@caririncker

July 20th, 2010

Cari Rincker

Principal Attorney at Rincker Law, PLLC

Illinois Farmgirl living in NYC

SimAngus Cattle Owner

Livestock Judge

Today we’re tweeting with Illinois farmgirl turned New York-based agriculture and environmental lawyer @CariRincker

@CariRincker thank you for joining us today on Twitter. Tell us: who is @CariRincker?
Thanks for inviting me today for the Twitterview.
I’m a midwestern #beef #cattle girl living in #NYC who is passionate about the #agriculture industry and #food security.
-
Tell us about your law practice.
@RinckerLaw serves clients involved in every segment of the #agriculture industry including #food, #fiber, and #biofuels.
-
What type of clients do you represent?
@RinckerLaw has a wide variety of clients including #ag producers, multi-national #food companies, & #fashion designers
-
A broad mix indeed. What is the single most important legal issue affecting those clients?
Complying with stringent #environmental regulations imposed on the federal, state and local level.
-
What do you tell every new client before you start working for them?
I tell each new client of @RinckerLaw that I need open communication to ensure that I get an accurate picture of the facts.
-
Tell us about one of the more significant client representations you’ve had.
I have really enjoyed my work with international #food, #ag, and #biotech companies with various contract and #trade issues.
-
Why do your clients hire you?
My #farm roots helped mold me into a honest, hard-working attorney who truly understands & loves the #ag community. #agchat
-
What’s the most active area of your practice at the current time? Is that typical?
Contract drafting- No, that isn’t typical since #ag producers usually do business with a handshake. See http://tiny.cc/7n952
-
Tell us about your work as an advisor for the Permanent Mission of the Marshall Islands to the United Nations
– I love it! I sat on the floor of the #UN General Assembly and gave voting recommendations to Ambassador Alfred Capelle.
-
That’s cool! Ag law has no doubt changed significantly since you became a lawyer. What’s the next frontier of ag law?
I anticipate that more #ag producers will participate in the #renewable #energy movement (e.g., #wind and #solar #farms).
-
How do you describe what you do to people you meet at a cocktail party?
#Aglaw is an industry based practice area that touches upon nearly every kind of law. http://tiny.cc/d2jqg #agchat #foodchat
-
When did you become active on Twitter? What were your objectives then? Have they changed?
I became active during a #WY blizzard a yr ago. I now realize that it is a completely different than #FB -news & networking.
-
Agreed. Congrats on your one-year blogging anniversary (http://bit.ly/4cP09A)! How has your blog changed in that time?
Thanks! I hope my #agblog is informative for #food & #ag folks. For my second year I hope to implement some video blogging.
-
What specific impact on referrals and/or client engagements, if any, have you realized from Web 2.0 activities?
Twitter isn’t about “who you know”-it’s about “who you want to know.” I have met clients & lawyers who have sent me clients.
-
Well put. How much time do you spend each day developing / enhancing your brand?
I represent my brand 24/7/365 whether I am tweeting from my #iphone4, in the courtroom, or having cocktails with friends.
-
a recipe for success…. Let’s switch gears: What is the most significant issue currently facing the legal profession?
– There are too many lawyers graduating with heavy student loan debt. There are not enough high salaried jobs at #BigLaw.
-
What will the legal landscape look like in 10 years?
Tough question. I think the legal industry will become more niche-based and client-focused over the next decade.
-
What would you do if you weren’t a lawyer?
I have an advanced degree in #beef #cattle nutrition so I would probably be teaching animal science or working in extension.
-
How do you want to be remembered?
Someone who spent her life trying to improve the #ag industry so the world could have safe, affordable, & abundant #food.
-
What do you do when you’re not working?
I enjoy judging #livestock shows, playing #volleyball, distance #running, and watching the #Yankees from the cheap seats.
-
What advice can you pass along to lawyers currently under- or unemployed due to the economic crisis?
Roll up your sleeves and learn to hustle. Pursue your passions and don’t get discouraged because perseverance never fails.
-
And our last question for you: What advice do you have for people going to law school today?
Give it everything you have for three years — it will be over before you know it. Get to know your classmates and profs.