Evan Schaeffer's Legal Underground

BLOGROLLING LEGAL UNDERGROUND . . . Thanks to the following weblogs and websites that have recently added permanent links to this one via their blogrolls*--

• The Barrister Blog
• South Carolina Personal Injury Law Blog
• Reports from Poisonville
• South Carolina Immigration Law Blog
• Honolulu Personal Injury Lawyer
• Lag Liv
• Serial Procrastinator
• Chicago Divorce Law Blog
• Settle It Now Negotiation Blog
• Richmond Virginia Personal Injury Lawyer
  

*Blogroll (1) n. A list of weblogs, typically found in a column on another weblog; (2) v. To add a weblog to a blogroll.

AT MY TRIAL PRACTICE WEBSITE . . . "The Two Most Common Deposition Errors."

THROUGH THE YEARS AT LEGAL UNDERGROUND . . . Some remembrances of late Januaries past, collected here chronologically for the first time in a single post --

• "The Exalted Profession: Do lawyers take themselves too seriously?" (1/27/04)
• "Favorite Things: Computers" (1/31/05)
• "When to Attend a Deposition by Telephone" (1/23/06)

A LEGAL JOURNAL YOU SHOULD SPEND SOME TIME WITH  . . . I received a welcome e-mail announcement about the first issue of Consortium: The Journal of Legal Nonsense (pdf). Although I haven't read every word yet, I'm going to. At the very least, be sure to check out the eye-catching cover and high-quality layout. Congratulations to Editor-in-Chief Pete Holiday and Managing Editor Charlsie Paine on a job well done.

In an Editor's note, Holiday is already talking about the second issue of Consortium:

Shortly after this new publication starts gaining its first readers, preparations for the second issue will need to begin. Issue 2 will find itself published in either April or July, depending on the level of interest from readers and prospective authors. Anyone with any interest in contributing to future issues (in any capacity) should email pete@consortiumjournal.org or take a look at the "contact" section of the website.

If you want to get involved, here's a link to the Consortium website.

Related post: "A New Law Journal Specializing in Legal Nonsense."

THE WEEKLY LAW SCHOOL ROUNDUP . . . The Weekly Law School Roundup alternates between Legal Underground and divine angst, where Kristine has posted this week's Weekly Law School Roundup #55. The next installment will appear here on Sunday. Be sure to check back!

AT MY TRIAL PRACTICE WEBSITE . . . "Navigating Illinois Trial Practice by Category."

SADDAM HUSSEIN'S AMERICAN LAWYER . . . The February Esquire magazine includes some interesting details about Ramsey Clark's representation of Saddam Hussein: "How the Attorney General of the United States Became Saddam Hussein's Lawyer," by John H. Richardson. Example:

. . . [Clark's] whole point is to make common cause wherever he can, and he is going to follow that inner logic wherever it takes him.

Today it takes him to see Saddam Hussein, flying in the plane that winds down like Death's own corkscrew. After filling him in on the latest press conference and yesterday's editorial in The Guardian and the letter he wrote to the UN, Clark pauses. The case is over now. There's nothing else to say about that. Everyone in the room knows that the President will soon be sentenced to hang. There's the possibility of filing a lawsuit against the United States, Clark tells Hussein. Because of the litigation over Guantánamo, the courts are hearing a lot of those right now.

But the President isn't interested. I don't want to, he says.

They serve dates. These are Jordanian dates, the President says. When you come to my house, you'll have Iraqi dates. But the purpose is to defend rights, Clark says. I'm sure it's as you say, the President answers, and I have no objection to others doing it. But I will never plead for my life.

That's from the end of the article, which concludes with this sentence: "He is on a campaign to achieve world peace by forgiving the worst sinners in the world, one at a time, and he will never give up."

The whole lengthy profile is online--just follow the link.

Related post: "Does Saddam Deserve Good Lawyers?" (5/31/05).

PODCASTING UPDATE . . . With my three-part series on advanced deposition techniques, I seem to have stumbled on a good podcasting idea: write and produce shows meant mostly to educate, not entertain. I say that because a lot more people have listened to the deposition podcasts than I expected, which perhaps is an illustration of the power of narrow-casting, that is, putting out content for a very limited, although potentially large, audience, then waiting for the audience to find you.

It seems to have worked in this case. Just looking at Part I of the series, I've had more 500 listeners in addition to the nearly 300 regular podcast subscribers. For a podcast about something as dry as depositions, it seems like a lot of listeners. Although I've had some good numbers for some of my "humorous" podcasts, it didn't happen nearly as quickly. 

It means that I'll probably continue with the informative, legal-education-related format. I don't know where I'll head next, but in addition to depositions, I feel confident that I could put together shows on a variety of law-related topics, for example, writing briefs, arguing to a court, working up and trying cases, litigating class actions, organizing a mass torts practice, using weblogs to promote a legal practice, etc.

What's the advantage to me? To put it simply, I get to mention my law firm and my deposition book and otherwise promote my practice.  I know that sort of thing gets annoying, but so far, I don't think my promotional efforts have been over the top. (You did know this weblog was all about self-promotion? I think it just might be.)

If you have any ideas or feedback about the podcast, email me or leave a comment. Thanks in advance!

Related posts:

1. The Legal Underground Underground Podcast Episode #49: Advanced Deposition Techniques, Part 1--Five Tips for Asserting Control at Depositions;

2. The Legal Underground Underground Podcast Episode #50: Advanced Deposition Techniques, Part 2--Four Ways to Use Psychology at Your Next Deposition;

3. The Legal Underground Underground Podcast Episode #51: Advanced Deposition Techniques, Part 3--Miscellaneous Tips for Expert Depositions.

4. List of all my past podcasting episodes;

5. Podcasting show notes.

AT MY TRIAL PRACTICE WEBSITE . . . "Mock Trials Online."

TWO YEARS AGO AT LEGAL UNDERGROUND . . . "The Experienced Lawyer and the Law Student Debate Willie Gary and Dickie Scruggs."