I don't have an explanation as to why most legal bloggers don't link to one another, but I do know why most don't use photos and other graphics. They don't know how.

A corollary could very well explain your observations. While most bloggers understand the mechanics of adding links, they may not have a full appreciation of blogging etiquette. For example, bloggers often summarize something we've published without a link to our blog.

It may just be a case of needing more training, and no one is better situated to train all these bloggers than you guy's. Perhaps you should host a Webinar. (Please pardon any typos as I'm posting from a phone.)

One of the reasons lawyers may not link to each other consistently is a lack of time. It takes time find good links and add to the conversation. Time is the reason I hear most for why lawyers won't blog in the first place. It's only natural that lawyers who blog also have their own time constraints. Plus, when the blog works your practice gets busier and busier which cuts down on the amount of time you have to blog.

Rush

As a neophyte blogger (or blawger), I must admit that I've been craving exactly the kind of conversation that you describe happens among Canadian bloggers. I'm not sure I'd put the absence of such conversation in the US down to competition. If my limited experience is any guide, it's more about lack of exposure, time constraints and technology puzzles.

With respect to lack of exposure, I witnessed this week the extraordinary boost a blog can get when it receives a recommendation in Joy London's excited utterances (http://excitedutterances.blogspot.com). The latest issue came out on April 10 and my readership shot through the roof. And along with that readership came comments and citations. Suddenly, we're in conversation. Thank you, Joy!

As for time constraints, the recent comments and citations had me at my computer responding until 2am this morning. And it takes a lot of time to stay on top of the new blog entries from other bloggers. I love it, but I'm clearly going to have to make more time for this.

On the technology front, I'm using blogger.com and am having trouble with trackbacks. There may be others who are similarly situated.

In any event, let's hope that enough US blawggers read your post and make more time for the conversation that you and your colleagues are so clearly enjoying.

Mary

I'll see what I can do to keep the discussion going that blogging lawyers have much to gain from being more social. Please do the same.