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.