Writing for Business Development as a Senior Lawyer :: Cementing Legacy, Mentoring, and Expanding Influence :: Part 2

By: Christine Shimoda

Read Part 1 here.

For senior lawyers, writing is no longer just about building business—it’s about solidifying a legacy, mentoring the next generation, and shaping the future of the legal profession. At this stage, writing should reflect your role as a leader, mentor, and visionary within both your firm and the broader legal community. Your words can deepen relationships, foster team development, and influence industry-wide conversations.

Every article, white paper, or internal guide you produce is an opportunity to leave a lasting impact. Whether you’re sharing hard-earned wisdom with younger lawyers, providing strategic insights to long-term clients, or contributing to the future of law itself, writing is a powerful way to ensure your influence endures.

1. Build Your Team’s Reputation and Elevate Your Firm

At this stage, you’re likely not only focused on your own personal success but also the success of your team or firm. Writing gives you the opportunity to position your firm as a whole—and the talent within it—as leaders in the industry. By authoring pieces under your name or co-authoring with your team, you can help elevate younger lawyers and demonstrate the collective expertise of your practice group.

Collaborative writing is particularly effective here. You can involve mid-career or junior lawyers in the writing process, helping them build their own profiles while benefiting from the credibility and experience your name brings. This strengthens your internal team, shows your commitment to mentorship, and presents your firm as a cohesive, highly capable unit.

Pro tip: Encourage team members to co-author articles with you, introducing them to your broader network and client base. This demonstrates the depth of talent in your firm while providing younger lawyers with invaluable exposure. In turn, this also signals to clients that they’re supported by a strong team, not just a single senior lawyer.

2. Shape the Future of the Legal Industry

With your extensive experience, you’re in a unique position to influence and shape the direction of the legal profession. Writing allows you to weigh in on important industry discussions, whether it’s about legal reform, technological advances in law, or ethical considerations. By contributing to these high-level conversations, you reinforce your reputation as a thought leader and someone whose views have a significant impact on the future of the field.

At this stage, your writing can move beyond client-focused topics and delve into issues affecting the entire legal profession. Whether you’re advocating for policy changes, exploring the role of AI in legal work, or addressing diversity and inclusion in the law, your voice carries weight. This kind of content can be published in leading legal journals or presented at conferences, ensuring that your influence extends beyond your immediate circle.

Pro tip: Partner with professional organizations or industry groups to publish thought leadership pieces or reports on the future of law. This increases the visibility and reach of your content, positioning you not just as an expert in your field but as a contributor to the profession as a whole.

3. Pave the Way for Long-Term Succession Planning

Writing is also an important tool in building your legacy within your firm. By documenting your strategic approaches, client philosophies, and legal processes, you’re creating a roadmap that the next generation of lawyers can follow. These writings can take the form of internal memos, white papers, or public thought leadership pieces that reflect the firm’s ethos and the principles that have guided your success.

This not only ensures that your firm continues to thrive after you step back but also helps build a culture of knowledge-sharing and continuous improvement. Senior lawyers who prioritize writing as a means of documenting their approach help lay the foundation for long-term success and sustainability within their practice.

Pro tip: Develop a series of “playbooks” or internal guides that distill your key strategies and approaches to client service, business development, and legal problem-solving. This kind of institutional knowledge is invaluable for younger lawyers looking to follow in your footsteps.