It’s that time again. Time for 2Ls (and a few lucky 1Ls) to join the ranks of the employed in the hopes of landing a permanent gig post-graduation. Of course, the substance of your work matters (a lot), but landing a full-time position from a summer associate gig requires more than just doing legal great work. What else do you need to do? Keep Reading ⇒
Recently, I was talking to a lawyer about the ideal mix of business with pleasure, in the context of successful business development. This attorney observed that a lawyer in his firm with lots of clients seemed to devote most of his life to his practice. All of this successful lawyer’s social and community activities revolved around clients or potential clients. His personal life was hardly separate from his work life.
This lawyer I was speaking with wondered if he should take the same approach. Should he be marketing 24/7? I hate to sound like a lawyer, but the answer is both yes and no. First, I’ll provide the “yes” answer. Then, I’ll provide the “no” answer.
The life of an attorney can be filled with WTF moments—many of which are avoidable.
The advent of social media (combined with a tough legal economy) has made some attorneys overzealous in their marketing attempts—resulting in chasing potential clients.
That can also lead to attorneys providing legal advice when they simply do not have enough information to render a professional opinion.
Rendering haphazard legal advice creates all sorts of problems—and none of them are of the good variety.
Job security is on the radar screens of most lawyers. Many lawyers, however, perceive that their jobs are very secure, when in reality they are not. Due to a false sense of security, these lawyers often neglect the networking they should be doing.
Three scenarios demonstrate this concept of a false sense of job security.
New solo attorneys consistently have problems with two aspects of running a business: finances and marketing.
Finances are just numbers and can always be outsourced to an accountant.
Face to face meetings with other attorneys is the best way to build your professional network.
If you follow these four rules, you can do a dang good job.
I’m frequently asked how much time and money should attorneys spend on marketing. Like a true lawyer, I reply that “it depends.” There is no magic percentage of revenue or billable hours to be allocated to business development activities. The answer to this question will vary by practice area, geographic location and budget.
But when asked about the two most important marketing tools for attorneys, my answer is rarely “it depends.” The answer is your networking efforts and your website. No matter how much time and money a lawyer decides to spend, spend it in these two areas.
Hate marketing? Good news! (Well, maybe.) There are literally thousands of consultants who would be happy to do it for you. And a few of them are probably actually legit!
All you have to do is pay a small referral fee (only don’t call it that) for the chance to talk to a potential potential client (not a typo).
Sound awesome? Here’s the catch. Two catches, actually.
At dinner recently, my friend overheard our waitress tell another table that she was a law student. When the waitress came back to our table, we told her we were lawyers and asked her about law school. She is a 2L at a local school. I asked what kind of law she wants to practice, and she replied “something that will pay.”
Law school will teach you how to think like a lawyer, but it won’t teach you how to practice law.
Even though law schools are providing more skills-based classes, nothing beats getting practical insight from a mentor.
The original content within this website is © 2007–2013 Lawyerist Media, LLC.
![Total Attorneys Raises the Price on its Practice Management Software [UPDATED]](http://lawyerist.com/lawyerist/wp-content/plugins/wordpress-popular-posts/timthumb.php?src=http://lawyerist.com/lawyerist/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/ta-logo.png&h=90&w=90){kind=logo}
