I participate in a lot of law firm retreats and meetings, but one will always stand out. I was talking with representatives of the firm before the retreat kicked off when one of the partners pulled me aside, pointed out another firm partner and asked me who he was. Now, keep in mind that this wasn’t a 1,000-lawyer firm; the firm had fewer than 100 lawyers. And I didn’t even work there. It is a good illustration of how siloed law firms often are into practice areas, offices or working teams. When attending firm meetings, the tendency for many lawyers is to sit with people they already know. Yes, you are giving up your time and want to enjoy yourself. But if you don't take a strategic view of your participation, you waste a great opportunity to build your internal profile and network.
Originally published June 21, 2018Sign up for our free newsletter.