From the author of The Opportunity Maker: Strategies for Inspiring Your Legal Career Through Creative Networking and Business Development (Thomson-West, 2008), which the New York Law Journal called “a must-have treasure box of marketing ideas,” offer your summer associates an inspiring, practical and dynamic way to stand out in today’s stagnant economy this summer by giving them:
- Insight into the culture of your firm
- Ideas for creative self-promotion
- Instructions for harnessing the power of organic relationship-building
- Effective non-traditional business development skills
- The ability to set the foundation for rainmaking and leadership prowess
- Tools to establish the basis on which to develop, grow and communicate with a sphere of influence.
My live programs use an entertaining and interactive trivia game, which emphasizes the ease with which many of the suggestions can be implemented and the tremendous impact that is possible. The key message throughout this program is that the law is an exciting field. It highlights how your summer associates can find enjoyment, satisfaction and inspiration in their legal careers at your firm.
Here is what some of the attendees had to say last year:
“The class was very valuable. It was a reminder of the importance of networking and gave unique suggestions for initiating and maintaining contacts.”
-Summer Associate, Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati ( Palo Alto, CA)
“Useful information, engaging presentation.”
-Summer Associate, Shearman & Sterling LLP ( New York, NY)
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download a printable PDF
The topics include:
- Superior Social Media
- Developing Expertise
- Using Continuing Legal Education to Your Advantage
- Following Great Rainmakers and Their Techniques
- Creating an Authentic Mentoring Relationship
- Becoming a Storyteller
- Networking for Non-Networkers
- Studying the Press
I have spoken to law students nationwide at the following schools:
| Appalachian School of Law American University Washington College of Law Arizona State University O'Connor College of Law Brooklyn Law School Barry University Dwayne O. Andreas School of Law Chapman University School of Law Chicago-Kent College of Law Howard University School of Law John Marshall Law School |
Phoenix School of Law SMU - Dedman School of Law Stanford Law School St. John's University Law School Tulane University Law School University of Arizona James E. Rogers School of Law UCLA School of Law University of Denver Sturm College of Law University of Texas School of Law |
Here is what law students are saying:
“I truly enjoyed your program at SMU this evening; you gave us some excellent examples of ways to increase our opportunities through meeting people and making us interesting.”
- Alex Farr, J.D. Candidate 2010
SMU-Dedman School of Law (Dallas, TX)
“I enjoyed your presentation and found it to be extremely helpful..”
- Saran Q. Edwards, J.D. Candidate, Class of 2011
University of Arizona Rogers College of Law
"I thoroughly enjoyed your presentation. You should consider a side job in stand-up. :-)"
- Nick Geraci, J.D. Candidate 2010
Barry University Andreas School of Law (Orlando, FL)
“You conducted an incredibly inspiring event, thank you for the upbeat nature of your words.”
- Carrie Thompson Jones, J.D. Candidate 2009
Arizona State University O’Connor College of Law (Tempe, AZ)
Would you like to save $1,000, pay absolutely no travel expenses and offer four sessions instead of one?
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download a printable PDF
In response to requests from the community, I have introduced a completely new version of this program that saves my clients $1,000 on the program fee, and requires absolutely no travel expense. Summer Associate Success uses the newly created Discussion Guide for The Opportunity Maker: Strategies for Inspiring Your Legal Career Through Creative Networking and Business Development (Thomson-West, 2008) to take your summer associates through a four-week program in which I facilitate 50-minute discussions by phone to focus them on the fine art of networking and relationship management using technology and various other tools to transform their summer into one of exponential growth and potential. These group discussions are designed to serve between 6-20 summer associates and will take place on either Mondays or Fridays this summer. Please feel free to call my office directly at (646) 641-0600 to inquire about dates this summer.
What is The Opportunity Maker and how can I use this discussion guide?
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download a printable PDF
The Opportunity Maker is a roadmap for career and business development success. It teaches techniques for harnessing your potential from law school through partnership.
This discussion guide is meant to be a companion to the book to empower summer associates and associates, as well as a paralegals and administrators, in creating opportunities to enhance their profiles, set the foundation for professional relationships and to stand out in today’s stagnant economy. It should help foster discussions on key topics that are critical to the success of each member of the legal community.
It contains a plan of action for a 4-session self-directed program for groups of 6-20 individuals interested in maximizing their networking, mentoring, media positioning, publishing, storytelling and overall rainmaking talent in the current economic climate. There is a particular emphasis on using technology to supplement your efforts.
Session 1
Topic: Networking and the Science of Organic Self-Promotion
Selected Reading:
Chapter 1 – The Most Important Lesson Law School Never Teaches
Chapter 4 – The Science of Self-Promotion
Chapter 5 – Networking & The Personal Aspects of Promoting Yourself
Chapter 6 – Make Friends, Not Contacts
Assignment:
Evaluate how you network and why. Consider your motivation for meeting others and the ways in which you develop relationships.
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download a printable PDF
Discussion Questions:
What are your networking strengths and weaknesses?
What do you like and dislike about the process?
Are you successfully using social networking tools?
Who is the best networker you know and why?
Session 2
Topic: Getting Published and the Impact of Interviewing Others
Selected Reading:
Chapter 2 – Rainmakers Study for the Knowledge, Not the Grades
Chapter 7 – Find Creative Ways to Connect
Chapter 8 – Write it Down
Chapter 9 – Be Creative With Publishing
Assignment:
Consider whether you have been published. Recall the process and your motivation. List the people that you would like to meet and determine how you could profile their accomplishments in a published article. Evaluate how you could use social networking tools to aid you in this effort.
Discussion Questions:
What is the benefit of getting published?
What is the impact or potential impact of sharing a published article with your network?
What is your greatest obstacle to writing an article?
How can you use the drafting process to expand your network and enhance your profile?
Session 3
Topic: Using Technology to Enhance Your Profile
Selected Reading:
Chapter 10 - Blogging in Law School
Chapter 11 - Broadcast Yourself
Chapter 12 - Raise Your Profile
Chapter 13 - Be Your Own Public Relations Firm
Assignment:
Determine how you convey your knowledge to your target audience. Evaluate how closely aligned you are to a topic of interest given your presence online. Identify the tools you already use and suggest ways that you could be more effective in that usage.
Discussion Questions:
Have you ever created a group on Facebook or LinkedIn related to your area of interest or practice?
How can you use a personal PR strategy to help your clients, prospects and firm?
Have you considered guest blogging on any topic?
How can an e-mail list and an online calendar transform your self-marketing?
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download a printable PDF
Session 4
Topic: Customizing a Proactive Plan of Action
Selected Reading:
Chapter 3 – Find a Mentor
Chapter 14 – Customize
Chapter 15 – Investing for the Long Term
Chapter 16 – Think of Others
Chapter 17 – The Choice
Assignment:
Consider how you spend your time and what routines you can incorporate to enhance your effectiveness. Create an image of your ideal future and identify the activities in which you will need to engage to bring that image to fruition.
Discussion Questions:
What can you offer your mentor?
How can you connect more effectively to the community?
How can a long-term career plan impact your perspective in the short-term?
What types of networking strategies are best suited to your personality?
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