Law Networking Events Explained
Law networking events are essentially gatherings of legal professionals for the purpose of relationship building. They are typically designed to bring together people from the same profession and encourage them to connect with one another, learn more about their field, and, ideally, refer business to one another.
For junior legal professionals, the value of attending law networking events is built into the very nature of the networking event itself . Attending a law networking event is an opportunity to meet other legal professionals, make new contacts and build a referral network. Not only can it help you make new contacts, but it also gives you an opportunity to learn about new developments in your field. Even more importantly, it gives you the chance to meet potential mentors and develop relationships with them that could benefit your career in the years to come.
Getting Prepared for a Law Networking Event
Doing your research about the event before you head out is essential. Find out who else will be attending and do a little digging into their background. You can use LinkedIn to check out who your mutual connections are, find people in similar industries, and get a sense of which attendees are influential and worth your time. You should also do some homework on the firm that’s hosting the event. Who is the event contact, and who will they be introducing you to? Connect with them on LinkedIn or social media prior to the event and let them know that you’re looking forward to meeting them. Make a specific goal for each event. Other than making friends and generating new leads, what do you want to accomplish at each networking event? Maybe there’s a specific attorney you want to meet, or perhaps there is someone you interviewed with years ago. Do you want to deepen your connection within the industry by becoming more involved in a specific organization’s leadership or committees? Make an effort to seek out these individuals and opportunities when you’re at the event. After determining your goals, create and bring some talking points. Don’t memorize them, but do have a few discussion starters ready to go. It will reduce your anxiety and help you to connect with people you may not have known how to approach. Bringing a notepad or an agenda will make it look as though you’re laser focused on your goals for the day, and you can use it as a reference when you can’t seem to remember someone’s name. Lastly, prepare your materials. Bring business cards so attendees will remember who you are, your company, and how to contact you. If you have handouts that you will be presenting at the event, such as a brochure or a one sheet for a lunch and learn, be sure to bring enough copies for everyone and have them ready to go so you don’t have to scramble.
Networking at Law Events
One of the most important and perhaps intimidating aspects of a law networking event is meeting and engaging with the other attendees. This task can be made all the simpler (and a lot less painful) if you have an idea of what to expect and have some strategies in place.
So how do you find people you have something in common with? Often, the answer is in the program. For example, at a seminar, check out who the speakers are, or what the panel topics are. It’s likely that others attending the event will have some interest in those topics as well. That gives you an entry point for a conversation. And of course, if you’re interested in speaking or being a panelist at an event, being an attendee first can be a great way to familiarize yourself with the sponsorship group.
Additionally, the day of the event is rarely the only time that the sponsor has done any screening of attendees, so checking out the guest list can help you zero in on particularly valuable contacts. Chances are, that list has already been filtered in some way – perhaps by your area of practice or geographic location – so engage with the people on that list that you know are the best targets for your networking efforts.
On many occasions, networking opportunities at legal events (and in general) turn into real conversations about you and your interests – an opportunity for you to present yourself as a person worth getting to know better… which is a great opportunity! A conversation starter can be pretty simple; a comment about the other person’s work, the topic of the event or even a compliment can get the ball rolling. If you’re at a networking event that was not organized by a specific bar association, some of the "regulars" will be very approachable, but it’s not for certain. The bottom line is that you should always remember that the other person has a similar interest to you, so finding common ground should be fairly easy.
Because you’ve done your research ahead of time and know who the decision-makers are, it should be easy to identify the people you want to make a connection with at a networking event. The follow-up is the most important part for the future of that relationship. At the event, it’s a good idea to jot down a quick note about your conversation and your takeaways from it. Even better, is sending a brief email with the same sentiments after you’ve had a chance to journal about your conversation. These methods are clearly for smaller events – but for a larger event, rather than writing a note during or immediately after (which can affect your ability to hold a real conversation), you could also consider sending a thank you note the next day or setting a calendar reminder to call the person a few days after the event (to catch up and see how they are doing with a project you talked about, etc). Conversations at large events can benefit from this kind of follow-up. You can also consider sending a piece of mail as a follow up if you can’t think of anything to say or write in a timely manner. The connection can grow from here!
Building a Professional Network
So you have made connections at a law networking function, but what now? How do you maintain your newly built professional relationships? There are two major components in maintaining client business long-term and building a professional network: communication and connection. Be sure to stay in touch and encourage your network to keep up the connection. Personally email those you talked to within 48 hours of the event and let them know how much you enjoyed talking with them and what you enjoyed talking about. An article in Open Forum suggests keeping a "CRM" or client relationship manager where you can jot down some notes after you leave an event. Write about them, what they do, what you talked about, any other personal details you can remember and what you might talk to them about the next time you meet . Send short, but personal, emails every few months or a quarterly newsletter for a bit of a broader reach.
Social media is also a great place to maintain and grow your network. If you feel comfortable, be sure to connect with them on LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram. Follow along with what they are doing and communicate your thoughts about it – "Congratulations on the promotion! What a wonderful opportunity for you." "I saw your team’s presentation at X conference; it was informative and inspiring!" "I tweeted last week about that article you were telling me about." Keeping it brief and simple shows you are maintaining a connection without forcing it. Information can now be delivered via social media while keeping the connection alive.
Super-Power Your Networking Skills
Networking for lawyers is not always easy, as there are many obstacles that can hinder an event’s success. From not having recent networking experience to getting too anxious to strike up that lingering thought, "What am I doing talking to this person," the challenges can add up quickly.
Here’s a look at some of the most common networking challenges faced by lawyers and the best ways to overcome them.
Shyness or Social Anxiety
If you feel like you are short on confidence in terms of your social skills or networking approach, you’re not alone. Many lawyers and legal professionals are shy or struggle with social anxiety, which can make it difficult to network.
The Solution: Acknowledge your feelings of anxiety, but don’t let those feelings keep you from engaging. Set a goal to meet one new person for every 30 minutes spent in the room-you don’t have to talk to everyone at the event. If possible, bring along a more outgoing coworker or former colleague to help introduce you to new people.
The Unexpected Social Engagement
The social engagement at the legal networking event could catch you off guard. It’s always a good idea to brush up on the rules of engagement before hitting the floor, but you can still be surprised by the reaction of a fellow networking event attendee.
The Solution: Pay very careful attention to what the other person is saying. If there are any cues that he or she is offended by what you just said, apologize immediately and explain that you didn’t mean to offend. Don’t dwell on what you may think was an off-base comment.
Not Having Recent Networking Experience
If networking events aren’t part of your normal work routine, you may find yourself nervous about your lack of recent experience engaging new people.
The Solution: Trying pairing up with a more experienced networking partner or even reading networking etiquette tips on this blog before each event. Also avoid overthinking your appearance. Wear clothes that make you feel good and ready to put your best foot forward.
The Evolution of Law Networking Events
As the digital world continues to expand and evolve, so too does the future of law networking events. No longer are lawyers limited to in-person appearances; instead, they can connect with colleagues, potential clients and the wider legal community from the comfort of their own offices. Virtual networking events have become increasingly popular, allowing legal professionals to network with individuals across the globe without the constraints of geography.
One emerging trend in law networking is the use of video conferencing software. Tools like Zoom and Skype provide lawyers with the ability to participate in live meetings and conferences regardless of their physical location. This technology enhances traditional networking by allowing interactions with a wider and more diverse range of professionals in real time.
Another innovation to note is the rise of virtual event platforms. These services offer an immersive and interactive networking experience by recreating real-world event environments online. Virtual event platforms allow for the integration of features such as live chat , discussion forums and virtual lounges. As a result, they provide a branded experience for your network and allow attendants to connect and interact with one another and the content of the event over the course of days and weeks, rather than just hours.
We must also consider the effects of corporate social networks (CSNs). These platforms cater to professionals looking to expand their networks for career advancement purposes. By connecting with other like-minded individuals, lawyers can increase their chances of professional success. Lawyers are also taking advantage of LinkedIn for firms as a social media platform for gathering more potential leads and building their brand. This networking tool provides legal professionals with an opportunity to network, market themselves and their firms, and inform the public about legal education.
While traditional networking will always have its advantages, career-minded lawyers must be open to new and emerging law networking opportunities.