In our first installment of this series, Levin Papantonio crushed Schlender Law Firm.
Today, Houston law firm Abraham, Watkins, Nichols, Sorrels & Friend (Abraham) faces off against New York malpractice lawyer Gerald Oginski (Oginski).
In this corner ...
In Abraham's video, Commercial Litigation Lawyer/Attorney in Texas — Overview, partner Randall Owen Sorrels discusses his firm's experience helping the little guy take on large corporations. The video alternates between takes of Sorrels looking like he's being interviewed and some Ken Burns-style photos.
I admire any law firm that uses YouTube as a marketing channel because so few law firms do. That said, this video has several flaws.
The director should have used more than one camera angle when filming Sorrels. Since we don't sense the presence of an interviewer, perhaps Sorrels should have faced the camera like a news anchor. Also, I find the photos used for the B-roll segments lackluster. Perhaps the director should have used video footage of Houston and the law firm.
Sorrels makes some important points, but his script sounds like an ad (it shouldn't), including platitudes that we have all heard a zillion times. Instead, why not take advantage of YouTube's longer format to discuss a recent case with a successful outcome?
The video's best segment occurs when Sorrels describes litigation as being bad for business and his firm's attempt to minimize such disruption by resolving disputes as efficiently as possible. Also, he provides a link back to the firm's Web site in the About This Video section.
Finally, I understand the importance of search engine optimization, but videos should have real titles since they presumably tell stories. Besides, you can kill two birds with one stone. For example, Abraham's could have used something like: How to Find a Lawyer to Handle Your Commercial Litigation in Texas.
And in this corner ...
Oginski wins points before you even press play by using a clever red herring as the title for his video, Questions Never to Ask at a Deposition.
In the video, Oginski discusses why there is no such thing as a question to never ask. He explains why you need to learn about all the facts before trial, including those damaging to your case. Oginski provides real information here! He also scores points by facing the camera and addressing the audience.
On the downside, the video features some cheesy music at the beginning and the end. I wouldn't have a problem with it except it drowns him out at the end. His editor should have used a more gradual fade-in. Also, inexplicably for such a savvy online lawyer, Oginski fails to link to his site in the About This Video section.
The winner? Oginski by director's verdict. Case closed.
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