I attended the Small Law Firm Symposium at the New York City Bar Association today. I've attended similar events in the past and always glean valuable takeaways by the time the day is over.
Noteworthy topics at today's event included understanding/identifying unconscious bias, ethical considerations in the business of law (e.g., referrals and fee splitting), and building resilience to optimize one's performance in the practice of law.
The highlight of the day for me was Stefanie Marrone's session on creating an online presence and utilizing social media to develop your firm's brand. Stefanie delivered a wealth of information in a small amount of time with a ton of energy and enthusiasm. She spoke in depth about how to maximize the benefits of social media, particularly Linked In; developing content for your audience; building a network of referral sources; and increasing your firm's visibility.
I had some time to catch up with Stefanie at the networking reception at the end of the day, as shown below:
Throughout the day there were plenty of opportunities to network with fellow attendees. I enjoyed catching up with familiar faces and meeting others in the field.
For those solo or small firm practitioners who have not attended the annual symposium before, you may find that it is a good way to stimulate your brain about how to grow your firm while interacting with other attorneys who are on a similar journey.