Occassionally we are asked questions about law firms and blogging.  The below information is from a rather informative interview between Faegre Baker Daniels attorney and blog editor, Steve B. Toeniskoetter (ST), and TwinCities Business Magazine (TCB).

TCB: What’s your purpose in blogging?

ST: First and foremost, our blog is about keeping our clients in the food, agriculture and biofuels industries informed about the latest legal and legislative developments which could affect their businesses.  The blog supplements our long-standing practice of sending email alerts on critical legal issues and writing for a variety of industry periodicals.  A secondary function of the blog is to showcase the depth and breadth of our expertise in the food, agriculture and biofuels industries.

TCB: What are some of the challenges with blogging?

ST: Our biggest challenge is simply deciding what, among all the important legal issues facing the industry, should be posted on any given day.  We could post ten times a day and not capture all the important legal and legislative issues facing the industry, but our audience could be overwhelmed by that amount of content.  The challenge is deciding what is truly critical or especially important for our clients to know. Also, we have more than 100 attorneys on our food, agriculture and biofuels team.  We have to work hard to maintain a consistent “voice” for our blog.

TCB: How does blogging help you and help your clients?

ST: For current clients, the blog helps by keeping them informed of recent legal and legislative news and trends which could affect their businesses.  An informed client can anticipate future changes and make better choices, as well as become more involved with the legislative process when necessary. Because our lawyers work day in and day out, with food, agriculture, and biofuels clients, our team has a deep understanding of these industries.  When our lawyers combine this industry knowledge with their legal knowledge, they are able to provide perspective on legal and legislative developments that goes beyond what other mainstream, or even trade publications, can provide.

TCB: How do you address issues on your blog without appearing to offer legal advice?

ST: While we do analyze issues and provide commentary, we never give recommendations in blog posts that could be construed as legal advice.  We work to keep it informative and educational, while perhaps noting potential issues of concern for companies in these industries.

TCB: What will business people get out of reading your blog?

ST: Our goal is to make this an information resource for those involved in the food, agricultural and biofuels industries and a way for business people and their in-house counsel to find information on current industry issues in a concise, yet useful, format.