Free planning tool
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Before an attorney writes a book, they should settle six things: the goal, the reader, the topic, confidentiality and advertising rules, the time and writing method, and the publishing and marketing plan.
This checklist from Big Impact Books turns those six areas into 24 concrete items. Tick them off on screen as you go. It is a planning aid for legal professionals, not legal or ethics advice, so confirm professional rules with your own jurisdiction.
An attorney should plan the book's business goal and primary reader first, because every later choice depends on them. Then settle confidentiality and advertising rules before telling any client story.
Time comes next: with guided interviews at Big Impact Books, the commitment is about one hour a week. Finally, decide your publishing path and start marketing before launch, not after.
Tick each box as you finish it. Your checks stay on this screen only and are not saved or sent anywhere.
Definition
A book planning checklist is a list of decisions an author makes before writing, so the book serves a clear goal instead of drifting. Big Impact Books offers its own free book planning checklist on its main website. This legal version adds the items attorneys face that general authors do not: confidentiality, advertising rules, and how the book connects to client intake.
Why order matters
Many first-time authors start with an outline of everything they know. That produces a book for themselves. Starting with one reader and their real questions produces a book that reader finishes and recommends. It also makes the ethics review easier, because you know exactly which stories you need.
For general publishing steps after planning, see how to publish your book, and for the full overview of book writing services for attorneys.
Rules to read
Start with the ABA Model Rules of Professional Conduct, especially Rule 1.6 on confidentiality and Rules 7.1 to 7.3 on communications about legal services. Then read your own state's adopted version and any ethics opinions on lawyer publications, because states differ.
Next step
A completed checklist makes the first conversation with any publisher faster and more useful. If you want to talk about guided interviews, publishing, and promotion with Big Impact Books, use its contact page, email hello@yourbigimpactbook.com, or text 623.418.0723.
Short, direct answers. Every question also appears on the full FAQ page.
Bring your goal for the book, the readers you want to reach, a rough list of the questions clients ask you most, and the weekly time you can realistically give. Attorneys should also note any confidentiality limits. The legal book planning checklist on this site walks through each item step by step.
See this answer in the full FAQYou can write about lessons from your practice, but client confidentiality comes first. Under ABA Model Rule 1.6 and the state versions based on it, lawyers generally may not reveal information relating to a representation without informed consent or another exception. Many attorney authors anonymize or combine stories. Confirm the specifics with your state bar’s ethics guidance.
See this answer in the full FAQIt can be, depending on how the book and its promotion describe your services. Rules modeled on ABA Model Rule 7.1 prohibit false or misleading communications about a lawyer’s services, and some states add specific advertising requirements. Review your jurisdiction’s rules before finalizing back cover copy, author bios, ads, and launch emails.
See this answer in the full FAQBig Impact Books describes its done-for-you process as designed to respect clients’ time, at just one hour a week. That hour is a guided interview where you talk through a chapter, and the team turns those conversations into manuscript pages. Attorney and author Manisha P. Patel said the weekly interviews made the process manageable.
See this answer in the full FAQStart before the book is published. Big Impact Books has long advised authors that waiting until after launch loses valuable time to grow an audience and build credibility as a subject matter expert. Building buzz early helps generate interest, so begin sharing your expertise while you are still writing.
See this answer in the full FAQGenerally, no. Individuals can self-publish under their own name. Some authors set up a publishing company or imprint for branding, tax, or liability reasons, a topic many self-publishing guides cover. Business owners and attorneys should confirm the right structure with their accountant or business counsel before setting one up.
See this answer in the full FAQTalk with Big Impact Books about planning, writing, publishing, and promoting your book. For a quicker response, the team suggests email or text.
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