Constant Content : Legal Ghostwriting & Content : Janet Raasch : Copy for Lawyers & Attorneys, Law Firm Business Development

According to research conducted for LexisNexis, 86 percent of lawyers under the age of 35 are members of social networks like LinkedIn, Facebook and MySpace.  Among lawyers age 46 and older, a surprising 66 percent are members of social media.  Obviously, the role of social networks in marketing a law practice cannot be ignored.

These stats were cited in an article that appeared in Sunday's The New York Times.  The article has received a lot of attention because it discusses the situation of a lawyer who was reprimanded and fined by the Florida Bar Association for an intemperate blog post.

All of those lawyers -- younger and older -- who are now using social media would to well to remember that publishing is publishing.  The ethics requirements governing the conduct of lawyers don't change just because you are online.  Use social media -- but do not publish anything there that you would not publish in a magazine or newspaper.

• Email This
• Print
• Comments
• Trackbacks
• Share Link

Legal markting professionals and lawyers -- get ready for the rarefield air and spectacular mountain views of the Mile High City!  The Legal Marketing Association will hold its 2010 Annual Conference March 10-13 in my beloved home town -- Denver, Colorado.  If Denver was able to handle the Democratic National Convention, it should be able to handle LMA -- although I think LMA might party just a little bit harder.

Last week, LMA executive director Betsi Roach discussed benefits of membership at the montly meeting of the Mile High Chapter, of which I am a longstanding member.  Other speakers polled the membership for conference ideas, and reviewed the keynotes and some of the presentations from last month's 2009 LMA Annual Conference, held near Washington, D.C.

LMA membership (and its annual conference) are valuable tools.  Here is my synopsis.

• Email This
• Print
• Comments
• Trackbacks
• Share Link

Any time the name of a lawyer or a law firm shows up in the media, it is usually the consequence of either advertising or public /media relations.  The two are very different -- in cost and in impact.  In this April 2008 article, Cheryl Bame of Bame Public Relations (LosAngeles) discusses media relations opportunities for lawyers and law firms. 

Good news, bad news:  How lawyers and law firms can maximzie media relations

• Email This
• Print
• Comments
• Trackbacks
• Share Link

A constant stream of good content -- with your name on it and appearing in skillfully targeted electronic and print media – is one of the most effective ways to enhance your reputation as a professional -- and get new business.

Janet Ellen Raasch is an experienced independent writer who helps professional service providers reach -- and persuade -- their ideal clients through creation of by-lined content for the Internet, and copy for traditional print media.

In particular, Raasch produces content and copy for lawyers, law firms, consultants to the legal industry and legal organizations (including ABA, CBA, LMA and ALA). Because she has been an in-house legal marketing director as well as a consultant, her content and copy is written with your unique marketing agenda in mind. She is one of the best-known independent writers in this market segment.

Janet Ellen Raasch is an accomplished journalist who has written and ghostwritten more than 1,000 articles for electronic and print publication (see "writing samples"). In addition, she has written and ghostwritten more than a dozen books and numerous white papers (see "writing samples"). She has created keyword-rich content for more than a dozen Web sites.

On a full fellowship, Janet Ellen Raasch earned a graduate degree in journalism from the Marquette University College of Communications. Her undergraduate degree in psychology (with a minor in English) is from the University of Dayton. Following graduation from Marquette, she was recruited by this program to teach persuasive writing and serve as faculty adviser to all Marquette University student publications – a position she held for ten years. Because of her journalism background, her writing style resonates with the electronic and print news media. 

Janet Ellen Raasch lives in Denver, Colorado. Before choosing to focus her practice on marketing communications for the legal industry, she was a speechwriter for the Mayor of Milwaukee, a marketing communications writer for a major healthcare provider, a writer and editor for a high-tech materials magazine, and author of numerous corporate histories. She is married to financial advisor Kevin O'Connor and has three adult children.

JD Supra: http://www.jdsupra.com/profile/janetellenraasch

• Email This
• Print
• Comments
• Trackbacks
• Share Link

Law firms have long operated on an opportunistic and reactive basis -- being in the right place at the right time with the right legal skills.  This "fire, ready, aim" approach worked fairly well in the past, when the marketplace for legal services was highly fragmented (local) and when snail mail set the pace for most communications.  In this February 2005 article, Diane Hamlin and Roberta Montafia discuss how serious strategic planning builds and sustains a competitive advantage.

Fire, ready, aim:  Most law firms have it backwards

• Email This
• Print
• Comments
• Trackbacks
• Share Link