Saturday, December 27, 2008

I Don't Have Time For Twitter or Facebook by Perry Belcher



Find David Barrett on Twitter @barrettdavid



Friday, December 26, 2008

This Week's LinkedIn Lawyer "Top Tweets" (the 'Post-Christmas Edition')

Twitter is a free and easy-to-use "micro-blogging" site that allows you to send and receive short updates from multiple users. David Barrett, The LinkedIn Lawyer is "Twittering" -- follow me here -- and keep up to date with news about Web 2.0 social media and the legal profession, with a particular focus on LinkedIn.

Here are the "Top Tweets" from the last week (partially as tracked with Tweetburner).

"Top Tweets"

David A. Barrett invites you to The LinkedIn Lawyer blog Facebook Group - http://twurl.nl/4wrk0y

Twitter Lawsuits: 4 Reasons Your Tweets Might Be Trouble - http://twurl.nl/xbr73i

RT: @Rex7 Top 5 Social Media Myths for Attorneys Explained - http://bit.ly/KcgL

How to use Facebook to be more productive - http://twurl.nl/a4p6fz

Social media brings new risks for companies and employees... http://twurl.nl/fw4o6u

How Sociable is your Brand? http://www.howsociable.com/

Increasing Traffic to your Website or Blog with LinkedIn - http://tinyurl.com/9xa9lf

Lawyers Should Blog First, Tweet Second - http://twurl.nl/yo7ulr

25 Traits Of Twitter Folks I Admire and 25 Folks Who Have Them - http://twurl.nl/b3uily

Eek! How to React When You've Been Slammed on Twitter - http://twurl.nl/r84riw

Top 10 Mistakes (lawyers) Make on LinkedIn - http://twurl.nl/ozlf8i

Twitter & Liability--Proceed with CAUTION - http://twurl.nl/p3q8m4

How To Develop Successful Online Legal Marketing Program - http://twurl.nl/jdn3vt

6 Simple Steps to Attract More Clients on the Internet - http://twurl.nl/6nwpjx

Tweet More, Blog More in New Economy - http://twurl.nl/107zsj

Poke me, poke you back: Facebook social networking context - http://twurl.nl/a8fx1e

David Barrett at Cornell University Law School's Legal Information Institute website - http://twurl.nl/l732xv

Find David Barrett on Twitter @barrettdavid



Wednesday, December 17, 2008

How to Combine SEO, Blogging, and Social Media for Marketing Results by HubSpot



Find the video for this webinar here with additional resources.



This Week's LinkedIn Lawyer "Top Tweets"

Twitter is a free and easy-to-use "micro-blogging" site that allows you to send and receive short updates from multiple users. David Barrett, The LinkedIn Lawyer is "Twittering" -- follow me here -- and keep up to date with news about Web 2.0 social media and lawyers, with a particular focus on LinkedIn.

Here are the "Top Tweets" from the last week (partially as tracked with Tweetburner).

"Top Tweets"

Legal "birds" (Attorneys who use Twitter) - http://twurl.nl/j4nr1g

Making Rain in a Dry Economy with LinkedIn - http://twurl.nl/5rylhx

Facebook for Professionals - http://twurl.nl/68rojw

Get Your Own Personal Quick Link Invitation for LinkedIn - http://twurl.nl/iyf06s

Social Media Will Change Your Business - http://twurl.nl/cl0jqx

Sixteen Reasons to Tweet on Twitter - http://twurl.nl/arju1k

Call for Guest Bloggers at The LinkedIn Lawyer - http://twurl.nl/3mlsbg

The LinkedIn Lawyer Welcomes Business Development Expert Raymond "Chip" Lambert - http://twurl.nl/zr3hz8

Lawyers Link In to Social Networking - http://twurl.nl/t551tz

Top 25 Free eBooks on Social Media - http://twurl.nl/h6gxgi

David Barrett named Officer of Facebook Business Exchange - http://twurl.nl/itzdm2

Podcast Available - Social Networking Sites for Competitive Advantage - http://twurl.nl/df3i37

The LinkedIn Lawyer is now listed on Justia, BlogCatalog, and the ABA Journal - http://twurl.nl/ou3aoo

Molding Your Image, Tweet By Tweet - http://twurl.nl/2fozhw

Find David Barrett on Twitter @barrettdavid



Monday, December 15, 2008

LinkedIn's SlideShare Application




Call for Guest Bloggers at The LinkedIn Lawyer

I would like to tip my hat to Amy Derby and Bill Marler for the inspiration to open up one’s blog for guest bloggers – thank you both.

The LinkedIn Lawyer is now open for Guest Bloggers with various areas of expertise – lawyers, social media mavens, legal marketers, and other super-networkers who are interested to write about and explore where social media meets the legal profession.

Collaboration is a great way to network!

Please contact David Barrett with your ideas for blog posts on The LinkedIn Lawyer.



Wednesday, December 10, 2008

This Week's LinkedIn Lawyer "Top Tweets"

Twitter is a free and easy-to-use "micro-blogging" site that allows you to send and receive short updates from multiple users. David Barrett, The LinkedIn Lawyer is "Twittering" -- follow me here -- and keep up to date with news about Web 2.0 social media and lawyers, with a particular focus on LinkedIn.

Here are the "Top Tweets" from the last week (partially as tracked with Tweetburner).

"Top Tweets"

Ten People All Lawyers Should Follow on Twitter - http://twurl.nl/2zqy8o

Many Thanks to @AriKaplan for hosting Using Social Networking Sites for Competitive Advantage http://twurl.nl/vmmae0

Now Find Legal News and Hot Docs from JD Supra on The LinkedIn Lawyer - http://twurl.nl/izstko

Can this be true? The LinkedIn Lawyer traffic rank is in the top 9.28 % of all websites - http://twurl.nl/ob0f2q

LinkedIn may well blow the “traditional” lawyer directories away - http://twurl.nl/uyfo3a

Social Media in Plain English - http://twurl.nl/yu5i1f

Ruthless NY commercial real estate litigator wanted - http://twurl.nl/e0gmob

Social Media Monitoring - 10 Free Tools - http://twurl.nl/hd61vb

Top 6 Tips to Expand Your LinkedIn Network - http://twurl.nl/f4oxuk

Quiz to find out what kind of LinkedIn user you are - http://twurl.nl/54ulrg

Is Your Comfort Zone Hurting You? - http://twurl.nl/xm1uh8

Lawyers Taking Over Second Life; David Barrett is Lawyer Goldshark - http://twurl.nl/jmccth

Play Nice: Legal Issues & Social Media - http://twurl.nl/ue8fxg

YouTube Videos Are Pulling in Serious Money - http://twurl.nl/nt07b2

Preparing to be an "Esteemed Panelist" for this Upcoming Thompson-West LEGALworks Webcast - http://twurl.nl/kivpm1

Find David Barrett on Twitter @barrettdavid



Social Media Monitoring - 10 Free Tools




Tuesday, December 2, 2008

Ten People All Lawyers Should Follow on Twitter

Twitter is a free and easy-to-use "micro-blogging" site that allows you to send and receive short updates from multiple users. David Barrett, The LinkedIn Lawyer is "Twittering" -- follow me here -- and keep up to date with news about Web 2.0 social media and lawyers, with a particular focus on LinkedIn.

Besides Twellow, there are basically two lists of lawyers on Twitter -

1. 145 Lawyers (and Legal Professionals) to Follow on Twitter (now 502) and

2. BigLaw Lawyers on Twitter

After following many of these lawyers, and with the suggestion of Problogger I humbly submit my "Top Ten" Twitterers all lawyers should follow on Twitter.

There are many many more than 10 folks worthy of being followed on Twitter, so to create this list, I focused on my opinion of how good their "Tweets" are, rather than how great their blogs are, important their books are, how skilled these Tweeters are as lawyers, or how otherwise interesting they may be.

Are you Tweeting about having coffee? Are you providing followers Twitter updates about how you have finished writing a motion? Are you using Twitter as email that we call can see? You may not find yourself here.

The LinkedIn Lawyer's Ten People All Lawyers Should Follow on Twitter


1. @barrettdavid - The LinkedIn Lawyer; solid content and links in all Tweets mostly about social media with a few potential client referrals.

2. @kevinokeefe - CEO of LexBlog; always finding new boundaries to explore.

3. @JayFleischman - New York Bankruptcy Lawyer; who could make a CLE in bankruptcy law from his Tweets alone.

4. @SCartierLiebel - Creator of Solo Practice University; don't be fooled by her conversational Tweeting style as lawyers can learn loads from her Twittering.

5. @JDSupra - HotDocs are a constantly updated source of newsworthy legal documents, direct from the source; hard information you don't find other places.

6. @stevematthews - founder of Stem Legal; so much legal tech problem solving information here lawyers benefit by just taking a peek.

7. @bobambrogi - Lawyer, writer, consultant; an evangelist new media lawyers should believe and follow in detail.

8. @bentleytolk - practicing lawyer, consults to lawyers and future lawyers; Attorney Tolk shares great information and this is one from the BigLaw list that won't hurt your Twitter Grade as bad as the others.

9. @chrisbrogan - advises on how to use social media and social networking to build value; law practice is a business and lawyers can learn a lot from this non-lawyer social media pro.

10. @MIAMICRIMLAW - Miami Criminal and Bar Defense lawyer; shares both useful information and a great sense of humor.


Interested to learn more about Twitter for Lawyers? Spend some time with Nichole Black's Twitter 101 for Lawyers.



Monday, December 1, 2008

This Week's "Top Tweets" from The LinkedIn Lawyer

Twitter is a free and easy-to-use "micro-blogging" site that allows you to send and receive short updates from multiple users. David Barrett, The LinkedIn Lawyer is "Twittering" -- follow me here -- and keep up to date with news about Web 2.0 social media and lawyers, with a particular focus on LinkedIn.

Here are the "Top Tweets" from the last week (i.e. those which registered the most traffic as tracked with Tweetburner).

"Top Tweets"

Can Lawyers Afford to Ignore Social Media? http://twurl.nl/lsm4xl

Is Attorney Marketing on Social Media an Oversight Nightmare? http://twurl.nl/s2wj3a

LinkedIn: A Competitive Intelligence Tool http://twurl.nl/avts1q

Facebook for Lawyers 101 http://twurl.nl/uxlp77

Facebook for Lawyers? http://twurl.nl/ffqwvn

ABA Journal feature "Social Promotion" http://twurl.nl/fw4dro

RT: @bobambrogi LawSites blog: 10 Essential Podcasts for Lawyers http://twurl.nl/ulo8ex

Twellow Search for Lawyer http://twurl.nl/yn6ox0

Five Steps to Effective Law Firm Marketing Positioning http://twurl.nl/5v4u5c

RT: @kevinokeefe LinkedIn founder: People know they can Google you, so you have to be entrepreneurial with your own brand http://is.gd/9xCR

BigLaw Lawyers on Twitter http://twurl.nl/cyd1o8

Social Network Sites Only Work for Lawyers Who Work at Them http://twurl.nl/5hrkbu

The Value of Twitter http://twurl.nl/85ui7v

Find David Barrett on Twitter @barrettdavid



Use LinkedIn Answers to Interact with Potential Clients and In-House Counsel



Lawyers need to use LinkedIn to have it pay off for them. The ABA Journal notes that Social Network Sites Only Work for Lawyers Who Work at Them, and in addition to building connections or building recommendations, one way to work at LinkedIn is to participate in the Question and Answer sections. LinkedIn may not change your practice much if you merely set up a profile with a few connections with other folks around the office.

Steven Shimek talks about how interacting via the Questions and Answers feature on LinkedIn has helped him bring over $250,000 of new business to his public relations firm.

There are plenty of LinkedIn members seeking legal counsel as well, as you may find almost everyday in the Law and Legal Question and Answer section, and those that I work to post on Twitter. You can see some examples of these type of client inquiries in My Tweet Sixteen - http://twurl.nl/kmrdu4

What Is the Value of Social Media?



Come on Over to David Barrett's "House" and Join him on Facebook - http://twurl.nl/nfdttr You are now enjoying some "dip and chips."

Monday, November 24, 2008

Social Media Is...

Social Media Is...
View SlideShare presentation or Upload your own. (tags: socialmedia enterprise2.0)




Follow The LinkedIn Lawyer on Twitter

Twitter is a free and easy-to-use "micro-blogging" site that allows you to send and receive short updates from multiple users. David Barrett, The LinkedIn Lawyer is "Twittering" -- follow me here -- and keep up to date with news about Web 2.0 social media and lawyers, with a particular focus on LinkedIn.

Click the links below to browse some of The LinkedIn Lawyer's most popular "tweets" over the last few months.

"When you hire someone, you hire his or her network." http://twurl.nl/laq05x

The LinkedIn Lawyer makes the ABA Journal http://twurl.nl/gkyp28

Real Estate Lawyer Network on LinkedIn http://twurl.nl/we075w

Is LinkedIn a Better Lawyer Search than Google? http://twurl.nl/5jmqnw

LinkedIn Profile Extreme Makeover http://twurl.nl/5seopk

Who Do You Let In Your Professional Network? http://twurl.nl/g1fv4m

LinkedIn Leadership http://twurl.nl/pkenyu

RT: @kevinokeefe LinkedIn profile will (either) show you are a go getter (networking activity) or one that doesn't use innovative technology.

Twitter 101 for Lawyers http://twurl.nl/68oh4f

What does it mean to "own" a LinkedIn group? http://twurl.nl/bvl742

(tweet tweet) @degold007 Interesting: 50 percent of attorneys are members of online social networks. http://tinyurl.com/55gobu

Companies Believe Social Media Can Increase Revenue http://twurl.nl/05m0gg

LinkedIn member seeks Arlington, VA Construction Lawyer - http://twurl.nl/llhzi7

Create a Law Office Profile on LinkedIn - http://tinyurl.com/5q5qnm

Law and Legal Open Networkers on LinkedIn is over 670 members; build a professional legal network - http://twurl.nl/1w06zz

Largest Law Firms have Expanding LinkedIn Profiles http://twurl.nl/nnuhhg

Unleash Your LinkedIn Profile http://twurl.nl/g6havc

"All My Clients Come From Twitter" http://twurl.nl/2yqx8m

PR Lawyer shares More Ideas on Using LinkedIn http://twurl.nl/hz1gkx

Large Law Firms Begin Using LinkedIn Groups http://twurl.nl/08n2lt

LinkedIn should be a part of every lawyer's marketing mix - http://twurl.nl/d2kduw

Become a master brand using LinkedIn http://twurl.nl/lrcjpe

Twitter for Lawyers: Networking in 140 Characters or Less - http://twurl.nl/e3glis

Connect on LinkedIn http://twurl.nl/wkgkpq

(The LinkedIn Lawyer) is presenting at Mass. Bar Association's Online Networking for Attorneys seminar tonight http://twurl.nl/o0zrg0

You're No One If You're Not On Twitter http://twurl.nl/3fl1he

David Barrett is #11 of "145 lawyers to follow on Twitter" http://twurl.nl/yg3kn2

(The LinkedIn Lawyer) invites more lawyers to own groups in the MyLinkLaw Family http://twurl.nl/tr506k

Lawyers get LinkedIn on IPhone http://twurl.nl/7bxxrk

LinkedIn Lawyer Network Invitation http://twurl.nl/j3uxri

Here's a great LinkedIn resource - http://twurl.nl/abfutm

The LinkedIn Lawyer blogs on New LinkedIn Group Policy http://twurl.nl/2vz603

(tweet tweet) @ScottMonty Social Media for Dummies - great list of 50 resources, posts and tips http://snurl.com/6ehav

Tweeting Lawyers in the Forefront http://twurl.nl/o0qjju

Lawyers not on Twitter? http://twurl.nl/opc34a

LinkedIn's New Free Apps http://twurl.nl/rohigk

Audio Interview with The LinkedIn Lawyer http://twurl.nl/uty1gw

Build Dreams One LinkedIn Contact at a Time http://twurl.nl/mc43a5

100+ Smart Ways to Use LinkedIn http://twurl.nl/w1c3rs

LinkedIn Users Have High Financial Success http://twurl.nl/a0ruxu

How to Use LinkedIn ... for Lawyers - http://twurl.nl/3g332u

Lawyers Get Clients Using LinkedIn http://twurl.nl/f4tph4

Getting the Most Out of Your LinkedIn Connections http://twurl.nl/krnzzo

RT @mariosundar Elements of a Good LinkedIn Recommendation | chrisbrogan.com http://ff.im/4ech

Trial Lawyer Network on LinkedIn http://twurl.nl/5qf6d3

Join the World's Largest LinkedIn Lawyer Network - http://tinyurl.com/65mtv6



Saturday, November 22, 2008

Sunday, November 16, 2008

Is LinkedIn a Better Lawyer Search Than Google?

If you stop to think about the “history” of law firm business development for a minute, it could be basically broken down into two categories – adverts for those potential clients who don’t know any lawyers, and reputation or relationship-building for potential legal client referrals from other attorneys.

Online listings found through the search engine Google (either through paid listings or well planned website SEO) may help develop new leads in both of these categories, however lawyers seeking to refer a client to another lawyer with a particular area of expertise will likely not do merely a Google search. Most attorneys will refer to other attorneys in their firms, attorneys found through Martindale-Hubbell with a solid peer review rating, or well-recommended attorneys in their professional networks.

Now that the number of attorneys on LinkedIn has grown considerably, and LinkedIn has unveiled its new search platform it may be time to ask whether LinkedIn is a better business development tool for lawyers than Google.

Others have asked about the limits of the technical search specifications of Google but at issue here is whether the relationship-based nature of LinkedIn makes it a more effective legal client referral tool than a search of law firms purchasing the top listings on commercial search engines.

Most lawyers would likely agree that potential clients who are referred from another attorney are better leads than those who are merely calling a list of names (obtained from either the telephone book or from a computer search).

Further, the relationship-based nature of LinkedIn is the type of assistance potential clients likely desire when they approach an attorney they trust, even if that attorney practices in a specialty that is outside of the scope of the legal matter.

The relationship-based nature of LinkedIn may also be a significant asset for those with a considerable number of non-lawyer connections as well. If one is to search “Boston lawyer” on LinkedIn the search results are typically ordered by proximity of relationship – i.e. direct connections first, followed by second degree connections (connections of your connections), third degree connections, and those who belong to a shared LinkedIn group.

The more connections an attorney has, the more often that attorney would come up in such a search done by any of the connections seeking a lawyer, and adds support to the argument that more LinkedIn connections is a better situation than fewer LinkedIn connections.

As my current extended LinkedIn network approaches 14 million professionals, I hope that the concept that LinkedIn is better than Google catches on quickly not only for self-interested reasons, but because it makes sense.

I'm not the first person to hatch this idea, and the folks at ReadWriteWeb duly note the limits of this approach (best for early adopters, those with few connections have few search results). However as LinkedIn use grows among lawyers, those attorneys with responsibilities in business development would be remiss to ignore this likely trend.

Related Articles

How Search-Like Are Social Media Sites? http://twurl.nl/wep85q

I Did Not Get the Value of LinkedIn ... Do You Get It? - http://twurl.nl/updh67


For more content from David Barrett follow him on Twitter here.



Sunday, November 9, 2008

How Many Lawyers Use LinkedIn?

When LinkedIn guru Marc Freedman and I took a look at the number of lawyers in our networks, we found that many lawyers did not identify themselves under "law practice" or "legal services." Often a lawyer who was in-house counsel for a food manufacturer up would list themselves as a part of the "food services industry" and as such the true number of lawyers is difficult to calculate.

According to Steve Matthews, the number of lawyers on LinkedIn in June, 2008 was 216,000, which I would consider to be a very conservative estimate.

Saturday, November 8, 2008

Law.com Shares Tips to Build Your LinkedIn Profile

As we all work to figure out Web 2.0 for lawyers, it felt just a bit validating to read the article by Diana Rubin in Legal Times "Tips to Build Up Your LinkedIn Profile."

In the article "boosting connections" is considered a good thing (funny how this took a while to catch on), and group membership is suggested as a strategy to increase connections. The MyLinkLaw family of lawyer groups is not mentioned explicitly, but the MyLinkLaw groups have to be where more lawyers go to network with other lawyers, as just one of those approximately 96 lawyer networking groups can go toe to toe with "Happy Lawyers" or even "ABA Friends" in terms of membership.

I'm still not sure why it has taken lawyers so long to embrace the open networking philosophies of many of the top-linked members of other professions, but we seem to be catching on.

Kevin O'Keefe of LexBlog blogs that "LinkedIn for Lawyer Marketing Works Big Time" which from much anecdotal evidence is true. However, lawyers should not forget that LinkedIn works best for those with a solid marketing concept and plan happening already, and that putting up a free profile with thirty to sixty friends and family alone likely won't change your practice too much.

For more content from David Barrett follow him on Twitter here.

Tuesday, September 9, 2008

LinkedIn Unplugged - Help For Lawyers On The Way?

A very interesting discussion between Stan Relihan and Patrick Crane, VP Marketing & Advertising at LinkedIn can be found in an audio blog post at LinkedIn Unplugged.

Stan and Patrick discuss the growth of LinkedIn, and how business gets done through connections, contacts and opportunities both locally and in other parts of the world.

Patrick provides a brief history and touches on the future of LinkedIn, particularly new LinkedIn group functions. Patrick and LinkedIn plan to use LinkedIn staff to help business development people in fields such as law harness the inherent power of this online environment.

Sunday, August 24, 2008

Strategies for LinkedIn Group Limit Endgame

As lawyers who think of LinkedIn in terms of business development narrow down the groups to which they belong, they should consider the point raised by Bill Smith.

Bill Smith raises a good question by asking about how group membership results in being found in searches done by other members.

Membership in groups allows LinkedIn members to find members who are not direct connections in their "People Search" by keyword, and this may be a consideration as lawyers gradually leave enough LinkedIn groups to comply with the new group limit.

Simply put, is your membership in Law and Legal Open Networkers more about you meeting new desired contacts or is it about those contacts finding you!

Friday, August 22, 2008

LinkedIn Develops Application for IPhone

In addition to getting a no-frills LinkedIn member profile on the go, lawyers can interact with LinkedIn with this new application.

Daniel Toljaga explains that lawyers "can update your status messages on-the-go, e.g. “John Smith is reading Palluxo!” or whatever you feel like doing. Second, with the address book integration you can copy and migrate LinkedIn contacts to the contact list on your iPhone or iPod touch. And finally, you can save your search history and results to avoid unnecessary typing."

Mario Sundar of LinkedIn says "wow" and the most useful part of this application may be downloading connection contact information into the IPhone.

Thursday, August 21, 2008

LinkedIn Lawyer Networking Group Transition

Once the initial stages of grief have passed, the transition of LinkedIn group ownership of the 100 lawyer networking groups in the My Link Law family has been like dealing with a nudge down a path already taken.

Even before the change in LinkedIn group policy, I often had great co-chairs in the groups - often experts in the area of the law matching the particular group.

Now, changing the ownership of many of these groups seems perfectly natural. Matching the leaders in their profession with a large network of potential candidates has created groups with great potential, and with the My Link Law website the opportunities for expedited group selection and cross-membership remain.

Now we only look to LinkedIn as to what type of interaction the LinkedIn interface will offer in the future.

Wednesday, August 20, 2008

A LinkedIn Signature Box for Law Firm Information

Members can use LinkedIn to create a signature box
signature box that can be used on email that supports html.

Group Management? Group Ownership? What's Involved?

I enjoy getting group managers involved in my lawyer networking groups, as shared leadership of the group can have additional benefits.

Often I'm asked about what it really means to be a group manager. Generally, the commitment is very modest, and there is more information here.

"A Great LinkedIn Resource" Dallas Blue MyLinkWiki

Today's tweet "A Great LinkedIn Resource" (with this link) has been popular enough for reposting here.

Find a roundup of recent twitter activity including LinkedIn legal client referrals.

2,962 results found. Industry: Law Practice

If there was any doubt about the legal industry's involvement with LinkedIn, one can search "Companies" and look for "Law Practice."

This trend seems to match "word on the street" I often get about law companies' current practices regarding LinkedIn ... "yes we all got a memo today from headquarters asking us to get more involved with LinkedIn."

The LinkedIn Team on LinkedIn Group Limits and Restrictions

From: LinkedIn Team
Date: Mon, Aug 4, 2008
Subject: Changes to LinkedIn Groups

As an active member of LinkedIn Groups, we wanted to let you know about some changes we're putting in place in the coming weeks.

We are in the process of adding new functionality to enhance the experience of Groups, including the recent release of a searchable directory. We are also working with our development teams to bring new tools and widgets to this collaborative space throughout the rest of 2008.

We are also at this time making some changes to the user-created groups we host. These changes include adding a limit to the number of user-created groups any LinkedIn member may be part of at one time. Currently we are setting that limit at membership in 50 (fifty) user-created groups.

Please take the time before this limit goes into place on August 14, 2008, to choose which groups you would like to maintain. To remove yourself from a group, go to the My Groups page and click the word "Settings" next to the group you wish to leave. At the bottom of the settings page click the text "Leave this group."

We would appreciate it if you would please take this action within the next 10 days. If you would prefer, after 30 days we will automatically keep the first 50 groups that you joined and remove the rest.

If you would like assistance removing yourself from groups, or if you have any other questions, please contact us at http://linkedin.custhelp.com or groups@linkedin.com.

We apologize for the inconvenience this may cause you, but we hope you will continue to find value in LinkedIn and especially enjoy the new functionality of LinkedIn Groups that is coming soon.

Regards,
The LinkedIn team


ACTION REQUIRED: Group Limits

Dear David A.,
This is a follow-up to the email we sent on 8/4/08 regarding upcoming changes to LinkedIn Groups. Please note that your action is required by 9/12/08.

We regret to inform you that you have exceeded the limit of the number of groups you are allowed to be a member of. The limit, which applies to all users, is fifty (50) groups per user. We apologize that these limits were not in place earlier, but with upcoming enhancements to Groups, we are forced to put in these limits without exception. We're confident that these improvements to Groups, intended to spur communication and collaboration, will make the product more useful to you on a day-to-day basis.

We need to ask you to please get below the limit of 50 by leaving some of your groups. We have added a quick "Leave Group" link to the My Groups page for each of your groups. If you need assistance because you are significantly above 50 groups, customer support may be able to help streamline the process. Please email groups@linkedin.com for more information. Since this is a timely issue, we will prioritize any email with "Help Removing Groups" in the title until the deadline of 9/12/08.

If you do not take the required action by the deadline, we will automatically limit your membership to the first 50 groups you joined. We apologize for any inconvenience this causes you, but unfortunately we are unable able to maintain the current level of groups.

Regards,
The LinkedIn Team

Lawyer Social Networking "Not Just a Craze"

Tom Kane writes in Legal Marketing Blog that participating in social online media like LinkedIn may now be what it means to "be online."

Using LinkedIn for Voir Dire

R. David Donoghue of DLA Piper writes about "The Power and Danger of Using Social Networking Sites for Voir Dire" and reports that:

"It is no surprise that lawyers, either alone or assisted by jury consultants, research juror backgrounds, and use their research during voir dire and to inform their trial presentations, in particular opening and closing arguments.

Scratching the LinkedIn Surface

Lateral Attorney Report notes that "people are just beginning to mine the opportunities" of LinkedIn.

LinkedIn = Yellow Book + Relationships & Recommendations

Venture Beat focuses on how the Recommendation feature can be used when lawyer shopping: "If you are searching for an attorney, for example, no point going to the phone book. You can click on the “services” tab at LinkedIn, then select “attorney” and see if anyone in your network as recommended an attorney in the field you’re looking" to find.

According to Mashable Social Networking News, LinkedIn has been the new Yellow Pages since 2006.

Mark Brooks adds that "trust follows the channels of social networks."

Should You Send Viewers to LinkedIn and Away from Your "Money Page?"

Duo Consulting reexamines the question "Should you put a link to LinkedIn on a biography page of a law firm website?"

Another example of how the benefits in using LinkedIn outweigh the potential drawbacks.

Getting More out of LinkedIn.com

Arizona Attorney Marketing writes "I recommend that all of my clients join Linkedin.com ... I know a lawyer who picked up a case after just 5 days of being on Linkedin."

Tuesday, August 19, 2008

Martindale-Hubbell, LinkedIn and Online Networking

Martindale.com reports they have added LinkedIn connections within the attorney and law firm profiles, and that they are very excited to be working with LinkedIn.

Larry Bodine provides additional details and analysis on the collaboration.

Legal Watercooler includes a great conversation on the topic.

A Story of Capital Invested Wisely in LinkedIn

Placing Bets on Online Social Networking: A Story of Capital Invested Wisely in LinkedIn
By Renée Barrett

Strategically navigated, social networking can be an invaluable business development tool with limitless potential. But you have to give as well as get to grow your capital on these sites.

Skypecast Interview - Practicing Attorney: David Barrett and his use of LinkedIn

Practicing Attorney: David Barrett and his use of LinkedIn "The Skypecast Interview."

Linked Intelligence on Linkedin Lawyers

Linked Intelligence on Lawyers using Linkedin.

Robert Ambrogi's LawSites Notes The LinkedIn Lawyer

Boston lawyer media writer Robert J. Ambrogi covers this new and intriguing website opening and asks if a large lawyer network touches our inner child.

The LinkedIn and Twittering Lawyer

Law Librarian Blog provides a nice collection of recent news on the LinkedIn lawyering and Twitter lawyer marketing including news about The LinkedIn Lawyer.

Family Lawyer Reputation Damaged with False LinkedIn Profile

Today a after a quick look at my home page, a profile in my "people search" box (set to "lawyer") had a description that caught my eye -

"First Name Last Name"
Dishonest Lawyer at Unethical and Unprofessional Lawyer


I was unpleasantly surprised to read the profile -

Summary

This web page was established to show that "First Name Last Name" is a dishonest and unethical lawyer. She is under investigation by the State Bar for violations of the rules of ethics. "First Name Last Name" has lied in court documents and lied to a judge in court.

This web page was not created by "First Name Last Name", obviously.

Everything in this web page is true and correct. This web page was not established with the evil intent or malice. It is intended to be a public service to all.


I contacted the lawyer on the profile, as her photo and real name were used, and a link was provided to her law firm website.

She told me that the person who she believed put up the profile was a person who using this false profile as part of an ongoing campaign of online libel and harassment.

The harasser has falsely used the lawyer's name in order to get people to receive the connection, which is invasive of privacy and fraud. Further this harasser is defaming this lawyer with false information that there are State Bar investigations of her.

We are currently working with LinkedIn to have the profile removed.

Linkedin Learning Center - Attorneys

LinkedIn provides a nice summary for a few ways attorneys can use LinkedIn here in their "LinkedIn Learning Center."

This learning center may not be exhaustive, but it contains useful information for beginners.

Uproar About New LinkedIn Group Policy

The LinkedIn member uproar in response to the new group membership policy (see below) has been widespread, and reviewed widely. I frequently see twits and status updates complaining about the new policy.

As a LinkedIn member previously holding memberships in over 1300 groups, I can feel the pain expressed and well explained by Gary Pool as members are now working to comply with the new policy requirements by the deadline of September 15th. Gary's post is very informative and is a nice use of screen shots.

Chicago area estate planning attorney Laura McFarland-Taylor, Manager of the Estate Planning Lawyer Network group on LinkedIn, asks "why does LinkedIn want to limit the number of groups that you can join to 50? Will less popular groups be eliminated? Is the next step to limit the number of people you can connect with?"

Attorney McFarland-Taylor continues, "I’ve “met” a lot of interesting people through my various groups and I hated having to make the decision of which groups to leave. I created one group and manage another and I am not going to make an effort to create new groups, though I see a need in some areas, particularly in trademark and copyright law. I am definitely not spending as much time on LinkedIn – there’s no point spending time looking through people’s profiles for interesting groups or through the group directory since I can’t join additional groups."

Jason Alba blogs that he saw a huge storm brewing early. Despite the heavy handed way the policy was carried out, Alba believes "that more Group love is to come. It has to come, if you ask me, because Groups are far from functional. It’s funny to me that this has caused such a stir, considering there currently isn’t much value in joining Groups."

He of 27,000 LinkedIn connections - Super-networker Marc Freedman won the support of many when he articulated the recent outrage of many LinkedIn members with a long history of involvement on LinkedIn on Getsatisfaction.com

Marc notes that

"Respectfully this action by LinkedIn continues a long history of “improvements” that:
> remove features
> have no user input
> come with no information. There is no FAQ or forums for questions on this change.
> are poorly planned. We won’t provide your more info and you have a week to make changes or else.
> penalize innocent members
> show no respect to legitimate users’ time and energy by not grandfathering changes ..."

he continues and offers an alternative,

"I know of no established company, none as large as LinkedIn, and certainly none that are Web 2.0 and live and die based on user support that act in such a purely anti-user way.

It’s reasonable to:
> respond to user complaints
> set up a user-moderated forum for abuse
> improve your technology to set up a group application process and provide tools to group owners to facilitate better group management and reduce inappropriate memberships.

It’s poor practice to use the blunt instrument of limits that hurts users who have done nothing wrong."

Freedman further explains,

"... My world is no longer defined by real-world groups in my little town. It now includes my metro area, my country, the planet, and purely online communities. If I have an interest in 18th century coastal Chinese architecture or a specific product or web site, the Internet now enables me to find a group with like minded people. Just like this very site at getsatisfaction.com.

And many groups have several legitimate subgroups. My college has general, graduation year, and area of interest groups. Major cities have dozens of business and networking groups. I have literally hundreds of areas of interest.

There are dozens of legitimate career and job organizations, each of which offers me different programs, networkers, features, locations, discipline concentrations, etc. and so each gives me unique value."

There has been some defense of LinkedIn and even kudos to how LinkedIn has handled their response to the criticism. LinkedIn Director of Marketing Robert Leathern responds that "groups-related functionality is going to be an important part of LinkedIn's future."

Although The LinkedIn Lawyer is not pleased in a way, I have found the new policy to be an opportunity for improving my networking relationship with group members. The new policy has created the unanticipated networking activity of having to find a qualified member to pass along ownership of one or more of my 100 lawyer networking groups. Careful critics - it is really these human interactions, anticipated or not, created as a result of whatever website configurations there are that bring LinkedIn off of the laptop and into our real professional lives.

Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly Interview

David and Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly discuss common questions lawyers have about LinkedIn here.

Monday, August 4, 2008

Join Me on Facebook

David A. Barrett's Facebook profile

Facebook is a social networking website that has slight differences from LinkedIn.

I enjoy interacting with my LinkedIn connections on Facebook and getting to know them better and in a different way.

Monday, July 28, 2008

The LinkedIn Lawyer appears in Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly

On the newspaper weblog, The LinkedIn Lawyer is noted in a Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly article about the growing experience lawyers have with LinkedIn.

It is agreed that almost all lawyers have by now had some experience with an invitation to LinkedIn, Facebook or Plaxo from a colleague or a friend, if not a client or a business partner.

MLW indicates in the blogpost that LinkedIn found a business niche that will and has eased the apprehension lawyers have about MySpace and other social networking websites.

MLW may have it right, although I personally more often hear that LinkedIn has done more for lawyers than be the next interesting thing - that it has permanently transformed legal marketing.

For more content from David Barrett follow him on Twitter here.

Monday, July 21, 2008

I would like to join your group; my membership is pending approval

The LinkedIn group membership process is a new one for many lawyers.

After some of the initial steps around making the decision to join a LinkedIn group, one finds and effectively navigates the group description and invitation acceptance button.

A LinkedIn user then waits to gain admission to the group, and the instructions tell the user that they may contact the group moderator for admission to the group.

To new users just how "automated" this group moderator contact is unclear, and a message with the subject "I would like to join your group; my membership is pending approval" opens for use.

It is important to remember that this "I would like to join your group; my membership is pending approval" message is just a regular email message to the person who happens to be the moderator of the group you're looking to join.

As such, you can:

- modify your email subject line to improve your networking effectiveness
- explain your qualifications for group membership
- explain any gaps between a stated, logical or obvious connection to your membership in a group and your current job description
- communicate directly with the moderator

and you really should:

- help the moderator identify you - include all email addresses, give a brief about who you are and why you should be admitted to the group.
- note what group you want to join (moderators often moderate more than one group)
- send only one email if joining many of the groups moderated by one person, listing all group admission requests on one message.

Conversation with a Closed Networker

Conversation between a Closed Networker Lawyer (CLN) and David A. Barrett.

CLN to DAB: I saw your posting of the ABC LinkedIn Lawyer networking group on the ABC Lawyer Listserv, and I would like to join.

DAB to CLN: Welcome CLN. I often see your posts on the ABC Lawyer Listserv, and I am pleased to have you as a part of ABC LinkedIn Lawyer Networking group.
As such, I would like to invite you to connect to my LinkedIn Network.
We can connect here –
http://davidbarrett.mylinkinvitation.com

CLN to DAB: (no response)

….. days later ….

CLN to DAB: Hello DAB, I would like you to add me to the XYZ Lawyer Networking group.

DAB to CLN: Welcome CLN, and thank you for your membership in the XYZ Lawyer Networking group.

Would you be interested to co-chair the XYZ Lawyer Networking group?

CLN to DAB: Yes, I would love to co-chair the XYZ Lawyer Networking group. Please tell me how.

DAB to CLN: Great CLN, I’m pleased to work with you. Many group co-chairs have their name and profile link on the group description page. Once connected, I can add you as a manager of the group and I can turn your profile link into a tinyurl suitable for posting in the group description page.

We can connect here –
http://davidbarrett.mylinkinvitation.com

CLN to DAB: (no response)

… days later ….

CLN to DAB: Did you add me as co-chair of the group?

DAB to CLN: Hi CLN, I still have not received your invitation to connect.

CLN to DAB: I must have misunderstood what you meant by connect, and frankly, I find it somewhat offensive that you have conditioned my co-chairing a group with connecting so I’ll pass.

DAB to CLN: (no response)

… days later … .

CLN to DAB: Add me to the 123 Lawyer Networking group, pretty please.

DAB to CLN: I’m pleased to have you in the group CLN.

You know I'm working on a book chapter / course on LinkedIn for lawyers, and I'm just curious about your unwillingness to connect.

Is it that other lawyers could pilfer your clients out of your connections? Did you know that you can make your connections hidden from view?

If you had a chance and wouldn't mind telling me about your LinkedIn philosophy I would appreciate it.

Thank you.

DAB

CLN to DAB: I think networking groups work best if people know and approve (think recommend) of those in their network. Therefore adding just every stranger who somehow finds you and asks doesn’t make sense to me. These sites should be focused on quality, not quantity.

DAB to CLN: I can see that, and such is a commonly held view among folks who are not open networkers. There seems to be a continuum as to how open or how closed members networks are managed to be. I would respectfully put you at the far end of the spectrum on the closed network side, as your unwillingness to connect while co-chairing a group is certainly a closed network example that will make my publication (without identifying you of course).

The other side of the what works best (i.e. open/closed network) coin is that websites like LinkedIn provide opportunities for exposure of your profile, product or service and the wider the exposure the better. More connections and more group memberships allow other members to find an environmental lawyer by using the advanced search people function on the home page.

I respect our difference of opinion, but to me and many others the recommendations section of our profile is different than the connections aspect of our profile.

You may also maintain an open network and start a closed group of "inner circle" connections you know well who you contact on and off the LinkedIn site, thereby getting the benefits of a closed network of people one knows well, and the exposure an open network provides.

Nice to get to know you, and thanks for the chat.

CLN to DAB (no response).

… days later …

CLN to DAB I would like to join the 456 Lawyer Networking group ….

(This is a fictional “conversation” created by drawing upon numerous conversations with multiple people. Identifying characteristics may have been changed so as to not publish without authorization.)

Wednesday, July 16, 2008

Is LinkedIn Where Your Clients Get Stolen?

I have discussed the issue of lawyers connecting on LinkedIn where one lawyer had a personal network which included many client relationships.

Many lawyers are apprehensive to directly connect because of the potential that his clients will be raided by other aggressive legal business developers seeking to connect as "friends" on social media with developing rules.

If you know a lawyer who may be worried about this, it is possible to set your profile so that your connections can not see all of your direct connections, but can only your mutual connections (i.e. see LinkedIn profile of Barack Obama).

Have You Re-Named Yourself a LION?

It seems that many attorneys privately cringe a bit and publicly worry about the appearance some of the group membership linking techniques and LinkedIn shorthand used by open networker members in the "name" field in their profile (i.e. Chancellor Dewey, Esq. LION, TOPLINKED).

Close observers see other growing networkers turning their name into a type of code email address. This approach attempts to open information to others willing to send invites while mitigating any email collecting spambots (i.e. Chancellor LION Dewey DOT Esq. Lion COM) with a certain je ne sais crois.

Many successful LinkedIn Lawyers attempt to balance the advantages and disadvantages memberships and philosophies open networking groups offer.

TopLinked sells a "private" account for an enhanced fee to allow members and supporters to participate without putting the word "TopLinked" in their name or headline field.

LION groups often ask that such appear on the profile, and indeed many networkers intentionally put such as their "name" in an effort to actively grow their own directly connected network. But you might be able to get away with not filing a motion for name change for Chancellor LION by simply being a member in many of the LION groups and leaving the tag off the profile. TopLinked on the other hand seems to police this rather aggressively.

You can just act like a LION - basically communicate that you're open to meeting new LinkedIn connections and give the means to connect (put email address on your profile) without even joining the LIONS or INVITE ME or worse.

Just as an aside, I have seen LION denote both "LinkedIn Open Networkers" and "Leading International Open Networkers" and there are many other variants (LIONS 500, FOR ALL THOSE WHO NEED A LOT OF CONNECTIONS NOW, Open Networkers, Libertines, etc.) on these groups to create multiple similar opportunities.

I had my email address in my name field for some time, and found the new spam during that time to be pretty minimal. If you want to worry about avoiding spam - set up a new dedicated email address for your LinkedIn profile and watch your group membership.

Avalanche of Lawyers on LinkedIn

Lexblog Kevin O'Keefe blogs that the number of lawyers on LinkedIn is like an avalanche and that the largest law firms have expanding LinkedIn company profiles.

What is Your LinkedIn Connection Philosophy?

Are you an open networker?

We all have different philosophies about how we use LinkedIn, sometimes conscious philosophies and sometimes unconscious philosophies formed by our previous networking experiences.

As such, many of us fall on different areas of the spectrum from open to closed networkers.

"Open Networkers" go by many monikers on LinkedIn (i.e. LIONs, members of TopLinked, LinkedIn Open Networkers, Libertines, Leading International Open Networkers, to name a few) but basically members with this approach want to network with as many LinkedIn professionals as possible.

More On Directly Connecting for Legal Referrals

Why do direct connections better enable legal client referrals?

Please let me provide you one example.

Say for example I see a question in the Law and Legal section (as I often do) in which a member is seeking a referral to lawyer ... let's say a medical malpractice lawyer in the New York City area.

I first look to my Medical Malpractice Lawyers group on LinkedIn (as I don't have the time to search all of my connections), and search through the group members for those in the New York City area. Chances are that I will find two directly connected lawyers and two members of the group who otherwise would be a match but are not directly connected.

With this information, I go back to the question in order to provide an answer and to complete the legal referral.

However, I can only suggest you as an expert if we directly connect.

If we are already directly connected, I encourage you to take one benefit your legal networking group membership provides - using your shared group membership to invite other lawyers or referral sources to directly connect to you.

The Personal QuickLink Invitation

I would strongly recommend a Personal Quick Link Invitation for LinkedIn Lawyers.

As Lonny Guilden explains on the Quick Link signup website, many members find Quick Link useful only after our standard allotment of LinkedIn invitations (typically 3000) has run out.

However, I would advise that new LinkedIn users get a Quick Link right away. LinkedIn invitations are a valuable and quickly expended commodity, and as such they should be saved and protected. A Quick Link can be used much like an invitation, but is sent via email.

One of the hurdles networking lawyers need to overcome is the LinkedIn skills of their fellow lawyers. Using LinkedIn invitations only when absolutely necessary saves invitations for when a ease of online media use is critical for connecting. Many lawyers are not familiar with LinkedIn, and using a LinkedIn invitation may enable that lawyer to connect.

Why Create LinkedIn Groups?

LinkedIn groups are used differently by members, but many of them help to fill a networking need or void of a vehicle to allow members with a commonality to join together.

Networkers can often "feel" the need for a new group by building connections individually, and getting a lot of positive feedback from the individuals involved.

When the group muse strikes - answer her!

"LinkedIn Legal Client" Referrals

Recently, my "what are you working on" mentioned a suggestion to lawyers that connecting directly best enables LinkedIn legal client referrals.

A survey of the questions in the law and legal question and answer section will find many members seeking legal services right on LinkedIn, and simply asking something like "hey who knows a Shark Attack Business Lawyer in Boston?"

If another member knows such a lawyer, they can answer the question and by using your direct connection - provide a direct link on the answer to your LinkedIn profile.

2's and 3's just aren't in reach of the LinkedIn webpage used to answer questions and suggest experts.

Was it Good for You????? (psst. send a note)

Don't just connect - even if you're busy send a note.

After your connection let LinkedIn return you to a page where you may quickly link to an internal LinkedIn message system, and send a brief note or introduction.

Be Careful - Connecting as a "Colleague"

As you are building your networks, be careful about LinkedIn's own narrow definition of colleague.

If you haven't worked for the same employer, the colleague invitation is a bad match for you. If your invitation is accepted, your new connection will face a screen asking for information about her "new position" at your company, as the narrow definition assumes your company corner offices shared a view.

This error style screen makes your new connection unsettled .... "did I screw up ... did he screw this thing up for me ..." and causes unnecessary confusion.

Using a shared group membership or a member's email address (first choose "other" in order to get to the email address prompt) is a better means of actually connecting on LinkedIn.

Why Do Attorneys Fail to Include Contact Information on Their Profile?

Why?

Tuesday, July 15, 2008

"The World's Largest LinkedIn Lawyer Network"

Working together with Toplinked #9 on LinkedIn Marc Freedman (25,000+ direct connections) helped me to understand that I was near the top of the list for most connections "law practice" on LinkedIn.

I believe Marty Rudoy is currently the most-connected "law practice" member of LinkedIn at 3500, and I have an email in to Attorney Rudoy to confirm this.

However, "The World's Largest LinkedIn Lawyer Network" is a separate analysis entirely.

"The World's Largest LinkedIn Lawyer Network" refers to how many lawyers are in my personal, directly connected network which currently consists of 3400+ members and 1450+ lawyers.

Why Join 1300 LinkedIn Groups?

Many LinkedIn groups allow members to network with professionals of other occupations than themselves as there may be a business or personal relationship among them.

Many members seek out potential connections or appropriate professionals using an approach that begins with members of a particular group, so people can search you better.

Group membership allows a vehicle for two LinkedIn members to connect, should it occur that other contact information is not available on the member profile.

Legal Networking Groups at MyLinkLaw.com

Working together Marc Freedman and David A. Barrett have created the largest online collection of lawyer networking groups on LinkedIn at http://MyLinkLaw.com

Group Search on LinkedIn

This week LinkedIn added the long desired group search feature.

Group searches now allows LinkedIn members to find appropriate networking groups more easily, as members can utilize a "Google-like" keyword search (within their extended networks only).

Previously members had only good chance or the work of individually searching out the details of other professionals' LinkedIn profiles just in order to find existing and appropriate networking groups.

Jason Bailes LinkedIn group search using Google custom search is still useful, and skilled users would use both to keep up to date.

The great part about the official LinkedIn group search is that group membership seems to have drastically increased. Lawyers are not only joining legal networking groups, but they are using them to enhance many of the great features of LinkedIn.

Invitation to Connect on LinkedIn

I would like to invite you to directly connect on LinkedIn -

http://davidbarrett.mylinkinvitation.com

Best,

David A. Barrett, Esq.
Boston, Massachusetts