Like many boys of my youth, I liked playing with matches. Especially, kitchen matches. I saw adults light them and thought they looked cool.Â
I didn’t do anything stupid. I’d light them and blow them out until I got bored and did something else.
Unfortunately, many of the adults I saw lighting matches used them to light a cigar, a pipe, or a cigarette. Sure enough, years later, at various times of my early life, I smoked a pipe, cigars, and cigarettes.
That was a long time ago and I’ve long since quit (although I wouldn’t mind a cigar once in a while).
Anyway, while kids learn many of our bad habits by mimicking adults, we also learn good habits.
As a law clerk and a new attorney, I watched experienced lawyers (the adults) in the office and learned from them.
I listened to how they spoke to other lawyers, how they interacted with their secretaries, how they greeted clients and escorted them to their inner office.
I soaked it all up.
Later, with my own cases, I paid attention to what my opposition said and did, and sought advice from lawyers I knew about strategy or where to go to get some answers.
I learned how to be a lawyer, in part, by being around other lawyers.
I’m sure you did, too.
Unfortunately (for me), when I started practicing, lawyers didn’t do a lot of marketing. Some speaking or networking, sending out holiday cards, and not much else. Nothing I could see or mimic.
So I had to learn it all on my own.
Today, competition demands that lawyers make marketing a priority. Fortunately, there are many more options.
So, if you’re just starting out, or you’re looking to up your game, one of the best things you can do is to find lawyers who are good at marketing and learn from them.
Spend time with them, ask questions, ask for help. Watch and listen and mimic the things they do that work.
Just make sure they don’t smoke.Â
Marketing legal services starts here
