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

Nuggets of wisdom from Social Media for Lawyers 1 conference

The Social Media for Lawyers Conference occurred in September 2009 in NYC.  I (@nikiblack) was one of the panelists:

fredabramson: @nikiblack is on the fence about facebook fan pages. I think it has potential in attracting heavy fb users. #sm4law

• graubart: For lawyers - if you only do 2 things with social media, list yourself on Avvo/Justia and start consuming RSS - @nikiblack #sm4law

• graubart: U may not get social media if... RT @christinemartin: #sm4law - lady in audience said my tweeting distracting her from lecture on Soc Media

• CatherinVentura: Lisa Solomon suggesting location based searches on FB and Twitter for legal networking #SM4law

• nikiblack: Twitter is all about sharing--not "what are you doing?"-but "what do you want to share"? #sm4law

• CatherinVentura: #SM4law @graubart: Twitter is about establishing you as thought leader

• uMCLE: Graubert: Twitter is not a reciprocal relationship. #sm4Law (though few acknowledge, I strongly agree)

• nikiblack: Burgess: Twitter is not broadcast medium--interact--"mingle" and start a dialogue #sm4law

• CatherinVentura: #SM4law @DeenaEsq: Twitter can help potential clients feel comfortable with you, bridging a potential barrier

• nikiblack: Burgess (@deenaesq): Every company should have, at least, google alerts et up for their name, company's name, etc. #sm4law

• CatherinVentura: #SM4law @upwardaction: Twitter let's you use keyword searches to do market research about what is currently relevant to your business.

• legaltypist: 10 valuable Twitter utilities for business users #SM4law http://tinyurl.com/qhykap

• graubart: Listening to professional standards about legal solicitation reminds me why I'm glad I'm not in law #sm4law

• nikiblack: #sm4law social mention http://bit.ly/eKfIq is great way to monitor what is being said across all of social media re: any issue of ur choice

• nikiblack: Coleman: Don't tweet about: facts that could hurt your case--disparage clients, colleagues, etc. #sm4law

• fredabramson: Facebook business status updates are indexed by google and have seo value #sm4law

• CatherinVentura: #SM4law @upwardaction: Lawyers should be careful abt bookmarking: could give opposing counsel tips about strategy!!

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Social Media Risks and Rewards Conference

karasmamedia: #LSMC - The Social Media Confe is getting started. Bob Ambrogi's welcoming the group w/an intro and being the Risks & Rewards conversation

DougCornelius: Develop a Corporate Policy for Social Media http://bit.ly/TucRH Materials for #lsmc presentation this morning.

nikiblack: Flynn (from obama's campaign blogging team)"have to get engaged or get left behind & be obsolete" #LSMC

alinwagnerlahmy: key to online relationship: be authentic, converse ('half the show is in the comments') - Kevin Flynn in #LSMC

LawTechNews: Read the comments, too. Can be really valuable and get more out of the convo.-TB #lsmc

nikiblack: Flynn: re: his new gig at Motorola--to seem "real" Motorola allows negative comments on Facebook fan page. #LSMC

LawTechNews: CG shows United Breaks Guitars videos, which got 5.5mil views and @united's attn. Shows power and reach. -TB #lsmc

karasmamedia: LSMC: NB - Legal Marketers, use social media to monitor your platform socialmention.com - good place to see what's said

howardgr: On panel @nikiblack - talking about how Social and Professional online networking ar by necessity intertwined. Of course! #lsmc

dougcornelius: "Give up some control of your brand (But not so much that you risk harming your brand)" Andy Mitchell of CNN on social media #lsmc

ipdotcom: followers of #LSMC might be interested in Kodak's free social media tips brochure. http://tinyurl.com/n6cfv8 (expand) via @JeffreyHayzlett

howardgr: consider using employees as "brand ambassadors" by encouraging SoMe use. #lsmc

nikiblack: Mussell (wells fargo): BLocking access to SM sites or ignoring SM is short sighted--numbers alone convince you of that. #LSMC

LawTechNews: Paul Mussell: be where your customers are. Participate or others will participate on your behalf. -TB #lsmc

commonscold at #lsmc : 2/3 of global web population visit social sites

commonscold: #lsmc: Bisard of Amex (really) -- have code of conduct, soc media policy, internet use policy, privacy policy, biggest trouble spot: vendors

nikiblack: Rosenman: 3 "ps" of SM-personal, pervasive, persistent #LSMC
karasmamedia: AR: Creating advocacy via Social Media from the people who already believe in your company is money back in your pocket - #LSMC

nikiblack: Rosenman: SM activity by companies is not an ad campaign--can't start & stop it--it's out there. COntrol is lost #LSMC

commonscold: #lsmc Sarah Bird (SEOmoz): "Transparency: you gotta do it!" monitor your affiliates. Not always well trained w/ traditional mktg bkgr nd

nikiblack: Rubin: "by the time I'm dead, the media as we know it will be dead as well." #LSMC

commonscold: #lsmc: Marc Monseau (Johnson & Johnson): 8 in 10 americans go online for health info

karasmamedia: Consumer generated content is more trusted than that put out by corporations - becomming more complicated #LSMC

LawTechNews: Monseau: don't always approve SM communication but sit down first and look at risks. Move legal dept from "no, bc" to "yes, if"-TB #lsmc

LawTechNews: Mussell (Wells Fargo): highly regulated companies are well-suited for SM since they already have compliance processes in place. -TB #lsmc

karasmamedia: RCleland-FTC Won't be going after companies whose employees publish inappropriatly - if the co's regulations are thoroughly laid out #LSMC

karasmamedia: Companies who ignore the risk by not monitoring their conversations are going to be exactly the kinds of companies the FTC looks for #LSMC

nikiblack: #LSMC Tech is moving faster than we are--faster than regulation can keep up. Monitoring is first step to get handle on things

karasmamedia: Using Social Media for the legal community is no longer optional -- Traditional channels are disappearing #LSMC

karasmamedia: VDimauro - No matter what social media tools get used, it's about strategy. success factor is based on business goal and objective #LSMC

karasmamedia: Running over to the next new tool is not the solution. Defining what you need to achieve& Redefining how you react and interact is key #LSMC

nikiblack #LSMC Speed matters with SM--can go from problem to crisis in very short time unlike the old way things were done

Richard Susskind's keynote at #ILTA09

KMHobbie: Waiting for Susskind talk on technology, #web20, alternative billing, and technology at #ilta09

• VMaryAbraham: Susskind: What's the "hole in the wall" lawyers deliver? (Black & Decker doesn't sell tools, they sell ways 2 provide hole in wall) #ilta09

• evalio: The future of legal services is knowledge capture and management, and dispute avoidance. #ILTA09 Susskind

• evalio: The future of legal services is knowledge capture and management, and dispute avoidance. #ILTA09 Susskind

• evalio: It's hard to convince a room full of millionaires that their business model is all wrong. #ILTA09 Susskind

• seanabrady: "Clients want more for less" - This is the theme for next 5 - 10 years. #ilta09 Susskind

• evalio: 2 ways to cut costs: efficiency (cut costs) or collaboration (share costs) #ILTA09 Susskind

• seanabrady: Bespoke, for those in the US who dont know, means a high tailored solution. Custom suit, software, or legal service. #ilta09 Susskind

• evalio: Not everything you do will be commoditized, but certain discrete components certainly can be. #ILTA09 Susskind

• CookiesJBW: Richard Susskind #ilta09 re: end of attys - fabulous! What's more likely? An online pet or an online lawyer?

• VMaryAbraham: Susskind believes that fixed fees align lawyers w/ clients. They all want to avoid problems so they work together earlier. #ilta09

• evalio: Focusing only on doing what you do now and making it a bit cheaper/better totally ignores innovation. #ILTA09 Susskind

• seanabrady: "The best way to predict the future is to invent it." #ilta09 Susskind

• evalio: For legal technologists, the challenge now is to create the new business model, not help create a better version of old one #ILTA09 Susskind

The generational divide from #ILTA09

VMaryAbraham: Crossing the Generational Divide -- preso by high energy Jason Dorsey. [Have I had enough caffeine for this???]

• VMaryAbraham: 4 factors that shape a generation: parenting trends, relationship to technology, level of affluence, expected life span. #ilta09

• VMaryAbraham: Problem: Matures R returning 2 the workplace. Boomers R NOT retiring. Gen X is feeling stuck. Gen Y is puzzled. #ilta09

• antneyb: Gen X-ers defining work characteristics: "prove it to me" and loyalty to individuals not organisations. Pfft. Wheres the proof? #ilta09

• jennsteele:Jason Dorsey, "gen y hates powerpoint. It's what boomers use to look high tech" #ilta09

• VMaryAbraham: Gen X and Gen Y view time as a currency. Many value unpaid vacation days! #ilta09

• VMaryAbraham: Matures and Gen Y are most compatible. Gen X and Gen Y have most conflict. #ilta09

• VMaryAbraham: Offer Gen Y outcomes and rewards that they can show their parents and friends. (Facebook and Thanksgiving.) #ilta09

• VMaryAbraham: Gen X and Gen Y together exceed 50% of the US workforce. #ilta09

• VMaryAbraham: Boomers define themselves by what they do during office hours. Gen X and Gen Y define themselves by what they do after work. #ilta09

• farshidk: gen Y is tech-dependent, not tech-savvy. they depend on technology but they don't know how it works, per session in #ilta09

• VMaryAbraham: Boomers define work ethic in hours per week and the work must be seen to be counted. Face time is important. #ilta09

• VMaryAbraham: Gen X are skeptical. They want you 2 "prove it 2 me." Once you prove it, they R very loyal. BUT they R loyal 2 individs not orgs. #ilta09

• VMaryAbraham: Gen X: This is the only generation he feels sorry for b/c they have been waiting & waiting 4 Boomers to retire. #ilta09

• VMaryAbraham: Gen Y values lifestyle and relationship above work. Gen Y will move to another city and then look for a job. #ilta09

• VMaryAbraham: Gen Y is very tech dependent and therefore lack interpersonal skills. They do everything online. #ilta09

• VMaryAbraham: Boomers tend not to talk to good employees -- Boomers stay out of your business and don't want to hear from you. #ilta09

• Jennsteele: Jason Dorsey: For gen y, if you only give annual reviews, change the name to exit interviews. #ilta09

• VMaryAbraham: Adult-olescence applies to Gen Y. They don't become "adults" until they are 30. (This doesn't apply to Gen Ys who are parents.) #ilta09

• VMaryAbraham: Gen Y's sense of entitlement comes from the extremes their parents go to in order to protect their kids. #ilta09

• VMaryAbraham: On 9/11, Gen Y called Mom, Gen X called spouse, Boomers called Gen Y, Matures called kids or grandkids. #ilta09

• VMaryAbraham: The generation has to be old enough to process an event. 9/11 is Gen Y's JFK moment. #ilta09

• VMaryAbraham: Gen X tends 2 B skeptical.They remember Nixon, oil shocks, laid-off parents. They don't believe relationshp w/ Employer = forever. #ilta09

Alternative Billing Session at #ILTA09

VMaryAbraham: At the Alternative Billing Session: Tom Gaines, Jeff Brandt, Jeff Rovner & Eugene ("call me Jeff") Stein. #ilta09

• backofthenapkin: Use tech for profit: still use hourly recording but bill on fix fee. Must chg how associate success is measured. #ilta09

• VMaryAbraham: Brandt: "Technology is rarely the sole cure for any business problem." #ilta09

• VMaryAbraham: Rovner: There are knock-on changes. We used to measure worth by # of billable hours. Now we value results. #ilta09

• VMaryAbraham: Stein: They develop more specialized associates to provided targeted work for clients, rather than jack-of-all-trade associates. #ilta09

• VMaryAbraham: Stein: They changed their staffing model. More paralegals w/ more responsibility. Partners operate like project managers. #ilta09

• VMaryAbraham: Stein: His firm was paid ONLY upon closing = incentive to finish quickly. #ilta09

• VMaryAbraham: Stein: Once they offered a fixed fee, they got more work from the client than was planned. (Work taken from other firms.) #ilta09

• VMaryAbraham: Stein: Once you have a fixed fee arrangement, the firm assumes risk of cost overruns. In exchange, the firm shld ask 4 more work. #ilta09

• VMaryAbraham: Stein: The key is to understand exactly how the work is accomplished, & what discrete pieces R commodities that can B done cheaply. #ilta09

• VMaryAbraham: Stein: Lower fees 2 clients are offset by lower costs of production, so firm retains profitability. #ilta09

• VMaryAbraham: Stein: Ways to reduce client costs = alt billing + lower the firm's cost of production. #ilta09

• bren924: In addition to lost profits on reduced rates, clients are refusing to pay certain disbursements, further reducing prof/partner #ilta09

• VMaryAbraham: Stein: In addition to the discount in rates, there is also a cut in the disbursements clients are willing to pay for. #ilta09

• mikemac29: Speakers talking about subject that hits home as new Lit Supp Mgr, way we've always done things may not be good enough anymore. #ilta09

• VMaryAbraham: Remember: There were flat fees 25 years ago. But clients demanded hourly rates then. Now they want fixed fees. #ilta09

• VMaryAbraham: Gaines: This isn't necessarily the death of the billable hour. We just need to offer alternatives. #ilta09

• mikemac29: Panel sees area of growth for techs with business savvy and leadership skills, right now leadership is in short supply #ilta09

• bren924: Food for thought in the alternative fee discussion? http://bit.ly/3jXFLg (expand) (via @brucecarton) #ilta09

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Kevin O'Keefe on social media for lawyers at the "Get a Life" conference

TotalAttorneys: @KevinOKeefe starts in 5 minutes at #GAL09 Watch live here http://twurl.nl/a2bm8i

• nikiblack: #GAL09 @kevinokeefe: 5% of people influence the other 95%

• retheauditors: #GAL09 @kevinokeefe "Go where the people are. Don't build a shrine to yourself. " Well, I like my blog, but that's why I'm on Twitter.

• adriandayton: You are living at the best time ever to do whatever you want to do. ~@kevinokeefe #gal09

• InsideLegal: Kevinokeefe: Blogging is your homebase-it's not going out of style-we're still using telephones #GAL09

• edscanlan: Quote from @kevinokeefe presentation "Lawyers were split 50/50 when telephone came out on whether or not it was o.k. to use" #GAL09 : )

• InsideLegal: KevinoKeefe: Twitter is single biggest branding tool since telephone. #GAL09

• retheauditors: #GAL09 @kevinokeefe "Twitter is strange. How to get started? Follow others in your geo: media, other lawyers. Use Lextweet to find."

• TwitToWho: Oh the irony... Twitter access goes down just as @KevinOKeefe starts to talk the virtues of Twitter at #GAL09

• nikiblack #GAL09 @kevinokeefe The 3 sites he recommends LinkedIn, blogging & Twitter Nikki adds facebook - I push twitter to facebook.

• MusaLaw: @kevinokeefe says rather than just throwing your marketing message out there, listen first, then join the conversation. #GAL09

• nikiblack: #GAL09 @kevinokeefe: get a gmail account if you don't have one--it's going to be the same as a social security # soon.

• nikiblack: #GAL09 @kevinokeefe Studies show that 1 out of 5 lawyers won't be practicing law in 5 years.

• adriandayton: Okeefe: If you don't believe the internet can help your law firm- then leave. #gal09 (love it)

• moeeds: #Gal09 @kevinokeefe - Your take on social media really changed my perspective. Thanks for the insight!

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

Lawyers & Social Networking--#LegalIT Conference

stevematthews: Getting ready to present with @conniecrosby @kevinokeefe in Montreal #legalit

• intechgration: #LegalIT - web 2.0 marketing is all about networking. It's all about two-way conversation, not one-way.

• goclio: @conniecrosby: Feels blogging has pushed her career forward 5 years. #LegalIT

• goclio: @kevinokeefe: You blog because the busiest people around get their information and news through blogs. #LegalIT

• intechgration: #LegalIT - Steve Mathews says that use of web 2.0 tools is low among lawyers, which means this is a great competitive advantage if you do.

• goclio: @kevinokeefe: Twitter is the single biggest branding tool since TV. #LegalIT

• goclio: Honest question from the audience re: all the twitter lingo (tweets, RTs, etc.): "What are you talking about?" #LegalIT

• intechgration: #LegalIT - Google reader is a great tool for getting content you're interested in without having to read tons of irrelevant stuff.