Social Media, Networking, and
Professionalism For Law Students
and Young Lawyers
Laurie Rowen and Erin Giglia
Owners of Montage Legal Group, LLC
What is Networking?
• Definition: “a supportive system of sharing information and services among
individuals and groups having a common interest”
• Networking for lawyers
• Focus on helping others, not helping yourself
Goals of Networking
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Get a job or switch jobs
Business development (to obtain clients)
Community involvement
Resume building
Increase your presence in the legal community
Help others – MUTUAL GOALS
Meet new people and have fun!
Why is Networking Important?
• Relationships lead to opportunities
• Being smart, or a good lawyer will only get you halfway to success
• People (not just potential clients) have to know you, or know of you, in order to
give you work
• Be a good investment to your law firm – it leads to career growth
• Referrals
Excuses, Excuses, Excuses
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“I’m too busy.”
Business development is too overwhelming and impossible
I’m too shy
I hate feeling like a used car salesman
I don’t want to bother people
Types of Networking
• Social Media and On-line Networking
• Networking at Events/Deliberate Networking
• Natural Networking
Social Media Options
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LinkedIn
Twitter
Facebook
Google+
Blogging
New options will continue to arise
Social Media – Start Networking Online
• Remain professional – professional photo, self edit status updates
• Limit content - Don’t put anything up you don’t want a prospective employer or
contact to see.
• Start a spreadsheet of all of your contacts, professional and personal (or use
Linked-in)
• Spend an appropriate amount of time reaching out to the right connections, but
limit yourself
Using Social Media Properly
• When job searching, make your profiles “private” and include a professional
photo
Linked In – Your Searchable Online Resume
• Have a complete, accurate, and up-to-date profile.
• Your profile is searchable, so be sure to include areas of expertise, articles
published, presentations, honors/awards.
• Join relevant groups, and interest groups (clients come from all places –
friends, neighbors, etc.).
• Post updates, share your contacts’ accomplishments – they may return the
favor.
• Use “notes” section to keep track of your contacts
Linked-In
What is Twitter?
• Facebook is for friends and family, Linked-in is for business contacts, and
Twitter is for people you don’t know
• Similar to Facebook status updates, but more articles are shared
• Terms: Following, tweeting, @ symbol and # symbol
• If you have limited time, focus on Linked-in v. twitter
Social Media - Ethical Issues for Lawyers
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Read and Understand Bar Rules
Improper contact with parties and possibly judges
False/Misleading information
Advertising/Solicitation (You Tube)
Client confidentiality – “Today SUCKS - in Court for my LOSER case.”
Unauthorized practice of law – providing legal advice
Intentional Networking – Live Events
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Go with a friend, but make sure you branch out
Approach new people
Ask questions about what people do. Don’t just talk about yourself.
Do NOT sell! Ask for introductions.
Offer to help contact
Exit strategies
Choose the Right Live Events
• Which organizations to choose? Choose WISELY: 1 legal (OCBA section), 1
non-legal (your area of legal expertise or hobby), Alumni, and 1 community
organization.
• Be interested in your groups.
• Obtain leadership roles in these groups.
• Why be active in a legal organization like the OCBA?
Be Prepared
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Have a stack of business cards
Have your elevator speech ready
Attire – professional, business attire
Arrive early, so you’ll have plenty of time to network before the presentation
Relax, scope out the room
Have a plan and stick to it
Elevator Speech
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What is an elevator speech?
Don’t make it too long - 15 seconds
Make it conversational v. formal
Have different versions
Practice your speech
Applies to natural networking
Follow Up
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Send an email
Connect on Linked In
Follow through with offers to help and/or remind of request for introductions
Post their articles on your Linked-in page, and then tell them about it.
Continue liking/commenting/sharing for contacts
Natural Networking
• This does not come naturally to everyone – it takes practice for some people
• Talk to people everywhere.
• Know what your friends and contacts do, and what their needs are. Ask
questions
• Make sure people know what you do (hopefully in a non-annoying way).
• Most business development occurs outside the professional environment
• Be approachable
Cultivating Your New Contact
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Follow up
Follow up again
Follow up some more
Thank for making introductions, check in to see how they’re doing, set up
coffee meetings, forward articles or presentations of interest, refer work, share
their stories in social media and tell them about it, send congratulations.
• Consider actually becoming friends with some of these people!
Recap on Networking
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You are in charge of your own job search and client development
Start networking now, from your computer
Use social media frequently and often, but be professional
Start going to networking events as a law student, but be prepared
Get to know all of your Chapman Law classmates – you can help each other
out later in your careers
• Learn how to be a “natural networker”