Touting your award wins: how to stay in compliance with legal marketing ethics rules

December 22, 2023

If you subscribe to our newsletter, then you know that we already bring you the latest and greatest award opportunities to showcase your firm’s expertise and accomplishments. But what happens when you win an award? You want everyone to know (particularly potential clients and recruits), but you might not know where to start when promoting it. Here’s how you can toot your own horn without getting slapped with a lawsuit of your own

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How law firms can speak with one voice through a comprehensive messaging strategy

November 28, 2023

Law firms are known for the diverse minds and unique perspectives they bring to the table for clients. These qualities can be beneficial when developing legal strategies heading into a case or transaction. But that approach does not always lend itself well to law firm PR and content marketing. 

Consider the potential ethics issues that might arise if lawyers don’t have specific client approval to pursue PR on a particular matter. 

Imagine how recruiting could suffer if partners and associates share very different views about what it’s like to work at the firm and promotion opportunities. 

What if the way a firm communicates with clients is far from standardized? 

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The ultimate law firm marketer holiday gift guide: 2023 edition

October 24, 2023

The ultimate law firm marketer holiday gift guide

‘Twas the night before holiday vacation, and all through the law firm, not a body was stirring — except for you, that dedicated marketing director finalizing next year’s budget

OK, maybe you’re also watching for price drops on Amazon. ‘Tis the season, after all. 

 Since you likely bought, wrapped and sent all the firm’s client gifts, plus dreamed up an awesome holiday e-card, isn’t it time to treat yourself a bit?

With that in mind, we’ve compiled the ultimate holiday gift guide for legal marketers. There’s something on this list for everyone — and you might want to share it on your social media so colleagues and loved ones see it in case they’re at a loss for what to buy you. 

Of course, printing off copies and “accidentally” leaving them lying around is also acceptable. Just as long as you circle your top choices in red ink.

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Do’s and don’ts of podcast interviews

September 14, 2023

I love a good podcast. The ones that make me feel like the host and guest are standing in the same room are instant favorites — doesn’t matter what genre it is.

Personal entertainment aside, they’re also a fantastic business opportunity for B2B companies. Not only does running a podcast enable you to build brand awareness while creating content for your business and your guest’s, it’s also a great way to build relationships and have meaningful conversations with industry leaders and potential prospects.

But how do you do good podcasting?

I didn’t think this question would be so hard to answer when I first started producing our agency’s podcast, “Spill the Ink.” After all, I’m an avid consumer of plenty of great podcasts and have a background in production and storytelling as a former TV journalist. Why wouldn’t it be easy? While a lot of my skills were transferable, I had to come to terms with the fact that podcasts are unique pieces of content that require their own skillset. 

In my opinion, one of the most important skills you can develop is learning how to conduct an interview. I won’t lie and say that this isn’t going to take a lot of trial and error. But I can at least help get you started on the basics.

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How to grow your law practice with a podcast

August 28, 2023

When our Principal and President Michelle Calcote King began Reputation Ink’s “Spill the Ink” podcast in November of 2020, she wanted to try something new. Over several episodes, she began to see the benefits of the podcast, and stuck to it. Now with more than 70 episodes, Michelle has learned a lot about the benefits of podcasting, particularly in the legal field. Her number-one benefit she says? Networking. 

There are many other benefits as well – here’s Michelle’s top five reasons why law firms and attorneys should consider creating a podcast: 

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How law firms can utilize Mansfield certification to drive diversity and inclusion initiatives

July 26, 2023

In the legal profession, diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) have become crucial focal points for organizations striving to create a more equitable and representative environment. One prominent initiative attracting the participation of more and more firms is the Mansfield Rule Certification, created by Diversity Lab. 

What is the Mansfield certification?

Named after Arabella Mansfield, the first woman admitted to the practice of law in the United States in 1869, this certification program aims to promote diversity and inclusion by ensuring equal opportunities for underrepresented groups in leadership positions within law firms and legal departments. More specifically, it measures whether law firms have affirmatively considered at least 30% women, lawyers of color, LGBTQ+ lawyers, and lawyers with disabilities for leadership and governance roles, equity partner promotions, formal client pitch opportunities and senior lateral positions. 

The first cohort in 2017 involved 35 American law firms. As of this year, there are now more than 300 Mansfield-certified firms in Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States, as well as more than 80 legal departments. 

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Media exclusives: how and when to use them

June 29, 2023

Media exclusives: how and when to use them

When I was working at a television station, the first question the news director would ask after a reporter came in with a juicy story was, “Is it exclusive?”

She wanted to know if her station was the only place viewers could find the story or if they would at least be the first to break the news. In a time when just about everyone has 24/7 access to information at their fingertips, regardless of when the 5 o’clock newscast airs, media outlets are looking for any edge they can get over their competitors.

For PR purposes, exclusives can help you squeeze all of the “juice” you can get out of a story and make sure it’s placed with an outlet that will give it the coverage you think it deserves.

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Chambers and Partners: Law firm submissions 101

June 29, 2023

Two years ago we published our original Chambers and Partners 101 blog post.

Does the memory echo like a gong throughout your bones?

I lean towards the dramatic because deciding to submit to Chambers can feel dramatic. And my goal is certainly not to peer pressure you to submit.

Not all law firms have the bandwidth to support the robust submissions required by Chambers, which is why many of our clients submit for the first time with our support. We recommend pursuing a Chambers ranking to clients because it’s considered one of the most weighty of law firm recognitions by in-house counsel.

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8 reasons law firms should work with a specialist legal marketing & PR agency

May 31, 2023

If your law firm has a marketing team and needs a little extra help, or you’re starting from scratch and want to build brand awareness and credibility for your firm, hiring an agency can be extremely beneficial. 

Maybe you’ve already decided you want to hire an agency and have started to search for one, but how do you find one that is right for your firm? Consider hiring an industry specialist agency. 

This is an agency, like Reputation Ink, that focuses on one or a few particular sectors, such as the legal industry (and we work with AEC clients, too). These agencies typically only take on clients in a few focused industries, which offers many benefits over working with one that represents clients across a variety of fields. 

So, what are the benefits? 

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The do’s and don’ts of lawyer cross-marketing during PR opportunities

May 11, 2023

Humor me a hypothetical. 

Let’s say your law firm’s publicist secures you a guest appearance on a leading podcast that caters to one of your primary practice areas. It’s the day of the podcast, and you’re three-quarters through an in-depth Zoom interview. Of course, you’re nailing every question and hitting your talking points — all while showcasing your extensive legal experience and knowledge.

As you relax in your chair (or adjust your feet, for you standing-desk folks), a question arises that brings to mind one of your colleague’s recent successes. But you don’t mention it. The host moves on to the following questions, and the banter continues.

Minutes later, as you close out of your Zoom room and throw on a more casual top, some nagging questions cross your mind:

“Should I have talked about my colleague’s case? Did I miss a big opportunity to promote other attorneys at my firm?”

The answer to both, unfortunately, echoes a trite but true phrase known well to those in the legal industry: “It depends.”

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