Seven Tips to Get the Most from a Legal Conference

I travel to various legal conferences each year. Personally, I have found that my career growth accelerated when I began attending more and more conferences. Whenever I attend these conferences, I come home a little better and wiser than when I left. Whether it be new connections made or new ideas learned, these conferences always help me to grow. But these conferences are wasted if not approached very strategically and intentionally. These events require us to leave our families and our office for days at a time. Additionally, the cost of the flight, hotel, and ticket for the conference add up quickly. It is, therefore, very important to leverage these events as much as you possibly can. Here are seven tips that can help you get the most out of the next legal conference you attend.

1. Get a List of Speakers and Attendees in Advance

I find this helpful because I can write down and make a plan of action for connecting with the people I want to meet at the conference. Additionally, I like to plan out the presentations I want to attend. I don’t want to waste any time—I want to get as much juice out of the lemon as possible during my time at the conference.

2. Be Social

If you are naturally shy like I am, resolve before the conference begins to be social. Smile and meet as many people as you can. Get out of your comfort zone, and good things happen. Even if you are not inherently social, you may find it easier to be social at these events because you are out of your element and your usual routine.

3. Take a Photo of the Name Tags of the People You Meet and Speak To

This is helpful because you will forget some people that you meet and talk with. Avoid that by snapping a photo, and then no one will slip through the cracks.

4. Be Careful with Your Credit Card

These conferences are filled with vendors. Some are good, and some are not so good. Sometimes, conference attendees make financial commitments and enter into contracts with vendors. I encourage you not to feel rushed to make a decision with a vendor at a conference. Instead, do your due diligence when you get back to the office and really look into a vendor you are interested in working with.

5. Make Sure to Keep the Conversations Going after the Conference Ends

During or after the conference, connect with everyone you meet at the conference on LinkedIn. This is a major platform that is wonderful for follow-up networking. Send a connection request to those people you want to stay in touch with after the conference. If you have an attorney newsletter, put these attorneys on your newsletter list. The key is to keep in touch with these attorneys so that you always remain top-of-mind whenever a referral or other opportunity arises.

6. Review Your Notes on the Plane and Break Down What Needs to Be Done

Before you arrive home, make sure you lay out what ideas you want to implement. Typically, these legal conferences give you a fire hose of information. That is great, but rather than try to implement all the ideas you learned, focus on a few that will truly move the needle in your practice. Even better, delegate the implementation to your staff if you have one.

7. Be a Speaker

I have found the very best way to maximize a conference is to be a speaker. I consider public speaking to be networking on steroids. Whenever you can speak to a room, your authority is instantly elevated, and your ability to network is amplified. Generally, the only way to get these public speaking opportunities at conferences is to ask for them. If this interests you, I suggest you first develop your presentation. Then, reach out to the organizers of the conference where you want to present and offer to speak. Speakers are always needed, so take your shot and ask for a speaking opportunity.