Traffic Court Seattle blog post (534 x 300 px)

Roadmap to Justice: How to Navigate Traffic Court

If you want to challenge a traffic violation, your destination is traffic court. 

Traffic court is quite different from criminal court. Instead of pleading your case to a jury, a judge calls the shots. Instead of worrying about time behind bars, the harshest penalty is usually a fine. 

If you’ve received a ticket and when to contest it in traffic court, here’s what you can expect: 

Your Arraignment

Your first court date is usually called an “arraignment.” We recommend getting to the courthouse early to find out what courtroom you’ll be in. There, a clerk or bailiff will give you the lay of the land. Then, the judge takes the bench and starts flipping through the docket. When your name’s up, you declare your plea: guilty or not guilty. 

If you plead guilty, that’s your green light to pay up. You may get a discount if the judge is feeling generous, but don’t expect it. 

By pleading not guilty, you are requesting a traffic court trial. Fighting the ticket is usually better than paying for it, even if you’re at fault. The consequences are often greater than just paying your fine. The judge sets a trial date and summons the officer who tagged you, letting them know they have a court date. 

Your Traffic Court Trial

Traffic court trials are like a stripped-down version of criminal court. However, they can still be challenging for someone without a legal background. 

Traffic court trials tend to follow a similar formula: 

1. The Officer Presents Evidence and Testifies

First, the traffic officer takes the stand and provides testimony regarding the alleged violation. Their testimony usually includes details of the incident and any evidence gathered, like radar readings or eyewitness accounts. They may also present relevant documents, such as photographs or the ticket itself. 

2. Cross-examination of the Officer

You or your legal representative have the opportunity to cross-examine the officer. You can ask questions to clarify points, challenge their testimony, and highlight inconsistencies or doubts. 

3. The Officer Concludes Their Testimony

After the cross-examination, the officer has the opportunity to clarify any points you or your attorney raised. If the judge has any additional questions, they’ll ask them before excusing the officer from the bench. 

4. Your Chance to State Your Case

In both traffic and criminal court, you have the chance to defend yourself. After the officer makes their case, you have the option to make yours. You can provide your perspective on the incident and present any relevant evidence or witnesses to support your case. However, if you’re not a legal professional, we strongly recommend having a ticket attorney plead your case for you. 

5. Judge’s Decision

After all the testimony and evidence have been presented, the judge considers it and renders a decision. The judge evaluates the evidence, considers your testimony and that of your witnesses, and applies relevant legal standards to determine whether you are guilty or not guilty. Typically, they announce this decision in court, concluding your trial. 

Your Day in Traffic Court

We strongly recommend hiring a ticket attorney if you don’t have a legal background. The stakes of traffic court may not be as high as they are in criminal court, but you’ll still want to tip the scales in your favor. Don’t pay the fine. Hire a professional to get it dismissed instead.

Marketing for Law Firms How to Create a Customer Persona (2)

Marketing for Law Firms: How to Create a Customer Persona

Want to attract quality leads that actually turn into clients? First, you have to know how to create a customer persona. 

 

What is a Customer Persona?

 

A customer persona is a fictional representation of the clients you want. You can base them on ideal clients you’ve enjoyed working with or who you’d enjoy working with in the future. The more you know about them, the easier it will be to create content that gets their attention. 

 

Why Creating a Customer Persona is Important

 

Suppose you specialize in business law and you’re looking to attract entrepreneurs who want to form limited liability companies (LLCs). You won’t grab their attention by speaking legal jargon and citing case precedents. You must imagine yourself in their shoes and what they must be going through. 

Entrepreneurs wear many hats and often fill multiple roles at once. They’re experts in what they do, but they probably don’t have the know-how to create unambiguous contracts and iron-clad operating agreements. They may not even understand the legal ramifications of having a poorly-written contract — until it’s too late. 

That’s where you come in. As the owner of your business law firm, you’ve got to show your audience why having an attorney draft or review their contracts is important. However, before you do that, you must understand your audience and how to reach them. 

It’s a tall order, but when done well, it gives you a huge advantage over your competitors, who struggle to convey their content in a clear, meaningful way. 

 

How to Create a Customer Persona

 

Let’s say your favorite client is Alex. If you want to work with more people like Alex, let’s start by learning more about her:

 

Alex McSample

 

    • Age: 35
    • Location: North Seattle
    • Occupation: HR Consultant
    • Years Experience: 8 
    • Income: $90,000, but varies year-to-year based on her clients 
    • Education: Bachelor’s Degree
  • Preferred Channels:
    • Alex subscribes to several HR magazines and newsletters. 
    • She enjoys scrolling through Instagram and TikTok.
    • Alex uses LinkedIn to find businesses struggling to find and retain talent. 
  • Business Goals: 
    • Alex knows that she should switch from her sole proprietorship to an LLC. 
    • She wants to hit 6-figures next year, requiring her to find $10,000 in more leads. 
    • She also wants to start a monthly newsletter to stay engaged with her current client base. 
  • Pain Points: 
    • Alex just bought a condo with her partner and needs liability protection to safeguard her personal assets. 
    • Alex understands the benefits of forming an LLC but is intimidated by the legal requirements and is afraid of making a mistake on her paperwork.
    • She knows she needs an operating agreement for her business but doesn’t know what that entails. 

 

With this information handy, you now have a good idea of who Alex is. She’s growing her business and realizing that she must form an LLC. However, she doesn’t know enough about them to feel comfortable filling out the paperwork on her own. 

You’re most likely to grab her attention on LinkedIn because she uses it when she’s in “work mode.” Since she subscribes to a few HR magazines, you should also consider submitting a few business law-related article ideas to their editors.  

 

Additional Customer Persona Ideas

 

The more you know about your ideal customers, the better you can tailor content to reach them. Depending on your target audience, consider the following:

 

  • Relationship status
  • Family and close friends
  • Hobbies and activities
  • Religious affiliations
  • Ideal vacation
  • Favorite Movie, book, show, etc. 

 

A Day in the Life

 

If you wanted, you could take things a step further and think about Alex’s daily routine. If you’re using social media, blogs, and newsletters as part of your content marketing strategy, this exercise will help you understand when your ideal customer engages with content. 

 

Timeline

 

Time

Activity

Opportunity

7:30 – 9a

Alex wakes up, gets ready for work 

N/A

9 – 10a

Alex starts work and scrolls through emails. 

Newsletter

10 – 10:30a

Alex checks LinkedIn before preparing for a meeting

Blog post; LinkedIn post

10:30 – 11a

Alex has a meeting

N/A

11a – 1p

Alex takes a deep dive into work. She’s in the zone

N/A

1 – 1:30p

Alex takes a short lunch. Scrolls through IG and TikTok

IG and TikTok posts

1:30 – 2:30p

Alex has back-to-back client meetings

N/A

2:30 – 3p

Alex is responding to emails and checking LinkedIn again

Newsletter, blog post, LinkedIn post

3 – 5p

Alex takes another deep dive into work, finishes a project

N/A

5 – 6p

Alex hits the gym or goes for a run

N/A

6 – 7p

Alex showers, decompresses, looks at IG and TikTok

IG and TikTok posts

7 – 8p

Alex has dinner with her partner. 

N/A

8 – 10p 

Alex and her partner cuddle and watch TV. She’ll occasionally play a game on her phone

N/A

10 – 11p

Alex winds down, gets ready for bed

N/A

11p – sleep

Alex reads until she goes to sleep

N/A

 

With this info, you know that the ideal times to reach Alex on her workdays are:

 

  • 9 – 10a for newsletters
  • 10 – 10:30a for blog posts and LinkedIn posts
  • 1 – 1:30p for IG and TikTok posts
  • 2:30 – 3p for newsletters, blog posts, and LinkedIn posts
  • 6 – 7p for IG and TikTok posts

 

It’s not an exact science, but this will give you an idea of what content to publish and when. 

 

How to Create a Customer Persona for Law Firms

 

You should always know who your audience is before you start creating content for them. If you don’t, it’ll be much harder to meaningfully connect with them. 

 

And like Alex, you also have a lot of hats to wear and tasks to accomplish. 

 

Content marketing doesn’t have to be one of them. 

 

Save time, increase visibility, and get your marketing done with Anthony Writes Content.

Content Marketing for Lawyers Long-Term Value (534 x 300 px)

The Long-Term Value of Content Marketing for Lawyers

Having a webpage isn’t enough these days. What sets you apart is your ability to craft a compelling narrative that resonates with your desired audience — content marketing does just that.

Content marketing for lawyers has incredible ROI potential. For example, if you maintain a legal blog, each post provides you with versatile content. With it, you can: 

  • Create a video script and make a short video to post on YouTube or TikTok
  • Highlight a snippet and post it in your newsletter
  • Create an Instagram Story or Reel about your post with relevant hashtags
  • Create a podcast discussing the material 
  • Grab a quote and use it as a hook for a social media post 
  • Turn it into a chapter for an ebook
  • Develop a linking strategy for a blog or web series
  • Repost the blog at a later time and retarget your audience

The more content you have, the more opportunities you have to engage your audience.

Here’s how else content marketing provides you with long-term value: 

Content Marketing for Lawyers Is Cost-Effective

Traditional marketing methods, such as mailers, print ads, or billboards, can attract many sets of eyes, but once they’re gone, they’re gone. 

The same goes for paid ads online. If you pay to play, you’ll get an ad on page 1 of Google. However, the cost of admission is steep! Local-based keywords aimed at certain services or aspects of the law can cost you $50, even $100+ per click, making even small campaigns cost somewhere in the five-figure territory. 

And once your paid ad campaign is over, search engines will act like they never existed. 

You won’t receive the instant gratification of shelling out $10,000+ or even $100,000+ for short-term gain, but your content marketing efforts will pay off in perpetuity. You could live on page one of Google without paying for a single ad. 

You’ll Receive Better Quality Leads

Tons of people see billboards and receive mailers, but they’re not necessarily the customers you’re looking to attract. You could end up inundated with calls and emails from people inquiring about what you do, only to find out that’s not the right fit. 

Content marketing involves creating content tailored to your audience’s interests, pain points, and questions. By addressing specific legal topics and providing helpful insights, you’ll attract visitors who turn into leads.

Here’s another way to think about it: 

If you’re looking for a personal injury attorney specializing in slip and falls, who are you more likely to pick: A law firm with a general landing page about personal injuries or a firm with five high-quality articles dedicated to information about slip and falls? 

Content Marketing for Lawyers Has Long-Term SEO Benefits

SEO (search engine optimization) makes your website more attractive to search engines like Google and Yahoo. A well-crafted blog post or series optimized for SEO can continue to drive traffic and generate leads to your website months — even years — after publication. 

SEO is determined by several factors: 

  • On-Page SEO: The web pages and blog copy itself, which requires keyword optimization, content quality and relevance, meta tags, headings, internal linking, and a URL structure
  • Off-Page SEO: Influences beyond your website that improve search engine rankings, such as being sourced by reputable websites, social media marketing, and reputation management
  • Technical SEO: Backend factors, like website speed, XML sitemaps, site architecture, and responsiveness

Content Marketing With Anthony Writes Content

Content marketing for lawyers is cost-effective, attracts quality leads, and is excellent for SEO. However, it’s also time-consuming and not easy. Someone has to put in the work, but that someone doesn’t have to be you. 

Are you ready to save time, increase visibility, and get your marketing done? Let’s talk content and get your content marketing strategy underway!