@ellenvictor
July 29th, 2010
Long Island Business and Estate Planning Attorney
Owner, The Law Office of Ellen A. Victor
Author, Special Needs Law Blog and Small Business Law Blog
Today we’re tweeting with Long Island business, estate planning and special needs attorney @EllenVictor
- @Ellenvictor thank you for joining us today on Twitter. Tell us: who is @Ellenvictor?
I’m a Long Island, NY business and estate planning attorney who has a special interest in #specialneeds.
– - Tell us about your law practice.
My practice ranges from small business formation to contract review to…
to Medicaid applications to wills and complex estate plans to non-profit applications.
– - What type of clients do you represent?
#smallbiz; elderly clients who need Medicaid planning; families with #specialneeds kids; average families who need estate planning
– - What is the single most important legal issue affecting those clients?
Protecting their assets: from the taxman, from the nursing home, from immature children, from creditors and predators
– - What do you tell every new client before you start working for them?
I tell them they are going to get a lawyer who will always be available to answer their questions; that they are not alone
– - Tell us about one of the more significant client representations you’ve had.
My last fun case was representing an incorporated church in a dissolution proceeding, and selling the underlying property.
– - That must have been interesting…. Why do your clients hire you?
I believe they sense my compassion, caring, competence, and commitment.
– - What’s the most active area of your practice at the current time? Is that typical?
my practice is evenly split between estate planning, not for profit 501(c)(3) status applications and Medicaid planning
– - How has special needs law changed since you started practicing it? Is it still evolving?
Unfortunately, government entitlements are under fire, special needs trusts must be carefully drafted to ensure compliance
– - How are your small business clients faring in the current economic climate? Are they beginning to see improvement?
Research shows that businesses started during a recession often flourish when the economy recovers.
– - Let’s hope that trend continues…. How do you describe what you do to people you meet at a cocktail party?
I help families and businesses protect the people and things they care about, from taxes, nursing home costs, and even themselves.
– - You author two separate blogs (http://bit.ly/a84YK5 and http://bit.ly/9QDQZR). Are they effective marketing tools? Why?
Because of my writing, clients come to me already convinced of my knowledge, experience and compassion
– - sounds like a resounding “yes”…. When did you become active on Twitter? What were your objectives? Have they changed?
About a year ago @JeenaBelil, a LI colleague, convinced me Twitter would be fun, and it has been!
– - What specific impact on referrals and/or client engagements, if any, have you realized from Web 2.0 activities?
I’ve received requests to write articles, teach classes, and referrals from other lawyers thru my Web 2.0 activities
– - Wow, that’s great ROI. How much time do you spend each day developing / enhancing your brand?
I’d estimate about an hour per day between my two blogs, various listservs and checking in to Twitter and Facebook
– - Let’s switch gears: what is the most significant issue currently facing the legal profession?
The new economics of law: outsourcing, virtual paralegals, flextime, alternative billing and alternate dispute resolution
– - What will the legal landscape look like in 10 years?
The law will become even more multi-jurisdictional and multi-national. Even small businesses must deal w/ internet issues.
– - What would you do if you weren’t a lawyer?
I believe I’d make a great psychologist. I pride myself on my insight and caring about people.
– - How do you want to be remembered?
As a parent of a special needs child, my greatest accomplishment has been her success
– - What do you do when you’re not working?
I like travel, watching reality TV and reading serial killer novels, but like most solo lawyers, I’m almost always working!
– - What advice can you pass along to lawyers currently under- or unemployed due to the economic crisis?
Hang in there! Keep networking and studying your area of the law; branch out into related areas of law
– - And our last question for you: What advice do you have for people going to law school today?
oh, boy. I’d suggest law students should work hard to learn practical skills by taking clinics and interning for firms
Valuable advice! Thanks very much for the interview; I enjoyed learning more about you and your practice.
Thank you so much for inviting me to share some of my thoughts
