writing a biography for court

Lawyer Bio Templates | Ready-to-Use Bio Templates

Medha Mehta

Create a professional bio in less than 60 seconds with these well-written customizable attorney bio templates

Lawyer bio template 1, lawyer bio template 2 | short, lawyer bio template 3 | for website, lawyer bio template 4 | detailed, education and credentials, professional experience, awards and recognitions, publications and speaking engagements, professional associations, community involvement, personal statement, contact information, stitchi: no.1 custom merchandise provider for law firms.

• Tips to Write a Professional Lawyer Bio

1. Start with a Strong Opening

2. highlight your professional experience, 3. education and credentials, 4. achievements and recognitions, 5. personal touch, 6. professional associations, 7. contact information, 8. keep it concise and readable, 9. update regularly, 10. seek feedback, 11. professional photo, 12. seo considerations.

In the competitive realm of legal services, crafting a compelling lawyer bio is not just about listing qualifications and experiences; it’s about telling a story that resonates with potential clients, colleagues, and peers. Recognizing this, we've put together four ready-to-use, customizable lawyer bio templates designed to highlight your unique blend of expertise, achievements, and personal journey. Let's dive in and give your professional identity the polish it deserves.

This well-written lawyer bio template is designed to be a starting point. Customize it by adding specific details about your professional journey, achievements, and personal anecdotes that highlight your unique approach to the practice of law. =============================================================

[Attorney Name] , a dedicated legal professional with [number] years of experience, brings a passion for advocacy and a keen understanding of [practice area 1] , [practice area 2] , and [practice area 3] to clients facing legal challenges.

As a partner at [firm name] , [he/she/they] leverages extensive knowledge and a proven track record of success to deliver [client-focused benefit] . With [key accomplishment or award] , [he/she/they] demonstrates an unwavering commitment to [core value] .

Clients appreciate [his/her/their] [personality trait] , [communication style] , and ability to [key skill] . [He/She/They] believes in [approach to representation] and collaborates closely with clients to achieve their desired outcomes.

[Attorney Name] graduated from [law school] with [academic distinction] and is admitted to practice in [bar admissions] . Beyond their legal expertise, [he/she/they] actively contributes to the legal community through involvement in [bar associations] and [professional organizations] .

Dedicated to making a difference, [he/she/they] volunteers with [organizations] on issues related to [cause] .

To discuss your legal needs, contact [him/her/them] at [email address] or [phone number] .

This short attorney bio template keeps the tone professional yet accessible, ensuring that it reflects your personality and professional ethos. 

=============================================================

[Full Name] is a [Area of Specialization] lawyer with [Number] years of experience at [Law Firm Name] , known for [Unique Quality or Achievement] . A graduate of [Law School Name] with a JD, and holding a Bachelor's degree in [Field] from [University Name] , [First Name] is licensed to practice in [State(s) or Jurisdiction(s)] . [He/She/They] has been recognized for [Achievement or Award] and is an active member of [Professional Associations] . Committed to [Community Service or Pro Bono Work], [First Name] also contributes to [Field] through publications and speaking engagements. Passionate about [Personal Motivation or Value] , outside the office, [First Name] enjoys [Hobbies/Interests] . Contact [him/her/them] at [Email Address] or [Phone Number] for expertise in [Legal Services Offered] .

Adjust the length and content of this attorney bio template depending on the platform and intended audience. Ensure the bio adheres to ethical guidelines and avoid making misleading or unverifiable claims.

==============================================================

[Your Name] is a [practice area] attorney and [years of experience] of experience in the legal field. [He/She] is licensed to practice law in [State(s)] and is a member of the [State Bar Association]. [He/She] received [his/her] [degree name] from [law school name] in [year of graduation] and has since dedicated [his/her] career to helping clients navigate complex legal issues with [his/her] expertise and personalized approach.

Areas of Practice

[Your Name] focuses on the following areas of law:

[Practice Area 1]

[Practice Area 2]

[Practice Area 3]

With [his/her] extensive knowledge and experience in these areas, [Your Name] is well-equipped to handle a wide range of legal matters and provide clients with the best possible representation.

Professional Associations and Memberships

[State Bar Association]

[Professional Association 1]

[Professional Association 2]

[Your Name] is committed to staying up-to-date with the latest developments in the legal field and actively participates in various professional associations and organizations.

If you need legal assistance in [Your practice areas], contact [Your Name] at [Your Law Firm Name] by calling [Phone Number] or emailing [Email Address]. [He/She] will be happy to discuss your case and help you understand your legal options.

Below is a template for a lawyer bio that can be customized to fit individual experiences, achievements, and personalities. This template includes placeholders for key information and suggestions for personalization.

[Full Name] is a dedicated and experienced [Area of Specialization] lawyer at [Law Firm Name], where [he/she/they] has been providing expert legal counsel for [Number] years. With a deep commitment to justice and excellence, [First Name] specializes in [List of Specializations] and is known for [his/her/their] [describe unique qualities, e.g., meticulous attention to detail, exceptional negotiation skills, profound understanding of the law].

Juris Doctor from [Law School Name], [Year]

Bachelor of [Degree] in [Field], [University Name], [Year]

Admitted to practice in [State(s) or Jurisdiction(s)], [Year]

[Any other certifications or special training]

[Most Recent Position], [Law Firm/Company Name], [Years]

[Previous Position], [Law Firm/Company Name], [Years]

[Notable achievements, cases, or projects]

[Award Name], [Awarding Body], [Year]

[Recognition Name], [Organization], [Year]

[Title of Publication], [Publication Venue], [Year]

[Title of Speaking Engagement], [Event Name], [Year]

[Association Name], [Role], [Years Active]

[Association Name], Member, [Years Active]

[Volunteer Work or Pro Bono Service], [Organization Name], [Years]

[Community Service Projects], [Role], [Years]

I chose a career in law because [brief personal story or motivation]. What drives me is [personal mission or value], and I am deeply committed to [what you are passionate about in your field]. Outside of the courtroom, I enjoy [personal interests or hobbies].

Email: [Email Address]

Phone: [Phone Number]

LinkedIn: [LinkedIn Profile URL]

Law Firm Website: [Website URL]

Stitchi stands out as the premier provider of custom merchandise for law firms. We specialize in creating high-quality, affordable, US-made merch. Whether you’re looking for holiday gifts or appreciation gifts for your legal and paralegal staff, or personalized gifts for clients, Stitchi is your go-to solution. 

We have a wide collection of merchandise on which we imprint your law firm's logo, name, tagline, or unique message.

Sweatshirts

...and more

Stitchi's dedication to quality and its understanding of the legal industry's nuances make it the go-to source for custom merchandise. Our merch prices are 2X lower than the market rates. Browse the Catalog or reach out to us at [email protected] today! 

Tips to Write a Professional Lawyer Bio 

Writing a professional lawyer bio is crucial for establishing credibility, showcasing expertise, and connecting with potential clients or colleagues. A well-crafted bio not only highlights a lawyer's qualifications and accomplishments but also helps to humanize them and make them more relatable to their audience. Here are actionable advice and tips to help you write an effective and professional lawyer bio:

Introduce Yourself: Begin with your name, current position, and area of specialization. Make sure the introduction is clear and immediately informs the reader of your professional focus.

Hook the Reader: Include a compelling fact or achievement early to grab attention.

Showcase Your Expertise: Detail your areas of specialization, notable cases, and any unique skills or knowledge you bring to your field.

Career Progression: Mention your professional journey, including positions held, years of experience, and any significant transitions that showcase your growth in the legal field.

List Degrees and Certifications: Include where you earned your law degree, any additional degrees, and certifications relevant to your practice.

Bar Admissions: Mention the states or jurisdictions where you are licensed to practice law.

Awards and Honors: Highlight any awards or recognitions you have received in your field.

Publications: If you have written articles, books, or contributed to legal journals, list them to establish your thought leadership.

Personal Story: Briefly share why you chose the legal profession or a particular area of law to add a personal dimension to your bio.

Volunteer Work: Mention any pro bono work or community service to showcase your values and commitment to giving back.

Membership in Legal Associations: List memberships in legal associations or organizations to demonstrate your active engagement in the legal community.

Make It Easy to Connect: Include your professional contact information, such as email, phone number, and links to your LinkedIn profile or law firm's website.

Use Clear, Concise Language: Avoid legal jargon and write in a way that is accessible to non-lawyers.

Short Paragraphs: Use short paragraphs and bullet points to make the bio easier to scan.

Stay Current: Regularly update your bio to reflect any new achievements, positions, or changes in your professional life.

Professional Review: Have colleagues or mentors review your bio. They can provide valuable feedback on how it presents you and your expertise.

Include a Professional Headshot: A high-quality, professional photo adds a level of trust and professionalism to your bio.

Optimize for Search Engines: If your bio will be published online, include relevant keywords (e.g., your practice area, location) to help improve its visibility in search engine results.

Writing a professional lawyer bio is about balancing professionalism with approachability. By following these tips, you can create a bio that not only showcases your legal expertise and achievements but also connects with your intended audience on a personal level.

Get the latest from Stitchi

Writing Effective, Personable Attorney Bios Can Be a Breeze

BY Kerrie Spencer

With a bit of creativity and a touch of personality, attorney biographies can be not only readable but also tell a story that prospective clients respond to. A good bio can result in new leads. 

Writing a bio is not something you can skip. Having outdated information or no information on your background and skills will leave website visitors, wondering if they can trust you to handle their case. 

Writing a bio is not easy. However, you can take the pain out of the process by following a few tips to help write an informative and engaging bio.

A compelling, personable bio on the firm website  can have an instant, positive impact for you and the firm. A well-written bio can help prospective clients get to know you before they call. The trick is to capture website visitor’s attention.

Here are some suggestions to consider when writing an attorney bio. 

Before you get started on writing your bio, answer a few questions. What makes you different from other attorneys? How can you make your client’s lives simpler and easier? How often do you get a successful settlement or trial? What benefits can clients expect to receive if they work with you? What are some reasons that clients should hire you?

Above all else,  be personable . Showcase your personality. What are your greatest strengths as a lawyer? What areas of the law or particular matters are you passionate about? Why did you decide to practice law in the first place? Why do clients like working with you?

Before putting pen to paper, or fingers to the keyboard to tackle your bio, make sure you know your audience. Once you know your audience, focus on addressing their needs and wants. 

Remember to be concise, specific and memorable. Use action, descriptive words. Do not be afraid to use the first person in your bio. Do not forget to spell out  what practice areas you specialize in . Stray away from legalese. Use language your audience can understand.  

Start with the basics. You need to include the firm name, your full name, your city, state, extensive contact information, social media information and your title at the firm.

Next, upload a professional photo. The picture can be a professional headshot, or it can show you working with a client or taking a meeting. Stay away from cliché pictures of law books, gavels or scales of justice. 

Feel free to use client submitted reviews. Rewrite the reviews you have or rephrase them. Search all the places where  you may receive reviews about you  and your work. Sites such as LinkedIn, Facebook or Google are the right places to start.  

The main reason you want to rewrite your bio is that you would want to show existing clients and potential clients that  you are a leader in your field . List cases and outcomes, along with awards.

Once you have the bio up, you do need to make sure to update it at the very least, once a year. Your practice niche may change, or you may have started your own firm. Make sure your information is current.

If you are thinking you cannot write about yourself without sounding stilted, then hire someone to do it for you.

Remember, you are not writing a legal brief. An attorney bio needs to show people who you are and how you can help them. While it may take a few drafts to get something you like, it is worth the effort. 

Kerrie Spencer

LATEST STORIES

SEO ,  Tech ,  Video

How to create your law firm’s first video, content ,  featured ,  seo, google’s march 2024 broad core update is fighting spam and deleting low quality content, government ,  management ,  security ,  seo, insider trading case highlights work-from-home risks for lawyers, content ,  featured ,  management ,  seo ,  tech, how to get local news outlets to cover your law firm’s big case, government ,  marketing ,  seo ,  tech, the crimes of george bailey and the people of bedford falls in ‘it’s a wonderful life’, content ,  featured ,  management ,  marketing ,  tech, what are the best live chat services for lawyers, featured ,  marketing ,  social ,  video, the 4 best law-related movies that all young lawyers should watch, content ,  security, what chatgpt can’t do as told by chatgpt.

MORE STORIES

Google has Changed their Mind About AI Generated Content

Their change in terms essentially amounts to, “Yes, you can use AI tools to help create quality content but it had better be good.”

What Makes a Great Law Firm Marketing Director?

In an ever-changing legal landscape, an exceptional Law Firm Marketing Director stays ahead of the curve. They adopt a visionary perspective to navigate through intricate legal landscapes and drive the firm’s marketing initiatives. This involves identifying market trends, predicting client needs, and planning innovative marketing strategies to secure a competitive edge.

How Law Firms Can Effectively Use Press Releases

Press releases allow law firms to share their successes, announce new hires or promotions, and position themselves as thought leaders in their respective practice areas. In this article, I will share best practices for writing a great title, writing a great summary, and telling your story in a meaningful way, as well as provide scenarios…

EDITORS' PICKS

Video , content , mobile , tech, lights, camera, action: how lawyers can create compelling videos, content , marketing , security , seo , tech, supercharge your law firm’s website: 5 must-have wordpress plugins, content , security, wordpress security breach used vulnerabilities in plugins in themes, content , marketing , seo, how to talk to the partners about seo.

How to write stand-out lawyer biographies

• November 17, 2022

[embedpress]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4UQu09iRQ4Q[/embedpress]

The professional services sector has a reputation for being, how shall we put it, a tad…dull. Simultaneously constrained by guidelines – and with little to no knowledge of digital content marketing – such firms struggle to connect with their audience, instead producing lawyer biographies more likely to induce yawns than generate leads. 

This trend is also reflected in bios which are barely disguised itineraries and bereft of emotively charged content that might otherwise engage prospects.

Read on to learn how to write lawyer biographies that don’t just inform but also excite visitors to your website and encourage sign-ups rather than switch-offs.

How to write powerful lawyer biographies and get closer to your customers 

Outline your expertise immediately.

Your bio isn’t really about you. It’s about what you can do for your customers. So, hook readers in by explaining who you help – and, just as importantly, your modus operandi. 

Whilst explaining your specialist area of law is important, take time to outline your other skill sets too. Are you a skilled negotiator? Then mention this early in your bio too.

Write like a normal human being

Push your legal lexicon to one side and imagine your customer is sitting next to you. Having conjured this image, write as if you were talking to them – using everyday language instead.

Using humour or anecdotes is a great way to build rapport with your audience at a time when they might be feeling anxious or stressed. So let your human side shine through in your writing and the results will surely be reflected in your lead generation.

Undercut your bio with social proof

If you want to know how to write a lawyer bio with real bite the answer is evidence. Evidence of past wins in the form of (obviously anonymous) case studies that solidly underscore your expertise.

Linking to these case studies in your bio will strengthen your reputation and improve the chances of winning your prospects’ trust at a time when their interest is probably waning. 

Briefly outline your credentials

Let’s face it, credentials aren’t exciting. But it’s still important to enumerate your expertise. 

By listing qualifications and experience you can build trust – increasing the likelihood of positive interactions.

To make your lawyer biography great…

• Keep this section short and focussed to retain interest
• To share content with them in the future; and
• Help them learn more if they want to

Turn your lawyer biography into a video

People love consuming video content. It involves less effort while creating a stronger connection between the presenter and their audience. 

If you’re not sure how to turn your lawyer biography into an eye-catching video – or lack the expertise to do so – seek help from a third-party.

Worried about turning lawyer biographies into visual content? Perhaps these numbers will change your mind.

• 54% of customers want to see video content from their favourite brands
• Want to build better brand awareness? Then video is the best method.
• Video is everywhere – Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and more.

Need help creating compelling lawyer biographies? Then we’d love to help. Book your free consultation today.

• 01628 601713
• [email protected]
• ABOUT BOSS DIGITAL
• THE TURING TRUST
• BOSS TO BOSS

Useful Links

• DIGITAL MARKETING SERVICES
• CASE STUDIES
• Ultimate guides
• mary's marketing adventures

Google Analytics

Google Ads Certification

Advanced Analytics Certification

© BOSS DIGITAL All rights reserved |  Privacy Policy

Cookie Consent

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. Read more in our Privacy Policy .

10 Tips for a More Effective, Personable Attorney Bio

A good bio can help to bring in new business. a bad one can put you out of the running..

Creating an effective attorney bio for your website can have an immediate, positive impact on both your personal book of business and your firm’s bottom line. A personal bio helps interested parties get to know you and validate your legal prowess, long before they pick up the phone to call. But how can you make sure your bio captures your target clients’ attention? Here are tips for writing an effective, credible and personable attorney bio.

Attorney Biography Must-Haves

Data tells us the type of information law firm website visitors expect from an attorney bio. Every bio should include the attorney’s formal name, title (partner, associate), city and state, detailed contact information, and social media links (as long as those social media profiles are kept up to date), and a professional headshot.

Plan to update your bio at least annually. Industries shift and practice areas change. Review the overview and experience, honors and activities, and insights and presentations to make sure your most recent accolades and experiences are included. A common mistake is to include outdated information, which can make you appear out of touch and out of date. If you have information that is compelling but the dates suggest it is stale, consider removing the dates.

Attorney Biography: Beyond the Basics

A good bio can help to bring in new business. A bad bio can put you out of the running before you even know you were in it. Once you’ve double-checked your dates and made sure the basic information is accurate, review and revise your bio with the following tips in mind.

• Know your audience. It is important to know your legal services buying audience — your current and past clients, prospective clients and referral sources. While other audiences, such as the media, opposing counsel and prospective new hires, are important, it is the retention and acquisition audience that you should focus on in your bio. Just as you would not address a judge without first knowing their background or a jury without having conducted voir dire, know your audience and address their wants and needs in your bio.
• Heed the six-second rule. You have six seconds to make a good impression. Use it wisely to differentiate yourself. Be concise and specific, unique and memorable. Online readers want short sentences and short paragraphs. Think bullet points. Your attorney biography is not an obituary. Provide just enough information so a client can say: “This person has the skills I need; let’s talk to them.”
• “I” is OK. It’s permissible and often prudent to use the first-person vernacular, but use it wisely. Convey how you serve the needs and interests of your clients and prospects and that you understand their industries.
• Don’t make them guess your industry or practice area. Be sure that your industries or practice areas are obvious and unmistakable to the visitor who only scans the page. GCs care less about where you went to law school than the recent matters you have handled successfully. Emphasize case studies and victories won for clients to demonstrate your successes. Answer: What do I bring to the table?
• Repurpose. There are many places to find valuable content for your attorney biography. Reuse approved client testimonials, review your Chambers rankings and seek feedback from attorneys you work with. The favorable things that others have to say about you serve as de facto reviews and testimonials to your legal prowess. You may even have accolades on LinkedIn that you can repurpose if your state’s ethics rules allow it.
• Focus on benefits and demonstrate client service and value. Remember the adage, “What’s in it for me?” Answer these questions: What differentiates you from other lawyers? What are the benefits of working with you? How do you make your clients’ lives easier? Why should they hire you?
• Show, don’t tell. Demonstrate that you are a leader in your field instead of simply stating it. Provide specific examples that illustrate how you are the best lawyer in your field. Demonstrate your knowledge and let your accomplishments speak for themselves. Include client names when relevant and when you have client permission.
• Avoid legalese. Read your attorney biography out loud. If it sounds like something you’d never say, then rewrite it.
• Be personable. This is a relationship business. Adding a bit of personality (while remaining professional) to your bio shows that you are human. Here are some questions to answer that can help bring out your personality: What made you decide to practice law? What types of matters are you most passionate about? What issues are keeping your clients up at night? What are your greatest strengths as an attorney? Why do your clients like working with you?
• Mind the robots. Remember that many “ bots ” search your bios, too, as they index the web. This is where search engine optimization (SEO) comes in. Use descriptive language based on how your audience searches for your services. For example, don’t just say “Jane is a lawyer.” Instead, say “Jane is an employment lawyer in Philadelphia.” (See “How to Improve SEO for Your Attorney Bio.” )

Illustration ©iStockPhoto.com

Here’s Your Guide to Law Firm Marketing

Whether you are new to marketing your law firm or need to build up your personal book of business, Attorney at Work Magazine has good ideas and commonsense advice from more than a dozen marketing pros — the best of AttorneyatWork.com — all designed to help your practice flourish and grow.

DOWNLOAD THE MAGAZINE >

* Free subscription required.

Gina F. Rubel is the CEO of  Furia Rubel Communications, Inc.,   which celebrates its 20th  anniversary this year. Corporate and law firm leaders call on Gina for high-stakes public relations, crisis planning, and incident response support including high-profile litigation media relations. Listed among the Lawdragon Global 100 Leading Consultants and Strategists to the Legal Profession, Gina is a widely acknowledged expert on legal marketing and law firm public relations and a sought-after speaker and media expert. She is a Fellow in the College of Law Practice Management and in the American Bar Foundation. Her latest book, “Everyday Public Relations for Lawyers, 2nd Edition,” is available from AttorneyatWork.com. Visit FuriaRubel.com for more information and follow Gina on Twitter @FuriaRubel.

Sponsored links

• Back to Basics: Legal Trust Accounting. Stay Compliant with Confidence!
• 2024’s Top 4 Marketing Moves for Law Firms
• Staff Your Law Firm the Smart Way: Learn More
• Capitalize on industry growth. Increase billable hours, with a scalable tracking and reporting solution like TimeSolv dashboards.
• Take the Survey. Help us learn more about lawyers’ note-taking preferences and favorite tools, and you could win a neat prize.
• Download Now: The Essential Civil Litigation Guide for Legal Professionals
• 7 Ways to Process More Personal Injury Cases With Less Effort
• Search and Rescue: NetDocuments Is Still On Top in Document Management for Law Firms
• Top 20 LAW FIRM Marketing Artciles of 2023
• The Winning Formula for Making $1 Million As a Law Firm Owner
• Word for Attorneys | Top 10 Microsoft Word Articles
• OpenAI’s Prompt Guide for ChatGPT
• Remarkable 2, Supernote Nomad and Onyx Boox
• Solo and Small Firm Hourly Rates
• Designing Attorney Compensation Plans
• Books Every Lawyer Must Read Before Opening a Law Firm

One of a Kind: A Proven Path to a Profitable Law Practice By Jay Harrington Lawyer-turned-legal marketer, Jay Harrington explores how lawyers can harness creativity... Click for More

Get more Attorney at Work!

Sign up for our free newsletter.

• Business Development
• Law Firm Marketing
• lawyer public relations

Client Conversations: You’re Not Bugging Your Clients If You’re Providing Value

Jay Harrington | Initiating client conversations positions you as a trusted advisor who is the “first phone call” when new legal needs arise.

• Product Spotlight
• Your Website is Your New Handshake… but is it Strong Enough to Make an Impression?
• Take the Survey. Help us learn more about lawyers’ note-taking preferences and favorite tools. What’s in it for you? More incredible content @attnyatwork based on your answers — and you could win a neat prize.
• Free Guide: Navigate Civil Litigation Challenges with Trellis
• Does managing a high volume of personal injury cases leave you feeling overwhelmed?

Attorney At Work Partners

• Streamline Billing, Boost Profits: Free Rocket Matter Trial!
• Leveraging Your Law Degree to Save Big Money on Your Mortgage
• See why Lawmatics is ranked the #1 CRM platform for law firms

• Writing Guidelines for Attorney At Work
• Reprint Policy and Copyright
• Analog Attorney
• You At Work
• Personal Finance
• Law Firm Associates
• Legal Career Development
• Digital Marketing for Law Firms
• Legal Technology
• Legal Cybersecurity
• Lawyer Tech Tips
• Legal Tech Reviews
• Managing a Law Firm
• How to Start a Law Firm
• Client Service
• Law Firm Profits
• Small Law Firm
• Free Downloads

Welcome to Attorney at Work!

Subscribe me to the Daily Dispatch

Subscribe me to the Weekly Wrap

• Latest News
• Latest Issue
• Asked and Answered
• Legal Rebels
• Modern Law Library
• Bryan Garner on Words
• Intersection
• On Well-Being
• Mind Your Business
• My Path to Law
• Storytelling
• Supreme Court Report
• Adam Banner
• Erwin Chemerinsky
• Marcel Strigberger
• Nicole Black
• Susan Smith Blakely
• Members Who Inspire
• Advertising

5 Tips for Writing an Attorney Bio

This article is advertising content..

September 1, 2021, 11:40 am CDT

If you’re like most attorneys, you’re proud of everything you’ve accomplished, but you’ve hated writing your attorney biography since your first day as an associate. It can be difficult to find the right mix of personality and expertise in a single write-up. So how do you do that, exactly? Just follow these five suggestions to make sure your attorney bio creates a great first impression.

Clients want to learn about the attorney they’re hiring and what to expect—especially if they’ll be interacting with you often. Your bio should be an extension of your personality. People resonate with someone they can connect with, so feel free to share aspects of your life outside of work (activities, family, etc.). And before beginning to write yours, check to see if your law firm has an established template or structure, so it matches the overall theme, message, and voice.

Show Your Passion

People always want to hire the “best” lawyer possible, so make sure that you communicate your passion for legal work. You may want to consider describing what drove you to become an attorney and why you enjoy helping your clients. A heartfelt paragraph showing your motivation can be a game-changer as prospective clients learn about you.

Talk about Your Success

Depending on your practice area and state bar guidelines, touting prior successes may give prospects a glimpse into your strategies and diligence in representing past clients. An easy way to approach this is to find stats about your practice. What percentage of your clients have you kept out of jail? What is the aggregate amount of money you have been able to recover on behalf of your clients? What percentage of cases have you won?

If your focus is on a practice area in which it’s easier to show your success, keep it short. List the top 3–5 accomplishments and do your best to make them about recent or historic wins.

Be Succinct

A difficult but important thing to remember is that your bio should be just long enough to give your prospective clients enough information to want to reach out to you—but not so long that they think that they opened up a page of an Encyclopedia Britannica. If you have a lot you want to include, one solution is to create two versions of your biography for different situations. Use the shorter version on the firm’s website, and save the long-form version for potential clients who want a more thorough understanding of your experience.

Keep it Up to Date

How often you update your bio depends on you and what makes the most sense for your practice. As a rule of thumb, it’s best to make changes every quarter with any new information or accomplishments.

The thing to remember is other lawyers are always vying for the same types of cases you are. Take advantage of the things you can control by

ensuring your bio touts your successes and is up to date, genuine, passionate, and relatable. Remember these five steps and implement them to give your prospective clients the right information about you.

Learn more about writing an attorney bio.

This content is advertising.

Give us feedback, share a story tip or update, or report an error.

• Lockdown Lessons
• BigLaw partner was demoted and later told to hang up his spurs, age-bias suit alleges
• Lawyers are returning to office with 'startling enthusiasm,' survey says
• 7th Circuit has no patience for Bernhard Modern—a typeface, not a person
• Judge's revelation is new twist in saga of man driving in video during suspended-license hearing

Topics: Career & Practice

SCOTUS financial disclosures are released; Thomas reports 2 trips paid by Harlan Crow

Games Lawyers Play: Word counts and spacing rules in briefs appear open to interpretation

'The Originalism Trap' author wants to see originalism dead, dead, dead

Trending News

Related Practices & Jurisdictions

• Law Office Management
• Communications, Media & Internet
• All Federal

More than a resume, attorney biographies introduce the people behind the law firm. A thoughtfully crafted bio acts as a conversation starter, providing a window into an attorney's unique personality and passion for the law.

Attorney bios are typically located within the law firm's About page and serve as a great opportunity to establish expertise and forge authentic connections. Generally, the About page is often one of the most visited pages on a law firm's website after the home page. And it's a key destination prospective clients go to learn more about the firm's attorneys, capabilities, and approach.

Exceptional bios allow lawyers to effectively communicate their credentials while also highlighting approachability and genuineness nurturing meaningful relationships with clients that drive growth and engagement. Each bio introduces an attorney at the firm and highlights their credentials, experience, and passion for the law. In addition to those details, it may overview the law firm's history, mission, values, and areas of practice.

Let’s take a look at how you can improve your law firm’s attorney bios.

Building Trust and Credibility in the Digital Age

Prospective clients are looking for more than just credentials (while still looking for credentials), they want to engage with the people at the law firm. This is where compelling attorney bios come in.

Far more than a laundry list of accolades, an impactful bio becomes a story. A story that establishes expertise while also highlighting personality and values. The bio provides a platform to move beyond a resume and forge authentic connections. In essence, your bio is an opportunity to turn prospects into clients by connecting through engaging and strategic storytelling. Below are some of the key goals for a good biography.

Showcasing Expertise and Experience

A biography establishes competence and subject matter expertise. Highlighting credentials like academic qualifications, admissions, years of experience, ratings, certifications, and awards builds confidence. Clients want to assess their skills.

For example, an Intellectual Property attorney can showcase:

• Computer science degree from MIT
• 15 years handling patent litigation
• Admitted to practice in New York and California
• AV Preeminent Peer Review Rating from Martindale-Hubbell
• Secured over $20M in infringement verdicts

This quickly conveys niche expertise and an accomplished background.

Connecting Through Personal Details

While credentials are crucial, clients may also want a personal connection with their attorney. You can highlight personal details like:

• Hometown, family, interests outside law
• Passions, motivations, and experiences that shaped their career
• Military service, volunteer work, and charitable causes

Sharing these insights creates rapport. Clients get to know the real person behind the suit.

Converting Prospects to Clients

An exceptional bio serves as a pivotal conversion tool by compelling readers to take action. Strategic storytelling highlights achievements and expertise while personal anecdotes forge connections. This one-two punch nudges prospects to pick up the phone, submit an intake form, or contact the firm.

Specifically, bios can motivate conversions by:

• Establishing subject matter authority and confidence in your capabilities
• Making expertise relatable through real-world examples and client impacts
• Using a warm, welcoming tone that builds rapport
• Providing social proof of results through client testimonials
• Ending with a clear CTA like requesting a consultation

When an attorney's credentials and personality resonate, prospects become clients. An optimized bio guides readers seamlessly through that conversion process.

Communicating Firm Values and Approach

The attorney biography provides an opportunity to highlight the law firm’s values beyond just individual accomplishments. By thoughtfully showcasing community involvement, pro bono work, nonprofit boards, and other efforts, lawyers can illustrate the firm's core values and service philosophy.

For example, an attorney bio might mention:

• Leading the firm's efforts to provide free legal aid to domestic violence victims. This communicates a priority on social justice.
• Securing millions in verdicts for small business clients. This conveys an emphasis on supporting entrepreneurs.
• Volunteering with the Innocence Project. This shows a passion for criminal justice reform.
• Chairing local nonprofits and bar associations. This illustrates a commitment to the community.

Through strategic details, readers gain insight into the principles, causes, and beliefs that shape the firm’s culture. They get a feel for "why we do what we do." The alignment between the firm's values and the prospect's own priorities can further drive engagement. Showcasing culture and character helps forge connections beyond credentials.

Enhancing Visibility with SEO

With strategic keyword optimization and links to external content, an attorney bio enhances visibility during client searches. This establishes thought leadership presence by improving rankings and visibility in key practice areas. Optimized bios are a great place to link to when the attorney has written articles, been interviewed on podcasts or the news. These backlinks help increase Domain Authority but also can draw prospective clients from other website pages back to the attorney's bio to learn more.

Crafting Compelling Attorney Bios: Key Elements

An exceptional attorney bio incorporates several critical elements to convey expertise, approachability, and authentic personality.

Let’s break down the specific elements and their purpose.

Professional Headshot

A high-quality professional photograph makes an immediate visual connection with site visitors. It should project confidence, competence, and authentic warmth. Attorneys should avoid overly stiff, staged photos and instead opt for a relaxed, genuine expression. The goal is to exude polished yet approachable professionalism.

Credentials and Honors

Highlighting unique credentials, fellowships, certifications, and honors from reputable organizations helps establish niche expertise.

For example:

• Fellow, American Academy of Appellate Lawyers (demonstrates appellate expertise)
• AVVO , Martindale-Hubbell , Best Law Firms (shows accomplishment in legal abilities and client ratings/reviews)
• National Trial Lawyers Top 100 (confirms litigation proficiency)

Pro tip: write out the acronym of associations or sunfamiliar honors that may confuse readers that aren’t familiar with the law.

Specializations and Sub-Specializations

Conveying focused practice areas and sub-specializations allows potential clients to assess fit.

An attorney could showcase:

• Patent litigation with specific expertise in SaaS and blockchain technologies
• Chapter 7 bankruptcy and restructuring for small medical practices
• Concentration in high net worth divorce and complex asset division

This degree of specificity is powerful in competitive markets, especially when connected to client outcomes.

Inspiration and Background

Build connection with prospective clients by thoughtfully sharing experiences that shaped their professional and personal journeys. Even small anecdotes about impactful mentors, internships, or childhood experiences can provide insights into passions and motivations.

Relatable Insights on Client Pain Points

Strategic bios present opportunities to relatably address common client concerns, fears, and emotions. This displays empathy and commitment to client service.

For example, a family law attorney could validate feelings of uncertainty during divorce, or a personal injury attorney can address the feeling of humiliation after an accident.

Links to External Content

Links to published articles, media mentions, speaking engagements, and other digital assets enhance subject matter expertise. Choose links selectively to avoid overwhelming readers.

Client Testimonials

Specific videos or written testimonials from satisfied clients offer social proof of an attorney's successful track record. Client quotes should detail the attorney's positive impacts on their case and well-being.

Memberships and Community Involvement

Note professional associations, legal networks, boards, pro bono work, and community organizations. This highlights engagement with peers and dedication to service. Be specific about roles and contributions.

• President, Local Bar Association (demonstrates leadership and engagement with the legal community)
• Board Member, Women's Prison Association (highlights commitment to criminal justice reform)

Clear Call-To-Action

An effective call-to-action conclusion capitalizes on the bio's momentum to motivate prospects.

Some options include:

• A warm invitation to request a free consultation or case evaluation
• Link to contact the attorney directly via email, online form, or phone
• Offer to provide a free guide, checklist, or other legal resource
• Invitation to sign up for a newsletter or connect on social media
• Promotion of an upcoming webinar, seminar, or speaking event

The key is motivating readers to engage instead of just exiting the page. Offering free resources or consultations encourages action.

Crafting Compelling Attorney Bios: Proven Tactics

Writing exceptional attorney bios requires skill, planning, and collaboration. Follow these expert tips for optimizing impact.

Crafting Compelling Content

Hook readers immediately by highlighting an impressive achievement, an inspirational background, or an interesting career narrative. This establishes expertise and approachability upfront. Showcase specific legal expertise using concrete examples like case results and settlements.

Use conversational language that steers clear of excessive jargon. Find strategic opportunities to naturally incorporate relevant keywords to boost client search visibility. But avoid awkward over-optimization. Maintain an authentic, genuine tone that builds trust. Let facts and reviews speak for themselves.

Optimizing Structure

Establish a tone that makes sense for your practice area. Do your clients want empathy, aggression, or professionalism? Find your sweet spot and run with it.

While there is some flexibility around word count, it is best to keep bios in the 300-500 words range. This provides enough space to showcase key credentials and accomplishments while maintaining a focused, scannable experience for site visitors. Anything significantly shorter than 300 words may seem too bare-bones and cursory. Anything over 500 words risks losing the reader's attention with excessive detail.

Strategies for Consistent yet Personalized Team Bios

When developing bios for a team of attorneys, law firms face a balancing act. Thoughtful collaboration, style guidelines, and creative license help achieve consistency while allowing each lawyer's unique strengths and personality to shine.

Collaboratively Develop Guidelines

To create a consistent baseline while allowing customization. Firms should involve key stakeholders to define foundational style guidelines around:

• Standard biography structure and sections to include
• Ideal word count or length parameters
• Overall voice, tone, and messaging
• Rules for branding elements like logos, colors, and fonts

Provide Creative License Thoughtfully

Within collaborative guidelines, attorneys should have reasonable creative license to express individuality. Bios can spotlight:

• Specific credentials, awards, and practice niches
• Tailored client successes, verdicts, settlements
• Community groups and causes personalized to the lawyer

Incorporate Personalizing Elements

Including unique elements make bios distinctive yet cohesive:

• Personalized headshots
• Links to media mentions
• Video introductions
• Testimonials speaking to working with that specific attorney

Updating Achievements Regularly

As lawyers grow and accomplish more, bios should be continuously updated to accurately reflect evolving expertise and contributions. Fresh, dynamic content keeps engagement high.

5 Examples of Real, Compelling Attorney Bios

Now that we’ve covered best practices and tips for optimizing attorney bios, let’s examine how those techniques are applied through real-world examples. Analyzing bios across diverse law specializations reveals tangible takeaways for crafting resonant, trust-building bios.

1 Brooks Derrick, Derrick Law Office

(Image: Brooks Derrick of Derrick Law Office )

Over at the Derrick Law Office in Simpsonville, SC, attorney Brooks Derrick starts by introducing himself in a friendly, conversational tone and emphasizing his passion for helping injured clients.

Instead of focusing on credentials, Brooks shares an engaging story about personally experiencing a painful slip and fall injury in 2014. Derrick provides specific details about the humiliation, struggle, and long recovery process, showcasing a powerful way to relate to his client's experiences.

The expertise derived from his injury experience allows Derrick to guide clients through gathering their strength and getting compensation compassionately. He ends by warmly inviting readers to contact him.

Key Insights:

• Uses emotion and personal experience to intimately connect with injury victims.
• Details of own injury and recovery establish deep empathy and comfort.
• Positions himself as an advocate who has walked in clients' shoes.
• Earns trust as a reliable, responsible advocate during difficult times.

2 Brandon Dixon, The Law Office of Brandon Dixon, P. C.

(Image: Brandon Dixon, The Law Office of Brandon Dixon, P. C. )

Brandon Dixon’s bio of the Atlanta-based law firm, The Law Office of Brandon Dixon, P.C. , highlights his focus on personal injury, criminal defense, and representing individuals, families, and businesses in Atlanta. Dixon uses this space to detail the types of matters that his law firm handles like car, truck, and motorcycle accidents, premises liability, product liability, and wrongful death.

Something that stands out in this bio is the directness of the section titled “Why choose Brandon Dixon as your advocate?” It lists availability 24/7, fighting for maximum compensation, tireless advocacy in and out of court, free consultations and compassionate support as reasons to choose him. Dixon's bio conveys his constant striving for excellence and dedication to aggressively pursuing justice for his Atlanta-based clients.

• Clearly states practice areas and niche specialties upfront, highlighting focus.
• Emphasizes dedication, passion and commitment to clients to build trust.
• Provides reasons to choose this firm/attorney to showcase value.
• Strong call-to-action and free consultation offer motivate conversions.

3 Family Law

(Image: Sarah LaRue, LaRue Law PLLC )

In only a few paragraphs, Sarah LaRue's bio for LaRue Law PLLC accomplishes a lot efficiently. She immediately establishes her niche specialty in family law, signaling expertise to ideal clients.

The bio highlights relevant credentials including her degree, certifications, and appointments as a guardian ad litem representing children's interests. This demonstrates her qualifications and commitment to clients.

It also notes LaRue's community leadership with the YWCA Helena and award recognition among Helena’s top 20 under 40. Despite its brevity, the bio includes her education, experience, and community involvement. Most importantly, LaRue's bio conveys her commitment to providing personalized service and attention to clients. She focuses on how she can help readers, not just on qualifications.

• Quickly establishes niche expertise in family law
• Efficiently highlights relevant credentials
• Demonstrates commitment to clients and children's interests
• Mentions leadership and awards, building credibility
• Emphasizes individualized client service and help

4 Mary Ann Romero, Mary Ann Romero & Associates

(Image: Mary Ann Romero, Mary Ann Romero & Associates. )

Mary Ann Romero is an immigration attorney at Mary Ann Romero & Associates based in Albuquerque, New Mexico. This biography is a storytelling master class and highlights Romero's lifelong passion for immigration law stemming from her upbringing in a border town assisting Spanish-speaking families and others navigate services.

Over the course of Romero's career, she has secured permanent status for thousands of immigrants seeking family unity, business opportunities, and protection. She handles cases related to family visas, deportation defense, waivers, victims of trafficking/violence/abuse, and citizenship.

The bio emphasizes Romero's creative advocacy in earning clients' trust and securing lawful status. It notes her memberships in American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), Hispanic bar associations, her appointment to the NM Access to Justice Commission, and honors like Top 100 Lawyers.

Romero provides outreach by presenting on immigration law developments. As a native Spanish speaker, she strives to disseminate accurate information to the immigrant community struggling with legal complexities.

• Establishes extensive experience in immigration law over 17+ years
• Conveys passion for helping immigrant community stemming from personal background
• Emphasizes creative advocacy and commitment to earning client trust
• Notes professional memberships, commissions, and accolades
• Highlights outreach providing resources to the immigrant community

5 Michael R. Callahan, Katten Muchin Rosenman, LLP

(Image: Michael R. Callahan, Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP )

For larger firms that want to implement a structure to their profiles, but also allow the space for the attorneys to show off, let’s look at Michael Callahan, a senior counsel at Katten Law Firm . Callahan specializes in healthcare law, and this biography establishes Callahan as a nationally recognized advisor to healthcare providers on hospital-physician relations, regulatory compliance, investigations, patient safety, and related matters.

The bio incorporates various elements to showcase Callahan's credentials and thought leadership:

• Summarizes specialized expertise and experience upfront.
• Highlights ability to deliver practical legal guidance.
• Lists specific practice areas and niches.
• Notes, news, mentions, and quotes demonstrating expertise.
• Includes published articles and authored posts.
• Mentions speaking engagements and conferences.
• Displays credentials like education, admissions, memberships.
• Contains ratings, honors, and awards.

Additional elements like a professional headshot, downloadable bio, and video interview enhance shareability while conveying authentic personality.

• Establishes expertise and thought leadership in niche practice area
• Showcases credentials, recognition, publications, and speaking engagements
• Follows uniform structure while highlighting individual accomplishments
• Incorporates personal elements like photo and interview

Tips for legal marketers at big law firms for creating uniform yet unique attorney bios

• Create firm-wide criteria that all attorney bios should contain (e.g. credentials, photo, practice areas, and contact info.)
• Curate a visual library of high-quality professional headshots attorneys can select from to incorporate photos uniformly.
• Establish protocols for regularly reviewing and updating attorney bios to maintain freshness.
• Develop a standardized biography structure and template attorneys can follow to ensure consistency.
• Allow reasonable creative license within the template for attorneys to customize selected sections highlighting unique accomplishments, memberships, publications, etc.
• Showcase specific practice niches, specializations, and thought leadership activities like speaking engagements and articles authored.
• Note credentials, awards, ratings, and recognitions that differentiate each attorney and build credibility.
• Encourage including personalized elements like videos talking about current issues or highlighting causes they are passionate about.

Crafting Compelling Attorney Bios: Template and Example

An excellent bio template incorporates all the elements discussed to convey expertise and personality and instill client confidence. Here is an effective checklist that an attorney can adopt:

Include a high-quality, approachable headshot to connect visually with readers. Avoid overly formal photos.

Full Name and Credentials

Prominently display your full name, JD, Esq., or other credentials near the top.

Hook / Achievement

Hook readers immediately by highlighting an impressive achievement.

Practice Area Specializations

Clearly convey your niche practice areas and sub-specializations using targeted keywords.

Biography Summary

Provide a paragraph summarizing your academic and professional background. Mention admissions, clerkships, firms worked at, and years of experience.

Awards and Accolades

Showcase meaningful credentials, ratings, certifications, and recognizable awards. Keep concise.

Organization Involvement

Note contributions to key legal and community organizations. Be specific.

Personal Details

Share interesting personal or biographical details judiciously if appropriate to humanize your bio.

Call to Action

Include a friendly call to action for readers to request a consultation or access free resources.

Contact Information

Prominently display your phone number, email address, and office location.

Example Bio: Maria Rodriguez, Esq. Secured over $5 million for clients in landlord-tenant disputes and housing discrimination cases. Housing Law and Tenant Rights Attorney Maria's practice focuses on representing tenants in disputes with landlords and property management corporations. She also handles litigation around housing discrimination. After graduating from Columbia Law, Maria clerked for Hon. Elizabeth Davis of the New York Housing Court. She then joined the prominent civil rights firm of Johnson & Associates, handling impact lawsuits and advocating for affordable housing policies before joining her current firm. Recent Awards American Bar Association Award for Excellence in Affordable Housing Hispanic National Bar Association Top Lawyers Under 40 Outside work, Maria enjoys spending time with her daughter Gabriella, trying new recipes, and volunteering at the community center. As a longtime resident of Brooklyn, she is dedicated to empowering tenants and improving housing access. Contact Maria for a consultation if you need legal advocacy regarding landlord disputes, discrimination, or other housing concerns. 123 Sesame Street, Apt 4C / New York, NY 12345 (555) 867-5309 / maria@housingequityformuppetscom

Setting the Foundation of Trust

First impressions establish a reputation. A law firm's website presents that critical first handshake with prospective clients. But bios must be more than digital resumes. Exceptional bios artfully blend credentials with personality. They motivate action while demonstrating competence. Bios that resonate drive conversations and conversions. Legal professionals can craft bios that truly connect by incorporating compelling content, sharpening structure, boosting engagement, and ensuring quality.

Cultivating an authoritative yet approachable online presence is essential. And it all starts with the bio. With strategic bios as their foundation, law firms can maximize website engagement and forge lasting client relationships through expertise, approachability, and authenticity.

Current Legal Analysis

More from lawmatics, upcoming legal education events.

Sign Up for e-NewsBulletins

• Pro Membership
• Basic Membership
• Platinum Placements
• Gold Placements
• PPC Management
• Google Business Profile
• Social Media
• Search for Log In Sign Up

Drafting Your Ideal Attorney Biography

Approximate Read Time: 6 Minutes

We can’t send you updates from Justia Onward without your email.

Unsubscribe at any time.

Your attorney biography on various platforms is often the first introduction someone has to you as a lawyer. It is also frequently the most visible information about your professional persona. Check out this post to learn more about crafting a new bio or refreshing your old one this year.

As a general rule, people want to know more about the attorneys they are hiring and working with on various legal matters. Your attorney biography pages on your law firm website, directory profiles, and other platforms are often the most visible bits of background available about you and your practice online. As such, it should be no surprise that this biography is your first impression on many potential clients, colleagues, and occasionally even your coworkers.

Because this biography often serves as a written first impression of your professional life, you want it to effectively convey your credentials, background, and experience (or in short, your professional qualifications), while also giving a glimpse into your personality and way of working – all while staying true to the brand of your practice. Yes, this is a lot to ask for a singular piece of content. However, do not let drafting a strong biography page intimidate you.

Need help with the drafting process for such an important part of your law firm website and online presence? This post is here to help get you started on the perfect new biography, or simply to help you bring a bit of fresh air to your old biography.

Watch this clip to gain insights and tips to improve your attorney profile page’s content.

Profile Elements You Must Include

First and foremost, it is important to understand the elements you absolutely must include on your attorney profile or biography page. Without including these elements, you are short-changing yourself and undermining your profile before you even get started.

Professional, Engaging Photo

Your lawyer biography pages should include an engaging photo. You do not need to be overly concerned about whether your suit is fashionable or your backdrop color. Instead, you should be focused on photo quality and professionalism.

Research shows that people are drawn to faces. Therefore, you want to be sure your photo is of professional quality and showcases your professional personality. This photo should be something you would typically be comfortable putting on your LinkedIn profile or in an online directory.

Do not feel like you must conform to the traditional, corporate headshot model. If a standard headshot suits you and your practice, you should not hesitate to use one on your attorney biography. However, you can also branch out to images with a more casual or modern feel, such as standing or folded arms, as long as they remain professional.

At the end of the day, your professional photo is worth investing in and taking some time to make sure you get it right. After all, there is a reason people say a picture is worth a thousand words.

Background and Experience

People want to understand your qualifications before they hire you as a lawyer. Therefore, you must tell them what makes you well-equipped to handle their case. Be sure to include the basics, such as where you earned your undergraduate degree and where you attended law school. If you have additional academic credentials, list them.

You will also want to discuss your experience. For seasoned attorneys, you should share the practice areas in which you have experience and your track record for success. As a new lawyer, writing about your experience may seem a bit more difficult. However, you likely still have experiences to share! Write about the opportunities you had during law school, such as clerkships and clinics. If you are a second-career attorney, be sure to explain your previous professional work and how it connects to your current role.

While writing about your background and experience, you want to be sure that you are sharing your enthusiasm for the law. Try to avoid phrasing and buzzwords that lack inspiration or are overused, such as “variety of complex matters” or “uniquely qualified.”

Consider, for example, these hypothetical sentences: “Jessica’s practice focuses on family law disputes. She is uniquely qualified to handle a variety of complex family matters.” While they are factual and describe Jessica’s practice, they could also appear in any number of attorney biographies. They do not help this lawyer stand out.

Instead, you can convey the same message with more original phrasing, such as: “After five years of practice, Jessica found her niche in building a busy family law practice. She brings a fresh perspective to each of her cases and is passionate about helping clients achieve positive outcomes in both simple and complex family matters, including pre-nuptial agreements, child custody and child support disputes, divorces, and grandparents’ rights cases.

This longer hypothetical biography still conveys Jessica’s focus on family law and her interest in various matters but helps her stand out by using more vivid, less common language and phraseology.

Awards and Accolades

Awards may not paint the full picture of an attorney’s expertise. Nonetheless, they help lawyers stand out from the crowd of legal professionals and lend extra third-party credibility to a lawyers’ qualifications. Because most awards and accolades are not given to every attorney, they help boost potential clients’ confidence in a lawyers’ ability to handle their legal matters.

You can include awards big and small. If you are a recent graduate, include recognition and accolades you received as a student. As a more seasoned professional, you will want to list newer recognition first. This can be anything from your Justia Lawyer Rating to your Avvo Rating , SuperLawyers distinction , Martindale-Hubbell’s AV ratings , and local recognition from bar associations.

Contact Information

Ultimately, you want potential clients to contact you for help with their legal needs. This means your contact information is an extremely important piece of creating an effective lawyer biography.

Carefully consider which convenient contact methods you want your potential clients to use to contact you. For example, some lawyers happily include their email addresses on their law firm website profiles, while others prefer only to include their phone number and office address, whether to minimize spam or for some other reason. While we always recommend giving your potential clients plenty of options to contact your firm, choose whatever contact options make the most sense for your practice.

When adding your contact information, you should include features that make it even easier for potential clients to reach out to you. For instance, equipping your phone number listings with tap-to-call on mobile devices can have a significant impact on your conversion rates.

Taking Your Profile Up a Notch

Once you have the basics defined for your profile, you can take things up a level by including optional (but strongly encouraged) information.

Personal Information

Being personable is one of the best ways to make a connection with a potential client. Unfortunately, that is often difficult to do when people are trapped behind computer screens. However, there are ways to let your personality shine through online content.

One of the best ways to help your personality shine through is to share a little bit of personal information about yourself in your attorney biography. You don’t want to overshare, but you do want to give a glimpse into who you are. For instance, it is great to tell potential clients a bit about your family, such as whether you are a parent or have pets, your hobbies, such as whether you enjoy hiking or watching college football, and your background, such as whether you are a native of the locality in which you practice. However, your potential clients probably don’t need to know whether you like carrots.

Original Content

Demonstrating your legal knowledge is a great way to connect with potential clients and increase the likelihood that they contact your law firm. One way to demonstrate your expertise is through original content, such as blog posts or articles you have written. You can incorporate these as a feed on your lawyer profiles, so your knowledge is on display when potential clients are evaluating you as a lawyer.

Leveraging video content can be a great way to humanize your profile for potential clients even further. Whether it be a presentation you gave, a how-to video to help people better understand the law, or some sort of marketing collateral for your firm that features you, video can further increase your connections with potential clients when included on your lawyer profile.

Tone and Authenticity

Finding your voice is one of the most important pieces in creating a high-performing lawyer profile. Your profile should be authentically you. When you are genuine in your biography, it will undoubtedly better connect you with visitors to your law firm website.

Don’t be afraid to break the traditional attorney mold when working on your biography. For example, a recent article took a look at drafting a nonbinary lawyer’s biography. However, the answers to writing a nonbinary lawyers’ biography are not overly difficult. Use your preferred pronouns in your attorney profiles and share who you authentically are.

If you would prefer to speak directly to prospective clients instead of having them read a biography that sounds as if it was written by someone else, then don’t be afraid to use the first person in your writing, even if it is not how a traditional profile is drafted. At the end of the day, your biography needs to convey exactly who you are as a professional so you can connect with the right clients for your practice.

Final Thoughts: Why Do You Care?

Your lawyer biography is the first introduction many clients will have to you as a professional. It may also serve as your first introduction to colleagues and members of your community. Drafting a biography that is authentic and shares all of the relevant information about your practice creates a strong foundation for your online reputation and helps you continue to make a great first impression well into the future.

Lee este artículo en Español en Justia Avanza.

Justia offers premium website, blogging, and online marketing solutions for law firms. We have an unparalleled record in helping law firms grow. Regardless of whether you are just starting your online marketing efforts or have a fully developed website and blog, we have solutions to help propel you to the next level. In addition to our website and blog services, we also help clients with content, lawyer directory services, social media, local SEO, and PPC Management. Contact us for more information, or call us at (888) 587-8421 .

• Lawyer Directories
• Local & Business Directories
• Other Legal Marketing
• Online Advertising
• Offline Advertising
• Justia Free Resources
• Justia Extras
• Conferences & Events
• Justia Connect
• Justia Lawyer Directory
• Justia Elevate
• Justia Amplify
• About Justia Marketing
• Onward Blog
• Testimonials

Justia delivers proven legal marketing solutions that leverage our unique approach, unparalleled experience and unmatched dedication. Let us help you get more clients and grow your practice.

We use cookies to enhance our website for you. Proceed if you agree to this policy or learn more about it.

• Essay Database >
• Essays Samples >
• Essay Types >
• Biography Example

Court Biographies Samples For Students

6 samples of this type

Regardless of how high you rate your writing abilities, it's always an appropriate idea to check out a competently written Biography example, especially when you're dealing with a sophisticated Court topic. This is precisely the case when WowEssays.com database of sample Biographies on Court will prove handy. Whether you need to think up an original and meaningful Court Biography topic or survey the paper's structure or formatting peculiarities, our samples will provide you with the required data.

Another activity area of our write my paper agency is providing practical writing support to students working on Court Biographies. Research help, editing, proofreading, formatting, plagiarism check, or even crafting completely unique model Court papers upon your demand – we can do that all! Place an order and buy a research paper now.

Ludwig Van Beethoven Biography Sample

Organizational biography example, the victims information bureau of suffolk (vibs), example of biography on wolfgang amadeus mozart.

Don't waste your time searching for a sample.

Get your biography done by professional writers!

Just from $10/page

Free Biography On Ethical Dimensions

Hoose, v., william, kottler, & jeffrey. (1985). ethical and legal issues in counseling and psychotherapy (2nd ed.). san francisco: jossey-bass. http://psycnet.apa.org/psycinfo/1985-98015-000, american national biography examples, george armstrong custer, free biography on rosa parks.

Password recovery email has been sent to [email protected]

Use your new password to log in

You are not register!

By clicking Register, you agree to our Terms of Service and that you have read our Privacy Policy .

Now you can download documents directly to your device!

Check your email! An email with your password has already been sent to you! Now you can download documents directly to your device.

or Use the QR code to Save this Paper to Your Phone

The sample is NOT original!

Short on a deadline?

Don't waste time. Get help with 11% off using code - GETWOWED

No, thanks! I'm fine with missing my deadline

• < Previous

Home > FACW > FACSCH > Law Reviews & Other Academic Journals > 1820

Articles in Law Reviews & Other Academic Journals

Writing supreme court biography: a single lens view of a nine-sided image.

Stephen Wermiel , American University Washington College of Law Follow

Document Type

Publication date.

Journal of Supreme Court History

Recommended Citation

Stephen Wermiel, Writing Supreme Court Biography: A Single Lens View of a Nine-Sided Image , 1994 Journal of Supreme Court History (1994). Available at: https://digitalcommons.wcl.american.edu/facsch_lawrev/1820

Since August 19, 2020

Included in

Constitutional Law Commons , Judges Commons , Legal Biography Commons , Legal History Commons

To view the content in your browser, please download Adobe Reader or, alternately, you may Download the file to your hard drive.

NOTE: The latest versions of Adobe Reader do not support viewing PDF files within Firefox on Mac OS and if you are using a modern (Intel) Mac, there is no official plugin for viewing PDF files within the browser window.

Advanced Search

Notify me of New Papers

• Pence Law Library
• Washington College of Law
• Legal Repositories
• Legal Scholarship Blog
• Collections
• Disciplines

Author Corner

Home | About | FAQ | My Account | Accessibility Statement

Privacy Copyright

American University Washington College of Law

I Help to Study

Useful information for students

Home » Writing » Writing a bio for yourself for court

• Academic Writing
• Assignments
• Business Plans
• Buy Services
• Custom Writing
• Dissertations
• For Professionals
• Help & Assistance
• Useful Services
• Various Papers

Writing a bio for yourself for court

Identify your audience. Chances are, you aren’t just writing a description of yourself just because you feel like it. In order to write to the best of your ability, you will have to keep in mind the person (or people) you are writing for. Your readers may be your professor, colleagues, an academic committee or members of your local community. [1]

Can you please put wikiHow on the whitelist for your ad blocker? wikiHow relies on ad money to give you our free how-to guides. Learn how .

Follow the guidelines if you have been given them. When writing a description of yourself for a class or for an application, you will be provided with guidelines outlining what you information you should have in your description.

• If you are applying for a scholarship, the deciding committee may have outlined the types of information they want to receive from you.
• In other situations, such as a personal description for a work environment, you may have to consult with your manager or colleagues to guide the contents of your description.

Create a list of your academic and professional achievements. Write down your academic accomplishments. You may have overcome extensive academic obstacles, excelled in a particular subject or graduated with honors from a reputable school. Review your professional achievements. Consider the highlights of your professional experience and make a list of sales awards, promotions, employee recognition awards and other noteworthy accomplishments.

• Examples of accomplishments: I am the first person in my family to attend college, I was on the Dean’s List all four years of college, I triple majored with two minors, etc.
• Examples of achievements: Sold the highest number of back scratchers of an employee in the history of Back Scratchers Inc. Was employee of the month 10 months in a row, Started out as a dishwasher and am now the executive chef at La Lune.

Create a list of your characteristics and interests. Reflect on your personal characteristics. It helps to think of common adjectives people have used to describe you in the past. Pick words that you think will portray you in the best light for the specific institution you are writing your description for. As with your characteristics, you will want to list interests that pertain to what you are applying for. You may be known in your community for volunteering or planning community events. Sports and the arts are other areas of possible interests.

• Examples of characteristics: . If you are applying to a volunteer organization such as AmeriCorps, you may consider using words such as compassionate, dedicated, and organized. These are all traits that a volunteer organization would look for in a potential volunteer–someone who can be compassionate with the people the organization helps, is dedicated to the cause, and can stay organized in the face of a lot of paperwork.
• Examples of interests: . If you are applying for a position such as a member on a team of scientists that will travel to the Arctic together, you would want to list interests that show you are an adventurous team player. Things like, soccer player, rock climber, hiker, etc. would work well.

How to Write a Job Description for a Project Manager

How to Write a Reflection Paper

How to Write a Speech Introducing Yourself

How to Write a Poem

How to Write a Short Story

How to Write a News Article

How to Write an Article Review

How to Address Envelopes With Attn

How to Write a Descriptive Paragraph

How to Write a Feature Article

Related Articles:

Latest Posts

• Privacy Policy

© 2016 | IHelptoStudy.Com

Please Wait!

How to Write a Biography

Learn how to write a biography with our comprehensive guide.

Last updated on Dec 8th, 2023

When you click on affiliate links on QuillMuse.com and make a purchase, you won’t pay a penny more, but we’ll get a small commission—this helps us keep up with publishing valuable content on QuillMuse.  Read More .

Table of Contents

How to write a biography can be a fun challenge as you share someone’s life story with readers. You may need to write a biography for a class or decide to write a biography as a personal project. Once you’ve identified the subject of your biography, do your research to learn as much as you can about them. Then, immerse yourself in writing the biography and revising it until it’s best. What I am going to share with you in today’s post is how to write a biography. If you want to know the rules of how to write a biography correctly then this post of ours is essential for you. 

Introduction

While it’s true that most biographies involve people in the public eye, sometimes the subject is less well-known. But most of the time, famous or not, the person we’re talking about has an incredible life. Although your students may have a basic understanding of How to write a biography, you should take some time before putting pen to paper to come up with a very clear definition of biography.

Before knowing how to write a biography, let’s first understand what a biography is. A biography is an account of a person’s life written by someone else. Although there is a genre called fictional biography, by definition biographies are mostly non-fiction. In general, biographies trace the subject’s life from early childhood to the present day or until death if the subject is deceased. 

Biography writing is not limited to describing the bare facts of a person’s life. Instead of just listing basic details about their upbringing, interests, education, work, relationships, and deaths, a well-written biography should also paint a picture of a person’s personality as well as that person’s life experiences.

Tips and Tricks For How To Write a Biography

1. ask the subject’s permission to write a biography.

Here are the first tips on how to write a biography. Before starting your research, make sure you get your subject’s consent to write their biography. Ask them if they’re ready to be the subject. Getting their permission will make writing a biography much easier and ensure that they are open to information about their lives.

If the theme does not allow you to write a bio, you can choose another theme. If you decide to publish a profile without the subject’s permission, you may be subject to legal action from the subject. 

If the topic no longer exists, you don’t need to ask permission to write about them. 

2. Research primary sources on the topic

Primary sources may include books, letters, photographs, diaries, newspaper clippings, magazines, Internet articles, magazines, videos, interviews, existing biographies, or autobiographies on the subject. Find these resources in your local library or online. Read as much as you can about the topic and highlight any important information you come across in your sources. 

You can create research questions to help you focus your research on this topic, such as: 

What do I find interesting about this topic? Why is this topic important to readers? 

3. Conduct interviews with subjects and their relatives

Interviewing people will turn your research into reality: the people you interview will be able to tell you stories you can’t find in history books. Interview the subject as well as people close to them, such as spouses, friends, business associates, family members, co-workers, and friends. Interview in person, over the phone, or via email.

For in-person interviews, record them with a voice recorder or voice recorder on your computer or phone. You may need to interview the subject and others multiple times to get the documents you need.

4. Visit places important to the topic

Whenever you want to know how to write a biography, to understand the history of the subject, spend time in places and areas that are significant to the subject. This may be the subject’s childhood home or neighborhood. You can also visit the subject’s workplace and regular meeting places. 

You may also want to visit areas where the subject made important decisions or breakthroughs in their life. Being physically present in the area can give you an idea of what your subjects may have felt and help you write about their experiences more effectively.

5. Research the time and place of the subject’s life

Contextualize your subject’s life by observing what’s going on around them. Consider the period in which they grew up as well as the history of the places they lived. Study the economics, politics, and culture of their time. See current events happening where they live or work.

When you studying how to write a biography, ask yourself about time and place: 

What were the social norms of this period? 

What happened economically and politically? 

How has the political and social environment influenced this topic?

6. Make a timeline of a person’s life

To help you organize your research, create a timeline of a person’s entire life, from birth. Draw a long line on a piece of paper and sketch out as many details about a person’s life as possible. Highlight important events or moments on the timeline. Include important dates, locations, and names. 

If you think about how to write a biography You can also include historical events or moments that affect the topic in the timeline. For example, a conflict or civil war may occur during a person’s lifetime and affect their life.

7. Focus on important events and milestones

Major events can include marriage, birth, or death during a person’s lifetime. They may also achieve milestones like their first successful business venture or their first civil rights march. Highlights key moments in a person’s life so readers clearly understand what’s important to that person and how they influence the world around them.

For example, you might focus on one person’s achievements in the civil rights movement. You could write an entire section about their contributions and participation in major civil rights marches in their hometowns.

8. Cite all sources used in  biography

Most biographies will include information from sources such as books, journal articles, magazines, and interviews. Remember to cite any sources that you directly quote or paraphrase. You can use citations, footnotes, or endnotes. If the biography is for a course, use MLA, APA, or Chicago Style citations according to your instructor’s preference.

9. Reread the biography

Check the biography for spelling, grammar, and punctuation. Circle all punctuation marks in the text to confirm they are correct. Read the text backward to check for spelling and grammar errors. 

Having a biography full of spelling, grammar, and punctuation errors can frustrate readers and lead to poor grades if you submit your work to the class.

10. Show your biography to others to get their feedback

It is a momentous step of how to write a biography. Once you have completed your draft biography, show it to your colleagues, friends, teachers, and mentors to get their feedback. Ask them if they have a good understanding of someone’s life and if the biography is easy to read. Be open to feedback so you can improve the biography and make it error-free. Revise profile based on feedback from others. Don’t be afraid to trim or edit your biography to suit your readers’ needs.

11. Use flashbacks

Flashbacks happen when you move from the present to the past. You can start with the present moment, and then bring in a scene from the person’s past. Or you could have one chapter focusing on the present and one focusing on the past, alternating as you go.

The flashback scene must be as detailed and realistic as the present-day scene. Use your research notes and interviews with subjects to better understand their past to reminisce. 

For example, you can move from a person’s death in the present to reminiscing about their favorite childhood memory.

12. Outline Your Story Chronologically 

This is another important step in how to write a biography is to write an outline that describes your story in chronological order. An outline is a tool that helps you visualize the structure and key elements of your story. This can help you organize your story into chapters and sections. 

You can write your plan in a digital document or draw it with pen and paper. Remember to store your outline in an easily accessible place so you can refer to it throughout the writing process.

What citation style should I use for my biography?

Use MLA, APA, or Chicago Style citations based on your instructor’s preference when citing sources in your biography.

Should I include personal opinions in a biography?

No, a biography should be objective and based on facts. Avoid injecting personal opinions or bias into the narrative.

What’s the difference between a biography and an autobiography?

A biography is written by someone else about a person’s life, while an autobiography is written by the subject themselves about their own life.

Can I write a biography about a living person?

Yes, you can write a biography about a living person with their consent. Ensure you respect their privacy and follow ethical guidelines when writing about them.

Conclusion 

Other than creating a sense of closure, there are no set rules about how a biography ends. An author may want to summarize their main points about the subject of their biography. If the person is still alive, the author can inform the reader about their condition or circumstances. If the person has died, inheritance can be discussed. Authors can also remind readers how they can learn from the biographical subject. Sharing a closing quote or about a person can leave the audience with a point to consider or discuss in more detail.

For further insights into writing and to avoid common mistakes, check out our article on Most Common Mistakes in Writing . Additionally, explore the Best Writing Tools for Writers to enhance your writing skills and discover the tools that can assist you. If you’re looking to improve your typing speed and accuracy, our article on How to Type Faster with Accuracy offers valuable tips.

How we've reviewed this article

Our content is thoroughly researched and fact-checked using reputable sources. While we aim for precision, we encourage independent verification for complete confidence.

We keep our articles up-to-date regularly to ensure accuracy and relevance as new information becomes available.

• Current Version
• Dec 8th, 2023
• Oct 22nd, 2023

Share this article

Leave a Comment Login Please login to comment 0 Comments Inline Feedbacks View all comments

Prev Previous Next Next

What is a Thesis Statement: Definition, Types & Purpose

Do you have any idea about what a thesis statement means? A couple of students asked me to know what a thesis statement is. Usually, a thesis statement is used in academic essays, essay writing, and academic papers that affirm the main ideas about the whole paper. If you find

How to Write a Research Paper in APA Format with Examples

I visited a reputable university, where I found that lots of students were excited to learn how to write a research paper. They also want to learn the APA research paper format and outline. Every academic course has an APA research paper outline that is useful for writing research papers. 

How to Write an Introduction

Do you know that the introduction to your article can make or break its success? This is because the introduction is the first thing your audience encounters. They might not stick around to read the rest of your article if it does not grab their attention.  On the other hand,

Report this article

Let us know if you notice any incorrect information about this article or if it was copied from others. We will take action against this article ASAP.

• Profile Page
• Edit Profile
• Add New Post

Read our Content Writing Guide .

Supreme Court justices disclose book advances, including $900,000 for Jackson

• Show more sharing options
• Copy Link URL Copied!

The Supreme Court justices reported Friday that they are receiving big-money advances for writing books about themselves or the law, often shortly after arriving at the court.

Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson reported she received an $893,750 advance last year for a memoir she plans to write called “Lovely One.”

Her publisher said the book will be out later this year and tells of “her family’s ascent from segregation to her confirmation on America’s highest court within the span of one generation.” She also reported receiving four concert tickets valued at $3,700 from Beyoncé.

Justice Brett M. Kavanaugh reported receiving a $340,000 advance for what was described as a “legal memoir” that he is working on.

World & Nation

Oil industry asks Supreme Court to block climate change lawsuits from California, other states

The Supreme Court is being asked to block climate change lawsuits filed against oil companies by California and other blue states.

June 4, 2024

And Justice Neil M. Gorsuch said he received $250,000 from publisher Harper Collins for a book he is writing with a former clerk.

Several justices in recent years have reported sizable book advances.

Justice Amy Coney Barrett reported two years ago that she received a $425,000 advance to write a book about the law that is still in the works.

Justice Sonia Sotomayor has earned about $4 million in advances and royalties for several books, including “My Beloved World,” a memoir she agreed to write a year after joining the court in 2009.

Sotomayor was also criticized last year for having used court staff to encourage sales of her books at her public appearances.

In this year’s disclosure report, Sotomayor said she had received $86,000 in book royalties as well as $1,879 for doing a voiceover on the children’s TV show “Alma’s Way.”

Supreme Court gives National Rifle Assn. a 1st Amendment win in suit against New York officials

Supreme Court agreed the NRA has a free-speech claim if it was targeted for state harassment because of its gun rights views.

May 30, 2024

The justices, who earn $298,500 a year in salary, are limited in how much they can earn in outside income, such as through teaching, but there is no limit on how much they can earn through writing books.

The trend of justices writing memoirs may be traced to 2002, when Justice Sandra Day O’Connor published “Lazy B,” which recounted her growing up on her family’s cattle ranch in Arizona.

Five years later, Justice Clarence Thomas published “My Grandfather’s Son,” his memoir of growing up in poverty in Georgia and the role his grandfather played in shaping his life.

Thomas has been much criticized for taking lavish and undisclosed vacations that were paid for by billionaire Harlan Crow, and he issued a revised report Friday for 2019, acknowledging that he had accepted lodging and food in Indonesia and at the Bohemian Grove in Northern California that Crow paid for.

Thomas did not disclose the full cost of the trip or how he traveled there.

Both trips had been revealed last year by ProPublica.

Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr. did not file his report but asked for a six-month extension to file it.

Alito, along with Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. and Justice Elena Kagan, are the only members of the court who have not published books or taken advances to write one.

Gabe Roth, executive director of a watchdog group Fix the Court, has been a steady critic of justices receiving gifts, including travel and free memberships in clubs. But he said he was not troubled by big book contracts.

“I don’t have an issue with it,” he said. “They are public servants, and they have inspiring life stories, so I don’t see anything wrong with it.

More to Read

Calmes: The Supreme Court’s conservatives onstage, unplugged, unrepentant

May 16, 2024

Justice Clarence Thomas decries critics, calls Washington a ‘hideous place’

May 11, 2024

Justice Thomas returns to Supreme Court after one-day absence

April 16, 2024

Letters to the Editor

Letters to the Editor: The Supreme Court is acting like a wing of the Republican Party

March 3, 2024

Column: Clarence Thomas and the bottomless self-pity of the upper classes

Jan. 10, 2024

Supreme Court weighs limits on Congress’ power to tax corporate wealth

Dec. 5, 2023

Editorial: Supreme Court’s new ethics code falls short in solving its ethics problem

Nov. 22, 2023

Letters to the Editor: The Supreme Court’s new code of conduct makes a mockery of ethics

Nov. 15, 2023

Supreme Court’s ‘not new’ ethics code largely codifies existing judiciary rules

Nov. 13, 2023

Start your day right

Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.

You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.

David G. Savage has covered the Supreme Court and legal issues for the Los Angeles Times in the Washington bureau since 1986.

More From the Los Angeles Times

Bill Anders, Apollo 8 astronaut who took iconic ‘Earthrise’ photo, dies in plane crash

Putin says he sees no threat warranting use of nuclear arms but again warns Russia could arm Western foes

Danish prime minister is assaulted in Copenhagen square, reports say

June 7, 2024

Israel bombs another U.N.-run school in Gaza, a day after strike on school killed 33

5 reasons Supreme Court ethics questions are more common now than in the past

Distinguished Professor and John F. Kimberling Professor of Law, Maurer School of Law, Indiana University

Disclosure statement

Charles Gardner Geyh does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

Indiana University provides funding as a member of The Conversation US.

View all partners

In recent years, all nine sitting justices on the U.S. Supreme Court have been the subject of reports calling their ethics into question .

Is this an old problem? Something new? Political gamesmanship? Something more serious?

As a legal scholar who has studied judicial history, politics and ethics , my answer to each of these questions is “yes.”

On the one hand, accusing a Supreme Court justice of ethical misconduct is not new. In 1804, Justice Samuel Chase was impeached by the House of Representatives, but acquitted by the Senate , for violating his oath to act “faithfully and impartially” in several cases, including one where he announced his legal opinion before the defendant was heard, and another, where he delivered “an intemperate and political harangue.”

On the other hand, such accusations were rarer then. They have since become more common, for five reasons:

1. Ethical sensibilities have changed

Some judicial conduct, acceptable then, is unethical now. Although out of bounds today, Supreme Court justices used to hear appeals from cases they decided as trial judges, and run for political office without resigning from the court first.

2. Judges’ impartiality is no longer assumed

In the 18th century, eminent British jurist William Blackstone wrote that “ the law will not suppose a possibility of bias or favour in a judge.” Impartiality was simply assumed. Federal law later required judges and justices to disqualify themselves for specific conflicts of interest , such as when they had a financial interest in a case or a close relative was a party. But well into the 20th century, judges could not otherwise be disqualified for personal bias .

In the 1930s, though, legal realism emerged as a school of thought, first in law schools and eventually spreading to the public at large. It proceeded from the premise that judges were not automatons impervious to outside influences, but were human beings, subject to the same biases as the rest of us. Bias and conflicts of interest thus became subjects of heightened concern, warranting greater scrutiny and regulation.

3. Ethics have become mainstreamed and weaponized

As the public became attuned to ideological and other judicial biases, efforts began to better regulate judicial impartiality and ethics. But politicians, pundits and interest groups also found ways to exploit public concerns about ethics to undermine justices whose ideological predispositions they disfavored.

In the 1960s, conservatives became increasingly concerned by what they regarded as the liberal bias of the Supreme Court during Chief Justice Earl Warren’s tenure. When Democratic President Lyndon Johnson nominated liberal Associate Justice Abe Fortas to replace Warren in 1968, the Republicans’ sincere interest in policing ethics converged with their partisan interest in changing the ideological direction of the court. At issue were serious allegations that Fortas discussed pending cases with Johnson at illicit private meetings and had accepted improper payments from businesses with cases before the court, which culminated in Fortas withdrawing himself from consideration for promotion to chief justice and later resigning from the court amid new allegations.

In 1969, the Democratic Senate majority, with some Republican support, rejected Republican President Richard Nixon’s nomination of Judge Clement Haynsworth to the Supreme Court, following allegations that Haynsworth had ruled in favor of a corporate defendant whose subsidiaries did business with a company in which Haynsworth owned stock.

And in 1970, Republican Representative and future president Gerald Ford proposed to impeach liberal Justice William O. Douglas for ethical improprieties. One was Douglas’ failure to disqualify himself from a libel case after he had sold an article to the publisher who was the defendant. Another was his paid service as the director of a charitable foundation whose founder was involved with Las Vegas casinos that had underworld connections.

4. Codes of judicial conduct have emerged and proliferated

The ethical imbroglios encircling the Supreme Court in the 1960s led to the establishment of judicial ethics codes everywhere except, ironically, the Supreme Court.

In 1972, the American Bar Association published a Code of Judicial Conduct that was eventually adopted by judiciaries in all 50 states and the lower federal courts.

Judges are typically introduced to their ethics codes when they ascend the bench. They are updated on their obligations in continuing judicial education programs , encouraged to solicit ethical guidance from committees established for that purpose, and subject to sanctions for misconduct by disciplinary bodies within their judicial systems .

An ethics-mindful culture, long entrenched in the lower courts, has been absent from the Supreme Court, which did not adopt its code until November 2023 . Moreover, the Supreme Court’s code is weaker than the lower courts’ . It does not require justices to take “appropriate action” upon learning that a fellow justice violated the code. It omits the duty to be faithful to the law. It relaxes restrictions on using judicial resources for private purposes and exploiting a justice’s official status for personal gain. And it asserts that the duty to disqualify when impartiality is in doubt is diminished by the need for all nine justices to preside.

5. A growing cult of celebrity surrounds the justices

Some members of the Supreme Court, including the late justices Antonin Scalia and Ruth Bader Ginsburg, have embraced a cult of celebrity . They have showcased their ideological predispositions in speeches, articles and professional and personal associations, and are lionized by ideologically aligned groups, which fuels suspicions that they are insufficiently committed to impartial justice.

Supreme Court ethics concerns are not new but have escalated in the modern era.

The problem has been exacerbated by the court’s detractors, who exaggerate allegations of ethical misconduct to score partisan points, and by the justices themselves, who, in the absence of an established culture that internalizes ethical expectations, have been nose-blind to the smell of their own conduct.

• US Supreme Court
• Richard Nixon
• Sonia Sotomayor
• Conflict of interest
• Justice Antonin Scalia
• Clarence Thomas
• Neil Gorsuch
• Gerald Ford
• Brett Kavanaugh
• Judicial bias
• Ruth Bader Ginsburg
• Samuel Alito
• President Lyndon Johnson
• Chief Justice John Roberts
• Elena Kagan
• Ketanji Brown Jackson
• Earl Warren
• Amy Coney Barrett
• US judiciary
• judicial ethics

Head of School, School of Arts & Social Sciences, Monash University Malaysia

Chief Operating Officer (COO)

Clinical Teaching Fellow

Data Manager

Director, Social Policy

Judge in Trump's hush money case raises questions about social media post claiming to preview jury verdict

The New York judge overseeing Donald Trump's hush money trial has asked attorneys in the case about a social media post purporting to preview the former president's guilty verdict.

“Today, the Court became aware of a comment that was posted on the Unified Court System’s public Facebook page and which I now bring to your attention,” Judge Juan Merchan wrote in a letter dated Friday. 

“My cousin is a juror and said Trump is getting convicted,” the post stated, according to Merchan's letter. “Thank you folks for all your hard work!!!!”

Merchan said that the comment, which was attributed to a user identified as Michael Anderson, was "now labeled as one week old," and was posted in response to a routine notice from the court posted on May 29 about oral arguments unrelated to proceedings in Trump’s case.

When a defendant who has been convicted by a jury but has not yet been sentenced learns of alleged jury misconduct, he can move to set aside the verdict under New York criminal procedure law. If a defendant can prove that jury misconduct “may have affected a substantial right of the defendant,” the remedy is a new trial.

NBC News has not verified the claims made in the comment or the identity of the user who published the post, which has since been deleted. NBC News also hasn't independently confirmed the comment’s existence.

A Trump campaign official said "we're investigating" when asked about Merchan's letter.

Attorneys for Trump did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Friday afternoon, nor did a spokesperson for the Manhattan district attorney's office.

Trump was convicted last month on 34 counts  of falsifying business records tied to reimbursing Cohen for hush money paid to Daniels in the final days of the 2016 campaign. Trump had pleaded not guilty in the case and denied Daniels’ claims that she had a sexual encounter with him in 2006. Trump’s sentencing in the case is scheduled for July 11.

Zoë Richards is the evening politics reporter for NBC News.

Emmys: ‘The Bear’ Surprises With One Writing Submission; Will ‘Abbott Elementary’ Finally Land With Directors? ‘Baby Reindeer’ Takes the Lead

Variety  Awards Circuit  section is the home for all awards news and related content throughout the year, featuring the following: the official predictions for the upcoming Oscars,  Emmys , Grammys and Tony Awards ceremonies, curated by  Variety  senior awards editor Clayton Davis. The prediction pages reflect the current standings in the race and do not reflect personal preferences for any individual contender. As other formal (and informal) polls suggest, competitions are fluid and subject to change based on buzz and events. Predictions are updated every Thursday.

Visit the prediction pages for the respective ceremonies via the links below:

OSCARS  |  EMMYS  |  GRAMMYS  |  TONYS

2024 Emmy Predictions: Outstanding Directing/Writing (Drama, Comedy, Limited, TV Movie )

Weekly Commentary (Updated: June 4, 2024): Surprising news has emerged from studios regarding submissions for the directing and writing categories for the Emmys, with nomination voting set to open on June 13.

In the comedy category, “The Bear” has only submitted the iconic episode “Fishes,” written by Christopher Storer and Joanna Calo, for outstanding writing in a comedy. Surprisingly, the impressive episode “Forks,” which follows Richie (Ebon Moss-Bachrach) as he’s trained at an upscale restaurant, won’t be up for consideration. “Fishes” by Storer and “Honeydew” by Ramy Youssef will be on the ballot for directing.

“Abbott Elementary” sees Emmy-winning writer Quinta Brunson attempting to reclaim her title with the season premiere episode “Career Day.” The show has yet to receive recognition for its directorial achievements, but there’s anticipation that Randall Einhorn might finally make the lineup after directing the finale, “Party.”

A surprise freshman series could also make an appearance in the race. Paramount’s “Colin From Accounts,” with writers and stars Patrick Brammall and Harriet Dyer, is a strong contender. Additionally, the final season of “Reservation Dogs” might earn a long-overdue farewell bid for creator Sterlin Harjo. The series finale episodes of “Young Sheldon” or “Curb Your Enthusiasm” could also find their way into the competition after garnering buzz the past few weeks.

In the drama series category, “Shogun” is expected to make a significant impact. Meanwhile, the limited series category is shaping up to be a three-horse race between “True Detective” and Netflix’s double entries of “Baby Reindeer” and “Ripley.”

Read : All Primetime Emmy predictions in every category on Variety’s  Awards Circuit .

Directing (Drama Series)

And the Predicted Nominees Are

Directing (drama).

Next in Line

Writing (drama series).

Writing (Drama)

Directing (Comedy Series)

Directing (Comedy)

Writing (Comedy Series)

Writing (Comedy)

Directing (Limited Series/TV Movie)

Directing (Limited)

Writing (Limited Series/TV Movie)

Writing (Limited)

More from Variety

Paramount, Skydance Agree on New M&A Deal Terms but Shari Redstone Hasn’t Approved Pact Yet

Layoff Surge Highlights Disconnect Between Job Volume, Success at Gaming Companies

AMC Networks’ U.S. Ad Sales Fall 13% as Paid Streaming Subscribers Reach 11.5 Million in Q1

Sun Valley 2024 Invites Shari Redstone, OpenAI’s Sam Altman, Jason Blum and More (EXCLUSIVE)

PlayStation State of Play Underscores Muted Release Year Ahead of Summer Game Fest

Chinese Streamer iQiyi Increases Profits in First Quarter

More from our brands, in ‘stereophonic,’ sarah pidgeon builds a leading lady, chord by chord.

This $6.5 Million Glass House in Sonoma Is Surrounded by an Olive Grove and Pinot Vines

Brewers owner attanasio, chapus in talks on 25% benfica stake, the best loofahs and body scrubbers, according to dermatologists, is baldwins’ series a brazen move did evil ruin bacon for you season 3 traitors predictions what is house of usher easter egg more tv qs, verify it's you, please log in.

Advertisement

Why the Trump Trial Jurors Didn’t Get the Judge’s Instructions in Writing

While common sense suggests a written copy would be helpful for jurors as they deliberate, the law does not allow it.

• Share full article

By William K. Rashbaum

• May 30, 2024

There has been some confusion in recent days about why the jurors in Donald J. Trump’s criminal trial, who on Wednesday began deliberating over his fate, weren’t allowed to take a copy of the judge’s legal instructions with them into the jury room.

The answer is simple: The law doesn’t allow it.

The lengthy instructions, which the judge read to jurors right before they started deliberating, are meant to serve as a road map and to help them apply the relevant law to the facts as they have found them. The law is seldom simple, and because the legal theory underpinning the case is complex — and at times confusing — the instructions are also a lot to take in.

But while common sense suggests it would be helpful for jurors to have a copy of the instructions, the judge in the case, Juan M. Merchan, was not allowed to give them one.

That’s why on Thursday, when the jury asked for portions of the testimony they heard during the trial to be read back in court, they also asked to hear portions of the jury instructions again, too.

The prohibition against jurors being provided with a copy of the written legal instructions stems from a 1987 decision by the New York Court of Appeals — the state’s highest court — in a case called People v. Owens, which involved a drug sale.

The court found that “the distribution of written instructions to the jury is not expressly authorized by law, and error in such submissions cannot be deemed harmless,” meaning that providing the instructions would result in a conviction being overturned.

Marc F. Scholl, who served in the Manhattan district attorney’s office for nearly four decades, specializing in white-collar crimes and appeals, said: “Recently, there has been some slight loosening about whether it can be done with the defense’s consent, but it remains a minefield that judges do not want to risk.”

William K. Rashbaum is a Times reporter covering municipal and political corruption, the courts and broader law enforcement topics in New York. More about William K. Rashbaum

Our Coverage of the Trump Hush-Money Trial

Guilty Verdict : Donald Trump was convicted on all 34 counts  of falsifying records to cover up a sex scandal that threatened his bid for the White House in 2016, making him the first American president to be declared a felon .

What Happens Next: Trump’s sentencing hearing on July 11 will trigger a long and winding appeals process , though he has few ways to overturn the decision .

Reactions: Trump’s conviction reverberated quickly across the country  and around the world . Here’s what voters , New Yorkers , Republicans , Trump supporters  and President Biden  had to say.

The Presidential Race : The political fallout of Trump’s conviction is far from certain , but the verdict will test America’s traditions, legal institutions and ability to hold an election under historic partisan tension .

Making the Case: Over six weeks and the testimony of 20 witnesses, the Manhattan district attorney’s office wove a sprawling story  of election interference and falsified business records.

Legal Luck Runs Out: The four criminal cases that threatened Trump’s freedom had been stumbling along, pleasing his advisers. Then his good fortune expired .