5 Thought Leadership Hacks Lawyers Should Know

It’s a golden age for thought leadership, and any lawyer can step into the spotlight and build their reputation. 

However, you also have a practice to run, leaving you with little time to share valuable insights and actively engage with your audience so that you can position yourself as a go-to expert in your field. With the right platforms and strategies, you’ll boost your credibility, grow your network, and even attract new business along the way. 

Let’s dive into five simple but powerful thought leadership hacks that can help you stand out.

1. Optimize Your LinkedIn Profile

Your LinkedIn profile is your digital first impression and often the first place where potential clients, referral sources, and even the media will look you up. 

If it’s incomplete, outdated, or generic, you’re missing a prime opportunity to position yourself as that thought leader you want to be. Here’s how to make your profile work for you:

Get Your Headline Right

Your headline is prime real estate for communicating your expertise. Instead of the standard “Partner at XYZ Law Firm,” consider something more engaging, like:

• Business Litigation Attorney | Helping Companies Resolve Complex Disputes Efficiently
  
• Estate Planning Lawyer | Guiding Families Through Generational Wealth Strategies

This small tweak clarifies your value and improves searchability.

Craft a Strong About Section

Your “About” section should go beyond a basic bio. It needs to tell a compelling story about who you help, how you help them, and why your work matters.

Try this format:

• Who you serve (e.g., business owners, startups, high-net-worth individuals)
  
• What problems you solve (e.g., contract disputes, compliance issues, estate planning)
  
• Why you’re uniquely qualified (your experience, approach, or expertise)

Write like a human, not a law textbook. Keep it clear and client focused.

Use a Professional (But Approachable) Headshot

Your profile photo should project confidence and approachability. A high-quality, well-lit headshot in professional attire is a must. Avoid stiff, overly corporate-looking poses—people want to see the person behind the expertise.

Customize Your LinkedIn URL

A messy LinkedIn URL full of random letters and numbers doesn’t look polished. Clean it up by customizing it to something simple, like linkedin.com/in/Your Name. You can do this in your LinkedIn settings.

Showcase Your Thought Leadership

The “Featured” section allows you to highlight articles, podcasts, speaking engagements, or key case studies. If you’ve been published or quoted, don’t let that content sit in obscurity. Pin it to your profile for instant credibility.

2. Strategically Posting to LinkedIn

LinkedIn is a powerful tool for lawyers looking to build their brand and connect with clients, and yet many attorneys struggle with how to get started or maintain consistency. 

The good news? A few strategic posting habits can maximize your visibility, showcase your expertise, and keep you top-of-mind.

Curating Content

You don’t have to create original content to make an impact. Sharing relevant articles, updates, or research from others—with your own commentary—can position you as an informed expert. For example, if you’re an estate planning attorney and new tax laws are announced, share an article on the changes and break down what it means for your audience. Tools like Google Alerts or RSS feeds can help you stay on top of trending topics.

When to Post

Timing matters and posting when your audience is most active can significantly boost engagement. Studies suggest that the best times to post are Tuesdays and Wednesdays between 10 a.m. and noon, and Thursdays at 10 a.m. These periods align with peak professional activity, increasing the likelihood your content will be seen. Avoid late-night or weekend posts, as LinkedIn isn’t as active during those times. However, every audience is different, so track engagement to find your ideal posting schedule.

Reposting and Engaging with Others

Reposting content from others is a simple yet impactful way to build meaningful connections. When you come across a post that aligns with your expertise or interests, share it with your own commentary and be sure to tag the original author. This not only provides informative content for your audience but also builds engagement with industry peers. To take this a step further, use LinkedIn’s notification feature (the bell icon on a person’s profile) to stay informed about updates from key clients, colleagues, and strategic partners. 

How to Engage

One easy way to spark engagement and gather insights is through LinkedIn’s poll feature. Ask an interesting or provocative question related to your field. For example, “How effective are you at using LinkedIn to build your brand or drive business?” The responses provide helpful information and can even inspire a follow-up post analyzing the results. Polls not only engage your audience but also help you understand their perspectives, giving you material for future content.

3. Creating Original Content

Creating original content is one of the most effective ways to establish credibility and provide value to your audience. Fortunately, it doesn’t have to be time-consuming or complicated.

How to Create Content Easily and Quickly

Start by identifying the questions your clients ask most frequently. These common concerns and pain points make for excellent content topics. Instead of overthinking, break them down into digestible pieces. One quick way to generate content is by recording short videos on these topics using your smartphone or Zoom. 

Types of Content to Consider

• Blogs: Written articles that provide education, legal updates, or case studies.
  
• Videos: Quick explainer videos or legal tips recorded in a professional but approachable way.
  
• Podcasts: Audio content discussing relevant legal trends, featuring guest experts, or answering common legal questions.
  
• Newsletters: Email updates that share valuable content directly with your network.

Addressing Audience Pain Points

Your content should always address the challenges your audience faces. Whether it’s explaining new legislation, providing practical legal guidance, or debunking common misconceptions, keeping it client-focused is key.

Timely and Topical Content

Stay ahead of industry trends by discussing legal changes, high-profile cases, or relevant news stories. For instance, if new non-compete regulations emerge, a blog post breaking down their impact on businesses can resonate well with your audience. 

4. Repurposing Content

Creating content takes time and effort, so why not make the most of it? Repurposing content allows you to extend the life of your ideas, reaching different audiences in multiple formats with minimal extra work.

How to Repurpose Content Efficiently

• Transform a Podcast into a Blog Post: If you record a podcast episode discussing a legal topic, transcribe the key points into a written blog post. This improves searchability on Google and other search engines.
  
• Convert Blog Posts into an E-Book: If you’ve written several blogs on a related subject, compile them into a downloadable e-book. This serves as a lead magnet and bolsters your authority as a subject matter expert.
  
• Turn a Webinar into a Video Series: If you’ve hosted a webinar, break it down into short video clips that can be shared across LinkedIn and other social platforms.

The Effectiveness of Top 10 Lists and Video Series

• Top 10 Lists: Creating a “Top 10” list of common client concerns, legal myths, or key takeaways from recent cases can be an engaging way to provide value.
  
• Video Series: If you have a longer piece of content, break it down into a series of short videos. For example, record ten quick videos answering frequently asked legal questions. This provides weeks of content with just one recording session.

5. Outsourcing

Thought leadership is a long-term investment, but it doesn’t have to consume all your time. 

By strategically outsourcing parts of the process to a content writer, social media manager, or SEO expert you can maintain a steady flow of high-quality content while focusing on your legal practice. 

Why Outsource?

• Save Time: Crafting blog posts, LinkedIn articles, and video content requires research and effort. A skilled content writer or marketing agency can help streamline this process.
  
• Enhance Quality: Professional writers and marketing teams bring expertise in messaging, SEO, and audience engagement.
  
• Maintain Consistency: Regular posting is key to building credibility. Outsourcing content creation helps you maintain a steady flow of knowledge without disruption.

What to Outsource?

• Content Writing: Blog posts, LinkedIn articles, newsletters, and e-books.
  
• Social Media Management: Scheduling and engaging with posts to maximize reach.
  
• Video Production: Editing, captioning, and repurposing video content for different platforms.
  
• SEO and Analytics: Optimizing content for search engines and tracking engagement metrics.

Building a reputation as a thought leader doesn’t happen overnight. By optimizing your LinkedIn profile, posting strategically, creating original content, repurposing what you already have, and outsourcing when needed, you can make thought leadership work for you without it feeling like a full-time job.

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Steve Fretzin is a bestselling author, host of the BE THAT LAWYER Podcast, and business development coach exclusively for attorneys. Steve has committed his career to helping lawyers learn key growth skills not currently taught in law school. His clients soon become top rainmakers and credit Steve’s program and coaching for their success. He can be reached directly by email at [email protected]. Or you can easily find him on his website at www.fretzin.com or LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevefretzin/.

David Telisman is Founder of David Telisman Communications, LLC, a content writing and marketing company that works with businesses across all industries to inspire their customers to buy from them. David creates content for organizations, allowing them to elevate their brands, grow their business, and stand out in a sea of competitors. He can be reached directly by email at [email protected], or you can find him on his website at www.davidtelisman.com or LinkedIn at   https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidtelisman/.