"Blogging" Article in PA Lawyer Magazine
Pennsylvania attorney (& blogger) Kelly Phillips Erb, Esq., of Philadelphia, PA, wrote an article, entitled "Law 2.0: A Legal Blogging Primer," published in the May-June, 2009 issue of The Pennsylvania Lawyer, for the membership of the Pennsylvania Bar Association.
I know Kelly as the author of the popular Tax Girl blog, listed in the American Bar Association's Top 100 Blogs of 2009, and as a frequent contributor to the "Probate & Trust" listserv of the PBA's Real Property, Probate & Trust Law Section.
She certainly is qualified, both as a lawyer and a blogger, to instruct on the basics of legal blogging, where the fields of law, writing, and technology intersect.
These were the topics within her article:
- The Basics: What's a Blog?
- Finding Your Niche: What Should You Blog About?
- Promoting Your Blog: How Do You Get the Word Out?
- Dipping Your Toes In: How Do You Get Started?
- Looking Like a Pro: Does Appearance Matter?
- Returning the Favor: How Do You Get Linked on Other Blogs?
- The Bottom Line: Is It Worth It?
I would have added a few more topics, however, like:
- Keeping Out of Trouble: Know the Copyright Laws!
- Staying Alive: Know When to Hold 'Em, Know When to Fold 'Em, and Know When to Walk Away (from Blogging about a Topic)
- Refreshing Yourself: Update Prior Commentaries and Correct Misstatements
- Representing Clients First: Follow the Rules of Professional Conduct While Blogging
- Citing Sources: Know the Character of Links You Reference or List
- Being Grateful (Never Gratuitous): Share and Celebrate Contributions by Others
- Blogging for the Right Reasons: Follow Your Professional Passion
I highly recommend the article to any lawyer now involved in writing a blog, or contemplating that long-term pursuit.
