1 | Why Blogging Still Matters—And Why It’s Riskier Than Ever
From brand‑building to search‑engine visibility, a well‑run blog can outperform paid ads. But the same post can become an exhibit in a bar complaint or civil lawsuit if it is treated as “lawyer advertising” or if it inadvertently discloses client information.
2 | The Regulatory Framework at a Glance
| Layer | Key Sources | What to Watch |
|---|---|---|
| Model rules | ABA Model Rules 7.1–7.5 (advertising & solicitation) and 1.6 (confidentiality) | Baseline adopted—often with state tweaks—by all 50 states. |
| Recent ABA guidance | Formal Op. 511 (May 8 2024) on listservs & public commentary americanbar.org; July 29 2024 AI guidance reuters.com | Raises the bar on vetting content for accuracy, client consent, and safe AI use. |
| State rules & opinions | Florida Bar video‑sharing “pocket guide” floridabar.org; California online‑communication toolkit (incl. Gen‑AI) calbar.ca.gov | Ad deadlines, disclaimer placement, pre‑filing review, AI‑specific cautions, etc. |
3 | Core Compliance Pillars (“The Ins & Outs”)
| Pillar | Practical Rule‑of‑Thumb | Recent Case / Authority |
|---|---|---|
| Truthful, non‑misleading content | Treat every blog post that discusses legal services as an “advertisement” unless it is clearly academic and includes no calls to action. | Colorado lawyer disciplined for impersonating a judge in blog comments (60‑day stayed suspension) cl.cobar.org |
| Mandatory disclaimers | Use a conspicuous statement that the post is “informational, not legal advice” and “no attorney‑client relationship is formed.” Place it above the fold if the post invites contact. | Multiple states (e.g., TX, CA) require disclaimer proximity; marketing summary 2025 onthemap.com |
| Client confidentiality | Obtain written, informed consent before sharing any fact pattern that is not already public, or sufficiently anonymize. | ABA Formal Op. 511 stresses greater risk in open forums americanbar.org |
| Competence & AI vetting | Verify every citation generated by AI; document your human review. | People v. Crabill—90‑day actual suspension for filing a ChatGPT‑generated brief with fake cases (Nov 22 2023) legalethicslawyer.blog |
| Name & likeness rights / SEO tactics | Never embed competitors’ names in ghost‑written posts or metadata. | Salinas v. KRW Lawyers (Tex. Dist. Ct. 2025)—TRO issued over AI blog borrowing rival lawyers’ names for SEO expressnews.com |
| Defamation & reputation | Re‑check facts, use qualified language. Erroneous claims can trigger defamation actions even if later withdrawn. | Ex‑Greenberg Traurig partner’s 2023 defamation suit (dismissed, but costly) abajournal.com |
| Respect for courts & third parties | Criticize rulings professionally; avoid implying bias or impropriety without proof. | Florida Bar charges against Jerry & Brooke Girley for accusing a judge of racial bias (2024) apnews.com |
| Multi‑jurisdictional pitfalls / UPL | Add a footer listing jurisdictions admitted; avoid “nationwide” language unless licensed everywhere. | ABA marketing article (Sept 2024) stresses tailoring posts to jurisdictions americanbar.org |
| Cyber‑hygiene & data‑breach duties | Encrypt draft posts that contain client material and have an incident‑response plan; comply with ABA Formal Op. 483. | California Bar Gen‑AI toolkit (2024) flags encryption basics calbar.ca.gov |
4 | Emerging Enforcement Trends (June 2023 – June 2025)
- AI‑Generated Misconduct: Following Crabill, several states (CO, NY, CA) added explicit CLE or certification check‑boxes on AI usage.
- Impersonation & Identity Misuse: The Salinas SEO case shows civil‑law exposure can accompany bar complaints.
- Speech About Judges: Bars are policing online criticism when it “undermines public confidence” (Girley case).
- Cross‑Border Reciprocity: D.C. Court of Appeals imposed reciprocal probation on Khilji after Colorado discipline, signaling wider reach of sanctions alabnews.com.
5 | Checklist Before You Hit “Publish”
- Run an advertising test: Does the post invite clients or mention case successes? If yes, apply your state’s ad rules.
- Insert a jurisdiction‑specific disclaimer (and an “Attorney Advertising” label where required, e.g., NY, FL, TX).
- Strip or anonymize client facts unless you have written consent.
- Verify every citation—especially AI‑generated text. Keep a PDF copy of sources.
- Scan for trademarked or personal names that might trigger a right‑of‑publicity claim.
- Log a peer or ethics‑counsel review for high‑risk posts (e.g., criticizing a judge).
- Archive the final post (HTML/PDF) for at least the period your state requires for ad materials (commonly 1–3 years).
Top 10 Blogging Topics U.S. Lawyers Need to Master in 2025
| # | Topic | Why It’s Crucial (2023‑25 developments) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Generative AI & Legal Ethics | Suspensions for un‑vetted AI briefs and new ABA/D.C./CA guidance legalethicslawyer.blog reuters.com |
| 2 | Advertising vs. Informational Speech | Stricter disclaimer placement rules and quick‑file requirements in FL, TX, NY onthemap.com |
| 3 | Client Confidentiality Online | ABA 511 highlights broader duty on open platforms; data‑breach opinions updated americanbar.org calbar.ca.gov |
| 4 | Defamation & Anti‑SLAPP Strategies | Surge in defamation suits tied to blogs/social posts (e.g., Greenberg Traurig) abajournal.com |
| 5 | Name‑Misappropriation & SEO Abuse | AI ghost‑blogging led to Salinas v. KRW TRO and pending damages claim expressnews.com |
| 6 | Professionalism When Criticizing the Judiciary | Florida Bar prosecutions show commentary can cross ethical lines apnews.com |
| 7 | Multi‑State Practice & UPL in Digital Content | Blogs reach nationwide; regulators emphasize clear jurisdiction statements americanbar.org |
| 8 | Cybersecurity & Blog Platform Compliance | Ransomware targeting WordPress sites plus ABA 483‑driven security audits calbar.ca.gov |
| 9 | Video & Short‑Form Media Ethics (Reels/TikTok) | Florida’s video‑sharing guidelines extend ad rules to embedded clips floridabar.org |
| 10 | Reciprocal Discipline Across Jurisdictions | Khilji probation in D.C. after Colorado discipline signals national reach alabnews.com |
Endnotes
- American Bar Association, Formal Opinion 511, Confidentiality Obligations of Lawyers Posting to Listservs (May 8 2024) americanbar.org
- ABA, Lawyers Using AI Must Heed Ethics Rules, Reuters (July 29 2024) reuters.com
- State Bar of California, Ethics & Technology Resources Toolkit: Generative AI in Legal Practice (2024) calbar.ca.gov
- Colorado PDJ, People v. Zachariah C. Crabill, Case No. 23PDJ067 (Nov 22 2023) legalethicslawyer.blog
- Presiding Disciplinary Judge (CO), People v. Ahad Ali Khilji (Aug 22 2024) cl.cobar.org
- Patrick Danner, San Antonio Attorney Sues Over Name Appearing on Another Firm’s Website, San Antonio Express‑News (May 6 2025) expressnews.com
- Lawyers May Face Discipline for Criticizing a Judge’s Ruling, Associated Press (Oct 2024) apnews.com
- Debra C. Weiss, Ex‑Greenberg Traurig Partner’s Defamation Suit Against Blogger Dismissed, ABA Journal (Feb 2024) abajournal.com
- How to Avoid Ethical Violations While Managing Internet Marketing, ABA Law Practice Today (Sept 2024) americanbar.org
- Lawyer Advertising Rules for Attorneys in 2025, On‑the‑Map Marketing Blog (May 2025) onthemap.com
- Florida Bar, Guidelines for Video‑Sharing Sites (accessed Apr 2025) floridabar.org
(All sources reflect U.S. developments between June 2023 and June 2025.)