Legal Tweets

Does Twitter have value for lawyers?

kevinokeefe: 'Twitter Not Effective for Law Firm Marketing' (@LarryBodine) http://twurl.nl/ickx6k (expand) shallow & very uninformed opinion

• rklau: @kevinokeefe Glad we know Twitter's not effective for law firm marketing! Whew. Glad we cleared that up. /me slaps head

• nikiblack: @phillyshortcite @kevinokeefe @LarryBodine It's nearly impossible to "prove" ROI from online marketing. But, IMO, the right combo works.

• nikiblack: @phillyshortcite @kevinokeefe @LarryBodine Twitter's not 4 every law practice-but can work for many. Need 2 use with other online strategies

• jmilles: @nikiblack Hmm. OTOH, that blog post sure got Bodine's name retweeted a lot. Talk about "shouting post for relentless self-promoters."

• phillyshortcite: @kevinokeefe @nikiblack @LarryBodine Until I see someone post a good ROI from Twitter, Larry wins. Fun, but not profitable.

• beej777: @kevinokeefe I dont see how one user can legitimately write off Twitter for law marketing - all hangs who you follow and how you interact?

• Russ23229: Maybe user error in case of @LarryBodine? - 'Twitter Not Effective for Law Firm Marketing'

• jeffrey_brandt: @kevinokeefe lk any tool, its all in how U use it. wld not be surprised by those failing when they try 2 use Twttr lk a hardcopy brochure.

• JayFleischman: @kevinokeefe More a case of short-sighted thinking.

• kevinokeefe: Twitter ROI? Senior partner in major law firm asks me to speak to corp clients in 2 cities on what I do & becoming LB client (via Twitter)

• btannebaum: @kevinokeefe re: @larrybodine if your purpose on twitter is marketing and you make that clear, you become like the salesman at a party

Our next Supreme Court Justice--Judge Sotomayor

collinudell: Transcript of Pres. Obama's introduction of Judge Sotomayor, and her response http://tinyurl.com/ ht @legaltimes

• nickpurifoy: Sotomayor is a decent choice for SCOTUS, but I'll be glad when Obama gets to pick a nominee where he isn't hemmed in by race or sex.

• joemillerjd: VERY pleased about Sotomayor. "Si se puede," baby. Let's go. http://bit.ly/105BdX

• edadams: ABA Journal: The Four Likely Lines of Attack Against Sotomayor http://tinyurl.com/p9cmp7

• overlawyered: Sonia Sotomayor nomination: I've written a short piece on President Obama's nomination of the Second.. http://bit.ly/f5eoZ

• HuffPolitics: Sonia Sotomayor: 10 Things You Should Know http://bit.ly/177PPo

• phillyshortcite: Politico's @MikeAllen calls childless Sotomayor "a Latina single mother"- http://bit.ly/Hhl5L

• bnatechlaw Blogged Judge Sotomayor Is First Nominee With Cyberlaw Record http://bit.ly/ARfOZ

• dtoddsmith: Met Judge Sotomayor in mid-90s. She was keynote for Nat'l Conf of Law Reviews, which my school hosted (I was editor). Good impression.

• JeffreyFeldman President raised by single mom chooses SCOTUS nominee raised by single mom #sotomayor. Coincidence?

The Business of Practicing Law

kevinokeefe: WSJ: Lawyers Lack Skills Needed to Draw, Keep Cliients http://twurl.nl/mfm24f  need coaching on client development

• stephkimbro: RT @kevinokeefe: WSJ: Lawyers Lack Skills Needed to Draw, Keep Clients http://twurl.nl/mfm24f (expand) (Me: education in biz should start in school)

• btannebaum: @kevinokeefe isn't being a great lawyer a great way to draw/keep clients? I want clients looking for a good lawyer, not a well coached one.

• LawBiz: @btannebaum Yes, but even if you are good, someone has to tell them for them to know. :-)

• TradeSecretLaw: @btannebaum Clients cannot distinguish between a great lawyer & an average one. They CAN tell how you make them feel. (cont)

• TradeSecretLaw: @btannebaum If you do stellar legal work but your client perceives you as unresponsive or cold, your business will flounder.

• btannebaum: @TradeSecretLaw I'm a criminal lawyer, If I do stellar legal work it doesn't matter if my client perceives me as unresponsive or cold.

• TradeSecretLaw: @btannebaum Be a great lawyer, but recognize that your client's definition of a great lawyer differs from yours. Use his definition.

• btannebaum: @kevinokeefe isn't there a difference between telling people you're a good lawyer and actually being one?

• TradeSecretLaw: @btannebaum Hone and improve your legal skills, but emphasize things from your client's perspective. Think like a client. (cont)

• btannebaum @TradeSecretLaw my client's definition of "great lawyer" depends on which door he uses to exit the courtroom

• kevinokeefe: @btannebaum 'difference between telling people you're a good lawyer & actually being one?' absolutely, transparency will prevail

• TradeSecretLaw: @btannebaum For good ideas on how to think like a client, read "What Clients Love" by Harry Beckwith. http://tinyurl.com/o8k6cz

• TradeSecretLaw: @btannebaum If you want clients to flock to you, you must be perceived as being good. How do clients or referral sources perceive you?

Women lawyers--why do they leave the profession?

ABAJournal: Why Women Lawyers Leave: A Quest for Flexible Work and Supportive Environments http://tinyurl.com/qvpzwc

• gerkmana: Women lawyers = men if they don't pause careers for kids. But those who do are the happiest lawyers (men or women). http://is.gd/zPn2

• EducationInfo: News: Women lawyers say advancement chances limited - CBS 3 http://cli.gs/Pp1SGU

• mmgjury: The hardest decision working parents make. RT @ABAJournal: Many Women Lawyers With Kids Do as Well as the Men http://tinyurl.com/r47x73

• nikiblack: Not much of a surprise: "New Jersey Women Lawyers Choose Flexible Workplaces - News from Rutgers" http://tinyurl.com/ppntuc

• dhelwig: RT @nikiblack NJ Women Lawyers Choose Flexible Workplaces, from Rutgers http://tinyurl.com/ppntuc (expand) >>Will flex schedules survive the economy?

• vpynchon: @nikiblack read "ending the gauntlet" - question why women leave in droves & make 60 cents on male atty's dollar - we are not slackers

• vpynchon: @nikiblack are men leaving to get a life? why or why not? should we "ruffle the edges" of the institutional claim that it's a meritocracy?

• nikiblack: @vpynchon I don't disagree with you at all. IMO the legal field is hostile to anyone having a life--especially women who procreate.

• nikiblack: @vpynchon Btw, have you ever come across my now-defunct blog "Women Lawyers-Back on Track"? http://bit.ly/ZOAe

Is Blogger a Good Platform for Law Blogs?

kevinokeefe: Law blogs : You get what you pay for http://twurl.nl/6erlz8 (expand) my take on lawyers using free/low cost blog solutions

• rklau: @kevinokeefe "Blogger is a non-starter as far as a professional and safe environment for lawyers." Based on what, exactly?

• kevinokeefe: @rklau Blogger as non-starter? Risks you'll need to overcome & work that would be needed. ROI on that less than professional solution.

• kevinokeefe: @rklau Laud all your company, Google, has done including its Blogger platform, just see as nonstarter in getting ROI for law blog

• rklau: @kevinokeefe Appreciate that blogging is more than the platform. But that's not the same as saying any one platform is a non-starter.

• rklau: @kevinokeefe You also seem to conflate *.blogspot.com w/Blogger as a platform. Blogger hosts tons of sites at their own domain.

• dgulbran: @kevinokeefe @rklau Blogger non-starter? Not for smalls/solos... I host blogs there w/custom domains (non-law, but still).

• dgulbran: @kevinokeefe @rklau Drawbacks? Sure, but non-starter, no. Have to define ROI metrics, first...

• internetcases: Here's @rklau and @kevinokeefe on Blogger for law blogs: http://is.gd/zxkw

David Boies Keynote Speech at Inside Counsel's SuperConference

adriandayton: How do we adapt our legal practices to hard times? Keynote by David Boies #superconference

• adriandayton: Price leadership and practice leadership is historically defined by just a few firms. This is starting to change #superconference

• adriandayton: Law is a profession where innovation is not prized. #superconference

• karencariello: David Bowes @ #superconference One hinderance of legal profession is that it moves on precedent not innovation

• adriandayton: Lawyers don't ask "Whats the best way?" they instead ask "What has been done in the past" #superconference

• adriandayton: It is becoming unacceptable for attorneys to say "I don't know how much this is going to cost you" #superconference

• karencariello: Alt fees encourage efficiency and effectiveness and align law firm interests w/client #superconference

• adriandayton: Alts to the billable hour? Contingency fees are being used for huge clients like American Express. #superconference

• adriandayton: Even better- success fees, bonus for summary judgment or other dismissal. This is great incentive for attorneys. #superconference

• adriandayton: Our happiest clients (multi million $) have some variation of a contingency arrangement. #superconference

• karencariello: Boies: "Hourly rate exists because lawyers and clients are lazy" #superconference

• adriandayton: question: how about an hourly billable rate the decreases the longer litigation drags on? #superconference

Who's Joining Me at the "Get A Life" Conference-May 27-28th?

UPDATE:  New pricing announced!

• VIP Package: $750 - Includes Get A Life.™ Conference, Cocktail Hour at Millenium Park Grill, Presidents' Dinner, Wrigley Rooftop Cubs Game, FREE 1 Year Membership to Total Practice Management Association, Materials CD, Access to Conference Online Videos
• Standard Conference & Wrigley Rooftop Package: $600 - Includes Get A Life.™ Conference, Wrigley Rooftop Cubs Game, Cocktail Hour at Millenium Park Grill, FREE 1 Year Membership to Total Practice Management Association, Materials CD, Access to Conference Online Videos
• Standard Conference Attendee Package: $500 - Includes Get A Life.™ Conference, Cocktail Hour at Millenium Park Grill, FREE 1 Year Membership to Total Practice Management Association, Materials CD, Access to Conference Online Videos

*****

I just booked my plane tickets to Chicago for the Total Attorneys "Get a Life" conference.

It promises to be a great event, where you'll learn to "Run Your Practice Without Running Yourself into the Ground":

In this two-day workshop, you’ll learn how manage all the moving parts of a successful law practice and still have a life. But there’s one very important thing missing – you! One of the greatest challenges you have is making time for what’s personally important to you – your hobbies, friends and family.

There are great speakers on tap, including Gerry Riskin (@Riskin), Allison Shields (@allisonshields), Kevin O'Keefe (@kevinokeefe ) and Alexis Martin Neely (@alexisneely).

I'm really looking forward to this conference and I hope to see you there!

SCOTUS & Justice Souter's Retirement

dhowell: Breaking: Justice Souter retires (CNN)http://ff.im/-2un0H

• HuffPolitics: List of Justice Souter's decisions over the years: http://bit.ly/4rqq0 via @wtop

• Edward A. Adams Who will replace Justice David Souter? Four leading candidates, sources close to Obama told the ABA Journal: http://twurl.nl/rkecg7

• GrantGriffiths BHO pick will unlikely change the ideological makeup of the court. No big deal if he gets 2 pick one 2 replace Souter. It will be a clone

• buffalopundit you have no idea how fortunate it is for America that Souter's resignation was announced in May 2009 rather than May 2008.

• @jwindwer: Who will Obama choose to replace Souter? Some ideas from Tony Mauro via Law.com. http://bit.ly/QqeQe

• @nytimeskristof David Souter reportedly will retire from the Supreme Court. Who'll Obama appoint? I might bet on Elena Kagan.

• @Kymsmiles: Will Justice Souter's Retirement Revolutionize Punitive Damages Litigation? http://volokh.com/posts/1241187999.shtml