Last week, I joined the chorus of attorneys who strongly object to the ABA’s proposal to promulgate new rules regulating what attorneys can do on the Internet to market their services.
This weekend, I saw a video of a TV commercial by Florida divorce attorney, Steven D. Miller and thought I might have been hasty. The video, which someone put on YouTube with the caption, “Tackiest Lawyer Ad. . .Ever,” is a prime example of why the ABA is considering new rules. Watch and you’ll see why.
[mc src=”http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y1Qk6QPzuIc” type=”youtube”]Tackiest Lawyer Ad Ever[/mc]
Wait. It gets better.
The web site for Mr. Miller’s practice is. . . (are you sitting down?). . . “DivorceDeli.com“. Yep, you can look at their menu, call or click, and order your divorce. “Would you like pickles with your restraining order?”
I’m pretty open minded but let’s face it, this commercial and the entire “deli” concept is in very bad taste. It reflects poorly on all lawyers. One subscriber to this blog wrote to say he was against lawyer advertising of any kind because of the negative impression lawyers’ TV commercials have on juries and this has to be “Exhibit A”. But as ugly as this is, I still don’t want (or think we need) more rules.
I don’t want to legislate taste. I don’t want to outlaw embarrassing behavior. I don’t want to be told what I can and cannot do. And, unless it is the only way to prevent serious, irreparable harm, I don’t want to tell anyone else what to do.
Mr. Miller obviously does what he does because it’s working for him. God bless him. He’s serving a segment of society that might otherwise be denied access to the legal system because of their lack of funds (or good taste). I disagree with his approach but I must defend his right to do what he does without interference from the ABA or anyone else.
So, whether you laughed at this video and web site or recoiled in disgust, I hope you’re with me. If you agree that despite examples like these, we don’t need or want additional regulations, please tell the ABA.
Comments should be sent to: Natalia Vera, Senior Research Paralegal, Commission on Ethics 20/20 ABA Center for Professional Responsibility, 321 North Clark Street, 15th Floor, Chicago, IL 60654-7598. Phone: 312/988-5328, fax: 312/988-5280 and email:Â veran@staff.abanet.org. The comment period ends on December 15.
More free software–promote your law firm web site through blog comments
One way to promote your web site or blog is by posting comments on other blogs, but finding the right ones is time consuming. To some extent, you can automate that process with "Comment Kahuna," free software from Jason Katzenback, Marc Quarles & Jason Potash at DealDotCom.com
This link takes you to a short video that explains how it works, and then you can download the software.
I used Comment Kahuna to find attorney marketing blogs I’ve never seen, and I then posted pithy comments thereon, linking back to my web site. Because your searching and posting activities are saved for you, it’s easier to go back to web sites where you have posted and see if your moderated comment got posted and if any follow-up by you is called for.
In the process, I found some good material I can use, here. For example, one site I found had an article listing web sites/directories where lawyers can list their web site. Here’s that article, and my comment.
Speaking of software, Susan Cartier Liebel mentioned she’s using PC Pitstop Erase to erase personal data from her lap top. Since data that has been deleted from your hard drive can be recovered by identity thieves, and stolen lap tops are a major source of identity theft, software like this is something every attorney should have. As I mentioned a few days ago, new laws impose liability on businesses (and that includes law firms) for failing to safeguard certain non-public information, so losing your lap top (or a breach of your desktop) could spell real trouble. If you’ve used PC Pitstop Erase, or something else you can recommend, please add your comments.