The SL Bar Association has an Attorney Credentialing Process to confirm that a designated member and Second Life user is, in fact, a real life lawyer offline. Costs L$2,750 to do, so a pretty good deal; however, as the site adds, "The SLBA does NOT guarantee that the information provided is correct... the Credential Check is made in reliance on information supplied by the person, his/her firm or employer, and the bar association." Then again, this is true in real life too, so when talking with someone in Second Life claiming to be an RL lawyer, do your due diligence. I learned about this service after some questions were raised about the credentials of real life lawyer and SL Bar Association member Agenda Faromet, who I often cite here, and who often comments on this blog through her SL alt, Vaki. But as she answers those questions:
"Hamlet's had my RL contact info for ages. I'm an Internet lawyer, but not a lawyer-in-Internet-only. Plus...I'm a little too visible and outspoken around here to be that full of shit. I'd have been busted a long time ago. You guys are nosy." That's all true. I did personally confirm her real life details, and wouldn't cite her as a RL lawyer otherwise. (And plan to cite her again real soon.)
Please share this post:
I'd just ask anyone in SL who claimed to be a lawyer in RL for their Bar Association credentials.
Bar Association ID# or something.
And then check with the relevant jurisdiction, find the attorney who actually has that ID#, and contact them offline - then say "hey, now that're we're speaking offline... blah blah blah etc etc..."
And if they suddenly had a freak out of "wait, somebody's claiming to be me somewhere..." I'd hand them what I knew of that SL avatar, and let them decide how to proceed.
Or if they said "cool, yeah that was me in the video game..." then its all good.
Posted by: Pussycat Catnap | Wednesday, July 23, 2014 at 01:39 PM
Trolling for business on the Internet has gotta be easier than chasing ambulances.
Why doesn't SL name SL2 'Lawyer Land'?
Posted by: joe | Wednesday, July 23, 2014 at 02:39 PM
Very good idea ! But does it work for both a non US and retired lawyer ? And for a retired lawyer the virtual goods IP rights was not his area ?
Posted by: Pierre Ceriano | Wednesday, July 23, 2014 at 05:00 PM
SL Bar Assoc Event - LL ToS Update 2.3
http://ht.ly/zzkjg
#slbarassoc
Posted by: RULosingHair | Friday, July 25, 2014 at 03:32 AM