For many legal practices, referrals aren’t just beneficial; they’re crucial. They have the power to steer a steady stream of potential clients right to your doorstep. But how do you maintain a strong bond with your referral sources, especially when you don’t have immediate business to reciprocate? Let’s delve into strategic ways lawyers can consistently nurture and strengthen these invaluable relationships, even during the lulls.

Lawyers are presented with unprecedented opportunities to connect with clients, showcase their expertise and build a strong professional brand. One highly effective tool that has gained immense popularity in recent years is webinars. Hosting webinars at your law firm can yield numerous benefits, ranging from attracting new clients and nurturing existing relationships to establishing your firm as an industry leader. In this article, I’ll provide the reasons why lawyers should present webinars and how they can lead to new business, brand building and other exciting professional opportunities.

Lawyers often approach their work with a strong focus on client advocacy, research and legal strategy. While these are crucial aspects of practicing law, it’s equally important to recognize that running a law firm effectively requires a business-oriented mindset. Operating your law practice like a business not only ensures financial stability but also fosters growth, efficiency and long-term success. In this blog post, I’ll explore various ways in which lawyers can successfully manage their practices by adopting a more business-centric approach.

Alumni relations is a powerful yet often underutilized aspect of law firm marketing and business development. Maintaining a robust network of former attorneys and staff can yield numerous benefits, from enhancing brand reputation to talent management to generating new business opportunities. In this article, I will explore how to establish a successful law firm alumni relations program and how such a program can foster long-lasting relationships and leverage alumni connections to propel your firm’s growth and success.

In the legal profession, strong networks and relationships are the lifeblood of success. While larger, well-established law firms often boast extensive alumni networks, small and newer firms might overlook the potential of alumni relations. However, even for smaller firms with limited alumni, investing in an alumni relations program can yield substantial benefits for client development, referrals, recruiting and much more. Here’s why and how to create an alumni relations program at your small law firm.

Achieving success as a lawyer today isn’t just about maintaining the status quo and churning out great work product—it’s about excelling, innovating and going above and beyond for your clients in your delivery of legal services. It’s also about standing out from your peers and competitors when it comes to your marketing and business development efforts by innovating, thinking outside the box, exceeding expectations and consistently going the extra mile.

In 2007, I joined the entrepreneurial firm McKee Nelson and had a transformative two-year experience. Initially thriving, the market crash in 2008 led to significant changes. However, the firm handled it with compassion and integrity, making tough but necessary decisions. Eventually merging with other firms, I left for more stability at Sullivan & Cromwell. My time at McKee Nelson was invaluable, as I built lifelong relationships with industry leaders and discovered my professional identity. This experience taught me crucial lessons in relationship building and networking.

As the new year approaches, lawyers have a unique opportunity to chart a course for personal and professional success. It’s a time for setting meaningful goals and taking deliberate steps toward achieving them. In this blog post, I’ll explore a strategic approach to goal setting – one that goes beyond clichés – and provides actionable insights for making the coming year truly great.

For many attorneys, the concept of business development may carry a certain amount of discomfort, conjuring images of cold calls and sales pitches. However, the core of business development in law is really about fostering relationships and providing value. By reframing your approach and proactively reaching out to your network, you can unlock new opportunities and bolster your practice. Let’s explore practical steps to enhance your client engagement and expand your professional reach.