David Lat on Legal Gossip, Media Entrepreneurship and Independent Publishing

Kevin O’Keefe sits down with Kevin LaCroix of the D&O Diary to talk about nearly two decades of disciplined publishing in a narrow legal niche. LaCroix explains why he committed to writing four to five times a week, how consistency helped him build international credibility and why blogging sharpened his expertise more than any formal marketing effort. They also discuss authority versus visibility, the limits of social media driven publishing and what long-form legal writing means in an AI influenced future.

When Todd Smith launched one of Texas’ earliest appellate blogs in 2006 he wasn’t chasing traffic. He was building credibility as a young lawyer striking out on his own. In this conversation Todd joins Kevin to talk through the early days of legal blogging, how publishing shaped his reputation in a niche field and why he still sees blogs as a lawyer’s most durable online home. They get into the changing landscape of legal content, the rise of AI and the value of owning your platform. Todd also shares what he’d tell any law student or young lawyer thinking about writing in public.

Kevin talks with Ohio employment lawyer Jon Hyman, author of the long-running Ohio Employer Law Blog. Jon shares how he started in 2007, how consistency shaped his reputation and why he keeps his writing conversational and authentic. They cover his “worst employer” series, his approach to daily posts and how AI now supports his workflow. A grounded look at how sharing what you know continues to open doors for lawyers today.

Kevin O’Keefe sits down with Nicole Black of 8am to trace how publishing and online connection reshaped her career. She explains how writing led to early opportunities, meaningful relationships in the legal tech community, her move into MyCase, and eventually her role at 8am. The conversation covers how lawyers can use consistent publishing to open doors, build trust and navigate toward the work they want, along with Nicole’s perspective on legal tech’s evolution and where it’s headed next.

Kevin O’Keefe sits down with Alan Kaplinsky of Ballard Spahr, the lawyer behind the long-running Consumer Finance Monitor blog. Alan shares how the blog came together around the launch of the CFPB, how it evolved into a go-to resource in consumer financial services and how he has blended publishing with client work over the years. Kevin and Alan talk about what it takes to sustain a high-volume law blog, why a practicing lawyer needs to be the champion for any publication and how focused commentary can shape a practice group’s reputation with clients and regulators alike.