LawBank Co-Hosts Panel on Attorney Rainmaking with the Colorado Mentoring Attorney Program (CAMP)

On April 16, 2020, LawBank and the Colorado Mentoring Attorney Program (CAMP) co-hosted a webinar focused on sharing insight from successful practitioners on developing a “rainmaker” mindset. This webinar was hosted in a Q&A panel style with the Executive Director of CAMP Ryann Peyton facilitating the conversation between Christine Hernandez of Hernandez & Associates, Katie Reilly of Wheeler Trigg O’Donnell LLP, and Franz Hardy of Gordon Rees Scully Mansukhani, LLP.

This program was focused on sharing knowledge from law firm partners and owners with younger attorneys about what being an attorney rainmaker is.  The panel began with what they each consider a rainmaker to be.  In general, a rainmaker is a successful lawyer who attracts clients, money, business, or intangible prestige to an organization. This type of business development is done by their associations, their work product, and their contacts. Rainmakers are individuals that are an asset to their law firm and often hold important roles internally.  This panel was clear in stating that rainmakers are not born, nor are they a specific personality type. Rainmakers are created as they are attorneys who take the time to learn and develop the necessary skills to have a successful career.

This CAMP webinar was rich with advice from attorneys that have developed their rainmaking skills working for themselves as well as working for others. Key takeaways included:

  • Just like staying fit or learning a new skill, you must make business development a daily habit. The panel shared some vital tips for developing daily habits that will build an attorney’s network and client pipeline.
  • How to be personally accountable and also a taskmaster when it comes to working towards goals and the importance of making time and space for both success and failure when it comes to building a law practice.
  • The low hanging fruit for all lawyers is current clients so attorneys should start thereby focusing on doing good work for them for cross-selling and upselling opportunities in the future.
  • Networking is a vital activity of a rainmaker and it is imperative that young attorneys network with more senior lawyers.
  • Mentoring is an effective way to learn business development skills and to network with senior lawyers. Utilize your mentoring relationships as a container to practice both of these skills.

This webinar co-hosted with CAMP is a great example of how LawBank affirms its commitment to the healthy development of lawyers in the Colorado legal community. The program was recorded and can be viewed here.

About LawBank

LawBank is an ideal setting and resource for attorneys who aspire to be rainmakers. At LawBank, young attorneys and attorneys looking to transition into private practice can network with and learn from lawyers from various backgrounds and practice areas. The LawBank environment of solo and small law firms is intentionally collaborative and aids in the development of a thriving independent legal practice.  Schedule a tour.