Skip to content

Menu

LexBlog, Inc. logo
NetworkSub-MenuBrowse by SubjectBrowse by PublisherJoin the NetworkGet StartedSubscribeSupportContact
Search
Close

“I just think its important if you are ‘gifted’ to share that gift with people”

By Kevin O'Keefe on May 13, 2026
Email this postTweet this postLike this postShare this post on LinkedIn
Gift Box Continuous Line Icon

“I just think it’s important, if you are ‘gifted,’ to share that gift with people.” Martin Short responding to Ron Howard’s question on the Netflix program, Marty, Life is Short, on why he keeps doing what he’s doing.

Short said “gifted’ in a tongue in cheek way, so as not to be boasting.

I was 40 years old sitting in my law office when it dawned on me that I may have found my gift. To use my talents as a lawyer and a growing awareness of how the web worked to help people, lawyers and lay people alike. And not just in the three counties around me. 

I felt humbled and blessed. I never tried to show off – or hardly ever.

I know so many lawyers who jumped on the web to do much the same. Share the gift they had with people.

Knowledge in an area of the law. Expressing themselves in writing in only a way they could write. Establishing trust on this new medium we called Web.

There are so many talented lawyers, today. So so gifted.

Such an opportunity to share your gift with people via the net, and now AI.

Not every lawyer is inclined get on the stage. For those willing to try, know there are so many people interested in what you may share, whether they are a consumer, small business person, in-house counsel, fellow lawyer or the media, mainstream or social.

Watching Martin Short, I thought of something Ernie Svenson, a former large law litigator now a gifted and caring consultant to small law firms, wrote yesterday at the end of a post. “I share stuff like this regularly. If it’s useful, follow along.” 

Ernie’s been sharing his gift for over 20 years.

I welcome you, as a lawyer, to share the gift you have with people. 

Photo of Kevin O'Keefe Kevin O'Keefe

I am a trial lawyer, turned legal tech entrepreneur, now leading the largest community of legal publishers in the world at LexBlog, Inc.

I am a lawyer of 39 years. Wanting to be a lawyer since I was a kid, I have loved…

I am a trial lawyer, turned legal tech entrepreneur, now leading the largest community of legal publishers in the world at LexBlog, Inc.

I am a lawyer of 39 years. Wanting to be a lawyer since I was a kid, I have loved almost every minute of it.

I practiced as a trial lawyer in rural Wisconsin for 17 years, representing plaintiffs, whether they were injury victims and their family members or small businesses.

In the mid-nineties, I discovered the Internet in the form of AOL. I began helping people by answering questions on AOL message boards and leading AOL’s legal community.

I later started my own listservs and message boards to help people on personal injury, medical malpractice, workers compensation and plaintiff’s employment law matters. Though we were green to technology and the Internet, USA Today said if my firm “didn’t stop what we were doing, we would give lawyers a good name.”

In 1999, I closed my law firm and we moved, as a family of seven, to Seattle to start my first company. Prairielaw.com was a virtual law community of people helping people, a sort of AOL on the law, featuring message boards, articles, chats, listervs and ask-a-lawyer.

Prairielaw.com was sold to LexisNexis, where it was incorporated into Martindale-Hubbell’s lawyers.com.

After a stint as VP of Business Development at LexisNexis, I founded LexBlog out of my garage in 2004 (no affiliation with LexisNexis).

Knowing lawyers get their best work from relationships and a strong word of mouth reputation, and not promoting themselves, I saw blogging as a perfect way for lawyers to build relationships and a reputation.

When I could not find someone to help me with my own blog, I started a company to provide what I needed. Strategy, professional design, platform, coaching, SEO, marketing and free ongoing support.

As a result of the outstanding work of my team of twenty and my blogging, the LexBlog community has grown to a community of over 30,000 legal professionals, world-wide.

Publishing my blog, Real Lawyers, now in its 18th year, I share information, news, and commentary to help legal professionals looking to network online, whether it be via blogging or other social media.

Blogging also enables me to think through my ideas – out loud and in an engaging fashion.

In addition to my blog, I liberally share others’ insight on Twitter. Feel free to engage me there as well on LinkedIn and Facebook.

Read more about Kevin O'KeefeEmailKevin's Linkedin ProfileKevin's Twitter ProfileKevin's Facebook Profile
Show more Show less
  • Posted in:
    Other
  • Blog:
    Real Lawyers Have Blogs
  • Organization:
    LexBlog
  • Article: View Original Source

Call us at 1-800-913-0988 or email sales@lexblog.com.

Facebook LinkedIn Twitter RSS
The Library at LexBlog
  • About LexBlog
  • The Field We Built
  • Library at LexBlog
  • Our Beliefs
  • Our Team
  • Contact LexBlog
  • Disclaimer
  • Editorial Policy
  • Terms of Service
  • Get Started
  • Publishing Solutions
  • Compass
  • Submit a Request
  • Support Center
  • System Status
Copyright © 2026, LexBlog, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Law blog design & platform by LexBlog LexBlog Logo