The Importance of Networking

By Darlene Yeary, ACP

According to Webster’s Dictionary, networking is defined as “the exchange of information or services among individuals, groups, or institutions; specifically :  the cultivation of productive relationships for employment or business.”

So, what does networking mean to us as paralegals? There are so many ways that networking can play a role inside and outside the office.  For inside the office, every day you go to work, you have the opportunity to meet new people, so you are networking. In my position as a real estate paralegal, I end up speaking with title companies and Buyer’s or Seller’s counsel’s paralegal.  As you work through the transaction and especially towards the end of the transaction when the deal is going to close, you end up speaking to those individuals more and more and you begin to form a relationship with them.  After the transaction has closed, it is a great time to look them up on LinkedIn and form that connection.  You never know when you may run into the same scenario again and you will remember how helpful they were to you.

Another way to network inside the office is to stay connected to the attorneys that you work for.  I stayed in touch with attorneys that I worked for after I left a job and it helped me obtain the paralegal position I have now along with the one I held previously.  I had great relationships with them when I left and you never know when one of those relationships will help you out in the future.  Even if they do not know of any open positions, they may know someone who does.

A way to network outside of the office is to join a local paralegal association (hint…hint…join Richmond Paralegal Association).  It is a great way to connect with people who go through the same situations you do (good and bad) and it a great way to bounce ideas off of each other.  Becoming a member of the Richmond Paralegal Association and now being a member of the Board were two of the best decisions I have made for my career.  I have met a lot of wonderful people through this organization and they are people that I might not have connected with if I had not joined.

So today, take that next step to make that new relationship and watch the power of networking work for you!