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Twitter Status Report - Hey, This is a Conversation, Not a Monologue

This is day 2 of my Twitter experiment and I must say it’s not really what I expected. I thought I’d be throwing isolated tweets out into Twitter-space, similar to blogging. Blogging is generally a solitary endeavor. You write a blog entry and publish it. If you’re lucky, you get some comments and some interaction, but often not. Twitter is a big group conversation, and it just keeps going and going…. As jbnann said “It’s evolving into a gigantic party with brief conversations with interesting people. You swoop in and trade and move on.”

Of course, there’s a certain amount of pressure. People are following me! I should I think of something witty and intelligent to say! Ummm, yeah, well, some days are better than others in that area.

The tool I’m using to monitor Twitter, Twhirl, was recommended in Stephen Cohen’s article “Top Tools for the Twittersphere” in the June 2008 issue of Information Today. I have a twhirl window open right now on my second monitor, and the tweets just stream on by.

It’s a little ironic. I’ve been working hard this month to get some control over my email. I’m diligently unsubscribing from the inevitable spam in my inbox. I’m creating filters to direct email to the proper folder. I’m trying to reduce email distractions. So now I can concentrate on the distraction that is Twitter. I probably need to ration my Twitter-ing.

So, this is fun, but is it useful? I actually CAN see some benefits in an enterprise environment. Maybe you’re on a project team, and you follow your team member’s Twitter stream, so you know exactly what they’re doing, what they need help with, etc. It definitely has potential as a collaboration tool.

If you want to know more about Twitter you can hear Jim Milles talk about Twitter with Richard Leiter on BlogTalkRadio. He also wrote about Twitter and Online Community on his blog Buffalo Wings and Toasted Ravioli.

Only time will tell if I end up with a Twitter hangover.

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Trying to Twitter - Communicating Value in 140 Characters or Less?

I’ve always considered myself a practical person, especially when it comes to technology. I didn’t warm to computers right away, until I started to see real benefits. I don’t really “play” with technology.

So, that brings me to Twitter. I’ve been struggling with the idea of Twitter for a while now. I have to admit, I don’t really get it. For those of you who don’t know, Twitter is a social networking tool that let’s you log very short (140 characters) entries. Your friends can subscribe to your Twitter, and know your every move, should you be inclined to post updates regularly. Many Twitter’ers (?) use cell phones and PDAs to post tweats wherever they might be.

Similar to blogs when they first became popular, Twitters are known for being fairly banal. Have a good dinner? Send out a tweet to all your followers. Bored? Let the world know.

I noted my favorite useful application of Twitter during the last fire season. I can see some uses at work, for example, you could use a Twitter like application to let your co-workers and/or boss know where you are and what you’re doing every minute of the day. Hmm, that has its downsides, too.

I’m making an effort to revisit Twitter as a result of a couple of blogs on the topic of Twitter and KM: LawyerKM has a Twitter. Kevin at Lexblog claims that there are actually law firms on Twitter in his entry, Twitter use among legal professionals is growing. He claims Twitter grows on you. Okay, well, we’ll see.

I’m going to try to Twitter for a week. I promise not to tweet about missing my train, or the sandwich I’m having for lunch. But I WILL try to note various and sundry thoughts that cross my mind about topics similar to the ones covered in this blog. It is probably inevitable that I include a few dog-related tweats. I’ll embed my Twitter stream here, and you, my fair readers, can tell me if you think Twitter is a useful tool, or a waste of time.

If you know nothing about Twitter, and are wondering how to get started, here’s a Common Craft video, Twitter in Plain English:

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Recruiting at Law Firms: A Recruiter and a Law Student’s Perspective

It’s about that time of year again when the law students are heading back to school and thinking ahead to what they want in a law firm once they graduate. Law.com blogger and co-host, J. Craig Williams turns to both a recruiter and two law students to get two different perspectives. Craig welcomes Partner and Chair of Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton’s Recruiting Committee, David Leinwand, Matthew Donnelly, third year law student from the University of Iowa College of Law and Roger Smerage third year law student at Suffolk University Law School in Boston, to discuss recruiting at a large firm, what firms are doing to set themselves apart from the competition of other law firms, the interview process, what firms are looking for in a future associate, what students are looking for in a firm and how they are preparing for the competition of other law students.

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Trying to Twitter - Communicate Value in 140 Characters or Less?

I’ve always considered myself a practical person, especially when it comes to technology. I didn’t warm to computers right away, until I started to see real benefits. I don’t really “play” with technology.

So, that brings me to Twitter. I’ve been struggling with the idea of Twitter for a while now. I have to admit, I don’t really get it. For those of you who don’t know, Twitter is a social networking tool that let’s you log very short (140 characters) entries. Your friends can subscribe to your Twitter, and know your every move, should you be inclined to post updates regularly. Many Twitter’ers (?) use cell phones and PDAs to post tweats wherever they might be.

Similar to blogs when they first became popular, Twitters are known for being fairly banal. Have a good dinner? Send out a tweet to all your followers. Bored? Let the world know.

I noted my favorite useful application of Twitter during the last fire season. I can see some uses at work, for example, you could use a Twitter like application to let your co-workers and/or boss know where you are and what you’re doing every minute of the day. Hmm, that has its downsides, too.

I’m making an effort to revisit Twitter as a result of a couple of blogs on the topic of Twitter and KM: LawyerKM has a Twitter. Kevin at Lexblog claims that there are actually law firms on Twitter in his entry, Twitter use among legal professionals is growing. He claims Twitter grows on you. Okay, well, we’ll see.

I’m going to try to Twitter for a week. I promise not to tweat about missing my train, or the sandwich I’m having for lunch. But I WILL try to note various and sundry thoughts that cross my mind about topics similar to the ones covered in this blog. It is probably inevitable that I include a few dog-related tweats. I’ll embed my Twitter stream here, and you, my fair readers, can tell me if you think Twitter is a useful tool, or a waste of time.

If you know nothing about Twitter, and are wondering how to get started, here’s a Common Craft video, Twitter in Plain English:

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Legendary Trial Attorney: Gerry Spence

Attorney Gerry Spence has practiced law for over fifty years, has never lost a criminal case and is the author of sixteen books. On Lawyer2 Lawyer, Law.com bloggers and co-hosts, J. Craig Williams and Bob Ambrogi talk to Attorney Spence about his most prominent cases, life as a trial attorney, his founding of the Trial Lawyers College, his opinion about law school, stepping into the world of blogging and his mission to represent the poor, the injured and the forgotten. Listen and find out why he says “Lawyers disappoint me.”

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Summer Associates

How do summer associates programs at major law firms work? Hear the perspectives from current associates who were summers and a leader in the recruitment strategy at a large firm on this edition of Lawyer2Lawyer with co-hosts J. Craig Williams and Bob Ambrogi, both attorneys and Law.com legal bloggers. We welcome guests, Attorney Lydia Kelley, partner and co-chair of the recruiting committee at McDermott, Will & Emery in Chicago along with two young Associates now working at big firms, Claudine Coumbres at White & Case, LLP in New York and Michel Ayer at Quarles & Brady, LLP in Phoenix. Listen to their first hand experiences and opinions.

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Getting Attorneys into the Classroom - Why Would You Want Them There?

I’m just back from TRIPLL where we spent some quality time talking about ways to deliver point of need training to attorneys and staff using such tools as webinars, remote desktop sharing, videos, etc., in addition to finding ways to make ourselves more visible and available by walking the floors and doing personal follow-up to training. It’s obvious that formal, longer training sessions simply don’t draw our intended audience, regardless of the quality and abundance of the food provided. Considering the fact that attorneys aren’t coming into the library as often as they once did, we have to figure out how to take training to them.

So I’m very interested in this ILTA webinar called “Getting Attorneys into the Classroom - Why Would You Want Them There?” and I thought I’d let you know about it as well. There’s a lot to be learned on this topic from the technology folks, since they experience the same problems we do, but on an even larger scale!

You’ll have to pay a bit more to register if your firm isn’t an ILTA member, but it’s probably worth it. Maybe I’ll “see” you there.

P.S. Attending and speaking at TRIPLL was a great experience. I learned a lot, enjoyed exchanging ideas with the group, and ate way more than I should have. If you’re involved with training, and ever get the opportunity to go, take it! Thanks very much to the group at Lexis Nexis for continuing to offer such quality programs.

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The New Jersey VIOXX Trial - 10/11/05 Update

Coast to Coast, with Robert Ambrogi and J. Craig Williams from Law.com’s arsenal of law bloggers gets first hand accounts from inside the courtroom at the VIOXX trial underway in New Jersey. A 60-yr old war veteran claims VIOXX caused his heart attack. Special guest, Attorney Sam Davis, from Davis, Saperstein & Solomon, P.C., who has been attending the trial to gather information for his own plaintiffs’ cases against Merck Pharmaceuticals, recounts developments in the trial including some outbursts between Merck lead defense counsel and Judge Carol Higbee. Also joining us on the show is NJ Law Journal reporter Lisa Brennan and well-known defense Attorney Alan Klein from Duane Morris LLP, who was MDL liason counsel for a pharmaceutical manufacturer in the diet drug fen-phen litigation. Three important perspectives you won’t want to miss!

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Both Sides of a Federal Investigation

If a firm or company finds itself being investigated by the government what should it do? How does it prepare if one day the feds come knocking? Law.com bloggers and co-hosts, J. Craig Williams and Bob Ambrogi turn to Roscoe C. Howard, Jr., who has been on both sides of federal investigations as a Washington-based partner with Troutman Sanders LLP and a former federal prosecutor. Attorney Howard will offer his advice to those who find themselves knee-deep in trouble and prepare those who work within the walls of a company or firm by discussing compliance programs, working with investigators and the importance of a right to counsel. Don’t miss out!

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The Patriot Act

Coast to Coast, with Robert Ambrogi and J. Craig Williams brings into focus a discussion of the Patriot Act up for debate as some of the provisions are set to expire December 31st. Although designed to give federal law enforcement and intellegence agencies tools in the fight against terror, some say civil liberties are being violated. Hear former FBI agent and now candidate for Congress, Coleen Rowley, talk about the frontline need for information balanced with the protection of rights. And our other guest is Attorney Jameel Jaffer with the American Civil Liberties Union who is currently counsel for plaintiffs in challenges to the provisions of the Patriot Act. Join us for this important show!

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