In the legal profession, knowledge and expertise are highly valued assets. And in an increasingly competitive market, lawyers must find effective ways to establish themselves as thought leaders and trusted advisors, while staying top of mind with the people who can hire and refer work to them.

One powerful avenue for achieving this is by speaking at conferences and webinars. Speaking engagements provide lawyers with a platform to share their insights, demonstrate their expertise and build valuable connections within the legal community.

Here are six reasons why lawyers should say yes to speaking at conferences and webinars.

  1. Establishing Credibility and Thought Leadership: Speaking at conferences positions lawyers as experts in their respective fields. By presenting on relevant legal topics, lawyers can showcase their knowledge, experience and understanding of emerging trends and legal developments. This establishes credibility, enhances their reputation as thought leaders and experts in their area of practice, and distinguishes them from their competitors.
  1. Expanding Professional Network: By speaking at conferences, lawyers can connect with other legal practitioners, potential clients, referral sources, recruits, the media and industry influencers. Engaging in conversations, participating in panel discussions and networking during conference breaks creates opportunities to build valuable relationships. These connections can lead to referrals, collaborations and further invitations to speak at future events, ultimately expanding a  lawyer’s professional network and business.
  1. Showcasing Expertise and Differentiation: In a crowded marketplace, it is crucial for lawyers to differentiate themselves. Speaking at conferences enables lawyers to demonstrate their unique expertise and perspectives. By sharing case studies, real-world examples, best practices and practical insights, lawyers can present themselves as problem solvers and trusted advisors. This not only attracts potential clients but also positions the lawyer as a go-to resource within their practice and industry.
  1. Staying Current with Legal Developments: Preparing for conference presentations requires a lot of]work and due diligence. By staying up to date with legal developments, lawyers can expand their own understanding of the field. This ongoing education ensures that lawyers remain at the forefront of industry trends, enabling them to provide the most relevant and informed legal advice to their clients.
  1. Enhancing Public Speaking Skills: Speaking at conferences presents an opportunity for lawyers to enhance their public speaking skills. Delivering engaging presentations, effectively communicating complex legal concepts and fielding audience questions enhance lawyers’ abilities to articulate their ideas clearly and persuasively. These skills are not only valuable for conference settings but also for courtroom appearances, client meetings and other professional engagements.
  2. Increased Visibility and Brand Awareness: Conferences offer a powerful platform for lawyers to amplify their visibility and strengthen their brand. Speaking at industry conferences and webinars and being listed as a speaker and having their name featured on promotional materials can enhance a lawyer’s professional profile. This increased visibility can raise awareness among potential clients, colleagues, reporters, lateral hires and industry stakeholders, leading to increased opportunities and potential business growth.

Speaking at conferences and webinars provides lawyers with a powerful platform to share their expertise, establish credibility, expand their professional network and enhance their reputation as thought leaders. By presenting at conferences, lawyers can differentiate themselves from competitors, build valuable relationships, and attract new clients.

In addition, speaking engagements enable lawyers to stay current with legal developments, improve their public speaking skills and increase their visibility within the industry.

Speaking at conferences empowers lawyers at all levels to shape their professional narrative, foster trust and raise their visibility in the industry.

Stefanie Marrone advises law firms of all sizes, professional service firms, B2B companies, recruiters and individuals on the full range of marketing and business development consulting services designed to enhance revenue, retain current clients and achieve greater brand recognition. She also serves as outsourced chief marketing officer/marketing department for small and mid-size law firms.

Over her 20+-year legal marketing career, she has worked at and with a broad range of big law, mid-size and small firms, which has given her a valuable perspective of the legal industry. Connect on LinkedInTwitterYouTubeInstagramsign up for her email list and follow her latest writing on JD Supra.