Robert J. Ambrogi is an author to the Best Legal Sites on the Web, Rockport, MA.

1. LAWCROSSING
THE LARGEST COLLECTION OF LEGAL JOBS ON EARTH
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Robert J. Ambrogi: Author, The Essential Guide to the
Best (and Worst) Legal Sites on the Web, Rockport, MA
[By Charisse Dengler]
Tucked away in the quaint seaside town of Rockport, MA, Robert J. Ambrogi is passionate about two things:
journalism and technology.
“We are in a period of unprecedented secrecy the best degree for that would be law. He for lawyers, legal.online included an annual
in which the First Amendment is becoming was right, of course.” feature titled “The Best of the Web for
the greatest victim. Federal and state Lawyers”; and after a suggestion from ALM
governments are hindering public access In his private practice, Ambrogi specializes Publishing, Ambrogi got to work turning
to government documents and meetings. in media law and divides his time between the annual feature into a full-length book
Judges are ordering journalists to testify and practicing and consulting. designed to make navigating the World Wide
threatening them with jail,” he said. “In the Web a little easier for those in the legal field.
“In my law practice, I focus on media and
midst of all this, the Internet is forcing us
new media law and serve as legal director
to rethink traditional concepts of media and “I was an early convert to the potential power
and lobbyist for the state newspaper
media law. We are in a time of significant of the Internet for research, marketing,
publishers association,” he said. “I also work
turmoil and change. That makes it difficult, and communications,” he said. “When I
as an arbitrator and mediator and serve on
but it also makes it exciting.” first started exploring it, I was so excited by
several ADR [alternative dispute resolution]
its enormous potential and low cost that I
panels. In my consulting practice, I provide
For Ambrogi, the ins and outs of media law wanted to bring it to the attention of other
advice to law firms and legal vendors on
are almost second nature. With a journalistic lawyers.”
media, Internet, and editorial matters.”
career that dates back to high school, he said
he has been interested in journalism for as Currently, Ambrogi is focused on keeping
However, in the legal field, Ambrogi is
long as he can remember. attorneys abreast of developments in
probably best known as the man who
Internet research and journalism through
effectively shaved hours off of the Internet-
“Over the course of my career, I have worked electronic publishing.
research process by combining his writing
both in media and for media. As a result, I
skills, technological proficiency, and legal
have always been involved in media law to “I write two blogs, record a weekly podcast,
knowledge to create The Essential Guide to
one extent or another,” he said. and contribute to Law.com’s Legal Blog
the Best (and Worst) Legal Sites on the Web.
Watch,” he said. “That keeps me pretty
In the past, Ambrogi has worked as the editor busy.”
In the book, which is now available in an
of Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly, founding
updated second edition, Ambrogi lists and
editor of Lawyers Weekly USA, editor-in- It was during the writing of his book that
ranks the most important websites for every
chief of the National Law Journal, director Ambrogi was first introduced to the world of
major area of law, giving the worst sites zero
of the ALM News Service, and publisher of legal blogging.
stars and the best sites five stars.
newspapers in Connecticut and Idaho. In fact,
he actually went to law school in order to “Lawyers do not have a lot of time on their “Although there were only a handful of legal
advance his career in journalism. hands to waste looking for the right website, blogs at the time, it struck me as an effective
and there are a lot of websites out there for tool for me to use to keep myself and my
“After college, I considered getting a them to sort through,” he said. “My book readers up to date,” he said. “When I started
master’s degree in journalism,” he said. “My does the work for them, helping them hone in in 2002, I certainly never expected that I
undergraduate journalism adviser said that on the best sites for their particular needs.” would still be blogging four years later.”
would be a waste of time because I already
knew how to report and write. He suggested Inspiration for the book came from legal. LawSites, Ambrogi’s first blog, builds on
getting an advanced degree that would teach online, a newsletter Ambrogi produced from the premise of his book and is described as
me about how the world works, and he said 1995 to 2000. The first Internet newsletter “tracking new and intriguing websites for
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2. LAWCROSSING
THE LARGEST COLLECTION OF LEGAL JOBS ON EARTH
LAW STAR www.lawcrossing.com 1. 800.973.1177
the legal profession.” Media Law, which he accelerated, but the good news is that I can meaning,” he said. “I am in virtually daily
started in 2004, is dedicated to reporting sit here in my little seaside town and operate contact with lawyers and businesses in all
legal issues within the field of journalism. a business that is international in its reach. It corners of the country and even the globe.
continues to amaze me.” The traditional notion that law practice
“The Internet truly did bring about a should be confined to and regulated by a
revolution in law practice. Everything has Ambrogi predicts that the global community single state must evolve. I firmly believe
changed—how we communicate with our created by the Internet will continue to that we will eventually develop a system
colleagues and clients, how we market initiate changes in the legal profession. for licensing lawyers to practice across
ourselves, how we perform research, and jurisdictions.”
how we manage our practices,” he said. “The “Because of the Internet, we live in a time
bad news is that the pace of law practice has when geographic borders tend to lose their
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