BLOGGING AND LEGAL SCHOLARSHIP: Interesting account of an AALS panel on the subject.

The risk of distraction is certainly real, though it’s perhaps overrated — at least, plenty of people are equally distracted by email lists, public-service activities, political activism, etc. I think you’re better focusing on outputs, making sure your scholarship and teaching are progressing. Then you can use your spare time for blogging or whatever. It’s the pickle-jar theory of time management, and it works. Start with the big things, and you’ve got room for the little ones. Try to do it in the reverse order and you’re screwed. At least that’s how it works for me.

As for junior faculty worrying that their blogging may cost them tenure, well, it might — but if you’re seriously worried about that, it’s probably a sign that your school has a major problem in the way of intellectual openness, and you should probably be thinking about going somewhere else.

UPDATE: More here.

ANOTHER UPDATE: Christine Hurt weighs in on the women and blogging question.

MORE: Much more here and here. Both are must-reads, with links to lots of other posts.