By: Christine Shimoda
As a new or younger lawyer, you’re no stranger to the pressure of building your practice while honing your legal expertise. Writing is one of the most popular and common business development tools for those starting out in practice. Done well, writing can help establish your credibility, build meaningful connections, and attract new clients.
Here’s how you can leverage writing to grow your business and differentiate yourself in the competitive legal landscape, at this stage of your career.
Establish Thought Leadership Early On
At the start of your career, credibility is key. Clients and peers are looking for signals that show you’re knowledgeable, confident, and insightful. Writing gives you a platform to demonstrate your expertise on specific areas of law or legal trends, positioning you as a thought leader—even as a junior lawyer.
Consider this: clients aren’t necessarily looking for decades of experience in every situation. Often, they’re more concerned with whether you understand their challenges and can offer relevant, practical solutions. Writing on trending issues in your practice area, recent changes in legislation, or case law updates shows that you’re staying on top of the field, even if you’re newer to it.
Pro tip: Start small with blog posts or LinkedIn articles, and focus on topics where you have strong opinions or insights. Don’t be afraid to share your perspective—authenticity builds trust.
Sharpen Your Legal Voice
Writing as a lawyer requires a balance of clarity, authority, and relatability. By regularly writing and sharing your insights, you’ll sharpen your ability to communicate complex legal concepts in a way that resonates with potential clients and collaborators.
It’s crucial to recognize that not all your writing has to be highly technical or filled with legal jargon. Business clients, for example, appreciate plain-language explanations that get to the heart of how a legal issue impacts their business. Developing this skill early in your career can help you stand out as someone who can bridge the gap between legal expertise and practical business solutions.
Pro tip: Imagine explaining a legal concept to a non-lawyer friend or family member. The simpler and clearer you can be, the more approachable you’ll seem to potential clients who may not be familiar with legal complexities.
Build Your Network
The term networking might feel overwhelming, especially when you’re starting out, but when reframed as network building, the focus shifts to cultivating meaningful relationships over time. Writing is a powerful way to do just that.
Every time you write, you’re not just pushing out content—you’re opening a door to conversations. Sharing your writing on LinkedIn or within industry groups invites interaction. It gives your colleagues, potential clients, and referral sources a reason to connect with you. Maybe your article on a new real estate regulation strikes a chord with someone in the industry. That initial “like” or comment could be the start of a valuable business relationship.
Additionally, writing allows you to participate in broader discussions within your legal niche. By engaging with other legal professionals’ content and providing your own insights, you can expand your network and enhance your visibility within the legal community.
Pro tip: Always include a call to action in your posts. Invite readers to comment, share their opinions, or reach out to you directly for more information. These small prompts can lead to bigger conversations.
Happy writing!
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