Why lawyers struggle with LinkedIn (and how to fix it)
LinkedIn isnât exactly a lawyerâs natural habitat. You can write a 20-page contract in your sleep, but when it comes to writing a simple LinkedIn post? Cue the existential crisis.
You worry about sounding too promotional. Or you think you donât have anything interesting to say (you do). Or maybe you worry about saying the wrong thing and incurring legal liability.
Youâre not alone, and thereâs an easy fix.
LinkedIn is less about legal jargon or showing off how much case law you know. Itâs more about connection. And the best way to connect is by sharing content that informs, engages, and (possibly) entertains.
This guide will help you do just that. With these post ideas, youâll have no more excuses. Just clear, engaging ways to showcase your expertise, build trust, and actually get people to care about what you have to say.
1. Legal education: Break it down, but professionally
Most people donât understand the law. They think they do (thanks to TV legal dramas), but in reality, theyâre walking around with half-baked legal myths and assumptions that could get them into serious trouble.
Thatâs where you come in.
One of the best ways to build credibility on LinkedIn is to educate people in a way they actually understand. No dense legalese or 10-paragraph case summaries.
Post ideas that work:
- Explain new laws and changes â (e.g., “What [new law] means for your business in 2025”)
- Break down complex legal jargon â (e.g., “What the heck is force majeure, and why should you care?”)
- Bust common legal myths â (e.g., “No, a handshake agreement wonât hold up in courtâhereâs why”)
- Share a step-by-step guide â (e.g., “Filing a Trademark? Hereâs your 5-step roadmap”)
People love learning things they should know but never took the time to Google. You position yourself as both an expert and a trusted guide when you make legal concepts digestible. And letâs be real, nobody hires a lawyer they canât understand.
Make your posts engaging, relatable, and, whenever possible, a little bit fun. If you can get someone to enjoy learning about contract law, theyâre going to remember you when they need a lawyer.
2. Client engagement & success stories: Trust = booked consultations
Many people donât wake up thinking, You know what I need today? A lawyer! They only start looking when they have a problem, and when that moment comes, they want to work with someone they trust.
Thatâs why client-focused content is so powerful. It reassures prospects that you get their concerns, youâve helped others in similar situations, andâmost importantlyâyouâre a real human, not just a name on a website.
What to post:
- Answer common legal questions â (e.g., “Do I need a lawyer for a business contract? short answer: yes. long answer: also yes, and hereâs why.”)
- Share anonymized success stories â (e.g., “How we helped a small business avoid a costly lawsuit”)
- Give a behind-the-scenes look at your work â (e.g., “A day in the life of a criminal defense attorneyâitâs not like the movies.”)
- Share personal motivation stories â (e.g., “Why I chose to be a family lawyerâand what that means for you.”)
People donât hire credentials, they hire people. And the more relatable and approachable you are, the more likely they are to reach out when they need help.
A success story post isnât you bragging but showing your audience how you solve real problems. Keep it focused on the clientâs journey, not just your expertise. Instead of, âI won this case,â frame it as, âHereâs how smart legal planning saved this business thousands of dollars.â
3. Industry insights & thought leadership: Prove you know your stuff
If you want to stand out as more than just another lawyer on LinkedIn, you need to have an opinion.
People donât just want news, they want context. They want to know whatâs happening, why it matters, and what they should do about it.
This is where you can establish yourself as a go-to legal voice, not just someone who re-shares headlines without adding any real insight.
Easy ways to get started:
- Highlight industry trends â (e.g., “The future of remote work and contract Law”)
- Tackle ethical dilemmas in law â (e.g., “How do you defend someone you know is guilty?”)
- Discuss how tech is changing the legal profession â (e.g., “How AI is transforming legal research”)
The key here is to not be boring. Nobody wants to read a post that sounds like a law school lecture. Keep it conversational. Share your personal take. Ask for opinions. Even a little controversy (handled professionally, of course) can drive massive engagement.
Instead of saying, “The new law on X will impact businesses,” try, “If youâre a business owner, hereâs why this new law might cost you moneyâand what you should do right now to stay ahead.”
When people start seeing you as a lawyer who doesnât just know the law but explains why it matters in the real world, youâll stand out from the crowd.
4. Professional growth & networking: Helping others (while branding yourself)
Lawyers love talking shop. If youâve ever been to a legal conference, you know that once you get a group of attorneys together, the conversations flowâwhether itâs about career advice, networking horror stories, or the eternal struggle of work-life balance.
But guess what? LinkedIn is basically one giant ongoing professional mixer. And if you want to grow your network, sharing your own career insights is a great way to do it.
Here are some post ideas to try:
- Career advice for young lawyers â (e.g., “What I wish I knew as a first-year associate”)
- Networking & leadership tips â (e.g., “How lawyers can actually enjoy networking â no, really”)
- Work-life balance reflections â (e.g., “Why âno days offâ culture is a lie in law”)
- Personal growth moments â (e.g., “The case that changed my career forever”)
Legal professionals love to engage with career-related content because everyone has an opinion on what it takes to succeed. Your experienceâwhether itâs about overcoming imposter syndrome, learning how to handle difficult clients, or finding the courage to set boundariesâis valuable to someone else.
5. Humanizing the profession: people connect with people
Letâs face it, many people see lawyers as intimidating, ultra-serious professionals who spend their days and nights buried in case law.
But you and I both know that lawyers are real people with real lives, personalities, and even a sense of humor.
And guess what? Your audience wants to see that.
LinkedIn isnât about proving youâre smart but about being relatable. When you show the human side of being a lawyer, people feel more comfortable engaging with you. And thatâs a game-changer when it comes to building trust.
Try these post ideas:
- Firm culture and team highlights â (e.g., “Meet the people who make our firm tick”)
- Personal interests outside of law â (e.g., “Why running marathons helps me be a better lawyer”)
- Community involvement & office events â (e.g., “Why giving back matters more than billable hours”)
People donât just hire a lawyer, they hire a person they feel comfortable with. Showing glimpses of your life outside of the courtroom (or the office) makes you more approachable.
Pro tip: Authenticity wins. Donât force a âcasualâ post just for the sake of engagement. Share what genuinely interests you. If you love hiking, talk about how it helps you clear your mind after a long case. If your firm has an amazing team culture, spotlight the people who make it great.
6. Engaging formats: Switch it up for maximum impact
LinkedIn isnât a law review journal. People scroll fast, skim even faster, and engage with posts that feel easy to digest. So if youâre only writing long text posts, youâre making it harder than necessary to grab attention.
The fix? Switch up your formats. Different types of content appeal to different people, and LinkedInâs algorithm rewards variety.
Formats that work:
- Text posts with a compelling hook â Keep it punchy and intriguing from the start. (e.g., âMost business owners make this legal mistake. Hereâs how to avoid it.â)
- Visuals & infographics â Great for breaking down complex concepts (e.g., a simple flowchart explaining âWho Needs a Trademark?â).
- Videos â Short clips explaining common legal questions work way better than you think.
- Polls & questions â Invite your audience to engage. (e.g., âWhatâs the biggest misconception about hiring a lawyer?â)
- Carousels & slideshows â Perfect for step-by-step guides or case study breakdowns.
Mixing up your formats keeps your audience engaged and makes your posts feel less repetitive.
And the fact is, LinkedIn rewards engagement. More comments and shares = more visibility for your posts.
So next time you sit down to post, ask yourself:
- Can this be simplified into a visual?
- Would this work better as a short video?
- Could I turn this into an engaging question instead of a statement?
Try experimenting and see what resonates.
Final thoughts on LinkedIn for legal professionals
Lawyers who use LinkedIn strategically donât just increase visibility but also build authority, trust, and real connections.
The key is staying consistent, engaging, and, most importantly, human.
If you need help crafting a LinkedIn strategy that makes an impact, Column makes that easy. Reach out today.