10 Legal Blog Examples for Those who are Looking to Start Writing in 2022
Blogs are a fantastic way for both law students and established legal professionals to stay up to date with developments in their trade. Here, experts from across the legal sphere share news, experience, opinions, and insights. Plenty of individuals would like to either start their own legal blog or reach out to law firms in order to provide content for them.
However, not all legal blogs are created equal. Some offer high-quality content while others provide little more than shallow dross that’s more akin to marketing copy than it is anything that people would truly wish to read. As a result, any freelance writer who is looking to break into the space is going to want to ensure that they’re on the right track with whatever they might be working on. To help you get the best information available, here are the top 10 blogs that lawyers and law students are following, and, by extension, you’ll want to take a look at if you plan on doing any sort of legal blogging in 2022.
1 – ABA Journal
First, ABA Journal is the blog of the American Bar Association (ABA). It is maintained by a professional team of editors and writers, and invites contributions from lawyers who are recognized experts in their fields. Consequently, it’s one of the highest-quality sources of legal news out there. For students, it offers a fantastic overview of the legal landscape in the US. If you’ve been trying to reach the academic law market, then they provide an excellent framework to start writing from. Take a look at some of their trending articles and there’s a good chance that you’ll find something to inspire you.
2 – Artificial Lawyer
Technology is shaping every area of our daily lives – including how we practice law. The mission of the Artificial Lawyer blog is to help legal professionals optimize their workflows with technology. It offers a legal tech education guide, as well as in-depth product reviews, walk-throughs, and courses. Some people in the technology space have also commented on the way that it’s helped to bridge the gap between that world and the legal profession. You might want to consider framing things that you write in this way. Naturally, you don’t want to just copy the way that Artificial Lawyer or any other organization writes things, but it is certainly a good idea to find a niche that nobody has reached yet and then go to town on it.
3 – Vanguard Law Magazine
Unlike many US-focused entries on the list, the blog of Vanguard Law Magazine offers a global perspective. It provides insights into legal philosophy from professionals in a variety of specialties. The blog is especially notable for its wide array of perspectives, with voices from North and South America, Europe, Asia, and Africa, as well as stories highlighting the LGBTQ legal community and women. Consider localizing your content if this is a space that you’re working on reaching. North American bloggers may wish to use internationalized or Commonwealth spellings if they plan on speaking to a worldwide audience. Likewise, freelance writers from European or Asian markets may wish to use more American spellings if they’re planning to reach out to blogs that primarily have a readership in the USA.
4 – FindLaw Legal Blogs
Next up, FindLaw is invaluable as a legal blog because it offers a client-centered perspective. The blog aims to offer easy-to-understand and accessible legal advice for anyone. For legal professionals, this is a great opportunity to take a step back and appreciate how their clients approach the topics that they handle on a daily basis. Writers who are working on finding their own voice have long turned to directories like this because they aggregate content from so many different individuals. Some have even turned to them as a way to get started when it would have otherwise been very difficult to find any audience at all.
5 – Law Technology Today
Law Technology Today is a blog dedicated to covering the legal ramifications of technology. It features articles by expert contributors on legal issues relating to automation, remote work, cybersecurity, and even NFTs. While it tries to again put legal and technical topics together in one place, the writers here have done their best to find a very different voice for the blog than what you’d normally hear in most places. Writers might want to take note of this because it’s a great example of how you can do something completely original even if you’re working on something in a popular space.
6 – Above The Law
Above The Law is another must-read resource for legal professionals. It offers news, insights, and opinion pieces. One distinguishing feature of this blog is that content is structured into “small law” and “big law” topics. This helps readers pinpoint the topics that are most relevant to them – whether they’re working at big law firms or as solo attorneys. Another upside of Above The Law is that it offers a career center, with curated content for students and established lawyers. This has provided multiple opportunities for writers who might have been looking to branch out. You don’t ever want to be afraid to do so regardless of your normal comfort zone.
7 – Attorney At Law Magazine
Next up, the online version of Attorney At Law Magazine is a fantastic source of information on topics like law school, legal marketing, and how to manage your legal practice. In addition to a general news section, this site also offers a legal advice section, which covers anything from family law to healthcare law. Plus, it offers a list of legal events as well as a directory of expert witnesses. Those who want to cut their teeth by writing for something that started as a print magazine will certainly want to take a look at this.
8 – Constitutional Law Reporter
You’re after information on Supreme Court cases? You’d like to learn how to write like a pro who does nothing but carry major cases in the beltway? Look no further than The Constitutional Law Reporter. This blog is dedicated to current and historic SCOTUS cases. It features in-depth information on the facts of every case, as well as the court’s decision.
9 – The Crime Report
Are you interested in criminal law and justice? Then The Crime Report should be top of your to-read list! This blog is published by the nonprofit Center on Media, Crime and Justice at John Jay College. Its main goal is to provide nonpartisan information on breaking criminal justice news. Topics range from policing to immigration and systemic reform. The site has also been known to mix in federal white papers and other related materials, which makes it an excellent example for those writers who are looking to figure out the best way to integrate different types of content together in a single blog. It’s a great example to follow along with.
10 – Verdict
If you’re looking for sources on legal analysis and commentary, Verdict is an excellent address. This blog features law professors and some of the US’ foremost legal thinkers discussing a variety of topics related to different legal specialties. What makes Verdict so interesting, at least from a writer’s perspective, is the fact that it provides deeper dives into many topics related to law than an overwhelming majority of the other blogs that you’re likely to come across. It’s a great example to follow if you’re just starting to delve into the field and want to start writing more vigorously.
The Final Verdict on Legal Blogs
Writers who are looking to get involved in the space certainly won’t want to reach out to just one of these blogs, even if it’s an excellent pick like the aforementioned Verdict. Try looking for places that accept article submissions and see if you can’t get your own work published on several different sites in order to build your portfolio. While it can take a while to get a sufficient number of credits, it can seriously help when it comes time to apply for bigger writing positions. Those with an academic background in the field of law may find that this is quite helpful as well, since it might look impressive to potential editors. That being said, you shouldn’t ever feel like you’re being held back even if you lack experience in the field.
Simply start putting your fingers on the keyboard and you can grow your experience over time.