@Sobk13
May 5th, 2010
Founder of Divorce Manual, Researching Reform, and Pod It Forward
Ichthyomaniac and crocodile lover
Renegade Lawyer
Today we’re tweeting with renegade lawyer @Sobk13, who mediates between order and chaos.
- @Sobk13 thank you for joining us today on Twitter. Tell us: who is @Sobk13?
A mythical gatekeeper to Divorce Manual.In his spare time he terrorises tweeters & takes his pet Goblin Shark for twitstream swims..
– - Tell us about your law practice.
It’s legal research & journalism based, working with families, pressure groups & politicians to help create dialog & offer solutions
– - What type of clients do you represent?
Mothers and fathers with contact or financial disagreements but ultimately I represent the best interests of the children involved.
– - And what is the single most important legal issue affecting all of those clients?
The issues seem interlinked but usually start with a breach of one of the Human Rights Conventions & involve prohibitive legal costs
– - What do you tell your new clients before you start working for them?
Well, there are no explicit by-lines; I just ask what it is I can do to assist and then I try to listen, as carefully as I can.
– - Makes a lot of sense…. Tell us about one of the more significant client representations you’ve had.
They’re all significant in their own way; briefs can seem identical at first but all are multi-layered so no 2 cases are the same.
– - Why do your clients hire you?
Usually because they’ve lost faith in the legal system and can’t afford to pay more fees; I work pro bono as a McKenzie Friend.
– - What’s the most active area of your practice at the current time? Is that typical?
Ongoing dialog with pressure groups & families in the system; it’s not typical but really ought to be standard government practice.
– - What’s the hardest part about working with parents and children going through divorces?
Staying focused on the various forms of suffering each party’s experiencing. They’re all relevant & need to be treated with respect.
– - You work with groups seeking reform in the English Family Justice System. What is that system? Why is reform needed?
A legal forum 4 family matters like divorce & adoption; it needs reform because our understanding of the human condition has evolved
– - Interesting notion. How do you describe what you do to people you meet at a cocktail party?
I tend 2 reserve those occasions for a little mischief; one evening I might be a Spanish biologist & another, a secret agent for MI5
– - So perhaps we’ve met and I didn’t know it… When did you join Twitter? What were your objectives then? Have they changed?
Quite possibly 🙂 & 2009, I think. I’m a Techno Bimbo trying 2 rise to the challenge & learn 2 engage with families on social media.
– - 🙂 You blog at Divorce Manual (http://bit.ly/btNeW7) & 2 other sites. What are your blog objectives? Are you meeting them?
To expose the real problems in the system & to involve lay people & professionals. I really hope the blogs meet these objectives.
– - What specific impact on referrals and/or client engagements, if any, have you realized from Web 2.0 activities?
I’m grateful to the net for providing me with a platform, it’s very good for referrals but word of mouth still pips it to the post.
– - How much time do you spend each day developing / enhancing your brand?
I don’t believe in brands; they make me think of sheep & wool..! I prefer to be open about my views & be myself, for better or worse
– - It seems to be working fine… Let’s switch gears: what is the most significant issue currently facing the legal profession?
In Family Law, I think it’s about the working legal culture in place and its need to evolve so that it can offer a relevant service.
– - What will the legal landscape look like in 10 years?
To my mind for UK Family Law, a more humane place, with families beginning to trust the system a little more.
– - What would you do if you weren’t a lawyer?
Become a mermaid and play in the sea, eating pralines passing sailors threw me or work for UNESCO on matters relating to children.
– - What do you do when you’re not working?
I have a lovely son; he is currently learning to Death Roll. When I’m not parenting, I love to swim in pools or ponds.
– - Congrats. How do you want to be remembered?
As a scaly little crocodile with mischievous nostrils.
– - What advice can you pass along to lawyers currently under- or unemployed due to the economic crisis?
For UK Family lawyers, it’s a great time to re-invent their practice. There’s a huge demand for ethical, family-friendly services.
– - And our last question for you: what advice do you have for people going to law school today?
Hold on to your ideals, let go of fear, practice with compassion. And never underestimate the power of the whoopy cushion.
Thanks for that great advice! And for tweeting with me today–it was a real pleasure learning about you and your practice.
Thank you very much for having me on ; it was lots of fun being interviewed and I wish you all the best 🙂
