Denver Post article on lawyers' weblogs

The Denver Post article I interviewed for ran today. It's available online here. I'm quoted near the end.

I was a little surprised at first that the article tended to focus on the difficulties and resistance some lawyers have encountered because of their weblogs. I'm not surprised at the resistance itself, though. Law firms generally tend to be conservative, especially when it comes to the ways they present themselves to the world.

Knowing that, many young attorneys write anonymously. I explained this to the reporter, Greg Griffin, and it was on this point that he quoted me: It was on this point that Griffin quoted me: "I think I share with a lot of associates a general anxiety about saying something that someone with control over my future might think is unprofessional." I probably have less to worry about because I generally don't write about my practice, and I avoid ever writing about my firm. (Suffice it to say I think it's a great firm that does high-quality work and I enjoy working there. When I comment here on issues that seem to afflict the profession or certain segments of it, I hope you will not think that my firm is similarly afflicted.)

Fortunately, the article turned more optimistic after its initial paragraphs. For those who would think about writing as part of their law practice, consider this statement about Greg Piche's blog: "The blog also brings in business, in part, he admits, because it shows off his expertise. Piche said about a third of his clients found him through the site."

Apparently once Holland & Hart got over its initial anxiety about Piche's weblog, it saw fit to launch two more firm-sponsored weblogs, and I doubt they'll stop there. As the Post article explains:

For many lawyers, blogs are a natural way to stay abreast of an ever-changing legal landscape - and to set themselves apart as experts in their domain. Increasingly, law firms see blogs as a key marketing tool that's far more dynamic than the traditional website and newsletter.

I suspect that law firm marketing will, in the long run, head in the general direction that weblogs represent. I've got a feeling that regional firms and specialty boutiques stand to benefit the most from weblogs as marketing devices. But for now, I'm quite content to keep my writing here separate from my work.