The Lawyer LinkedIn Profile Checklist

Your LinkedIn profile is often the first thing a prospective client or referral partner sees after hearing your name. Whether you practice alone or run a ten-person firm, it works as a quiet, always-on introduction. Most lawyer profiles read like a resume. Yours should read like an answer to the question, “Why should I call you?”

Work through the sections below in order. You can finish the whole thing in an afternoon.

Start with the top of the page

The first screen carries most of the weight, so give it the most attention.

• Photo: A recent, well-lit headshot where you look approachable. Your face should fill most of the frame.
• Banner: Use it. A simple image with your practice focus, city, or firm name beats the default grey.
• Headline: Skip “Attorney at Law.” Say who you help and with what, for example “Helping owner-managed businesses resolve partnership disputes.”
• Custom URL: Shorten it to your name so it is easy to put in an email signature.

Write an About section for humans

Open with the problem you solve, not your bar admission. Write in the first person, keep paragraphs short, and describe the kind of client you work best with. Close with a plain invitation, such as how to reach you or what a first conversation looks like.

Make Experience and Featured work for you

Under each role, describe outcomes and the type of matters you handle, while respecting confidentiality. Never reveal client details or imply results you cannot support. Many jurisdictions treat a profile as attorney advertising, so check your bar’s rules on testimonials, specialty claims, and required disclaimers.

Use the Featured section to point to your best proof: a guide you wrote, a talk, a podcast appearance, or a booking link.

Fill in the details people skim

• List your practice areas as skills, and pin the three that matter most.
• Add education, bar admissions, and relevant associations.
• Turn on “Open to” settings only if they fit how you want to be contacted.
• Request two or three recommendations from colleagues or referral partners, where your rules allow them.

Check the settings behind the scenes

Make your profile public so it can be found outside LinkedIn. Review your contact information and confirm that your email and website are current. If you share an office, make sure the firm page and your personal profile tell the same story.

Read it like a stranger

Ask a friend outside the law to read your headline and About section for thirty seconds. Then ask what you do and who you help. If they cannot say, tighten the language.

Your next step

Rewrite your headline today. Use the formula “I help [specific client] with [specific problem],” then update your banner and About opening before the week is out. Small, specific changes make you easier to find and easier to refer.