Legal Rebels

What is a Legal Rebel?

Did you say “rebel”?

Is this the new hippie movement? (Not so much).

The ABA Journal has started a new project called “Legal Rebels”. Legal Rebels are 50 legal professionals throughout America who are redefining the legal profession. In light of the current economy, and the need to re-think some of the old ways of practicing law, the ABA Journal will profile each of these 50 Rebels throughout the next months.

Aside of the fact that this is a very unique project, another interesting aspect is how the ABA Journal promotes the Legal Rebel profiles: Social Media.

In order to profile these legal professionals, the ABA Journal will be utilizing social media tools such as Twitter, Flickr, Friendeed, Facebook, and YouTube to spread their message.

10 Legal Rebels have already been profiled in their September issue. (i.e. traditional print media)

Here’s a description of the new project from their website:

“In these times of great economic chaos lies great opportunity.

The legal profession is not just struggling through a recession but undergoing a structural break with the past. There is a growing consensus that the profession that emerges from this downturn will be different in fundamental ways from the one that entered it.

Dozens of lawyers nationwide aren’t waiting for change. Day by day, they’re remaking their corners of the profession. These innovators are finding new ways to practice law, represent their clients, adjudicate cases and train the next generation of lawyers. Most are leveraging the power of the Internet to help them work better, faster, different.

Over the next three months, we’ll be profiling 50 of these Legal Rebels. Some will appear in print, and all will be posted on LegalRebels.com. The first seven appear in this issue.”

Jeffrey J. Hughes: The Legal Grinder

Laurel Edgeworth: The Matchmaker

Patrick J. Lamb: A Betting Man

Roderick A. Palmore: Demanding Diversity

David Van Zandt: Purple Praise

Denise Annunciata: Paralegal Power

Legal Rebels Tour

Another aspect of the project is called the Legal Rebels Tour. The Legal Rebels Tour consists of the ABA Journal editor, Edward Adams, and other members of his team, traveling to various locations thought the United States and profiling the Legal Rebels.

In order to chronicle the experience, the ABA Journal is using YouTube to give viewers daily updates on their trip. Here are few of their videos thus far:

Legal Rebel Manifesto

The Legal Rebel Manifesto is a document the ABA Journal drafted with the help of lawyers across the country. In order to draft the manifesto, the ABA Journal used a collaboration wiki (another social media tool)! Lawyers helped to edit the manifesto and contributed ideas for the project.

Below is the final draft of the Legal Rebel Manifesto and you can sign on to the creed here:

“I am a proud member of America’s essential profession. Without lawyers and the rule of law, a free, fair and open society is not sustainable.

I recognize that the legal profession’s traditions – the world’s most respected legal education system, most successful law firms and fairest court system – were once radical innovations.

In this time of economic crisis, I am committed to improving those institutions and creating innovation in the practice of law. I will question and, when appropriate, change the status quo. And I will use technology to serve my clients and society.

I’ll help remake the profession I hold dear so it can continue to deliver on America’s promise.

I’m an innovator. A maverick. A pathfinder.

I am a Legal Rebel.”

24 Hours of Rebels

Another aspect of the project is called “24 Hours of Rebels” This will highlight a more in-depth discussion with some of the greatest minds in the legal profession. Here’s how they describe the 24 Hour Tour:

You’re invited to an online meeting of some of the most creative minds in the legal profession. We’re asking them to answer the question:

How does the practice of law need to change in the next five years?

They’ll do more than just describe what needs fixing – they’ll offer solutions you can put into practice in your profession life. And you can participate in the conversation, through webinars, online radio shows and live chats.

24 Hours of Rebels gets underway October 14-15, 9 am to 9 pm ET each day. Check back for announcements about the schedule of events in early October.”

Flickr Page

Just like the White House the ABA Journal will be using Flickr to document their tour and the Legal Rebels they profile Flickr allows users to publish photos albums on the web. Have you used Flickr? Comment below.

Legal Rebels Skateboards?

Yes…it’s true. This has nothing to do with social media. A sort of hyperbolic overkill? Yes, but funny. (Send SMLS a skateboard!)

Social Media

As the ABA Journal continues to announce new Legal Rebels, they will be utilizing social media technologies, such as Twitter, to spread their message about the project. Entire interviews will be conducted using Twitter, YouTube videos will be created, Facebook pages updated, tweets sent, RSS feeds syndicated, and even Friendfeed has a spot in their social media arsenal!

Using social media will provide the ABA Journal with a much larger audience with little to no cost. This is one of the benefits of utilizing these tools. Collaboration and message building.

As they announce new aspects of the project, you can be sure they will be using some of the best social media tools currently in the market. Something is changing the way we conduct business online. When the most widely-read law journal revamps they way they cover stories, something has changed.

Something is afoot. Be ready. Be on the lookout for Legal Rebels near you.

What do you think about the Legal Rebels project? Leave a comment below.

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