Attorney bios are a business development tool. Here’s how to use them.

October 31, 2024

It’s probably one of the first things you handle when a lawyer joins your firm, but our guess is that most attorney bios haven’t received much love since then. 

Hey, we’re not here to judge. We know the attorneys have been busy doing all the stuff they were hired to do. The thing is, that bio is one of the most important marketing tools your firm has. Done right, it can be a passive business development asset, drawing in potential clients and contacts without lawyers having to lift a finger.

Attorney bios are among the most frequently visited pages on a law firm’s website, used by decision-makers to compare and contrast firms and gauge attorney skills and compatibility. If a prospective client is looking at your firm’s bio pages, you’re halfway there, but you will lose them with unengaging, complicated or outdated copy.

Your attorneys know how their training and experience have shaped them into the professionals they are today and how that makes them an invaluable resource to clients. But do their pages tell that story? 

Here are five secrets to crafting attorney bios that resonate.

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October law firm rankings, lists, awards and PR opportunities

October 15, 2024

As a Floridian who somehow dodged another major hurricane this month, I can’t help but think of all those who didn’t. To everyone in the Southeast affected by Helene and Milton, I hope you and your families are OK and can get back to normal as soon as possible. And while deadline extensions are never guaranteed, you might consider requesting one if your firm was badly affected. 

In the coming months, look out for changes at ALM, which will be reorienting how it presents its content. In an October Law Firm Media Professionals panel, editors explained that regional publications will remain a priority while ALM also integrates content from Law.com’s national and international desks on relevant beats like the business of law, litigation and in-house counsel. 

Now, here are the legal PR deadlines we don’t want you to have nightmares about during spooky season:

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Navigating the AI revolution: What you need to know if your marketing agency uses AI

September 30, 2024

Estimated reading time: 7 minutes

In an era where artificial intelligence’s (AI) influence is proliferating, many have proclaimed the obsolescence of marketing agencies — or, at the very least, the death of certain marketing functions. Can we do away with copywriters now that ChatGPT can automate copy? What about graphic designers now that Canva has Magic Design, an AI design generator?

But how much more efficient and effective does AI actually make marketing agencies? What should clients expect? And should clients be concerned about how their agencies are using AI?

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September law firm rankings, lists, awards and PR opportunities

September 17, 2024

Behold! Something that isn’t about the U.S. presidential election. Drink it in. Let it swirl around your mind until the bad taste is gone. Read it twice if you need to. 

As we traverse pumpkin spice season, the former Starbucks barista in me is experiencing PTSD, but the rest of me is thrilled. As January’s less intense, flannel-wearing cousin, September is a month of fresh starts and back-to-school energy — and that applies to many legal awards, too.

One such publication gearing up for a new cycle is The Legal 500, which recently hosted a meet-the-editors webinar to demystify its research process, referee requirements and submission essentials ahead of the November 20 deadline.

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These 12 AI tools can help professional services firms create thought leadership content

August 28, 2024

Ah, the blank page. It’s been taunting humans ever since we invented writing. The desire to fill it can be strong, but, oh, the excruciating frustration of actually putting pen to paper — or hands to keyboard. 

We can’t all lock ourselves in a remote cabin with nothing but a feather quill and log fire in order to create fantastic content. That’s especially true if you’re running a law practice, architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) firm or any other professional services business. Clients are gonna client, and billable work must take priority.  

However, there is unique value in creating regular, insightful thought leadership content. When done right, it can set your firm apart, demonstrate its authority in an industry, build trust with new prospects and keep existing clients engaged. 

With the support of artificial intelligence (AI), tasks such as idea generation, research, writing and editing can be streamlined. The key is not to automate the entire process but to be strategic about what you outsource to AI and what you continue to do the old-fashioned way. 

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August law firm rankings, lists, awards and PR opportunities

August 12, 2024

Not sure if you’re hip enough to use the term “brat summer?” I’m here to tell you that you are — especially if you’re spending August pursuing awards, rankings and PR opportunities for law firms. The submission process can feel messy, complex and even unstable at times, but it’s powered by unapologetic confidence and badass accomplishments. That IS brat, my friend.

Speaking of the younger generation, several hundred of them have responded to Law360’s summer associates survey. The first of its two-part report found that a firm’s reputation and the culture it advertised were among the most important criteria for choosing a summer associateship. Just saying. Also, the no. 1 resource that respondents said they used to inform their decisions was the firm’s website, so make sure those bios and practice pages are looking sharp!

Here are the legal PR opportunities that are in full bloom this month:

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July law firm rankings, lists, awards and PR opportunities

July 10, 2024

So, this is your inbox? I love it. It’s giving bustling Post Office and whimsical library vibes. But what’s that smell coming from the spam corner?

Anyway. You might recall that I recently accepted the legal PR opportunities emailing baton from my wonderful colleague, Shelby Gambrell. Don’t worry — Shelby still exists and is quite frankly irreplaceable. But as a former managing editor and legal awards judge at ALM with experience leading communications strategies for law firms across the U.S., I’m hoping I can keep you all updated and provide a few useful insights along the way. 

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Interacting with reporters at conferences: a guide for legal and AEC professionals

June 5, 2024

With your program in hand and trusty lanyard around your neck, you’ve exchanged business cards and enthusiastically nodded along to the keynote speaker’s most compelling points. You’ve nibbled the finger sandwiches, raided the coffee carafes and spent an obscene amount of time looking for “Ballroom 3F.” Hopefully, you’ve also remembered to bring a good jacket for those frigid caverns they call meeting rooms. 

But there’s one other thing you might have overlooked.

You know those writer types who report on the issues and trends affecting your industry? Maybe they’ve even covered your firm before. Well, conferences are a fantastic place to spot them out in the wild. 

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  • About the Author
    Raychel Lean

    An award-winning legal journalist and editor, Raychel is an experienced writer and interviewer with a knack for turning complex concepts into stories people care about.

    Read my full bio or connect with me on LinkedIn.

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