Strong personal contacts are essential in nearly all professional environments, including the legal sector. There’s significant value in maintaining solid connections and relationships with influential and aspiring professionals in your niche, particularly in regard to developing future business.
It’s also essential to ensure that your network is diverse and includes alums from your school. A strong alumni network is a crucial and unique part of your overall network as an attorney. Leveraging your alumni network as a lawyer can provide you with a substantial competitive advantage over those who don’t. To accomplish this, you must know how to stand out as part of your college/law school alumni group.
Submit Class Notes
When it’s time for class newsletters, be sure you submit any awards or recognitions you have earned, as well as any updates to your career—for instance, if you joined a law firm, opened your own practice, or started practicing in a new area of law. Submit any updates you can think of so that your name will be featured in the publication, which has many benefits, including:
- Keeping your name top of mind to your classmates who could potentially refer you to others
- Showing you are well-qualified for your position
Attend Local Alumni Events
Networking at local or even digital events, alumni events included, is an excellent way to get your name out there. You get to meet other people to add to your referral and networking list and let others know what you do and why they might want to refer to you in the future. You never know what kind of connections you might make at these events, and of course, if it’s an alumni event, it’s always interesting to see what your fellow alums have accomplished in their professional lives and catch up with them. If there are no alumni events, perhaps you and some of your other colleagues from school might want to consider organizing one.
Submit for Awards
Does your university or law school have an alumni award, a community service award, or another kind of award you might be eligible to receive? Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there. Submit yourself for any awards that might fit you. The award itself and the public recognition you receive can work wonders for your career both now and in the future.
Write for Your Alumni Magazine
Most universities and law schools publish an alumni magazine regularly. Draft an article for yours to help get your name out there and showcase your expertise. Ideas for topics to write about include your career field or something applicable to a broad range of students, such as:
- Tips on mentorship
- Networking
- Diversity
- Finding the right career path
You can also reach out to the publication to inquire about any topics they may want to publish articles about.
They will likely publish a short bio about you along with your article, which can further your potential connections.
Being a university and law school alum has its advantages. When done correctly, your alumni connections and position can help grow your network. Expanding your network is always beneficial to your career. Using just a couple of these strategies can help leverage your alumni status to help expand your network.
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