14. What specific impact on referrals and/or client engagements have you realized from Web 2.0 activities?
    Honestly, I haven’t identified any. But it’s made me better at connecting and improved staying on top of law developments.
    –
15. There’s a lot of value in that, of course. How much time do you spend each day developing / enhancing your brand?
    1-2 hours on weekdays. I also think a lot and try to keep track of good ideas. Building something worthwhile takes time.
    –
16. Absolutely. Let’s switch gears: What is the most significant issue currently facing the legal profession?
    We have way too many lawyers (many out of work) but not enough people get legal help. That’s broken. 1+1 should = needs met.
    –
17. What will the legal landscape look like in 10 years?
    I expect we’ll have a lot of part-time and contract lawyers/solos. Hopefully apprenticeships for grads & practical training.
    –
18. What would you do if you weren’t a lawyer?
    I would pastor or teach. Often feel the law doesn’t let me help people with their whole need. So I tweet @be_fullyalive too.
    –
19. How do you want to be remembered?
    As sincere and genuine and as having helped people. People said Winston Churchill was same man in public and private. …
    …Reason I sometimes mention my faith even in professional area is I believe being healthy means being integrated. No masks.
    –
20. What do you do when you’re not working?
    Spend time with my kids and give them as much of me as I can. Try to remember they’ll learn most on life from my wife & me.
    –
21. What advice can you pass along to lawyers currently under- or unemployed due to the economic crisis?
    Don’t need a job to be an #attorney. You ARE one. Go find clients and offer yourself for contract work. That advice made me.
    –
22. What advice do you have for people going to law school today?
    Meet all the real lawyers you can. Make sure it’s for you. Do the math and live on a budget. Get practical experience. …
    … Don’t be shy about calling lawyers to meet. They’re glad to. Work to develop yourself as a lawyer and get things done.

All very valuable advice. Thanks for your thoughtful responses today; I enjoyed tweeting with you very much.

Me too. Thanks, Lance! This was a great experience. Thank you for creating this idea for lawyers to get to know each other.

Filed under Twitterviews | Tags: Criminal Defense, ivil Litigation, Minneapolis - St Paul | Comments Off on @anthonybushnell

@charlesthomas

Today we’re tweeting with Philadelphia criminal defense attorney and (new) solo practice evangelist @CharlesThomas

1. @CharlesThomas, thank you for joining us today on Twitter. Tell us: who is @CharlesThomas?
   Thanks for having me! I’m a true solo doing MOSTLY crim def. I enjoy cooking and play some music too. http://is.gd/3jctX
   –
2. Looks interesting; I’ll have to watch it later. Tell us about your law practice.
   I was trained as a criminal def atty- that’s my bread & butter. I’m trying to add civil and LGBT rights to my practice.
   –
3. What type of clients do you represent?
   My crim clients come from all walks of life. LOTS of people get a DUI or a shoplifiting or into a fight. Rich & educated too
   –
4. What is the single most important legal issue affecting your clients?
   The inequality in the system- I have a 5 county practice. Bucks Co would jail someone where Philly would just give a fine.
   –
5. Wow. What do you tell every new client before you start working for them?
   That I have a firm no-BS rule. If I say “this is the best I can do for you” I mean it. Can’t always win on this side.
   –
6. Tell us about one of the more significant client representations you’ve had.
   When I was a PD, I was set precedent about the the 1st Amend rights of parolees. http://is.gd/3jf3Q (PDF)
   –
7. Significant representation indeed! Congrats on that. Why do your clients hire you?
   Because I am not judgmental. Most of them are embarrassed & afraid- I get that, but I also let them know there are ways out.
   –
8. I imagine that’s a huge comfort for them. What’s the most active area of your practice right now? Is that typical?
   There’s no such thing. Each phone call is different. One guy gets busted with weed- someone else punched a guy.
   –
9. You started your career as a public defender. What led you to strike out on your own?
   I was there almost 5 years. That seems to be the point when people either a PD for life or break away. I wanted a change.
   –
10. How is your practice different now that you’ve got your own practice? What does it mean to your clients?
    For one thing, I have fewer felony cases. Ironically, I used to work harder on the CASES back then. Now I work on the biz.
    –
11. That’s very interesting. How do you market your practice?
    Entirely through social media. All my referrals come through twitter or facebook.
    –
12. Why did you decide to become active on Twitter? Are you achieving those objectives?
    I was an early adopter for personal purposes. I found more lawyers and made deeper connex, I saw the pro possibilities.
    –
13. You blog at Persuasive Auth (http://bit.ly/lvVjK) & Philly LGBT Lawyer (http://bit.ly/14ETsk) Who do you write for?
    Myself. As a Bi man I have a stake in LGBT rights. Pther blog is about legal writing, which is so awful. If clients result, bonus.
    –
14. You said all your work comes from SocMed. How do you manage that? What do you do to keep up the flow?
    I sub to @davidmatson ’s lead generation service where his 800 number fwds to my cell. Otherwise, it’s referrals from attys.
    –
15. How much time do you spend each day developing / enhancing your brand?
    Branding is a new thing to me. My website http://is.gd/3jkRb is a good start, emphasizing my caring and empathetic approach.
    –
16. Yes, it is. Let’s switch gears: what is the most significant issue currently facing the legal profession?
    That clients have FINALLY figured out what a ripoff biglaw is. The billable hour rewards incompetence & needless research.
    –
17. What will the legal landscape look like in 10 years?
    Biglaw will shrink. Boutiques will grow. And the prison pop will increase. In 1960 PA had 7800 inmates- it’s now 51K.
    –
18. That’s a stunning statistic. What would you do if you weren’t a lawyer?
    I’d be a standup comedian or an actor. I’m always tempted to move to LA and start auditioning. In drag, like Swayze in To Wong Foo.
    –
19. Maybe that can be your next YouTube video…. How do you want to be remembered?
    A DA once called me the King of the BS Defense, meaning I would try anything to help the client. That’s how I want to be remembered.
    –
20. What do you do when you’re not working?
    I play my guitar and write songs. I am also writing a comic book about an insurance adjuster who saves the world.
    –
21. What advice would you pass along to lawyers currently under- or unemployed due to the economic crisis?
    Now is the time. Find a niche, and seize on it. There is a guy in DC who ONLY does milk regs- THAT’S a niche.
    –
22. Is he on Twitter? Our last question for you: what advice do you have for people going to law school today?
    My advice: right now, don’t. New grads will be competing with laidoff assos. The readjusted salaries will not cover loans.

Thank you very much for your thoughtful responses today. This was a great twitterview.

Thank you for having me! I hope to have many conversations with people in the days to come.

Filed under Twitterviews | Tags: Blawger, Criminal Defense, Philadelphia | Comments Off on @charlesthomas

@nikiblack

Nicole Black

Of Counsel to Fiandach & Fiandach, a Rochester, New York law firm

Co-author of Criminal Law in New York, a Thompson-West publication

Author of Daily Record Column (Dolan Media)

Author / publisher of Legal Tweets, Sui Generis, Practicing Law in the 21st Century, Women Lawyers–Back on Track, and Legal Antics

Winner of the first Shorty Award in #law 

For our 1st interview, we’re tweeting w/ @nikiblack, Shorty Award in #law winner and arguably 1 of the best known lawyers on Twitter

Not just a practicing lawyer, she’s a prolific blogger, a legal writer, a law tech consultant & author of “Twitter 101 for lawyers”

1. Thank you for helping launch @22Twts. Tell us: who is the person behind @nikiblack?
   Hi there. My pleasure–looking forward to it. Simply put, I’m a lawyer, author, & legal blogger.
    
2. What type of law do you practice and where?
   Criminal defense. I’m of counsel to Fiandach & Fiandach, a DWI defense firm in Rochester, NY.
    
3. Who do you represent in your practice?
   People who have been charged with Driving While Intoxicated.
    
4. What is the most important legal issue affecting your clients?
   Protecting their rights after they’ve made a common mistake-operating a motor vehicle after drinking alcohol.
    
5. What do you tell every new client before you start working for them?
   Our office will do the best that we can for you.
    
6. What is the most significant client representation you’ve ever had?
   I was an asst public defender for 4 yrs-While working in appeals dept., I was successful in appeal of a murder conviction.
    
7. Tell us about the case and how it turned out the way it did
   People v. Sierra-47 NYS2d 89-Client was charged w/ shooting innocent bystander when defending himself from shots…cont.
   by his brother. Jury instruction re: self defense=confusing & erroneous-charges dismissed & client released from prison.
   Client re-indicted-plead to manslaughter, more appropriate charge for his conduct & mental state-received no more jail time.
    
8. Congratulations on that outcome. Why do your clients hire you now?
   DWI defense clients hire our office in order to receive arguably the best defense in the Upstate New York area…cont.
   Lawyers hire me 2 learn how 2 use Web 2.0 technologies in their practices, save $, reduce stress & better serve clients.
    
9. What would you say has been your greatest professional accomplishment in your career so far?
   The appellate win described above and co-authoring the Thomson-West treatise “Criminal Law in NY”–http://bit.ly/7oZpL
    
10. How do you sell your practice?
    Speaking at seminars and using Web 2.0 technologies: the internet, blogs, Twitter and other forms of social media.
     
11. How much time do you spend each day developing / enhancing your brand?
    Approximately one hour or so. It varies.
     
12. You publish four blogs. That’s a lot. Why so many?
    I have a variety of interests that I enjoy exploring & each blog serves a different purpose for me. And, I enjoy writing;)
     
13. What would you say is the most significant issue currently facing the legal profession?
    Accepting technology, incorporating technology into legal practices and staying on top of technological changes.
     
14. Switching gears, what has been your greatest personal accomplishment?
    Becoming a mother. It changed me more than I ever thought possible.
     
15. Why did you become a lawyer?
    Although it sounds cliché, to make a difference in the the world and make it a better place.
     
16. What would you do if you weren’t a lawyer?
    Something involving creativity and/or technology-perhaps a graphic designer, web designer, or author.
     
17. How would you like to be remembered?
    As a kind, interesting person who laughed at life, made a difference and left her mark.
     
18. Where did you go to school?
    University of Rochester for undergrad and Albany Law School.
     
19. Just a few more questions, Niki. What do you do when you’re not working?
    Spend time with my family, cook & enjoy wine. I also spend a lot of time on the computer-can’t seem to stay away from it;)
     
20. It must be the influence of Twitter! What languages do you speak?
    English with basic understanding of Spanish and some knowledge of Italian. I can also read Hebrew, but don’t understand it.
     
21. What’s one thing you’ve done that no one would ever imagine?
    White water rafting in Jackson Hole, WY. I’m not at all outdoorsy, so people that know me would be surprised to learn that.
     
22. And the 22nd question: what advice do you have for people going to law school today?
    Your law degree is just one weapon in your arsenal. A law degree does not limit your options-it expands them.

That’s useful advice in today’s economy. Thank you so very much, @nikiblack, for doing this interview to help us launch 22 Tweets

Thanks for speaking with me. Enjoyed it very much;) 

Filed under Twitterviews | Tags: Blawger, Criminal Defense, New York, Rochester, Technology | Comments Off on @nikiblack