Don't Forget Your Alumni
Firm Issues
By Bob Weiss
August 2005: Many younger associates now trying to build referral networks to support their efforts to make partner began their legal careers as court clerks or prosecutors. Other associates in your firm may have attended law schools in states other than that in which they are now practicing.
That experience provides alumni marketing opportunities that many firms ignore.
Court clerks can organize a clerk alumni network and hold a reception or series of presentations at your firm. Those events can be more than just reunions for networking sake. They might include presentations or appearances by judges from the court where the associates served, or feature speakers on professional development issues. After organizing the first such event, your lawyers might put together an alumni directory so everyone can stay in touch. The same is true for prosecutors.
Associates who attended law schools in far away cities or states can organize alumni groups, too. We've had clients who invited the deans from their law schools to attend alumni gatherings. The dean needs alumni support to help place future graduates.
So often the best marketing contacts attorneys can make are with those people they once knew well but with whom they have allowed their relationships to fade over time.
What alumni groups is your firm unaware it might organize?
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