THE LAWYERS WEEKLY
January 21, 2011 | 23
BUSINESS
CAREERS
An
idea
a day
In 2011 a new blog, attorneyatwork.
com, promises “one really good idea
every day,” according to the site. A
group of legal gurus will contribute
to the blog. About half of the
contributors are Canadian, including:
PraticePro Director Dan Pinnington
and Jordan Furlong, a legal
consultant and The Lawyers Weekly
columnist, Heenan Blaikie Partner
Simon Chester, and Stem Legal
Web Enterprises, Inc. Founder and
Principal Steve Matthews.
TEERAPONG BOONGIRD / DREAMSTIME.COM
Bevy of social media opportunities
Use LinkedIn to research your target audience
✚ Using the search feature, begin searching for people using the names of the companies that
you wish to serve as the keyword. It will show you the list of people at those companies that
have a profile. Then narrow the search under people by adding the word “counsel” or “general
counsel” and it will provide you with those profiles. This is a great way for you to identify the
people you need to build relationships with. Find out what groups they belong to and join them
and begin to offer valuable and appropriate content to get noticed.
✚ If you know someone who knows them, ask them to make an introduction for you. Or you
can directly approach them and introduce yourself. This is a widely accepted practice on
LinkedIn, so don’t be shy.
✚ Finally, add your LinkedIn address on your law firm profile and in your email signature to provide even greater exposure. A general guideline my clients follow is to spend about 10 minutes
a day on LinkedIn building your profile, adding connections to your network, joining and participating in groups and discussions and linking your other business development/marketing strategies all together.
Social media
Continued From Page 21
conversations or even your own groups. Talk
about news, facts and events relating to your
target audience.
Facebook
While I don’t recommend using Facebook
for professional purposes it can be quite
effective in bridging the gap between friends
and professional contacts. So go on Facebook and create a profile. Then
search for law school friends
and other professionals you met
at school. Add them to your
‘friends’ network and at some
point if there is an opportunity, you can
move them over to your LinkedIn network.
Be careful with Facebook in that you don’t
want embarrassing content on there. And
only allow access to your profile to friends
that are a part of your network.
Twitter
You see more and more lawyers using
twitter now. This is a very effective way of
staying top of mind with your current clients and people you wish to become clients.
Create an account and post
when something would be of
interest to your clients. Think
of it as a “micro”newsletter in
real time.
Hopefully by now you can see the many
opportunities that social media offers you in
raising your profile and attracting new clients. So what are you waiting for? Start right
now to create your online profile and build
your network of contacts.
Gary Mitchell is the chief client
development Coach at GEM Communications.
We want to hear from you!
Email us at: tlw@lexisnexis.ca
Bennett Gastle Professional Corporation, a litigation and international
trade law boutique, is seeking an associate to join our growing litigation
practice.
We require a lawyer with one to three years experience in insurance
defence litigation with a willingness to also become involved in a wide
variety of litigation files. The successful candidate will have strong
interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to work both
independently and as a team player.
Bennett Gastle offers an enjoyable working environment and a
competitive salary and benefits package.
Please forward your resume in confidence by email to Danielle Young
at dyoung@bennettgastle.com or by fax to 416.361.1530.
Bennett Gastle Professional Corporation
Lawyers
36 Toronto Street, Suite 250
Toronto, ON M5C 2C5
Tel: 416.361.3319 Fax: 416.361.1530
www.bennettgastle.com
Announcements
Toronto
WELCOME TO OUR
NEWEST PARTNER
We are pleased to welcome Bill Richardson as a Partner to the
Baker & McKenzie Toronto Office.
With 25 years of experience in IP Litigation, Bill joins the more than 450 lawyers
in our Global IP Practice who provide practical advice to identify, manage and
protect your IP assets.
Recognized as a leader in IP Litigation by Chambers Global: “World’s Leading
Lawyers for Business” (where he is noted for his “invaluable trial experience”),
Mr. Richardson is similarly acknowledged by Legal Media Group’s “Guide to the
World’s Leading Lawyers”, IAM’s “World’s Leading Life Sciences Patent
Litigators” and “World’s Leading IP Strategists”, “L’Expert”, and “The Best
Lawyers in Canada”.
PLEASE JOIN US IN WELCOMING
BILL TO OUR TEAM!
Baker & McKenzie has provided sophisticated
legal advice and services to many of the world’s
most dynamic and global organizations for
60 years through more than 3,900 locally
qualified, internationally experienced
lawyers in 68 offices in 40 countries.
Bill Richardson
Partner
+1 416 865 6937
bill.richardson@bakermckenzie.com
Baker & McKenzie International is a Swiss Verein with member law
firms around the world. In accordance with the common terminology
used in professional services organizations, reference to a “partner”
means a person who is a partner, or equivalent, in such a law firm.
Similarly, reference to an “office” means an office of any such law firm.
