Law and Social Networking

With the rise of social media networks such as Twitter and Facebook, it was only a matter of time before lawyers started using these networks. The latest social network Twitter, allows users to post 2 sentence status updates. Recent statistics show that there are more that six million Twitter users and in the average day, there are more than 225 million tweets.

Dinizulu Law Group attorney Erin K. Russell, Esq. was recently mentioned in the July 2010 edition of Chicago Lawyer. The article " Lawyers enter the Twitterverse" touches on several Chicago lawyers making use of Twitter for marketing, and for their own personal lives.

According to Gina F. Rubel Esq, President and CEO of Furia Rubel Communications INC "Twitter is certainly a useful tool and an excellent way to expand your network, build your reputation, comment on legal issues and trends, and establish a relationship with members of the media and other thought leaders. It is also an excellent tool for you to research public opinion on many different topics."

Experts have warned to be careful for lawyers to not give out legal advice, and to remind everyone that Twitter and Facebook are subject to public scrutiny.

You can follow us on Twitter @dinizululaw

Check out these sites for more information on twitter and legal marketing

http://www.typepad.com/services/trackback/6a010534a0800c970c01127964b09c2

http://www.typepad.com/services/trackback/6a010534a0800c970c01156f9bbd7f970c

Headlines...

Headlines for the last several days have centered around the idea of the police state.

Arizona's immigration law, which allows police officers to stop anyone they deem to potentially be an immigrant...

Chicago Alderman proposing that the National Guard become a part of the policing strategy as it relates to the increased violence in Chicago neighborhoods...

Red light cameras monitoring intersections...

What does this say about our society? What does this say about our future?

Too far...

Every day, each of us finds ourselves in situations where another person says or does something that goes too far. It's almost as if people don't know how to "edit" themselves, feeling free to say and/or do anything they want. In many ways, this forum, the online forum is responsible for this denigration in values and etiquette. People tend to think that what they say online, stays online, it makes them invisible and that there are no repercussions. That thought process is quickly changing.

In the last week, month or year, has there been an instance where someone has gone too far?

Finish this thought...

I am most __________________ about why people ______________________. If it was me, I would _____________________.

We all are motivated to do things for different reasons. But we often forget that we cannot apply our own logic to others and their actions - because we are not walking in their shoes. That doesn't stop us though from assessing a situation or a person based upon how we, ourselves, would respond.

Communication

What is your preferred method of communication, specifically what type of online communication tool do you use most? Why?

Email, text messaging, VOIP...computers, phones and the internet. Today we have the ability to be connected, stay connected and remain connected 24/7. That being said, how do you prefer to receive information from others? Too, how often are you receiving information but not responding? If you aren't responding, does that mean you are not connected and that you are not communicating?

Weigh in now - respond and communicate!

What motivates you?

We all make choices that impact our lives and the lives of others. Our decision making is often a result of the values we were brought up with, who we looked up to, and our own barometer of what was right and wrong. As children, the demarcation between right and wrong was very clearly drawn. As adults, we often learn that these lines aren't so clear - a lot of grey area exists. It's that grey area that causes consternation and forces us to question our motivations.

What would motivate you to seek legal counsel? Is it the desire to right a wrong? Or is it the need to exact some form of retribution? Revenge?

Health Care Reform

Health care reform - it's here. The bill, signed today, changes health care in America as we know it. What is your take on this historic change? How do you think it impacts you and your family?

Have they lost their minds?

As the weather gets warmer, people tend to become more careless as they drive. Who hasn't been driving along and gotten cut off by another driver who wasn't paying attention to his or her surroundings, or just didn't care that other people are on the road. Often added to the mix: alcohol. Add all of these factors together and you have the recipe for disaster.

If you find yourself the victim of a careless driver, how likely are you to seek the counsel of a lawyer? Or, depending on the severity of the accident, are you more inclined to submit a claim to your insurance company and call it a day?

Would you or wouldn't you?

You often hear about how litigious our society is, that we don't deal with problems head on anymore. But what you don't often hear is the fact that society has changed in such a way that oftentimes, seeking the support of a lawyer is necessary. Much of that has to do with the fact that today, people are the underdogs and we fight for the underdog.

If faced with a situation where you felt that you were harmed or injured as a result of someone's (in)action, would you seek legal counsel? If yes, why? If no, why not?

A safe assumption?

For many of us, getting behind the wheels of our cars is something that we do every day, many times a day. Our assumption is that the vehicles are safe to drive. The problems with Toyota cars, a maker with a pretty solid reputation, takes us all by surprise. Do you own or drive a Toyota? If so, was your vehicle one of the ones recalled? Share your experience.

Par for the course or more...

As the 2010 Winter Olympics continue on, we look back at the tragic loss of the Georgian athlete Nodar Kumaritashvili, who died during a practice run on the luge. There is talk that his family might file a lawsuit against the International Olympic Committee for not providing a safe track for the athletes. Do you agree with the family or do you feel that this occurred as a consequence of an already dangerous sport?

Fire Safety

At least seven people died in an early morning fire that tore through a Cicero, Illinois apartment building on Monday, spreading to nearby buildings and rendering families homeless in one of the deadliest residential fires in the Chicago area since 2006.

Sometimes, when these fires occur, failure to place smoke alarms or failure to comply with fire codes lead to deadly injury. How do you keep your home safe? Have you or a family member been affected by a fire?

Texting while driving continued...

Last week, I talked about the recent passage of Illinois law that banned texting while driving. This phenomenon has created a maelstrom of controversy. Many state that it's common sense that one shouldn't text and drive, and that this law serves to further emphasize the importance of halting this behavior. Others agree, though think it was unnecessary to take the extra step of involving the legal system. Still others have made it their personal mission to do all that they can to make people understand that texting while driving is as dangerous, if not more dangerous, than driving while drunk.

What about you? What is your stance? What will you do from this point forward to address the issue of texting while driving?

Post your comments to this blog here or visit one of Dinizulu Law Group's other social networking sites to weigh in on the topic.

Visit http://twitter.com/dinizululaw

Visit http://www.facebook.com/pages/Dinizulu-Law-Group-Ltd/267915740736

The Ban of Text Messaging While Driving

Illinois has passed a new law banning text messaging while driving in Illinois that went into effect Jan. 1, 2010.

What are your thoughts on the new law? Do you agree? Do you disagree? Would you like to share a personal experience about someone who was texting while driving? Weigh in on this important topic today!

Cook County Bar Association Judicial Evaluation Results

Judicial Candidate Evaluations Released by the Cook County Bar Association

The Cook County Bar Association's Judicial Evaluation Committee has reviewed the qualifications of judicial candidates for the February 2, 2010 Illinois Primary Election. The CCBA does not endorse any candidate. The CCBA's process includes reviewing a detailed questionnaire completed by each candidate, personal and professional references and holding an interview with each candidate. The evaluation criteria includes experience, professional competence, judicial temperament and integrity. Candidates were rated "Highly Recommended," "Recommended," and "Not Recommended." A rating of Not Evaluated was given to at least one judicial candidate. The CCBA Judicial Canditates ratings for the 2010 Primary Elections are as follows: (will insert Celestia's Grid) 2010 Primary Election Candidate Ratings Appellate Court - 1stDistrict To Fill Vacancy of Hon. Jill McNulty Rating Arnette R. Hubbard Highly Recommended Ellen F. Flannigan Not Recommended Jim Ryan Not Recommended James Epstein Recommended Kathleen G. Kennedy Highly Recommended To Fill Vacancy of Hon. Denise M. O'Malley Rating Thomas Lee Hogan Recommended Pamela E. Hill Veal Not Recommended Frank Edward Gardner Not Recommended Aurelia Marie Pucinski Not Recommended Don R. Sampen Recommended To Fill Vacancy of Hon. Leslie E. South Rating Mary Katherine Rochford Recommended Sabastian T. Patti Recommended Kevin Rogers Not Recommended William D. O'Neal Recommended Anthony Lynn Burrell Not Recommended Circuit Court - CookCounty Countywide To Fill Vacancy of Hon. Richard B. Berland Rating William H. Hooks Highly Recommended Deidre Baumann Recommended William Burnett Raines Recommended To Fill Vacancy of Hon. Philip L. Bronstein Rating Terry MacCarthy Recommended Diann Karen Marsalek Recommended Sharon Finegan Patterson Recommended Thomas William Flannigan Recommended To Fill Vacancy of Hon. Francis J. Dolan Rating Susan Kennedy Sullivan Recommended Linda J. Pauel Recommended Kevin J. Murphy Recommended Ubi O'Neal Not Recommended To Fill Vacancy of Hon. Marsha D. Hayes Rating Raymond W. Mitchell Highly Recommended Bonnie Carol McGrath Not Recommended Carl B. Boyd Not Recommended To Fill Vacancy of Hon. Daniel J. Kelley Rating John Patrick Callahan, Jr. Recommended Joanne F. Fehn Not Recommended To Fill Vacancy of Hon. Carol Pearce McCarthy Rating Maureen Masterson Pulia Not Evaluated Michaela Nolan Ryan Not Recommended Daniel J. Gallagher Recommended To Fill Vacancy of Hon. James P. O'Malley Rating Thomas J. Lyons, II Recommended To Fill Vacancy of Hon. Ronald C. Riley Rating Sandra G. Ramos Recommended Russell W. Hartigan Recommended James Michael Bailey Recommended John Patrick Nyhan Not Recommended Edmund Paul Michalowski Not Recommended Marvin W. Gray Recommended Tracey J. Stokes Recommended CircuitCourt - CookCounty 1stSubcircuit To Fill Vacancy of Hon. Sharon Johnson Coleman Rating Thaddeus L. Wilson Recommended Linnae Bryant Not Recommended To Fill Vacancy of Hon. John O. Steele Rating Sharon Dolores Oden-Johnson Recommended Michelle Hugghis Flagg Not Recommended Jesse Outlaw Recommended Joseph Chico Not Recommended Theodore "Ted" London Not Recommended To Fill Additional Judgeship A Bonita Coleman-John Recommended CircuitCourt - CookCounty 3rd Subcircuit To Fill Vacancy of Hon. Thomas F. Carmody, Jr. Rating Allen F. Murphy Recommended Peter M. Kramer Not Recommended Thomas G. O'Brien Not Recommended Steven G. Watkins Recommended Charles Francis Fitzgerald Recommended Daniela Silaides Not Recommended To Fill Vacancy of Hon. Daniel P. Darcy Rating Edward S. Harmening Recommended James Patrick Doran Recommended Thomas J. Murphy Recommended David J. Coleman Recommended To Fill Additional Judgeship A Rating Daniel Malone Recommended Ronald Joseph Hurley Not Recommended Mary McNamara Not Recommended Bernadette McNicholas Recommended Pamela Cotten Recommended CircuitCourt - CookCounty 9thSubcircuit To Fill Vacancy of Hon. Sandra R. Otaka Rating Abbey Fishman Romanek Recommended Yehuda Lebovits Recommended Geary W. Kull Recommended Dennis Michael Fleming Recommended To Fill Additional Judgeship A Rating Steven James "Steve" Bernstein Not Recommended Michael Ian Bender Recommended Jeffrey Dov Greenspan Recommended William Joseph Luby Recommended Scott Bagnall Not Recommended Mary Susan Trew Recommended CircuitCourt - CookCounty 11thSubcircuit To Fill Vacancy of Hon. Barbara Ann Riley Rating Steve Fruth Recommended Maritza Martinez Recommended Ann Finley Collins Recommended Pamela McLean Meyerson Recommended John Michael Lagattuta Recommended Pamela M. Leeming Recommended Thomas David Bilyk Not Recommended Lisa A. Marino Recommended Eugene Joseph Berkes Not Recommended Kim R. Kardas Recommended John W. Chwarzynski Not Recommended Radusa Ostojic Recommended CircuitCourt - CookCounty 14thSubcircuit To Fill Additional Judgeship A Rating Daniel J. Pierce Recommended CircuitCourt - CookCounty 15thSubcircuit To Fill Vacancy of Hon. Marcella C. Lipinski Rating Linzey D. Jones Highly Recommended Frank James Ryan Recommended Patrick Flanagan Recommended Nicholas W. Karas Not Recommended Richard G. Karwaczka Not Recommended Karla Marie Fiaoni Recommended Michael Brendan Barrett Recommended Joan Marie G. Kubalanza Recommended To Fill Vacancy of Hon. Thomas Paul Panichi Rating George F. Scully Recommended Mary Therese Quinn Recommended Michael T. Huguelet Recommended Peter A. Fera Recommended To Fill Vacancy of Hon. William Michael Phelan Rating John C. Griffin Recommended Carl Evans, Jr. Recommended Nichole C. Patton Recommended Thomas "TJ" Somer Recommended Mary Beth Kent Duffy Recommended The Cook County Bar Association is the oldest African American Bar Association in America and an Affiliate chapter of the National Bar Association. The CCBA is also a participating Bar in the Alliance of Bar Associations. To see the Alliance of Bar Assocations Judicial Grid please visitwww.voteforjudges.org.