Simplify Your Summer Networking

Lawyers Who Launch

Spring is here and summer is right around the corner. This usually means a different pace of our daily lives. The summer is a great time to network at any stage of your career. Because of unique summer opportunties, you can simplify your summer networking and enjoy yourself while you do it.

If you are in law school you likely have a summer position. Even if you are taking summer classes, the flow of a summer session is entirely different from the regular school year. For those of you taking the bar this summer you have a very different season before you. Even if you are out and in practice, the summer can mean a different work flow, perhaps some time to take a breath, and maybe even a vacation.

This interruption in your schedule to hopefully enjoy some beautiful weather means something else to us. This is the perfect opportunity for summer networking. Because of the particular nature of summer, summer networking can look very different. We always find that networking in the summer lends itself to more casual networking and in ways that you would not necessarily think to do it in other seasons.

But before you decide where and when you will network in the summer, you must first think about why. The first place we will start is with our networking goals. As we always say, networking is not about attending every meet and greet or networking event you are invited to. Networking is about relationships.

Strong networking relationships are mutually beneficial professional relationships. As you start to develop a plan that works for you and your practice area, keep the goal of developing relationships into mutually beneficial networking relationships at the forefront. For many established lawyers the answer to this question may be very easy. But even established lawyers may not be proficient networkers, in fact many are not.

First determine why you are networking. That is, who are you seeking to connect with? Colleagues? Referral sources? Or prospective clients? Focusing your attention on your goals and then developing a plan for how you will reach that goal will save you time and energy because you will be able focus on actions that will serve you rather than simply trying to cast a wide net and see what happens.

If you are a law student that is unsure about your path and you have a summer position then we have a very simple networking plan for you this summer. Focus on networking at work. The summer is the perfect stretch of time to focus on developing those relationships within your summer position.

Now it is time to consider how you will take advantage of all of the unique summer networking opportunities. And remember you are not confined to networking at formal organized events. The summer is a perfect time to reconnect with colleagues over a longer lunch at an outdoor cafe or making time for a round of golf during a slower week this summer.

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Nothing contained within this podcast is intended or should be construed to be legal advice and does not create any attorney client relationship. Your jurisdiction will have rules of professional conduct that you must follow. This discussion does not focus on the any such rules, including the rules from the jurisdiction where we practice.