Daniel Clement of New York Divorce Report: LexBlog Q&A
In this season of holiday parties, a common conversation topic as guests chat and mingle is the celebrity divorce of the day — something New York divorce attorney Daniel Clement knows well.
The author of the New York Divorce Report is often asked his take on whichever big-name couple is hogging the tabloids, and he uses it as a way to instruct his clients and other on how family law really works.
A large part of Daniel's practice is making sure his clients know what they're owed, whether it's through a celebrity example or through his well-written blog posts.
"I derive my greatest satisfaction in guiding these clients through the process," Daniel says, "educating and advising of them of their rights, advocating and negotiating on their behalf to achieve a fair resolution."
We reached out to Daniel for this LexBlog Q&A to discuss more about how his blog has helped his standing as a divorce attorney and how other social media tools complement his blogging.
See our email exchange with Daniel, after the jump.
Lisa Kennelly: Briefly, describe your practice and the type of clients you work with.
Daniel Clement: My practice is limited to Divorce and Family Law in New York and New Jersey. I represent parties going through the pains of divorce, fighting to protect their economic interests and to protect the interests of their children. Lately, I have been representing many parties contemplating marriage and negotiating pre-nuptial agreements.
My clients run the gamut from sophisticate business owners, doctors, lawyers, professional athletes and Wall Street executives to stay-at-home parents. Recently, and directly as a result of some posts I wrote, I have assisted some same-sex litigants' divorce.
Lisa Kennelly: What is most rewarding about being a family lawyer? What is most challenging?
Daniel Clement: Individuals going through divorce are, rightfully so, emotionally distraught. As part of the process, they may be displaced from their home, their economic future is less than certain and their relationships with their children may be at risk. I derive my greatest satisfaction in guiding these clients through the process – educating and advising of them of their rights, advocating and negotiating on their behalf to achieve a fair resolution.
Lisa Kennelly: Why did you decide to start a blog?
Daniel Clement: A large part of my practice involves “educating” my clients of their rights. I was looking for a way of keeping my clients up to date of new developments in the law and while simultaneously reaching out to prospective clients. Blogging allows me to accomplish both goals.
As part of my practice, I always had to keep up the case law and statutory changes. In the social settings, I was often asked my thoughts about the celebrity divorce of the day. It just seemed natural then to put my thoughts, comments, observations and criticisms in a blog.
In The Divorce Report, I comment on recent decisions and changes in the law. I will discuss current events, like same-sex marriage and celebrity divorce. In fact, I find that celebrity divorce often can be quite instructive on how family law really works.
Lisa Kennelly: Do you feel your blog has had an impact on how you are viewed as an authority in your field?
Daniel Clement: The overall feedback has been fantastic. Attorneys against whom I am litigating and whom I respect have complimented me and engaged me in conversation about my blog posts. In some case, litigants in the cases I have written about have emailed me, telling me some of the back-story of the cases. I have enjoyed the conversations in the blogosphere. And, of course, I would be remiss if I did not acknowledge that I have secured some good cases from readers of the my blog.
Lisa Kennelly: You integrate Facebook and Twitter into your online presence as well — what different benefits do each of these social media tools have?
Daniel Clement: I have a fan page on Facebook, Married in New York which allows me to engage in conversation with my “Fans”. In fact, most of the conversation on the Fan page is not law based. Instead, the goal of the fan page is to have a fun look at the good, bad and the ugly aspects of marriage, and married life in New York. My Twitter feed @danielclement picks up both the conversations on my blog and on my fan page.
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