Your website layout is hiding you from AI search

The profession is changing fast, and our institutions can’t keep up. Clients are finding counsel through AI engines that most firm websites aren't built for. Law students are teaching themselves how to use AI because no one else is. Firms are losing laterals they spent months recruiting because onboarding is an afterthought. And one lawyer is gaining notoriety for taking on a hot topic that traditional media is ignoring.

Coming soon, we talk with a Texas attorney who says knowing his clients helps control costs. 

But first, over on Bluesky, initial reactions to a new AI criminal justice app are a callback to the classic “Look at My Lawyer, Dawg, I'm Going to Jail” meme. 

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The Constitution is this year’s hot new beach read. 
Attorney/Comic Andrea Coleman knows just what to say when the person who asks what you are reading has no business knowing.

All hat and no cattle.
The bankruptcy courts are trying to figure out how $170 million disappeared from this farm run like a Ponzi scheme. 

Shrexting v. The First Amendment.
An Ohio blogger has been charged with “telecommunications harassment” after sending a picture of Shrek’s “male parts” to a state senator. 

Call us when you decide they are people.
Argentina may soon legalize AI-created corporations. 

What we’re watching.
As we wait for this year’s final tranche of SCOTUS rulings, the 2014 documentary The Case Against 8 is a reminder that justice moves slowly. Filmed over five years, the film captures behind-the-scenes footage of the legal effort to overturn California's ban on same-sex marriage. 

Staying in touch with your clients has never been more important for law firms in 2026. Zoom provides users with a highly functional and intuitive communication platform that can integrate with your existing workflows. Helpful features include:

Stop living in the past and upgrade your phone system with Zoom Phone.

The focus of most hiring teams is recruiting and evaluating job applicants, but what happens after someone agrees to join your firm often determines whether they stick around. NALP’s latest data shows lateraling is more common than ever, and recent grads aren’t going more than a couple of days before asking Reddit if they made the wrong choice.

According to legal recruiter Mary Beth Monzingo, “A thoughtful onboarding program builds confidence, accelerates productivity and reduces turnover.” She has put together a list of best practices for firms that want to keep their new team members.

Why this Matters: Given what it costs to find and hire a new employee, being thoughtful about how you integrate them into your firm can have a huge ROI. (Monzingo Legal)

Thomson Reuters just published its 2026 Law Student Pulse Survey, and the results show the next generation knows AI has both risks and rewards. 

Nearly 60% of law students already use AI several times a week for academic work, but a third of all survey respondents said their school does not provide the AI skills needed for their future legal careers.

“72% of responding students identify AI literacy as an essential professional skill, while 74% simultaneously acknowledge that over-reliance on AI could undermine the development of their own core legal competencies,” said the article.

Why this Matters: If your firm or practice hasn't defined what responsible AI use looks like, don’t expect new hires to wait for you to figure it out. They are used to uncertainty and not afraid to experiment. (Thomson Reuters)

It all started when an Oregon LEGO reseller agreed to sell a collection of rare Star Wars LEGO sets on consignment. Now, multiple lawsuits are pending, conspiracy theories are growing and a large swath of the internet is dying to see what happens next. If you want the crazy backstory, TechDirt has a solid written summary.

What’s perhaps more interesting from our POV is how copyright attorney Leonard J. French has tapped into the intense online interest in this strange story by creating videos breaking down the legal issues involved. 

Why this Matters: What French is doing (besides getting millions of views on YouTube) is a great example of how lawyers can use commentary and analysis to reach a broader audience and educate the public about the law. (Lawful Masses with Leonard French on YouTube)

Traditional search engine volume is predicted to drop 25% this year as AI-driven traffic grows. Most law firm websites aren't built for this. 

The fix, according to Monica Malcotti, isn’t a brand new website. Instead, it’s updating what you have to make it machine friendly. For example, make sure you and your firm's name are consistent across every directory and publication that AI engines use to verify authority.

Why this Matters: Ask ChatGPT or Claude who the leading firms are in your practice area and market. If you're not in the answer, you have work to do. (Legal Marketing Association’s Strategies & Voices Blog)

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Raise the Bar is written and curated by Emily Kelchen edited by Bianca Prieto.