Pew Report finds “eww” is common response to lawyers, legal profession

Let’s get the bad news over early in the week, shall we?

A report issued last week reveals that lawyers are held in pretty profound distaste by many Americans (until they need a lawyer, I assume).

As the report from the Pew Research Center says:

“While there have been modest declines in public appreciation for several occupations, the order of the ratings is roughly the same as it was in 2009. Among the 10 occupations the survey asked respondents to rate, lawyers are at the bottom of the list. About one-in-five Americans (18%) say lawyers contribute a lot to society, while 43% say they make some contribution; fully a third (34%) say lawyers contribute not very much or nothing at all.”

“Nothing at all.” Sheesh.

Media reaction that I’ve seen has been muted (maybe because they felt no surprise). And the press being as self-involved as any other profession, the area they seemed to focus on was the sharp decline in Americans’ views of journalists.

Salon managed to do both: navel-gaze at its own profession while writing a headline that disemboweled attorneys: “Poll: Journalists only slightly less despised than lawyers”

Don’t see lawyers? Keep looking down.

Touché.

The American Cities Business Journals examined the survey mainly in regard to its take on—you guessed it—business executives (who deserve more respect, one writer claims). But even as Washington Bureau Chief Kent Hoover decries the poor ranking of business leaders (valued by 24 percent of respondents), he still takes a moment to mention lawyers:

“Only 18 percent of Americans think lawyers contribute a lot to society, which comes as no surprise. Lots of people have detested lawyers since at least the days of William Shakespeare, who put these immortal words in the mouth of Dick the Butcher: ‘The first thing we do, let’s kill all the lawyers.’”

Hardy-har-har.

Lost amidst the numbers is the fact that business executives have risen in respondents’ eyes since 2009. Sure, their numbers aren’t great, but the impression they leave with people has increased over the past four years. (In fact, business execs are the only profession of the 10 studied whose perception was improved!)

Shall I list the business scandals and economic disasters wreaked by business mismanagement and worse in that time period? Wow.

But I don’t write today to fault the business community for its success in the public-perception game. But given recent criminal Wall Street activities that have rocked our nation to its core, and the valuable role lawyers have played throughout U.S. history, I have to wonder about how U.S. history is taught. And do Americans ever read a newspaper, or watch a news report?

Well, now I just sound like a curmudgeon. Why don’t you get a big cup of coffee and read the entire Pew study here?

Let’s hope the week improves.

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100+ calls made to @AZStateBar lawyer call-in program on employment law

Here is some news from my colleague Alberto Rodriguez:

The State Bar of Arizona and 12 News hosted the July Lawyers on Call on Tuesday, July 9, focused on employment and labor law issues. The following is a recap of the public service program.

There were nine attorney volunteers: Denise M. Blommel, Dawn Farrison, Trey Dayes, Richard Galvan, Don P. Johnsen, Leah Lewandowski, Michelle Matheson, Shari C. Mauney and Jessica L. Post. Seven of the nine attorneys were first-time volunteers.

The volunteer attorneys answered an impressive 124 calls on employment and labor law issues.

Here is a sample of the consumer questions:

• Exempt vs. Non-Exempt: Should I be getting paid for excessive/overtime hours?
• Do I qualify for worker’s compensation? What is the process?
• I believe I’m being sexually harassed at work. What can I do?
• I am the fifth person over fifty years of age to be fired recently. Is this age discrimination?
• Can I be fired without knowing the reason?
• How do I collect unpaid wages?
• How do I know if I qualify for the Family Medical Leave Act?

The overarching topics were wrongful termination, unemployment benefits, worker’s compensation, wage disputes, and age/race discrimination.

The 12 News team was successful in adding a social media component to the phone bank. Consumers were able to ask their questions via the 12 News Facebook page, and attorney Trey Dayes responded with his recommendations/advice.

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“Economics of Law Practice” Released by @AZStateBar

Is the attorney job picture improving in Arizona? A recent study says yes.

Do you have all your financial and law practice questions answered? I didn’t think so.

In the September issue of Arizona Attorney Magazine, we will include an article that points toward a few answers. The piece will preview some of the findings from the State Bar of Arizona Economics of Law Practice Report.

The Bar surveys its members and compiles the data every three years. The 49-page book contains detail on billing rates, salaries, staffing, collectibles and more.

To preview our preview, I point you to an article the Arizona Republic ran this week. It explains a few of the significant findings (with a predictably specific headline on a topic that is pretty complex). Read the Republic article here.

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Legal-Sized Paper, Sharks, Lawyers and Librarians

So the paper that lawyers like to use comes emblazoned with a … shark? Ouch.

Boyoboy, I sure feel sorry for you. I had planned a really substantive, weighty and significant topic to cover today. My goal was to round out the blog week with something akin to majesty.

Though you would have enjoyed that, instead I have opted to present a slight and light view into a quizzical topic. On this Change of Venue Friday, the substantial has been shouldered aside by the goofy.

And for that, I apologize.

The oddity came my way via the Pacific Northwest (surprising absolutely no one). And that unique question is: Where the hell did legal-sized paper come from?

Do you ever see one of those queries and wonder how you had never come to ask it? But when you see the question, you’re all, “Whoa, good question!”? That’s where the paper question took me.

I heard about the topic via one of my favorite legal blogs. In the NW Sidebar (from the Washington State Bar), I was pointed toward a blog by librarians (natch) of the Seattle University Law Library (on Twitter here).

Here is how library intern Jason Giesler opens his detective blog post:

“Necessitating larger file cabinets, failing to fit in standard binders, and a real pain in the neck to copy and scan, one wonders, what are the origins of 8 1/2″ x 14” sized legal paper?”

“There are several historical stories relating to the adoption of legal sized paper. According to one story, during the time of Henry VIII, paper was printed in 17″ x 22” sheets because this was the largest size of mold that papermakers could carry. These large sheets were known as foolscap. Legend has it that lawyers would simply cut the foolscap in half and use the sheets for official documents. Lawyers liked longer paper so that they could take more notes than would fit on a normal page.”

That’s rich. “Lawyers liked longer paper so that they could take more notes than would fit on a normal page.”

Lawyers. Librarians. Henry VIII. They all crack me up.

When I decided to seek an image to run with this post, I was taken aback by the appearance of a leading brand of legal-sized paper. There it is above, clear as day: The lawyers’ paper of choice comes with … sharks on it.

Hmmm. Snarky, much? I’m sure the Hammermill Company would say the name is a reference to the “Great White” paper, but I’m prepared to stage a protest if readers want.

In any case, you should keep reading the results of Jason’s research here.

And, joyfully, he would seem to be one of those librarians who has never shushed anyone in his life. And so he ends—as I do today—with this video of an “IT cat.” Which would make this the debut of cat videos for my own blog (causing me to think I should re-examine things—I’ll do that this weekend).

Enjoy, and stay away from copier machines. Here’s da cat:

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Satisfaction of Lawyer and Client May Be More Related Than You Think

How many lawyers find fulfillment in their work?

I don’t have statistics, but based on many conversations with attorneys over the years, the number who would trumpet themselves “fulfilled” has declined over time.

A bad economy has a lot to do with that, I’m sure. But finances cannot account for all of the disappointment we hear about. After all, most people (really) are not in it just for the financial return. Something deeper must be afoot.

Insight into what may be missing appeared in a great recent post at Above the Law. In it, lawyer Brian Tannebaum examines a few ways to strengthen the lawyer–client relationship. And in so doing, he points us toward a few elements that may be lacking in many a law practice. The absence of those ingredients is not a mere annoyance. Instead, it could be a serious impediment to fulfillment and satisfaction.

Brian Tannebaum

Interestingly, Tannebaum suggests that the elements that could make lawyers happier may be exactly the same elements that could make clients happier.

Imagine that—there’s a connection.

“Meaning” may be too complex a concept to reduce to a blog post, but I think Tannebaum’s done a great job at it.

Here’s how he opens his post:

“Lawyers like to say, ‘I’m a lawyer, not a psychiatrist.’”

“If you’re dealing with people’s problems, you’re a lawyer and a psychiatrist. While clients understand you are the person hired to try and resolve their legal issues, the not-so subtle secret of a successful practice is a slew of clients that believe their lawyer actually gives a crap about how their legal issues are affecting their personal life.”

Read the whole post here.

And what do you think? Have you found changes that improve your clients’ experience have also improved your outlook? Are you considering any law practice changes to make your own work more satisfying?

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Lawyers Pedal To Fight @llsusa Disease in @teamintraining Tahoe Event

An event this Sunday, June 2, will demonstrate the strength and commitment of some Arizona lawyers.

In the mountains surrounding Lake Tahoe, a nine-member team of lawyers and “friends of the firm” at Zwillinger, Greek and Knecht are pedaling in a 100-mile bike ride fundraiser to benefit the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. LLS is the leading nonprofit organization funding blood cancer research and helping patients and their families The ZGK team’s website states their goal is to raise at least $33,000. As of Monday, May 27, they had exceeded it (though I’ve been told they’d love to raise $50,000—hint hint).

Some members of the Zwillinger Greek & Knecht PC team last year in Lake Tahoe. From L to R: Jack Dearing, Andrew Conlin, Felecia Rotellini, Jamie Burgess and Gary Zwillinger. (Dearing, Rotellini, Burgess and Zwillinger are firm attorneys.)

The team’s story is well worth reading here.

The leader of the troupe is attorney Jamie Burgess, who lost his brother-in-law to leukemia in 2006. Since then, according to team materials, “He’s personally raised nearly a quarter of a million dollars on rides like this. He’s been recognized as one of the top fundraisers in the U.S.”

Attorney Jamie Burgess of Zwillinger, Greek and Knecht

The group has been meeting on the weekends for training rides. Those rides began at 5:30 a.m. and ended around noon.

This year’s team is comprised of six lawyers from the firm’s office (Jamie Burgess, Felecia Rotellini, Gary Zwillinger, Jack Dearing, Sara Witthoft and Andrew Breavington) and some others from outside the office (Andy Conlin, Paula Williams and Stephanie Mullins). “The team name is ‘ZGK Riders,’ named after our law firm, Zwillinger Greek & Knecht PC.”

According to spokesman Steve Clawson, “Each member of the group has a personal connection to cancer. They have been riding together on weekends since February averaging 60 to 80 miles each time. They also do individual rides during the week.”

More information on the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society is here.

And don’t forget you can make your own dent in the diseases without pedaling or perspiring yourself. Contribute to the team’s efforts here.

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Lawyers Rank High in @taprootfound Study of Social Responsibility, Giving Back

Attorneys give more of themselves than do those in other professions? They may be fightin’ words.

I discovered that this past weekend, when I repeated (via Twitter and in person) new research showing that attorneys rank pretty highly in the generosity department. They came out near the top in a “professional social responsibility by professions” ranking.

First, I have to say that the findings didn’t surprise me. Most of the lawyers I know give legal services for free or at a reduced price. I can’t identify many of the many professions and vendors I deal with doing the same.

And yet, when I shared the news, many people rolled their social media eyeballs at me. And those I spoke with in person were willing to declare the study “a fraud” or “a joke.”

The study I pointed to is noted here. (And the research was done by the Taproot Foundation.) As the article notes, “This ranking is created based on US Census data on hours of pro bono services provided per member of each class of profession.”

Here is more from the Taproot Foundation on the importance of pro bono in many fields.

If you need another window into how lawyers are viewed by many, simply scroll down to the comments beneath the story. Eeesh.

Here is one of the kindest remarks I got in response: When the person saw that lawyers came out near the top of the pro bono heap, her only reaction was, “I want to see the raw data on that.”

Do you also doubt the reliability of the study? Tell me what you think.

FINALLY, while I’m on the subject, I just heard from a Phoenix connection with the following question: “I’m looking for a recommendation of a corporate lawyer who may be willing to work with a small professional orchestra (501 c3) on more of a consulting basis, i.e. pro bono if possible.”

That’s all I know about the legal needs. Do you have any suggestions? Any interest in following up?

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Guest Post: The Evolution of Google Results for Lawyer Searches

The power of the Internet to transform business has been revolutionary. And in that transformation, Google and its functionality have been leading change-agents.

Attorneys—already occupied by the law and business sides of their work—likely scratch their heads at the possibility of being “found” by anyone among Google’s billions of bits and bytes. That’s why I was pleased to hear from Texas attorney Scott Morgan, who offered a primer on the topic of getting found in Google search (more about Scott follows his great post; I’m also pleased to note that he’s a prolific blogger). And if you thought you already understood Google’s algorithm before, read on, because the math of search has changed.

Here is Scott:

For many law firms, the Internet, and particularly Google, has developed over the last several years into their primary source of new clients. Many law firms use pay per click advertising (PPC) as a way to rent online real estate for important keyword phrases. Other law firms use search engine optimization (SEO) as a way to get in front of those same searchers without having to pay every time they click.

While SEO sounds great in theory, the reality is that it is extremely changing and, as we will discuss below, constantly changing. This article will discuss how Google results for local attorney phrases have dramatically changed over the past year and what law firms can do to best position themselves.

Google’s Search Results—A Brief History

Our analysis begins with a comparison of what a Google search results page for a local phrase such as “Phoenix divorce lawyer” looks like currently as compared to as recent as 2012.  Since I didn’t have the foresight to take a picture of an old results page back, I will have to replicate it by using a phrase that won’t trigger Google’s “localization” of the results. It actually took some work to find an appropriate phrase, but eventually I came across “Phoenix divorce property division,” which looked like the old-style results.

As shown in the picture below, the results basically had some paid ads at the top and right sidebar, but the rest of the page was just the 10 highest-ranking organic results for the phrase. Under the old system, the key to ranking highly for almost any particular phrase was to get lots and lots of links pointing to your site with anchor text (the words that are in the link) that either exactly matched or were close to matching the phrase you’re trying to rank highly for.

Google search results for “Phoenix divorce property division.”

So if you were trying to rank for “Phoenix divorce lawyer,” you would get links pointing to your site with that anchor text, ideally from other highly ranked sites, preferably in the legal niche. Many professional SEO firms made a lot of money by promising (and occasionally delivering) to get lawyer websites to the top of the rankings for their desired keywords using just this strategy. While certain types of links became more and less effective with Google over the years, it was still a relatively straightforward process to get a website to rank for a particular keyword phrase.

Fast Forward to the Present

Let’s now take a look at how the Google results pages have changed over the past year using the keyword phrase “Phoenix divorce lawyer” (below).

Google search results for “Phoenix divorce lawyer.”

As you can see, the results still show PPC ads at the top and right side of the page. What is significantly different are the seven local listings that are blended in with the organic results. On this particular search there are actually three results that appear above the local listings. In many locations, the seven local listings appear above all the organic listings.

While at first blush this may seem like a relatively minor cosmetic change in the results, it is anything but. Here is the often misunderstood part of the new localization of the results: Google uses two separate algorithms to rank the local results and the organic results.

Attorney Scott Morgan

In other words, you could be the #1 ranking site in organic but not be found at all in the local listings. The end result of this change could have been that overnight you went from having the top listing for multiple client-generating keywords to being pushed all the way to the bottom of the page by the local listings, causing your traffic and potential client inquiries to slow from a flood to a trickle.

What Should Law Firms Do Now?

So the bottom line is that if law firms want to get in front of potential clients on Google result pages without having to resort to PPC, they will need to rank highly in the local listings. While this is no small task, given the amount of potential clients that a high ranking on a good keyword can generate, it is worth it to master this new area of SEO. Here are some basic things that you can do to improve your chances of your website being listed highly in local:

• The very first thing you should do is claim your Google local listing. By claiming it you gain control over the content of the listing, including the basics such as your business name, address and telephone number, as well as more advanced features such as pictures, videos and periodic postings about your practice.
• Many other websites have local listings, such as Yelp, Yahoo local, Bing Local, Yellowpages, and Localeze. You should claim these listings as well. Not only can it generate some website visitors for you but Google looks at these listings as a way to confirm the information on your Google local listing.
• Work on getting your name, address and phone consistent across the Internet. This is probably the most common problem that websites have in getting good local rankings. If over the years you have moved your office once or twice or changed phone numbers, it is likely that the old data is floating around the Internet still. This will cause Google to have less confidence that the information they have for your business is accurate and will cause your local rankings to plummet.

Hopefully, this article has given you some insight into how the new Google results pages for lawyer searches work and what you need to do to improve your chances of getting a steady flow of clients from this very valuable channel.

About the Author

When not obsessing about his firm’s search rankings, Scott Morgan is busy representing divorce clients in Texas. He is a board-certified family law attorney and founder of the Morgan Law Firm, which has offices in Sugar Land, Austin and Houston.

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Lawyers, Other Performers Deliver the Goods in Same-Sex Marriage @8thePlay

As I sidled my way last night past the crowds into the Herberger Theater in downtown Phoenix, I must admit I was skeptical. An entire play constructed mainly of a trial transcript? Really?

Anyone who has been to a trial or two knows you would need a genius writer to make that come together into dramatic arts. And so the play “8” had one: Dustin Lance Black had whittled a trial into an evening that was provocative, funny and compelling.

I mentioned the play last Friday, and I was pleased that my family and I were able to attend. “8” tells the story of the trial over the constitutionality of California’s Proposition 8, which banned same-sex marriage.

Black drew on his mondo skills to shape a play comprised almost entirely of the trial transcript. There are a few moments that are tough sledding, especially, I imagine, for the many nonlawyers in the house. Arguing over the standard of review is often a game-changer in a case, but it’s an oddly shaped building block in crafting compelling theater.

Performers in the play 8, Herberger Center Theatre, Phoenix, May 7, 2013

There are only a few of those moments, though. The craft and the words selected were amazing. And what consistently impressed was the quality of the performances. Non-actors almost all, the cast delivered a rousing and entirely convincing play.

I know that one actor–director was cast, to fabulous results. Ron May is the founder and artistic director of Stray Cat Theatre, and his rendition of a witness was wow-inspiring. Cast as David Blankenhorn, May encapsulated eloquently the ideologue who had never been challenged to defend his beliefs before he sat in a witness chair. As he is cross-examined by David Boies of Bush v. Gore fame (played superbly by lawyer and Phoenix Councilman Tom Simplot), bluster turns to anger turns to frustration turns to near-total capitulation. As the steam escapes from Blankenhorn’s pompous world view, the state’s case deflates before the audience’s eyes. If there’s one thing we know, it’s more Ron May, please.

View from Balcony, Row EE (hint: buy tickets earlier).

The strong performing continued with the attorneys. Amazing work was delivered by Grant Woods (as Ted Olson), Nicole France Stanton (as plaintiff Sandy Stier), Terry Goddard (as trial Judge Vaughn Walker), and Bill Sheppard.

A marvelous moment occurred after the play and during a brief audience-question session. One man (whom I couldn’t see from the nosebleed section) rose to praise Grant Woods. The speaker said that when he was a young Assistant Attorney General 23 years ago, he had serious concerns about being a gay man in the large public agency. But he said that Woods had told him that all he would ever be judged on in that office was merit, the quality of his work. That compelling memory led to a standing ovation for the former Attorney General, which grew to include his own fellow performers.

(Years ago, I had the chance to appear on the Herberger stage in a father–daughter performance with our wonderfully ever-patient Willa. I thought I had turned in a pretty good show. But then I saw Grant Woods get a well-deserved standing ovation, so I think I’m done.)

Grant Woods gets a standing ovation, Herberger Theatre Center, May 7, 2013.

My family and I greatly enjoyed the show. And I must add what especially struck me (caution: lawyer moment approaching):

It was remarkable to see, via the true-to-life transcripts, the power that an actual trial may have. In an age when trials are rarer and rarer and they are derided as the ultimate failure of negotiated resolution, it’s worth remembering that truth often peeks out of that ancient construct. Outside the courtroom, lying, puffery, bullying and rants may win the day. But seated in that witness chair, required to endure a series of simple questions, those resting on a crumbling foundation often founder. Except for the sociopathic, misstatements and worse cause discomfort and anxiety when one is required to raise a hand and utter an oath.

Not such a bad message to learn, for lawyers and nonlawyers alike.

Congratulations to all who participated.

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Talented Staff of @AZStateBar Serve the Public on @UnivisionAZ Call-In Program

State Bar employees Mirna Lerma, Ayde Gutierrez, Sulema Bucio and Mabel Ramirez at the TV studio for A Su Lado.

I regularly share updates from my State Bar of Arizona colleague Alberto Rodriguez, especially as they relate to the Lawyers on Call program. That is a call-in program through which thousands of Arizonans have had their legal questions answered.

Mabel Ramirez interviewed during A Su Lado.

Last week, the Bar offered a twist on the lawyer call-in approach. Instead, on April 24 a team of terrific Bar employees answered questions that they are adept at answering. Congratulations and thanks to the four wonderful women who responded to the calls. Here is Alberto’s description:

The State Bar of Arizona and Univision 33 hosted a special edition of A Su Lado (On Your Side) on Wednesday, April 24. Univision 33 kicked-off their sweeps period with a special consumer protection phone bank and news story that featured the State Bar of Arizona and members of the Resource Center team. Resource Center Supervisor Mabel Ramirez was interviewed during the 5 p.m. newscast and offered helpful tips to help guide viewers in finding a lawyer, verifying lawyer membership, and filing a Bar/UPIL complaint.

The following is a recap from the public service program:

Date: April 24, 2013

Topic: State Bar of Arizona’s Consumer Protection Services and the Law Day Legal Aid Clinic

Phone Bank Team: Sulema Bucio, Ayde Gutierrez, Mirna Lerma and Mabel Ramirez

Summary: The RC team answered an impressive 85 calls during the two-hour phone bank focused on the Bar’s consumer protection services. The following is a small sample of the questions that were received:

• Does the Bar offer free legal advice or referrals?
• How can I file a complaint against an attorney?
• Can you verify if the attorney I’m working with is an actual attorney?
• Can you tell me more about the Law Day Legal Aid Clinics?
• Several callers were asking for legal advice and were referred to the Law Day Legal Aid Clinics.

The Resource Center team members were first-time participants. They were satisfied with the quality of the questions overall and were excited to have participated in the A Su Lado public service program. Calls were consistent from 5 to 7 p.m., which led to another successful phone bank.

State Bar Resource Center staff take callers’ questions during A Su Lado.

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