Tunnel Vision (the danger of being in a Vacuum)
People love to see things as black or white, as yes or no, as good or bad. Easy and fast answers to your most important decisions are not going to work that way. There are many shades of grey. Unfortunately most people can only view "their" DWI or criminal case in a vacuum. Without being able to make an accurate comparison to similar cases with similar fact scenarios will make it difficult to impossible to fully comprehend how your case is going to play out.
Criminal Defense vs. Buying a House
Buying a house is a huge decision (I think getting married maybe easier). Before you make the biggest purchase decision of your adult life you should have a realtor run COMPS. Comps are comparisons to other homes that have sold within a given time period and within a given neighborhood. For these housing comps to be accurate (and helpful) they must be homes that are of the same or similar: size, age, and type. You don't compare the price of a 1000 sq. ft. home in the city with another located 50 miles away in the woods with 3000 sq. ft. sitting on 20 acres. In addition, you don't compare what a home sold for in 1950 compared to what it may sell for in 2012.
THE Factors in a Criminal Case
Criminal defense of any case first involves taking many different factors into consideration. Your attorney must think about The Court (location), the Judge, the prosecutor, the weight of the evidence, and the relevance of your unique situation. He or she must look at the matter from different angles and perspectives to be able to completely protect you. These are kinda like real estate COMPS. He or she should have familiarity with the factors, and how they may apply in this particular court.
The YOU Factor
The big question is always going to be, "how YOU are going to be affected by all this now and in the future?" This is really where an attorney is most helpful. How is this case, and all it's consequences and costs going to affect my life? Are there things I can do to mitigate the damages?
Besides the criminal defense of the charges you must always look at the total cost in time, money, energy, and risk.
Exposure is More than the Sun
I don't like exposing my clients to great risks that are costly. Misdemeanors in New York State can expose you to up to one year in jail (local county), and three years of county probation. Felony charges and Federal charges expose people to long terms in prison (state facilities).
Can this be avoided? What is YOUR EXPOSURE to these charges? What are you specifically being exposed to? Is jail an option? Is probation an option? Are any of these likely outcomes?
Understanding your criminal case begins here. Make sure you choose a "counselor" at law (not merely an attorney) to guide you, explain the options, and help you to make the right decisions for YOU.
NOTE: Any attorney can call themselves counselors at law. Whether they actually carry out that mission is another story entirely.
Law Offices of Lawrence Newman
504 North Aurora Street
Ithaca, NY 14850
607-229-5184
http://www.ithacadwi.com
Saturday, March 31, 2012
Ithaca Cortland Lawyer What is the Value of a Professional?
One common question before hiring a professional is, "do I need you?"
Does anyone really need a doctor, a lawyer, or a CPA (tax professional)?
Does anyone need a plumber, electrician, contractor, or carpenter?
The D.I.Y. (Do It Yourself) Mentality
I love to go to Home Depot, and Lowes. They didn't exist years ago. The local hardware store wasn't on that level or scale. I have attempted plumbing, painting, scraping, fixing, and repairing my home. It has not always worked out as well as I would have liked or imagined. Sometimes (really often) it was messy and as my wife would say, I made it worse.
Plumbers, Electricians, and Carpenters
You can DIY (do it yourself) but should you? Is it really a smart way to go? Do you always save time and money? I tried scraping off old wall paper, I couldn't move my arm for a week.
I admit I am not handy. Hanging a picture can be challenging for me. Maybe other people are handy. Maybe they enjoy learning new things. I'm at a point in my life where I would rather support other professions, and let the professionals do their job. Besides the thought of going up a ladder, playing with electricity, or opening a pipe is scary to me.
With an Ithaca, NY home in Fall Creek that is 123 years old having professionals to do upkeep, maintenance, and repair is not an option for us, it is a necessity. I say thank G-d for these professionals, I would be cold, knee deep in crap, and in the dark without them.
OF Doctors, Lawyers, and Accountants
You can be your own doctor, lawyer, or CPA. There is no law against it. But what a professional brings to the table is their experience, their knowledge, and their assessment of your particular (unique/specific) situation.
This level of assurance or insurance that the decisions you make will be made with a full understanding. That you understand the direct and indirect consequences of any action is always of paramount importance. Fools make uniformed decisions. Especially when the government is involved you should not take these things lightly.
Professional Representation comes in different shades, colors, and sizes. Not all professional representation is the same. Doctors are not all the same. CPAs are not all the same. And lawyers are most definitely not all the same. They can do the same things (with their licenses) but they are not all equally knowledgeable, experienced, or skilled.
Some professionals are into what they do, they are passionate about their field, they are contributors, they stay involved, they remain learners, while others do the very least to remain as licensed professionals, they can't wait to retire and play golf, they hate what they do, they live for the weekend.
I guess it all comes down to this, who would you choose to represent you and your interests? I can tell you that the cheapest professionals are those barely interested in their fields. They seem bothered and annoyed.
If you see a "I'd rather be ... ing" bumper sticker on their cars you better go find another professional.
Lawrence (Larry) Newman, D.C., J.D.
Doctor or Chiropractic
Attorney and Counselor at Law
504 North Aurora Street
Ithaca, NY 14850
607-229-5184
http://www.ithacainjurylawyer.com
http://www.ithacadwi.com
Does anyone really need a doctor, a lawyer, or a CPA (tax professional)?
Does anyone need a plumber, electrician, contractor, or carpenter?
The D.I.Y. (Do It Yourself) Mentality
I love to go to Home Depot, and Lowes. They didn't exist years ago. The local hardware store wasn't on that level or scale. I have attempted plumbing, painting, scraping, fixing, and repairing my home. It has not always worked out as well as I would have liked or imagined. Sometimes (really often) it was messy and as my wife would say, I made it worse.
Plumbers, Electricians, and Carpenters
You can DIY (do it yourself) but should you? Is it really a smart way to go? Do you always save time and money? I tried scraping off old wall paper, I couldn't move my arm for a week.
I admit I am not handy. Hanging a picture can be challenging for me. Maybe other people are handy. Maybe they enjoy learning new things. I'm at a point in my life where I would rather support other professions, and let the professionals do their job. Besides the thought of going up a ladder, playing with electricity, or opening a pipe is scary to me.
With an Ithaca, NY home in Fall Creek that is 123 years old having professionals to do upkeep, maintenance, and repair is not an option for us, it is a necessity. I say thank G-d for these professionals, I would be cold, knee deep in crap, and in the dark without them.
OF Doctors, Lawyers, and Accountants
You can be your own doctor, lawyer, or CPA. There is no law against it. But what a professional brings to the table is their experience, their knowledge, and their assessment of your particular (unique/specific) situation.
This level of assurance or insurance that the decisions you make will be made with a full understanding. That you understand the direct and indirect consequences of any action is always of paramount importance. Fools make uniformed decisions. Especially when the government is involved you should not take these things lightly.
Professional Representation comes in different shades, colors, and sizes. Not all professional representation is the same. Doctors are not all the same. CPAs are not all the same. And lawyers are most definitely not all the same. They can do the same things (with their licenses) but they are not all equally knowledgeable, experienced, or skilled.
Some professionals are into what they do, they are passionate about their field, they are contributors, they stay involved, they remain learners, while others do the very least to remain as licensed professionals, they can't wait to retire and play golf, they hate what they do, they live for the weekend.
I guess it all comes down to this, who would you choose to represent you and your interests? I can tell you that the cheapest professionals are those barely interested in their fields. They seem bothered and annoyed.
If you see a "I'd rather be ... ing" bumper sticker on their cars you better go find another professional.
Lawrence (Larry) Newman, D.C., J.D.
Doctor or Chiropractic
Attorney and Counselor at Law
504 North Aurora Street
Ithaca, NY 14850
607-229-5184
http://www.ithacainjurylawyer.com
http://www.ithacadwi.com
Sunday, March 25, 2012
ITHACA Cortland Lawyer Says It's Not the Injury It's the Impact
COMMUNICATING AND COMPARING
People always like to compare things. They love to talk, and contrast their lives with the lives of people around them. They compare what they paid for things (like cars and homes), they compare what their kids are doing or not doing (married, pregnant, divorced), and they compare their medical problems and injuries. So and so has a "blank-itis" or a "growth" or a "pain in their blank."
But what has all this got to do with injury law?
Sometimes in their comparing people make the mistake of trying to match up an apple and an orange.
What is the value of a herniated disc in your cervical spine? If your neighbor got $50,000.
What is the true cost of a fractured scaphoid bone in your hand? If your friend got $25,000.
What can you collect for a dislocated shoulder? If your brother got nothing.
All of these can be serious injuries but without knowing more they are stand in a vacuum.
In the legal field of personal injury (accident-negligence cases), more important than the physical injury or damages you suffer is the impact it has on YOU.
THE BIG CONNECTION
How has this injury IMPACTED YOUT LIFE? Has it prevented you from doing specific activities you loved and enjoyed? Did you bowl, golf, knit, run, or do any physical activities that you can no longer do?
Can you sleep? Can you work? Can you care for yourself?
The Dental Hygienist
I represented a beautiful young lady who car was t-boned while she waited for the light to change at a downtown intersection. Her neck x-rays and MRI findings were not horrible. They didn't show or indicate the presence of any disc herniations or protrusions. Over the ensuing months after her accident she started to get terrible headaches and pain down into her hands. The pain became so unbearable to her that she could no longer work.
The insurance company denied her claim, and basically called her a faker. This was a case that needed to go to trial. She needed to express the nature and degree of her problems openly. The impact of her injuries was devastating to her. She testified and we were successful. Her emotional and articulate explanation of what she had gone through after the accident was the crux of her case. This accident impacted her and her life in a big way. People are not all the same. One person's tolerance of pain and another person's can be completely different.
LIFE BEFORE AN ACCIDENT VS. LIFE AFTER AN ACCIDENT
How is your life different after your injury? What has "changed" since your accident?
In all ways big and small, the effects of an accident and the injuries you have suffered can have far reaching consequences. These can range from being unable to work to being irritable and tired all the time.
It's not the injury, it's the person, and people come in different shapes, sizes, and pain tolerances.
Remember that the effects of the exact same injury on one person may be far different to someone else.
Remember the true value of YOUR injury = the degree that the injury has impacted YOUR LIFE.
Lawrence A. Newman, D.C., J.D.
Doctor of Chiropractic
Attorney at Law
504 N. Aurora St.
Ithaca, NY 14850
607-229-5184
http://www.ithacainjurylawyer.com
People always like to compare things. They love to talk, and contrast their lives with the lives of people around them. They compare what they paid for things (like cars and homes), they compare what their kids are doing or not doing (married, pregnant, divorced), and they compare their medical problems and injuries. So and so has a "blank-itis" or a "growth" or a "pain in their blank."
But what has all this got to do with injury law?
Sometimes in their comparing people make the mistake of trying to match up an apple and an orange.
What is the value of a herniated disc in your cervical spine? If your neighbor got $50,000.
What is the true cost of a fractured scaphoid bone in your hand? If your friend got $25,000.
What can you collect for a dislocated shoulder? If your brother got nothing.
All of these can be serious injuries but without knowing more they are stand in a vacuum.
In the legal field of personal injury (accident-negligence cases), more important than the physical injury or damages you suffer is the impact it has on YOU.
THE BIG CONNECTION
How has this injury IMPACTED YOUT LIFE? Has it prevented you from doing specific activities you loved and enjoyed? Did you bowl, golf, knit, run, or do any physical activities that you can no longer do?
Can you sleep? Can you work? Can you care for yourself?
The Dental Hygienist
I represented a beautiful young lady who car was t-boned while she waited for the light to change at a downtown intersection. Her neck x-rays and MRI findings were not horrible. They didn't show or indicate the presence of any disc herniations or protrusions. Over the ensuing months after her accident she started to get terrible headaches and pain down into her hands. The pain became so unbearable to her that she could no longer work.
The insurance company denied her claim, and basically called her a faker. This was a case that needed to go to trial. She needed to express the nature and degree of her problems openly. The impact of her injuries was devastating to her. She testified and we were successful. Her emotional and articulate explanation of what she had gone through after the accident was the crux of her case. This accident impacted her and her life in a big way. People are not all the same. One person's tolerance of pain and another person's can be completely different.
LIFE BEFORE AN ACCIDENT VS. LIFE AFTER AN ACCIDENT
How is your life different after your injury? What has "changed" since your accident?
In all ways big and small, the effects of an accident and the injuries you have suffered can have far reaching consequences. These can range from being unable to work to being irritable and tired all the time.
It's not the injury, it's the person, and people come in different shapes, sizes, and pain tolerances.
Remember that the effects of the exact same injury on one person may be far different to someone else.
Remember the true value of YOUR injury = the degree that the injury has impacted YOUR LIFE.
Lawrence A. Newman, D.C., J.D.
Doctor of Chiropractic
Attorney at Law
504 N. Aurora St.
Ithaca, NY 14850
607-229-5184
http://www.ithacainjurylawyer.com
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
Ithaca Lawyer: Collateral Damage in a NYS DWI
I love Arnold, one of his more exciting flicks was Collateral Damage. Just the idea of a ripple effect, the pebble dropped into the pond, and then the visual of dominos put in motion can set the mind spinning. One thing almost always leads to another, and in the world of DWI this can often be true as well.
How Can Just One Event Set a String of Events in Motion?
The following is merely one relevant example but there are many others within the field of criminal defense.
Your criminal DWI case goes into Court for sentencing, it is an agreed upon plea (one negotiated between your lawyer and the ADA). The Judge agrees as well a CD (conditional discharge) with ONE of the conditions being that you complete the DMV DDP (drinking driver program).
It all seems simple enough. So you go to the (DDP) program. While in the DDP, they feel (the instructors use a matrix) that you need a drug/alcohol evaluation. Then their evaluator says you need treatment for your problem. They make a recommendation for twelve group therapy sessions. You go to two, you decide it's BS (a waste of your time and money), and you don't follow through. A report of this goes back to the Court (to the Judge) who then violates you because you (unknowingly) violated his conditions. You now must return to Court for your case to be re-opened, and for you to be re-sentenced.
Does this happen? More often than you may imagine. I get phone calls on this and more.
Ways to Protect from Collateral Damage (consequences)
1. Listen carefully to any Court ordered conditions.
2. Read carefully any list or rendition of Court ordered conditions.
3. Are there any "special" (added) conditions?
4. Do any of them open you up to further collateral consequences?
5. Are any of them open ended?
6. Do you need to get an mental and/or drug evaluation (and follow through with any and all recommendations)?
7. Are there any specific time periods or time limits placed upon the conditions?
8. Do you need to show the Court proof of completion?
Remember forewarned is forearmed. Prepare for all of it. Look and read before proceeding to sign and agree.
Law Office of Lawrence Newman
504 North Aurora Street
Ithaca, NY 14850
607-229-5184
http://ithacadwi.com
How Can Just One Event Set a String of Events in Motion?
The following is merely one relevant example but there are many others within the field of criminal defense.
Your criminal DWI case goes into Court for sentencing, it is an agreed upon plea (one negotiated between your lawyer and the ADA). The Judge agrees as well a CD (conditional discharge) with ONE of the conditions being that you complete the DMV DDP (drinking driver program).
It all seems simple enough. So you go to the (DDP) program. While in the DDP, they feel (the instructors use a matrix) that you need a drug/alcohol evaluation. Then their evaluator says you need treatment for your problem. They make a recommendation for twelve group therapy sessions. You go to two, you decide it's BS (a waste of your time and money), and you don't follow through. A report of this goes back to the Court (to the Judge) who then violates you because you (unknowingly) violated his conditions. You now must return to Court for your case to be re-opened, and for you to be re-sentenced.
Does this happen? More often than you may imagine. I get phone calls on this and more.
Ways to Protect from Collateral Damage (consequences)
1. Listen carefully to any Court ordered conditions.
2. Read carefully any list or rendition of Court ordered conditions.
3. Are there any "special" (added) conditions?
4. Do any of them open you up to further collateral consequences?
5. Are any of them open ended?
6. Do you need to get an mental and/or drug evaluation (and follow through with any and all recommendations)?
7. Are there any specific time periods or time limits placed upon the conditions?
8. Do you need to show the Court proof of completion?
Remember forewarned is forearmed. Prepare for all of it. Look and read before proceeding to sign and agree.
Law Office of Lawrence Newman
504 North Aurora Street
Ithaca, NY 14850
607-229-5184
http://ithacadwi.com
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
Ithaca DWI Defense: It Can Be as Simple or as Complicated as a Specific Day
We mark the seasons, the days of the week, and especially the holidays by specific dates. Apparently time passes by more quickly as we age. I almost stopped my wife from taking down the tree this past year because I thought wow Christmas came so fast this year why bother (let's just keep it up).
What does all this have to do with criminal law or even DWI defense?
Well imagine we are sitting in a Courtroom and the prosecutor is about to begin their opening statement in a DWI case, they will have a theme, it was New Year's eve, it was Super Bowl Sunday, it was a Holiday! And folks what do we do on Holy-days, we Celebrate! We celebrate special occasions with spirits (both real and imagined). Everyone knows this, it is common knowledge, which makes it that much more relevant. Get it? drinking to excess naturally runs with this special date/day.
So the defense of a DWI has to take this into consideration. To negate it wouldn't be smart. Like all things, everything must be considered when planning and executing a defense.
I prefer my DWIs on non-holidays if possible. It may seem like an innocuous point but people are people. Defending DWI is just better any old day just more difficult on that special occasion.
Lawrence (Larry) Newman, D.C., J.D.
Doctor of Chiropractic
Attorney at Law
504 N. Aurora St.
Ithaca, NY 14850
http://www.ithacadwi.com
What does all this have to do with criminal law or even DWI defense?
Well imagine we are sitting in a Courtroom and the prosecutor is about to begin their opening statement in a DWI case, they will have a theme, it was New Year's eve, it was Super Bowl Sunday, it was a Holiday! And folks what do we do on Holy-days, we Celebrate! We celebrate special occasions with spirits (both real and imagined). Everyone knows this, it is common knowledge, which makes it that much more relevant. Get it? drinking to excess naturally runs with this special date/day.
So the defense of a DWI has to take this into consideration. To negate it wouldn't be smart. Like all things, everything must be considered when planning and executing a defense.
I prefer my DWIs on non-holidays if possible. It may seem like an innocuous point but people are people. Defending DWI is just better any old day just more difficult on that special occasion.
Lawrence (Larry) Newman, D.C., J.D.
Doctor of Chiropractic
Attorney at Law
504 N. Aurora St.
Ithaca, NY 14850
http://www.ithacadwi.com
Monday, March 19, 2012
Tests, Tests, and Still More Tests: Do I Have To Take Police Tests?
The police (including troopers, deputies) are worse than teachers when it comes to giving tests. In college you usually get time to study. You may also receive an outline, a list of books, a course syllabus, and/or a list of potential testable subject matter. Not so with law enforcement.
Police/law enforcement tests given at roadside or back at the station are some of the most difficult tests you will ever take because:
You don't know what's on the test.
You can't prepare for the test.
You can't practice the test.
You can't take the test over.
You don't really know if you passed or why you failed the test?
In fact many tests may be graded upon the officer's subjectivity (how they perceive your responses to their commands, directions, and instructions). What if they are poor instructors? What if they are unclear in their communication?
On top of all of that some police tests are just made up. They have no standardization. For the record there are only three SFSTs (Standardized Field Sobriety Tests): the HGN (horizontal gaze nystagmus), the walk and turn, and the one leg stand.
Your Performance
You probably will not be at your best physically or mentally when taking them.
It may be late at night, you may tired, you may be scared, you may be anxious, and you may be under the influence of something.
So what tests must you take:
Alco-sensor Test (out in field breath test): Don't have to take but if you don't it is a traffic violation.
Field Sobriety Tests: Don't have to take them at all.
Breath Test: Have to take it (implied consent law) but if you decline license ramifications (revocation for one year)
Blood Test: Have to take it (will be forced if a personal injury accident) but you can decline (if not an accident with injuries to others) and face license revocation.
Law Offices of Lawrence Newman
Larry Newman, Attorney and Counselor at Law
504 North Aurora Street
Ithaca, NY 14850
607-229-5184
http://www.ithacadwi.com
Police/law enforcement tests given at roadside or back at the station are some of the most difficult tests you will ever take because:
You don't know what's on the test.
You can't prepare for the test.
You can't practice the test.
You can't take the test over.
You don't really know if you passed or why you failed the test?
In fact many tests may be graded upon the officer's subjectivity (how they perceive your responses to their commands, directions, and instructions). What if they are poor instructors? What if they are unclear in their communication?
On top of all of that some police tests are just made up. They have no standardization. For the record there are only three SFSTs (Standardized Field Sobriety Tests): the HGN (horizontal gaze nystagmus), the walk and turn, and the one leg stand.
Your Performance
You probably will not be at your best physically or mentally when taking them.
It may be late at night, you may tired, you may be scared, you may be anxious, and you may be under the influence of something.
So what tests must you take:
Alco-sensor Test (out in field breath test): Don't have to take but if you don't it is a traffic violation.
Field Sobriety Tests: Don't have to take them at all.
Breath Test: Have to take it (implied consent law) but if you decline license ramifications (revocation for one year)
Blood Test: Have to take it (will be forced if a personal injury accident) but you can decline (if not an accident with injuries to others) and face license revocation.
Law Offices of Lawrence Newman
Larry Newman, Attorney and Counselor at Law
504 North Aurora Street
Ithaca, NY 14850
607-229-5184
http://www.ithacadwi.com
Sunday, March 18, 2012
The Ithaca iLawyer: Communication at a New Level
New School Communicator: The Iphone Lawyer
I just finished reading Steve Jobs life story. It was a fascinating read. Whether you liked or disliked the man, whether you agree he made or didn't make any contributions to technology, you have to admire his inspiration and work ethic. The products he helped launch and bring to life are marvels of design. They are beautiful and useful.
The Ipractice
I have become an ijunkie over the course of many years. I would not have been able to build the practice I currently have and enjoy without the internet. It's funny how a little guy with a shingle in a relatively small town (like Ithaca, NY) can create a personal, focused, and local hands on criminal defense and personal injury practice (legal business) by strictly using the internet.
Paper is For Dinosaurs
I have no yellow page ad. I use no print media. I blog (3 years, 290+ blogs), I video (210 videos and counting), I publish (dozens of articles and books), and I express myself daily. Because of all of this I have been recognized by my peers (Co-authored a NYS DWI Defense Book in 2011) and had an amazingly successful practice. In practical terms, I can communicate with my legal clients from anyplace and at anytime. They can relay police reports, medical records, documents, updates, car information, etc. My practice is virtual on this level.
I believe others can also create successful businesses but to do it does take interest and inspiration. I am very interested in learning, growing, and sharing. I am inspired to leave a meaningful contribution.
An ilawyer needs an iphone
I love my Iphone, there I said it. It is amazing.
How much do I love this incredible tool (please don't refer to it as a phone)?
If my Iphone cheated on me, I wouldn't divorce it.
If my iphone owed me money, I wouldn't sue it.
If I had to choose between my Iphone and my kids, I would have to take a moment.
The iphone has allowed me to stay in touch, and to communicate at a level far beyond anything of days past.
Does your lawyer or other professional have an Iphone? With electronic fax I Can get my faxes, emails, texts, calls, pictures, documents, and videos from anywhere in the world? How can anyone not love the power, the ease of portability, and the shear access to vast resources at your fingertips? The Iphone is the ultimate communication tool. If your lawyer has an Iphone the chances are that they place a high (or higher) value on communication. Accessibility relates to reachability relates to connectability. Feeling connected, in touch, and only a message away brings a level of comfort only a warm blanket on a cold night can touch.
My Tech History
People need comparison and context to really (fully) appreciate the world we currently live in.
My first cell phone was an NEC P9000, for those unfamiliar with such things, the NEC was the size of a brick, 3lbs, 5 inch antenna. Can you imagine? I paid $1800 for this phone in 1987. I was a Chiropractor with a big phone. My wife used to love lugging it for me in her purse. My cell phone bills ran from $400 to $600 a month.
In line with this big phone was my first computer. It was a big purchase in 1986. We used to write all our bills by hand, and submit them to the insurance companies until this modern miracle of science. It was an IBM 386. It was designed to strictly do office billing with a dot matrix printer. It cost $6000 with the software. No mouse back then.
Jump to 1993, I purchased my first windows based computer for the office. It was a IBM 486 with software, still no mouse, at a purchase price of $15,000. We were doing word processing now. Still using the dot matrix printer and then the laser printer. The company I purchased this from also sold us a software update package for $2000/year. This was the state of union back in the early 1990s.
So looking over my life and the technology I am now privy to enjoy I am overjoyed. My kids may tire of my Abraham Lincoln stories but the reality is that these are truly miraculous times we live in. Anyone with an internet connection and some creativity can express themselves globally. Anyone with the interest and inspiration can harness these tools and create an amazing life.
Lawrence Newman, D.C., J.D.
Doctor of Chiropractic
Attorney and Counselor at Law
504 North Aurora Street
Ithaca, NY 14850
607-229-5184
http://www.ithacadwi.com
I just finished reading Steve Jobs life story. It was a fascinating read. Whether you liked or disliked the man, whether you agree he made or didn't make any contributions to technology, you have to admire his inspiration and work ethic. The products he helped launch and bring to life are marvels of design. They are beautiful and useful.
The Ipractice
I have become an ijunkie over the course of many years. I would not have been able to build the practice I currently have and enjoy without the internet. It's funny how a little guy with a shingle in a relatively small town (like Ithaca, NY) can create a personal, focused, and local hands on criminal defense and personal injury practice (legal business) by strictly using the internet.
Paper is For Dinosaurs
I have no yellow page ad. I use no print media. I blog (3 years, 290+ blogs), I video (210 videos and counting), I publish (dozens of articles and books), and I express myself daily. Because of all of this I have been recognized by my peers (Co-authored a NYS DWI Defense Book in 2011) and had an amazingly successful practice. In practical terms, I can communicate with my legal clients from anyplace and at anytime. They can relay police reports, medical records, documents, updates, car information, etc. My practice is virtual on this level.
I believe others can also create successful businesses but to do it does take interest and inspiration. I am very interested in learning, growing, and sharing. I am inspired to leave a meaningful contribution.
An ilawyer needs an iphone
I love my Iphone, there I said it. It is amazing.
How much do I love this incredible tool (please don't refer to it as a phone)?
If my Iphone cheated on me, I wouldn't divorce it.
If my iphone owed me money, I wouldn't sue it.
If I had to choose between my Iphone and my kids, I would have to take a moment.
The iphone has allowed me to stay in touch, and to communicate at a level far beyond anything of days past.
Does your lawyer or other professional have an Iphone? With electronic fax I Can get my faxes, emails, texts, calls, pictures, documents, and videos from anywhere in the world? How can anyone not love the power, the ease of portability, and the shear access to vast resources at your fingertips? The Iphone is the ultimate communication tool. If your lawyer has an Iphone the chances are that they place a high (or higher) value on communication. Accessibility relates to reachability relates to connectability. Feeling connected, in touch, and only a message away brings a level of comfort only a warm blanket on a cold night can touch.
My Tech History
People need comparison and context to really (fully) appreciate the world we currently live in.
My first cell phone was an NEC P9000, for those unfamiliar with such things, the NEC was the size of a brick, 3lbs, 5 inch antenna. Can you imagine? I paid $1800 for this phone in 1987. I was a Chiropractor with a big phone. My wife used to love lugging it for me in her purse. My cell phone bills ran from $400 to $600 a month.
In line with this big phone was my first computer. It was a big purchase in 1986. We used to write all our bills by hand, and submit them to the insurance companies until this modern miracle of science. It was an IBM 386. It was designed to strictly do office billing with a dot matrix printer. It cost $6000 with the software. No mouse back then.
Jump to 1993, I purchased my first windows based computer for the office. It was a IBM 486 with software, still no mouse, at a purchase price of $15,000. We were doing word processing now. Still using the dot matrix printer and then the laser printer. The company I purchased this from also sold us a software update package for $2000/year. This was the state of union back in the early 1990s.
So looking over my life and the technology I am now privy to enjoy I am overjoyed. My kids may tire of my Abraham Lincoln stories but the reality is that these are truly miraculous times we live in. Anyone with an internet connection and some creativity can express themselves globally. Anyone with the interest and inspiration can harness these tools and create an amazing life.
Lawrence Newman, D.C., J.D.
Doctor of Chiropractic
Attorney and Counselor at Law
504 North Aurora Street
Ithaca, NY 14850
607-229-5184
http://www.ithacadwi.com
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