Lawyers: You’ve Got to Learn These 26 Things to Develop a Book of Business

Originally published by Cordell Parvin.

I was coaching a group of lawyers for the last time recently. At the end of our group meeting, the group’s leader asked for a good summary of what we had covered. I shared this blog post with the group and thought you might find it valuable.

I read a recent survey report of large (big law) firms. There was one survey question that really got my attention:

How important is business development to success in a law firm?

Here was the answer:

 A lawyer’s ability to generate business is the single most determinative factor in whether a lawyer will become an equity partner.

That certainly was no surprise. In fact, I thought that was kind of a Duh question and it certainly does not just apply to lawyers in large law firms.

I know how to develop business. I did it and many lawyers I have coached or who worked for me are doing it. If you want to learn, I want to help you. I urge you to learn how to:

1. Motivate yourself to learn and attract clients
2. Figure out and adopt attributes of successful lawyers/people that will work best for you
3. Define what success means to you by figuring out what you want to achieve in your career and life
4. Set stretch goals
5. Prepare a detailed action plan to achieve goals
6. Determine what learning will provide you with the greatest return on your time
7. Determine what kind of client development efforts will best work for you
8. Make time for client development when you are busy with billable work and have a family
9. Get organized for a more productive day
10. Hold yourself accountable for client development activities
11. Best get outside your comfort zone to take your practice up a notch
12. Be patient and persist when you are not seeing results
13. Raise your visibility and credibility-Building Profile
14. What organizations will be best for you
15. Write an article, or blog post: picking the topic, how long, title, opening, closing
16. Give a presentation: picking the topic, getting the opportunity, homework before the presentation, PowerPoint, opening, format, speaking skills, handout
17. Use social media: blogging for business, LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter,
18. Build relationships with referral sources so they recommend you
19. Network at events
20. Determine what are your best sources of business
21. Focus on Contacts (Client relationship management)
22. Make pitches to clients who consider hiring you
23. Make great first Impressions
24. Clients Select: importance of website bio, relationships, recommendations, strength of weak ties, building trust and rapport, developing questions, listening skills and how to ask for business
25. Provide extraordinary client service and cross-sell: what clients want, how to deliver it, ways to add value, cross-selling planning
26. Develop your the team: leadership, team building, motivating younger lawyers, supervision and feedback

What else can I do to help you?

 

The post Lawyers: You’ve Got to Learn These 26 Things to Develop a Book of Business appeared first on Cordell Parvin Blog.

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