tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6834335945349958946.post594596733791303021..comments2024-01-23T04:12:56.180-08:00Comments on My Law License: Finally, Good Advice To Young Lawyers: Shut UpMy Law Licensehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17487117416844299246noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6834335945349958946.post-45157392475323197022011-10-03T06:15:13.523-07:002011-10-03T06:15:13.523-07:00One thing new guys may want to consider is being l...One thing new guys may want to consider is being listed in the phone book.<br /><br />Some of my referrals mention that they cannot find me, which is unsurprising since I am not listed, but for some lawyers it may help to be listed.<br /><br />Another thing new lawyers might consider: do some pro bono. Same for old lawyers, sure, but that's part of being a lawyer. For new lawyers, do it in cooperation with the legal aid; they should be able to assist and guide.<br /><br />Be a good, involved citizen in your community. It's slow, and uninspiring most of the time. Spend the next 20 years attending local govt meeting, participate occasionally. Write a letter to the editor.Andrewsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6834335945349958946.post-63466054808874258482011-09-21T09:40:03.366-07:002011-09-21T09:40:03.366-07:00I'll out myself as a young lawyer to say the f...I'll out myself as a young lawyer to say the following.<br /><br />The marketer's advice can be summed up thusly:<br /><br />"Your problem is that you're a shitty lawyer and people know it. I know jack shit about being a lawyer, but I can teach you how to make sure that no one knows you're a shitty lawyer. Just stay away from Tannebaum and Greenfield, they're a couple of meanieheads who will say bad things about you and have it show up at the top of Google."<br /><br />(They might actually learn something from you guys, but that's beside the point.)<br /><br />If you can get Dad to cosign a loan, you can get a Porsche and nice toys and convince people you're not a broke scumbag who lives in his parents' basement. This is far easier to do than to actually put in the hard work necessary to make money.<br /><br />Unfortunately, this is the attitude of many in my generation. It's easier to convince people you're a good lawyer than to actually become a good lawyer. The latter takes years of hard work, and possibly talking to people who have never heard of Twitter. The former just involves a little SEO and a lot of make believe.<br /><br />And you see this attitude as well in all the "law school scam" crap. Notice how every one of those begins and ends with starting salaries. Not how much lawyers make after 10 or 20 years of practice, but how much they make after zero years practicing law.<br /><br />I'm the first to admit that something is wrong if I'm making a six-figure income right now. Either I'm being grossly overpaid or I'm making that money dishonestly. But I'm in the minority with this view.Thomas Stephensonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6834335945349958946.post-34579332977445624542011-09-21T08:54:46.838-07:002011-09-21T08:54:46.838-07:00I don't understand the problem, I guess. My ex...I don't understand the problem, I guess. My experience (even as limited as it is) tells me that marketing will come best from the mouths of happy clients. Happy clients are the ones who get good service (price may or may not be a factor here) from a good lawyer. So be a god damn great lawyer. There are going to be some people who need to cut their teeth and there aren't a bunch of firm jobs lined up for people to teach the actual practice of law. (Which is more of an issue of WTF happened to the $100k you spent going to "law school") But no matter what you do, you need to be competent. Being broke's not an excuse for taking on clients who you can't competently represent.@bradshawlawnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6834335945349958946.post-7030418773910446872011-09-21T08:16:22.602-07:002011-09-21T08:16:22.602-07:00It's just too easy. The internet. The blogs. T...It's just too easy. The internet. The blogs. The "shiny toys" that make us "connected". I fell into this trap a few years ago, so I know a bit from experience, but I won't be offering advice because, well, I don't know shit. A few years ago I was out "on the street" with kids to feed and bills to pay - but no job. Door after door was (politely) slammed in may face. What was a guy to do? I reached out to my "connections". I updated my website. I blogged regularly. I actively commented on other blogs. I even became mildly annoying by posting "How can I help?" on twitter. Every. Damn. Day.<br /><br />Guess what? Not a single person wanted my help.<br /><br />The only freelance work I got was through the hands I physically shook. From people I personally knew. At the end of a very long summer, an interview for a real full-time job only came about through a close friend. We did not meet through LinkedIN. He did not contact me through my website.<br /><br />What does all of this have to do with the practice of law, or Mr. Tannebaum's post? For most of you, maybe nothing. For me, its an affirmation that "web marketing" is not why I am entering the legal profession. I've already tried Amway in the 1990's - and it didn't work then either. No, I'm entering the legal profession for other reasons. And when I do, I can say that I will not be offering marketing advice. But I will be learning, and listening, and shaking hands. <br /><br />Oh, I'm sure that I'll still ask "How can I help?"... but this time it will be directly to a client as we share a Cuban Coffee at Versailles.Rob Suareznoreply@blogger.com