@marshallrisaacs

Marshall R. Isaacs

Business / Corporate Litigation and Personal Injury Trial Lawyer

Author of two blawgs: Summary Judgement and Smallville, the New York State Bar Association’s official blog for solo and small firm attorneys

Tenacious, Unrepentant Litigator, Negotiator and Draftsman

Today, we’re tweeting with trial lawyer and blawger @MarshallRIsaacs, who recently blogged “Twitter: For Birds, Not Lawyers”

1. @MarshallRIsaacs, thank you for joining us today on Twitter. Tell us: who is the person behind @MarshallRIsaacs?
   Thanks for having me. I’m a born and bred New Yawker. Tenacious litigator. Independent thinker. Fisherman. Loyal friend.
    
2. Tell us about your law practice.
   I’m a litigator and trial attorney handling commercial, breach of contract & tort cases.
    
3. What type of clients do you represent?
   Various businesses and individuals: publicists, nightclubs, construction contractors, web designers, even an adult video company!
    
4. Another 22 Tweets first, I believe…. What is the most important legal issue affecting your clients?
   Breach of contract! So many people use cheapy forms downloaded from the web. I refer to these fondly as “lawsuits waiting to happen”
    
5. What do you tell every new client before you start working for them?
   I can’t guarantee how much it will cost or how long it will take. I can only guarantee that I’ll give it my all.
    
6. How is the economic crisis affecting your clients?
   There’s more litigation but fewer who can afford it. Thankfully, my firm is small & nimble so I can be flexible with fee structures.
    
7. What was the most significant client representation you’ve had?
   I lost a big $ slip/fall case against a top-name Plaintiff’s firm but convinced the appeals court to reverse. Case dismissed!
    
8. That’s a great result! How were you able to convince them?
   I kept my brief under 140 characters. : ) Just good old fashioned lawyering.
    
9. Perhaps *great* old fashioned lawyering might be more fitting… Why do your clients hire you?
   I know what I’m doing and I’m extremely generous with my time and advice.
   I think you should adjust the camera, Lance. You’re not getting my good-side.
    
10. Sure I am…. How do you market your practice?
    Referrals & Adwords. Also, a lot is done in court: I’m proud to say that many of my referrals come from former adversaries.
     
11. That’s a sign of true respect. How much time do you spend each day developing / enhancing your brand?
    24/7/365. I AM my brand and I try to convey it in everything I do. (Sappy, but true!)
     
12. If it works… You wrote that Twitter is for birds, not lawyers (http://bit.ly/VfYhc). Why are you on Twitter then?
    Lots of tweople post articles that get my goat; Makes 4 great blogging. For blogless esqs, Twitter’s no more than an AOL chat-room
     
13. So Twitter good for feeding blawg traffic? Have you realized any professional value from your activity on Twitter
    Kevin O’Keefe and I would both disagree with the blog-traffic statement. Maybe we’ll discuss it for another time!
    OK, if you agree to come back for another twitterview….
    Yes. The NYSBA stumbled upon my blog “Summary Judgment” thru Twitter and invited me to write for them. http://bit.ly/2cZuCD
     
14. How will your NY State Bar Association blog (http://bit.ly/2RXU) differ from your personal blog?
    I’m going to have to watch my Ps & Qs! There’s an under/over on how long I can last…want in?! LOL
     
15. I’d bet on long…. Beyond Twitter and blogging, what other social networking tools do you regularly use?
    I love Facebook. Where else could I discover that if I were a dog I’d be a golden retriever?
     
16. Tenacious, generous… it makes sense. What’s the most significant issue currently facing the legal profession?
    Unemployment.
     
17. Indeed. So what will the legal landscape look like in 10 years?
    There will be just as much hot air but a lot less paper.
     
18. What would you do if you weren’t a lawyer?
    I’d be the almost-award-winning author of numerous unfinished novels!
     
19. I’m guessing that career path is more crowded than you might think…. How do you want to be remembered?
    I’d like to be remembered as someone who always tried to do the right thing…and was the first to acknowledge when I didn’t.
     
20. What do you do when you’re not working?
    Dating. Wait a minute, you said NOT working. Make that sleeping.
     
21. Again, there’s no doubt a good story there that’ll have to wait for next twitterview. What languages do you speak?
    CPLR (Civil Practice Law and Rules). This is a language unto itself and actually has its own translator at the U.N.
     
22. Our last question of the day: what advice do you have for people going to law school today?
    Don’t let ‘em convince you that only grades matter. Compassion, persistence and a pressed shirt are just as important.

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