This document provides tips for lawyers on using LinkedIn, including completing your profile, participating in the LinkedIn community by answering questions and recommending others, and using LinkedIn to meet people offline. It dispels myths about LinkedIn, such as the idea that potential clients aren't online or that lawyers aren't on LinkedIn. The document encourages lawyers to engage with their LinkedIn network by providing useful content and insights that will help potential clients.

1. LinkedIn for Lawyers
who hate networking
May 17, 2010
RealPrac7ce is not affiliated in any way with LinkedIn. Many states have rules regarding adver7sement by aEorneys, and the informa7on
that must accompany the adver7sements. The informa7on and techniques presented in this webinar may not comply with applicable
federal, state or local rules of professional conduct regarding adver7sing.
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2. Why Are You Here?
• Heard I can do a lot and haven’t
had 7me to try it
• I can’t avoid the buzz & noise of
LinkedIn
• I joined but it hasn’t helped me yet
• I’m not sure I have the 7me to do
this and prac7ce law
• I could use some more clients and
need sources for them
• I’d like a few tangible steps to take
to have some success online
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3. • It’s easy to get started
• It does take some discipline
• It takes some crea7vity
• Find your comfort zone
• Be realis7c
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4. LinkedIn
Myths vs. Reality
• Lawyers are not on • 60%+ of aEorneys there
LinkedIn • Over 30MM US LI users –
• My poten7al clients aren’t almost all professionals
online • Most info already available
• I shouldn’t share my through Google – control it
background online • People join because they
• I can’t meet people on want to connect
LinkedIn • Formal or casual –
• Word of mouth doesn’t comments, reviews &
occur online ra7ngs everywhere online
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5. LinkedIn Ac7on Item #1
Complete Your Profile
• It’s Free
• Upload a picture
• Think of your background &
history as connec7on points
• Answer ques7ons in your
profile:
• Who are you?
• What do you do/how do you help?
• What makes you uniquely
qualified?
• What are poten7al clients looking
for and how would they search
(keywords)?
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6. LinkedIn Ac7on Item #2
Give, give, give & then you get
• Par7cipate in the community
• Answer ques7ons
• Join relevant groups
• Help others make connec7ons
• Recommend others you like & trust
• Respond quickly
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7. LinkedIn Ac7on Item #2
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8. LinkedIn Ac7on Item #3
Use it to meet people offline
• Iden7fy poten7al partners, clients,
advisors
• Works beEer than email or cold call
• Set up phone calls, etc.
• Invite them to events
• Point them to relevant
informa7on
• Find mutual ways to
help each other &
meet if possible
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9. How to Engage/Get Clients
A few thoughts
• You’re fortunate – you’re a
creator of informa7on
• An7cipate the topics & needs of
your clients and provide ideas &
solu7ons as “samples”
• Situa7onal content
• Planning guides
• Blog posts/insights
• What is flow of client to get to
and hire you?
• Word of mouth – make it easy for
lawyers to refer to you
• What issues are clients pondering?
Take a posi7on on it!
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10. Your LinkedIn Project – Year 1
Set goals for yourself and make time in your calendar for LinkedIn
30-60 minutes a week to start, and block out the time!
Phase I:
Who am I, Why
Unique, Best
Clients?
Phase II:
Build out LI Network
and Find Target
Clients Phase III:
Par7cipate and Help
Others
“Develop the Habit”
Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1
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11. Legal Opinions of LinkedIn
• Make sure recommendations are accurate
• Ex: "In every case Mark was equal to or significantly
better than the opposing lawyer."
• Is this accurate?
• You can decide whether recommendation goes up – you are
ultimately responsible, whether you write it or not
• Posting might violate ABA Rule 7.1* if it were considered
misleading under the comment to Rule 7.1.
(An "unsubstantiated comparison of the lawyer's services … with the services … of other lawyers
may be misleading if presented with such specificity as would lead a reasonable person to conclude
that the comparison can be substantiated.")
• Use site’s most restrictive security/privacy settings
• In general good idea to know site’s options, but could make site
much less useful for your goals to network
* http://www.abanet.org/cpr/mrpc/mrpc_toc.html
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12. Frequently Asked Ques7ons
• Who can see my LinkedIn profile?
– You can control whether it is public and what is available
• Can everyone see my connec7ons? (I don’t want
compe7tors to poach my clients)
– You can control whether your connec7ons are available to
others to browse
• Can I reach out to people I don’t know on LinkedIn
– You can, but be careful. Not recommended to add them as
connec7on un7l you know them. BeEer to contact them
first, establish value and trust between you
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13. For Advanced Users
• Install the LinkedIn Outlook Toolbar
• Using LI Applica7ons to post your papers,
presenta7ons
• Connect your blog to LinkedIn
• Start a LinkedIn group
• Upgrade your account
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14. Summary
1. Complete your profile
2. Give, give and give some more
3. Use it to meet people offline
LinkedIn is a great place to start your networking success,
and you can do it from your home and office!
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15. About RealPrac7ce
• 10 year old legal soqware and web
services company
• Provides solu7ons to some of na7on’s
largest firms, as well as thousands of solo
and small firms
– Knowledge Management
– Deal & Li7ga7on documents
– Li7ga7on compliance guides
• Helping aEorneys be more efficient and
effec7ve in the prac7ce of law
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