Have you seen images of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg on the internet and wondered why young people are sharing her image everywhere?
This book can explain it all to you.
In Notorious RBG, The Life and Times of Ruth Bader Ginsberg, by Irin Carmen and Shana Nizhnik, Dey St., 2015, two young millennial authors present Ginsberg’s family and work history, in a fun, dynamic presentation that borrows from rap music.
The book shows what a cultural icon Justice Ginsberg has become in recent years. Her dissenting opinions in high-profile cases have generated admiration from many for her courage to stand by her convictions.
For example, in a recent case, Ginsburg's dissent states," Hubris is a fit word for today's demolition of the VRA [Voting Rights Act]. Gutting the VRA was like "throwing away your umbrella in a rainstorm because you are not getting wet."
Further, Ginsburg adds, "The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice if there is a steadfast commitment to see the task through to completion."
In an early argument before the Supreme Court as a lawyer seeking equality for women, Ginsburg said, "I ask no favor for my sex. All I ask of our brethren is that they take their feet off our necks."
Justice Ginsberg has become nearly as famous with some young people as notorious B.I.G., the rapper whose estate allowed the young authors to use some of his lyrics in their titles. (Biggie Smalls, aka the Notorious BIG, was born Christopher Wallace and died in an unsolved shooting in 1997.)
Even though Justice Ginsberg is in her 80's and has the appearance of a school marm from an earlier era, her image can be seen on college campuses across America, tattooed on many young people, and in cartoons all over the internet. This level of popularity of a U. S. Supreme Court Justice is unprecedented in recent times.
The book contains a pictorial timeline of the major milestones’s in RGB’s professional and family life. These occur every few years. RGB was married and raising a son and daughter while she simultaneously taught at major law schools, published casebooks, was nominated to the U.S. Court of Appeals by President Carter and later nominated to the U.S. Supreme Court by President Bill Clinton. Mostly, the book demonstrates Ginsberg’s stellar work ethic and her commitment to achieving justice for everyone, both men and women.
Chapter one explains why Justice Ginsburg has become famous for her dissents.
Chapter two outlines some famous landmarks in women's political history and the contributions Justice Ginsburg has made.
Chapter three outlines Justice Ginsburg's family history, her education and her early work history.
Chapter four contains Justice Ginsburg's women's rights cases argued before the Supreme Court. Some analysis of Reed v. Reed, as well as a few other cases are included, shedding light on why certain passages were included.
Chapter five focuses on Justice Ginsburg's nomination as a federal judge and her appointment to the U.S. Supreme Court.
Chapter six "real love" focuses on Justice Ginsburg's marriage.
Chapter seven "my team supreme" focuses on the collegial nature of the U.S. Supreme Court.
Chapter eight, "Your words just hypnotize me" contains some of Justice Ginsburg's dissenting opinions.
Chapter nine, "I just love your flashy ways," shows how Justice Ginsburg has
become a fashion icon.
Chapter ten, "But I just can't quit" explains Justice Ginburg's determination to stay on the court.
This book is similar to a fan book. It is not meant to be a serious biography. The authors compare and contrast the ancient customs and traditions observed at the Supreme Court with the dynamic world inhabited by the millennial authors where the opinions of the Court could have an impact for many years to come. In doing so, they explain why Justice Ginsburg inspires young people throughout the U.S.
If you are looking for a fun read to understand what all the hype is about, this is it. If you are looking for a serious book that examines RGB’s philosophy and insight into why each her decisions and dissents were written in the manner they were written, wait for RBGs’s autobiography which is expected to come out soon.
Rating: **** out of 5.
Copyright @ 2016 Christine Esser
Disclosure: You can purchase the Notorious RGB by clicking on the link below. The first link is for the book. . If you click on the link below, you will be directed to Amazon. We may receive a small commission that will not increase your purchase price.
I purchased this book with my own money and did not receive anything in exchange for this review by the book's author or publisher. Comments are welcome. Thank you.
Thursday, March 31, 2016
Friday, March 25, 2016
Renegade Lawyer Marketing by Benjamin W. Glass, III. - Quick Review and Book Summary
Do you need more clients or better-paying clients? Renegade Lawyer Marketing can help you develop a marketing plan to find them and sign them up.
Renegade Lawyer Marketing by Ben Glass, III, Word Association Publishers, 2015, is directed at solo and small law firms who serve the general public to help them to more effectively market their legal services. Glass is a lawyer.
For me, the book did not get interesting until about Chapter 20 where Glass begins to disclose what should be included in a marketing plan. These are Glass's five components of a marking plan:
(1) Create a marketing message that will provoke both those who are ready to hire a lawyer and those who are not quite ready to contact you;
(2) Write a book that you can send potential clients;
(3) Use internet marketing effectively;
(4) Create and manage a marketing database;
(5) Completely think through the entire marketing cycle and the steps you want potential clients to take along the way.
In Chapter 21, Glass advises lawyers to think about what your ideal client would look like and act like and create a marketing plan that will attract those types of clients. Also, consider which clients are a huge drain on resources and rid yourself of them by creating systems that exclude those types of people from becoming clients. But should they get through your screening process, refer them to other lawyers (and collect a referral fee if your jurisdiction allows this).
In Chapter 22, Glass advises firms to hire a marketing director or assistant director to focus on client acquisition so that your time can be directed to other aspects of your law practice.
Chapter 23 focuses on creating a marketing system. Glass advises that by attracting a large number of potential clients this allows you to select from the cream of the crop to become clients at your firm. Glass believes the best way to do this is by creating information products, such as books, newsletters, and information pieces that help to answer common client questions.
An attorney can write the book alone or create a bullet list of potential topics and record someone interviewing the attorney on those topics and then transcribe this and polish it to create a book. The book can be used to send to potential clients and other referral partners.
The third step of the marketing system should be geared at following up on potential leads by providing them with more great information. Infusionsoft is a database marketing system that is used by many lawyers and recommended.
Fourth, the lawyer can publish a monthly newsletter that contains some information about the firm but also interesting articles about the local community.
Step five is to create online and offline marketing systems that drive potential clients to request your book(s).
Step six is to create a “shock and awe” package for potential clients that contains these six items:
(1) your book(s),
(2) a CD which usually is an interview with the lawyer,
(3) a book or report on how to find the right lawyer for a typical case in your practice area,
(4) testimonials by happy clients,
(5) an information DVD,
(6) a cover letter emphasizing why prospective clients are smart to ask for this information.
A later chapter emphasizes the importance of getting law firm staff to use scripts that also “sell” and promote your law firm to potential clients and to closely monitor this so that your marketing efforts are not sabotaged by a receptionist or another law firm employee who sounds busy and preoccupied while answering the phone, which is likely to turn off potential clients.
Additionally, Glass mentions the importance of referrals and training happy clients to act as referral sources for your law firm. Glass also addresses the importance of maintaining your website, and your law firm’s favorable presence on online attorney websites, such as Avvo, Superlawyers.com, and Bestlawyers.com.
The book also contains a CD of an interview with Ben Glass where he discloses his business philosophy. If you purchase the Kindle edition of the book, the audio can be downloaded from a website using a code. Additionally, a list of recommended books is included on both marketing and business in general.
Rating: $$$$ out of 5
Although this book contains a lot of non-essential information, only one $ is deducted because the information that is included is priceless and can help lawyers to do a better job of marketing their law practices.
Disclosure: This book can be purchased by clicking on the link below. The first link is for the paperback book and the second link is for the Kindle edition that can be viewed on a computer if you don't own a Kindle. If you click on the link below, you will be directed to Amazon. We may receive a small commission that will not increase your purchase price. I purchased this book with my own money and did not receive anything in exchange for this review by the book's author or publisher. Comments are welcome. Thank you.
Renegade Lawyer Marketing by Ben Glass, III, Word Association Publishers, 2015, is directed at solo and small law firms who serve the general public to help them to more effectively market their legal services. Glass is a lawyer.
For me, the book did not get interesting until about Chapter 20 where Glass begins to disclose what should be included in a marketing plan. These are Glass's five components of a marking plan:
(1) Create a marketing message that will provoke both those who are ready to hire a lawyer and those who are not quite ready to contact you;
(2) Write a book that you can send potential clients;
(3) Use internet marketing effectively;
(4) Create and manage a marketing database;
(5) Completely think through the entire marketing cycle and the steps you want potential clients to take along the way.
In Chapter 21, Glass advises lawyers to think about what your ideal client would look like and act like and create a marketing plan that will attract those types of clients. Also, consider which clients are a huge drain on resources and rid yourself of them by creating systems that exclude those types of people from becoming clients. But should they get through your screening process, refer them to other lawyers (and collect a referral fee if your jurisdiction allows this).
In Chapter 22, Glass advises firms to hire a marketing director or assistant director to focus on client acquisition so that your time can be directed to other aspects of your law practice.
Chapter 23 focuses on creating a marketing system. Glass advises that by attracting a large number of potential clients this allows you to select from the cream of the crop to become clients at your firm. Glass believes the best way to do this is by creating information products, such as books, newsletters, and information pieces that help to answer common client questions.
An attorney can write the book alone or create a bullet list of potential topics and record someone interviewing the attorney on those topics and then transcribe this and polish it to create a book. The book can be used to send to potential clients and other referral partners.
The third step of the marketing system should be geared at following up on potential leads by providing them with more great information. Infusionsoft is a database marketing system that is used by many lawyers and recommended.
Fourth, the lawyer can publish a monthly newsletter that contains some information about the firm but also interesting articles about the local community.
Step five is to create online and offline marketing systems that drive potential clients to request your book(s).
Step six is to create a “shock and awe” package for potential clients that contains these six items:
(1) your book(s),
(2) a CD which usually is an interview with the lawyer,
(3) a book or report on how to find the right lawyer for a typical case in your practice area,
(4) testimonials by happy clients,
(5) an information DVD,
(6) a cover letter emphasizing why prospective clients are smart to ask for this information.
A later chapter emphasizes the importance of getting law firm staff to use scripts that also “sell” and promote your law firm to potential clients and to closely monitor this so that your marketing efforts are not sabotaged by a receptionist or another law firm employee who sounds busy and preoccupied while answering the phone, which is likely to turn off potential clients.
Additionally, Glass mentions the importance of referrals and training happy clients to act as referral sources for your law firm. Glass also addresses the importance of maintaining your website, and your law firm’s favorable presence on online attorney websites, such as Avvo, Superlawyers.com, and Bestlawyers.com.
The book also contains a CD of an interview with Ben Glass where he discloses his business philosophy. If you purchase the Kindle edition of the book, the audio can be downloaded from a website using a code. Additionally, a list of recommended books is included on both marketing and business in general.
Rating: $$$$ out of 5
Although this book contains a lot of non-essential information, only one $ is deducted because the information that is included is priceless and can help lawyers to do a better job of marketing their law practices.
Disclosure: This book can be purchased by clicking on the link below. The first link is for the paperback book and the second link is for the Kindle edition that can be viewed on a computer if you don't own a Kindle. If you click on the link below, you will be directed to Amazon. We may receive a small commission that will not increase your purchase price. I purchased this book with my own money and did not receive anything in exchange for this review by the book's author or publisher. Comments are welcome. Thank you.
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