Chuck Newton Rides the Third Wave Blog> is the blog of licensed lawyer Chuck Newton and his virtual law firm. It is an actual law firm, except that it has no office. Chuck works from home or wherever work catches up with him. He stays connected with clients through phone, e-mail, fax, or even snail mail. This unconventional form of running a law firm is part of Chuck?s belief in the Third Wave Theory of Alvin Toffler, which also refers to the “post-industrial society” or the “information age.” In this kind of society, technology has bridged the gap between producers and consumers, giving people the means to fulfill their own needs. In short, when it comes to legal services, Chuck Newton is a freelancer.
What the blog is all about
His blog is basically a compilation of his personal thoughts and opinions on law, with added tidbits on other topics such as music, film, education, fashion, etc. His audience is also people involved in law (students, professors, practitioners), but the site is also useful for people looking for legal advice. There is, however, a disclaimer on the lower right portion of the site that Chuck Newton doesn?t consider his posts as legal advice.
This isn?t to say, however, that the posts aren?t useful for legal help. Articles such as The Automatic Stay Violation Law Niche is a timely resource for those experiencing bankruptcy. For aspiring law students, posts like 5 Tips for Entering Law School Students can also be a useful guide.
A few suggestions
While it is clear who this site?s audience is, it could use some improvement in the layout department. At present, it is a two-column blog: recent posts on the left side and everything else (links to related sites and law schools, contact and site information, blog categories) on the right. It could create a third column to the left of the main frame containing the blog posts, and that column could carry the list of blog categories, links to recent posts, and comments, etc., just to decongest the rightmost column. A footer could also be used just so the site doesn?t appear too linear.
Content-wise, however, the blog is quite informative and also has useful outside links that support its content. Just take note that it is still a personal blog and, therefore, contains opinion and not legitimate legal advice.
