Guide: How to Get Paid to Write for Law.com (Step by Step)

Is there a real “news hook” or real “decision point”?

Editors need a reason to publish now. Your hook can be: a new ruling, a new lawsuit, a new policy rule, a firm merger, a major hire, a trend shown by data, or a new legal tech product shift.

Beginner tip: if you do not have access to insider sources yet, use public hooks: Supreme Court orders/opinions, CourtListener, PACER, Federal Register, Congress.gov, and official agency press rooms like U.S. DOJ News.

Can you write a “one sentence promise”?

Write this sentence: “This article helps [audience] understand/do [specific thing] because [reason].”

• “This article helps in-house counsel reduce AI vendor risk because it explains the top contract clauses to negotiate.”
• “This article helps employment lawyers understand a new ruling because it breaks down the test the court used and what changes for future cases.”
• “This article helps law firm leaders plan billing strategy because it shows how demand shifted across practice areas and what clients are buying.”

If you cannot write this sentence clearly, the idea is not ready yet.

Is the angle new (or at least specific)?

Law.com has thousands of stories. Editors avoid repeats. So you must add something new: a new angle, new evidence, a better explanation, a new interview, or a clear template.

Before you pitch, search Law.com and the web: Law.com search (if available), and Google queries like: site:law.com “your keyword”. Also check broader legal coverage on Reuters, Bloomberg Law, Law360, SCOTUSblog, Oyez.

Can you prove it?

Legal readers do not trust unsupported claims. Your plan should include: at least one document link, at least one credible quote (or interview plan), and at least one “reality check” (data, precedent, or expert validation).

• For case stories: link to opinions/filings (CourtListener / PACER / state court portals).
• For business stories: link to SEC filings and investor releases: SEC EDGAR.
• For policy: link to official text: Regulations.gov, FOIA.gov.
• For legal tech: link to product docs, independent research, and real user reporting (not only marketing pages).

Step 1: Choose your “document first” hook

Legal writing becomes easier when you start with a document. Documents keep you honest and reduce legal risk. Examples of “starter documents”:

• Court opinion, order, or docket entry
• Complaint or motion (lawsuit filing)
• Statute, regulation, or agency guidance
• SEC filing or investor report (for business stories)
• Public contract or procurement document (for legal tech / government)

Useful portals to collect documents: CourtListener, PACER, Supreme Court opinions, SEC EDGAR, Federal Register, and state court portals (search “[state] court docket search”).

Step 2: Write a 10-line “story brief” before you pitch

Before you contact an editor, create a brief in your notes. Use this exact template:

• Working headline: (clear and specific)
• Audience: (who this helps)
• Hook: (what happened / what changed / what problem)
• Why it matters: (practical impact)
• What’s new: (new angle, new data, new interview)
• Key facts: (3–6 bullet facts you can prove)
• Proof links: (documents + official sources)
• Sources to interview: (2–4 names or roles)
• Outline: (5–7 headings)
• Deliverable: (word count + timeline)

This brief becomes your pitch. Editors love it because it shows you can think and deliver.

Step 3: Identify the right editor (do not blast emails)

The biggest beginner mistake is sending the same pitch to 20 people. That looks spammy. Instead, choose one brand and one editor that matches your topic.

How to find the right editor:

• Check the author line on similar Law.com articles and click profiles.
• Look for “contact,” “masthead,” or “about” pages on Law.com brand sections.
• Use LinkedIn to find editors and reporters by publication name.
• Use journalist directories like Muck Rack (search the outlet and see who covers your beat).

If you cannot find a perfect match, start with general “editorial contact” pages on the publication’s site. You can also look at ALM corporate pages: ALM.

Step 4: Write a pitch that feels “done already”

Your pitch should be short but dense. Think: “If the editor says yes, I could start writing today.” Use this structure:

• Subject: “Pitch: [specific headline]”
• 1–2 sentence summary: what story is and who it helps
• 3 bullet facts: key facts you can prove
• Proof links: 2–4 document links
• Sources: who you will interview / quote
• Outline: 5–7 headings
• Why you: 2 lines about your beat + 1–2 clip links
• Delivery: word count + timeline

Add clips (samples) here: a Medium link, LinkedIn article, or your website. Editors want to see your style, not your “promise.”

Step 5: Follow up professionally (without annoying)

Editors are busy. A polite follow-up is normal. A good follow-up schedule:

• Day 0: Send pitch
• Day 5–7: Short follow-up (“Checking if this fits your calendar.”)
• Day 14: One last follow-up, then move on

If you get “no,” ask: “Is there another angle you would prefer?” If you get silence, recycle your idea for another outlet or publish it as a clip.

Step 6: Build your draft on a “proof-first outline”

In legal writing, your outline is not only headings. It is headings + proof. For each section, add: a document link, a quote, or data.

Example outline pattern:

• Lead (nut graf): 2–3 paragraphs: what happened + why it matters
• Key facts: bullet facts with document support
• What the decision says: quote the key lines (short, accurate)
• Expert reaction: 2–3 quotes from credible sources
• Practical impact: what changes in work or risk
• What happens next: timeline, next hearing, future disputes
• Bottom line: 3 short “takeaways”

The goal is to make the editor’s job easy: everything is structured, supported, and readable.

Step 7: Write like a professional legal reporter (simple rules)

Use these writing rules to sound like a pro:

• Short paragraphs (2–4 lines), clear headings, no long blocks.
• State facts first, then analysis. Label opinions as opinions.
• Use neutral verbs: “said,” “argued,” “ruled,” “filed,” “alleged.”
• Be careful with absolute claims: avoid “always,” “never,” “proves.”
• When uncertain, say what you do not know and what you are still checking.

For style consistency, check common journalism resources: SPJ Code of Ethics, AP Stylebook, and the Reuters Handbook of Journalism.

Step 8: Verify, then submit (your “pre-flight” system)

Legal writing has high consequences. Verify everything. Use this mini system:

• Names: confirm spelling of parties, firms, courts, judges.
• Dates: confirm filing dates, hearing dates, effective dates.
• Quotes: confirm who said what; keep recording/notes.
• Numbers: confirm damages, settlements, counts, percentages.
• Links: make sure document links work and match the claim.

Helpful research tools: Google Alerts, Perplexity (for discovery, not final truth), Google Scholar, U.S. Attorney’s Office pages, and official court sites.

Step 9: Handle edits like a pro (this is how you get repeat work)

Editors may request changes. This is normal. You win long-term money by being easy to work with.

• Respond quickly and politely.
• Answer questions with evidence (“Here is the filing link.”)
• Do not argue emotionally. Explain calmly.
• Fix errors immediately and thank them for catching it.

Your goal is not to “win.” Your goal is to publish a strong piece and build trust.

Step 10: Turn one accepted piece into a “series” (more income)

The easiest way to earn more is to reuse your research. After one article, propose a follow-up:

• “Part 2: what happens next”
• “How firms are responding”
• “A checklist based on the decision”
• “A state-by-state view”
• “How vendors and legal ops teams are adapting”

Series pitches are powerful because editors already know you can deliver.

Conflicts of interest: disclose or avoid

If you have a client relationship, employment link, or personal link to the story, disclose it to the editor. They may still publish with disclosure, or they may reassign it. Hidden conflicts damage trust.

If you are a lawyer writing about an area where you litigate, be extra careful. Consider writing explainers and analysis with clear disclosure rather than “opinionated” pieces.

Confidentiality: never publish protected information

Do not publish confidential client information. Do not publish sealed court information. Do not publish sensitive personal data without a clear public interest reason and editorial approval.

When in doubt, ask the editor and consider legal review. Learn basic privacy and data safety principles: FTC privacy & security guidance, GDPR overview, California CCPA.

Defamation risk: use careful language and proof

You reduce risk by: (1) using accurate “alleged/claimed” language, (2) linking to documents, (3) including multiple sides when reasonable, (4) avoiding unnecessary insults or speculation, and (5) correcting errors quickly.

If you report accusations, seek comment from the accused side if time allows. Document your outreach.

AI tools: use them as helpers, not as truth machines

AI can help you brainstorm and rewrite, but it can also hallucinate cases, quotes, and citations. In legal writing, hallucinations are dangerous. Safe uses:

• Outline ideas and headings
• Grammar and clarity review
• Summarizing your own notes (not inventing sources)
• Generating interview questions (you still verify answers)

Unsafe uses: making up citations, inventing quotes, or referencing cases you did not open and read. Final rule: you must verify every claim with a primary source or credible quote.