Have you made a connection this week? If so, good for you! Line up a networking event for next week and keep the momentum going.
If not, today is Thursday. You have time. Here are a few ideas:
- Comb your 2nd-degree connections (friends of friends) on LinkedIn, then pick up the phone and call one to schedule lunch (or a drink). Do not leave a message; call until you get a human.
- Call up someone who gets the clients you want, but does not represent them on the cases you take (if you do immigration, call an employment lawyer, for example). Ask to buy them lunch or a drink.
- If you are on Twitter, follow 10 lawyers now, and set a reminder to call five of them in two weeks to ask for advice on getting to where you want to be.
- Schedule a happy hour for tomorrow, and ask everyone you invite to bring a guest (not necessarily a lawyer).
Share your own networking ideas in the comments.
(photo: matmorrison)
Sam Glover has been writing about law practice technology, management, marketing, and other stuff on Lawyerist since 2007. He consults on appeals and motion practice in his solo practice. When he isn't blogging or lawyering, Sam drinks espresso and plays with fountain pens.
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Read the comments below or add one of your own.
I love the suggestions! Here are two more:
(1) Search for groups on LinkedIn where people congregate who share your interests, whether those groups are legal (e.g. Affordable Housing Network) or social (e.g. Twin Cities Happy Hours). Every group you join adds new people to your network on LinkedIn. Then post events that you are attending, or organizing, to the relevant group, and attend the events that others advertise as well.
(2) If you are on Facebook, join a group for your high school, junior high, elementary school, neighborhood kickball team, or childhood summer camp. If the group does not exist – create one. Then organize an event to reminisce about the good ol’ days.
I forgot one. If you are in the Twin Cities area, plan to come to the first Lawyerist Happy Hour at the Bulldog NE on April 29th!
Here’s one more – a bit anachronistic, I know, but I am a big fan of handwritten notes.
I use them to:
(1) say thank you, happy holidays, and happy birthday (obvious);
(2) pass along articles or other printed information my contacts might like; or
(3) offer congratulations (to which I attach a mention of their accomplishment from the news, etc.).
I have found this networking tool to be most effective with folks who are a decade or two (or four) ahead of me. Don’t underestimate the importance of networking with your elders to career advancement.
I am also a big fan of handwritten notes, especially for thank-yous and congratulations. I keep a drawer of notecards (I especially like to use notecards with a monogrammed S on them) just for this purpose.
How terrific is that, Sam. You use an “S” for Sam, rather than a “G” for Glover. Love it.
The letter S looks cooler!
Handwritten notes are terrific — as long as you have legible handwriting. I’ve worked with people whose writing was borderline illegible. (This is getting more common now that we use handwriting skills less.) If you can’t read your own handwriting, save someone else’s eyes and send them a nice e-mail or typed letter (maybe with a few brief handwritten words, if you really must have the personal touch.)