How to Grow Your Network as a Paralegal
Good connections and a strong network of professionals are essential in today’s working world. It provides a community of knowledgeable people who could recommend and refer you to better jobs and industry experts. Here are some ways to grow your career and build a solid professional network as a paralegal.
Attend Professional Events and Associations
Conferences and seminars are a great way of putting yourself out there and connecting with others from your field. It increases your knowledge about your industry and helps you grow and become more confident in making prolific conversations or small talks with others in your industry. In addition, you could also be part of these professional events by helping at workshops and other functions that increase your chance to engage with more people within your industry.
Utilize Professional Networking Sites
Paralegals can use many networking sites to connect with legal professionals and attorneys online. Professional sites like LinkedIn and Facebook are among the best ways to gain professional exposure and learn about the work experiences of various attorneys. Reaching out to attorneys or other professionals in your area through social media and asking if they would be willing to meet for coffee or lunch is an excellent way to build relationships and discuss the industry in depth. Lastly, this is also a great opportunity to get referred by an attorney to connect with another industry expert or experienced individual they may know closely, thus helping advance your paralegal career.
Prepare an Elevator Speech for Yourself
Being prepared to introduce yourself at any event or while volunteering at an association is very important. Giving a quick background about yourself to someone in the legal sector is a great way of communicating your strengths and goals. Preparing an elevator pitch also boosts your confidence in making instant conversations. It is also beneficial to carry a stack of business cards with your contact information so that they can reconnect with you in the future.
There are many ways to advance your networking in the legal industry, such as taking a paralegal-specific certification course. This will give you the opportunity to network with other paralegals who are also seeking to advance their skills and knowledge. To learn more about how to build your network as a paralegal, contact BluShark Digital.