The Biggest Mistake Lawyers Make in Their Approach to Networking
The thought of it for most lawyers gives them a major headache. I'd like to call it something else like "relationship building" or "professional connecting." Because that's what effective networking really is.
November 13, 2019 at 04:15 PM
3 minute read
Julie Q. Brush, Solutus founding partner.Q: What is the biggest mistake lawyers make in their approach to networking?
A: First, let me say that I'm not a big fan of the word "networking." When I think of this word, it conjures up the image of a big convention center or other big room with lots of people meandering around staring at each other's nametags. Nothing really happening, totally ineffective, a lot of after-meeting frustration. And the thought of it for most lawyers gives them a major headache. I'd like to call it something else like "relationship building" or "professional connecting." Because that's what effective networking really is.
Which leads me to the biggest mistake lawyers make in their approach to this task: It is the erroneous belief about what "networking/professional connecting" is all about and what you should accomplish from it. The vast majority of lawyers think about it as the following: What can I get? How can this person help me? Can this person hire me as outside counsel? What can this person do for me? Who can this person introduce me to? Can this person get me a job?
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