how to write an attorney bio

by Miss Emily Stark 10 min read

How to write a professional attorney bio people will actually want to read

  1. Include your full name, title and a professional headshot.
  2. Tell people what you do, without legalese and overused buzzwords.
  3. Tell them why you do it. What motivates you? What got you into law school?
  4. Explain how your experience helps clients.
  5. Provide relevant examples.

The 7 Most Important Items to Include in Your Lawyer Bio
  1. Your name and title right up front. ...
  2. A professional headshot. ...
  3. A summary of what you do for your clients. ...
  4. An explanation of why you do what you do. ...
  5. Highlights of relevant accomplishments or civic engagements. ...
  6. A few bits of personal information.

Full Answer

How do you write an extensive lawyer bio?

Apr 15, 2020 · So how do you create the best attorney profile possible? Provide a good photo of you. Make it easy to contact you. Show clients what you do for them and why you do it well. Establish yourself as relatable and trustworthy. Don't present them a …

Do lawyers write their own BIOS?

How to Write the Biography of a Lawyer One of the biggest concerns about composing your biography has to do with the writing style. Whether you choose to use... However, you choose to proceed with writing a biography of a lawyer who deserves to work with all the best clients, make... It should go ...

Should you write a lawyer bio in first-person or third-person?

Oct 17, 2021 · Write Client-Focused Content Every single detail you include in your attorney bio should be client-focused. The way you write your bio should describe how your assets, accomplishments, and...

Why should you read a lawyer bio?

Feb 07, 2018 · Here are six fantastic attorney bios, each for a different reason. 1. SERIOUS, AND A STANDOUT. Firm: Ifrah Law. Attorney Bio: Jim Trusty. Besides this attorney’s obvious advantage of having a name that immediately conveys reliability, this bio gets right to the point in the first sentence. After 28 years as a prosecutor, James (“Jim ...

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What should be included in an attorney bio?

When looking for legal counsel, your attorney bio may be a potential client's first impression of you....5 Strategies for Writing An Attorney Bio — Plus ExamplesFocus on the basics.Celebrate your accolades.Choose a great photo.Connect with the client.Be authentic.Mar 12, 2021

What is an attorney bio?

Attorney biographies are a great way for potential clients to gather information about the people that might be representing them. A well-designed biography sets the stage for a client to really get a chance to learn about the attorneys at a particular firm.Jun 10, 2021

How do you write a personal biography in court?

Edit thoroughly.Introduce yourself. Start your bio with a brief introduction that shows who you are. ... Keep it concise. Start with a word count in mind. ... Use third person. It may feel strange or even challenging to write about yourself. ... Write strategically. ... Include your contact information. ... Edit thoroughly.Mar 12, 2021

How do you write an attorney bio for a website?

10 Tips for Writing The Perfect Attorney Website BioKnow Your Audience. Plan to speak to clients and potential clients. ... The Intro is Important. ... Use First Person (but wisely) ... Talk About the Client “Problems” You Solve. ... Be Clear About Your Industry and Practice Area(s) ... Include Accolades. ... Demonstrate vs. ... Avoid Legalese.More items...•Mar 28, 2022

What is an example of a biography?

The definition of biography is a story written about someone's life. An example of biography is a book about the story of President Obama's life. A person's life story, especially one published. There are many biographies of Benjamin Franklin.

What makes an attorney great?

Here are the top 5 qualities of a good lawyer: responsiveness, analytical skills, good research skills, speaking skills, and listening skills. and understand it on the spot. When a case is in session, curveballs will likely be thrown and they have to be able to interpret and respond to them appropriately.

How do you write a short biography about someone else?

6 Tips on How to Write a BiographyGet permission. Once you've chosen the subject of the biography, seek permission to write about their life. ... Do your research. ... Form your thesis. ... Make a timeline. ... Use flashbacks. ... Include your thoughts.Aug 30, 2021

What should my IG bio be?

Include a Description of Yourself The best Instagram bios tend to have a self-description. Things to consider adding: your job title(s), the company you own or work for, some claims to fame, things you love, and what makes you stand out. Queen Latifah's Instagram bio does a great job of describing her.Oct 28, 2021

How to write a bio for an attorney?

1. Meet with the attorney. Although many attorneys will write their own bios, you may be hired to do it for them. It is important to have a thorough understanding of their practice before beginning the bio. Before meeting with the attorney, do preparatory research, such as looking at the attorney’s website, as well as performing web searches.

What is an attorney bio?

An attorney bio generally includes information about the lawyer's credentials, including schooling and experience. A well-written bio will help draw clients to your practice. Follow these steps for writing a compelling attorney bio. Steps.

How to prepare for a lawyer meeting?

Before meeting with the attorney, do preparatory research, such as looking at the attorney’s website, as well as performing web searches. Busy lawyers sometimes will forget past accomplishments or cases they have handled. With research, you can help draw this to their attention.

How long does it take to become a certified attorney?

Consider acquiring certification for any specialties and including those in your bio. Certifications typically require several years of expertise, professional recommendations from judges or fellow attorneys, and completion of additional education or tests.

How long should an attorney's bio be?

An attorney bio is not a memoir. A reader should be able to scan it without being overwhelmed by information. A good length is under six paragraphs. Extensive bios can be broken up using hyperlinks. For example, the main page may highlight a few client testimonials and representative matters.

Who is Jennifer Mueller?

Jennifer Mueller is an in-house legal expert at wikiHow. Jennifer reviews, fact-checks, and evaluates wikiHow's legal content to ensure thoroughness and accuracy. She received her JD from Indiana University Maurer School of Law in 2006.

What is a professional biography?

This gives each of your biographies a unique content score with the search engines which improves your overall search results rankings. It also means that potential clients see unique pieces of content that have not been cut-and-pasted to save time.

What is a biography in real estate?

The biography is a vehicle for selling legal services so even if it is in a third person voice, it should be about connecting your experience with the legal problems you solve. The first paragraph of your biography is important real estate for starting a conversation with the person you are trying to connect with.

What is the most clicked on page of a lawyer's website?

The data is clear: the attorney biographies on a law firm's website are the most clicked on pages of the site (after the home page). Yet many lawyers put tons of work into their practice area pages to the exclusion of the biographies.

What is behind every service?

Behind every service is a person. And that person makes all the difference when it comes to rapport (whether with clients, opponents, judges or juries) and, ultimately, whether the attorney-client relationship yields the best results possible.

Why should I list my service on boards?

Listing your service on boards for non-profits, offices in local community groups, and fundraising or volunteering with charities has many advantages. Not only does it speak to your character and abilities, but it displays connection to your community, which can have both personal and professional advantages.

Do attorneys have state bars?

Most attorneys also include state bars to which they are admitted along with relevant federal or specialty courts. The most common exception is for locally-based consumer-oriented practitioners who are simply admitted in the single state where they practice.

What is a V card?

V-card: we do recommend that you include a v-card, which is like a downloadable, digital rolodex entry. Some potential clients love them. Those who don't use them can easily ignore them. That said, if you have a primarily consumer practice you might be right that very few of your prospects would make use of a v-card.

What is a website profile?

A website profile is meant to catch the eye, spark interest, and confirm some central features of your background and current work. C.v.s can be important — and you certainly can link to your c.v. from your web profile. But the two items serve different purposes.

Do I need a photo for my attorney biography?

YES you need to have a photo on your biography. NO you do not need to look like a fashion model or lose 20 pounds first. And YES, the photo needs to be professionally — or at least semi-professionally — taken. Herewith, our specific advice on attorney profile photos:

Who was the first female solicitor general?

At an early age, Kagan began to develop a strong passion for law. She became the first female Solicitor General of the United States. She achieved it under the Obama’s administration. Through her biography, people can get a general idea of her background, career path and the awards and achievements she has won.

Who is Amal Clooney?

Some of the most famous lawyers with great biographies include the ones below. Amal Clooney is an attorney specialized in human rights and international law. Clooney can practice as a lawyer in both the United States and the United Kingdom. She is famous for tackling social injustices and fighting for human rights in international courts. ...

Who is Gloria Allred?

Gloria Allred is an inspirational lawyer that has been fighting for women and minorities rights for 40 years. Besides being an attorney, Allred is the president of the Women’s Equal Right Legal Defense and Educational Fund. Due to her activist work, she has received several awards.

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Part 1 – Research

  1. Meet with the attorney. Although many attorneys will write their own bios, you may be hired to do it for them. It is important to have a thorough understanding of their practice before beginning the bio. Before meeting with the attorney, do preparatory research, such as looking at the attorney’s website, as well as performing web searches. Busy lawyers sometimes will f…
  2. Consider audience. Some attorneys market toward the general public. Others focus on sellin…
See all 3 steps on www.wikihow.com

Part 2 – Planning

Part 3 – Drafting

  • Before you can start writing your attorney bio, you first need to know what’s going to go in it. To determine that, it’s a good idea to make sure you understand the requirements of such a bio. Remember, you’re not just providing a brief summary of yourself; you’re marketing your skills as an attorney. Crafting an excellent bio is part of your marketing strategyand should be treated as …
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Part 4 – Editing

  • Now that you’ve gathered all the information you need to start creating a great professional attorney bio, it’s time to synthesize that information into a usable format. More specifically, you’ll be creating a plan to follow in the next part. Proper planning and execution go a long way. If you can lay the groundwork for the kind of bio you want to write before you start, it’ll be easier to writ…
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Part 5 – Publishing

  • This is the part where you take all the points you’ve gathered and turn them into a fully written bio. The idea is not to get it perfect right away – the next stage is all about editing your work into something truly stunning. However, in this phase, the focus should be on writing everything out that you could possibly need. As before, having too much written is better than too little. There’s …
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Tips to Keep in Mind

  • We’ve written an attorney bio, and now we’re going to turn it into something fantastic. This stage is all about honing, perfecting, and optimizing your bio until it’s highly professional and absolutely ideal. It’s a good idea to compare what you’ve written to your plan and see how well your draft communicates the ideas and phrases you wanted to focus on. Then you can edit your work to br…
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Open with A Strong Statement

  • This is the final step. Your attorney bio is now ready, which means it’s time to put it out there and let your prospective clients see it. As you’re publishing your bio, it’s a good time to ensure that the rest of your website is fully ready as well. For example, let’s say you’ve registered your website’s domain, but only in some parts of the world. You’ll want to buy and register domain names (as w…
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Cover The Basics

  • There are a few things to remember to make your job easier as you craft a stunning yet professional attorney bio. First, you’ll want to make it as easy as possible for your clients to find you. That means giving them access to your VoIP phone number, where you can always be reached, somewhere in the bio. It’s also essential to pick a good photo to include if you do choo…
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Cover The Extras

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The biography is a vehicle for selling legal services so even if it is in a third person voice, it should be about connecting your experience with the legal problems you solve. The first paragraph of your biography is important real estate for starting a conversation with the person you are trying to connect with. You can also increas…
See more on natlawreview.com

Have A Relevant, Professional Photo

  • Make sure to include all the nuts and bolts that people will want to follow up on to ensure that you are who you say you are. Specifically, you should cover: 1. Contact Information:Location, phone number, social media links, email address. 2. Education:Undergraduate and law school credentials, as well as any post-graduate degrees. 3. Work History: This is not always necessary …
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Create Several Biographies For The Best Web Engagement

  • Next, you will want to make sure that you include anything extracurricular that will make you stand out in a crowd. Leadership positions (even outside of a legal industry), community service, and board memberships are great additions to this section. This is also the right place to include a personal line or two about your interests, hobbies, or family to inspire further connection with yo…
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Avoid The Biography Pitfalls

  • Here is an area where many lawyers fall short. Remember, this may be the only time your prospective new client sees you before deciding to request your help. Give your best possible first impression by investing in professional headshots that reflect your best qualities and your personal brand. Take professional headshots regularly to keep your online image current.
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Try Creative, Interactive Elements

  • The professional biography that you have on your website should be different than the one you have on sites like Avvo or Martindale-Hubbell. This gives each of your biographies a unique content score with the search engines which improves your overall search results rankings. It also means that potential clients see unique pieces of content that have not been cut-and-pasted to s…
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Conclusion

  • There are a couple of issues that I see often when I review clients’ online and offline biographies. Some of the worst offenders when creating a biography include: 1. Informal photos:Stay away from using an old repurposed image of you at your brother’s wedding. And, unless you have an MFA in graphic design, stay away from photoshopping yourself into a different setting. 2. Being t…
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