I have a real-life success story with Twitter: I actually called a lawyer that I met on Twitter to discuss a legal issue. Really.

The back story: @kentnewsome and I go back a ways. He, along with another partner, were the final word on all web decisions. After a few years, he decided to leave the firm for greener pastures.

Fast forward a couple of years.

I am bouncing around on Twitter, look at friends and followers. Who do I spot but @kentnewsome. Of course, we hook up. We tweet back and forth, I write a post about his technology blog, he updates me on his kids.

Then trouble hits.

As some of you may know, I am in the midst of buying a house. My first house. A custom-built house. Of course, as many of you more experienced home-buyers may know, pandemonium strikes: questions arise, trust is tested, integrity is challenged.

I need a real estate lawyer!

I am unsure if my issue merits hiring an attorney. So I need to talk to someone that I can trust to give me a fair assessment of my real estate issue.

Ah-ha! I remember that @kentnewsome is a real estate lawyer. And not just any real estate lawyer, but the head of the real estate department at a well-respected law firm. And not just the head of the real estate department but someone that I trust to have sound judgment and integrity.

So I call @kentnewsome. He was ever so kind to me. He allayed my fears, gave me reasonable legal advice and a common-sense solution.

So, you see, Twitter can lead to real legal business.

Its just in this case, @kentnewsome was kind enough to give me some free advice.

By the way, it’s all good. I’m getting the house 🙂