Habla Blog

By Ari Kaplan

Adam Anderson, a senior associate with Beus Gilbert PLLC in Scottsdale, Arizona, was recently in a meeting with counsel from another law firm who recognized his name from a list of contributors he had seen earlier that day in the National Law Journal. They ended up having a lengthy discussion about Anderson’s column for NLJ.com, which pokes fun at the legal profession and issues in the law.  Just as Anderson’s column distinguishes him from his peers in a positive and unique way, a published article can do the same for you.

The process is easier than you think.  Anderson, for instance, takes an issue with which he and his peers are concerned, e.g., document discovery, associate reviews or billable hours, and adds an element of absurdity to entertain his readers while simultaneously informing them about important points.  In a recent column, he wrote about the benefits of leap year and using the 366^th day of the year to bill more time.

The Effect of Getting Published

Sometimes the impact of Anderson’s writing is unexpected.  A recent article about depression prompted a professor at New York University Law School to distribute it to his first year classes.  The art of getting published is one that can be learned and mastered.  The key is to let others know about your work.

Showcase Your Skills

Published individuals post their articles on their websites and list them on their resumes.  More importantly, however, in preparation for meetings, particularly those with client prospects, they review their list of articles to find items that address issues related to those they expect to discuss at the meeting.

Connect with Others

In addition, writing offers you the chance to work with someone who is outside of your daily routine or with whom you are particularly interested in developing a connection.  For junior professionals, it provides a tangible expression of your interest and commitment to a particular subject.

Pitching and Selecting Publications

Most hopeful writers think they cannot spare the time, but the solution to properly valuing your effort is to pitch your idea before setting pen to paper (or finger to keyboard).  This requires a simple one-paragraph e-mail describing your thesis in a sentence or two, why you are the appropriate person to write the piece and its relevance to the publication’s readership.

When selecting a publication, study editorial calendars.  They are an ideal resource for writers because they specify the type of information for which an editor may be searching at a particular time.

Maximize the Time

Once you have a firm deadline, schedule the work as you would anything else. Those concerned with time can use Anderson as a guide.  It takes him about two hours to write a 750-1,000 word article.  That said, he is constantly thinking about possible ideas and always carries a pocket-sized notebook.

 Ultimately, the key is to write about issues that are on the minds of your readers when they are actually seeing your article.  After doing so, perhaps you too will have an experience like Anderson at your next meeting.

Ari Kaplan is a lawyer and a writer based in the New York-area.  He teaches a 1 1/2-hour CLE course called Getting Published for Business, Professional & Personal Development at law firms and bar associations nationwide. He is also the author of The Opportunity Maker: Strategies for Inspiring Your Legal Career Through Creative Networking and Business Development (Thomson-West, 2008).  To receive a set of free 2008 editorial calendars, contact him via http://www.AriKaplanAdvisors.com

For more information on Ward & Associates Professional Development and Samantha Cardwell-Ward, visit us at www.wardspeaking.com.