It’s a commonly heard complaint among law students, young lawyers, and even some midcareer professionals: Finding people who provide solid career advice seems to be a bigger challenge than it should be. As soon as they attempt to reach out, they’re often met with silence or, at best, generic counsel that hardly goes beyond the usual platitudes of perseverance, networking, and optimism.
Such struggles are not a sign of indifference or dismissiveness. Most of the time, it’s about poor timing. Sometimes, the sought-after advisors simply lack the expertise required to provide the specialized guidance being asked of them. Bitter though these realities may be, they can be surmounted with the right minds, methods, and tools.
Those considering establishing their own practice, or who have already done so, experience similar difficulties. Finding the appropriate mentors can be just as daunting, if not more so. With some mentors being inaccessible due to their busy schedules, and others merely incompatible, it can often appear a case of looking for a needle in a haystack.
Previously, the process of forging useful connections was not just daunting, but also time-consuming and expensive. Attending bar association gatherings or professional conferences were the major means of networking, avenues not accessible or affordable to all. The good news is that with today’s technology, this is no longer the case.
Today’s resources offer a significant amount of convenience. For instance, on Facebook and LinkedIn, one can easily search for specialized groups that cater to specific practice areas or geographic locations. Even more beneficial is the ABA’s SoloSez listserv, a discussion platform for solo and small firm lawyers which is available even to non-ABA members. Moreover, the Legal Mentor Network specializes in connecting attorneys with mentors from top companies and law firms.
However, even with these resources, finding the right people who provide career guidance can be challenging, especially when unsure of where to turn. In response to this persistent issue, an ongoing search for people providing substantial information about career and practice development, or are otherwise willing to offer advice when needed, has been initiated. At the end of the month, these unsung career guidance heroes will be recognized and listed as top social media follows.
If you can recommend any individuals who fit this description, please feel free to reach out. No specific rules nor limitations exist for the number of individuals to be listed, other than being a significant source of help.
This information was shared by Steven Chung, a tax attorney based in Los Angeles, California, specializing in basic tax planning and dispute resolution. For more information or recommendations, he can be reached at stevenchungatl@gmail.com. You can also follow him on Twitter or LinkedIn .