Even though November 8 is still 202 days away, the election cycle has already been in full swing for months. With such an important election hanging in the balance, the elongated election season might not come as a surprise, but for many who aren’t rabidly political, it’s an unpleasant one. And as one could expect from a country with some of the lowest voter turnout rates in the developed world, there are a lot of people who dread election years like the onset of a recurring plague.
Lawyers, on the other hand, are some of the most political people in the country. After all, we studied how government works in law school and come as close to practicing it as possible, without being a legislator.
We are, however, an anomaly in this sense. So connecting to the apathetic, uninspired, or downright apolitical segment of the population can be a difficult thing to do, and your legal blog is all about connecting with potential clients. Regardless of who you support in the upcoming election or which side of the aisle you fall on, the value of structuring your legal blog in a way that brings in the clients you want is something we can all agree on.
Here are several options your blog can take, when it comes to dealing with politics.
Straight Up Apolitical
A substantial minority of legal blogs take an apolitical approach. There is no mention of politics, outside of proposed legislation that might have an impact on the firm’s practice or field of law. Politicians are exclusively referred to in the unobtrusive and neutral APA Style, with their party and state in a parenthetical after their name (for example, Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.).
The problem with an apolitical approach is that so many firms have adopted it that it can make your firm’s brand blend in with the others against whom you are competing. However, it also avoids alienating potential clients with political rhetoric. By simply not talking about politics in your legal blog, you take the middle road of neutrality.
Strongly Political
Obviously, the opposite of an apolitical approach is a one that takes a strong political stance. This will make your firm’s blog stand out and can attract readers and clients it might otherwise not have reached, but will also turn off potential clients who do not agree with the message. Very few blogs take this approach, but when done well, it can be a centerpiece for your firm’s brand.
The Middle Ground
Between these extremes lies the middle ground, where most legal blogs plant their flag. By not actively avoiding political discussion, but also by not advocating for one party or another, legal blogs and law firms that take the middle road can make a statement or two on political happenings, while not being pushy.
One of the hallmarks of this approach is to stick to the issues, so as not to alienate readers of one political party without also netting the support from the other side. If you’re a personal injury firm, talking about Ted Cruz’s history in tort reform can be a great topic. But going outside the scope of the relevant facts can make it seem like you’re criticizing him as a politician, rather than his stance on the issue.
Your Firm’s Brand Is At Issue
In the end, how you handle politics on your legal blog is your decision. Professional legal blog writers like those at Myers Freelance, however, are the ones who have the requisite skills and the knowledge to execute your vision.