I was flipping through my RSS feeds earlier this week when I came across an article that discussed some of the Historical Google Maps Mashups. It was intriguing to see how something as modern as Google Maps could benefit from images of the past by using historical mashups like HistoryPin. It created a new layer of importance not only for Google Maps, but also brought relevance of an artifact to light in a way that compares the past to the present. As I sat there reading the review, and scanning through some of the images, I got to thinking about another way that mashing up two loosely related pieces of data could make for a new way of looking at each piece. Of course, being a legal researcher, I immediate started wondering if it would be possible to combine case law references to specific locations and Google Maps. Could we create a ‘legal history pin’?

As with the historical pictures, imagine being able to link out from a case you are researching directly to a map showing that location, and the surrounding area. Or, imagine doing this in reverse… looking at a map and seeing links to cases that discuss the location. I’m not sure if there is a significant legal usage for such a linking of two pieces of distinct information, but it sure sounds like it would be fun trying.

I brought this idea up with Ed Walters of Fastcase and we had an interesting discussion (or as Ed called it, “a geeky discussion”) of this type of Legal “Goggles” version of location, cases and history. How cool would it be to see references to case law as you are walking along the avenue? Ed specifically mentioned a Washington DC building with a significant legal history, so I thought I’d just randomly pick a location and see how a mashup might work.

Let’s say you’re looking at a map of N. Western Ave. in Chicago, or even better, let’s say you’ve pulled up your Google Maps app on your mobile device while walking along the 300 block of N. Western Ave. You see a building that’s boarded up, but when you mash it up with legal history, you can see some of the history that lives in that building. A pin would show up on the map and you now see that it was the old Jewel Paint and Varnish Company, and you get a link to read about the case involving this building.

It’s probably a stretch to show how this would have any significant legal usage, but who says that cases should be limited to the courthouse? Just as the pictures of a bygone era help bring old data and new data together, so could the ability to link physical locations to the legal information available about that location. As an architect, historian or genealogist, it would seem that adding legal details to a location might connect them with pieces of information they may not have otherwise uncovered. Such as the obituary of the owner of Jewel Paint and Varnish Company in 1997.

At a minimum, it would be cool to be able to stand in a location and pull up legal references related to that spot. Who knows… perhaps viewing this type of information in a whole new way might bring out new legal arguments on present legal matters.

I’ve been playing with the free iPad App called Curator HD over the past couple of weeks, and have really enjoyed using it as my Google Reader interface for the iPad. I’ve used the generic Google Reader iPad web page in the past, or even used apps like Flipboard to look at my feeds (via some fancy Twitter forwarding), but the Curator HD app is so much better for viewing the feeds, and sharing items with others. The sharing covers the usual suspects (Twitter, Facebook, email, etc), but the sharing via a Newsletter option is something that I think is a great feature of this app.

The Newsletter option allows you to build newsletters, on the fly, and distribute that newsletter to others via email. In addition to forwarding the newsletter, Curator HD allows you to add comments, add your personal branding image to the header logo of the newsletter, plus add images to the individual stories within the newsletter. Here’s a video that covers many of the features that are available simply through the free app and your Google Reader feed.

The company behind Curator HD is Infongen. Infongen produces a high-end news feed and search service that is marketed to businesses, and more recently they have entered the law firm market as a competitive intelligence / business development resource. If your company or firm subscribes to Infongen, then you can also add in all those wonderful searches or feeds set up in Infongen. However, even without the professional Infongen tool, the Curator HD app is definitely worth a look if you want an easy way to view your Google Reader feeds on the iPad, and like to share what you read with others.

I just read a nifty little post by Amanda Neville, founder of Thinkso Marketing Agency, called “Quiz: Is It Time to Update Your Website?”.

I don’t know about you, but I love online quizzes. Maybe because they are a) short, or b) they make me feel smart, or c) I’m just a geek. (I think that the right answer is “c”, but I’m not sure. Maybe I should add “d) all of the above”?).

Anyways, I digress.

So here is my Law Firm version:

  • Is posting an item to your web site call for an act from Congress?: Do you have a web content management system or are you relying on your web developer to hand-code your news for you? If you don’t understand a word I just wrote in that last sentence, the answer is probably Yes.
  • Can people register online for your events and/or downloads? Or are your web site visitors having to hand copy an e-mail address and open a new window to send, then you have a problem and the answer is Yes.
  • Once people are registered for your events, does your secretary have then generate a word document of the attendees? Shame on you. At the least, she should be putting them in an Excel spreadsheet. You are Signori Negatori.
  • Is the first piece of navigation on your web site point to the Law Firm’s About Us page? Add five points to your total score. The site visitor does not want to read your 100-year history; he probably just wants your tax attorney’s phone number–after all, it is tax season. You are going down, buster.
  • Does your site have a flash introduction page? You need to pull it down now. It bugs everyone and no one is watching it anymore. Besides that, iPads can’t read it. Add another tic mark next to Yes.
  • Is your web site home page made up of one big fat image? This is the reason that your site isn’t making it on any search results. For the sake of search engine optimization, get rid of the bulky images. Another big, fat Yes.

If you answer Yes to more than 2 questions, you really do need to update your law firm web site.

As a corollary to the profitability series, this post tackles the need for KM to be tied to profitability in a law firm. Otherwise it becomes KM for the sake of KM. Ron Friedmann’s recent post on KM Reincarnated combined with some recent evaluations of Legal Project Management (LPM) software got me thinking about this idea. It took me back to the introduction of CRM software to law firms. As firms embraced marketing, CRM software was pitched as an answer to the challenge of growing the business. Demos showed how lawyers could easily see “who knows whom” when pitching new work and making new relationships. This would tell them all of the connections they already have with a new contact, including schools attended and common acquaintances. The expected result would be more business in the door. Thus a supposed connection to profitability. The problem CRM systems faced in practice was the dependence on three critical things: 1) The right data was capture, 2) The data was of sufficient quality, and most importantly, 3) That lawyers would change their behavior to suit the system, both in sharing this data and then utilizing it for business development. CRM has generally failed in this promise. The data for most firms’ CRM systems is very incomplete and typically not current. As well, lawyers don’t look to the CRM system for business development opportunities. Instead, these systems are used as marketing databases. They have value, but not the value initially assumed by firms. I think LPM and related KM systems are in danger of falling into the same trap. Legal KM appears to be desperate to find meaning in a fast changing environment and as a consequence may be hooking its wagon up to LPM (and AFAs). So when LPM software is pitched as a way for firms to differentiate, get and retain clients and be more profitable, it’s time to put on your reality glasses and ask if the same or similar three CRM questions apply. To illustrate this point, many LPM systems are seen as a way to improve profit margins via efficiencies gained. In prior posts I have discussed how LPM will only be as successful as the plans it uses. But where will these plans come from? Past billings do not have the type and quality of data necessary to generate reasonable plans (i.e. good L codes), which fails CRM questions #1 and #2. So instead, LPM will be dependent on lawyers taking the time to develop detailed plans for each of their matters. These plans will take significant non-billable time to develop and will require partner level experience to build (CRM #3). And what is the reward for the partners that do this? The presumption is it will bring more business in the door by differentiating your firm. But I would suggest software doesn’t get business – partners do. Just as our expectations that an actual business development system would bring in business were misguided, so are expectations that project management software will somehow do the same. LPM systems may well have value, but it’s not getting more business and they won’t impact profitability unless they solve the same three challenges CRM faced. So when you look at these and other next generation KM systems, make sure you are using them to solve the right problems. Otherwise you will be back to buying a marketing database, expecting it to be a CRM system.

Hat tip to Scott Cone for pointing out this article on Top 10 Online Advertising Trends Of The Decade. It caught my eye since it was taking a longer term look at trends (versus just one year), revealing the more powerful shifts in the market. The trends are generally what you might expect, however the author gives great insights to the impact of each trend. For instance, the emergence of vertical ad networks is creating more powerful branding and audience targeting opportunities. What really struck me about these trends is the legal profession’s almost complete lack of use and/or understanding of them. We’re still arguing about the ethics of social media marketing. By the time we figure the ethics angle out, this boat will have long ago sailed. Admittedly, some of these trends have far greater relevance for consumer marketing (B to C). But still, law firms should at least be getting one or two of them. I suppose there’s an argument that lawyers are embracing the Video component (#8). But even then, only in a limited fashion and not in the viral way that brings the most ROI (see this great example). This is yet one more significant challenge for law firms looking to succeed in a competitive marketplace. My optimism continues to fade.


There are moments in the life of every Information Technologist when you wonder, maybe only to yourself, silently, why do I care so much? And yet you do. And the next question is, am I doing the right thing? In the right way? Is there a better way? It’s a slippery slope and it’s hard to stop the questions. I recently found myself in such a question-mire, so I did what I do when I need to make sense of something that has confounded me. I wrote about it. This time it took the form of a story or fable, a metaphor in search of context. I don’t know what it means, but I felt better having written it down. I hope you’ll permit me a fictional diversion at the end of the week.

The Plateau
I am a lifeguard on the Plateau of Relevance. Every day I sit perched on a chair at the edge, my back to the abyss, scanning the herd of suits that grazes silently before me. In the distance, the Foothills of Progress give way to the snow capped Peaks of Success, and I often daydream about standing in that snow, and looking back at my little wooden chair. But still I sit, for I have a job to do.
Once in a while something spooks the herd and one or more of the suits takes off at a gallop. If they head toward the edge, it’s my job to stop them before they plunge into the abyss. I’m not alone in my endeavor. To my right, about a half mile away, my colleague Henry sits reading a magazine. I pull out my little mirror and flash Henry a couple of times. He looks up and flashes back. He’s ok. Nothing to report. He goes back to reading. I look to my left where James, a half mile in the other direction, lies sleeping beside his chair. I flash the mirror, but no response, so I pick up my bag and begin to dig through it. My lunch, half eaten. A novel I just can’t get into. Last week’s paperwork that I really should finish, but… Flashing. I look up. Henry is waving his mirror wildly and pointing to the herd.
I see her immediately and she’s already at full speed, swinging her briefcase as she runs straight for the edge. I drop my bag and I’m off, gauging my vector and adjusting as I go. I’m always amazed that a suit in heels, a skirt, and pearls can possibly run so fast. I’m in shorts and sneakers and I can barely catch up. Henry waves as if to say, “You got this one? OK.”, then he goes back to reading his magazine. Lazy punk. That’s all right. I’ll get to her. I’ve got just enough time. Out of the corner of my eye, though, I notice ten more heading my way….maybe twenty. This could be a stampede, but I can’t worry about that now. I’ve committed to saving this one suit and that’s all I’m focused on. I reach her just as she steps off the edge. I grab her arm and we crash to the ground. She dangles over the side as her briefcase falls into the clouds below and disappears. “Hold on!”, I yell. I can hear the footfalls of the herd getting closer and soon, shoes on my back, and head, and they just keep coming. 20, 30, 50, it seems there’s no end. They’re piling over each other and tumbling off the side. I watch as they spin and flip through the air and eventually disappear beneath the clouds. I may lose the whole herd this time, but I refuse to lose the one I’ve got in my hand. I squeeze harder and I can feel her hand slipping. I yell again, “Hold on!”, but it’s no use. She doesn’t want to be saved. She looks up at me and says softly, “Let me go.” And it doesn’t matter, because I can’t hold her anyway. She slips from my hand and I watch in horror as she plummets through the clouds and out of sight.
I lie there for a moment, staring into the chasm, allowing myself to feel the loss. Why am I here? What good am I doing? What is the point of all this? I can feel rocks digging into my chest, there is dirt in my teeth, and at this moment, more than ever before, I long to lie in the snow and look to the sky. I stand up and brush myself off. I’m bruised and battered, but most of the herd is still behind me, grazing the plateau, and I’m relieved. I could not have lost more than a dozen. Not good, but not the total loss I feared. Hundreds of thousands of suits remain, grazing, oblivious to the carnage that just occurred. I limp over to the nearest suit. He’s reading his Blackberry.
“Why are you so close?”, I ask.
“Huh?”, he says looking up.
“Why are you all so close to the edge?”, I reiterate.
“Edge?”, he says obliviously.
I give up and walk back to my chair. The suit goes back to his Blackberry and dissolves into the herd.
The snow is foremost in my thoughts now. I look to the peaks. I’ve never been there. I’ve never even seriously considered the trip. After all, who will do my job? But now, I can think of nothing else. I look to Henry and give a flash. He flashes back and waves. I flash James, but he’s still asleep. I grab my bag and start walking through the herd. Surely the agency will replace me, right? But what difference does it make? If I can’t save them, who can? I pass a young suit, a 9 or 10 year old boy, in a blue blazer and khakis. He’s sitting on a large rock, playing a game on his phone and as I pass, he looks up and says, “Hey mister! Where ya going?”
“The mountains”, I say, slightly startled by the words, having never heard myself speak them aloud before. “You wanna go?”
He shrugs, then stands and walks beside me. We walk together toward the setting sun. I look back over my shoulder and see that a large portion of the herd is following us at a safe distance. I smile. I didn’t expect that, and it makes me happy. My companion reaches up and takes my hand. I am filled with wonder and possibility as we start our journey. I look down at the boy, prepared to tell him about the snow on the peaks, about the pass we’re going to take through the foothills, about the obstacles we will have to overcome. I hope that he will share my excitement in anticipation of the journey ahead, but he is occupied. The glow of his phone screen lights his face and he’s absorbed in his task.
“Gng 2 mnts”, he types and hits send.
Yes we are, and that is good enough for now.

In the series on law firm profitability, the clients weren’t directly addressed. As law firms struggle to adapt to a profit margin business model, what will the impact be on how much clients pay and on the quality of services they receive?

We explored two basic methods for lowering the cost of delivery of legal services, which can obviously impact the fees clients pay and the quality of their service. We’ll tackle these methods much like we did from the law firm perspective.
Fewer Hours
First up is finding ways to use fewer hours to provide the same service. This included the use of LPM and process improvement and innovation. The value of LPM to clients, in my opinion, is more about consistency than savings. Having well-defined plans up-front, means more consistent execution and quality of service. Or in other words – standardization equals quality. Fewer things fall through the cracks, when you have a plan to avoid them. An added benefit of LPM is the potential for savings. Just having a thought-out plan can eliminate some unnecessary tasks that would have been done otherwise.
Process improvement has significant potential for benefiting clients – just like it does for law firms. By attacking the plans and processes generated by LPM with an eye towards reducing hours and costs, firms will be indirectly attacking the cost to clients. Every hour reduced is an opening to reduce the costs to clients. And just as importantly, process improvement can maintain and improve quality of service (provided it is done well).
Cheaper Hours
Lowering the cost of service per hour can benefit clients as well. We have 3 options under this heading. First off – new staffing models mean lower cost per hour on comp. Essentially this means giving work to staff attorneys instead of more expensive associates. Staff attorneys will have lower costs and may have lower rates. So the savings to clients in an hourly arrangement will depend on the staff lawyer rates relative to associates’. Typically these rates are lower since most firms base rates loosely on comp. So the savings to firms would be passed on in part along to the client.
Next up is leverage. From our last post, we saw the benchmark of 1% of leverage improvement resulting in about a 1% improvement of law firm profit. Using those same metrics, 1% improvement of leverage results in .6% to .7% savings to a client. Caveats:

  1. This is just a benchmark and will differ based on different firms and practices. 
  2. The metrics are derived with an hourly billing model. 

Even though this is benchmark data, I am guessing the same sort of split between law firm gains and client gains would apply to other fee arrangements and other cost reduction efforts. The difference between the law firm gain and the client gain is a reflection of the ‘Rule of Three’ aspect of law firm economics.

Lastly we have the reduction of firm overhead costs as a means of lowering cost per hour. By driving down a firm’s overall overhead numbers, the cost per hour worked goes down. In this scenario I don’t see the client benefiting.

  1. Major reductions in overhead only bring modest reductions in cost per hour. 
  2. By reducing the amount of resources available to the lawyers, their productivity goes down. 

I haven’t seen any metrics that describe this yet, however, the likely outcome is an increase in the number of hours required to perform the same tasks. One obviously example is lawyers having to perform work they used to give to secretaries. So reductions in overhead for firms probably don’t benefit clients and may well drive their costs up.

Bottom-line: almost all of the efforts described that will improve law firm profitably, will also lower costs for clients, or at least create the opportunity from them to be lower. Additionally they have the ability to maintain or improve quality via standardization and tighter management of tasks and processes.
The one exception is the reduction of firm overhead costs. This effort has the least potential for positively impacting clients and actually may hurt them. Currently it is the primary effort firms have been making and continue to make.
My advice to clients:

  1. Understand the impact of each of these efforts and change your behavior to drive their adoption within the firms you use. 
  2. Pay attention to which ones your law firms employ.

We’ve all been there: you’ve got a fantastic idea that you know is going to save your law firm a bundle of bucks but it may take some buy-in from your law firm leadership.

I know that a couple of us know that scenario from the marketing side: having to respond to RFPs from clients. We probably all have used some sort of proposal software, written the proverbial “About Us” page and passed it on to a partner to deliver to a potential client.

But just how do you sell your own lawyers on investing in their own firm? Well, according to Steve Tobak, coach to technology CEOs, you’ve got to learn to tell a better story.

First, know your audience. For me that means figuring out what kind of learner the lawyer is: do they do better with words, visuals or numbers? Are they analytical, big picture, or intuitive?

Next, tell the attorney:

  1. why should he should care
  2. what’s in it for him, and 
  3. what’s the criteria for determining whether is this a good idea or not.

Now that’s the set-up for your story.

Tobak says if you can satisfy all three of these criteria, especially the last one, you are half-way there.

Now, the story itself.

In your situation, you are trying to get the lawyer to buy in to a new business process, new software, a new something. So you have to tell them a story about how this new system has worked in another law firm or department, with tremendous success.

For example, I like to tell the story about how my social media efforts led to new relationships with several new contacts in my industry and have developed into full-blown working relationships.

Tobak then talks about delivery, or what I would call personality. Be friendly, confident, loose. Don’t over-work the request with charts, stats and slide presentations (I tend to do this, so do what I say and not what I do!).

Then, at the end, don’t forget to close the deal. Now this can be hard because you’ve got to get them to make a commitment. So you need to decide what you want them to decide. Do you want a new color printer?

Then ask for it.

But do give the lawyer an out, or at least, some leeway. You don’t want to make the lawyer feel like a heal for turning you down–you still have to work with the guy and you want to be able to go back to him. And make sure and ask when you can ask again.

So, in the end, telling a story isn’t about spinning something out of whole cloth. Instead, it is a strategy that takes careful planning.

We’ve all got our heroes…Mom, Dad, or a teacher in High School are traditional ones, but how about in your profession? Who are the heroes in your profession that have changed how you look at your profession? Perhaps it isn’t even a person, but maybe some event or act from a group of people that makes you proud to call your self a professional. This week we have a number of perspectives… even one from a professional musician… about the heroes we look up to in our profession.

I should have known that this is the 666th post from this blog as soon as I woke up this morning to find what my friends wrote about me… apparently, there were some emails flying around last night which I wasn’t included!!

Enjoy the different perspectives, and forgive the love-fest that I received toward the end.

Also, don’t forget that these Elephant Posts are meant to be a public forum, and we all really want to read different perspectives. Scroll down to the bottom to read next week’s question and follow the instructions on how you can contribute your perspective.

Legal Researcher Perspective
Greg Lambert
The Group @ OSCN.NET
Between 1999-2002, I worked one of the best jobs that a law librarian (especially one with a knack for being a techie/geek) could ever want to do. The Oklahoma Supreme Court made a commitment that it would change how it handled the Court’s opinions, and would create an online system (oscn.net) that allowed for anyone to see the Court’s decisions, the day they were published, and they adopted the Uniform Citation System that allowed those decisions to be officially cited that same day.

The staff in the Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) were some of the brightest, forward thinking group of people I ever worked with. The law students that worked as interns for the AOC, and had to do all the grunt work of getting old cases ready to be released on the site were great to work with, and I don’t know if they realize the importance of their work, even 10 years later. OSCN put every single court decision from the Oklahoma Courts, with Uniform Citations, going all the way back to the Territory Courts of 1890. We even offered to help, and host other states to do the same with their court decisions. Unfortunately, only Wyoming took us up on that offer. I really wish more states would look at what OSCN is doing and follow the trail blazed by a group of heroes.

B2B Marketer Perspective
Kathryn DeLia
A Material Girl…
My professional hero is Madonna. Yes you may think that is corny and everyone has an opinion of her, but take a look at the business aspects of her. She is extremely marketing and PR savvy, negotiated a financially successful deal with Live Nation for maximum exposure for tours, tons of merchandise including her recent launch of ‘Material Girl’ clothes with her daughter. She has built her brand extremely well and kept it that way for 20 years. Yes, I am sure she has some excellent business advisers but I don’t think they were the brains behind her reinvention, etc. Pure marketing power – a marketing girl who built a sensational brand to become all material girl! Now that is a hero to emulate.

Librarian Perspective
Laura Londa
Leader not Manager
I need to list 2 people, but for the same reasons.  One is Cindy Zollinger, CEO of Cornerstone Research and the other is Bob Oaks, Chief Library & Records Officer of Latham & Watkins.  They are both truly leaders not just managers.  While they do need to manage a lot, when it comes to people, they lead.  They not only show you what is possible, but also instill in you the belief that you can achieve it.  They also both have the unique ability to be kind and caring while still running things.  You can’t help but trust them implicitly and you know that the choices they make for you and the company are carefully considered and respectful of you and of the goals of the company.  There is never any doubt that they are in charge, but there is also always the understanding that you can go to them with suggestions and ideas and you will never be dismissed out-of-hand.  They not only lead, but are willing to learn and know that there is always more to learn.  There are very few chiefs that have these qualities.  I am thankful that I have had the opportunity to work for and with both of them.  And I have always sought to model my work after them as I move into more “”managerial”” roles.  I try to lead as they would, not just manage.

Business Intelligence Analyst Perspective
Denise Rabogliatti
It Opened My Eyes
My hero is the individual who gave me my first research project. The project was simple and direct (and it was a paid exercise). I found that it piqued my interest in finding a career in which I could search for information, pull it together and present it in a way that answered an information need. If I had not had this opportunity, I do not know if I would be writing this today.

Law Student Perspective
Danny Johnson
So Fly Like a G6
My professional hero is Kirk Jowers. I’m starting law school in August and Kirk has given me critical advice about preparing for and pursuing my goals in law. He is the most quoted man in Utah politics and is a partner at a DC firm but still manages to spend time with undergrads at the U of U.
At my job at NetDocuments my hero is Marc Duncan because of his skills on the office IndoBoard 

Professional Musician Perspective
Artie Langston
Heroes In Low Places
My greatest hero and mentor is Ray Brown, who some may know as the long time bassist with Oscar Peterson, and onetime husband of Ella Fitzgerald.

Ray was a consummate artist, and his eminence talents were derived from hard work, as well a beautiful soul.
In spite of his fame, Ray always had time for young people, and the times we met were both thrilling, instructive, and inspirational. the first time I heard him play, I knew without a doubt what I wanted to do with my life, no matter what the cost.

The greatest compliment I ever received was when Snookum Russell, another friend and mentor who had nurtured the careers of a number of great Jazz artists, told me that he had not enjoyed working with anyone as much since he had Ray Brown in his band.

Ray is gone now, but I remember every word he told me, and have passed the wisdom of them down to my own students over the years.

Law Librarian and Competitive Intelligence Liaison Perspective
Jan Rivers
@Glambert Rules!
Greg Lambert is my professional hero. While being a full-time law librarian and manager, he also contributes to a fabulous blog, tests out new and exciting technologies, gives back to his profession, and is always collaborative, informative and, above all, entertaining. Also,rumor has it that he plays a mean sax….”
AFA Perspective
Toby Brown
Greg the Great Oracle
When it comes to knowledge – for possessing, sharing  and knowing how to find it – Greg rules.  The 3 Geeks blog truly rides on his shoulders due to this factoid.  His commitment and passion to knowledge is beyond belief.

It used to be when I wanted to find something, I would first send emails out to my circle of knowledge (a.k.a. The Brady’s).  Usually the Greg (a.k.a. The Master of Knowledge) would be a the first or at least an excellent responder.  So then I switched to first sending him a note.  And finally, after much prodding from Greg – I just check our blog.  9 times out of 10 he has already discovered the bit of knowledge I need, reviewed and analyzed it and posted about it on the blog.

That’s why 3 Geeks Rules.  Greg is my professional hero since he sets such a fine example of how to master knowledge and share it with the world.

To boot – he’s a damn fine friend to have.

Knowledge Management Perspective
Ayelette Robinson
“Greg, You Are Da Man”
Greg Lambert is my hero because he inspires those around him to share and collaborate in ways that make us not only better professionals, but also better people.

Thank you, Greg!

Internet Marketing Perspective
Sophia Lisa Salazar
“The One, The Only …”
Greg Lambert! 🙂

After much thoughtful consideration, I know that Greg is the only other person that can write as much as I can but he actually posts his stuff!

Always thoughtful, always productive, always provocative, Greg’s aces in my book.

He’s not only a 3Geeks Blogger, he’s a hell of a nice guy!

Competitive Intelligence Perspective
Zena Applebaum
Man of Geeky Mystery
Greg Lambert is my professional hero.  I don’t know how he does it!  He plays with gizmos and gadgets all day and still manages to be seen as a thought leader and man knowledgeable about libraries and the law.  How does he do it???

I want to be like Greg.

Law Librarian Perspective
Mark Gediman
Greg Bueller-er- Lambert Is My Hero
I don’t know anyone who is more of an all-around mensch than Greg Lambert.
He is always there to keep me in my place.  He critiques my work, pokes pins in my premises and gives me cool nicknames (like Sam the Butcher-don’t ask).

He’s the one that goaded me into blogging into the first place.   So know my critics now know who to blame.
I can’t think of anyone who works harder or nags better to get stuff out of me (to be fair, I did commit to it.  At least, that’s what Greg told me).

Seriously, Mr. Lambert is inspirational:  He has a respected blog, he is willing to serve in a leadership role in his organizations, he is a respected voice in the librarian community, can go toe-to-toe with the best of them when it comes to pop culture and, most importantly, is a great guy to have a beer with.

In fact, I want to be just like him when I grow up.

Information Technologist Perspective
Scott Preston
The Renaissance Man
Greg Lambert is my professional hero.
He has a tremendous breadth of knowledge with experience in law, computers, programming and legal research.  He is always bringing new technology and ideas to the table.  He is fun to work with, inspires many of us to contribute to the greater community and has introduced me to some truly great people.  Greg is one of those amazing people that seems to be able to morph into whatever is needed at the moment.  He is more than willing to share his knowledge and does so in a manner that makes everybody feel important.  Rumor has it he is really good at Frisbee golf too.

I want to be just like Greg when I get to be his age!

Greg is the Renaissance Man.

Business Intelligence Analyst Perspective
Denise Rabogliatti
What! More?
No one says that we can’t have more than one hero . . .

Greg is one of mine.

What more can be said than has already been stated? His broad and deep knowledge, insatiable curiosity and willingness to share will lead the profession to the future. He is an example to which we can aspire.

Blogger & Collaborator Perspective
Greg Lambert
Let’s Finish Off The Love Fest With Some “Brady Love”
Well… waking up early this morning to discover all the “love” that my fellow Brady Bunch crew wrote about me was both fun to read, and a little embarrassing at the same time (but, I quickly got over the embarrassment.) A couple of years ago, I wrote a post called “Improve Yourself – Join a Clique” where I mentioned my clique (AKA “The Bradys”) and the benefits of having peers that you can bounce ideas off of. Although it appears from the previous writings that I’m doing the heavy lifting in this relationship, it is not true. I just happen to be the loudest member of a great group. So, I thank them for their kind words, but I also have to remind them that it is the overall conversation and collaboration that we give each other as a group that is what makes this a great relationship. As anyone in “The Bradys” knows, they love to give feedback… just ask anyone of us that has gone to a meeting for an hour, only to come back to their desk and see 25+ emails sitting in their in-box from “The Bradys” responding to a question one of us asked.

Next Week’s Elephant Post Question:

What Unorthodox Predictions do you have for 2011? What Taboos are going to go away this year?

The first few weeks of the year are filled with predictions of changes to come in the legal industry. Most of those predictions are “yawners” (such as Richard Susskind’s prediction of firms adopting more social media, adopting cloud-based apps, and using tablets… which Toby labeled as Susskind “jumping the shark” on his predictions.)

Let us know what you think are changes that are occurring “under the radar” in the industry. Are partners at firms going to feel the downsizing this year – by being downsized themselves? Are unprofitable practice groups going to be cut loose from their firms? Will there be a change in the legal publishing industry that will shake up the way law firms buy legal research? Is outsourcing going to be no longer a taboo word that makes the hair on the back of every one’s neck stand up?

So the Elephant question for next week is, What are your “other” predictions for 2011?

Simply fill out the form we have created for this question, and you can check in occasionally to see what others are contributing. This should be a fun Elephant Post to read!!

See you next week!!

A couple of years a ago I posted a short book review on “Lessons From the Courtroom” by Frank Jones.

Frank has just notified me you can download his book for on most e-reader devices, including Kindle.

The e-book is only available through January 17, so don’t delay.

You will have to sign up to access the book on the site. Here’s the link: www.FreeKaplaneBooks.com