You act as an information broker, sharing information with your personal and professional network.
The key part is that you do this to develop a successful career. Networking is a way to build new relationships, this can be on a personal level with friends, or on a business level by developing new clients or a new way of generating revenue. The aim is to invest time in more than just getting to know people and to build rapport.
Networking can also be seen as the modern way to grow businesses. Business development is often incentivised by firms, and lawyers at all levels are actively encouraged to do more networking as a result. That way it isn’t just Partners who are bringing in the work!
Networking is something you either love or hate! Law firms often encourage their lawyers to network, business develop and build a portfolio of clients at a very junior level. Lawyers who are In-House, not so much! There’s not always a need and some may say, as most banks, companies, etc. will have institutional clients, meaning there’s recurrent work coming in regularly.
At a junior level, networking with the right people and attending various social events can help you build your pool of contacts. Therefore, when you are at the Senior Associate/Counsel level, this will help you get on track to Partnership.
Examples of some networking societies you could join include; London Young Lawyers Group, London Legal Networking Group – this is good for lawyers who are 0-4 PQE, and BAME societies such as The Society of Asian Lawyers – these groups do a lot to promote diversity and inclusion within the legal industry in London.
Networking can be a great source of new perspectives and ideas for you to share with your friends and colleagues. Some key benefits include discussing new challenges you have faced, or are facing, and working with different Partners and different firms on the opposite side of matters. This allows you to gain new insights, which you may not have otherwise thought of. Offering helpful ideas to a client or Partner can also be seen as an excellent way to build your reputation, create new, innovative methods and future initiatives.
Building new relationships can help raise your profile within your firm, as well as opening doors to new business and client referrals. It can be a way of getting noticed by the Partners. Regularly attending events, professional or social; will help you get your face known. If your goal is to become a Partner, having your face known will useful!
Check out our affiliations for ideas of societies to get involved with!
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