practicehacker

 

As Kevin Spacey noted, speaking as Kaiser Soze in The Usual Suspects, “the greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn’t exist.” Couldn’t agree more. 2 years ago the ABA Journal rolled out its Legal Rebels Project in an effort to convince lawyers that the American Bar Association was more than an aging, superfluous institution or a lapdog to the AmLaw 100. The first Legal Rebels chosen in 2009 included

• a lawyer-turned-consultant (I guess those who can’t do, teach)
• a lawyer-mommy, who blogged about food and recipes too!, and
• a coffee-shop owner dispensing Espresso with advice on the side.

In fairness, that initial list of 50 honorees also included people who really had contributed to the national dialogue about the profession by blogging, starting an innovative company, or finding a better way to do things. But they were too few and far between to give the project credibility in my eyes. As far as I could see, the ABA was still trying to curry favor with BigLaw partners and associates by featuring bite-sized, cutesy profiles of lawyers doing their own breezy thing. Wee!

So how has the project fared in 2011? Let’s just say that the Journal has returned to what it does best – sucking up to BigLaw – by focusing on the unsung heroes trying to change the system from within: BigLaw rebels. Which makes total sense, because real change only comes from people who bill 3000 hours a year and are driven by an insatiable urge to make partner. Way to go ABA Journal. It takes guts to swallow what BigLaw is dishing out, then ask for seconds… but you pulled it off.

Look, just watch the Staff of the ABA Journal descirbe the Legal Rebels Project in their own words and feel the rebellion welling up in your throat.  I certainly did.

10. They’re only attracted to you when you play hard to get

9. They drop you the second something better comes along

8. They care more about looks than substance or character

7. They only want lawyers that claim to be experienced

6. They tell their friends when they aren’t satisfied

5. They won’t tell anyone when they are satisfied

4. They constantly play games with your emotions

3. They’re just in it for the money

2. They take more than they give

And the #1 reason that Clients are like hot girlfriends is:

1. Can’t live with ‘em, can’t live without ‘em!

With apologies and respect to the Humbled MBA, who did it first.

Disclaimer: I’m married to a hot woman who is nothing like this. Having said that …

Posted via email from practice (redux)

via sociablelawyer.org

With his breakthrough performance in Kindergarten Cop, Arnold showed us why he would someday be Governor of California and leader of the free-world. Or whatever. In the meantime, here are some “baby steps” (get it, Kindergarten, baby steps?) to using social media in your practice, courtesy of Sociable Lawyer.

1. Do not be afraid to try
2. Share your knowledge
3. Polish your online rep
4. Strength in numbers

Posted via email from practice (redux)

Steve Rubel is an interesting guy. I’ve known him for a number of years and communicated directly with him only a few times, still I feel as if I “get him.” Weird, right? Here’s the crazy part: I’ve never met him. I know him exclusively through Twitter and Friendfeed, and in the blogosphere. He’s not even a Facebook friend. The thing about Steve is that he works for ad agency Edelman Digital. As some readers know, I have nothing but contempt for salespeople since all of them are liars and thieves. But I still like Steve; he is smart and regards the social web as more than another channel through which to cram product … or at least I think he does. Anyway, here are 11 trends for 2011 that Steve sees in our collective future (check out the list and Steve’s interesting web page here):

Posted via email from practice (redux)