Most people who’ve interacted with me know that I have a law degree. Some even understand that I’ve been using that degree in the role of general counsel for Extreme Arts & Sciences for a while now (along with driving web stuff and product development, which are easily the bigger parts of that job). I’m also trying to keep my toe in the ever expanding internet v. intellectual property traditions adventure. And, of course, when you’re a lawyer, you get the usual range of “can you do a thing for me?” inquiries. Many of those I’ve had to redirect or turn down, either to ensure that the people involved receive competent counsel in a highly specialized area, or because I was simply too busy to justify both the project and the project management hours required. I didn’t hang a shingle after leaving my previous firm precisely because there was no way to balance the demands of minding the shop, the legal work itself, and my commitments to EASCI. Without hiring someone, there didn’t appear to be a solution to the “running the store” part of legal work.

Until now. A fellow named Chris Matthews recently left Perkins Coie to play in the street, founding a firm called Workbench Law. Workbench is focused on real estate transactions, general corporate counsel work, and “spirit guide” participation in emerging companies, providing people/legal/regulatory advice as required, brokering deals, and generally just working alongside start-up companies as they move into adolescence. Chris has nearly three decades of experience in transactional and corporate law, and is a heck of a lot of fun besides. He’s a lawyer with none of the standard – dare I say asshole-ish – traits that the profession so often drums into its membership.

I’ve accepted what amounts to an as-needed associate position for Workbench Law. Chris needs help, and particularly once we beat django into submission, I’ll probably have about 20 hours per week to give him that help. As for myself, I get all the office support that I previously lacked, an amazingly experienced and intelligent senior partner to work with and pester with questions, and best of all, a chance to do the stuff I went to law school to do; help small and start-up companies do great things.

So for anyone who’s ever pinged me about some thing or another, the answer has changed. If anything comes up, I’d be honored to hear more about it. You’ll get handy-dandy associate rates, backed up by the deep experience of Chris and the wicked skills of the paralegals and other attorneys in his employ.

Soon (probably January 2009), http://www.workbenchlaw.com/ will be up and running with more information, but for now, shoot me an email with any questions at the regular old gmail address. Strictly speaking, I “start” in January as well, but only because of the Blizzard of aught-eight and that whole holiday thing.