Here at One Legal, we love to read, learn, and share the latest legal practice news and best practices.
We’ve written before about how podcasts — short radio shows that you can download and listen to any time — can be an excellent way to stay up to speed. But what if you prefer the written word?
If that’s you, then you’re in luck, because there are hundreds of law and law firm management blogs out there. With so many to choose from, though, it can be hard to know where to begin. To help, here’s our top 10.
#1 My Shingle
One of the longest running legal blogs out there, having launched back in 2002, “My Shingle” is an indispensable treasure trove of resources for solo and small law firms. Written by Carolyn Elefant, a solo attorney, the author’s core values — clear, concise, and actionable advice — shine through in the articles and guides. If you’re a solo attorney or work at a small firm, this blog is essential reading.
#2 Future Lawyer
“Future Lawyer”’s author, Richard Georges, is one of the country’s most experienced commentators on legal tech and its application to legal practice. We love “Future Lawyer”’s new tech reviews, quick tips for getting more out of commonly used apps, and high-quality advice on staying within the rules.
#3 Legal Office Guru
No doubt you spend much of your day working in Microsoft Office — in particular in Word and Outlook. It’s vital that you’re able to work quickly and efficiently in these tools (check out some of our recent advice here). However, if you’re looking to dive even deeper in all that Office can do for your firm, this is the blog for you. With detailed how-to articles, cool tricks, and the latest product updates, this is definitely one of our go-to blogs.
#4 Lawyernomics
Leaving aside your views on Avvo — the lawyer review website — their law firm management blog has quickly become a useful resource. With near-daily updates on subjects ranging from how to use networking to find new business to tips for managing difficult client conversations, the blog rarely fails to provide useful and actionable content.
#5 The Court Technology Bulletin
With so much change occurring rapidly in the court technology space right now, it’s important to stay up to date (check out all the changes, for example, that are happening in California right now). This blog, from the clever people at the National Center for State Courts, is one of our favorite resources. If there’s a major tech change happening in the a state’s courts, these guys know about it.
#6 Lawyerist
“Lawyerist,” the brainchild of attorney-turned-internet-entrepreneur Sam Glover, is now much more than just a blog: It’s almost a legal publishing empire. With a podcast, dozens of downloadable “survival guides,” and one of the most-read blogs in the legal industry, no list of the top legal blogs would be complete without a mention of “Lawyerist.”
#7 Attorney At Work
“Attorney at Work” is a collaborative blog focused on providing useful articles written by contributors who know their stuff. The team behind the website — Merrilyn Astin Tarlton, Joan Feldman, and Mark Feldman — have a seriously impressive set of credentials, from editing Law Practice magazine to teaching master’s level university courses in legal administration.
#8 Oregon Law Practice
Don’t stop at the title; this blog provides wide-ranging practice management advice that applies well beyond Oregon’s borders. Written by attorney Beverly Michaels, the blog features advice on steps attorneys can take to reduce their risk of malpractice claims, enhance their enjoyment of practicing law, and improve client relationships.
#9 Solo Practice University
“Solo Practice University” is an educational resource for attorneys that has a seriously good blog. The site is packed full of guest blogs from experts in their respective fields, with subjects ranging from legal marketing to managing risk.
#10 Litigation By The Numbers
This one’s California-specific, but provides an excellent summary (in the section titled “Julie’s Articles”) of changes to civil procedure statutes and rules in the Golden State. Written by Julie Goren, an experienced California litigator and legal educator, “Litigation By The Numbers” is a great resource to check on regularly.
Which law firm management blogs does your office read regularly? Share your favorites in the comments!
Of course, we also hope that you find our One Legal blog — OneSource — to be a useful resource. If you’d like to be kept up to date on all of the latest legal support and law practice news from us, why not subscribe? You’ll receive a once-a-week email digest of our latest posts.
