June 5, 2019 – Attorney Victor Forberger started a blog in 2013 when he recognized major changes in laws on unemployment, one of his practice areas. He says the blog was the only available mechanism for documenting and explaining the changes.
“While the Department of Workforce Development (DWD) has made gestures towards transparency, general or thorough explanations of these changes are still severely lacking,” said Forberger, who writes on the Wisconsin Unemployment Law Blog.
Forberger’s law blog is one of 13 known Wisconsin-based law blogs that have been going strong for the last five years. The State Bar of Wisconsin has published a list of Wisconsin law blogs the last four years. This article marks the fifth annual list.
And while 76 blogs appear on this year’s list, only 13 of them have appeared all five years. These all-star Wisconsin law bloggers have amassed a serious library of information that is publicly accessible for those searching for answers.
For Forberger, the blog isn’t really about attracting clients. “Unemployed folks generally cannot afford legal representation,” he said. “I get phone calls about unemployment matters and even questions from folks who think they are calling DWD.”
“I usually just answer their questions. If they are in Madison, I refer them to the Unemployment Appeals Clinic connected to U.W. Law School.”
The clinic provides free representation to unemployed workers in unemployment compensation hearings and appeals at the state Labor & Industry Commission (LIRC).
In essence, people find Forberger through his blog. Forberger answers their questions or refers them to the right place. In turn, Forberger builds his reputation as an expert in this area, and he is providing a public service to those in need of legal services.
And Forberger plans to keep it going. “Given how unemployment law has been a ‘hot’ area of law in Wisconsin – with major LIRC decisions and various circuit court decisions – the question is really how could I not keep the blog going,” he said.
Victor Forberger blogs from his basement office at home.
Newsbreakers
Kevin O’Keefe is former La Crosse trial lawyer who ditched his litigation loafers for galoshes to start Seattle-based LexBlog, a network of more than 20,000 legal bloggers.
Joe Forward, Saint Louis Univ. School of Law 2010, is a legal writer for the State Bar of Wisconsin, Madison. He can be reached by email or by phone at (608) 250-6161.
O’Keefe, LexBlog’s CEO, recently interviewed his new editor-in-chief, a well-known lawyer-journalist named Bob Ambrogi. In it, Ambrogi reveals that he went to law school to be a better journalist. “I went to law school to get ahead of journalism,” Ambrogi said.
Ambrogi believes lawyers are the future of legal journalism. “[B]logs have replaced some of the traditional news media in the legal area in particular,” Ambrogi said. He noted that bloggers are the ones covering the details that traditional news outlets don’t.
“There are bloggers out there who are literally breaking news in the sense that they’re often the first ones reporting court opinions that come down, or new regulatory developments,” Ambrogi said. “There are others that are doing the second day, the third day, a later take on it, writing more analytical pieces.”
Case in point: SCOTUS Blog. This independent blog covers the U.S. Supreme Court, with painstaking details and analysis on every merits case as well as statistics and other information. The blog’s writers are law professors and lawyers, including Amy Howe, a former U.S. Supreme Court litigator and law professor at Harvard and Stanford.
Howe’s a “blogger,” yet she holds one of 24 coveted press passes for the U.S. Supreme Court. Others include Marcia Coyle and Tony Mauro (National Law Journal), David Savage (L.A. Times), Pete Williams (NBC News), and Adam Liptak (New York Times).
Another example is Health Affairs Blog with posts from many lawyers and law professors in health law. Tim Jost, a health law professor at Washington University, who literally co-wrote the book on health law, was the blog’s primary blogger until recently. Now, lawyer Katie Klein (JD, MPH), a Georgetown law professor, has taken on that role.
Credible and ethical journalists are neutral storytellers that source information from the individuals with knowledge and expertise on particular subjects and situations to deliver news. But legal bloggers are the individuals with knowledge and expertise.
“Legal journalism is now created by those in the know – practicing lawyers, law professors, law students and other legal industry professionals, all of whom have first-hand knowledge and experience in niche areas,” O’Keefe explained in his own blog, Real Lawyers.
Because reputation and credibility is a lawyer’s stock in trade, providing credible and accurate information is an important aspect for any legal blogger. And O’Keefe says readers are smart: they can generally spot what is and what is not credible.
LexBlog CEO Kevin O’Keefe on Lawyers as Journalists
Kevin O’Keefe loves blogging and social media. That’s why started the LexBlog Network and serves as LexBlog’s chief executive officer. He talks about legal blogs as the future of legal journalism. But we asked him: “How might he respond if someone said legal bloggers are not beholden to the ethics of journalism and the objectivity that is the hallmark of journalism (or supposed to be).” First-hand knowledge could include biased views. He responded by email and also on his blog, Real Lawyers.
“Journalism, like everything, changes and often times change comes when we realize greater value from something new. Think of Amazon for Books, Uber for rides to the airport and much more,” O’Keefe said.
“As a lawyer I was regularly called by journalists who were called upon to have a couple different sources. And they sold news by controversy. I said it was light outside, and another lawyer said it was dark. That was news.
“With the advent of the Internet and blogs, news became democratized. I could report, as a lawyer, without waiting for a call. If someone wanted to differ, they could jump on line and opine. People could decide what and who they believed, without having a reporter who had no domain expertise write it up for them.
“We have more news from more reliable sources as a result of the Internet. Want to find out what is causing disruption downtown in any community, jump on Twitter or Facebook and get first hand reporting with pictures and video. No one says I need the ethics of journalism before this is news I can rely on - it is the news today.
“And beyond news, it’s the same for law journals and reviews that have been peer reviewed. Law blogs from lawyers and professors with niche expertise blog without going through publishers - and again, users - the readers - find substantial value.”
Getting Started
Blogging is like surfing. You just have to get on the board and take a ride. It won’t be easy. But as time goes by, it will get easier, says Cedarburg attorney Collin Schaefer.
Schaefer of Ogden Glazer + Schaefer, recently wrote a blog post: “Just Start Blogging Anyway.” Schaefer explains that blogging was not easy at first, but he stuck with it.
“I wouldn’t say that surfing and legal blogging are that alike,” said Schaefer. “However, I think getting started with a blog requires the same gumption, dedication, and willingness to fail (and learn) that surfing does.
“There is also a certain element of ‘taking the plunge’ associated with hitting ‘publish’ each week. Even after a year of blogging consistently, I still hesitate before I click.”
Schaeffer said his business partner, Erin Ogden, changed his mind about blogging and gave him many of the same tips he shared in his recent blog post.
“Blogging each week has become considerably easier, but it’s important to stick with it because it’s pretty easy to slide backwards,” he said.
In his blog post, Schaefer provides some useful “tips for the lazy would-be blogger.” In surfing terms, he advises to keep it short. “Dude, nobody wants to read a treatise.”
Schaefer also says good blogs are ones that weave professional and personal lives together, which personalize the blogger and makes the process more enjoyable.
Cross-posting on LinkedIn is a good way to gain traction, Schaefer says. But the key is sticking with it. “It takes a while to see results,” said Schaefer. “Blogging does matter; clients have hired us on the basis of one post; and it does make a difference.”
Branching Out
Consumer protection lawyer Ivan Hannibal of the Auto Justice Law Office in Madison just started a new blog. Last month, he launched the Wisconsin Auto Law Blog, and leverages the LexBlog Network, noted above, to distribute to a wider audience.
Hannibal said he started the blog to let Wisconsin consumers know they have legal rights when it comes to buying a car, repossession, auto repair, and warranties.
“These are issues people deal with all of the time in their daily lives,” Hannibal said. “There really isn’t much out there right now on these topics specific to Wisconsin law, and the information that is out there is done in a pell-mell and disorganized manner.”
Hannibal wants to create a one-stop resource for consumers. “One of my favorite parts of being a consumer lawyer has always been to educate others on the law. I don’t think you should have to go to law school to understand your legal rights,” Hannibal said. “I’m hoping that the information I put out into the universe helps a lot of other people.”
Hannibal’s blog also serves as a creative outlet. “It is nice writing something that is not written for a judge or opposing counsel. A lot of what we as lawyers do is write for an audience of one or two. I’m hoping my blog has a wider reach than that,” he said.
For Hannibal, initial challenges are technical and substantive. There is a steep learning curve on technical aspects such as search engine optimization (SEO) and meta tags, which drive the blog’s reach in internet search engines.
“In regards to the substantive content, the challenge has been to take prolix and overly complicated statutes and administrative rules and try and break them down so everyday people can understand them,” Hannibal said. “This is easier said than done. “
Hannibal hopes the blog will help client development, but that’s not the primary reason he’s doing it. “There is a lot of work and time that goes into building a blog and writing articles,” he said. “I recommend starting a blog only if you are really interested in a subject and have the time to commit to writing on a regular basis.”
2019 Wisconsin Law Blogs
Below is the 2019 list of Wisconsin Law blogs. Some of these blogs have been going strong since the State Bar published its first annual “Wisconsin Law Blogs” in 2015.
Other blogs fell off the list. Some blogs are new to the scene. If you think your blog meets the criteria for inclusion but it’s not included, contact State Bar legal writer Joe Forward. Remember, the list only includes blogs that posted at least 12 times in 2018, and at least three times in 2019. Blogs must include posting dates.
13 All-Star Blogs: Five Consecutive Years*
* Blog affiliated with a law firm with less than 20 attorneys. At least 12 posts in 2018 and at least three posts in 2019. If the blog does not have an actual name, the law firm name is used.
** These are “independent” blogs. They are not affiliated or branded by a law firm. However, this list still notes the law firm or entity of the independent blogger listed.
28 Wisconsin Solo, Small Firm, or Independent Blogs*
|
Blog
|
Firm Affiliation
|
Practice Area
|
|
14
|
Appleton WI Bankruptcy Law Blog
|
Helbing Law Office LLC
|
Bankruptcy law
|
|
15
|
Boller & Vaughan Blog
|
Boller & Vaughan LLC
|
Personal injury law
|
|
16
|
Bucher Law Group Blog
|
Bucher Law Group LLC
|
Criminal defense, family law, personal injury
|
|
17
|
Cannon & Dunphy Blog
|
Cannon & Dunphy S.C.
|
Personal injury law
|
|
18
|
Carlson Dash Blog
|
Carlson Dash LLC
|
Business, labor & employment, real estate, estate planning
|
|
19
|
Center for Health & Wellness Law Blog
|
Barbara Zabawa, Center for Health & Wellness Law LLC
|
Health law
|
|
20
|
Comics Lawyer Blog**
|
Dirk Vanover, Vanover Legal LLC
|
Entertainment law
|
|
21
|
Due Diligence
|
Brian Mahany, Mahany Law
|
Whistleblower and fraud recovery law
|
|
22
|
First Look Family Law Blog
|
Karyn Gimbel Youso, First Look Family Law
|
Family law
|
|
23
|
Hurley, Burish, & Stanton Blog
|
Hurley, Burish, & Stanton SC
|
General
|
|
24
|
Karp & Iancu Blog
|
David Karp, Karp & Iancu SC
|
Family law, personal injury law
|
|
25
|
KEW Tips Blog
|
Kramer, Elkins & Watt LLC
|
Business, employment, family law
|
|
26
|
Krause Donovan Blog
|
Krause Donovan, LLC
|
Probate and estate planning law
|
|
27
|
MWH Law Group Blog
|
MHW Law Group
|
General
|
|
28
|
Milwaukee Legal Issues Blog
|
The Law Offices of Robert A. Levine
|
Personal injury
|
|
29
|
Milwaukee Wisconsin Motor Vehicle Accident Law Blog
|
Martin Law Office LLC
|
Personal injury law
|
|
30
|
Murphy & Prachthauser Blog
|
Murphy & Prachthauser S.C.
|
Personal injury law
|
|
31
|
OgdenGlazer Blog
|
Ogden Glazer LLC
|
Business, food and beverage, intellectual property law
|
|
32
|
Paul Ksicinski Blog
|
Paul A. Ksicinski, Attorney at Law
|
Criminal defense
|
|
33
|
Police Misconduct Blog
|
Mahany Law
|
Police misconduct
|
|
34
|
Probst Law Blog
|
Probst Law Offices S.C.
|
Family law
|
|
35
|
Schloemer Law Firm Blog
|
Schloemer Law Firm
|
Estate planning, tax and business law
|
|
36
|
Securities Law Blog
|
Halling & Cayo, S.C.
|
Securities law
|
|
37
|
Stangl Law Blog
|
Stangl Law Offices S.C.
|
Ciminal defense
|
|
38
|
Studinski Law Blog
|
Studinski Law LLC
|
Personal injury
|
|
39
|
The Editing Lawyer Blog**
|
Benjamin Scott Wright, Wright Law
|
Legal writing, editing, publishing
|
|
40
|
The Estate Planning Perspectives Blog
|
Wills-O’Leary Law Firm
|
Estate & business planning, elder & disability law
|
|
41
|
Wisconsin Crime & Justice Blog
|
Mastantuono & Coffee, S.C.
|
Criminal defense
|
* Blog affiliated with a law firm with less than 20 attorneys. At least 12 posts in 2018 and at least three posts in 2019. If the blog does not have an actual name, the law firm name is used.
** These are “independent” blogs. They are not affiliated or branded by a law firm. However, this list still notes the law firm or entity of the independent blogger listed.
14 Wisconsin Larger Firm Blogs*
|
Blog
|
Firm Affiliation
|
Practice Area
|
|
42
|
Axley Brynelson Blog
|
Axley Brynelson LLP
|
General
|
|
43
|
Dewitt Ross & Stevens Blogs
|
Dewitt Ross & Stevens S.C.
|
8 blogs, various topics
|
|
44
|
Foley & Lardner Blogs
|
Foley & Lardner LLP
|
Various blogs, various topics
|
|
45
|
Godfrey & Kahn Blogs
|
Godfrey & Kahn S.C.
|
2 blogs, labor and employment, insurance
|
|
46
|
Hall Render Blog
|
Hall Render Killian Health & Lyman P.C.
|
Health law
|
|
47
|
Herrling Clark Law Firm Blog
|
Herrling Clark Law Firm Ltd
|
Personal injury, family law, estate planning
|
|
48
|
Writing on Your Rights
|
Hawks Quindel S.C.
|
Labor and employment; family law; employee benefits; and personal injury
|
|
49
|
Husch Blackwell Blogs
|
Husch Blackwell LLP
|
Various blogs, various topics
|
|
50
|
O’Neil Cannon Hollman Dejong & Laing Blogs
|
O’Neil Cannon Hollman Dejong & Laing S.C.
|
Labor and employment; tax and wealth.
|
|
51
|
On Point
|
Wisconsin State Public Defender
|
Criminal defense
|
|
52
|
Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren Blog
|
Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren S.C.
|
General
|
|
53
|
The Blue Ink Blogs
|
Ruder Ware
|
Employment, banking, tax, municipal law, health care
|
|
54
|
SmithAmendsen Labor & Employment Blog
|
SmithAmundsen LLC
|
Labor & employment
|
|
55
|
Stafford Rosenbaum Blog
|
Stafford Rosenbaum LLP
|
General
|
|
56
|
von Briesen & Roper Blog
|
von Briesen & Roper S.C.
|
General
|
* More than 20 or more lawyers. At least 12 posts in 2018 and at least three posts in 2019. Some larger firms maintain multiple blogs. They are not listed separately. If the blog does not have an actual name, only the law firm name is noted.
4 Wisconsin Academic Law Blogs
9 Active State Bar of Wisconsin Blogs*
* These blogs meet the criteria as “active” blogs, with at least 10 posts in 2018 and at least two posts in 2019.
7 Emerging State Bar of Wisconsin Blogs*
* These blogs don’t yet meet the criteria as “active” blogs because they are new or did not post at least 10 times in 2018.
