Exploring the Ohio Blawgosphere Neighborhood
Now that I'm well into YEAR TWO of this legal blogging thing, I thought it might be fun to take stock of the neighbors. So today I am presenting what I think is a relatively comprehensive list of Ohio-based legal blogs, together with the date they started publishing and a few comments of my own. My apologies in advance for leaving anyone out or getting start dates wrong.
My criteria was basically legal blogs focused on Ohio law or authored by Ohio based attorneys. I took a little stab at this several months ago in my My Favorite Ohio-Based Legal Blogs post, but this time I really looked around to be as inclusive as possible..
The oldest blog still going that I could find isn't even five years old, although there were a few blogs that I couldn't quite tell when they first began. With the others, I relied upon whatever the earliest post in the archives seemed to be. What's even more interesting, however, is the explosion in the number of Ohio-based legal blogs which started publishing last year.
When it comes to law firms embracing blogs, Frost Brown Todd is the clear leader with four separate blogs. Unfortunately, since all of the blogs are located on a subpage of Frost Brown Todd's website, casual access to the blogs and their content via search engines and otherwise is not as easy as it should be given the quality of the posts which all of the blogs boast.
BEST OHIO-BASED LEGAL BLOGS. Some blogs just catch your fancy more than others. For me, it's a combination of quality writing, interesting and helpful content, unique/intriguing perspectives, and generous links to other resources if I want to know more about the subject. Some of the blogs listed below were fairly hard to find so I'm not intimately familiar with all the blogs on the list; however, I did at least try to get some sort of feel for each of these blogs once I found them.
I don't pretend that I went through any scientific process to determine this, but from my perspective as a semi-established Ohio law blogger, here are my picks (excluding myself, of course) for the
BEST THREE OHIO-BASED LEGAL BLOGS
Honorable Mention goes to:
AND NOW THE ROSTER >>>>
Since this is, after all, the Ohio Practical BUSINESS Law blog, let's start with blogs focused on business/corporate law:
BUSINESS/CORPORATE
- The D & O Diary - Kevin LaCroix, Oakbridge Insurance Services -May 2006 >>> Bills itself as "a periodic journal containing items of interest from the world of directors and officers liability, with occasional commentary". Very detailed and well written posts from the perspective of someone interested in minimizing management liability.
- Corporate Governance Blog - Bricker & Eckler - NA >>> Offers "counsel for Boards and Executives" in generally short nonbylined to-the-point posts on timely issues.
- Business Law Prof Blog - Dan Oesterle, editor, The Ohio State University - May 2005 >>> "A member of the Law Professor Blogs network". Frequent posts on business news items
- Banking L@w Blog - Frost Brown Todd - NA >>> Provides the "latest information on banking litigation and dispute resolution",
- Cleveland Bankruptcy Lawyer Blog - Justin Smith - June 2008 >>> Covers bankruptcy news and law from perspective of debtor.
- Ohio.Merger.Blawg - Jim Rench, Stark & Knoll - November 2006 >>> Describes itself as "a blog on recent and topical developments in corporate transactions law." Features commentary on news and events in business.
- Global Law - Frost Brown Todd - NA >>> "Resource for business leaders within the international commerce industry".
- Small Business Trends - Anita Campbell - October 2003 >>> This one really isn't technically a legal blog at all, but it does frequently cover business law topics and is edited by Ohio-based lawyer so I'm including it anyway. Always informative posts on a variety of issues facing smaller privately held businesses.
- Ohio Practical Business Law - Teri Rasmussen, Plunkett Cooney - October 2007 >>> Offers "practical guidance for making legaly informed business decisions".
LAW LIBRARY BLOGS
- Cleveland Law Library Weblog - Sue Altmeyer (?) - March 2005 >>> "Our goal is to inform local attorneys of major legal developments important to their practice". Very short -- but extremely informative -- posts, often concerning topics of interest and importance to the practice of law in Ohio. Very newsy. I frequently visit just to catch up on developments which may have otherwise slipped under my radar or to get ideas for posts. GREAT links to other sources with more information about the topic being discussed.
- Cincinnati Law Library Blog - Chuck Kallendorf - July 2004 >>> Similar to the Cleveland Law Library Weblog, but less frequent posting.
- Moritz Legal Information Blog - Matt Steinke - January 2006 >>> Providing " "legal information and research resources brought to you by the Michael E. Moritz law Library at The Ohio State University". Very short posts with limited frrequency
- Stark County Law Library Weblog - Nancy Stinson - November 2008 >>> "Serving the legal community of Stark County, Ohio" by presenting playful, fun posts on legal topics of interest. This looks like a blog I ought to frequent more often. Recently received a Blawggie from DennisKennedy.com for Best Legal Blog Digest.
LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT
- Ohio Employer's Law Blog - Jon Hyman, Kohrman, Jackson & Kranitz - May 2007 >>> Promises "practical employment law information for business in ohio and beyond" and delivers. Generally short pithy posts on practical matters employers definitely need to know. Its WIRTW (aka What I'm Reading this Week" segment is a useful round-up of other blog posts in the area of labor and employment.
- Employer's Law Report - Porter, Wright, Morris & Arthur - December 2007 >>> Presents posts "reporting on recent legal developments and trends affecting employers." Personally i like the "Employment Outtakes"category which feature sometimes humorous situations which would probably have gone better had an employment lawyer been consulted.
- HR Source Legal Source - Tod Morrow, Hans Nilges, and Susan Chae, Buckingham, Doolittle & Burroughs, LLP - NA >>> Featuring posts regarding "labor and employment law for hyman resources professionals".
- The Ohio Labor Lawyers - Matthew Austin, Mason Law Firm - December 2008 >>> Promises that "we change the way you deal with unions" and posts from the perspective of management. Features "What If Wednesdays" weekly posts about what to do "if certain things in the world of labor happen to you."
- The Ohio Employment Lawyers - Aaron Tulecik, Mason Law Firm - December 2008 >>> Promises that "we solve your workplace issues" Posts on employment law news from perspective of management.
- Employer Notes - Frost Brown Todd -- NA >>> Provides the "latest information regarding employers".
REAL ESTATE
- Ohio Real Estate Blog - Kohrman, Jackson & Kranitz - April 2008 >>> Useful posts by various firm attorneys on a wide variety of real estate law topics
- Real Estate Advisor Law Blog - Brian Kaplan, Ulmer & Berne - December 2008 >>> Describes its purpose as "disseminat[ing] pertinent information in a timely manner relating to real estate, construction, financing, environmental and related matters... [and designed] to identify trends and opportunities that our clients and contacts deem important for their businesses."
CONSTRUCTION
- Construction Law News - Frost Brown Todd - NA >>> Bills itself as "a resource for construction industry professionals".
- Build on This - Rana Gorzeck, Buckingham, Doolittle & Burroughs - (March 2005 - August 2008, now apparently defunct) >>> Presenting "current news, information and events affecting the real estate construction and land use industry and its professsionalism"
ESTATE PLANNING
- The Ohio Trust & Estate Blog,- Michael D. Bonesera, Dinsmore & Shohl, LLP - NA >>> Helpful, relatively short posts concerniing trusts and estate planning issues
- Ohio Estate Planning, Trust & Probate Law - Bradley Wrightsel, Wrightsel & Wrightsel - 2008 >> Describes itself as "a law blog (BLAWG) for professionals and the general public in ohio regarding estate plannig, trust, and probate law."
CRIMINAL LAW
- The Briefcase - Russ Bensing - May 2006 >>> Describes itself as "commentary and analysis of Ohio law". This remains one of my favorite blogs to look in on periodically even though the subject matter isn't one with much relvance to my practice areas. I enjoy Russ's wit and storytelling ability as he posts about various adventures as a criminal lawyer. And his Ohio appellate case summaries are useful too.
- Sixth Circuit Blog - Federal Defenders of the Sixth Circuit - April 2005 >>> Providing "case summaries and commentary by federal defenders of the Sixth Circuit"
MISCELLANEOUS
- Consumer Rights Law Blog - Ron Burdge - 2005 >>> Addresses "motor vehicle lemon law, consumer protection law, auto industry news, notes, issues and updates". Very attractive layout featuring posts of interest to consumers.
- Ohio Family Law Blog - Robert Mues, Holzfaster, Cecil, McKnight & Mues, LPA - December 2007 >>> Offering "family law and divorce information for Ohio families seeking solutions". Frequent guest contributors. Helpful, very accessible, posts focusing on important issues in this area.
- Tsibouris & Associates Law Blog - Dino Tsibouris and Mehmet Munur, Tsibouris & Associates - January 2005 >>> interesting posts on a variety of subjects, but with special emphasis on technology law, privacy and security law and issues involving financial services.
- The Alternative Fee Lawyer - Michael Grodhaus, Waite, Schneider, Bayless & Chesley - January 2008 >>> Featuring "an Ohio business lawyer's reflections on alternatives to the billable hour in setting legal fees for business clients". Insightful, if somewhat sporadic, posts on an extremely timely and important topic . This is a blog that I would really like to hear more from.
- Ohio Environmental Law Blog - Joseph Koncelik, Frantz Ward, LLP - June 2008 >>> Presenting "insight and commentary for the business and legal community" regarding environmental law.
- Juvan's Health Law Update - Jayne Juvan, Benesch, Friedlander, Coplan & Aronoff, LLP - September 2006 >>> Presents posts "at the intersection of health care and private equity".
- Ohio Law Blog - Morrison & Nicholson, LLC - December 2007 (very sporadic posting, primarily in December and January)
- Sixth Circuit Blog - Eric Zagrams - last post in November 2008, rather sporadic before then >>> Says that it is "devoted to appellate law and practice within the Sixth Circuit and constituent States."