Some Quick LinkedIn Tips Every Lawyer Needs to Know
Last week in Female Lawyers’ Club, the amazing Sarah Ouis delivered a masterclass for our members on “How to best use LinkedIn to advance your legal career”.
Sarah is a former lawyer who now has her own business (lawbuthow.co) helping lawyers to boost their profile and gain work from LinkedIn. She has over 26,000 followers so she must be doing something right.
I’ve set out some takeaways from Sarah’s excellent session which you can implement today.
How I got networking all wrong
I was usually the last to arrive, having left work late trying to finish an urgent piece of work, and then struggling to figure out where on earth the event was being held. Speed-walking round the block a few times before realising I’d walked past the correct entrance 10 minutes ago.
I’d turn up, grab a drink from the nearest waiter and hope for the best, awkwardly crowbarring my way into conversations with the social finesse of a toddler on their first day at play group.
I’d grab one of the free snacks as I’d not eaten and didn’t want to drink wine on an empty stomach, only to worry I’d accidentally spit out the food in the face of the person I was chatting to.
I had no idea who anyone was.
Honestly, it’s a miracle I have a career at all.
How to Deal with a Nightmare Boss
Unfortunately, working with difficult people is sometimes part of the job of being a lawyer. I think the law can attract people with inflated egos or twisted personalities who like to psychologically stamp on others. These types may well bill large amounts and their managers are unwilling to take action against them as a result. Or your firm may otherwise have a very hands-off approach to HR issues, leaving you to get on with it or leave.
If you’re in that scenario at the moment, I’m sorry. I know it’s really hard. I’ve encountered a few bullies in my career and I know how tough it can be. This will pass, I promise.