As a practicing attorney, I offer free legal counseling and representation for professional blacksmiths. Just like any small business owner, a blacksmith can encounter a number of legal issues - breach of contract, copyright/trademark violations from stolen images or work, insurance payment disputes, and more. So the obvious question - why free? Three reasons: 

1) I am an attorney for the U.S. Federal Government. This means that I am fortunate to have time to pursue other hobbies (like hitting hot steel with hammers) and to work on side legal projects. And due to federal ethical rules, this also means that I cannot get paid for outside legal work unless I jump through countless administrative hoops. Therefore, all of my outside legal work is pro bono. 

2) I believe very strongly that society benefits when small businesses succeed. A large part of my work for the Government is dealing with large companies and the attitude that comes with their power. I am very committed to helping small businesses prosper – either through my work or my spending habits. Professional blacksmiths are ideal examples of small businesses that should thrive in this country and they deserve the same type of legal support that large corporations enjoy. For an attorney who constantly deals with faceless organizations and bureaucracies, it is refreshing to help small business owners. 

3) I am a hobbyist blacksmith myself, and as such, I want the profession to flourish. Terminus Forge is a reflection of my passion for the craft, which would be a dying art if professional blacksmiths around the world did not dedicate their livelihoods to preserving the knowledge and techniques that would otherwise be lost. It is therefore a privilege for me to use my own unique knowledge and skills to ensure that the craft endures. 

• R. Keith Weisinger, Esq.