A. This is a good question. The answer turns on the lawyer’s goal. In my view, it’s often worth a lawyer’s time to write on the side of law, particularly if her goal is to generate business (e.g., drive traffic to a firm’s website or to get noticed by potential clients in the local community), gain recognition as an expert, beef up a resume, or to keep active in the law while on a career detour or between jobs. If making money is the goal, though there is money to be made as a freelance writer, a lawyer might find it helpful to keep the money rolling in from her day job, while she builds her writing business. In other words, don’t quit your day job yet, at least not until you’ve done some research and maybe built up your savings. At the very least, read this L.A. Time’s article, Freelance Writing’s Unfortunate New Model, to see where the money is–and isn’t–at in 2010. If the goal of freelance writing is to follow a writing dream, for restorative purposes, or to improve work/life balance, writing for free or low-pay may just turn out to be the winning lottery ticket to the life of your dreams.

Student Lawyer  (American Bar Association publication).  From the Student Lawyer site:

Award-winning Student Lawyer magazine is published each month from September through May by the American Bar Association’s Law Student Division. It circulates to approximately 40,000 readers, most of whom are law student members of the ABA.

Student Lawyer is a legal-affairs features magazine, not a legal journal, that competes for a share of law students’ limited spare time. The articles we publish, therefore, must be informative, lively, well-researched good reads. We do not accept poetry, fiction, or footnoted academic articles or briefs. These guidelines are for freelance writer submissions only. For letters to the editor, reviews, opinion essays, and student/school news, please refer to our guidelines for those types of submissions.

To write for Student Lawyer, review the Writers’ Guidelines here.

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The American Lawyer. From the American Lawyer site:

AmericanLawyer.com is a leading daily news source covering legal business that is essential to lawyers and administrators at the largest law firms.

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The American Lawyer is a monthly feature magazine covering the business of large (AmLaw 200) law firms and the nation’s leading lawyers. While everything we write is related to the law, our focus is primarily on firms and people within this segment of the profession, rather than on the law itself or legal issues. Our audience is primarily composed of lawyers in these large firms, elite plaintiffs’ lawyers and government attorneys who deal with large firms, and in-house lawyers at major corporations who retain large firms. Personalities in the industry are a major focus of our reporting, as are “inside stories” about people and events that are shaping this segment of the legal industry.

Though American Lawyer journalists do most of the writing, the publication does occasionally use articles from freelancers. For editorial guidelines, click here.

To some, landing a byline in a popular national magazine is sign that a freelancer has officially made it in the writing world.  If you’re among the luckiest (or arguably among the most talented or best connected) of writers, you might achieve this milestone at the very start of your freelance career (maybe even with your first query!), though you may need to first make time your friend, building up your writing portfolio and honing your craft to get noticed.

Writing for local publications and community newspapers can be a great way to break into freelance writing.  Plus, if you have your own law practice and/or are looking to expand your client base, local papers are also a great way to distinguish yourself as an expert and get noticed by those who might come to need your services.  Though you may not make a ton of money, and in some cases you might not make anything, local publications often need writers.

Ultimately, getting published in a hometown newspaper or local publication may be the perfect win-win.  You supply quality content, maybe making a few bucks to pay a small bill or cover query mailing costs (though you can send many queries electronically) or landing a client or ten along the way, and build your writing portfolio (clips) and name as a writer, which can eventually help you get into a chic, glossy magazine!

Custom Search

What does this service potentially mean to lawyers or aspiring lawyer writers?  It sounds like great PR opportunities!  Think build your name opportunities.  Ways to get noticed.  Ways to establish yourself as an expert.  Ways to generate clients and money.

Apparently, if you’re a reporter or writing a story, and you’re looking for lawyer(s) to quote, you submit a query, explaining what you’re after.  Your request is then matched with lawyers and you get replies.  If you simply want to get noticed in print or online media, you sign up for the chance to get matched to queries.

Sound cool?  Drop a comment below if you have experience with LawyerWire, and of course, if you subscribe and get quoted, please drop a line or send a tweet to @publishedlawyer.

In today’s Web 2.0–social media obsessed–world, how do you go about finding sources or experts for your interviews, assuming an editor hasn’t already suggested a lead or thrown an idea at you?  Try these popular sources:

1.  HARO (”Help a Reporter Out”).  What’s to love?  When you sign up to receive this list, you’ll receive up to three emails (typically morning, afternoon & evening) jammed with query requests sent to you each day.  If you’re a journalist or writer trying to find people to interview, you can fill in a form to submit your query.  HARO is free.

2.  ExpertTweet.  Gotta love clever Twitter applications, right?  Well, ExpertTweet helps people, including authors, writers, reporters, bloggers, and business owners find experts via Twitter.  You can also reply or suggest experts when you see queries that match the expertise of someone you know–even if that someone is you, Ms. or Mr. Expertise!    

3.  Bloggers, reporters, colleagues, social networking communities.  Stuck for an idea, ask around and dig into your network.  Just like telling everyone you know that you’re looking for a job comes in handy when you’re trying to find one, so does asking around when you need a specific expert.  The world is small.  Plus, you never know, until you ask, who you might get the opportunity to meet thanks to your contacts.

4.  Post a query.  Find relevant listservs or discussion boards where you can post a targeted query to an audience that you suspect will produce a source.

5.  Editors.  Really stuck for a source?  Talk with your editor.  If the editor really likes your idea, chances are the editor isn’t going to hang you out to dry…at least not completely.         

Copyright 2009 The Published Lawyer.  All rights reserved.

Here are a few mentions from those lists:  iUniverse, Xlibris, Dog Ear Publishing, and Self-Publishing.  Of course, for photo books and limited text books, there’s also Shutterfly, Blurb, or MyPublisher.

If you’re looking for books on self-publishing, I’ve heard good things about this book, though I haven’t read it:  The Complete Guide to Self Publishing (Tom Ross & Marilyn Ross).

Any other recommendations out there for fellow lawyers who want to try self-publishing?

Copyright 2009 The Published Lawyer.  All rights reserved.

“I want to start freelance writing, primarily as a way to generate clients (and hopefully, eventually advance in my firm or at another firm), but I’m wondering if it will add value to my professional resume?  If I ever get published, should I list my work on my resume?”

A.  Absolutely.  As I call it, “writing on the side” of legal practice can be a terrific way to not only bring in business and boost your visibility, but it can make your resume shine.  Think of this, though clients may not ever see your resume, chances are they will see your bio somewhere online (which is usually a snapshot of your resume).  If they are comparing a few lawyers and see your bio (or a slew of Google hits) listing articles, essays, or books you’ve written, especially on topics related to the area of law that brings them to you in the first place,  you’ll likely stand out as an “expert” in their mind.  They’ll probably think you know you’re stuff–getting published is a big deal, really.  When prospective employers see your resume, your writing can also help you standout.  It adds value, shows you’re ambitious, and suggests you know how (or are discovering how) to market yourself–which can translate into clients and employer visibility–that’s a huge plus. 

There are different schools of thought about what writing references should appear on your professional resume.  If you do a lot of writing, you may find it useful to create a separate “freelance” resume, which you can circulate to editors when they request one (editors might think it’s cool that you won a moot court award or served as a law clerk for a certain judge, but most are going to want to see where you’ve published and the type of writing you’ve done more than anything else–unless, of course, you’re writing an article where that moot court or clerkship experience are directly relevant).  The freelance resume might reference all of your published writing, depending on how much you’ve done, or reflect “Selected Publications,” such as the most known publications where your writing has appeared (e.g., Oprah, Parenting, X Law Review).  You can also take the “Selected Publications” approach with your professional resume, including a “Selected Publications” heading, under which you feature published freelance writing related to the law or to your specific area of interest (e.g., you may choose to omit your corporate blogging gig for a gossip celebrity site).  Any way you cut it, getting published is by and far a great thing for you, your resume and your future writing prospects and career.

To submit a question, email julie [*at*/] publishedlawyer [*dot*/] com.

Copyright 2009 The Published Lawyer.  All rights reserved.

A query letter is generally a concise (typically one page max., though it may be longer if you have an extensive or elaborate proposal), well-written letter aimed to capture an editor’s interest in your idea.  In a query letter, you’re pitching your idea.  Think selling your idea to an editor.  You want to hook the editor a.s.a.p.   The query letter is your chance at a rockstar moment.  You either woo the editor with your magic, or your idea ends up in the monster-sized slush pile or electronic recycle bin.  Sometimes, if you’re lucky, your idea may fall somewhere in between instead of getting tossed out.  An editor may like the general concept, but think it needs re-thinking on your part.  They may shoot it back to you, and give you another chance to re-pitch your idea. 

Depending on the nature of your work, the query letter will highlight key information pertaining to your work.  For example, a nonfiction query might include a few lines about you or your experience to convince the editor that you are the perfect pick for authoring the piece–you’re qualified and credible.  On the other hand, your credentials may be less important or even irrelevant to an editor interested in fiction.  In a fiction query, you’ll usually want to include talk about plot and main characters.

I’ve always believed there’s a lot of mystery to the query letter.  You may write a brilliant letter, but every editor rejects it.  You may write, what you later conclude after re-reading and re-reading your letter in disbelief, a half-assed letter and score a feature spot in a glossy magazine, even a book deal.  The key is practice.  The more you write query letters and get responses from editors (good or bad), the sooner you’ll get a sense of what you’re doing right, and hopefully, what you’re doing wrong.

If you do a Google search or pick up a freelance writing book, you can find plenty of query letter examples (including witty sites featuring reject letters from editors).  If you’ve always wanted to write, it’s my view that if you can put that idea down into letter form and start sending it out to editors, you’ll be well on your way to becoming a published lawyer writer.  It may take time to find an editor who accepts your idea, and maybe you’ll get an overwhelming number of rejections, but if you’re persistent and keep tweaking that letter and idea (or scratch the idea completely and start anew), you will get where you want to go–and you’ll eventually see your name in print.

Copyright 2009 The Published Lawyer. All rights reserved.

But you’re about to change that, right?  If the fiction scene is your cup of tea, here are a few resources to bookmark or click on over to Amazon (or head to your local library) to buy.

Books

• Novel & Short Story Writer’s Market.  The granddaddy of novel & short story resources.  Updated annually, this book is considered a must have by many novel & short story writers.  Features advice written by experienced writers about breaking into writing, sample query letters (what you send off to publishers), tips for finding agents, packed chapters listing specific publications where you can publish your work, including book publishers and literary magazines, contests & awards, and conferences. 

Blogs

There are some great “fiction” author blogs online that can teach you a lot of specifics about the process of novel & short story writing, including dos and don’ts and tried and true tips for promoting your work.

Here’s a peek at a few popular sites:

• Ask Allison.  Allison Winn Scotch is the author of Time of My Life and The Department of Lost and Found.  Her blog is filled with advice that is authentic, witty, and incredibly helpful.
• A Newbie’s Guide to Publishing.  Thriller series writer, Joe Konrath serves up a mix of writing advice, tips, personal insight, and self-promotion, so there’s plenty of learning material here for the new writer.
• Writing Fiction.  An insightful blog for writers that features answers to questions, perspectives, and writing advice.
•  InkyGirl.  If you’re looking for writing advice jazzed up with humor, you’ll want to check out Debbie Ridpath Ohi’s blog.

Social Networks

• She Writes.  You don’t need to be a published writer to join this community, but most members at least aspire to become one!
• Ning.  Go crazy here.  Search for writing groups and communities by key word.  Among some of the cool Ning groups, you’ll find Discover Writing and The Writing Studio. 

Save the Date – Mark the Calendar

• National Novel Writing Month (November 1st-30th).  Can you really write a novel in a month?  Absolutely!  Especially when you’re part of a novel writing challenge–there’s nothing like a bit of ol’ fashioned pressure to get you finally pursue that writing dream!

Contests

• Novel & Short Story Writer’s Market.  This annually updated book features a section dedicated to contests and awards, with detailed descriptions and entry requirements.
• Writer’s Digest Competitions.  Lists competitions for the calendar year.

What’s missing here?  Do you know of a resource that is a must for the aspiring novel & short story writer?

Copyright 2009 The Published Lawyer.  All rights reserved.

If writing and getting published is your dream, I’m glad you’ve found this blog.  Whether you’d like to start your own blog or already have one, get your byline in a glossy magazine, or eventually see your own novel on Amazon, it’s my hope that you’ll bookmark The Published Lawyer and come back regularly for a dose of inspiration.

What’s unique about this blog is that I get your type.  I’m one, too–a lawyer, that is.  I spend a good chunk of my time writing, blogging, teaching, and talking about ways in which lawyers can create or carve out dream paths within or alongside the law. 

Whether you’re practicing full or part-time, a lawyer turned stay-at-home parent, unemployed, or looking for the legal onramp after a career detour or timeout, you can make your writing dream happen. If you’re motivated to write and get your work published, regardless of your motivation (e.g., attracting new clients, increasing your visibility in the legal profession, making money, becoming the next big name in publishing), now is the time to dig up that writing dream that may have been buried years ago beneath your files and work/life responsibilities.

I always appreciate feedback and ideas for improving my site or content, so please drop me an email at julie [*at*] publishedlawyer [*dot*] com or leave a comment if you have something to say.

Copyright 2009 The Published Lawyer.  All rights reserved.