7 Tips To Grow Your Law Firm With Attorney Networking

Networking is essential for growth and success in almost every profession. For law firms, however, networking and building the right connections is crucial as they could open doorways to lucrative business opportunities and an improved brand recognition. You could be the best at using law points appropriately, but without the skills to develop a strong network, you can only reach so far in your career. 

If you are wondering how to spread the word about your law firm, attorney networking might just be the platform to put yourself out there and build relationships with your target audience and other players in the lawyer community. 

Though attorney networking is not a walk in the park, anyone can be good at it with practice and persistence. New to attorney networking and confused where to start? Read on!   

Simple Tips For Better Attorney Networking

1. Focus on a Specific Niche

Modern-day law firms deal with a broad spectrum of clients. Some might need a divorce lawyer while others might need help with filing a lawsuit or creating legal contracts . Though you might be well-versed in various branches of law, it makes good sense to focus on one specific niche especially when you are starting out. 

When you choose one area of expertise and work on it, it mitigates the risk of spreading yourself too thin while helping to brand yourself as a specialist in a particular niche and improving chances of attracting more clients.   

2. Know Your Target Audience

Now that you have zeroed-in on a particular branch of law as your area of expertise, you must spend time understanding your target demographics. 

Knowing what your target audience is looking for and how you can address their pain points can go a long way in building a robust attorney network. For example, if you are a newly practicing corporate lawyer, focus on small businesses and startups that might be looking for legal aid instead of targeting well-established companies that have a legal team in place.       

3. Create a Networking Plan

Meticulous planning will help you prepare for every possible situation that you might face while reaching out to new clients. When you have a well-thought out networking plan and have spent hours prepping, you exude an air of confidence and it reflects in your demeanor when you engage in a conversation with a potential client.

Some things to think about while you create a networking plan: 

• How do you want to introduce yourself? 
• What tone do you want to use for the discussion?
• How do you dress? 
• How would you probe for more information from the client?
• How will you display your understanding of the situation while being empathetic for the client? 

These are some questions you should be asking yourself as a lawyer while developing your unique networking strategy. 

As simple as they might sound, these are some basic points that, if done right, can go a long way in creating a great first impression and making connections.

4. Use Social Tools

Only those living under a rock would not depend on social tools for networking. Personal relationships and connections are vital for law firms to sustain and grow. Smartly using social media will help you convert digital impressions into potential clients.

Working with an experienced digital marketing firm and  a skilled copywriter can significantly help in building your network. Simple things like having a well-written description on your Linkedin profile or having a professional website can do magic when it comes to building clients’ confidence in your law firm.

Using analytics and social tools will help you understand how to network better and gain more clients.

5. Blogging 

Let’s say you are knowledgeable in family law. You know tricks and hacks which might help resolve legal conflicts within a family in a courtroom or outside of it. How can you best exhibit your knowledge to people in an interesting way? The answer to this is blogging.

Adding a blog section to your law firm’s website is a great way to increase traffic. The traffic to your website is directly related to the clients you can convert. Updating your website with well-written, informative, and easy-to-understand blogs is a great way to expand your network. 

You could also use the power of audio-visual medium through video blogs or vlogs. Short  explainer videos are very effective in communicating your message and showcasing your expertise to thousands of potential clients.

6. Participate in Legal Events

Call it old-fashioned or traditional but a legal event is the best place to be for expanding your network. Seminars of experienced lawyers, law conferences, and law fairs are some examples of legal events that can provide you great exposure in front of the right audience. These public events also provide a solid platform to test your networking plan that you had devised earlier. 

It is possible that you expand your network significantly by just attending one seminar. It is also possible that you might go to a few legal events and not improve your network at all. The key is to be persistent and wisely choose the events to attend.

Your motive should be to meet like-minded people, learn new things, and eventually expand your network.

7. The Importance of Asking Questions and a Great Business Card

Among many things, a lawyer has to be a great listener. A tell-tale sign of a good listener is if they ask meaningful follow-up questions. Not only will this help create a great impression, but it could also help you get a potential client.

Having an eye-catchy business card is crucial for attorney networking. After successfully breaking the ice with a potential client, there will come a moment where you would have to give your business card to them. If the card is shoddy or unprofessional, it might ruin your law firm’s impression. On the other hand, a sleek business card helps create a great image of your law firm among potential clients.

To be a successful attorney, you need to invoke the feeling of confidence and trust in clients. You can do so by being good at networking. If you successfully build connections through the attorney networking tips shared here, you will be more likely to gain new clients and create a brand for yourself.