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Law departments will be able to view videos of lawyers they might retain

Among the many ways that corporate managers of outside counsel decide which lawyer to retain, the in-person interview is probably the most effective (See my post of Nov. 24, 2007: coaches on how to interview; Feb. 8, 2006: a good question to ask; Jan. 1, 2006: behavioral interviews; Jan. 16, 2006: length of questions and answers; Aug. 10, 2007: Exelon’s RFPs and extensive interviews; Aug. 4, 2007: bifurcated interviews of associates and partners; and April 7, 2006: interviewers should look beyond looks.).

Before they trigger such a meeting, however, an in-house lawyer might like to see what the potential advisor looks and acts like. The legal network that Martindale Hubbell has announced it will launch in 2008 plans to allow lawyers and their firms to put up videos. Indeed, the company will help them create the videos.

More on the upcoming online network is in Met. Corp. Counsel, April 2008, at 52, or from Ralph Calistri (See my post of April 10, 2006: listen to oral arguments of potential counsel.).