LawFuel Editorial Guidelines

Version 1.0 | Last Updated: February 2026

LawFuel has been providing news, tools, and views to help lawyers since 2001. Our voice is newsy, authoritative, yet approachable — we deliver serious legal industry content without the stuffiness.

Our Core Tone Attributes

📰 Newsy & Current

Write with the energy of breaking news
Lead with what’s happening NOW in the legal world
Keep lawyers informed and ahead of the curve

🎯 Authoritative Yet Accessible

Demonstrate expertise without talking down to readers
Lawyers are smart — respect their intelligence
Back up claims with evidence, data, and citations

✨ Readable & Engaging

Legal news doesn’t have to be boring
Use conversational language while maintaining professionalism
Think “smart colleague at a conference” not “academic journal”

💡 Practical & Useful

Always ask: “What can lawyers DO with this information?”
Focus on insights that help lawyers run better practices
Balance theory with actionable takeaways

Content Types We Publish

Strategy Posts

Posts that lay out strategies, principles, philosophies, and frameworks for law practice management. These posts:

Have a clear point of view
Use evidence to persuade
Pose questions lawyers should consider
Help lawyers plan for the future and deliver value

Example topics:

“Beyond Billables: The #1 Investment That Outperforms Your Marketing Budget”
“How Google’s AI Changes Will Affect Law Firm Marketing Strategy”

Tactical/How-To Posts

Focused on tips that help lawyers achieve quick wins and master specific tactics. These posts:

Feature specific examples and data
Link to helpful resources
Provide actionable tips
Often formatted as lists: “10 Ideas for…”, “5 Steps to…”

Example topics:

“Write a Killer Blog Post to Boost Law Firm Marketing Results”
“The ABCs of Legal Document Formatting”

News & Analysis

Current events, industry developments, and trending topics. These posts:

Break down what’s happening and why it matters
Connect dots between events
Provide context lawyers need
Balance speed with accuracy

Writing Style Guide

Language & Tone

DO:

✅ Use active voice: “The firm announced…” not “It was announced by the firm…”
✅ Write in second person when appropriate: “You can improve your practice by…”
✅ Use contractions naturally: “it’s,” “don’t,” “we’re”
✅ Vary sentence length for rhythm and flow
✅ Include industry jargon when appropriate — lawyers know their terminology
✅ Be conversational: “Let’s face it…” “Here’s the thing…” “The bottom line?”

DON’T:

❌ Over-complicate sentences to sound smart
❌ Use excessive legal jargon just to use it
❌ Write in stuffy, overly formal language
❌ Talk down to readers or over-explain basic concepts
❌ Sacrifice clarity for cleverness

Structure & Format

Headlines

Be specific and benefit-driven
Use active verbs
Aim for 8-12 words
Include keywords naturally
Make it scannable and clear

Good: “How Google’s AI Snapshots Will Change Law Firm SEO”
Bad: “Thoughts on Technology”

Opening Paragraphs

Hook readers immediately with the “so what?”
Lead with the most newsworthy angle
Set up the problem/opportunity clearly
Get to the point — lawyers are busy

Body Content

Use subheadings every 200-300 words
Break up text with bullet points when listing items
Keep paragraphs to 3-4 sentences maximum
Use numbered lists for step-by-step processes
Include relevant quotes and citations
Add emphasis with bold text (sparingly)

Closing

Summarize key takeaways
Include a call-to-action when appropriate
End with practical next steps

Length & Pacing

Ideal Word Counts:

News briefs: 300-600 words
Standard articles: 600-1,200 words
Deep dives: 1,200-2,000 words
Premium content: 2,000+ words (when warranted)

Pacing Tips:

Front-load the most important information
Use transitions to maintain flow
Vary sentence length to create rhythm
Break up dense sections with examples or anecdotes

Content Standards

Research & Accuracy

Always:

✅ Cite sources properly
✅ Link to original research and studies
✅ Verify facts before publishing
✅ Update statistics to most recent available
✅ Fact-check names, titles, and firm information

Source Hierarchy:

Primary sources (court filings, official statements, original research)
Reputable news outlets (Bloomberg Law, WSJ, Legal Dive)
Industry publications (ABA Journal, American Lawyer)
Expert interviews and quotes
Secondary sources (use with caution)

SEO Best Practices

Keywords:

Research relevant keywords for each post
Include primary keyword in: headline, first paragraph, subheadings
Use semantic variations naturally
Don’t keyword stuff — maintain readability

Metadata:

Write compelling meta descriptions (150-160 characters)
Use descriptive alt text for images
Create SEO-friendly URLs (short, keyword-rich)

Links:

Include 2-4 outbound links to authoritative sources
Add 1-2 internal links to relevant LawFuel content
Use descriptive anchor text (not “click here”)

Images & Visuals

Requirements:

Minimum size: 240×180 pixels
Format: JPG or PNG
Include photo credit/source
Ensure images add value (not just decoration)

Types:

Relevant stock photos
Data visualizations and charts
Screenshots (when demonstrating tools/processes)
Infographics

Editorial Standards

Before Submission

Content Checklist:

Original content (no plagiarism)
Proper citations for all sources
No sales motives or overt promotion
No affiliate links
Fact-checked and verified
Spell-checked and proofread
SEO optimized
Images included with credits

What We Don’t Accept

❌ Purely promotional content
❌ Affiliate marketing disguised as articles
❌ Rehashed or republished content
❌ Poorly researched or unsubstantiated claims
❌ Content written by or heavily generated by AI (without disclosure and editing)
❌ Clickbait headlines
❌ Content that doesn’t serve our lawyer audience

Editorial Review Process

Submission: Draft sent to lawfuel@gmail.com
Initial Review: Editorial team evaluates fit and quality
Editing: Copy editing for style, clarity, and accuracy
Author Review: Changes sent back for approval (if major)
Final Approval: Publisher sign-off
Publication: Scheduled and promoted

Note: We reserve the right to make edits and determine publication quality.

Voice Examples

✅ GOOD: LawFuel Voice

“Google’s rolling out AI ‘snapshots’ that’ll fundamentally change how lawyers need to think about content marketing. Here’s what’s happening: when someone searches for legal information, they’ll see AI-generated summaries pulled from multiple sources — not just the traditional blue links. For law firms banking on that coveted top spot in search results? Time to rethink your strategy.”

Why it works:

Conversational yet authoritative
Uses contraction naturally
Addresses reader directly
Explains the “so what?”
Active voice throughout

❌ AVOID: Too Stiff

“It has been determined that Google will be implementing artificial intelligence-generated content summaries. Legal practitioners should be aware of these developments as they may impact search engine optimization strategies currently being employed by law firms.”

Why it fails:

Passive voice
Unnecessarily formal
Lacks energy and urgency
Doesn’t engage the reader

Target Audience

Primary: Legal Professionals

Law firm partners and associates
Solo practitioners
In-house counsel
Legal marketers
Practice managers

What They Care About:

Growing their practice
Staying competitive
Managing their firms efficiently
Legal technology and innovation
Industry trends and news
Marketing and business development
Career advancement

How They Read:

Scan headlines and subheadings
Look for quick takeaways
Value practical advice
Appreciate data and evidence
Respect their time — get to the point

Submission Guidelines

For Guest Contributors

Before you write:

Review these guidelines thoroughly
Research our existing content
Identify your unique angle
Ensure you can provide original insights

Your pitch should include:

Working headline
Brief outline (3-5 bullet points)
Your credentials/bio
Why this matters to lawyers NOW

Submit to: lawfuel@gmail.com
Subject line: “Guest Blog Pitch: [Your Working Title]”

Author Bio Requirements:

Full name or author name
Professional title/description
Clear headshot (JPG or PNG)
Brief bio (200 characters max)
Social media handles (LinkedIn, Twitter, etc.)

Content Calendar Tips

Evergreen Content:

How-to guides
Best practices
Tool comparisons
Career advice
Skill development

Seasonal Opportunities:

January: New year predictions and planning
March-April: Law school decisions, hiring season
May-June: Summer associate programs
September: Fall recruiting, conference season
November-December: Year-end reviews, predictions

Continuous Improvement

These guidelines are living documents. As LawFuel evolves, so should our voice and standards.

Regular Reviews:

Update quarterly or as needed
Incorporate feedback from readers
Adapt to industry changes
Refine based on performance data

Feedback Loop:

Monitor comments and engagement
Track which topics resonate
Analyze top-performing posts
Survey readers periodically

Quick Reference Card

The LawFuel Formula

Hook them fast → Lead with the news angle
Respect their intelligence → Don’t over-explain, but do cite sources
Make it useful → Always answer “so what can I do with this?”
Keep it moving → Short paragraphs, active voice, varied rhythm
End with action → Give them next steps

Voice Checklist

Would I say this to a smart colleague?
Is it newsy and current?
Does it respect readers’ time?
Is it authoritative without being stuffy?
Can lawyers actually USE this information?

Contact & Questions

Editorial Inquiries: lawfuel@gmail.com
Publisher: John Bowie

Website: www.lawfuel.com
Since: 2001
Mission: Providing news, tools, and views to help lawyers succeed

These guidelines ensure LawFuel maintains its distinctive voice: authoritative yet approachable, newsy yet useful, professional yet readable. When in doubt, write like you’re having coffee with a smart lawyer who values their time.

Write for LawFuel