Legal Tweets

Tidbits from the Law Firm Leadership Conference #lflc

nikiblack: #lflc Susskind: As lawyers we tend to romanticize our profession--idealize it. We can continue to uphold dignity of it, but accept reality

Rotenberg: #LFLC Susskind: traditional lawyers will always be needed for deep expertise and complex communication

nikiblack: #lflc Susskind: If you an see ways you can work differently, you should do it bec if you don't, your competitors will

jordan_law21: Susskind: Five-stage progression of legal work: bespoke (customized), standardized, systematized, packaged, and commoditized (free): #lflc

nikiblack: #lflc Susskind: The drive towards commoditization pre-dates the economic downturn

nikiblack: #lflc Susskind: If non-lawyers controlled the delivery of legal services, things would (will) look much different

nikiblack: #lflc Susskind: Disruptive technology--new technologies may not help us as lawyers-they disrupt the way we work-but can't ignore them

ARotenberg: #LFLC: Susskind: need to look at multi sourcing, client facing technology, collaboration, and e-learning

jordan_law21: Susskind: Decomposing legal tasks into divisible blocks, ask: what's best way to execute each block? #lflc

jordan_law21: Susskind: Litigation is: doc review, research, project mgmt, lit. support, e-discovery, strategy, tactics, negotiation, advocacy... #lflc

ARotenberg: #LFLC: Susskind: project management lies at the heart of the legal industry of the future

ARotenberg: #LFLC: Susskind: Axion providing 'lease a lawyer' system. Experienced, cheaper lawyers providing expertise on a contract basis for less cost

ARotenberg: #LFLC Susskind: future of legal services lies in giving access to the firm's internal knowledge systems

nikiblack: #lflc Susskind: Most important business impact 4 lawyers-new ways of delivering legal services-virtual law office, turn knowledge into value

nikiblack: #lflc Susskind: Knowledge management used to be internal issue--now external--sharing knowledge with clients

ARotenberg: #LFLC: Susskind: Firms should take a cue from British Airways- investment in technology is on the client side, not internally

jordan_law21: Lamb: "This will be too hard" is lawyerly response. Ask instead: "How can I be 1st to change and profit therefrom?" #lflc

nikiblack: #lflc Susskind: It's not about pricing differently--it's about working differently. (!!!)

ARotenberg: #LFLC Maclean: innovative law firm fee calculator: http://bit.ly/2h3RJ9

nikiblack: #lflc MacLean: Clients don't care about ur profit, cost--they only care about the cost/value to them

nikiblack: #lflc Susskind: Any lawyer who takes time to research tech agrees that it changes legal practice-those who disagree are reacting emotionally

nikiblack: #lflc Susskind: Lawyers should be responding to new challenges by embracing emerging technologies, not ignoring them

ARotenberg: #LFLC Susskind: new jobs for lawyers will emerge- eg. legal risk managers, legal process analysts, legal knowledge engineers

ARotenberg: #LFLC Susskind: Newbies don't need to do routine tasks hundreds of times in the name of education. Don't confuse exploitation with training

ARotenberg: #LFLC Lamb: Younger third of the firm is less attached to status quo. Give them the opportunity to lead the charge to change

nikiblack #lflc Susskind: e-learning. ... Why don't we use online learning as we should (I say--#SPU anyone?)

nikiblack: #lflc Susskind: Talking about Twitter and its value to lawyers because their clients are on it, if for no other reason.

nikiblack: #lflc Susskind: The enemy who kills you doesn't look like you.

Tidbits from NYC Avvo Seminar

This legal tweets series brought to you via Andrea Cannavina aka @legaltypist, who did a great job covering this event and provided a ton of useful information:

legaltypist: Word of mouth referrals is going on line. #AVVO

legaltypist: Blogging is a micro site where you put your opinions and thoughts. More dynamic it is the more Search Engines will find you. #AVVO

legaltypist: Some sites now help attorneys share documents. JDSupra. #AVVO

legaltypist: Money and morning test. Where do you spend your money and what do you think about each morning? Should be your core web presence. #AVVO

legaltypist: In order to have an effective web presence, it doesn't need to be expensive. Once you have core, go out and network pointing back. #AVVO

legaltypist: Think strategically. Don't just hang out with lawyers. LinkedIn create site, but do consumers/target market congregate there? #AVVO

legaltypist: Reputation management. Everyone has an on line profile - whether you like it or not. #AVVO

legaltypist: Google Alerts helps you learn/monitor any one's name. #AVVO You should be monitoring your own. (My two cents: SocialMention's alerts are even better--allow you to track sentiment in the mentions as well)

legaltypist: AVVO republishes information from State Bar. All NY attorneys have a profile. #AVVO

legaltypist: To be an effective blogger you need personality. #AVVO

legaltypist: Effective blogs are written by real attrorneys with real voices. #AVVO

legaltypist: From groups and forums - point back to your blog, website or profile - your core web presence. Tells Google and search engines too. #AVVO

JeenaBelil: @MarkBritton doing a phenom job breaking down SM for lawyers in room #AVVO

legaltypist: If they are not talking about you - you don't exist. per @ThatLaywerDude #AVVO

legaltypist: You can't contribute to the conversation if you're not listening per @AriKaplan #AVVO

legaltypist: Per @JeenaBelil - its two jobs. One practicing law; the other marketing a practice. It's hard, but doable. per @JeenaBelil #AVVO

legaltypist: You should be spending at least 10% of your time marketing your practice. #AVVO

legaltypist: The things that you do on a daily basis, will come back to you on the yearly basis. per @ThatLawyerDude #AVVO

The utility of social media for lawyers

nikiblack: Thinking about today's Daily Record article re: lawyers engaging in social media. Social media is different for lawyers...

• nikiblack: Gen'ly, successful SM campaigns create a fan base--ppl passionate about ur product. Ppl are not passionate about law firms. So then what?

• nikiblack: Bec. ppl are not "passionate" about their law firm, Facebook fan pages make no sense to me as a SM tool for law firms

• VBalasubramani: @nikiblack everyone's passionate about criticizing lawyers :-) ..I would take this route..(seriously, poke fun at self/profession)

• nikiblack: SM for lawyers is a different focus than most businesses. It's about creating effective online presence, networking & establishing expertise

• SCartierLiebel: @nikiblack SM is about people, so not passionate about law firms...but can be very engaged with their lawyer. 1 lawyer is a 'firm', too.

• JohnFMoore: RT @nikiblack: It's about creating effective online presence, networking & establishing expertise | All biz should use this way, right?

• nikiblack: -->@JohnFMoore I agree. But other biz can create viral campaigns, create a tribe of followers that evangelize their product. Not law...

• nikiblack: Sm goals are different for lawyers. With specific goals in mind, you then choose appropriate SM platforms & levels of participation.

• amyderby: Me neither, unless it's just for other lawyers. RT @nikiblack: Facebook fan pages make no sense to me as a SM tool for law firms.

• jeffrey_brandt: @nikiblack Different then what? A widget/product company? yes.. but other service industries use social media, how r lawyers dif there?

• nikiblack: Closed legal platforms are useful for networking, getting info., but do very little to contribute to effective online presence

• mikemac29: @jeffrey_brandt @nikiblack Law isn't a service industry ppl rush to interact with, or feel passionate about, it's more like a utility co.

• nikiblack: -->@mikemac29 Exactly--I totally agree. Ppl reluctantly use/pay for lawyers. Hard to create a passionate following when starting w/ that!

• nikiblack: -->@jeffrey_brandt Lawyers' services aren't "sexy"--there's no hook. Can't create sweepstakes/contest 4 reduced services 2 increase interest

• nikiblack: Twitter=effective SM platform 2 increase business 4 some lawyers. Depends on potential clients are--individuals, companies, local, nat'l?

• nikiblack: Effective SM use for lawyers is a tough balance--is time participating ultimately worthwhile or wld local networking make more sense?

• SCartierLiebel: @nikiblack It's what you do with the platforms to push out compelling info about lawyer to create evangelists and interest. It's called PR

• nikiblack: SM *is* useful to lawyers. No doubt. Lawyers need to understand it & participate. It can help launch practices. It can showcase expertise.

• SCartierLiebel: @nikiblack don't want 2 limit creativity w/ SM ie:what 'can't' be done. It's 2new, untried. There R definite don'ts but undiscovered 'dos'.

• SCartierLiebel: @nikiblack They may just evangelize you differently based upon non-legal interests. This may be the key. I have numerous examples...

• jeffrey_brandt: @mikemac29 Tru a service whr many turn 2 in times of trouble, but is that fault of law or failure 2 properly partner w/clients?
  

• mypractice: @nikiblack To me, the intensity of effort to convince lawyers SM is useful is reflective that it really isn't that useful

• jeffrey_brandt: RT I know sex sells, but thats the cheap way out - not the only way 2 sell @nikiblack:Lawyers services arent 'sexy'--there's no hook.

• mikemac29: @jeffrey_brandt @nikiblack Partnering w/ clients would help, esp if firm keeps them out of litigation, but will client tell story on SM?

• FlemingMF: Hype of SM for lawyer is overblown; but to suggest it's all just smoke is also overstating @nikiblack @mypractice

• jeffrey_brandt: RT w/GenY I wouldnt B so sure @mikemac29 @nikiblack if firm got me out of trouble, gr8, but I wnt B going 2 firm FB page 2 share details

• lancegodard: @nikiblack @jeffrey_brandt If FB fan pages could be personalized, say with specific Firm RSS feeds, then they might be useful to clients

• Lemonlawyerinfo: @nikiblack one lawyer firm tweeting nationwide and having a statewide practice? hmm...Seem to be meeting people but that might be it

• LeighMonette: @nikiblack @jeffrey_brandt @mikemac29 Re: evangelizing attys. Vast maj. of online comments negative; few so happy they have to shout it (1)

• LeighMonette: @nikiblack @jeffrey_brandt @mikemac29 Re: evangalizing attys. I'm thinking of typical products/svces. Attys are a little different (2)

• JulianRCrump: @nikiblack No doubt online soc netwrkng has it's place; but where to find the time for it? I'm amazed how many tweets some post per day.

• DisabilityGuy: @nikiblack 1potential advantage of FaceBook fan pages R that clients R already there. I C them as means 4 communicating to current clien

• DisabilityGuy: @nikiblack I think of FaceBook Fan pages 4 attorneys as Newsletter of 2009. Less invasive than email & can B provided 2 others interested

• thetrialwarrior: @JulianRCrump @nikiblack Time management + scheduled tweets x creativity = 30+ tweets per day.
  

Using online tools to prep a legal case

The fourth episode of lawtechTalk is now available. 

This screencast (a recording of computer screen output along with video of me discussing what is seen) will focus on using online tools to assist you with brain storming and organizing your thoughts for all aspects of a case, from drafting a complaint to preparing for trial. We'll discuss web applications for brain storming, mind mapping, creating flow charts, and time lines, among other things.

This episode is a little under one half hour long and is available for viewing for a limited time at no cost.  Simply contact lawtechTalk for information regarding how to access this screencast.

The fourth episode of lawtechTalk is now available. 

This screencast (a recording of computer screen output along with video of me discussing what is seen) will focus on using online tools to assist you with brain storming and organizing your thoughts for all aspects of a case, from drafting a complaint to preparing for trial. We'll discuss web applications for brain storming, mind mapping, creating flow charts, and time lines, among other things.

This episode is a little under one half hour long and is available for viewing for a limited time at no cost.  Simply contact lawtechTalk for information regarding how to access this screencast.

The fourth episode of lawtechTalk is now available. 

This screencast (a recording of computer screen output along with video of me discussing what is seen) will focus on using online tools to assist you with brain storming and organizing your thoughts for all aspects of a case, from drafting a complaint to preparing for trial. We'll discuss web applications for brain storming, mind mapping, creating flow charts, and time lines, among other things.

This episode is a little under one half hour long and is available for viewing for a limited time at no cost.  Simply contact lawtechTalk for information regarding how to access this screencast.

Because compromise is the root of all evils?

ScottGreenfield: New Post: Compromise, And Other Bad Ideas http://tinyurl.com/nldhum

• vpynchon: @scottgreenfield mediators by the way do not seek "compromise" but the fulfillment of mutual unexplored party interests

• ScottGreenfield: @Charonqc Very busy today. Surprised and disappointed to learn about @vpynchon being such a little girl. Oh well.

• btannebaum: @scottgreenfield I saw you were called an "asshole" on your blog. Are you ok? Can I get you something?

• ScottGreenfield: @btannebaum It's those nasty girls. They are so mean.

• charonQC: @vpynchon I read post. I agree with @Scottgreenfield view on work - You 2 can't fall out on this...that is my view. Glass of wine, anyone?

• adriandayton: New post: Stop Thinking of the Internet as a Place! http://bit.ly/qlV18

• justinianlane: New blog post: http://tinyurl.com/l2ft5p (expand) - A Response to @ScottGreenfield About Excellence and Work Life Balance

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?

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

Let's revamp the law schools, shall we?

nikiblack: Makes sense to me: " 'Best Lawyers' Panels Agree That Law Schools, Firms Need Retooling" ( http://tinyurl.com/com5uu

• phila_lawyer: @nikiblack Law schools don't need to "change." Half of them need to close. Simple supply and demand. Enough with their fucking doublespeak.

• nikiblack: @phila_lawyer HOw about closing a bunch of 'em and changing those that remain? ;)

• phila_lawyer: @nikiblack I'd call that "change" I could believe in. How about also making it a 2 yr degree and focusing on practice, rather than theory?

• nikiblack: @phila_lawyer I still think 3 yrs is needed-but 1st year is substantive-the other 2 are more focused on practice areas of choice & practice.

• ronfox: @nikiblack Lawyers won't need to give up career visions once legal education is restructured. Read http://bit.ly/RmlQc (expand) (via @SCartierLiebel

• phila_lawyer: @nikiblack Why not 2 yrs with no summer breaks? Who needs breaks in grad school? How does that prepare you for work?

• piercelaw: @nikiblack Do you know abt DWS? Portfolio review,simulated clients +. Grds practice while others still study for Bar. http://bit.ly/VfdXF

• ronfox: @nikiblack @phila_lawyer re changing law schools: you can ignore fantasy scenario, interested in yr comments on this http://bit.ly/uxYXP

• nikiblack: @ronfox The 2d alternative offered following the hearings (major restructuring)sounds a lot like what @phila_lawyer and I were discussing

Should bad legal advice be a crime?

carolynelefant: should lawyers face criminal action for bad advice (like John Yoo)? And why Bush lawyers but not Enron lawyers? http://bit.ly/BpyJk

• mjakubik: @carolynelefant Its an awfully slippery slope if we start prosecuting lawyers for what turns out to be wrong advice.

• ronfox: @carolynelefant if facts show lawyer followed "order" to authorize action (torture?)&didn't exercise independent judgment,is that "advice"

• carolynelefant: @ronfox I agree w/you there - that activity borders on collusion, rubberstamping activity instead of analyzing

• ronfox: @carolynelefant son led campaign yr ago: email Dean Edley & urge dismissal of John Yoo from Berkeley for torture memos http://bit.ly/vf8l2

• carolynelefant: @ronfox can understand not having him teach. But criminal charges are much more serious.

Virtual law offices, the economic downturn & the do-it-yourself mentaility.

@StephKimbro: RT @mhtweets: In downturn, more people acting as own lawyers: http://is.gd/rLTe so what can legal profession do to help? Me: VLO option.

• GrantGriffiths: My prediction - in “this economy” virtual offices/home offices and VA’s are going to become a key factor

• ageorgialawyer: @GrantGriffiths @StephKimbro: Legal Prof can help: Making web sites current, having site in plain english/giving folks a reason 2 call

• stephkimbro: @ageorgialawyer I agree. Using simplified language would be great start. It shouldn't be so hard for general public to help themselves.

• TMarieHilton: RT @GrantGriffiths: My prediction - in “this economy” virtual offices/home offices and VA’s are going to become a key factor. - I agree !

• JimmyVerner: @GrantGriffiths Unless cases are really simple, most people who do own divorces screw them up, so lawyers have to clean up mess afterward.

• SandraSingerEsq: @GrantGriffiths People act as own lawyer because they cant afford a lawyer. If legal prof wants to help they have to provide more pro bono

• GrantGriffiths: @SandraSingerEsq and @JimmyVerner - I agree with you both. And that is exactly where a VLO can come into help.@StephKimbro has great program