"Talking Traffic" With Spencer Aronfeld!

Why does it feel as if this message is directed to one very tall, former Miami Heat basketball star?

Guess Who's Representing That Guy Suing Zo?

I'll give you a few hints -- he's got his very own breakfast club; he's written books as well as responses to reviews of his books; and he knows how to wield a sushi knife!

Anyone know who I'm talking about?

Spencer Aronfeld Has a View on Gay Marriage!

It's a slow news day, so let's check in on Spencer and see what he's up to -- hey look, he's in a high school classroom and he has an opinion on gay marriage!

Come on people, where are my tipsters???

Spencer Aronfeld Responds to His Critics.....One By One.

 Spencer Aronfeld's latest book, Make It Your Own Law Firm, is available for sale on Amazon (you can even download it to your Kindle).

But like anything Amazon sells, that means Spence is subject to the slings and arrows of commenters like Lonnie from Lake County, IL who didn't like the book too much:

I bought this book after reading a negative review for another book and then reading the reviewers other reviews which recommended this book. It must be a plant. Seriously, this book gives no practical information on how to start a law firm. How it can be called a guide to managing and marketing a firm are beyond me.

His advice on marketing your firm is to read the E-Myth. Well, if I wanted to read the E-Myth as to how to market, I would have bought the E-Myth.

Another piece of advice is to buy the book "How to Start Your Own Law Practice." Isn't that what your book is supposed to do?

Want to know how to open your trust account? He suggests going to the bank and reading the local rules. What insight! I would have never guessed I needed a bank to open a trust account.

The book is little more than an autobiographical blog and not worth the price paid or reading if you are thinking of opening a firm. I wish there was a way to get my money back. Live and learn.

But Spence was right there with a response and a money-back guarantee:

Dear Lonnie I read your review today and I am sorry that you were not helped by my book. I certainly wrote it to provide guidance and inspiration to law students who are faced with the prospect of graduating and not having a job as a lawyer. I know you are an accomplished and experienced lawyer. This book was written for law students... I note that most of the books you have reviewed are related to cycling. I am a former cyclist and raced for many years.

Lonnie, In any event, there is a way you can have your money back. Send me proof of your actual purchase of the book on Kindle, because your review does not indicate that you are in fact a "verified purchaser" to me directly at: aronfeld@aronfeld.com and I will personally write you a check back or donate the money to the charity of your choice. You decide.

I realized that when I wrote this book and put my time, effort, heart and soul into it, it would not please everyone. I am sorry you were disappointed in it and wish you the best in your legal career.

I actually like the way Spence handles this.  The reference to cycling is a way to build trust and develop a relationship, he praises Lonnie as a accomplished attorney, and then offers his money back.

(The insinuation that Lonnie never actually bought the book is a nice touch.)

Why can't AT&T act like this?

A Quick One While He's Away.

I went on YouTube hunting for Spencer Aronfeld's latest, but somehow wound up with the mind-blowing concoction you see above.

Ain't the intertubes friggin' grand?

Spencer Aronfeld Now a Mohel?

Is anyone looking for a fresh face to perform at your son's bris?

I know this guy.......

Help Restock 3d DCA Gym/Mechanical Room With More Useless Junk!

I had every intention of heading down to UM Law School to watch Mr. Aronfeld regale the childrens on how he won friends and graduated law school with zero job prospects.

Actually, he will be reading excerpts of his new book, Make It Your Own Law Firm, which I am sure will make for a very informative lecture.

Note to Spence -- bring props!

But then I realized tomorrow is the 3d DCA Annual Spring Seminar, so Spencer please accept my regrets.

And what better time than Spring to spruce up the 3d DCA's collection of old, donated gym equipment for their exercise/storage area/mechanical room/robing staging facility?

Don't you think they deserve new (to them) old, donated gym equipment?

So break out your partially-broken ThighMaster or your seductively entrancing, heavily-used Shake Weight, and bring it on down to the bunker tomorrow afternoon.

I'll have a booth set up outside collecting your worthless old crap pre-used judicial exercise equipment.

In my case I plan to part with my treasured Fushigi ball, which has brought me many hours of delight, especially during boring depositions.

I fully expect to see Judge Shepherd master the advanced Enigma move before my next oral argument -- that guy's a quick study.

See you all tomorrow!

Spencer Aronfeld Has a Breakfast Club!

I'll leave it to others to figure out who in the above clip is the Princess, the Jock, the Troubled Bully, and the Brain.

Isn't it great in the movies how everyone has one single definable character trait or flaw, and that by simply recognizing and addressing that single trait/flaw all previous issues which flowed from that flaw are miraculously resolved?

Note to Spence -- I love ya buddy but you gotta do something about that conference room.  I'm pretty sure I've seen it serve as the backdrop for a least one Sasha Grey romp.

Either jazz it up a little or maybe hold the next one at Einstein's Bagels?

Just an idea.....

Kudos btw to Spence and his team and everyone who contributed and purchased items at the silent auction for Japan that Lawyers to the Rescue put together.

Break Bread With Spencer Aronfeld!

Do you want to break wind bread with Spencer Aronfeld?

All you have to do is help out judging the American Association for Justice 2011 National Student Trial Advocacy Competition, which is co-sponsored by Spencer and will be held at the University of Miami School of Law this weekend.

Here are the dates:

March 4 from 5:00PM -9:00PM.

March 5 from 9:00AM-12:00PM and from 2:00PM-5:00PM.  

March 6 from 9:00AM-12:00PM and from 2:00PM-5:00PM.

All judges get to have a nice nosh over at Spence's place when the whole thing is done.

(Note to Gabby:  don't feel bad, Spencer messed up Mayra's name too!)

There Was A Time When No One Wanted To Hire Spencer Aronfeld.

It's true!

Just listen to Spencer explain:

 “I have owned and operated my own law firm from the day I was sworn in as a lawyer,” said Aronfeld. “Not because I wanted to or because it was my dream, but because even though I graduated from the University of Miami of Law, cum laude, in 1991, I simply could not get an interview, much less a job.” 

Now he has a nice law practice, a book, and lectures with Gerry Spence.

(Ok, I could do without the last part).

Too Bad About That Whole "Separation of Powers" Thing.

Listen, "separation of powers" was an interesting experiment, maybe it did kind of work briefly(?), but really it's time we just gave it up and moved on:

With Florida's legislative leaders still chafing from recent defeats before the Florida Supreme Court, Republican lawmakers signaled Wednesday that they want to strip some of the court's powers.

Their target: The court's authority to write rules governing practices and procedures across the statewide judicial system.

Republican members of the House Civil Justice Subcommittee accused the Supreme Court of routinely overstepping its authority in recent years by issuing rules that amount to substantive policy changes rather than merely addressing issues of procedure.

Among the rules they cited: One that established a maximum time to go to trial – 175 days from a felony arrest – after which a case must be dismissed as a violation of a defendant's right to a speedy trial; and another that required juvenile defendants be given a chance to confer with a lawyer before they can waive their rights to counsel and enter a plea to a crime.

"We've got a Supreme Court that's doing an end run around the Legislature," said Rep. Bill Hager, R-Boca Raton.

Yeah -- indefinite detention is way better, and why does a kid need a lawyer before the police beat a confession out of him he confesses to a crime?

Procedural safeguards are so last century!

In other news, this evening Spencer Aronfeld will explain to FIU law students why they shouldn't cry the second they graduate.

Good luck Spence, you've got your work cut out for you.

Spencer Aronfeld Holiday Card!

He took off his glasses and everything!

You Don't Need A Weatherman to Know Which Way the Wind Blows.

``

As I predicted, it appears the 3d DCA opinion overturning Florida's gay adoption ban will not be further appealed:

It's clear that the District Court of Appeal decision is of statewide application, and it will be binding on all trial courts across the state,'' Sheldon said.

As of last week, the state had exhausted the time to challenge the Gill adoption, and so, regardless of the law's status, the two children will remain Gill's adoptive children, Sheldon said.

Sheldon said he had discussed the case with Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum as early as Tuesday morning, and informed the state's top law enforcer of his decision. He said he does not know whether McCollum will choose to exercise his authority to appeal to the Florida Supreme Court in defense of the state statute.

Add to that recent federal district court rulings on DADT, DOMA, and Prop 8 and it's evident there's something happening, and you don't know what it is, do you Mr. Jones?

Oops, there I go again!

Question -- how cocooned do you have to be to think it's a good idea to purchase 20 miles of African Sapele wood at taxpayer expense for your fancy new appellate courthouse?

I have been to the bunker by the highway many times and I can assure you there is no wood in that building anywhere -- literally there is nothing organic or derived from the earth anywhere inside that place unless you count "concrete" as an all-natural substance.

And this is something we're proud of!

Finally, someone wants to shut Spencer Aronfeld up.

Have a nice hump day.