Your bio is one of the most overlooked but effective ways to shape how others see you professionally. It’s often the first thing someone sees when they look you up online. It lives on your firm website. It shows up in pitch materials. It’s linked in speaking engagements and event write-ups. It’s also usually the top result when someone Googles you.
And yet, so many lawyers treat it as an afterthought. They either don’t take the time to make it reflect their real strengths, or they leave it unchanged for years. A good bio can open doors. A bad one can make you forgettable. And a dated one? It can make it look like you’re not paying attention.
Whether you’re a junior associate just starting out, a mid-level trying to raise your profile or a senior lawyer who wants to stay relevant, this guide will help you write a strong bio that works for you, not against you.
Why Your Bio Matters More Than You Think
Your bio is more than a list of credentials. It is often the first place someone goes to learn about you. It is your introduction, your professional snapshot and a way to build trust before a conversation even starts. Whether it is for a pitch, a speaking opportunity or a potential client doing their homework, your bio matters. Here’s why:
- It’s one of the most visited pages on your firm’s website
- It’s usually the first thing that comes up in a Google search
- It’s used in pitches, proposals and speaking engagements
- It can position you in the market
- It helps build trust with clients, potential clients and referral sources
People read bios to answer a basic question: Can this person help me? If yours doesn’t answer that clearly and confidently, you’re missing a real opportunity.
What a Strong Bio Looks Like
A strong bio does three things:
- It clearly explains what you do and for whom you do it
- It highlights your credibility in a way that’s relatable and specific
- It makes you sound like a real person
Your bio doesn’t need to be long to be effective. In fact, shorter is often better if it helps remove legal jargon or vague language that doesn’t add value. It should be written with your audience in mind, whether that’s a client, a potential client, a colleague or someone looking for a speaker or writer, or a combination of all of these.
Think about how someone outside the legal field would read it. It should be clear, easy to skim and give an honest sense of who you are and what you do. The goal is to sound human, professional and approachable, not like a resume or a list of buzzwords. Here are practical bio tips that apply to lawyers at every stage of their career.
- Be specific about your practice focus and the types of clients or industries you serve
- Use plain, client-friendly language. Avoid legal jargon where you can
- Include relevant speaking engagements, articles, awards and leadership roles
- Generalize client experience when needed to protect confidentiality
- Add professional involvement, pro bono work and community engagement
- Keep it current. Regular updates matter more than a full rewrite every five years
For Junior Lawyers: Make the Most of What You Have
If you’re just starting out, you might feel like you don’t have much to say. But you probably have more than you think. This is your chance to lay the groundwork for your professional identity. Here are some ways to do that:
- Focus on your interests: Even if you haven’t handled major matters, you can share what areas you’re focusing on or what you’re learning. That helps people understand where you’re headed.
- Show involvement: List bar association memberships, pro bono work or law school achievements. If you’ve written anything, include it. If you’ve helped with a client alert, put that in.
- Be clear about your role: Say that you support deal teams or assist with litigation strategy. Use language that shows you’re part of something important without overstating.
- Use an authentic tone: Write in the third person, but make it sound like you. Your goal is to come across as smart, professional and engaged.
- Avoid filler: Don’t say you “bring a unique perspective” or that you’re “passionate about the law.” Those phrases don’t say much and make your bio sound generic.
- Set a schedule: Revisit your bio every six months and update it with what you’ve learned or worked on. That shows you’re growing.
For Mid-Level Lawyers: Time to Level Up
This is the point in your career when you start having real experience and more client exposure. Your bio should reflect that.
- Make your focus clear: At this stage, you should be narrowing in on the types of work you do and the industries you serve. Let that come through clearly.
- Highlight representative matters: Without naming names, mention types of deals or cases you’ve worked on. Focus on complexity, value or results when appropriate.
- Show leadership and authorship: If you’ve written client alerts, spoken at conferences or led internal trainings, include those. They help position you as someone with a voice.
- Think about positioning: If you’re working toward promotion, your bio should support that. Use it to demonstrate your experience, leadership and growing responsibility.
- Add depth: This is a good time to round out your bio with professional involvement, mentorship roles or community engagement. It shows you’re invested in the profession.
- Keep it concise: A long list of everything you’ve done isn’t better. Stick to what’s most relevant and recent.
For Senior Lawyers: Stay Current and Client-Focused
If you’re a partner or senior counsel, your bio isn’t just about what you’ve done. It’s about why people should trust you now. Here are ways to keep your bio strong:
- Update your focus: Make sure your practice description reflects what you actually do today. If you’ve shifted industries or areas, update your language accordingly.
- Keep the highlights relevant: You don’t need to list every award or deal. Choose the ones that matter most to your current clients or prospects.
- Lead with results: Your experience should show a track record of solving problems or delivering value. Use language that reflects impact, not just activity.
- Show leadership: Include board positions, bar association roles, speaking engagements or mentoring. They help reinforce your standing.
- Avoid outdated phrasing: If your bio still says “has over 20 years of experience,” it might be time for a refresh. Use that space to show what that experience enables you to do now.
- Stay human: A strong bio doesn’t need to be stiff. You can be professional and approachable. In fact, that balance is often what stands out.
Common Bio Mistakes to Avoid
- Making it all about you instead of what you do for others
- Using outdated language or buzzwords
- Forgetting to update it for years at a time
- Writing it like a resume instead of a narrative
- Including too much detail or too little
- Using language that sounds like everyone else at the firm
What to Do Right Now
Pull up your bio and read it out loud. Does it sound like you? Would someone who knows you say it reflects what you actually do? If not, start editing. You don’t have to do a full rewrite in one sitting. But small updates make a big difference. Use this checklist:
- Is your practice focus clear?
- Are your most recent matters or roles included?
- Do you sound approachable and confident?
- Are you speaking to the right audience?
- Does anything sound outdated or unclear?
- Have you included activities outside of billable work?
- When is the last time you reviewed your bio?
Think of your bio as a snapshot of where you are in your career. It is not a full history and it should not be something you write once and forget.
Review your bio a few of times a year. When you close a major deal, speak on a panel or take on a new role, that is the right time to make an update.
The best bios are clear, current and intentional. They reflect your work, your focus and your voice. That is what helps people understand who you are and why they would want to work with you.
Connect with me on LinkedIn, X, Threads, YouTube, Instagram, sign up for my email list, subscribe to my substack and follow my blog.