Social Media + The Regulation of Professional Speech
No, not more liquor – though that might help, too. I’ve been talking with quite a few state bar leaders recently, and there’s a lot of angst out there: concern about the growing inability of consumers and small business to afford what the legal industry is selling. Concern about the rapid pace of change in communications… Continue reading What the Bars Need
I was speaking at an Evolve Law event in Los Angeles last week, and had a conversation with Derek Distenfield, who operates a business called NextGenJustice. I hadn’t heard of it, but that’s because Derek had changed the name from “Legal Docs By Me.” THAT I had heard of. Kind of a brick-and-mortar version of… Continue reading Legal Forms & Legal Advice
John Rosemond is North Carolina-licensed psychologist who publishes a parenting column that runs in many newspapers nationwide. In the best tradition of “Dear Abby,” he answers specific inquiries from readers, offering up psychological advice (often with a side of “get-your-shit-together-and-take-some-freaking-accountability,” which I appreciate). One of the papers in which his column runs is the Lexington… Continue reading Free Advice Gets Big Win
The ABA Journal reports that Mark Britton – Avvo’s CEO, and my boss – told the ABA House of Delegates that bar regulators need to “get rid of UPL” and embrace innovation. If you read the comments on the piece, you’ll note that Mark’s sentiment was not warmly or widely embraced. That’s to be expected… Continue reading “Get Rid of UPL?”
The Association of Professional Responsibility Lawyers is a reputable, some might even say conservative, bunch, made up of law professors, bar counsel, law firm GCs, and attorneys who represent those facing disciplinary proceedings. It’s not an organization that’s going to run off half-crocked and propose radical changes in the rules governing the practice of law.… Continue reading Another Call to Gut the Ad Rules
As a brand-spanking-new lawyer in San Mateo, CA back in the early ’90’s, I was super-anxious to learn anything and everything about the practice of law. I defended every deposition I could. I argued mundane motions. I attended a status conference that almost turned into a fistfight. Yes, I thought litigation was awesome – until… Continue reading Checking for Conflicts on the “Legal Hotline”
Since last week’s post regarding the the First Amendment and lawyer licensing, there’s been a development on the occupational licensing front. On Friday, the Fifth Circuit issued its decision in Hines v. Alldredge, denying a First Amendment objection to a Texas law regulating the practice of veterinary medicine. There are some significant differences between that case and… Continue reading Vet Sanctioned For Providing Online Advice
I get questions from lawyers all the time about the appropriateness of answering legal questions online. Which isn’t a shock, since Avvo operates an online forum where people can ask questions about legal issues and get free answers from lawyers. As I’ve harped on mentioned before, attorneys tend to focus on risks, and the risks… Continue reading Answering Legal Questions Online
The Supreme Court is out today with a really important decision in North Carolina Board of Dental Examiners v. Federal Trade Commission. I wrote about the case back in October when it was argued – it involves the question of whether the North Carolina Board of Dental Examiners enjoys antitrust immunity for its actions excluding… Continue reading Bars May Lose Antitrust Immunity
As lawyers who represent consumers know, the wave of public opinion spilling online via client reviews can be a bit, well, upsetting. Legal services are the fruit of the brow, and often tied up closely in a lawyer’s self-identity. Having someone post an online tirade hits very close to home. Of course, there’s no reason… Continue reading On “Defamation”