Craigslist, Lawyer Advertising, Violence, Weirdness

Adventures in Lawyer Advertising: Legal Ninja For Hire

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A reader sent this Craigslist ad along, noting the “uninhibited freedom of expression afforded to smaller firms” in their advertising as opposed to “uber-processed biglaw ads.” Yes, MidLaw and SmallLaw, thank you for providing the fuel for our Adventures in Lawyer Advertising series.

The advertising California-based firm, Le Pelletier, has one of the strangest websites we’ve ever seen. There is only one attorney listed: the firm’s managing partner, Erin Carlstrom Pelletier. Her LinkedIn profile says she is a Yale undergrad, Pepperdine Law ’08 grad, who apparently started her own firm.
In case you can’t read it, here’s an excerpt from the ad:

Do you need a stealthy warrior specially trained in the unorthodox arts of law? How about a team that can sneak under the cover of darkness to silently assassinate your debt? Le and Pelletier, LLP can be your ninja! We will stalk your enemies like a shadow and strike before they ever knew what hit them.

The rest of the text and some gems from the firm’s site, after the jump.


Here’s the full text of the ad:

Do you need a stealthy warrior specially trained in the unorthodox arts of law? How about a team that can sneak under the cover of darkness to silently assassinate your debt? Le and Pelletier, LLP can be your ninja! We will stalk your enemies like a shadow and strike before they ever knew what hit them.
Let’s face it. Lawyers don’t have the greatest reputation. Even if you do come across one that you like, surely you think to yourself that this one must be an exception. After all, you’ve got to wonder if there isn’t some truth behind the stigma. So we created Le + Pelletier, LLP, to be a law firm like no other–built from the ground up with the singular purpose of finding a better way to practice law.
Our ads may be humourous, but when it comes to your legal representation, we don’t joke around. Come see why our firm is different, and why it is the only firm that will launch throwing stars into any legal opponent that comes your way – figuratively of course!

The ad is weird. The firm’s site is weirder. When you jump to Le Pelletier’s site, you’re met by Latin gibberish.
The latest “Firm News” is a photo of a pirate flag.
If you click on Practice Areas, you’re met with this message:

You are probably wondering if we can help you with a particular legal problem. The short answer is, “Yes.”
A more comprehensive answer is that unlike many firms we refuse to pigeon-hole ourselves within defined “practice areas.” We also cringe at the thought of being labeled an everything-but-the-kitchen-sink general practice.

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The About Us section explains:

Let’s face it. Lawyers don’t have the greatest reputation. Even if you do come across one that you like, surely you think to yourself that this one must be an exception. After all, you’ve got to wonder if there isn’t some truth behind the stigma.
In reality, however, we’ve found that the vast (and we really do mean it, the vast) majority of attorneys out there are actually very professional, courteous, and genuinely loveable people. No, this isn’t just a conspiracy between the Pot and Kettle to convince the other kitchen appliances that they aren’t all black. We simply point this out because there is obviously a disconnect between the great people who provide legal services, and the unhappy client who needed the help.

Is this satirical genius, a serious site, or the chronicle of an unemployed Pepperdine Law grad going mad in the recession? Check it out and decide for yourself.
Ninja for Hire: Discrete, Yet Effective (Santa Ana) [Craigslist]

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