The Official FindLaw Blog

New at FindLaw: Summer Camp and Counseling the HR Department

2013-05-17T21:57:20Z

We continue our Friday round-up of what is newest, best and brightest at FindLaw.com. Below, you will find this week's offerings from various areas of FindLaw's unique content, including: core legal content, blogs, news and case law. Take a look at what's new:

FindLaw Consumer Blogs:

Top 10 Summer Camp Legal Tips: With school (almost) out for summer, millions of children will soon be heading to summer sports camps, day camps, and wilderness camps. What precautions should parents take to make sure their kids are safe? FindLaw's Law and Daily Life offers some helpful suggestions.

Are 'Nanny Cams' Legal?: You may be tempted to set up hidden recording devices to check-in on nannies and babysitters. But be careful: While some types of recordings are perfecly legal, others could land you in trouble for violating wiretapping laws. FindLaw's Blotter explains the legality of different types of "nanny cams" and what parents need to watch out for.

FindLaw Legal Professional Blogs:

Unanimous x3: Monsanto's Magic Beans, Defalcation, and Towing: The latest round of Supreme Court rulings, released this week, included a closely watched case involving genetically modified seeds. What did justices decide in light of the appellant's too-clever legal argument? FindLaw's U.S. Supreme Court blog breaks down the Court's analysis.

Law Firm Management:

The FindLaw Guide to Counseling the Human Resources Department: For corporate legal advisers, it's important to understand the role of your company's HR department. What laws and regulations affect HR actions, and what's a lawyer's role in all of this? Check out FindLaw's Guide to Counseling the Human Resources Department -- a free PDF that you can read online, or download and print as a handy guide to use in your everyday practice.

-- Andrew Chow, FindLaw Audience Team

Why Your Firm Should Have A Facebook Page

2013-05-16T21:58:33Z

Owning lots of real estate is a good thing, right? Well the same logic holds true when it comes to cyber real estate. With that logic in mind, a law firm Facebook page represents an increasingly valuable piece of online real estate that can be extremely beneficial for your practice. In addition to increasing your firm’s visibility and strengthening your professional brand, a firm Facebook page represents a unique chance for you to give personality to your law firm in a way that your website cannot.

The informal nature of a Facebook page lets your interact with current and potential clients on a whole new level. Still need convincing? Here’s a look at some of the reasons your law firm should have a Facebook page:

Google Search Visibility: Google partially indexes Facebook pages so having one provides one more chance for your firm to get noticed.

Mobile Dominance: The most popular mobile app, Facebook now has more users exploring on their phones than on a desktop or PC. Social networks such as Facebook are not just popular for connecting with friends, but an increasingly popular place to get recommendations on everything from restaurants to attorneys.

Location: Think of your company's Facebook page as a gateway to your law firm. Not just for status updates, you can customize your Facebook page to include maps and directions on how to get to your firm.

Professional Presence: Many of you reading this may already have a personal Facebook profile. Creating a professional Facebook page represents a chance for you to keep your personal and professional identities separate if you want. Additionally, many people searching for your firm will search by your professional rather than personal name so make it easy for them and have a page dedicated to your legal services.

Get in touch with your FindLaw Lawyer Marketing consultant today to learn how a company Facebook page can help you maximize your social presence!

Mark Jacobsen, Senior Director of Strategic Development
with Laura Strachan, FindLaw Audience Team

Free Webcast: 'Blogs For Business: 5 Things Every Lawyer Should Know'

2013-05-14T19:01:42Z

If you’re a lawyer with a website, you’ve heard it before: Blogs are one of the most powerful marketing tools at your disposal. So how can you get the most out of your blogging efforts?

While a 2012 study found that nearly 50% of U.S. law firms said social media initiatives like blogging have generated leads, many lawyers still don’t know where to begin with their blogs. Many face writer’s block, and many more are simply too pressed for time to do it.

Never fear: FindLaw offers some simple solutions that can get your blog to drum up new business. And we’re sharing some proven tips in a free webcast that will set you up for success.

The free FindLaw webcast, "Blogs For Business: 5 Tips for Law Firm Success," is set for Wednesday, May 22. The webcast runs 45 minutes and will be offered at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. CDT.

The "Blogs For Business" webcast will explain the natural connections between blogging and other social media tools, examine types of blog content, discuss blog post frequency, and cover a variety of related issues.

The featured speakers are:

Todd Strong, an attorney who founded Strong Law Offices in Peoria, Illinois. Strong's practice is 100% focused on litigation, and also boasts a worker's compensation and personal injury law blog.
Craig Smith, a Senior Client Development Consultant with FindLaw. Smith focuses the bulk of his efforts developing marketing strategies to benefit solo and small law firms.

To register for the free FindLaw webinar, click here.

-- Michelle Croteau, Director, Marketing Communications
with Andrew Chow, FindLaw Audience Team

New at FindLaw: Single Moms and 'Bible Banners'

2013-05-10T21:59:29Z

FindLaw Consumer Blogs:

Top 10 Legal Issues for Single Moms: A new Census report finds more single moms in America than ever before. Aside from juggling work, childcare, and a social life, many single moms also face unique legal challenges, often on their own. FindLaw's Law and Daily Life looks at 10 of the most common legal issues for single moms and offers suggestions for how to deal with them.

'Bible Banners' OK at School Football Games, Texas Judge Rules: Cheerleaders at a Texas high school are rallying behind a recent ruling that tackled the separation of church and state at high-school football games. What did the judge say about the First Amendment in this case, and how does the decision square with other cases involving religion and schools? FindLaw's Decided explains.

FindLaw Legal Professional Blogs:

SCOTUS and Big Business, Sitting in a Tree? New Study: Critics often chide the Supreme Court as being too pro-business. Now a new study by legal scholars and Seventh Circuit Judge Richard Posner seems to bolster that notion, while also examining the Court's liberal/conservative slant. What exactly did the study reveal? FindLaw's U.S. Supreme Court blog breaks it down.

Law Firm Management:

Personal Injury Claims Dealt Another Blow by California Court: In a personal injury case, what can be presented to the jury -- the full amount billed, or the actual amount paid by an insurer, which is often much less? A California appellate court has come up with an answer, which may drastically affect how much an injured plaintiff can collect. FindLaw's latest Law Firm Management article examines two recent rulings and the issues that have yet to be addressed.

-- Andrew Chow, FindLaw Audience Team

FindLaw's Top 5 Tips on How to Safely Use Craigslist

2013-05-09T19:10:42Z

Using Craigslist.org can pay off for web-savvy bargain hunters. But beware: The popular site for online classifieds is also rife with unscrupulous scammers.

Take, for example, the die-hard football fan who fell for a fake Craigslist ad for Super Bowl tickets earlier this year. The scam cost her nearly $6,000 — though she ended up going to the game, thanks to widespread publicity over her predicament.

Most Craigslist scam victims, however, aren’t so lucky. Here are some helpful tips from FindLaw.com to help you navigate Craigslist safely and responsibly:

If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. This is the No. 1 rule of Craigslist. Whether you're seeking an item to purchase, hunting for a new job or looking for a place to rent, if it sounds like it's too good of a deal, trust your instincts and avoid the seller.
Use a separate email account. Open up a free email account for Craigslist as a preventive measure to protect your privacy. Avoid using the email address you rely on for communicating with friends and family, or your work email. And never share details about your finances or other personal information, like where you live or work.
Always meet in a public place. Remember, you're dealing with strangers. You don't know who they are or what their motives are. To complete your transaction, meet during daylight hours in a public place with a lot of traffic, like a fast-food restaurant or a shopping mall. If it involves the exchange of a very valuable item, bring a friend who can witness the exchange, and always have your cell phone with you.
Don't carry large amounts of cash. For purchases of $100 or more, it's best to use a cashier's check. If you're the seller, don't accept a personal check (in case of check forgery) and tell the buyer to come prepared with a cashier's check or money order from his or her bank. If you're the buyer, do not offer to go with the seller to an ATM or your bank to withdraw cash.
Assume you're buying "as is." In other words, you're purchasing the product or service in its current condition without refunds or returns. Because you're not dealing with an established merchant or business, your only recourse to challenge a product or service with which you're not happy is through small claims court. That's why you should be knowledgeable about what you're buying (or selling) and carefully inspect the product or service before exchanging money, or trading a product or service.

To learn more about your legal rights and responsibilities when using Internet sites like Craigslist, check out FindLaw.com's comprehensive section on Online Scams.

-- Michelle Croteau, Director, Marketing Communications
with Andrew Chow, FindLaw Audience Team

Meet the FindLaw Team: FindLaw Senior Writer Steve Tanner

2013-05-07T21:59:37Z

Welcome to another post from our “Meet the FindLaw Team ” series. “Meet the FindLaw Team” provides insight into the day-to-day lives of our colleagues. Today we feature FindLaw Senior Writer, Consumer Content Steve Tanner. Get to know Steve by reading about his experiences at FindLaw below.

What is your current title?

Senior Writer, Consumer Content (Learn About the Law)

When did you join the FindLaw team and how did you get here?

I started at FindLaw as a contractor in October, 2009, writing for the newly created HyperLocal blog team. I then moved over to the Consumer Core Content team in January, 2011 and hired in-house in September, 2011.

My former profession as a journalist offered very few opportunities, so I pursued a paralegal degree in 2006. But I soon realized that the paralegal profession was not for me. So when I saw the ad for the FindLaw job, it really spoke to me.

What interests you most about lawyer marketing or your functional area?

Writing has been a lifelong passion and I've always found the law fascinating. I started out as a business journalist covering technology, finance and the culture of Silicon Valley (sometimes I would cover legal issues). A big part of my job was to write about complex subjects with authority but in a way that was still accessible to a larger audience, which also is the focus of Learn About the Law.

What I enjoy the most about my functional area is that our work directly helps thousands of regular people deal with very difficult life events. I like being able to help empower non-attorneys to make smart legal decisions.

What activities does your work day typically involve?

It really depends. Sometimes I'm spending hours fixing links and formatting errors, checking keywords, and focusing on the more technical SEO aspects of our content. Other times, I research a given legal topic and write new articles (or rewrite older ones). I also write for the FindLaw Insider blog (about one entry per month) and serve as the LATL liaison to the social media team by providing links to new and otherwise relevant content.

What are your interests outside of FindLaw?

I have two awesome, young children who keep me extremely busy. We like to jump on the trampoline, go hiking, ride bikes, do arts and crafts, play dolls, and other typical kid stuff. I also keep busy working on the house and tending our ever-expanding vegetable garden, fruit trees, berry bushes, grape vines, etc. When I have free time to myself (very rare!), I like to surf in the nearby Monterey Bay, mountain bike in the Santa Cruz Mountains, visit with friends, read, listen to music, and cook.

Compiled by Tanya Roth, FindLaw Audience Team

New at FindLaw: Employee Email and the History of Habeas Corpus

2013-05-03T22:01:55Z

We continue our Friday round-up of what is newest, best and brightest at FindLaw.com. Below, you will find this week’s offerings from various areas of FindLaw’s unique content, including: core legal content, blogs, news and case law. Take a look at what’s new:

FindLaw Consumer Blogs:

Is It Legal to Read Employees’ Email?: Employers and managers may be tempted to snoop through workers’ company email inboxes, but be careful: There are legal limits as to when you can and cannot monitor employees’ email messages. What reasons are legitimate, and what should go into your workplace email policy? FindLaw’s Free Enterprise offers some suggestions.

Tough Mudder Death Is 1st Since Race Began: A 28-year-old man drowned while taking part in a Tough Mudder endurance race in West Virginia last month; 20 other participants were taken to the hospital. But could Tough Mudder's liability waiver present an obstacle if they try to sue? FindLaw's Injured looks at the waiver and what participants will need to prove in court.

FindLaw Legal Professional Blogs:

New Book Tracks History of Habeas Corpus in America: It started out as a policy paper, but it's turned into a real page-turner on how habeas corpus came to be. What did the book's author tell us about the messy and paradoxical history of habeas in America? Head over to FindLaw's U.S. Supreme Court blog to find out.

Law Firm Management:

Developing an Effective Antiboycott Law Compliance Policy: When in Rome, do as the Romans do -- unless they insist on your compliance with an international boycott (against Israel, for example) that runs afoul of American antiboycott laws. What do corporate counsel need to know about U.S. business laws and regulations, which cover both intentional and "inadvertent" violations? FindLaw's latest Corporate Counsel article explains.

-- Andrew Chow, FindLaw Audience Team

Four Tips to Amplify Your Firm on Social Media

2013-05-02T18:55:40Z

You've probably heard of six degrees of separation, but what about 3.74 degrees? On Facebook, there's an average of only 3.74 degrees of separation between any two of the over 800 million members. By making use of these social media connections, messages can be spread much further than through traditional word of mouth.

Social media amplification is the concept of delivering a message and sharing it far and wide through the interconnections that exist among everyone in your networks. For example, according to Sheryl Sandberg, COO of Facebook, if just four people share information about a business's brand, that message will reach one million Facebook users. That's amplification!

For firms interested in amplifying their online presence, FindLaw has some tips to make it happen.

1. Interact, don't broadcast.

Don't confuse social media with traditional advertising. Social media is not a billboard, commercial, or one-way street for communication. Unlike traditional advertising mediums, social media is a conversation. It's up to you to keep the conversation going. You can do so by sharing, replying, and commenting.

2. Do good.

Remember, you're not just an attorney but a member of the community as well. You should use social media not only to promote your practice, but to start conversations about local events and legal issues. Once the conversation has started, remember to be a responsible and respectful social participant.

3. Be real.

While it's important to be respectful, you should always let your personality shine through. Posts that are too lifeless or formal can come off as marketing material and have a tendency to alienate readers. Since consumers now prefer businesses that have a social media presence, this is your chance to pull back the curtain on your firm and show that there's a real human there.

4. Make lists.

Everyone likes a good list. Lists are a great way to engage with your social networks, while showing off your legal expertise. Put together a list of legal tips related to an area of your practice, such as the Top 10 Things to Do After a Car Accident or 5 Reasons to Create a Health Care Directive. Make sure the list is both informative and easy for a consumer audience to digest.

If you have questions about how to expand your firm's social media presence or would like to get started, you should contact your local lawyer marketing consultant.

Mark Jacobsen, Senior Director of Strategic Development
with Corey Licht, FindLaw Audience Team

Tips for Motorcycle Riders: Hit the Road and Ride Responsibly

2013-04-30T18:58:59Z

Spring has sprung. And in addition to flowers and beachgoers, the warm weather also brings out motorcyclists. That's right; it is officially motorcycle season across the United States and Canada. Whether hopping on his or her bike just to go to work, or to take a long trip with friends across state lines, you will be sure to see a huge increase in motorcyclists on the roads in the upcoming months.

But for all you motorcyclist out there (and for all of you with clients on bikes), FindLaw has some safety tips before you hit the road. To begin, just because you are aware of fellow motorcyclist on the road does not mean that cars and trucks have the same level of awareness. The reality is that our roads are dominated by cars and trucks that are much bigger than even the largest motorcycles. Although motorcycles only account for 2% of traffic accidents, these accidents account for 14% of all road traffic deaths, according to the Network of Employers for Traffic Safety.

"For freedom of the road, motorcyclists take on greater risks. But you can reduce your risks by doing four simple things," says personal injury attorney Timothy D. Mahon. "Make sure you're properly insured, wear a helmet, make sure your bike is in good working condition and keep learning, so you are always improving your riding skills." In addition to these four great tips, FindLaw has some tips of our own as you embark on motorcycle season:

1. Wear the gear: put on your helmet, strap on some leather and make sure you wear proper eyewear and gloves. Choose clothing that makes sure you are seen by other drivers and protected in the event of a crash.

2. Get Covered: Check to make sure your insurance covers your motorcycle and always carry it on you in the event of a crash

3. Know your bike: If you are one of the many riders who have not touched their bikes since late last summer, or who have recently purchased a new bike, make sure you get to know your bike before heading out onto crowded streets or highways. Always check your bike before heading out to ensure it is in good working condition and consider upgrading certain safety features on your bike such as anti-lock brakes.

Those are just some of the many tips we have for you this motorcycle season. Visit FindLaw.com for a complete list as well as resources on insurance, liability, accident protection, and a directory of attorneys who can help if you are injured in an accident.

-- Michelle Croteau, Director, Marketing Communications
with Laura Strachan, FindLaw Audience Team

New at FindLaw: Credit Reports and Dealing With Personal Injury Liens

2013-04-26T22:01:15Z

FindLaw Consumer Blogs:

Legal How-To: Checking Your Credit Report: Do you know what’s in your credit report? If not, you’re not alone. A new FindLaw survey finds nearly 1 in 4 Americans has never checked their credit report — despite the fact that it’s relatively easy to do, and it’s free. FindLaw’s Law and Daily Life guides you through three simple steps to obtain your credit report, and offers some suggestions for what to do if you find something fishy.

AP Twitter Hack Spurs 'Spear-Phishing' Alert: How did hackers hijack the Associated Press' Twitter account, causing a stock market "flash crash" earlier this week? Apparently, some AP staffers fell for a "spear-phishing" email and clicked on a malicious link. What is "spear-phishing," and what can business owners do to prevent similar attacks? FindLaw's Free Enterprise explains.

FindLaw Legal Professional Blogs:

SCOTUS Won't Stand in the Way of Beer and COLA: A lawsuit by federal judges who've been fighting for cost-of-living adjustments may finally pay off, as the High Court has declined to hear another appeal in the matter. FindLaw's U.S. Supreme Court blog examines the background of the case and why the government sought Supreme Court review not once, but twice.

Law Firm Management:

The FindLaw Guide to Negotiating Liens in Personal Injury Cases: Dealing with liens, reimbursement claims, and unpaid medical bills can be a huge headache for personal-injury lawyers. What are the best ways to approach lien claims, and what are the most effective strategies for negotiation? Check out FindLaw's new Guide to Negotiating Liens in Personal Injury Cases, a free PDF that you can read online or download and share with your colleagues.

-- Andrew Chow, FindLaw Audience Team

FindLaw Survey: Many Americans Have Never Checked Their Credit Report

2013-04-25T16:01:42Z

Your credit report can affect your chances of obtaining a credit card, finding housing, or even getting a job. That’s why it’s pretty surprising that nearly a quarter of Americans have never checked their credit report, according to a new survey by FindLaw.com.

Under federal law, the three major credit reporting agencies are required to provide free copies of credit reports on request. For those who are curious about their rights as consumers, FindLaw.com offers free, helpful information on credit reports and other aspects of consumer credit.

While a credit score is a numerical value credit reporting agencies use as a measure of risk, a credit report is an overview of a person's debts and payment history. The reports often include personal information, including current and former addresses, employers, and any bankruptcies or court judgments.

Credit reports are used for a wide range of purposes. Lending institutions, for example, take the reports into consideration when deciding whether to grant a mortgage or issue a credit card. Landlords, on the other hand, often use the reports when screening prospective tenants. In addition, credit reports can be used as part of employment background checks in most states.

Despite the importance and accessibility of the reports, twenty-two percent of Americans have never checked their credit report to verify the information, according to FindLaw's survey. By failing to double-check their reports, many Americans are putting their financial lives at risk.

"The accuracy of your credit report can have a major impact on your finances, and even your chances of obtaining a job," said Stephanie Rahlfs, an attorney and editor with FindLaw.com. "Inaccuracies in information such as late payments or defaults could play a major role in whether you can obtain a home mortgage, credit card, car loan and other types of debt, and how favorable your terms will be, such as interest rates."

To learn more about credit reports and your rights as a consumer visit FindLaw.com's Financial Consumer Protection site. The site offers a wealth of information on managing your credit, creating a budget, handling credit card debt, and more.

Michelle Croteau, Director of Marketing Communications
with Corey Licht, FindLaw Audience Team

Google Authorship Is the New Page Rank: How FindLaw Can Help

2013-04-23T22:01:07Z

It’s said that a picture is worth a thousand words, and Google’s new Authorship feature is a great example of the old adage: It speaks volumes about your clout as a trusted legal expert.

But what exactly is Authorship, and how can you make it work for your firm — not to mention your bottom line?

When you perform a Google search and hit “enter,” you may notice that some higher-ranked results are now accompanied by a small photo of the author. That’s Google’s new Authorship feature at work.

But not just anybody can get an Authorship avatar to automatically appear next to her articles and blog posts. That’s where FindLaw’s lawyer marketing experts can help.

To make the most of Google’s Authorship feature, it takes a bit of high-tech know-how. For example, if you properly set up the code, it can get all of your firm’s online content — blogs, explanatory articles, and social media posts — more prominently displayed in Google’s search results.

Aside from a high page rank, taking advantage of Authorship can benefit your practice in many ways:

It makes you stand out from other search results, differentiating your “authored” content from “anonymous” content. That can mean higher click-through rates and more traffic to your site.
It allows you to brand all your content with the same logo or image, so potential clients can identify the content as coming from your firm.
It builds trust, as Authorship reinforces the notion that you are a credible expert in your practice area.

Of course, Google’s new Authorship feature only works if you have a presence on Google+, the social-networking platform that’s increasingly popular with lawyers. And it works best if you keep your site stocked with fresh content.

If you don’t have a Google+ account, FindLaw’s lawyer marketing team can help you set one up; our various social media packages can give you all the tools you need to make it a success.

As you’ll see when you click around Google, Authorship is becoming an increasingly important factor in getting maximum impact from your content. Contact your local lawyer marketing consultant today so you don’t get left behind.

— Mark Jacobsen, Senior Director, Strategic Development
with Andrew Chow, FindLaw Audience Team

New at FindLaw: Warrantless DUI Blood Tests and US Airways Ruling

2013-04-19T21:58:35Z

FindLaw Consumer Blogs:

SCOTUS: Warrant Needed for DUI Blood Test, Maybe: In a closely watched case, the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled on the issue of warrantless DUI blood draws. Still, even Chief Justice Roberts opined that the Court's 8-1 ruling could create confusion for law-enforcement officers. FindLaw's Decided explains the ruling and what it could mean for DUI suspects going forward.

5 Legal Issues for Landlords: Being a landlord can be financially rewarding, but it can also put you at risk for potential liability. What are some of the most common legal issues facing landlords, and what key points should you remember to prevent legal action? FindLaw’s Law and Daily Life offers a concise overview.

FindLaw Legal Professional Blogs:

‘Presumption Against Extraterritoriality’ Bars Alien Tort Claim: A long-fought legal battle against Shell Oil is finally over, after a High Court ruling this week. Plaintiffs accused Shell of playing a role in human rights abuses in Nigeria, but now they won’t be able to pursue their claims. FindLaw’s U.S. Supreme Court blog breaks down the case and the legal reasons behind the ruling.

Law Firm Management:

What US Airways v. McCutchen Means for Your Personal Injury Cases: A U.S. Supreme Court ruling this week has resolved a circuit split — but also makes it more difficult to deal with ERISA liens when it comes to personal injury settlements. Why did the court conclude that “equitable rules cannot trump a reimbursement provision”? FindLaw’s latest Law Firm Management article explains.

— Andrew Chow, FindLaw Audience Team

FindLaw Offers Tips for Baby Boomers Considering Divorce

2013-04-18T21:58:42Z

Divorce among baby boomer couples 50 years or older has doubled over the last 20 years, according to a recent study by the National Center for Family and Marriage Research at Bowling Green University in Ohio. In 1990, 1 in 10 people who divorced were 50 years or older. Now, that figure is 1 in 4.

Baby boomer couples that have been married 25 years or more are divorcing at record rates.

Divorce isn’t easy on anyone, but it’s especially complicated when a couple has to divide 25 years of property, assets, and retirement savings. For those who are over 50, and contemplating or filing for divorce, FindLaw.com has helpful tips for navigating three of the more complex financial issues:

Property and Bank Accounts: Immediately cashing out stock and bond investments, IRA accounts and selling your home or vacation property can cost both parties thousands in capital gains taxes. Consider consulting a certified divorce financial analyst, in conjunction with your divorce attorney, to explain your options and advise you in separating assets.
Retirement and Social Security: Couples that are already living off their retirement assets, may be required to get a Qualified Domestic Relations Order, which is a separate court order determining the division of retirement assets. Older couples also need to face questions about survivor benefits if the other spouse dies. They should review special rules regarding Social Security benefits, such as entitlement to survivor benefits for couples that have been married for more than 10 years and are older than 62.
Health Insurance: In cases where one spouse is dependent on the other for health care insurance, some couples separate but do not go through with divorce because of the enormous costs of insurance, especially if one of the partners is suffering from a health issue such as Alzheimer's or Parkinson's diseases. Many insurance companies have strict rules related to divorce, so it's important to check those policies and consult an attorney.

FindLaw offers a wealth of information to people who want to learn about the legal aspects of major life decisions, and connects consumers with legal professionals who can help them through difficult times. For more information about divorce law, visit the Family Law Center at FindLaw.com, the nation's leading website for free legal information.

-- Michelle Croteau, Director of Marketing Communications
with Robyn Hagan Cain, FindLaw Audience Team

Tune Into FindLaw's Webcast, 'Google Ads That Work'

2013-04-16T22:01:05Z

The web is often the first place potential clients go to look for representation. Firms can capitalize on this growing trend by taking advantage of Google's AdWords paid search advertising. If implemented correctly, online advertising allows firms to target potential clients, deliver customized messages, and quickly build their client base.

In order to see results, however, attorneys and firms need to familiarize themselves with the program's unique rules for proper use. If you're not sure how the program works or you're looking to brush up on your AdWords skills, you should tune into FindLaw's upcoming webcast, "Google Ads That Work: What Every Lawyer Should Know," on Wednesday, April 24th.

There are a couple ways to improve your online visibility: organic SEO and paid advertising. While natural SEO practices can help boost your website's ranking, the practices demand regular attention to your site's content and can take a considerable amount of time to produce results. Through paid search advertising, on the other hand, you can see results in as little as a week. Since the effectiveness of the program depends on your use of the appropriate keywords, you'll need an understanding of the program's finer details to see results.

Our webcast will provide you with strategies for targeting clients with paid search advertising. The webcast will be delivered by Eli Romberg, a strategic partner manager for Google, and James D. Scott, a Certified Family Law Specialist whose firm has had success with the program.

Mark your calendar for Wednesday, April 24th to catch the webcast. There will be two sessions: one at 1 p.m. CDT and the other at 3 p.m. CDT. If you plan on viewing, you need to register online for one of the sessions.

If you still have questions about what paid search advertising can do for your firm, you should call your local FindLaw lawyer marketing consultant. As a Google AdWords Certified partner, FindLaw can help you implement a pay-per-click program to reach straight for the right potential clients.

Michelle Croteau, Director of Marketing Communications
with Corey Licht, FindLaw Audience Team