First off, what is Google Authorship? Great question! Google Authorship connects a person's online Google+ profile (identity) with the content they have contributed to the Internet in the form of a website or blog.
Over the years, Google has continually changed the way it serves up information for the end-user in an effort to produce the best possible content and user experience. Allowing for experts such as attorneys to claim ownership of their content, Google Authorship will help to build trust and fend off spamming schemes that can have a negative impact on user experience, which can negatively impact Google's business.
When you perform a Google search for local attorneys in your market, you might notice that some of the lawyer’s results have a small image next to it. That’s Google Authorship! Google Authorship helps attorneys to stand out among the rest, resulting in heightened click-through rates by as much as 67%.
“Within search results, information tied to verified online profiles will be ranked higher than content without such verification..." - Google Chairman Eric Scmidt
If you are like most attorneys, you tend to be competitive. When it comes to search engine marketing, being #1 when you type “practice area + your metro area” (e.g., "personal injury attorney Sacramento"), into the search box, you want to be #1! Who wouldn’t! So, when you finally DO show for such a search term, it feels good. You have succeeded!