Graduation is coming!! As law students we know your primary concerns are finishing school, passing the bar, and finding a job.
For those going into private practice, one thing that is not taught in law school is the business side of law.
Therefore, to be successful you will eventually need to know how to (1) get, (2) keep, and (3) service clients. You’ll hear that YOUR PRIORITY is to become a good lawyer. Which, to the firm, means building your legal practice skills and billing hours. Yes – that is important, but it is only a part of that job. The best lawyer won’t get to use her skills if she doesn’t have any clients.
How does a YOUNG lawyer get clients?
You get the impact of social media. Use it to keep in contact with professors, classmates, colleagues/mentors from summer associate gigs, and others you have met along the way that can help you in the future. As you graduate and get hired, share relevant content on your LinkedIn and professional Twitter accounts as well as your personal and firm news. Contact us for guidance on how to set these up for maximum exposure.
Shameless plug – we offer tips Monday – Friday for law students and lawyers – follow us!
What makes a good lawyer?
If clients are hiring you, paying your bills, and keep retaining you – you are a good lawyer. But, I’ve never heard a client jump up and down over how well their will is written. What they do talk about is whether you delivered what you said you would, when you said it would be done, at the cost you quoted, all while being friendly and conversational with your client. Those are the things the client will remember, and why they will return and refer business to you.
The key takeaway is this:
Law students – you already use social media. Therefore, use it professionally to enhance your exposure and to become an influencer (thought leader in professional terms). You will be one step ahead of the generation before you because you already know how to use social media. Building marketing into your routine will allow you to be the “good lawyer” your firm wants you to be by billing hours upon hours, without losing sight of how you will create a personal brand for yourself.
Contact us at cady@ESQuisiteMarketing.com ored@ESQuisiteMarketing.com for your questions on creating a personal brand, legal marketing or more.