Foxwordy: Another Social Network for Lawyers? Why?
Foxwordy. It's like a totally new concept -- a social network for lawyers! You can privately collaborate, grow your reputation, and build your business! It'll allow you to "dramatically accelerate your workflow" and "improve your professional reputation."
Dear God. It'll even "expand your referral network" and "much more." Even the tagline is cringe-worthy: "The smartest lawyers in one place."
My fellow writer Gabriella is taking a wait-and-see approach, citing the world's skepticism of Twitter in 2008, but I'm willing to call it now: "this is horrible, this idea."
Been There, Failed That
A social network just for lawyers and networking and esq-speak? Why hasn't anyone thought of ... Oh wait, they have. Let's recount the corpses, shall we? (Deep breath.)
From an old Robert Ambrogi post:
- EsqSpot (became Libra Network last month, apparently)
- LegallyMinded
- Lawford
- MyPractice
- Lawyer-Link
- HubSTREET
- PivotalDiscovery.com
- ESQChat.com
- Martindale-Hubbel Connected
- Legal OnRamp
- Lawyrs.net
- LawLink
- jdOasis.com
- wirelawyer.com
There's probably a few more social corpses floating out there, but you get the point. Maybe Foxwordy will be different. Maybe it'll attract a vibrant user base and offer things that other networks like LinkedIn and Twitter can't.
I doubt it. But I've been wrong before.
Wait, You Have to Pay (Eventually)?
I'm not one to criticize blindly, so I went to their site to get an invite.
"It's free for 3 months."
Wait, wait, wait. You have to pay for this social network at some point? Unless this social network turns me into Clarence Darrow and lands me a six-figure gig, I'm out, because seriously -- who pays for a social network?
We Already Have a Social Network. It's Called Twitter.
As Ja Rule once crooned, "Where would I be without you?" It's no secret, I love Twitter. Without that dear micro-blogging social network, I never would have discovered my "nifty fifty" (the list of legal folks you need to follow on Twitter). Our most engaged readers, the ones who ask questions, provide commentary, and share our articles are Twitter-ers.
And if you need a more formal venue, there's always LinkedIn and its discussion groups.
One Final Point: Lawyers
Seriously, I know we need to network, make professional connections, and grow our reputation, but why do we need to do so with lawyers and lawyers alone? Lawyers are, generally speaking, insufferable, arrogant, and argumentative. Remember those oft-insufferable law school parties?
Combine that with Facebook:
"Totally just embarrassed opp. counsel" (Fifteen people liked this)
"My client is an idiot." (Eighteen people liked this)
"Got the new Rolls Royce." (Three people liked this. Eighty-seven people resent this.)
See the problem? At least on Twitter, the bragging and bemoaning is mixed in with news stories, Ellen retweets of a group selfie, and quotes from Sex and the City.
Related Resources:
- Another Day, Another Social Network for Lawyers (Robert Ambrogi's LawSites)
- 50 Twitter Accounts Lawyers Should Follow Religiously (Part I) (FindLaw's Technologist Blog)
- XP Dies in 34 Days, Has 29 Percent of Market: Here's Microsoft's Plan (FindLaw's Technologist Blog)