@seattlelawgirl

May 1st, 2009

val Valerie A. Farris

Small Business Lawyer

Owner, Farrris Law, PLLC

Law Blogger

Today, we’re tweeting with @seattlelawgirl: small business lawyer, salsa dancer, traveler, auntie and friend

@Seattlelawgirl, thank you for joining us today on Twitter. Tell us: who is @Seattlelawgirl?
I am a Detroit-born, island-raised, entrepreneur-by-blood Lebanese-American lawyer living & practicing small biz law in Seattle, WA
Tell us about your law practice.
I help small biz owners plan 4 future success, limit liability, & avoid litigation whenever possible! I also do estate planning.
Can you describe your typical small business owner client?
Small, independently-owned biz, everything from artists to techies. Savvy, forward-thinking, active in Web 2.0 world.
My clients are ppl who want 2 protect themselves (& their families) legally 2 ensure peace of mind & security 4 their futures.
What, then, would you say is the single most important legal issue affecting those clients?
Avoiding litigation, for most. Plus learning not 2 be penny wise & pound foolish. Legal services can seem costly…
but NOT having the right protections in place is even more so. How can I protect my biz while balancing the cost?
Indeed. How is the economic crisis affecting your clients?
Not as much as it’s hurting big biz. Small biz is better able to adapt to changing economy, which means less loss/negative impact.
What do you tell every new client before you start working for them?
I explain atty-client relationship & let them know I will always tell the truth even if they don’t want to hear it…
I also talk about advocacy & the counselor-at-law part of the work I do, & that really gives my clients peace of mind.
I’m sure it does. What was the most significant client representation you’ve had?
Representing my sis when she adopted my nephew! Extremely significant personally, & also my 1st in-court appearance. Poignant & fun!
A different kind of pressure than you’re used to facing…. Why do your clients hire you?
b/c I am a small biz owner, I understand the needs & challenges they face. & b/c I value ppl & relationships; my clients sense that.
How do you market your practice?
For me, building relationships = marketing. I haven’t spent a $ on advertising & don’t plan to. Networking & social media.
How much time do you spend each day developing / enhancing your brand?
My brand is delivering intelligent, creative, & cost-effective legal solutions/advice. So, in a sense, every minute I’m working…
…I’m building my brand! I also spend about an hour/day on web 2.0 stuff, & I attend networking events often.
You publish a blog on your firm’s website (http://bit.ly/17tt7t). How would you describe it? Who should read it?
I’d describe it as a plain-English intro to legal concepts & choices, & also my contribution to demystifing lawyers & the law…
Who should read my blog? Small biz owners; anyone curious about the law; those who want 2 see a lawyer be real & accessible.
What benefits have you realized from blogging?
It’s reinforced my commitment 2 using plain Eng. in my practice & enhances my ability 2 clearly give options & advice 2 my clients.
Sounds like a win-win all around! When and why did you become active on Twitter?
A few months ago; 1st to see what the hype was about; later, b/c I realized I could provide value & build relationships here.
Beyond Twitter and your blog, what other social networking tools do you regularly use?
Biznik is my favorite – it’s a GREAT tool 4 indie biz ppl that marries online networking w/ in-person meetings, hosted by members…
Their website: http://tinyurl.com/dybm2m Founded by @danmccomb & Lara Feltin, fellow Seattleites!
I’ll have to check it out. How have your Web 2.0 activities impacted your practice?
Without exaggeration, 100% of my biz comes through my web 2.0 activities & word of mouth referrals. Pretty cool, I think!
Wow. Let’s switch gears: what is the most significant issue currently facing the legal profession?
The most sig. issue = public perception of lawyers. We need 2 battle that by being better entrepreneurs & counselors 4 our clients.
What will the legal landscape look like in 10 years?
Like the rest of the biz world! Better client service. More flat fees, less billable time. More small/solo firms & specialization.
What would you do if you weren’t a lawyer?
I’d own a restaurant or B&B and travel half the year! That’d be the marriage of nearly all my passions (languages, food, travel).
That would be a pretty nice lifestyle…. How do you want to be remembered?
As someone who values people & relationships above all things. I want 2 be remembered w/ love & joy & laughter.
What do you do when you’re not working?
Spend time w/ my boyfriend, family, & friends. Esp. my niece & nephews! Cook, read, run, dance, travel…soak it up and live it up!
What languages do you speak?
French, Spanish, & Lebanese Arabic…with varying degrees of fluency!
And English too, of course…. Final question: What advice do you have for people going to law school today?
Work hard, play hard, remember what’s important. Invest ur time in ppl & things u value. Choose ur life, don’t let “it” choose u.
Pretty much the same advice I’d give anyone. Don’t let law school rule u or change who u are!