2020
The legal blogosphere is thriving, with ever-more lawyers, writers, bloggers and journalists stepping up to debate the issues of the day, share knowledge and experience and change the way we think about law and the legal industry. But which are the top law blogs to follow for 2020?
Legal blogs are a valuable outlet and asset for lawyers and companies alike; acting as a marketing tool for your expertise, and allowing some creative headspace to examine issues of personal intrigue outside of your own work. Whether you are thinking of starting your own legal blog and need some inspiration, or simply want to follow for extra insights and opinion, here are some of our picks of today’s most highly-rated and recommended English-language legal blogs, updated for 2020.
1. UK and Europe Legal Blogs
Barrister Blogger
This award winning legal blog by Matthew Scott is direct and simple in approach. Scott is not afraid to share his decisive opinions on legal issues dominating the news sphere, and has a way of setting the scene of well-read (and some not-so-well read) legal stories that keep you engaged from post to post – including a recent amusing Q&A on the government’s guidance on lockdown and how it varies from place to place.
Legal Cheek Journal
One of our favourite legal media companies, Legal Cheek’s online journal covers current affairs in law with typically lively and irreverent style, proving that law doesn’t have to be stuffy or mince its words on even the more controversial topics making headlines.
The Secret Barrister
The Secret Barrister is a junior barrister specialising in criminal law and their popular blog give an insightful fly-on-the-wall view of the criminal justice system, and of life at the Criminal Bar in general. Blogposts gave rise to various columns as well as the Sunday Times bestseller “Stories of The Law and How It’s Broken”, published in March 2018, with their second book, “Fake Law” published in April 2020. As they say themselves, “the blog attempts to present a candid and accessible account of the reality of the criminal law in action, and to occasionally provide a rebuttal to popular misconceptions endorsed by politicians and the media”.
LexisNexis Future of Law blog
Aimed mostly at practising lawyers and general counsel, the Future of Law blog is written by LexisNexis’ team of lawyers and guest contributors for anyone in the legal profession who wants to understand the latest industry developments, key market trends, recent technology changes and how to succeed in the business of law. Topics range from women in law through to law firm survival.
Crafty Counsel
For the YouTube generation, Crafty Counsel publishes bite-size legal videos (10 minutes and shorter) featuring legal professionals discussing legal topics in verbal “bullet point” format. Some recent videos tackle Covid-19 specific topics such as “How to run the best virtual meetings” and “Developing your team whilst working remotely” as well as delivering access learning & development content in a way that is easily accessible and affordable.
Wellbeing Republic
Lawyer Nick Bloy founded Wellbeing Republic in 2016 to create bold and inspirational wellbeing initiatives to unlock people’s potential to be happier, healthier, better engaged, more productive, more resilient and, ultimately, more successful. Aimed mainly at lawyers and those working in the legal trade, Bloy’s blogs tackle various well-being subjects and provide a useful advice to guide wellbeing.
Joshua Rozenberg, The Critic
Not so much a blog as a column in a new magazine, The Critic, which covers politics, ideas, art, literature and much more, renowned legal journalist Joshua Rozenberg looks at various topical legal issues. The point of The Critic is to argue controversial points, and urge readers to disagree – indeed including it here may be controversial, but it can be helpful to know you’re reading outside your own echo chamber, and you can at least be confident that Rozenberg is not serving up fake news.
2. UK and Ireland Subject Specific Blogs
Pink Tape
Lucy Reed is a family barrister – she set up Pink Tape after realising that few clients understand the work she does and what goes on inside the Family Courts (with others she later set up The Transparency Project to try and begin to tackle this). Blog posts seek to enhance the quality of public information and debate about legal matters and range from musings on her work, through despair of the system, to updates on her life in general. In 2014, she published The Family Court without a Lawyer: A Handbook for Litigants in Person.
Civil Litigation Brief
Civil Litigation Brief is one of the key blogs on, you’ve guessed it, civil litigation. Written by Gordon Exall, a barrister practising at Kings Chambers Leeds, Manchester and Birmingham and Hardwicke in London, what he hasn’t covered by way of updates and commentary in civil litigation since 2013 probably isn’t worth knowing.
IPKat
The team at IPKat are passionate about IP. Since June 2003 the IPKat has covered copyright, patent, trade mark, designs, info-tech, privacy and confidentiality issues from a mainly UK and European perspective, and consistently wins awards, the latest of which is “Most Popular Intellectual Property Law Blawg”.
Ireland IP and Technology Law blog
A&L Goodbody’s Ireland IP and Technology Law blog gives you all the information you need to know about Intellectual property & technology law in Ireland.
EU Law Blog
The team at EU Law Blog deliver concise commentary on legal developments within the EU, highlighting and commenting on current developments in EU case law and legislation in English.
Techno Llama
Cyberlaw is one of the fastest moving areas of law, and there’s plenty of interesting analysis and thought pieces over at TechnoLlama by Andres Guadamuz, with emphasis on open licensing, digital rights, software protection and virtual worlds. Articles are often whimsical, with a serious underlying message.
The UKCLA Blog
The United Kingdom Constitutional Law Association publishes this highly credible resource of expert comment and analysis on matters of constitutional law in the UK and further afield, with articles cited in academic writing, official publications and in the news media.
Harry Clark Law
For a City trainee perspective on the world of law, Harry Clark Law is a relatively young blog that’s developed into a full package legal resource. Online, Harry Clark shares his own views as well as those of guests via written blog posts, podcasts and videos.
3. USA and Canada Legal Blogs
Scotus Blog
No matter whether you’re a lawyer, law student, or just have an interest in the U.S. Supreme Court and its cases, this top la w blog is an oldie but a good one – it’s first blog post was published way back in October 2002. Run and written by lawyers, Scotus blog is well reputed for covering the cases and decisions better than any other US new organisation, as well as illuminating and drawing attention to the nomination and confirmation process for new justices.
The Girl’s Guide to Law School
Founded by Alison Monahan, a former member of the Columbia Law Review, the Girl’s Guide to Law School aims to help young women get what they want from law school. Alison shares her own experiences and that of guest posters to create a conversation about the unique stresses faced in law school and how to overcome them.
Slaw
Slaw is a Canadian online legal magazine, started in 2005 and written by and for the Canadian law community by lawyers, librarians, technologists, marketers, students, educators and everyone in between. Slaw covers perspectives from academia, law firms, non-profits, regulatory bodies and beyond, and the practice and teaching of law as well as industry changes and the future of the Canadian legal industry. Slaw is considered essential daily reading by many in Canadian legal circles.
Above the Law
Above the Law takes a behind-the-scenes look at the world of law, providing news and insights about the profession’s most colourful personalities and powerful institutions, as well as original commentary on breaking legal developments. Above the Law is published by Breaking Media.
Lawyerist
What began as a one man legal blog turned into a full-blown media company, home to the largest online community of solo and small-firm lawyers in the world. Articles, survival guides and podcasts share ideas, innovations and best practices, with a particular focus on technology.
The Law for Lawyers Today
Published by Thompson Hine LLP, TLLT is a resource for lawyers, departments and firms focusing on legal ethics and professional responsibility, including the ‘law of lawyering’, risk management and legal malpractice, running a legal business and other related topics.
LawSites
Written by legaltech guru Robert Ambrogi, LawSites takes an in-depth look at the legal industry and how it evolves, adopting new technologies and practices. Via written blogs, TV interviews and podcasts, LawSites is a reliably no-nonsense resource for anybody who wants to know what’s happening in legaltech behind the scenes – minus the puff pieces.
4. Asia and Australasia Legal Blogs
Bucket Orange
BucketOrange Magazine is powered by some of Australia’s brightest upcoming legal minds, passionate about alternative legal publishing. They say that they are the first boutique online legal publication created exclusively for young Australians – written by lawyers for everyone. Blogposts look at all aspects of law, from practice to application, including keeping readers informed and empowered about their everyday rights.
China Law Blog
This is a no-frills blog discussing the practical aspects of Chinese law and how it impacts business for anyone who is currently or about to begin conducting business in China. The blog is run by international law firm Harris Bricken, and its contributing writers help to challenge Western misconceptions of Chinese law with accessible and engaging articles grounded in real experience.
Indian Constitutional Law and Philosophy
Gautam Bhatia graduated from law school in 2011, starting his blog in 2013 to analyse important constitutional cases, past and present, and to “engage with the set of diverse political and philosophical values that underlies the text of the Constitution, and has informed its interpretation over the years”.
LGBT Law Blog
Stephen Page is a leading divorce and surrogacy lawyer committed to championing the rights of and interests of LGBTI people in Australia. His posts tackle discrimination parenting, property settlement, same sex domestic violence, and same sex law issues.
Singapore Law Blog
Singapore Law Blog covers the latest Singapore court decisions and legal news, as well as routinely showcasing practically relevant law journal articles and covers Continuing Legal Education events. It invites guest contributions and even providing access to a database of articles on Singapore law from both domestic and international sources, ensuring a number of voices and a variety of expert opinion is at your fingertips.
Finally, we couldn’t go without including Obelisk’s own thinking space! The Attic offers a weekly mixture of thought pieces on working culture in the legal industry, profiles of consultant and event speakers, and guidance on career development for lawyers and legal consultants looking to work differently.
What legal blogs do you follow? How do they help you in your work? Send us your recommendations and we’ll add them to our list…
2019
The legal blogsphere is thriving, with ever-more law bloggers stepping up to discuss taboo topics and change the way we think about law and the legal industry.
Legal blogs are a valuable outlet and asset for lawyers and companies alike; acting as a marketing tool for your expertise, and allowing some creative headspace to examine issues of personal intrigue outside of your own work. Whether you are thinking of starting your own legal blog and need some inspiration, or simply want to follow for extra insights and opinion, here are some of our picks of today’s most highly-rated and recommended English-language legal blogs.
UK and Europe Legal Blogs
Regulation for Globalization
Regulation for Globalization by Kluwer Law International blog is discusses the significant changes taking place regarding international business, especially trade law, EU law, and labour law. Contributors are leading legal experts from diverse backgrounds who report on the latest developments with ‘fresh, high-quality, and timely examination of the new rules facing international business’.
Legal Cheek Journal
One of our favourite legal media companies, Legal Cheek’s online journal covers current affairs in law with typically lively and irreverent style, proving that law doesn’t have to be stuffy or mince its words on even the more controversial topics making headlines.
Legal Hackette
Written by Catherine Baksi, barrister turned freelance legal affairs journalist, this blog features lunch interviews as well as legal news and book reviews. Catherine knows how to create an atmosphere and her in-depth interviews are great insights into the life of prominent lawyers.
Juro
Juro is an AI-enabled smart contract workflow platform with a Human First approach, helping legal teams at fast growing businesses make contracts work better within their organisation. Naturally, their blog focuses on legal tech and innovation but also discusses the importance of hiring and cultivating the right team for business success.
Barrister Blogger
This award winning legal blog by Matthew Scott is direct and simple in approach. Scott is not afraid to share his decisive opinions on legal issues dominating the news sphere, and has a way of setting the scene of well-read (and some not-so-well read) legal stories that keep you engaged from post to post.
Crafty Counsel
For the YouTube generation, Crafty Counsel publishes bite-size legal videos (10 minutes and shorter) featuring legal professionals discussing legal topics in verbal “bullet point” format. Some recent videos tackle varied topics such as “The art of building a relationship: In-house counsel & law firms”, “How can you champion women in the workplace?” or “Building a great Legal Team – the Software.”
The UKCLA Blog
The United Kingdom Constitutional Law Association publish this highly credible resource of expert comment and analysis on matters of constitutional law in the UK and further afield, with articles cited in academic writing, official publications and in the news media.
Techno Llama
Cyberlaw is one of the fastest moving areas of law, and there’s plenty of interesting analysis and thought pieces over at TechnoLlama by Andres Guadamuz, with emphasis on open licensing, digital rights, software protection and virtual worlds. Articles are often whimsical, with a serious underlying message.
USA and Canada Legal Blogs
The Girl’s Guide to Law School
Founded by Alison Monahan, a former member of the Columbia Law Review, the Girl’s Guide to Law School aims to help young women get what they want from law school. Alison shares her own experiences and that of guest posters to create a conversation about the unique stresses faced in law school and how to overcome them.
Clio Blog
Clio are a Canadian legal practice management software company, whose tech-focused blog also tackles the wider themes around better management of law firms, including looking after lawyers mental health and wellbeing, communication with clients, legal tech trends and much more.
Lawyerist
What began as a one man legal blog turned into a full-blown media company, home to the largest online community of solo and small-firm lawyers in the world. Articles, survival guides and podcasts share ideas, innovations and best practices, with a particular focus on technology.
CLOC Blog
At the cutting edge of legal operations, the blog by Corporate Legal Operations Consortium (CLOC) provides how-to articles aiming to help legal ops professional optimise legal service delivery models. Posts are monthly but contain plenty of content to consider and incorporate into your strategy.
Gen Y Lawyer
This series of podcasts interviews by Nicole Abboud introduces a new generation of professionals who are doing something a little differently in the profession. Abboud talks to millennials both inside and outside of the legal profession who are going after what they want on their own terms.
The Law for Lawyers Today
Published by Thompson Hine LLP, TLLT is a resource for lawyers, departments and firms focusing on legal ethics and professional responsibility, including the ‘law of lawyering’, risk management and legal malpractice, running a legal business and other related topics.
Asia and Australasia Legal Blogs
China Law Blog
This is a no-frills blog discussing the practical aspects of Chinese law and how it impacts business for anyone who is currently or about to begin conducting business in China. The blog is run by international law firm Harris Bricken, and its contributing writers help to challenge Western misconceptions of Chinese law with accessible and engaging articles grounded in real experience.
LGBT Law Blog
Stephen Page is a leading divorce and surrogacy lawyer committed to championing the rights of and interests of LGBTI people in Australia. His posts tackle discrimination parenting, property settlement, same sex domestic violence, and same sex law issues. This will be one to follow as Australia goes to postal vote on same sex marriage laws.
Zoë Lawton’s #MeToo Blog
Zoë Lawton is a legal researcher specialising in family law, criminal law and legal tech. Her #MeToo blog ran for one month in February 2018, posting the experience of women (and a significant proportion of men) in law who had been subject to sexual harassment and assault, bullying and discrimination within the profession. A full copy of the blog was presented to the New Zealand Law Society and all NZ law schools, and the archive of posts now acts as a resource for those who want information on how to report their experience to the Human Rights Commission, the NZ Law Society, their employer, or their university.
Law and Other Things
Law and Other Things publishes informative court and case updates, news articles, interviews, book reviews, petitions and announcements relating to India’s laws and legal system, courts, and constitution.
Singapore Law Blog
Singapore Law Blog covers the latest Singapore court decisions and legal news, as well as routinely showcasing practically relevant law journal articles and covers Continuing Legal Education events. It invites guest contributions and even providing access to a database of articles on Singapore law from both domestic and international sources, ensuring a number of voices and a variety of expert opinion is at your fingertips.
Finally, we couldn’t go without including Obelisk’s own thinking space! The Attic offers a weekly mixture of thought pieces on working culture in the legal industry, profiles of consultant and event speakers, and guidance on career development for lawyers and legal consultants looking to work differently.
What legal blogs do you follow? How do they help you in your work? Send us your recommendations at [email protected] and we’ll add them to our list…
2017
Legal blogs, or blawgs as they are sometimes known, are changing the way that law is discussed and debated in the industry. Legal blogs can be a valuable outlet and asset for lawyers and companies alike: acting as a marketing tool for your expertise, and allowing some creative headspace to examine issues of personal intrigue outside of your own work.
Whether you are thinking of starting your own legal blog and need some inspiration, or simply want to follow for extra insights and opinion, here are some of our picks of the world’s most highly rated and recommended English-language legal blogs.
This list comprises on blogs covering all areas of law and the largest English-language markets around the globe. If you’re particularly interested in legal technology, watch this space. We’ll be doing a round-up of the best legal tech sites very soon!
UK Legal Blogs
Authors: Dan Bunting, Sara Williams, and Lyndon Harris
Founded by three lawyers after a conversation on Twitter, the UK Criminal Law Blog aims to tackle the lack of public understanding and misreporting in media about the criminal justice system and sentencing.
Author: John Bolch
Family Lore was founded by John Bolch back in 2006. Three years later Bolch left practice to take on writing full time, publishing a book and running a second website. The blog posts a mix of news digests, musings on topical issues and legal updates, with occasional humour and irreverence.
Author: Matthew Scott
This award winning legal blog is direct and simple in approach. Scott is not afraid to share his decisive opinions on legal issues dominating the news sphere, and has a way of setting the scene of well-read (and some not-so-well read) legal stories that keep you engaged from post to post.
Authors: Various
The United Kingdom Constitutional Law Association publish this highly credible resource of expert comment and analysis on matters of constitutional law in the UK and further afield, with articles cited in academic writing, official publications and in the news media.
Author: David Allen Green
Green offers his liberal and critical perspective on law and policy in the UK. Since mid-2016, the blog has had an almost exclusive focus on Brexit, though Jack of Kent came to broader public attention back in 2013 with its coverage of the #TwitterJokeTrial and its implications on governing free speech and publishing.
Authors: Various
A legal blog that does exactly what it says on the tin – this is a concisely written resource for updates and commentary on EU case law and legislation. It also has a Brexit countdown clock on the homepage, in case anyone needs reminding.
Authors: Various
Produced by Kluwer Law International, this blog updates with information and news on international competition and antitrust law, written by practising lawyers, academics and economists, covering Europe and also the US. They actively encourage interaction and invite guest contributions.
Author: Andres Guadamuz
Cyberlaw is one of the fastest moving areas of law, and there’s plenty of interesting analysis and thought pieces over at TechnoLlama, with emphasis on open licensing, digital rights, software protection and virtual worlds. Articles are often whimsical, with a serious message.
USA Legal Blogs
Authors: Various
What began as a one man legal blog turned into a full-blown media company, home to the largest online community of solo and small-firm lawyers in the world. Articles, survival guides and podcasts share ideas, innovations and best practices, with a particular focus on technology.
Authors: Various
Founded by Gavin Ward, the blog has expanded to include legal guides and resources for UK audiences. There are sections on areas of law including commercial, property and criminal law, offering a mix of advice, analysis and news updates.
Author: Keith Lee
Lee began his blog back when he was in law school, and it has grown to be one of the most popular legal blogs in the US. He focuses his content on helping lawyers new to the profession transition from amateur to professional and to navigate the on-going changes in the industry.
Author: Nicole Abboud
This series of podcasts interviews a new generation of professionals who are doing something a little differently in the profession. Abboud talks to millennials both inside and outside of the legal profession who are going after what they want on their own terms.
Authors: Karen Rubin, Tom Feher, Frank DeSantis, guests
Published by Thompson Hine LLP, TLLT is a resource for lawyers, departments and firms focusing on legal ethics, the ‘law of lawyering’, risk management and legal malpractice, running a legal business and other related topics.
Author: Jordan Furlong
With the tagline ‘dispatches from a legal profession on the brink’, Furlong analyses the trends and changes that are occurring or that are indeed overdue in the legal industry – from women in law, to technology and market pricing.
Australia Legal Blogs
Author: Bruce Baer Arnold
If you’re looking for detailed updates on a range of topics such as Australian health law, data, technology, theoretical discussion and, at the author’s own admission does of irreverence, irony, indignation and honestly-held opinion, this is the place to start.
Author: Stephen Page
Page is a leading divorce and surrogacy lawyer committed to championing the rights of and interests of LGBTI people in Australia. His posts tackle discrimination parenting, property settlement, same sex domestic violence, and same sex law issues. This will be one to follow as Australia goes to postal vote on same sex marriage laws.
Comprehensive and expert thoughts and opinions from the TressCox Lawyers team, this is a great example of how a law firm can use blogging effectively. The blog focuses on corporate, employment, insurance and litigation law.
India Legal Blogs
Authors: Various
Legally India provides a platform to bloggers of all legal and writing experience to express themselves and communicate with the wider legal community in India. The blog is regularly updated with breaking news, analysis and original content about the Indian legal market.
Authors: Various
Livelaw is a comprehensive legal news portal, which in their own words is set to redefine the standards of legal journalism in India. The website also reports on foreign and international law and provides a range of resources for practicing and studying lawyers.
Authors: Various
iPleaders aims to help make the law more accessible, by researching and developing resources through blogging, educational resources, workshops, and interactive software for legal entrepreneurs. They publish on a range of blog platforms on subjects such as sports law, outsourcing, marketing and advertising, and business law.
Authors: Various
Law and Other Things publishes informative court and case updates, news articles, interviews, book reviews, petitions and announcements relating to India’s laws and legal system, courts, and constitution.
Finally, we couldn’t go without including Obelisk’s own thinking space! Formerly know as The Attic offers a weekly mixture of thought pieces on working culture in the legal industry, profiles of consultant and event speakers, and guidance on career development for lawyers and legal consultants looking to work differently.
What legal blogs do you follow? How do they help you in your work? Send us your recommendations at laure [at] theattic [dot] london and we’ll update our list…
