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More Twitter naivety from a lawyer

November 15, 2008

David Giacalone is the latest lawyer to dismiss Twitter as a mindless waste of time and to brag about the fact that he’s not using Twitter – like that’ll make other ignorant souls think more of him.

Things might have improved a bit (or at least gotten a patina of adult and professional participation) since Time Magazine told us last year that “more often than not” Twitter’s members “are simply killing time.” But, we’ve seen how often fellow blawgers jump on new technologies and crazes that end up creating an unmanageable and unjustifiable torrent of information and distraction…….If you think that constant marketing or attracting blawg visitors is at the core of your law practice (or your cyber-business), joining the Twitter revolution might make sense, as you follow dozens, scores, or maybe hundreds of other Tweeters throughout the day or hope they follow you. But, I sure hope you’re not my lawyer (or my employee), adding yet another wave of cyber-distractions to your workday, instead of focusing on efficiently providing quality services. For us, maintaining multiple levels of unessential multitasking is not a virtue.

Here’s some straight talk about Twitter from someone (me) who used to wonder what the heck some pretty smart people saw in Twitter.

  • Lawyers are becoming better lawyers through their growing networks on Twitter.
  • A lawyer can gain immediate expertise from a thought leader across the country by asking a general question or sending a direct message via Twitter.
  • Clients get better served by immediately connecting the client’s lawyer with a needed lawyer in another country within a 1/2 hour (happened yesterday on Twitter).
  • Lawyers are meeting business associates and prospective clients on Twitter who arguably are in a higher demographic group and more innovative than the general business population.
  • Lawyers are enjoying the practice of law more.
  • Lawyers actively using Twitter glance at their Twitter application on and off during the day, perhaps like one would read an article during a break from work. Such lawyers are not ‘tweeting’ throughout the day.

All happening via Twitter. Every single day.

But hey, hang to your prejudices, ignorance, and a year old article in Time Magazine as reasons to tell lawyers that Twitter is not worthwhile.

Sorry to be so blunt, but Twitter is adding a lot to many lawyers’ lives. Twitter is not something to be dismissed by lawyers who are not giving Twitter a fair try.