Showcasing the Humanity Among Legal Bloggers : A Lesson from the NFL’s Howie Long

Sunday afternoon, I came across an article by Jason Jones in The New York Times that got me thinking whether my company, LexBlog, is not doing something that may be the most important of all—covering the humanity among legal bloggers. 

The article was about Howie Long, the Hall of Fame football player. His success, whether on the field or now as a commentator on Fox NFL Sunday, isn’t just about talent or knowledge. What he’s best known for is being a trusted colleague, a loyal friend, and a dedicated family man.

His secret, per Jones? His humanity.

At LexBlog, we’ve long positioned ourselves as the founder of legal blogging and the leading blog publishing solution for lawyers and law firms—helping them grow their businesses by building a name and relationships, not through content marketing but by sharing real knowledge and insight.

Today, we support a network of over 54,000 legal professionals across our community of legal bloggers. 

Within this group, there must be thousands of “Howie Longs.” People who entered this profession because they care—because they wanted to make a difference. And they are – through their blogging, and much more.

Legal professionals recognized as trusted advisors, valued colleagues, and devoted family members who play an integral role in their communities.

I titled this blog, “Real Lawyers Have Blogs” to appeal to those “real lawyers”—those drawn to blogging as a way to give of themselves, to share their knowledge, and to build trust with the public.

I was drawn to leave the practice of law after 17 years because of the Internet’s power to connect people. I saw its potential to help lawyers share their expertise, build relationships, and ultimately, serve the public.

Reading Jones’ story about Howie Long made me realize there’s more we can do at LexBlog. 

We can shine a light on the bloggers in our network. Instead of merely showcasing our work to market ourselves, we should be showcasing their stories—their generosity, their care, and the difference they’re making.

We can transform our network into more than a network of bloggers. We can showcase a community—a place where we recognize the humanity behind their work—their service, their relationships, and their dedication to the law.

The result being the inspiration of those already blogging and to draw more caring professionals to legal blogging.