The Legal Blogfather: Kevin O'Keefe

Jun 2, 2024

In this insightful discussion, Kevin O'Keefe, CEO of LexBlog and a pioneer in legal blogging, shares his transformative journey from lawyer to innovator. He highlights how blogging empowers attorneys to connect authentically with clients and build authority. Kevin introduces his latest AI tool, 'Lou,' designed to simplify content creation for lawyers. With practical tips on niche blogging and leveraging technology, he emphasizes the importance of adaptability in the legal field while reflecting on his early adventures that shaped his perspective.

Ask episode

AI Snips

Chapters

Transcript

Episode notes

ANECDOTE

Origin of LexBlog

Kevin O'Keefe transitioned from a trial lawyer in Ireland and Wisconsin to discovering blogging by accident.
He started LexBlog after stumbling on TypePad and saw the potential to share expertise online authentically.

ADVICE

Care Over Money

Care deeply for people over money in your legal practice and blogging.
This care will naturally attract clients and grow your influence over time.

ANECDOTE

Early Internet Legal Network

Kevin started engaging with the internet by answering questions on AOL early on.
They built a large network connecting clients with specialized lawyers through list serves and fax notifications.

Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode

Get the app

Hey there Legal Rebels! 👋

This is the seventh episode of the 2024 season of the LawDroid Manifesto podcast, where I will be interviewing key legal innovators to learn how they do what they do.

If you want to learn how blogging can transform your legal career and unlock the door to a thriving, independent practice, you need to listen to this episode. Kevin is a true visionary who has been at the forefront of the legal blogging revolution since its early days, and has a wealth of experience and wisdom to share.

Transforming Lives and Lawyers’ Careers with Blogging

In this captivating episode of the LawDroid Manifesto podcast, I sit down with Kevin O'Keefe, the visionary CEO of LexBlog, who pioneered the legal blogging revolution.

Kevin shares his remarkable journey from practicing law to launching the first legal blogging platform, driven by a passion for empowering lawyers to share their expertise and connect with clients in authentic ways. He reveals how blogging has enabled countless attorneys to establish their authority, attract ideal clients, and achieve greater professional autonomy.

As we explore the future of legal blogging, Kevin provides exclusive insights into his latest venture - "Lou" - an AI-powered assistant designed to help lawyers create compelling blog content with ease. His stories and advice will inspire you to embrace the power of blogging and AI technology to thrive.

Whether you're a solo practitioner, a small firm owner, or a legal professional looking to build your personal brand, this episode is packed with actionable strategies and wisdom you won't want to miss. Tune in now and discover how to harness the power of blogging to create the legal career of your dreams.

The Skinny

In this episode of the LawDroid Manifesto podcast, host Tom Martin interviews Kevin O'Keefe, CEO of LexBlog, a pioneer in legal blogging. O'Keefe shares his fascinating journey from practicing law to launching the first legal blogging platform, and more recently, his foray into AI with the launch of "Lou," an AI assistant for legal bloggers.

Key Takeaways:

* O'Keefe stumbled into blogging in the early 2000s and saw the potential for lawyers to establish authority and attract clients through writing blogs.

* LexBlog started slowly, with only 3 law firm customers in the first year, as blogging was viewed skeptically by many lawyers. But O'Keefe persevered, driven by a mission to help lawyers and the public.

* LexBlog now hosts around 500,000 blog posts, making it the largest collection of legal blog content. This content is being integrated with legal research AI tools.

* When ChatGPT was released, O'Keefe felt a sense of urgency to adapt. This led to the quick development of "Lou", an AI assistant to help lawyers with blogging.

* O'Keefe advises lawyers that the best way to market themselves is through blogging in a specific niche area where they can establish authority and trust.

Through sharing his own story, O'Keefe provides inspiration for legal professionals to embrace new technologies like blogging and AI to better serve clients and society. His grit, curiosity and care for others have enabled him to keep innovating in the fast-changing legal industry. The future of legal blogging is bright as tools like Lou make it easier than ever for lawyers to share their expertise.

Need Your Feedback

Please share your thoughts. Did you enjoy it? Not so much? What other guests or topics would you like to hear about? Tell me in the comments!

By the way, if you’d like to learn more about how how AI works and how it will impact the legal profession, you should apply to LawDroid University!

My NEW 5-part webinar series, Generative AI for Lawyers: Empowering Solos and Small Law Firms, is now available at LawDroid University.

LawDroid University is available for free for everyone to use.

* Free to use - It's 100% free educational content for everyone, just sign up below.

* Insightful - Get educated about the intersection of artificial intelligence and the law as taught by experts.

* Value Packed - Filled with videos, summaries, key takeaways, quotable quotes, transcripts and more! Find sessions on AI and the State of the Art, Ethics, Access to Justice, Practice of Law, Education, and the Business of Law.

* AI Q&A - Ask a chatbot questions about the content and get fully informed answers immediately.

👉 To immerse yourself in this enriching educational voyage, learn more, or sign up, please visit https://lawdroid.com/subscriptions/lawdroid-university/.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.lawdroidmanifesto.com/subscribe