@BrianInkster
August 11th, 2009
Solicitor of the Year: Law Awards of Scotland 2006
Founder of Inksters Solicitors, the first Scottish Law Firm to Twitter
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Today we’re tweeting with @BrianInkster, the Law Awards of Scotland’s 2006 *Solicitor of the Year*
- @BrianInkster thank you for joining us today on Twitter. Tell us: who is @BrianInkster?
Thanks for inviting me. The 7th child of a Shetland fisherman, a solicitor, businessman and husband to Nicola of @pagepark
- - Tell us about your law practice.
Inksters (@inksters): Based in Glasgow, 10 years old, doing: http://ow.ly/jJgA with a great team: http://ow.ly/jJhf
- - What type of clients do you represent?
Individuals, small businesses, builders, farmers, crofters, fishermen, salmon and mussel farmers, a local authority etc.
- - That’s a very diverse group. What would you say is the single most important legal issue affecting those clients?
The legal processes involved. Much could be done by Govt. to streamline these: e.g. as done with ARTL: http://ow.ly/jJo7
- - What do you tell every new client before you start working for them?
What our terms of business and basis of charging is, as required to do at the outset by The Law Society of Scotland @lawscot
- - Can you tell us about one of the more significant client representations you’ve had?
Moncrieff v Jamieson: The House of Lords recognised that there is a servitude of parking in Scotland: http://ow.ly/jJrY
- - Why do your clients hire you?
Because we mix “good old traditional values with an innovative approach to delivering legal services” (Donald Findlay QC)
- - Makes sense…. Will the reforms of the Legal Services Act affect your practice and firm? If so, how?
We are seeking to combat it by becoming the first Scottish member firm of QualitySolicitors.com: http://ow.ly/jJxO
- - That’s an interesting tactic. What are the advantages and disadvantages of practicing in a jurisdiction like Scotland?
A small country with laws distinct from England/Wales. That size/uniqueness provides advantages that can be disadvantages.
- - Your firm, Inksters Solicitors, is known for being “just that little bit different.” What exactly is that difference?
All will be clear from a short (6min) film I made earlier: http://ow.ly/jJFn – I will make a cup of tea while you watch it.
- - Nice story. Clearly that style and approach benefit the firm. How do they benefit your clients?
Clients get added value to the services we provide and nice little extras: like the ability to pay their accounts online :-)
- - How do you market your practice?
Good service, the web (with SEO), 6 Twitter streams, direct mail, press releases, lectures, articles, events, sponsorship
- - Besides Twitter, what other Web 2.0 tools do you use?
LinkedIn, 3 websites: http://ow.ly/jJVm including TV & Radio: http://ow.ly/jJVn (YouTube next – you heard it here first!).
- - Can’t wait! What specific impact on referrals and/or client engagements have you realized from Web 2.0 activities?
22% of new clients have emanated from www.inksters.com since November 2008. We did not get new clients from our old website.
- - That’s a great result! How much time do you spend each day developing / enhancing your brand?
Almost every waking moment and perhaps some sleeping ones: if I manage to tune my subconscious mind in correctly :-)
- - A true social networker.. Let’s switch gears: What’s the most significant issue currently facing the legal profession?
The recession. Law firms must accept that it is here and adapt to survive through it.
- - What will the legal landscape look like in 10 years?
Maybe not quite “The End of Lawyers” (@RichardSusskind). But there will be less of us doing more (with technology).
- - What would you do if you weren’t a lawyer?
A modern day Alan Whicker with a television series called, of course: “Inkster’s World”.
- - Perhaps we’ll see the beginnings of that on your YouTube channel…. How do you want to be remembered?
As a lawyer who made a difference to his clients, staff, law students, other lawyers and to the development of Scots Law.
- - What do you do when you’re not working?
As revealed on podcast to @Charonqc I am taking Tango dancing classes with my wife. I like to travel: next stop Argentina.
- - What advice can you pass along to lawyers currently under- or unemployed due to the economic crisis?
Develop an expertise in the area of law you are interested in: write, blog, tweet and lecture. Embrace technology.
- - And our final question for you: what advice do you have for people going to law school today?
Be prepared for the potential of a career outside law. Study, if you can, at Strathclyde University, where I lecture :-)
Two valuable pieces of advice to close this great twitterview. Thank you very much for answering our questions today
And thank you, Lance, for twitterviewing me. I enjoyed it.
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@AndreaGoldman
July 14th, 2009
Construction, business and real estate disputes attorney
Author of Home Contractor v. Homeowner Blog and the Massachussets Builders Blog
Today we’re tweeting with construction, business and real estate disputes lawyer, arbitrator and mediator @AndreaGoldman
- @AndreaGoldman, thank you for joining us today on Twitter. Tell us: who is @AndreaGoldman?
I am an advocate and neutral who uses all of my tools to resolve disputes, adviser to construction companies, exercise fanatic, mom.
- - Tell us about your law practice.
I spend about 80% of my time litigating and negotiating settlements, 15% on arbitration and mediation and 5% on writing contracts.
- - What type of clients do you represent?
I represent builders, contractors, construction companies, homeowners and businesses resolving disputes and writing contracts
- - What is the single most important legal issue affecting those clients?
For residential contractors: staying in compliance with the law. All of construction-having good contracts that protect them.
- - What do you tell every new client before you start working for them?
My job is to take a disaster in your life and turn it into something you can move on from. A lawsuit is not a good way to make $$.
- - Tell us about one of the more significant client representations you’ve had.
Represented Perini v. Missouri with my partner. Suit about construction of a bridge that was delayed due to concealed conditions…
Represented four homeowners whose property was damaged by a mudslide caused by faulty excavation and grading by developer.
- - Why do your clients hire you?
I am known in my community as a business, construction lawyer and neutral. I am responsive to clients and mindful of their budgets.
- - All very good reasons! What’s the most active area of your practice at the current time? Is that typical?
Both homeowners and contractors/construction companies call about disputes that are too small to handle. It’s the bad economy
- - How do you help your clients to decide the best way to resolve a construction dispute?
It’s simple: likelihood of success on the merits combined with ability to collect on a judgment and the amount of potential damages
- - You weren’t always a solo practitioner. Why did you make the leap? How long did it take to feel established?
I had the opportunity to form a partnership. It dissolved and I had already established a practice. It took 18 months from scratch.
- - That’s quite impressive. How do you market your practice?
I run lawyer dinners, network, write two blogs, write articles, give presentations, belong to a builders’ association and web 2.0.
- - Busy. You blog on contractor disputes (http://bit.ly/wIPUD) & MA builders (http://bit.ly/16pcIX) Who reads them? Why?
Contractors, builders, construction firms, lawyers and consumers. They are intended to be the “’go to” sites for construction in MA.
- - Besides Twitter and your blog, what other Web 2.0 tools do you use?
Well, I have two websites, one of which is a consortium of construction lawyers that I am developing. LinkedIn, Facebook, etc
- - What specific impact on referrals and/or client engagements have you seen from your Web 2.0 activities?
I get about 40% of my clients from the Internet, so the impact is huge. More people are finding their service providers on the web.
- - Wow – that IS huge. How much time do you spend each day developing / enhancing your brand then?
Too much time! I need to find more balance because I need to write more blogs posts, make a Facebook fan page and write articles.
- - Seems to be a widespread problem…. What is the most significant issue currently facing the legal profession?
Changing our billing practices. I believe that hourly billing is unproductive. Clients prefer value billing and knowing fees.
- - Indeed. What will the legal landscape look like in 10 years?
People will continue to specialize. There will be fewer lawyers but they will be happier because they want to be in the profession.
- - Interesting perspective. What would you do if you weren’t a lawyer?
I would open a dessert and dancing café and make all of the desserts. Would showcase local talent and offer games, puzzles for use.
- - That sounds like fun! How do you want to be remembered?
As a genuinely caring person who helped a lot of people, raised fabulous kids and was really fun to be around.
- - What do you do when you’re not working?
I exercise every day, which takes a lot of time. I hang out with my kids, read, love to cook and sew. I also love movies /theater.
- - What advice would you pass along to lawyers currently under- or unemployed due to the economic crisis?
Keep your hand in the profession by volunteering. Learn new skills. Stay up on new developments in your field. Network like crazy.
- - And our last question for you: what advice do you have for people going to law school today?
A law school education teaches you a new way to think. Make sure you love it. Law is a business, learn how to run a business .
This was a great twitterview; thank you very much for answering our questions!
Thank you Lance! This was really fun and forced me to think more about my practice.
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@StefanieDevery
June 25th, 2009
Nassau County, Long Island Attorney concentrating in Real Estate, Wills, Bankruptcy, and Small Business
Member, The Devery Law Group
Today we’re tweeting with @StefanieDevery, Long Island real estate, bankruptcy and small business attorney
- @StefanieDevery, thank you for joining us today on Twitter. Tell us: who is @StefanieDevery?
I am a Real Estate, Bankruptcy and Small Business Attorney in Mineola, NY (Long Island). I am also a mother to two young children.
- - Tell us about your law practice.
My law firm consists of myself and my husband. We are very family-oriented and we project that to our clients.
- - What type of clients do you represent?
Our clients are either extremely worried/scared or extremely excited. They are either starting a business, losing their house….
…buying a house, selling a house, in extreme debt. Our clients come to us when they need some to help them the most.
- - High stakes for you and them either way… What is the single most important legal issue affecting your clients?
Misinformation. Everyone thinks they are expert on the financial crisis & it’s simply not true…
….People are so confused, they are scared. They don’t know who to trust or what options are available to them.
- - What do you tell every new client before you start working for them?
They will always have access to an attorney and even If they don’t like the answer, they will always get the truth.
- - Tell us about one of the more significant client representations you’ve had.
My firm was In-House Counsel to a large mortgage bank for 5 years. We handled all of their daily real estate and business matters.
- - That’s quite a gig! Why do your clients hire you?
Thanks. They hire us becuase we are honest. Everytime, with every client. If we cant help them, we tell them…
…We have received many referrals from clients who have not hired us, because they told people that we were honest with them.
- - Very impressive reputation! How are you & your firm responding to fin difficulties your clients may be experiencing?
Over the last 2 yrs, we have expanded our practice 2 include loan modifications, foreclosures & short sales.
- - What’s the most active area of your practice at the current time?
Loan modifications. We have over 150 active files today.
- - Wow. You help people manage difficult fin situations. As the crisis drags on, are options increasing or decreasing?
Options are definitely increasing. However, many people are not sure of their options or even what options exist.
- - Getting the word out is no doubt a significant challenge. How do you market your practice?
Networking. A majority of my business is referral based. When you r dealing w/ people’s finances, they want someone they can trust.
- - Why did you decide to become active on Twitter? Has it been a worthwhile endeavor?
I like networking and it’s a way for me to interact with clients and other attorneys everyday…
I LOVE Twitter. I think its an amazing medium and provides so much information quickly.
- - Agreed. Besides Twitter, what other Web 2.0 tools do you use?
I use Delicious, LinkedIn, Facebook (personal), blog comments and I am working on my blog/website. (Thks, @GrantGriffiths)
- - What specific impact on referrals and/or client engagements have your Web 2.0 activities provided?
I have gotten numerous new clients from Twitter and yesterday, I got a new client b/c of something I posted on someone elses blog!
- - That’s a great story! How much time do you spend each day developing / enhancing your brand?
I am always developing our brand. However, I spend about 1-2 hours every day working on it actively.
- - Let’s switch gears: what is the most significant issue currently facing the legal profession?
Trust. So many people believe lawyers are evil or liars. As attys we need to always hold ourselves as trustworthy, honest people.
- - What will the legal landscape look like in 10 years?
Much more personal. I don’t think people always want a huge law firm and fancy law office. They want attention.
- - Indeed. Why did you become a lawyer?
I love studying the law. I find it so interesting. I wanted to be involved in the process of making the law a reality.
- - What would you do if you weren’t a lawyer, then?
That’s easy. I would be a Pastry Chef. That is my passion. I love to bake.
- - You’re the 2nd twitterviewee who likes to bake (tho no bakery treats for me yet). How do you want to be remembered?
I will send you something! As someone people counted on. Whether its my husband, my children, my friends, or a client.
- - Can’t wait. Other than baking, what do you do when you’re not working?
I am an avid scrapbooker. I love to bake, cook and be with my kids and my husband. We are always creating something!
- - Our final question: what advice do you have for people going to law school today?
Work for as many law firms as you can before you come out. Figure out what area you enjoy the most and do it. Passion is key!
Great advice to close a great twitterview! Thank you very much for answering our questions today
Thank you so much.
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