Canadian Lawyer

24 N O V E M B E R / D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 5 w w w . C A N A D I A N L a w y e r m a g . c o m C R O S S E X A M I N E D DUSHAN MILIC Bad to the bone Bad Legal LLP is taking the Twittersphere by storm. Bad Legal LLP is taking the Twittersphere by storm. By Michael McKiernan ooking for an unscrupulous lawyer to help you bypass some bureau- cratic red tape? Gambled away the firm's money on a dodgy tip? Acci- dentally sexually harassed an underling? Maybe deliber- ately? You need Bad Legal LLP, the straight-talking law firm taking the Canadian legal world by storm on Twitter. And while Canadian Lawyer has none of the above troubles (if anyone asks), we are always looking for the inside scoop on the future of the legal profession. The Canadian Bar Association has had its say, Richard Susskind has had several, and even Chief Justice Beverly McLach- lin has thrown in her two cents. But everyone who's anyone knows Twitter is the future, so now it's time to give a real influencer a voice in the debate. In just more than a year on the social media site, the @BadLegalLLP Twitter account has amassed well over 3,000 followers, including an assortment of managing partners, law professors, political insid- ers, and media heavyweights. If Canada's biggest law firms were measured by the number of followers their official Twitter accounts have (and if you ask Bad Legal, they should), then the firm has already reached the top 10 nationwide. In the process, it has sur- passed the totals of two members of the storied Seven Sisters, "which of course signifies that we are better lawyers," according to the firm partner who oper- ates under the @BadLegalLLP handle. In an exclusive interview with Cana- dian Lawyer conducted via Twitter direct messages, the Bad Legal's anonymous creator offered this assessment of the Canadian legal market's outlook: "We're milking a dying cow in a burning barn," s/he said. On reflection, it's a strikingly similar sentiment to Susskind's. "And we're going to extract everything we can before it's reduced to rubble," s/he added. While you won't find the firm listed on any law society directories (we've checked), Bad Legal's creator bristles at L

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