how to write minutes from an attorney bio

by Jillian Hamill 8 min read

How do you write a bio for a lawyer?

Apr 11, 2022 · Every sentence of your attorney biography is an opportunity to create a human connection that makes you someone they would choose to hire over another firm. Embrace Creative Writing with a Little Flair. We will be the first to tell you that creative writing rarely seems appropriate for a law firm website, but your biography is a fair exception.

Why should you read a lawyer bio?

Main Things of Lawyer’s Bio. If you want to create an impressive bio, then learn how to write a lawyer bio in an effective and efficient manner. Try striking a balance between personality and professionalism in the biography. You must highlight your achievements, accomplishments, awards, affiliations and educational background, to name some.

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

Apr 15, 2020 · Table of Contents. Writing Your Narrative. Length. Bulleted Lists. Personal Info. Writing Conventions. Coordinating Bios. Bio Template. 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).

Is your attorney bio page boring?

Jun 30, 2020 · Nobody sets out to write a boring attorney bio. It’s just so easy to follow the usual attorney bio format and rarely update or change it — unless there’s a big pitch underway or the firm’s website is being redesigned. The bio becomes an end product of your CV — told in prose form. Those rock-solid credentials and impressive ...

image

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

How do you write an attorney bio?

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

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 I pitch myself as a lawyer?

Four Steps to a Solid “Elevator Speech” IntroductionDescribe your clients. It could be your typical client or your ideal client. ... Explain how you help clients and the value you bring. ... Explain what makes you different or distinctive from other lawyers in your field. ... State a “for example”Sep 26, 2019

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.

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

How do you write a quick bio?

It's generally a good idea to include:Your name.Your current role or professional tagline.Your company or personal brand.Your goals and aspirations.Your 2-3 most impressive and relevant achievements.One quirky fact about you (if it's appropriate to the site)What to Include in a Bio at Work.More items...•Sep 5, 2019

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

What should I pitch as a lawyer?

The Six Steps of a Successful PitchStep 1: Research the potential client. ... Step 2: Probe the potential client. ... Step 3: Prepare relevant materials. ... Step 4: Mirror the potential client. ... Step 5: Focus conversation on the potential client. ... Step 6: Follow up with the potential client. ... Step 7: De-brief the potential client.

How do you write an elevator pitch with no experience?

How to create a good student elevator pitch?Introduce yourself, say what you do, and how you do it. There's no going around that part. ... Add some captivating details about you. ... If you can, provide examples of your past achievements. ... Use the ending of your pitch as a conversation-starter. ... Career fair.Oct 1, 2021

What is a lawyer bio?

Personality: The lawyer bio helps people learn about your personal hobbies and interests that they can also relate to and feel more connected to you. Marketing: The bio is one of the most important marketing tools to use on your website, guests posts, and forums.

How to write a lawyer bio?

What is the best way to write a lawyer bio? First, take note that the bio is not your CV or resume. That is why you have to plan and consider information to include in the biography for use in marketing or social media, for instance. Bios for lawyers also come at different lengths like that of doctor bio. It is also the exact reason you need ...

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 are the worst offenders when creating a biography?

Some of the worst offenders when creating a biography include: 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.

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 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.

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 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.

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.

Can someone else write a bio for you?

It is hard to get enough distance from your own bio to have a good sense of how it will read to others. In this vein, it can also be great to have someone else actually write the bio for you. You'd be surprised what a fresh set of eyes sees in your background and accomplishments!

Do you need a phone number for one click calling?

Phone number: definitely include a phone number, which will be formatted on mobile devices for one-click calling — whether it's your main line or your direct line is really up to you. If you use a main line, make sure that line is answered when you're not in — ideally by a live person.

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:

How to write a good attorney bio?

Seven Steps to a Better Attorney Bio 1 “His/her/their practice focuses on ….” We ran a Google search and this phrase appears 174,000 and 92,000 times respectively. 2 “He/she is uniquely qualified.” That’s right, you and a couple hundred thousand other lawyers out there are “uniquely qualified.” 3 “Handles a variety of complex ….” This phrase appears 40,000 times in mostly lawyer-related pages. To differentiate, identify the specific variety (a couple of bullets work well here), and then show how you advised on or solved your clients’ complex matters.

Is a lawyer's bio important?

If you want your bio to help close the deal, yes, it is important. Let’s look at some recent statistics: Attorney bios rank second in terms of influence on hiring selection by general counsel. (The No. 1 spot belongs to personal recommendations.) Attorney bios account for 80 percent of legal website traffic.

Who is Nancy Slome?

Originally published June 30, 2020. Last updated April 17, 2021. Nancy Slome. Nancy Slome heads up Lawyers Biography Service and is a seasoned legal marketing consultant with more than a decade of experience advising attorneys on strategic marketing initiatives and creating compelling content for law firm websites.

Who is Vita Mehra?

Doesn’t get more authentic than this. “Vinita Mehra is an attorney who cares — about her clients and her community. Her professional and personal philosophy includes giving back in ways that make a meaningful difference to the local and global communities to which she dedicates her practice.

Do I need a veiled description of my client's identity?

Veiled descriptions of clients’ identities may be required, but if you have published articles about matters that are germane to your clients’ business, you should refer (or link) to one in the prose section of your attorney bio.

Can you reference your law school in the first sentence?

5. Yes, your law school credentials are awesome. But that doesn’t mean you reference your alma mater in the first sentence.

What is an attorney bio page?

Attorney bio pages are valuable law firm marketing tools, and yet so often, they are put together piecemeal without attention to branding or tone. Or, they are just resume-style lists, devoid of personality. More often than not, people aren’t hiring The Firm; they are hiring an attorney.

What is a lead in a news article?

In a news article, the lede (often also, lead) is the introductory sentence, or short paragraph, that describes the story and gives the most important details up front, in an attempt to entice readers to continue. In many ways, you are similar to the journalist working to draw people into an article.

How to brighten your bio?

Here are seven things you can do to brighten your bio. 1. Talk to the individual. Online publishing is intrinsically anonymous and impersonal. It is easy to forget, when sitting solo in front of your screen, that when you write, you are talking to other people. First, drop the legalese and jargon.

What does Bob want to sell himself like?

If that attention leads to honesty and empathy, Bob may want to sell himself like this: Bob makes you feel like the only person in the room, even if you are in a crowd of hundreds. If you have concerns about your case, he will always take the time to talk to you and give you an honest assessment of where things stand.

What happens if you bury the lede?

If you bury the lede, your visitors may move on and never get that essential piece of information that convinces them you are right for their matter.

Why does Judith help fathers?

Judith helps fathers retain visitation rights or get full custody so that they can enjoy being a part of their childrens’ lives. Fathers should be able to participate in the growth and development of their children. This clearly delineates how the attorney can help her clients. 3.

Is a lawyer's bio important?

Your attorney bio page is important. In fact, it is probably one of the most important pages on your law firm’s website. According to HubSpot, about pages are ...

What did the President of Slovakia do before becoming president?

Before being elected as the president of Slovakia, he used to be a law teacher at his alma mater. Through his biography, people can read about his concerns on poverty and sustainable development, and how he tackled them by working closely with the United Nations.

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.

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 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.

Is Bob Dole a lawyer?

It is also entertaining as it includes many of the various features he rocked as a lawyer. Bob Dole is the perfect example of hard work and good ethics. This allowed him to excel in a wide range of areas. Without leaving aside his legal practice, he also became deeply involved in social causes.

Why do we need minutes of meetings?

Remember, the minutes of your meetings are there to help your organization be more collaborative, transparent, and efficient. Keep that in mind and whatever form or template you choose will work just fine.

What are formal minutes?

Formal minutes. Certain organizations such as nonprofits, public companies, local governments, and schools are required by law to create formal meeting minutes. For example, in California, many state and local government bodies must make meeting minutes available to the public.

What is a call to order?

Call to Order#N#A [meeting type] meeting of [organization name] was held on [date] at [location]. It began at [time] and was presided over by [chairperson’s name], with [secretary’s name] as secretary.

What is a meeting minutes?

Meeting minutes are the official summary of what happened during a meeting. They serve as an outline, a written record for anyone unable to attend, and to use for future reference. Minutes document what happened and what decisions were made. When written well, and when using a good meeting minutes template, minutes are a critical communication tool ...

When is ACME meeting 2021?

A meeting of the Board of Directors (the “ Board ”) of ACME Corp., a California C-Corporation (the “Company”), was held on September 5, 2021, at the offices of the Company. A motion to approve the previous meeting minutes from August 5th was made by Larry Emerson and seconded by Marc Branson.

Do meeting minutes need to be clear?

Often meeting minutes are flexible and somewhat informal. They still need to be clear, professional, and consistent. But, you’re not going to get sued if you don’t include all the right information.

Do minutes need to be certified?

Certain formal meeting minutes do need to be certified in some way in order to be an official record of a meeting. Often the Chair needs to review and approve the minutes before they can be circulated. Or, for many organizations, minutes are reviewed and approved by the group at the beginning of the next meeting.

image

Part 1 – Research

  • 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 …
See more on bitrebels.com

Part 2 – Planning

  • 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…
See more on bitrebels.com

Part 3 – Drafting

  • 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 m...
See more on bitrebels.com

Part 4 – Editing

  • 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…
See more on bitrebels.com

Part 5 – Publishing

  • 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…
See more on bitrebels.com

Tips to Keep in Mind

  • 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…
See more on bitrebels.com

Open with A Strong Statement

Image
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

Cover The Basics

  • 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: ...
See more on natlawreview.com

Cover The Extras

  • 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…
See more on natlawreview.com

Have A Relevant, Professional Photo

  • 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.
See more on natlawreview.com

Create Several Biographies For The Best Web Engagement

  • 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…
See more on natlawreview.com

Avoid The Biography Pitfalls

  • 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…
See more on natlawreview.com

Try Creative, Interactive Elements

  • You can make your biography page stand out even more by incorporating engaging elements like vcards, printable versions, or introductory videos - as long as they are professionally produced. Another wise choice is to include a disclaimer if you list your email address stating that sending an email to you does not indicate a legal attorney-client relationship unless an engagement lette…
See more on natlawreview.com

Conclusion

  • Writing the perfect lawyer biography does not have to be a difficult exercise. Like any other marketing exercise, start with your potential client and work backward. Your biography is a great opportunity to connect with people before you meet them. Create text that is search-friendly, concise, and filled with the highlights of your career. This will allow potential clients and colleag…
See more on natlawreview.com