Image courtesy of Stuart Miles/Freedigitalphotos.net
This morning, my father’s wife sent a picture of my father, Robert S. Field, Esq., going to court. My father has been practicing law for 50+ years. He is respected and well liked in the legal community, which was brought to my attention when I took him as my date to a recent county bar association event
I also grew up with a grandfather who practiced for 62 years – he was a member of “The Greatest Generation” and it got me thinking about the difference between his generation, my dad’s generation and today’s generation of practicing attorneys and how to get clients.
The law is no longer just a profession – it’s also a business. As much as we would like to believe the former, unfortunately it isn’t true. According to the ABA, when my grandfather began practicing law, there were about 131,000 licensed attorneys. When my father began, there were about 300,000. Compare that with today’s number = 1.268 million attorneys.
When both my grandfather and dad began practicing, you really did only have to “hang a shingle” and people would come (the “Field of Dreams Method of Marketing”). Well, not truly, but networking was easier because all you had to do was say “I’m a lawyer” and people would refer business to you. The competition wasn’t so great.
Now, you have to find a way to let people know about what you do, who you are, and how you do it. This is where your marketing and rainmaking tactics come into play.
What are you doing to get known? Here’s a list of ideas for you; this is not an exhaustive list and in no particular order – just to get you started.
- Networking
- Newsletters (both printed & electronic)
- Public Relations
- Blogging
- Write a book or e-book
- Social Media
- Seminars for your Niche or Target Market
- Videos
- Get involved in charitable organizations
- Get involved in industry associations
Find one or two that you like to do and get them into your calendar!
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