"Law Practice Today"

Published on: January 20, 2026

LP Magazine — Law Firm Referral Networks Make Sense If They Make Cents

Law Firm Referral Networks

Referral networks may seem like relics in an era dominated by digital marketing, but the right network can still deliver steady, high‑quality work and expand a firm’s reach. After more than 25 years evaluating these groups, I’ve found that their value depends on fundamentals: strong leadership, high‑caliber member firms, and a realistic understanding of the full cost of participation. When those elements align, networks can become reliable engines of referrals, reputation, and professional community. My latest marketing column, in the January/February 2026 issue of ABA Law Practice, suggests Law Firm Referral Networks Make Sense If They Make Cents.

Recently, I’ve had the opportunity to work closely—on behalf of a law firm member—with the Legal Netlink Alliance (LNA), a global association of small and midsize independent law firms. Even in a relatively short time, I’ve watched genuine trust take root and real friendships form among its members. Because the network is intentionally composed of smaller firms and its U.S. conferences are intimate by design, it’s remarkably easy to build meaningful connections. I’ve already met another Rabbi’s kid (like me), a Chicago sports fan who always thinks of me when the Phillies or Eagles are relevant, and even found a lawyer in the Midwest who helped me navigate an unexpected traffic stop—best not to ask.

Published on: January 1, 2026

ABA Law Practice Today — Beyond the RPC: Staying Compliant with your Law Firm’s Marketing Efforts

by Micah Buchdahl

ethics_image-300x200 It was once again my privilege to serve as editor for the Ethics edition (December 2025) of the American Bar Association’s Law Practice Today webzine. I’ve had the honor of shepherding the Ethics-themed issue for many years—drawing on my work with ABA Law Practice’s Ethics & Professionalism Committee and my long-standing role on the webzine’s editorial board.

A sincere thank‑you to this month’s outstanding contributors. The issue brings together a thoughtful mix of perspectives on the ethical challenges lawyers face today:

Beyond the RPC: Staying Compliant with Your Law Firm’s Marketing Efforts — my article exploring how ethics rules intersect with modern marketing practices.

Published on: January 14, 2025

ABA Law Practice Today — For PA Lawyers, Remember Sexting is Sex; Texting can be Improper Solicitation

by Micah Buchdahl

Texting In once again serving as the issue editor for the Ethics-themed December 2024 edition of the American Bar Association’s Law Practice Today webzine, I contributed an article addressing recent changes to the Rules of Professional Conduct in Pennsylvania, and related ethics opinions, addressing texting in two different ways—ways where texting can be improper solicitation, and a whole different definition of “solicitation”—as it relates to sexting. In the article headline I submitted, “For PA Lawyers, Remember Sexting is Sex; Texting can be Improper Solicitation,” I may or may not have made it more salacious to increase readership and interest (i.e. click bait). But our copy editors did edit my title to the official “Can Texting Be Improper Solicitation?”

Many thanks to the authors contributing excellent articles to the Ethics issue. Michele Carney wrote on Formal Opinion 512 and The Reasonableness of Fees When Using AI. Dave Ries once again tackled a cybersecurity ethics issue with Ethically Avoiding Fraud and Scams. Law Practice Division chair-elect Dan Siegel authored Generative AI Competence. And Charity Anastasio wrote on Lesser Known but Wildly Helpful Ethics Rules. All of us—myself, Dave, Dan, Michele and Charity—are active members of the ABA LP Ethics & Professionalism Committee.

If you are blocked from reading the article behind the ABA paywall, it is provided below in its entirety.

Published on: March 16, 2023

ABA Law Practice Today — Marketing Your Practice in 60 Minutes or Less

by Micah Buchdahl

60 Minutes In serving as an issue editor for the Marketing-themed March 2023 edition of the American Bar Association’s Law Practice Today webzine, together with my co-issue editor Jason Marsh, we tried to put together a collection of articles that would prove both timely and informative.

My article contribution, Marketing Your Practice in 60 Minutes or Less, is not rocket science. But people read this stuff (click bait? Perhaps?). And it is designed more to encourage doing something, rather than simply doing nothing. Sometimes I too should follow my own advice. We’re all busy. But if we can just carve out a little time for business development each week, we’ll be the better for it. My wife keeps asking me when I’m going to get around to updating my own website and writing some fresh content. Soon. Soon. Maybe I should do it one hour at a time.

Paula Zirinsky writes on Marketing Opportunities in a Slow Market. And there is nothing more timely than Abbey Block of the Ifrah Law Firm in Washington, DC, writing on Can My Lawyer Be a Robot? We’re reading about issues surrounding artificial intelligence every day now, and the impact that it has, and will have, on the legal profession. Addressing some similar themes but from a total different angle—law marketing and AI—is Chat GPT, Your AI Friend in Content Marketing? For Lawyers, It Depends, by Marina Wilson of Justia.

Published on: November 17, 2022

ABA Law Practice Today — Point-Counterpoint: The Likelihood of Revising RPC 5.5

by Micah Buchdahl

SNL’s Point-Counterpoint

Perhaps, I’ve never (co) authored an article with a smaller potential audience than the great give-and-take on the bandied-about subject of Model Rule 5.5 under the Rules of Professional Conduct. In the November 2022 edition of the American Bar Association’s online webzine, Law Practice Today (LPT), together with Charity Anastasio of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), we debate the viability of a revision.

In Point-Counterpoint: The Likelihood of Revising RPC 5.5, we ask and answer the question – Is the Association of Professional Lawyers’ Proposal for a Revised Model Rule 5.5 on its way, or DOA?

Published on: March 4, 2021

LP Magazine – Replacing Face-to-Face in Business Development

by Micah Buchdahl

LPcover_MarchApril2021-231x300 Earlier this week, I read an interesting article about how business travel will never fully return, because you can just go on Zoom, saving a ton of time and money. The story and premise all made sense until a quote at the end saying that the first time someone lost a sales pitch to a competitor that presented in-person—they’ll be right back on those airplanes. And I shook my head knowing that was so true.

Zoom fatigue is very real. Many of us have slowly chopped down on screen time whenever possible. However, when you really think, imagine life without it the last year? At least we see each other’s faces. What if the whole year was just thousands of hours of faceless conference calls?

Most of my phone and videoconferencing meetings with attorneys and law firms these last 13 months or so have revolved around the topic of my marketing column in the March/April 2021 issue of Law Practice, Replacing Face-to-Face in Business Development. While the subject of virtual online meetings is already old and stale (if you have not figured it out by now, nobody can help you), unfortunately we are still living a life of staying relevant and visible without the fun part of business networking—lunches, conferences, social outings—all those things that in the end really seal the deal for new business, winning business, referrals and references. I hope this column is soon very outdated (I’d like it to be laughable), but the timeline I give out about resuming face-to-face is a moving needle. So we still need to approach much of 2021 like we did most of 2020. Having said that, I’m scheduled to get dose one of the vaccine this week—and with it you start to think a little more wide-eyed about the people you can see and the places you can go. My calendar now shows some very possible business and conference travel in Q4. You can only hope.

Published on: December 17, 2020

ABA Law Practice Today — Reworking your marketing plan and budget for a mixed 2021

by Micah Buchdahl

2021_marketing_plan_budget This is the time of year where I sit down with my marketing committees to review what successes we had with our 2020 marketing plan and budget. The same for many one on one discussions with individual attorneys on his/her business development plans. Well, I’m not taking the blame for any failures this year—just say “COVID” and try again. So in this month’s issue of the ABA’s Law Practice Today webzine, I ask and answer–what should your marketing plan and budget look like for the coming year?

At a time where I seem to read daily outdated articles on topics such as branding yourself in online meetings (that was useful a year ago)—and has about the same relevance as an article on which pagers might be best for effective client communication. As my kids responded, “what’s a pager?” Or equally perceptive reminders that we’re all using LinkedIn more, and online content (webinars, podcasts and tweets) is all the rage. Yes, the first half of 2021 will pretty much resemble most of 2020—but getting ready for some degree of normalcy is certainly in the cards. At least, that’s what we’re planning for.

So read this LPT article to help you and your law firm plan accordingly, and most effectively, for marketing in the New Year. While much of it is not rocket science, it is important to still plan thoughtfully and strategically, lay out a game plan, and most importantly—don’t stop marketing. In a time with so little human interaction and removal of the most effective (and fun) methods of networking, staying visible and relevant is critical. At least until we meet again, perhaps to grab a beer in the lobby bar of your favorite (not virtual, not remote, but in-person!) legal conference.

Published on: November 16, 2020

LPT’s Ethics Issue — Taking Names: Eased Ethical Considerations Increase Firm Name Options

by Micah Buchdahl

ABA’s Law Practice Today Webzine

Over my 25+ years of working with law firms on business development, addressing the issue of law firm names is not really one of my favorites—because it rarely comes without some painful internal issues to address.

There are the firms that want to drop the second, third or fourth names (if you have more, you’ve got a real problem) from the law firm name—usually just in regard to branding and the logo (and the website, e-mail address and social media accounts), while keeping the full “legal name” intact. It is easier when those names are for attorneys that are deceased (sorry to say), because it is a lot tougher when the lawyer whose name is coming off the signage is still sitting right there.

Published on: December 16, 2019

LPT: Don’t Go Dissing “Spa Day” — Lessons learned from the NWLSO Leadership Academy

by Micah Buchdahl

Pictured left to right: Allison Turner, Micah Buchdahl, Josephine Lee, Monsurat Adebanjo, Carla Luna (moderator), Najee Thornton, Lisa Levey

When I was first contacted by Ms. JD, the nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to the success of aspiring and early career women lawyers, and invited to speak at the National Women Law Students’ Organization (NWLSO) Leadership Academy, my first thought was—do they know I’m a guy?

I perused the organization’s website, found the event at Harvard Law School, and scrolled through the all-female faculty and attendee lists. Later, I was joined for my panel session by Najee Thornton, an Associate in the Santa Monica, CA office of Fenwick & West—so for a short time, I had some company. But I was assured that yes, they knew I was a male, and they’d love to have me participate. So I figured that it would be a great learning experience, and really, what could go wrong?

Published on: November 17, 2017

LPT: The Niche Marketing Issue

by Micah Buchdahl

In a world where every law firm is (or says) they are “full-service,” comes this issue of Law Practice Today dedicated to niche practice marketing. Depending on your firm, practice and related industries, a niche can be many things to many people—with no real right or wrong answers…so begins the intro to my article on The Pros and Cons of Niche Practice Marketing in the November 2017 edition of the ABA’s Law Practice Today (LPT) webzine.

As a member of LPT’s Board of Editors, past Editor-In-Chief and past chair of the ABA Law Practice Division, I’ve long-enjoyed seeing the growth of the law practice webzine—which is delivered in the inbox of every ABA member (that opts into e-mail) and numerous syndicated bar association partners throughout the country, giving it the largest circulation of any online law practice resource in the U.S. I had the pleasure of serving as issue editor for the niche practice issue, with my colleagues Editor-In-Chief Andrea Malone of White & Williams in Philadelphia and Associate Editor Amy Drushal at Trenam Law in Tampa, Florida.

It is unusual for me to contribute two pieces to an issue, but I had to add a sidebar on How Niche Marketing Helped Me Escape an Arizona Traffic Jam as well. It goes hand-in-hand with an interesting article on When Photo Radar is Worse Than DUI by my (now) favorite firm in Scottsdale, Arizona. You’ll learn about the niche at R&R Law Group, along with how solid marketing efforts brought this educated consumer (that would be me) to their practice for counsel. Spoiler alert—they were 100% successful in their representation of the client.