Why Legal Blogs Should Be Your First Stop

Legal blogs, or “blawgs” as they are sometimes called, can be a powerful legal research tool for those of you who haven’t gone to law school. Many blawgs make a special effort to reach out to non-lawyers by talking in a language “normal” people can understand. Heaven knows, many lawyers are far from normal. These blawgs also try to discuss topics of everyday concern, as opposed to the courts’ latest subtle twist on the interpretation of an obscure clause, which is exactly the kind of stuff that excites most lawyers . . . including, yes, yours truly.

If you are fortunate enough to have access to a computer and the internet (don’t forget to try the local library), do yourself a favor and start your legal research with a blawg search engine / directory.

Here’s a few of the blawg directories for you to consider:

Technorati.com is the granddaddy of not just blawg directories, but all blog directories in general. I have no idea how many blogs are indexed there. It’s more than I care to count.

Justia.com is a legal marketing company that happens to also host a powerful directory that focuses only on blawgs. It currently has over 2,000 blogs listed in 56 categories. That’s a lotta blawgs. While you’re there, you can also check out all their other free legal resources. They seem be getting rave reviews from people in the know.

Blawg.com is another heavyweight in the blawg directory world. They currently have 1,850 blawgs listed in 30 categories. It has this handy page for searching the entire blawgosphere.

Other developing blawg directories you might want to check out:

BlawgRepublic.com
BlawgReview.com
MyHQ.com
BlogFlux.com
Blog Listings

And finally, while not entirely on topic, here’s a post from legal blog expert Kevin O’Keefe discouraging the use of the term “blawg” (as opposed to “blog”). Personally, I like the term “blog” better. Lawyers – always trying to stand out from the crowd. . . .