Ernest Svenson is already off and running this morning after Mardi Gras, launching his own law practice. (PS: did we tell you that Ernie helped get Shel Israel into blogging? Ernie was one of the first non-techie bloggers to really use the medium on a daily basis.) I identify with a lot of what he says in his note below — that post-Katrina you’re just ready to give things a try. Both Hell & High Water have come & gone, so why not? Good luck, Ernie.
The day after Mardi Gras is always a day of reflection for people in New Orleans. This year, the “day after” is a special milestone: it’s been six months since Katrina hit the the Gulf Coast and ravaged Mississippi and Eastern Louisiana. For those of us who lived through the turmoil –and its bizarre aftermath– the last six months has been a continual stream of reflection. Like many people who lived in New Orleans before Katrina, I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about what really matters most in life (short answer: friends and family). I’ve also thought a lot about what other changes (ones that I control) might be worth making. Dreams that seemed not so pressing before Katrina now seem to be more urgent. I’ve learned a lot from Katrina, as I’m sure many people have. One thing Katrina taught us is that massive change can arrive very quickly, and have unpredictable results. If uncontrolled massive change can come into your life then why not try to bring about a little purposeful change just to balance things out? I’ve reflected on what changes I would make if I could
So, after months of reflection I’ve decided to try to practice law on my own. Of course, it will be challenging. And that’s the best reason to do it. The whole city of New Orleans faces enormous challenges. But the city is in a great position to make significant improvements. And that’s how I feel about practicing law. I want to make significant improvements in how I practice law, and the best way for me to do this is on my own. It is with more than a large dose of sorrow that I announce I’m leaving Gordon, Arata –the wonderful law firm where I’ve practiced law for the past eighteen years. But –effective today– I’ll be practicing under the rubric Svenson Law Firm LLC. I’ll continue handling the same types of business disputes that I worked on before, but with less overhead and a lower billable rate. I’ll strive to use non-hourly billable arrangements, and to use technology to increase productivity and effectiveness wherever possible.
Technorati Tags: entrepreneur, ernest+svenson, ernietheattorney
We’re pleased to announce the launch of the Business Disputes Law blog, the personal blog of Bill Garrison, of Dallas firm Scheef & Stone. Bill is using the blog to discuss one of his areas of specialization, litigation that occurs with disputes over business ownership and the steps that can prevent the need for such litigation.
As we’ve been reviewing in our series of interviews of blogging lawyers, weblogs are a natural marketing and communication mechanism for lawyers. Research, writing and networking are integral parts of everyday legal practice. Blogging just turbocharges these habits, makes great thinking more accessible and sharable, and ultimately helps lawyers attract the right kind of people that matter to their practice. Here’s what some of our veteran law bloggers had to say about their blogging experiences:
It has greatly added to my credibility and bone fides with potential clients, existing clients and referral sources. As an example, several weeks ago an investment advisor who has referred many clients over the years emailed me about a recent court decision that appeared to have a chilling effect on planning strategies he often uses. Instead of calling or emailing him, I blogged on the issue and then sent him and other financial advisors I know a link to my post. The effect was great: I was able to answer my referral sources concern directly, leverage my research time to educate many and enhance my stature as an expert on the topic.
I started the blog in April 2005 to provide a forum to publish articles more frequently that I customarily would publish about once a month in other publications, and to share my knowledge and familiarity in my practice areas with more people. I have given seminars and written articles on corporate law and ethics for many years, and I thought a blog would be a forum that would allow me to provide similar content and reach a broader audience.
Staying on top of new developments in construction law is one of my strengths as an attorney. The blog gives me a way to pass those developments on to others who might be interested and to archive them for my own use later.
I started blogging approximately a year ago. After five years of working in the federal court, I had a great deal of specialized, “insider” knowledge about how the courts worked and I was trying to reestablish my complex, commercial litigation practice. The idea was to provide a resource for litigants and lawyers practicing in the federal courts in western Pa.
Directly, the blog has resulted in many contacts from those needing legal assistance in my own area of expertise or in an area where colleagues at my firm are well suited to help. Indirectly, reading weblogs and participating in the conversations they engender keep me very well informed about current developments pertinent to my practice and the needs of the firm’s clients and potential clients.
I believe, but cannot prove, that the blog will help our practice by continuing to reinforce our reputation as a law firm that stays current with the law and technology, is willing to share what it knows with fellow lawyers, and has the experience and expertise to handle complicated personal injury and wrongful death cases. In fact, we are so confident with the potential of blogging that we have rolled out three additional blogs in the past couple months.
In part six of a series of interviews with lawyers who are using blogs we talked to Clark Allison author of the California Estate and Business Law Blog.
Q: When and why did you start a blog?
A: About two months ago.
Q: Have you generated additional legal business directly or indirectly related to your blog?
A: Yes. It has greatly added to my credibility and bone fides with potential clients, existing clients and referral sources. As an example, several weeks ago an investment advisor who has referred many clients over the years emailed me about a recent court decision that appeared to have a chilling effect on planning strategies he often uses. Instead of calling or emailing him, I blogged on the issue and then sent him and other financial advisors I know a link to my post. The effect was great: I was able to answer my referral sources concern directly, leverage my research time to educate many and enhance my stature as an expert on the topic.
Q: Have any of your peers seen your blog? Do they comment on it? Does the fact that they read it cause you to write differently?
A: Peers have seen it and have given me positive reviews. However, I don’t blog for my peers. I’m in business to help my clients and make a living, not impress my peers. My objective is to educate clients, prospective clients and referral sources through a medium that also develops a personal relationship with the reader. Blogging allows me to present what I know and who I am to develop credibility and trust. Of course if I do a good job, the effort will reverberate back to peers as well.
In part five of a series of interviews with lawyers who are using blogs we talked to Francis Pileggi author of the Delaware Corporate and Commercial Litigation Blog.
Q: When and why did you start a blog?
A: I started the blog in April 2005 to provide a forum to publish articles more frequently that I customarily would publish about once a month in other publications, and to share my knowledge and familiarity in my practice areas with more people. I have given seminars and written articles on corporate law and ethics for many years, and I thought a blog would be a forum that would allow me to provide similar content and reach a broader audience.
Q: Have you generated additional legal business directly or indirectly related to your blog?
A: The measurement is not precise , but I have had clients indicate that they have seen my blog. It may be similar to writing articles in that it may not be the only thing that makes their decision, but it is part of the mix.
Q: Have any of your peers seen your blog? Do they comment on it? Does the fact that they read it cause you to write differently?
A: My peers have seen my blog, and because I expected them to see it, I don’t think I write any differently because of it. I assume my peers and many others will read it, so I have had them in mind from the beginning, much like the articles that I have had published over the years.
In part four of a new series of interviews with lawyers who are using blogs we talked to Robert Williamson of the Construction Owners and Builders Law Blog.
Q: Why did you start a blog?
A: Staying on top of new developments in construction law is one of my strengths as an attorney. The blog gives me a way to pass those developments on to others who might be interested and to archive them for my own use later. In addition, I enjoy writing.
Q: Have you generated additional legal business directly or indirectly related to your blog?
A: The blog is only two months old; its generated some compliments but no business so far.
Q: Have any of your peers seen your blog? Do they comment on it? Does the fact that they read it cause you to write differently?
A: I’ve received some nice compliments from peers. For their sake as well as my own, I try hard not to "come in light" when I make an observation or comment or express an opinion.
In part three of a series of interviews with lawyers who are using blogs we talked to Mark Hall of Babst, Calland, Clements, Zomnir of Pittsburgh.
Q: When and why did you start a blog?
A: I started blogging approximately a year ago. After five years of working in the federal court, I had a great deal of specialized, “insider” knowledge about how the courts worked and I was trying to reestablish my complex, commercial litigation practice. The idea was to provide a resource for litigants and lawyers practicing in the federal courts in western Pa.
Q: Have you generated additional legal business directly or indirectly related to your blog?
A: No direct business yet. We’ve been written up in newspaper articles, though, and are maybe getting cudos for being innovative and cutting edge.
Q: Have any of your peers seen your blog? Do they comment on it? Does the fact that they read it cause you to write differently?
A: Yes, peers have seen it and commented. I don’t write differently for them, but I do try to avoid commentary on the quality of particular judges.
In the second installment in our series of interviews with lawyers who blog, we talked to Denise Howell of Bag and Baggage fame.
Q: When and why did you start a blog?
A: November, 2001. Christopher Locke made me do it. With that send to his EGR list he set off a whole flurry of blogging. Like most things Locke is prone to suggesting one do, it raised a few eyebrows, and prompted the occasional second thought — but has been lots of fun and a good idea in the long run.
Q: Have you generated additional legal business directly or indirectly related to your blog?
A: Both. Directly, the blog has resulted in many contacts from those needing legal assistance in my own area of expertise or in an area where colleagues at my firm are well suited to help. Indirectly, reading weblogs and participating in the conversations they engender keep me very well informed about current developments pertinent to my practice and the needs of the firm’s clients and potential clients.
Q: Have any of your peers seen your blog? Do they comment on it? Does the fact that they read it cause you to write differently?
A: A great many of them have; some are regular readers. Yes, they comment on it from time to time. No, I don’t think it causes me to write differently.
In part one of a new series of interviews with lawyers who are using blogs we talked to John A. Day from Branham & Day Lawyers in Brentwood, Tennessee.
Q: When and why did you start blogging?
A: We started our first blog, www.dayontorts.com , in late February 2005. We started the blog with a couple thoughts in mind. First, we wanted to share information with fellow lawyers about the law of personal injury and wrongful death in Tennessee. The plaintiff’s bar has a rich tradition of sharing information and I have attempted to follow that tradition during my 24 years of law practice. In the past, that effort has consisted of CLE speeches (over 150 of them), articles in legal publications (15-20), book chapters (2-3), a monthly newsletter of 10+ years duration (Tennessee Tort Law Letter) and a book (Tennessee Law of Comparative Fault). A blog seemed like the next logical step. Second, our business primarily comes from other lawyers, in Tennessee and elsewhere. We do not advertise on TV: we do not even have a Yellow Pages ad. We believe that by helping other lawyers see and resolve issues they confront in their day-to-day practice they will call upon us for assistance when confronted with cases beyond their experience or expertise or cases that will overwhelm their office, either because of the time required to work on those cases or the cost of adequately preparing them. Finally, advances in technology gave us the chance to share information more easily. The "DayonTorts" website was around for years, but it was difficult to update given the limitations of technology at the time. (Or, more precisely, my limitations using available technology.) Updating blogs is easy; I can do it when I am on the road or enjoying a weekend at the lake. I can also leave several draft posts for someone else to publish if I will not have access to an Internet connection.
Q: How you generated additional business directly or indirectly related to your blog?
A: They say that 50% of all marketing dollars are wasted; figure out which 50% are wasted and you can become rich. After less than 5 months of blogging it is difficult to say if we have generated any legal business from the blog. I will add that I find it difficult to say whether my book, newsletter, articles or speeches have resulted in any business - referrals from lawyers don’t necessary work that way. I believe, but cannot prove, that the blog will help our practice by continuing to reinforce our reputation as a law firm that stays current with the law and technology, is willing to share what it knows with fellow lawyers, and has the experience and expertise to handle complicated personal injury and wrongful death cases. In fact, we are so confident with the potential of blogging that we have rolled out three additional blogs in the past couple months. The first, www.tnbusinesslitigation.com , is directed toward general counsel and business lawyers. We have found an increasing number of companies want to hire experienced trial lawyers to handle business litigation; the nature of business litigation is such that many lawyers who do it exclusively lack extensive experience in trial. While we usually will not defend personal injury and wrongful death cases, we do represent individuals and companies is business disputes. The second is www.medmalblog.com. We have done medical negligence work for 24 years and decided that a specialized blog in that field would be a benefit to the Bar. Finally, we are getting ready to launch www.erisaontheweb.com. One of our lawyers has an extensive practice representing professionals and business people who have disability insurance claims. This blog is directed toward claimants and other lawyers who are representing claimants. This is a substantial undertaking. We have divided the work between 5 lawyers and our nurse.
Q: Have any of your peers seen your blog? Do they comment on it? Does the fact that they read it cause you to write differently?
A: Yes, many of our peers have seen our blog and in fact that is our target audience. We have received many positive comments from lawyers (and judges) and in fact a good number of lawyers have told me that they check the blog every day. We do write the blog differently because they read it - they are our target audience. We do get a significant number of comments from consumers so we know that they are reading, but we focus on lawyers. We believe (hope?) that any consumer who reads our site will understand that while our target is other lawyers we represent people and will accept representation directly from a consumer if they choose to call us.
We conducted a series of interviews with lawyers who blog last month. Over the next week we will be posting those interviews in a series format. Here is a preview of the interviews:
Weblogs seem to work well for lawyers. We tried to find out why.
I read an interesting post from Dennis Kennedy detailing the most common mistakes made by legal bloggers (and bloggers in general). Check out his post here, but here is a short version of his list:
Good points for anyone considering blogging! Thanks Dennis.
Larry Bodine tracks the increasing use of RSS feeds on the front pages of law firm Web sites:
In a new phenomenon I’ve discovered, law firms are beginning to add RSS feeds to their Web sites. This is a universal feature of blogs, of course, but it works just as well for Web sites. I’ve had RSS (or Really Simple Syndication) feeds on The LawMarketing Portal for several months. now. They’re wonderful for attracting traffic because they allow visitors to subscribe to my content….
Criminey, if the firm could get the risk-averse lawyers in Corporate and Securities to have an RSS feed, ANY firm should be able to convince ANY practice group head to do the same."
Kevin O’Keefe adds:
RSS feeds are neither a fad nor a bell & whistle. Feeds will change the way we all use the Internet from the present, search & browse, to the near future of search, browse & subscribe. That’s already the case for a lot of people and Microsoft will make that happen with RSS feeds being incorporated into their new operating system, Vista, and suite of Office products due out next year."
[via lexblog]
Doernberg created the D&O Insurance Blog. Imagine making a subject as boring as D&O insurance interesting. That is what Doernberg is doing with his blog. Could a blog work for your insurance company? Weblogs work for Doernberg…
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