Leading (On) Lawyers?
♫ Into the spotlight and out again
Come and get your 15
Your 15 minutes of fame…♫
Lyrics and Music by: Tommy Shaw, Jack Blades, Ted Nugent.
Andy Warhol
Ahh fleeting fame. It seems that advertisers are pouring over themselves to add accolades to lawyer’s resumes, blogs, web sites, CVs and bios. Consider this excerpt from an email from one of those ‘who is’ directories:
We are pleased to inform you that your candidacy was formally approved June 20th, 2010. Congratulations.
Of course the only minor problem with this is that I don’t ever being asked to submit an application. Ever.
Similarly with a notice from one of the national newspapers in Canada. It seems:
WHO ARE the leading lawyers in Vancouver?
Don’t miss out on this print-advertising opportunity to promote your legal specialties to clients in Greater Vancouver as well as right across the country.
IMPORTANT TO NOTE: Other lawyers have already confirmed their participation in this section, and so should you!
Of course careful reading of the soliciting email didn’t seem to support any qualification to be classified as a ‘leading lawyer’ other than the ability to pay. I also cringed on the use of the work ‘specialties’ since that phrase, more than perhaps any other, is looked upon with disdain by most, if not all, of the Law Societies across Canada.
It seems that there are no end of opportunities for lawyers to find their 15 minutes of fame…
“Specialties”, maybe, but not, at least in Ontari-ari-o, “specialist”. Of course, too many people already believe that lawyers don’t need a “C.S” behind their names for the public to know what these lawyers are, but that’s only my view.
It is good to be wary–there are a few disreputable who’s who directories out there (although many of course are quite legitimate and helpful). They promise you free listing, but then put on the high pressure sales to buy press releases and copies of the directory at exorbitant prices. It’s good to check with your local law librarian as to whether they have heard of the directory or its publisher before signing up.
Well said David. I received the same “leading lawyers in Vancouver” pitch and could not help but shake my head at this.