Joe blogs along with everyone else

From top to bottom, the legal world is embracing an increasingly established online culture. It's taken some time - not so long ago, many peered down their noses at blogging, seeing it as the province of 'nerds' or a platform for irate ranting. But no longer; for though discussion forums and comment sections are occasionally stomping grounds for crazy folk, the potential for a constructive, diverse online community that boasts real-world relevance has been unlocked through a demystification of what technology can offer.

The fact that online comments can cause such a stir these days is testament to how the Internet has become fully integrated with our professional and personal lives. We need only look at how Diane Abbot's recent tweet snowballed into the furore it became to see that activity in the online community has a direct bearing on the real world - because it is now a big part of that world in its own right.

Today, the law boasts a thriving online community in which established legal eagles and aspiring Atticus Finches debate, lend a helping hand to each other and provide fascinating insights from various practice areas and perspectives (as well as occasionally indulging in the inevitable playground-style slanging matches). The online sphere now plays an important role in the day-to-day life of the profession. Alex Aldridge, an early advocate of blogging, recently got embroiled in controversy for appearing to suggest that Ashley Connick, a well-known member of the online legal community, obtained his training contract through his pioneering online work. Of course, Connick got his TC because he was a good candidate, and Aldridge probably wasn't trying to belittle his achievement, but there are lessons to be learned here: the ripples caused by this episode show just how influential the online world really can be in shaping opinions and professional relationships, while Connick's blogging did involve him with the legal world at a time when he was not attached to it professionally. In a time of scarce opportunities and recession, this can be invaluable - as research revealing how LinkedIn membership among employees of the top 50 UK firms has doubled in the last year seems to confirm. Aldridge was accused of pursuing an agenda, that use of social media and blogging can help a candidate stand out in the race for a training contract. It's more likely that aspiring lawyers need to be reading legal blogs and using social media just to keep pace with their peers and avoid being left out of the community.

So, to be clear: following the online community, or even blogging and tweeting yourself, will not get you a training contract or pupillage - but it could still be a valuable and rewarding part of your professional life. Because I'm nice, I'll now point you to what I think are some of the best legal blogs around at the moment. These are the folks at the forefront of the online legal community, and should be followed by any serious, inquisitive wannabe lawyer:

Charon QC: Some see him as a godfather of the legal blogging world and he is certainly a prominent and prolific member of the legal 'blogosphere', with posts and tweets providing analysis on topical and technical legal matters. You will learn from his writing. However, he sometimes blogs about his own tweets, which seems a little self-indulgent (imagine blurting out that last sentence to your grandma).

UK Human Rights Blog: Written by human rights barristers, this blog is a gem. Its regular updates provide balanced and expert analysis of current issues, from big ethical questions to the litigation of solar panel subsidies. Essential reading.

Legal Bizzle: The Bizzle is a long-established legal blogger and an in-house commercial lawyer. He manages to regularly impart some of his formidable knowledge of contract law and debt while being consistently and genuinely funny. Canny, rueful observations of the lawyerly life and the inevitability of moronic clients are tempered by slightly depressing indications that he may be a workaholic who is allergic to free time.

Magic Circle Minx: The Minx provides a witty and irreverent look at life in a magic circle firm - great reading for those with ambitions of a life in the City. There are top tips for how to deal with overbearing partners and survive life at a top-flight firm. There are also hilarious accounts of the stranger things that go on - my personal highlight is the story of a partner closing an important deal while on the throne. Make what you will of my sophisticated sense of humour.

NearlyLegal: The place for all things housing law, including the odd job vacancy posting. If housing law is your bag or you want to find out more, this blog is for you.

Corporate Law and Governance: Does what it says on the tin. Run by Robert Goddard, senior lecturer at Aston University, this goes into fantastic depth on corporate law and international, multi-jurisdictional transactions. The blog knows what it's talking about far more than I do, so head over and see for yourself - the depth and breadth of analysis is impressive, making it an essential bookmark for anyone interested in commercial law or needing to boost their commercial awareness (so, all of us then).

IPKat: A regular blogger, the Kat offers insight on current IP cases, as well as schooling in Katanomics. To brighten up each post, there are amusing pictures of cats - which always help to cheer me up in the morning.

The Magistrate's Blog: These entertaining and informative slices of life as a magistrate are well worth reading. Case details are changed (obviously), but there is some eye-opening stuff here nonetheless.

Legal Cheek: The new big thing in the online legal community. The baby of Alex Aldridge, Legal Cheek brings together various contributors, from practising lawyers and legal education bigwigs to students looking for training contracts and pupillages, on a platform that is generally very good at stimulating debate (although its logo, depicting a flabby posterior in shoddy close-up, is nauseating). It sometimes also seems a little self-important and too cool for school, but the postings are generally sound and conducive to constructive discussion. The blog also illustrates where the online community seems to be going, bringing topical debate and advice together with the kind of social and professional link-forging that looks set to be a hallmark of future training contract hunts, as well as post-qualification networking.

Finally, for even more informative and insightful legal pontification, look no further than our own LC.N bloggers, who explore a diverse range of experiences and opinion for your benefit. I also highly recommend that you check out our directory of external bloggers, available here, which offers further directions towards other blogs which may well be of use.