Law.com Subscribers SAVE 30%

Call 855-808-4530 or email [email protected] to receive your discount on a new subscription.

The Lawyer's Guide to Public Relations

BY Elizabeth Anne 'Betiayn' Tursi
October 01, 2003

There is definitely an art to becoming the object of the press's affection. If you are lucky enough to have an in-house public relations department, your “luck runneth over.” However, for most lawyers whose wish list includes “personal appearances” either via print media or electronic media, it can be a challenging and sometimes frustrating experience. There is hope, and it comes in the form of having a personal public relations/professional development plan. While most business development efforts focus on marketing, public relations can be a key component to one's overall success. Public relations is different than marketing in the sense that it requires a more personal approach to one's professional development plan. It requires an individual to hone a separate set of skills that enables one to speak, be quoted and appear as a spokesperson in a specific area of expertise.

I am a believer that everyone can have an “in print” or “in person” public persona, and there are many individuals who are lucky enough to have both attributes. The in print persona is the easier part of the public relations professional development plan. It calls for the preparation of two lists that can be divided into two categories: a list of publications where one can place an article for publication, and a list of journalists who can be contacted with information about an individual's expertise with the view toward becoming the expert in the area and thus a resource for the journalist.

The list of publications can then be subdivided into two targeted lists. The first list is comprised of national, regional and local newspapers, magazines and journals specifically targeted to the legal profession. This list has the utility of building one's reputation as well as establishing oneself as a referral source to colleagues. Publications like The American Lawyer and The National Law Journal are widely recognized examples of national publications targeted to the legal profession; The New York Law Journal (New York) and The Legal Intelligencer (Pennsylvania) are examples of regional publications. These publications accept bylined articles and also publish cutting edge new stories that usually contain expert opinions in a specialized area of law.

This premium content is locked for Entertainment Law & Finance subscribers only

  • Stay current on the latest information, rulings, regulations, and trends
  • Includes practical, must-have information on copyrights, royalties, AI, and more
  • Tap into expert guidance from top entertainment lawyers and experts

For enterprise-wide or corporate acess, please contact Customer Service at [email protected] or 877-256-2473

Read These Next
Yachts, Jets, Horses & Hooch: Specialized Commercial Leasing Models Image

Defining commercial real estate asset class is essentially a property explaining how it identifies — not necessarily what its original intention was or what others think it ought to be. This article discusses, from a general issue-spot and contextual analysis perspective, how lawyers ought to think about specialized leasing formats and the regulatory backdrops that may inform what the documentation needs to contain for compliance purposes.

Hyperlinked Documents: The Latest e-Discovery Challenge Image

As courts and discovery experts debate whether hyperlinked content should be treated the same as traditional attachments, legal practitioners are grappling with the technical and legal complexities of collecting, analyzing and reviewing these documents in real-world cases.

Identifying Your Practice's Differentiator Image

How to Convey Your Merits In a Way That Earns Trust, Clients and Distinctions Just as no two individuals have the exact same face, no two lawyers practice in their respective fields or serve clients in the exact same way. Think of this as a "Unique Value Proposition." Internal consideration about what you uniquely bring to your clients, colleagues, firm and industry can provide untold benefits for your law practice.

Risks and Ad Fraud Protection In Digital Advertising Image

The ever-evolving digital marketing landscape, coupled with the industry-wide adoption of programmatic advertising, poses a significant threat to the effectiveness and integrity of digital advertising campaigns. This article explores various risks to digital advertising from pixel stuffing and ad stacking to domain spoofing and bots. It will also explore what should be done to ensure ad fraud protection and improve effectiveness.

Turning Business Development Plans Into Reality Image

This article offers practical insights and best practices to navigate the path from roadmap to rainmaking, ensuring your business development efforts are not just sporadic bursts of activity, but an integrated part of your daily success.