A law firm blog brings in clients when it answers the questions people ask before the first phone call: what does an initial consultation cost, how long is a notice period, what happens to the house in a divorce. It stays compliant when it informs generally instead of assessing an individual case. This page sets out 25 topics across six areas of law, the limits of professional conduct rules in brief, the tone to use and a sample structure for a post.
People usually only realise they need a lawyer once something has already happened: the notice is on the table, the landlord is threatening, the father has died and the siblings are arguing. At that moment, people don't google "lawyer Winterthur", they google their question. A law firm whose website answers that question gets found before it's searched for. That's the whole point of a law firm blog. The skill lies in informing without advising.
25 topics by area of law
The questions are phrased the way people actually search for them. Each one carries a post that explains the rule, shows typical situations and says when a conversation becomes necessary.
Employment law
- What notice period applies to me, and when does it start running?
- What counts as unfair dismissal, and what can I do about it?
- Can my employer dismiss me while I'm ill?
- What must a reference letter contain, and how do I challenge a bad one?
- Overtime or extra hours: what must the employer pay?
Tenancy law
- How do I challenge a rent increase?
- What can the landlord charge for when I hand back the flat?
- Can I terminate the tenancy early if I provide a replacement tenant?
- Which defects must the landlord fix, and can I withhold rent in deposit?
Family law
- How does a divorce proceed when both parties agree?
- What happens to the shared house in a divorce?
- How is child maintenance calculated?
- Cohabitation or marriage: what are the legal differences?
Inheritance law
- Who inherits if there is no will?
- What is the statutory minimum share, and how much can I leave freely?
- Will or inheritance contract: what's the difference?
- How does an estate division proceed when the heirs don't agree?
Contract and company law
- What should a works contract with a tradesperson cover?
- What liability do I carry as a board member of a small limited company?
- What must a shareholders' agreement regulate?
- How do I terminate a contract with automatic renewal?
Road traffic and criminal law
- What happens to my driving licence after a speeding offence?
- How should I behave when summoned by the police?
Process and costs
- What does an initial consultation cost, and what do I get for it?
- How do I prepare for the first meeting with the lawyer?
These last two topics are the most read on almost every law firm website, and hardly any firms have them. What else service providers need to answer before someone calls is covered under AEO for service providers.
The professional conduct boundary
The federal Lawyers Act allows advertising as long as it is objective and meets the public's need for information. The professional conduct rules and the cantonal supervisory authorities interpret this, and this post does not replace their review. In practice, the line between information and advice runs as follows:
| Permitted | Sensitive |
|---|---|
| Explaining the rule: "By law, the notice period in the first year of employment is one month, unless the contract states otherwise." | Assessing the individual case: "In your situation, the dismissal is unfair." |
| Working through typical scenarios using fictional people | Describing real cases from the firm, even anonymised, if they remain identifiable |
| Saying when a conversation is necessary | Promising chances of success or results |
| Stating what an initial consultation costs | Advertising prices that only apply under certain conditions, without stating the conditions |
| Naming areas of expertise and admissions | Drawing comparisons with other law firms |
Two sentences therefore belong under every post: the date of the legal position and a note that the post does not replace advice on an individual case. Don't answer reader questions in comments or by email with an assessment, but with an invitation to talk. Anyone who leaves the approval of every post with a lawyer at the firm keeps the line under control. How this step fits into the process is shown in Approval in the blog process.
The tone: clear, calm, without legal jargon
Readers of a law firm blog are worried. They want to know what applies and what they should do now. That means:
- Answer first. The first paragraph states what applies. The reasoning with statutory articles follows afterwards, not before.
- One sentence, one statement. No nested sentences with three caveats. Each caveat gets its own sentence.
- Explain technical terms, once, when they first appear: "the statutory minimum share, that is, the portion that cannot be withheld from certain heirs".
- Don't stoke fear to generate instructions. Anyone who states factually when things can be handled without a lawyer wins the cases where they can't.
- Address readers as "you", without exception. A law firm does not use informal address.
Example structure: "Which notice period applies to me?"
Here is what a post following this pattern looks like, in bullet points:
- Title: Which notice period applies to me, and when does it start running?
- Short answer (three sentences): The statutory period depends on the year of employment, and the employment contract or a collective agreement can extend it. It runs to the end of a month. During the probationary period, a shorter period applies.
- The rule: a table with the statutory periods by year of employment, with a date and reference to the relevant statutory article.
- Three scenarios: contract is silent, contract says more, collective agreement applies. One paragraph each with a fictional person.
- Blocking periods: when the dismissal does not take effect despite the notice period (illness, accident, pregnancy), as an overview only.
- When a conversation is necessary: three situations in which you should not wait.
- FAQ: Does the period start with the postmark? Can I take holiday during the notice period? What applies in the case of garden leave?
- Author, legal status, note on individual case.
Around 900 words, no legal advice, but a complete answer. A post of this kind can also be drafted by an AI if the legal areas and limits are set out in the brief. Approval by a lawyer remains mandatory, and the checkpoints for this are set out in Checking AI blog posts. A blogging system like BlogPilot delivers the draft with subheadings and FAQ for approval, while legal responsibility stays with the firm. With 25 topics and one post per week, the list is worked through in half a year, and questions 24 and 25 should be online in the first week.
Frequently asked questions
Is a Swiss law firm even allowed to run a blog on legal topics?
The federal Lawyers Act allows advertising as long as it remains objective and meets the public's need for information. The cantonal supervisory authorities and the association's professional conduct rules set this out in more detail. Factual posts on legal questions are generally considered permissible. Clarify exactly what applies in your canton with the supervisory commission or the association.
How do I prevent a post from being considered legal advice?
Describe rules, processes and typical scenarios, never the assessment of a specific case. Use examples with fictional people and close with a note that the individual case needs to be reviewed. Don't answer reader questions in comments with an assessment, but with an invitation to talk.
Should every lawyer at the firm write under their own name?
Yes, if the structure allows it. A post on inheritance law, signed by the lawyer who handles inheritance law, with her training and admission, is stronger proof for readers and for AI systems than a post "from the firm". Approval still stays with a central point.
Is a blog worthwhile for a firm that only advises businesses?
Yes, with different topics. Managing directors search for questions on contracts, employment law, company law and succession, and they often search before asking their in-house lawyer or existing firm. A post that answers the question factually is the calling card read before the instruction.