I practice maritime law and refer to myself as a “maritime attorney” or a "boat lawyer," and why not?

In a sea of lawyers, my practice evolved from having worked in the maritime industry before law school and it's all I do. Of course, when you label yourself a maritime attorney you get all kinds of responses.

Here are a few I have received:

· Maritime law, huh. What's that?

· My friend, he ran aground, and the salvor tried to, like, take his boat.

· If I fall on a cruise ship, can you help?

· Jones Act, right?

· But you went to law school in Arkansas.

· I took a boating course and we learned all about that stuff.

· What court do you go to?

· Do you know how to swim? Because I saw something once where people who work on boats don't know how to swim sometimes.

· A friend of mine [insert name I've never heard of] is pretty big doing that stuff in Philly.

· Marines? Ooh-Ra, brother!

Underway and making way.

By John Fulweiler

www.saltwaterlaw.com

[email protected]