Do Blawgs Help You in Your Daily Newsgathering? - I Would Like to Hear Your Opinion

Do Weblogs help you as a law student, paralegal, lawyer, law librarian, librarian, or Weblog reader? In preparing for my presentations on using Weblogs in the law, I have been meeting with resistance from a few lawyers who do not see the worth in using Weblogs for research or marketing. For the most part, the lawyers who have expressed that opinion either are (1) not technologically curious or adept; or (2) use folders within Microsoft Word to store cases and statutes in Westlaw, feeling that technique is better than anything a Weblog could offer.

I would like to know how Weblogs and blawgs have helped you with your work.

Comments

[Mary]

I discovered "blogs," "blawgs," "lawyers blogs" (i.e. the more 'personal' blogs) and Ernie the Attorney in Spring 2003. Since then I've become familiar with just about all of the available blog tools however...

I've not set up a blawg primarily due to time. (One of these days..BTW, how do you like Typepad?)

Also, I'm not certain just what subject to cover that will make it easy to make frequent updates and will not require alot of research/writing.

I do keep track of a number of blawgs and business/marketing blogs for current legal/business news. I use RSS readers--prefer RSS to bookmarking favorites.

In addition to being a lawyer, I own an e-commerce business (started in 2001). Time/money investment requires convincing need/value. Describe time/money investment and persuade them on the return.

Hope my comments are helpful. You might also want to check out the September issue of Law Technology News, article on Web sites, in particular tips from J.Craig Williams of the blog MayItPleaseTheCourt.org. LexBlog.com/Kevin's blog has some good information.

Good work.

[Bill Altreuter]

I find that law blogs are somewhat useful for keeping current-- but mostly only in the sexier areas, like IP, or privacy law. (I except this excellent blawg from that critique.) I use my site as a sort of a notebook to collect thoughts and citations on things that I may write or speak on, and it is excellent for that.

I think that the main thing that law related blogs do, however, is foster a sense of community within our glamor profession. Bar association activities don't do this as well, hanging around the courthouse doesn't really do it at all, but blawgs allow us to exchange ideas, and discuss topics about the law in a way that crosses over a lot of the borders. Younger lawyers, and even law students have as much or more of a voice in the blawg realm as do more experienced lawyers. I think this is particularly interesting in the context of the ongoing discussions I see about the culture of practicing law, in sites like "(Un)Civil Litigator", "Tech Law Advisor", "And What Thanks" and others.

[Matt]

Mary and Bill,

Thanks for the comments. Whether I convince lawyers that blogging will help their practice is questionable. However, I have found that blogs and blawgs have provided me with accurate and well-written information on the law. Blawgs have frequently led me to documents or cases I wouldn't have found on my own.

Mary,

I enjoy using Typepad. For the limited time I have, Typepad allows me to concentrate on the posts' content instead of the more technical aspects of the blawg. Typepad also offers pretty clean-looking templates. Best of luck with your endeavors to starting blogging. Let me know when you start your blog up.

Matt

[Joseph]

I read a lot of blawgs for commentary on policy and legal issues for my personal enjoyment, but I don't necessarily practice those areas, like freedom of speech, separation of church and state, economic analysis of law, same sex marriage, etc. (I like Volokh Conspiracy, Legal Fiction, De Novo, SCOTUS Blog). But I haven't found blawgs to be particularly useful as a research tool, except for really hot issues or very narrowly focused blawgs (like Benefits Buzz, Tax Prof Blog) or coming upon though a google search. The main research benefit I see in blawgs is that they discuss issues that might not be heady enough to make it into professional publications and issues are discussed the same day they come on the radar screen.