In the crowded legal market, there are a variety of factors that contribute to the success of each individual attorney. But just what are these factors? Most attorneys will say that their success was influenced by the quality of their work, their educational background, their mentorship history, or the reputation of their firm. In fact, one of the most overlooked aspects of your success is personal branding!
In this article, we’ll explain how personal branding impacts attorneys, offer ideas to create your brand and give suggestions for maintaining your brand over time. Let’s get started!
What is personal branding?
Personal branding has become one of the latest buzzwords for legal recruiters. Personal branding is the culmination of how you’re viewed by the community as both an individual and legal counsel. Essentially: it’s your professional reputation.
Many of the benefits of personal branding are obvious, such as expanding your market reach or growing your professional network. Companies place an emphasis on their branding because they know that consumers rely on brand reputation when they make purchase decisions. Similarly, potential clients rely (in part) on your personal brand when they make hiring decisions.
How do I create a brand?
Building your brand starts with recognizing your own strengths and weaknesses. For example, if you’re an active member of your local community and you enjoy outreach, one of your strengths might be the ability to communicate clearly with clients. You should also consider the type of work that you enjoy the most and brainstorm ideas that could help generate more work of that type.
After you’ve finished your personal reflection, reach out to your professional network. Individuals such as current or former supervisors, colleagues, peers, and direct reports should be able to provide helpful feedback. Lastly, work to marry both external and internal feedback about your performance. Practice condensing your personal sales pitch until you can tell someone why you’re an asset in 30 seconds or less.
How do I maintain & build my brand over time?
Once you’ve developed your unique personal brand, it’s time to get the word out! Practice pitching your services with a focus on the tasks you enjoy and the areas where you excel.
Remember: branding is a marathon, not a sprint. Don’t expect to be able to draw on the strength of your personal brand immediately. Instead, build your reputation steadily by interacting with peers on LinkedIn, writing articles, making presentations, or participating in other activities that advance your presence in the community.
Final Thoughts
Thanks for reading! We hope these tips have given you some insight into how you can develop and promote your personal brand. Although it can be difficult to find the time to invest in yourself, the effort you put in could pay dividends when raises and bonuses are calculated. If you enjoyed this article, let us know on social media!
Please don’t hesitate to contact us with any questions or concerns. At First Legal, we’re here for you from File Thru Trial™!
