Comments for Law Office of Bruce Godfrey

Comment on Law Office of Bruce Godfrey Update 10 May 2012 by Richard Amplus

Richard Amplus — Fri, 11 May 2012 22:51:29 +0000

“I am naturally no organizer at all”–what a selling point for you as an attorney! That’s what I’m looking for in an lawyer, one who, by his own admission, is naturally disorganized. Way to go, Bruce!

Comment on Open Letter to National Organization for Marriage Requesting Boycott of Law Office of Bruce Godfrey by Bob Luttman

Bob Luttman — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 22:20:30 +0000

Great idea! I am doing the same damn thing. I urge everyone else to do the same damn thing. Why wait for their hate to catch up to you? It could take years to get on their list. I can’t wait, so I am also volunteering.

Comment on Open Letter to National Organization for Marriage Requesting Boycott of Law Office of Bruce Godfrey by Martha Teitelbaum

Martha Teitelbaum — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 21:04:03 +0000

Love the letter! I’m a straight woman, married for almost 35 years, and I’ve never understood how gay marriage is a threat to my marriage or anyone’s.
When we need a lawyer, we’ll be looking at your office.

Comment on Open Letter to National Organization for Marriage Requesting Boycott of Law Office of Bruce Godfrey by Tom Wheaton

Tom Wheaton — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 13:00:31 +0000

THANK YOU!

This is brilliant.

On behalf of my (same-sex) spouse of 13-plus years–legally married to me since 2004, I thank you as well.

I hope someday I get the opportunity to have NOM boycott me, too!

Tom Wheaton
Boston, MA

Comment on 2nd Annual “Don’t Get a St. Patrick’s Day DUI” Rant by Sunday Stilwell

Sunday Stilwell — Sat, 17 Mar 2012 10:31:47 +0000

LOVE this post Bruce. I remember when Nancy and her family were killed and it broke my heart. As you may remember my grandmother was killed by a drunk driver. Because of that persons recklessness I never got to meet her.

I will gladly share this post via social media. It is a very important lesson in doing the right thing.

Comment on Can a law student market herself to “future clients” while not licensed? by Jared Correia

Jared Correia — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 20:57:17 +0000

Thanks, Bruce. I think we’re aiming for the same ends for law students/new attorneys, even if I am a tad more aggressive :).

Have a nice weekend.

Comment on Can a law student market herself to “future clients” while not licensed? by Bruce Godfrey

Bruce Godfrey — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 18:39:13 +0000

Jared, thank you for your reply and my best to you and LOMAP. I hope you are right about the ethical standards of the next generation.

You are of course absolutely right that it is up to the law student to police her own ethical compliance (and statutory compliance with criminal law, I’d add.) It’s not a cop-out.

Comment on Can a law student market herself to “future clients” while not licensed? by Jared Correia

Jared Correia — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 18:17:23 +0000

Bruce, this is a good extension position, to a point. And, you’re right, law students are not marketing as lawyers to clients; they can’t. I address this point, and related points, myself, in a parenthetical aside included within the post, which parenthetical aside you have not cut here. However, I, too, don’t think it is somehow wrong or dangerous for law students to market themselves as future lawyers for future clients, as you grant. Neither the law students nor potential clients can act on any of that, of course, in the short-term; but, for law students, in a legal environment that gets more and more competitive each year, creating a brand that potential referral sources and potential clients will remember, when/if the time comes for a retention discussion to take place, just makes good business sense. As to your point of law students acting outside of the accepted ethics canon, I would add that most of the law students/young lawyers I talk to are far more cautious about these matters than veteran attorneys.

Please also note that the segment of text here has been edited (not in answer to this post) for clarity, since you have posted it here.

The economic reality is that law students need to start branding themselves while they are still in school for purposes of finding a job, or building a reputation upon which to create a solo, or small firm, practice, which can be done without running afoul of ethics requirements. Neither is it inconceivable that the law student, when he/she becomes an attorney, will take as a client someone who has followed his/her web presence through law school and graduation and bar passage and sweating-in.

My intention is as I have stated it in the post, and clarified it here. In any event, it is up to the law student to determine whether specific marketing efforts would be in violation of ethics rules. While that may sounds like a cop-out, I can’t answer for every potential scenario; and, in the end, people rise and fall by their own actions.

Comment on Can a law student market herself to “future clients” while not licensed? by Bruce Godfrey

Bruce Godfrey — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 17:41:33 +0000

Allison thanks for dropping in and for your thoughtful comment. I love your blog’s style points! Best to you. BG

Comment on Can a law student market herself to “future clients” while not licensed? by Alison Monahan

Alison Monahan — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 17:37:48 +0000

Great point, and one prospective law student bloggers would do well to keep in mind. Hopefully their schools have made it clear they can’t offer any legal advice until they’re members of the bar, but it’s always good to be reminded of that fact!

That being said, I don’t see real problems with blog posts talking about what’s going on in school, interesting things they’ve read, etc.

But I would suggest a “this is NOT legal advice” disclaimer!