Should i hire attorney with aol email address?

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Should i hire attorney with aol email address?

Tina Lee
Member since 2021 · 199 posts · 42 votes

I read somewhere professionals with aol email address should not be hired.

I could be totally wrong but like to see what’s others think.

Thanks

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Matt Devincenzo
Investor · Clairemont, CA · Member since 2011 · 3k+ posts · 2k+ votes
4y

I work with plenty of other professionals that are older and have just always had their AOL address for their business. To me it may actually show they've been doing this for so long that they still have and use their address from 20+ years ago. I just got asked if I could send our company's website...they have never had one and have been in business 38 years now. If you're in the industry and need our experience and expertise then you know about us. 

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  • Dave Skow
    Lender · Seattle, WA · Member since 2014 · 2k+ posts · 899 votes
    4y

    I wouldnt ...

    1Reply
  • Matt Devincenzo
    Investor · Clairemont, CA · Member since 2011 · 3k+ posts · 2k+ votes
    4y

    I work with plenty of other professionals that are older and have just always had their AOL address for their business. To me it may actually show they've been doing this for so long that they still have and use their address from 20+ years ago. I just got asked if I could send our company's website...they have never had one and have been in business 38 years now. If you're in the industry and need our experience and expertise then you know about us. 

    9Reply
  • Nathan GesnerBusiness Member
    Moderator
    Real Estate Broker · Cody, WY · Member since 2010 · 28k+ posts · 41k+ votes
    4y

    When I see an AOL address, I have to wonder...

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  • Theresa HarrisPro Member
    Member since 2019 · 15k+ posts · 11k+ votes
    4y

    If they are legit, who cares what their email address is.

    8Reply
  • Joe S.Pro Member
    Investor · San Antonio · Member since 2020 · 3k+ posts · 3k+ votes
    4y
    3Reply
  • Joe S.Pro Member
    Investor · San Antonio · Member since 2020 · 3k+ posts · 3k+ votes
    4y
    Quote from @Dave Skow:

    I wouldnt ...

     Do you mind sharing your reasoning behind that statement? There’s possibly a good reason I know nothing about.

    0Reply
  • Dave Skow
    Lender · Seattle, WA · Member since 2014 · 2k+ posts · 899 votes
    4y

    IMHO  -if I am needing a professional for legal advice  - I would prefer to work with an attorney that works  within  the  firms legal entity  and  not  with the attorneys  personal email ....law firms  should have  more of a secure  system than an individual with an AOL  address  has ..this would be more important to me  especially when trying to locate and  establish a new relationship  -  once I had a very   comfortable and  successful relationship established - the personal address  wouldn't be as much of an issue  

    5Reply
  • Bjorn AhlbladPro Member
    Investor · Shelton, WA · Member since 2017 · 6k+ posts · 6k+ votes
    4y

    I am sure that he/she has more than one email address. I had an AOL address along with other email addresses a while back. This is like asking if one should hire someone who uses a Dell PC as opposed to an Ipad.

    5Reply
  • Bruce D. Kowal
    Metro NY + New Bedford · Member since 2022 · 294 posts · 216 votes
    4y

    Just go to the State Court licensing website and see if he retains his license.  If it's current.  That's step Number One.

    3Reply
  • Account Closed
    Rental Property Investor · Denver, CO · Member since 2019 · 78 posts · 66 votes
    4y

    @Tina Lee I would not, probably for the same reason you asked the question. I would wonder whether they are up to speed on things as that’s decades behind. Doesn’t seem professional either.

    0Reply
  • Jim K.
    Handyman · Pittsburgh, PA · Member since 2018 · 5k+ posts · 13k+ votes
    4y

    @Tina Lee

    A lot of people just get into a rut and they end up having to use the old email addresses they had in college. That's why I still have dirtysanchez4u@ in a bunch of domains, really.

    6Reply
  • David Malik
    Memphis, TN · Member since 2018 · 46 posts · 32 votes
    4y

    I know someone who is a consummate professional BUT I have chided him about his AOL email account in fun. He now has a gmail account as well BUT prefers his AOL account. I think one reason is that he probably gets that, "You got mail" vocal notification. He never has explained to me why he has held on to it for so long BUT he is in the medical field so it works for him. The patients that really need him don't care as long as they can get in touch with him. He was hacked and I immediately explained to him what to do. He decided to close one AOL account & open another. That was not my recommendation. LOL

    I am not a geek, I have friends who are BUT I have dual booted my computers Windows/Linux and also from time to time use a Linux OS that I loaded on a flash drive that doesn't require a hard-drive to run without their help. Puppy Linux is really genius. I have used it for 7-8 yrs. I use Zorin for my every day personal and business computing. I am using it now. I just update Win10 every month and use it only when I have to.

    I've used Microsoft products since DOS 3.X and my fave OS is Win2K by them but Win7 for me was pretty cool. Hated Win8, ain't crazy about Win10 but it is not as bad as a tooth extraction, without anesthesia, which Win8 was. Loved Paradox as a language and relational database product that you DID NOT have to program unless U wanted to. Borland really had better products than Microsoft at the time ... those were the days.

    But I digress, why, because although I set up my own website, it's OK not great BUT functional, and I pay Google for my "professional look" email, I love using my flip phone, especially pulling it out at family functions and seeing my nephews & nieces cringe with embarrassment because they are all "smart phone" users. BTW, I did purchase my first tablet last yr. An Android, of course. LOL.

    A long way to no regarding their email preferences but I admit that I have some tech prejudice even when business folks may use a free gmail account in business activities. However, I have had partners that used a custom email address, great websites and ended up being the worst to do business with. Especially, many times if they were VC backed. 

    Consequently, just do your normal vetting and go from there.

    0Reply
  • David Malik
    Memphis, TN · Member since 2018 · 46 posts · 32 votes
    4y
    Quote from @Jim K.:

    @Tina Lee

    A lot of people just get into a rut and they end up having to use the old email addresses they had in college. That's why I still have dirtysanchez4u@ in a bunch of domains, really.


     LOL!

    1Reply
  • Tommy Parker
    Property Manager · Charlotte, NC · Member since 2022 · 269 posts · 135 votes
    4y

    I would base my scale on whether the attorney is good or not from his previous work and the clients he's worked with and interactions you've had with him. The email isn't on a proper scale in my opinion. Maybe the attorney has been doing this so long they just stuck with that email. 

    2Reply
  • Julie Hartman
    Property Manager · Denver, CO · Member since 2021 · 667 posts · 587 votes
    4y

    A lot of good advice on here but I would say you should only hire him if he has enticing languid poses on instagram or TikTok. You know someone is a true professional if they have thirst trap social media accounts. In all seriousness, I have known people with AOL addresses and while it gives us a chuckle, there is nothing wrong with it. It's simply a giant neon sign flashing their age. Other than that, I would talk to his professional references before worrying about out dated email accounts. 

    2Reply
  • David Malik
    Memphis, TN · Member since 2018 · 46 posts · 32 votes
    4y
    Quote from @Julie Hartman:

    A lot of good advice on here but I would say you should only hire him if he has enticing languid poses on instagram or TikTok. You know someone is a true professional if they have thirst trap social media accounts. In all seriousness, I have known people with AOL addresses and while it gives us a chuckle, there is nothing wrong with it. It's simply a giant neon sign flashing their age. Other than that, I would talk to his professional references before worrying about out dated email accounts. 

    LOL! 

    I will add here as I have spoken wayyy too long & have had wayyy to much fun is that I have no idea how secure AOL is and that it would be good to do some research on it as well. Sorry, but I don't think I would want to send important docs even with the https designation. Probably fine to do so, but no. Other than that, I started my email with Hotmail. I just tried to go to that site and it goes straight, transfers, to Outlook. I happen to have an Outlook account as well along with Yahoo, Gmail & mail.com.

    1Reply
  • Steve Vaughan
    Rental Property Investor · East Wenatchee, WA · Member since 2014 · 10k+ posts · 16k+ votes
    4y
    Quote from @Tina Lee:

    I read somewhere professionals with aol email address should not be hired.

    I could be totally wrong but like to see what’s others think.

    All I can say is people with icloud  or gmail with numbers in it (like my teens) in general, are young and broke. 
    Old school e--mail platforms like aol, cs,  Yahoo, etc show seasoning. 
    But make sure sensitive stuff is sent more securely than all of the above👍

    2Reply
  • Diana Cohee
    Accountant · Seattle · Member since 2022 · 4 posts · 2 votes
    4y

    I agree with Matt.  Being an old schooler.  I use a general email - but a quick view on LI or google search can tell you if the person is legit or not.  Emails come and go but their footprint on internet does not.  

    1Reply
  • Andrey Rudenko
    Real Estate Agent · Clinton, MA · Member since 2017 · 35 posts · 35 votes
    4y

    I did have my attorney who had aol email. They were reaaally slow to update it, but now they have a more legit domain :) Turned out all good, great attorney.

    1Reply
  • Jay HinrichsBusiness Member
    Real Estate Consultant · Summerlin, NV · Member since 2014 · 45k+ posts · 66k+ votes
    4y
    Quote from @Steve Vaughan:
    Quote from @Tina Lee:

    I read somewhere professionals with aol email address should not be hired.

    I could be totally wrong but like to see what’s others think.

    All I can say is people with icloud  or gmail with numbers in it (like my teens) in general, are young and broke. 
    Old school e--mail platforms like aol, cs,  Yahoo, etc show seasoning. 
    But make sure sensitive stuff is sent more securely than all of the above👍


    MY Lori still uses her AOL reason,  Its her name at AOL she got it way back in the day and why change it. she has all her clients in there and it works for her.. I let my AOL go because I was be chastised like this thread.

    For a lawyer I can see where they might want their company as the domain. it is more professional I think and probably more secure.
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  • Wesley B WilliamsPro Member
    Rental Property Investor · Louisville, KY · Member since 2017 · 107 posts · 77 votes
    4y

    @Nathan G. Some will never understand 😂😂

    1Reply
  • Andrew B.
    Rockaway, NJ · Member since 2016 · 2k+ posts · 2k+ votes
    4y

    I wouldn't make my decision solely on the email address, but an AOL email is, IMO, a red flag that the person has not kept up with the times. I would pay closer attention to his or her work and ask more questions. However, if the person was highly recommended and seemed to know his or her stuff, I wouldn't let the AOL email stop me from hiring them. 

    1Reply
  • Bob Floss II
    Attorney · Northbrook, IL · Member since 2017 · 719 posts · 549 votes
    4y

    I laugh and eyeroll when I see opposing counsel using an aol email, but that doesn't make them a bad attorney.

    I wouldn't recommend sending sensitive or financial documents to them via email, but again that doesn't make them a bad attorney.

    0Reply
  • Joe S.Pro Member
    Investor · San Antonio · Member since 2020 · 3k+ posts · 3k+ votes
    4y

    As a buyer or investor does it make a difference?

    0Reply
  • Andrew FreedBusiness Member
    Investor · Worcester, MA · Member since 2020 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    4y

    @Tina Lee - I don't think there is anything wrong with this, it always depends on the individual.

    At this end of the day, what is truly being alluded to is "ageism." No one 40 years or younger would have an AOL address, AOL dates back to the creation of the internet hence if you still have an AOL email, you must have been in the workforce for 20+ years. 

    In my opinion, just because someone may be older and is not tech savvy doesn't mean they don't know their profession. However, it may mean that they are less efficient than others at their profession because we all know technology allows you to scale with minimal overhead. 

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