Lawyer networking that works for you and your firm’s culture

Independent lawyers need strong professional relationships, but many of us don’t enjoy strings of networking events. Here are a few tips for lawyer networking that don’t involve awkward hours at events you don’t want to attend.

Activate your dormant contacts

Rather than meeting a room full of strangers who may or may not become important connections, begin with the people you already know. Yes, the people you interact with regularly matter, but think about all the people in your sphere who you haven’t seen in a long time. Reaching out to these dormant ties can help you grow your reach in unexpected ways. Reaching out also feels a lot more comfortable than making a bunch of cold calls.

The Introverted Networker explains:

“People who had gone off into the world and had different experiences brought fresh perspectives that the people right in front of them couldn’t. That’s the power of dormant ties. They already know you. They’re already inclined to help. You just have to reach out.”

In that article, the writer also notes that the response rate from dormant ties rings in much higher than people expect: 70 to 80 percent. Start with former colleagues, supervisors and even old law school friends. Then expand to other people from your past with whom you shared a real connection. Catch up over lunch, coffee or Zoom and look for ways to help them with their current projects while also sharing your updates.

Support local businesses

Seek out the independent, small businesses in your neighborhood and get to know the managers and owners. You can find some of these business owners at local business events, but visiting in person creates a more natural interaction. Each time you pick up coffee, lunch or goods creates an opportunity to forge a meaningful interaction with a fellow business.

When you visit, leave an online review or tag the business in your social media. That visible support helps them and makes you more memorable.

Volunteer

In addition to supporting your community, volunteering for causes important to you can help you:

  • Get to know other people with similar interests and values
  • Meet other business leaders in the community
  • Learn about community needs that your firm can support
  • Connect with potential clients in your target audience

On that last point, tread carefully. While you might volunteer where potential clients might be, that should not serve as your primary purpose for giving your time. You should genuinely care about the nonprofit or cause involved.

Continue learning

Whether you attend conferences that interest you or sign up for a Crossfit class, life-long learning offers opportunities to expand your network. While engaging both your brain and your body, you fire up neurons that help you open up to the fellow learners around you.

This article points to that community-building effect in the context of team sports and exercise:

“This shared experience naturally leads to the formation of bonds, somewhat like how two players on a soccer team might develop camaraderie through teamwork. A study by the American Journal of Public Health highlighted that individuals who engaged in group sports reported a 50% higher sense of community belonging compared to those who exercised alone.”

This sense of community can occur in almost any learning environment; not just a sports setting. So, think about what you want to learn or experience and then be open to meeting people who share that interest.

Work alongside likeminded entrepreneurs

Finally, where you spend your working hours can have a big impact on the strength of your professional network. Working from home might bring you closer to your cat, but he’s not likely to refer clients your way.

Even opening your own office can leave you isolated (and stuck with an expensive lease).

Fortunately, much of the modern workforce now chooses non-traditional office options. Coworking, shared offices and hybrid schedules give you many more opportunities to meet likeminded business owners who can become some of your most trusted and valuable contacts.

Inspi, an online magazine, notes that:

“Unlike traditional offices where people from the same company work in isolation, coworking spaces bring together professionals from different backgrounds, industries, and skill sets. This diversity leads to more collaboration, idea-sharing, and creative problem-solving.  The vibrant community in coworking spaces fosters meaningful connections that often lead to new business opportunities and long-term partnerships.”

When you clock in at your coworking space, you begin to build a better set of business relationships.

Ready to learn more about how coworking can help you grow your law business? We have two centrally located buildings in Denver where independent lawyers and small law firms grow and connect. Reach out to learn more.