The Top 25 Minnesota Blawgs, 2011 Edition
Drum roll please…. The Top 25 Minnesota Blawgs, as selected by the editors of Legal News Digest and the Practice Blawg follow.
We’ve listed all 25 top blawgs below, in alphabetical order. Nope, we’re not ranking them 1 through 25, we just want to promote legal blogging in Minnesota. Peruse the list and click on any of the honorees to get our take on why they deserve to be listed here. If you like what you read, add them to your favorites.
Always Family Center
Family law attorney and mediator Carl Arnold created and manages Always Family Center Blog, which provides information on family law topics geared to the consumer. Although just started in July, the blog already discusses a nice variety of topics for consumers, written without the legalese that plagues some blogs. We also really liked the design on the blog and the author’s use of video. Keep up the good work! Go to Always Family Center blog | Tweet This | Share on FacebookArbitration Nation
Last year we recognized dodd-frank.com, a blog created and maintained by attorneys from Leonard, Street, and Deinard. Well, LSD hit another home run with Arbitration Nation, although only one LSD attorney, Liz Kramer, writes posts. She has been able to keep up regular posts since the blog was started in August. The content is geared to a legal audience and discusses issues that arise under the Federal Arbitration Act. Go to Arbitration Nation | Tweet This | Share on FacebookBig Legal Brain
No doubt law is a sobering profession which is why Big Legal Brain won our vote this year. It provides a refreshing, amusing take on things, lighter and cleaner than Bitter Lawyer although inside knowledge is that Greg Luce, former MSBA-er now Big Legal Brain’s brain, has taken over Bitter Lawyer so we may see that morph over time. Greg is associated with Lawyerist, one of last year’s winners and a widely-recognized go-to source of information for new solo or small firm attorneys. Go to Big Legal Brain | Tweet This | Share on FacebookBudge Law Offices
If you’re looking for ways to create a good lookin’ blog, visit Budge Law Offices. It got an enthusiastic thumbs-up from our team for its design. This site is so easy to navigate even our non-attorney, web-challenged family members would enjoy perusing it. The posts are clear and concise, and make nice use of photos. Although this blog is geared toward small business owners, the content offers useful information for attorneys too. Kudos!. Go to Budge Law Offices | Tweet This | Share on FacebookDigital Passing
Digital Passing is both well designed and covers an interesting niche. The blog covers “the intersection between estate planning (planning for a person’s incapacity and death) and the digital world (passwords, online accounts, intellectual property, and other digital property).” Timely and interesting. Jim Lamm, an estate planning attorney at Gray, Plant writes the posts. Go to Digital Passing | Tweet This | Share on FacebookDuetsBlog
It’s clear that the many bloggers of Duets Blog are having a good time writing, and we, the audience, are having an equally good time reading it. They keep us on our toes. One week they’re talking about Tootsie Rolls, the next Betty White. Bottom Line? We enjoy their wit, wisdom, and sarcasm. It’s simply a fun read. Go to DuetsBlog | Tweet This | Share on FacebookentreVIEW
entreVIEW is new to the blog world in 2011. The posts are written by a group of Gray, Plant, Mooty lawyers who work with (and sometimes have been) entrepreneurs. Posts cover legal issues and other issues of interest to entrepreneurs. The blog has a quirky, cool design and interesting posts. Go to entreVIEW | Tweet This | Share on FacebookEpilawg
Epilawg is a repeat winner; we honored it last year, noting the “great design, interesting features and a genuine collaborative approach to blogging.” Same holds true this year, a big accomplishment. As many of you know, it is not easy to keep posting interesting fresh content. The authors are four estate planning attorneys from a couple of different firms. Go to Epilawg | Tweet This | Share on FacebookFriedman Iverson Consumer Blog
The Friedman Iverson Consumer Law Blog is a repeat winner. The blog is both informative and entertaining, providing solid information to consumers on financial issues (tagged “News”) but then going on an occasional refreshing ramble about record albums (tagged “Swap Bin”). Check it out. Go to Friedman Iverson Consumer Blog | Tweet This | Share on FacebookJDs Rising
JDs Rising, brought to you by Minnesota Lawyer, has scads of bloggers (15 at last count) and this gives them the unique opportunity to cover an expansive list of varied and interesting topics. The many collaborators cover topics that are current and relevant such as professional responsibility, reading lists for lawyers, and law school debt, just to name a few. Keep up the good work. Go to JDs Rising | Tweet This | Share on FacebookMinnesota Divorce & Family Law Blog
Here’s another example of a well thought out and nicely designed site. Minnesota Divorce & Family Law Blog co-authors Jason Brown and Jill Anderson make the site easy to navigate at a quick glance. They do a tremendous job of tagging each post. They also include podcasts which give the site a personal touch. We encourage others to follow their lead. The posts are a bit sporadic but what they offer shows a wealth of experience and easily lands them on our Top 25 list. Go to Minnesota Divorce & Family Law Blog | Tweet This | Share on FacebookMinnesota DWI Defense
Criminal defense attorneys Chuck Ramsay and Dan Koewler author the Minnesota DWI Defense Blog. The posts are geared toward attorneys and discuss cutting edge issues in DWI/DUI defense, an interesting niche. Go to Minnesota DWI Defense Blog | Tweet This | Share on FacebookMinnesota Employer.com
A group blog from the firm of Briggs & Morgan, Minnesota Employer.com, provides a good mix of information for both lawyers and non-lawyers. The blog’s frequent updates, well-defined categories, and clean style make this site a great resource. We especially liked one feature of many posts—a “takeaway” summary of what the client needs to know. Go to Minnesota Employer.com blog | Tweet This | Share on FacebookMinnesota Employment Law Report
The authors of Minnesota Employment Law Report all hail from the firm of Felhaber, Larson, Fenlon & Vogt P.A. This blog is informative, easy to navigate, and frequently updated. Many of the posts include a “bottom line” summary that we think helps readers to understand the information presented. Go to Minnesota Employment Law Report blog | Tweet This | Share on FacebookMinnesota Estate Planning and Probate
This blog, from estate planning attorney Jennifer Gumbel, was named a 2011 LexisNexis Top 25 Estate Planning and Elder Law Blog. We agree that this blog is a winner. Gumbel’s blog connects current events to issues relating to estate planning so that the reader can understand how an estate plan can affect real-world events. Even though the blog is only updated once a month, she makes sure that she has a post for every month. We think that consistency in posting (regardless of the schedule) best serves a blog’s readers. Go to Minnesota Estate Planning and Probate blog | Tweet This | Share on FacebookMinnesota Labor & Employment Law Blog
The so-called “experts” argue back and forth about whether it is better to incorporate a blog into a firm website or have it stand alone. This site is a great example of how a blog can enhance a firm’s website. In fact, it appears that this blog serves AS the website for the firm of Abrams & Schmidt LLC. The authors of the blog are able to showcase their expertise to potential clients with informative, useful posts. Go to Minnesota Labor & Employment Law Blog | Tweet This | Share on FacebookMinnLawyer
If you want to get relevant and timely updates and tidbits about what’s happening in the legal community in Minnesota, then MinnLawyer Blog is just for you. The posts are short, sweet and informative. Go to MinnLawyer Blog | Tweet This | Share on FacebookONSecurities
One of the nominations that we received for this blog from the Maslon firm summarizes what we like about it: “Marty Rosenbaum is consistent in blogging every week and has great corporate & securities law analysis.” While most of the posts dive deep into some fairly esoteric issues, there are occasional detours into non-legal topics such as “Why Am I Inspired By the Songs of Stephen Sondheim?”. Go to ON Securities blog | Tweet This | Share on FacebookPatent Reforum
We have tried to limit our winners to one site per law firm. But we thought it was worthwhile to point out this joint blog from the firms of Leonard, Street and Deinard and Schwegman, Lundberg & Woessner and William Mitchell College of Law. This is the first effort of its type that we’re aware of in Minnesota and think that the multi-firm, multi-disciplinary approach may yield lots of great information for readers. Go to Patent Reforum blog | Tweet This | Share on Facebookpatents4life
Patents4Life comes from the firm of Schwegman, Lundberg & Woessner and is written by Warren Woessner. He focuses the blog on IP developments affecting the life sciences. While the topics may be directed to a narrow audience, the posts provide in-depth analysis of the topics covered. Its clean style invites readers in to read more. Go to patents4life blog | Tweet This | Share on FacebookRural Lawyer
Bruce Cameron’s blog about life as a small-town barrister brings perspective to the practice of law in Minnesota—at least for those of us in and around the bigger cities. In addition to covering life “on the frozen prairie,” Bruce writes practical tips for solo lawyers. Go to Rural Lawyer blog | Tweet This | Share on FacebookThe Gay Estate
Blogs we return to time after time are those written by bloggers who are unafraid to give something of themselves in their posts and offer a unique perspective. The Gay Estate achieves this nicely and though it might speak to a target audience, the posts are straightforward and direct, quick and easy to read, and offer a plethora of category listings. Our only complaint? We wish they would post more often. Go to The Gay Estate | Tweet This | Share on FacebookThe Probate Estate
This blog, from Eric Anderson of White Bear Lake, provides clear explanations of estate planning topics for the general reader. In addition the blog has a smooth, clean design. Go to The Probate Estate blog | Tweet This | Share on FacebookTurf Wars
Turf Wars caught our attention because blogger Rob Shainess’ posts offer compelling titles and lead paragraphs. It makes the reader want to read the posts which is a sign of a good blog. The posts are also entertaining. Go to Turf Wars | Tweet This | Share on FacebookVirtual Navigator
Virtual Navigator made our list last year. Here’s one comment we shared, “It’s a fairly new blog and seems to still have some design and writing kinks to work out but we hope to see it in our list again next year.” Congrats Virtual Navigator and welcome back to this year’s list! From a design standpoint, you’ve definitely worked out the kinks. The headlines pop, making it easy to scan if the reader is pressed for time, and the categories at the top are straightforward. Go to Virtual Navigator blog | Tweet This | Share on Facebook
New Blog On AIA Aims For Co-Op Approach | Biotechnology Patent Law Blog | Patents4Life by Warren Woessner
[...] pleased to note that both Patents4Life and Patent RE-forum were recently picked as members of the top 25 Minnesota Blawgs in a survey sponsored by the Minnesota State Bar Association. Not a bad 3rd birthday present for [...]
SLW Blogs Recognized As Top Blawgs | What's New – Firm Profile | Patent Attorney, Intellectual Property Lawyer | SLWIP – Minneapolis Minnesota, San Jose California
[...] Minnesota State Bar Association has named the Top 25 Minnesota Blawgs (law+blog = blawg). Warren Woessner’s blog (www.patents4life.com) was named as a top blawg and [...]
In Good Company, The 2011 Version « Rural Lawyer
[...] editors of the MSBA’s Practice Blawg have released their list of the top 25 Minnesota Blawgs for 2011. Rural Lawyer is, again, honored to be included on the list. Take some time to peruse the [...]
Jason Brown
We at Brown Family Law appreciate being named to this list of respected online resources. We are so enthused for what’s to come, as blogging and social media continue to evolve.
The Gay Estate Named a Top 25 Minnesota Blawg for 2011 | The Gay Estate
[...] also check out the other great blogs at Practice Law. Share and Enjoy: 0 Comments – Leave a comment! « Previous [...]
Rob Shainess
Thanks for honoring Turfwars. It’s great to be recognized. And, its great to be in such impressive company. Congrats to all 25 of the Top 25 Minnesota Blawgs!
Big Legal Brain Wins International Blawg Award
[...] Big Legal Brain is pleased to announce that it has been chosen as one of the world’s Top 25 Blawgs, as adjusted by Central Daylight Time and other regional limitations. In a gala announcement through its own RSS feed, the Minnesota State Bar Association chose Big Legal Brain—and twenty-four other similarly inspired blogs—as one of the Top 25 Minnesota Blawgs in 2011. [...]
Arbitration Nation Among Best "Blawgs" of 2011
[...] U.S. Supreme Court issued a new arbitration decision and Arbitration Nation was named one of the best legal blogs in [...]
Repeat! We’re a Minnesota Top 25 legal blog for 2011 « Friedman Iverson
[...] named one of the Top 25 legal blogs in Minnesota by the Minnesota State Bar Association’s Practice Blawg. Here’s how they boost our egos: The Friedman Iverson Consumer Law Blog is a repeat winner. [...]