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&lt;p&gt;&lt;u&gt;Conferences: Renting a Legal Network&lt;/u&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Most lawyers never notice that they&#39;re renting their legal network.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;When you work at a law firm, you&#39;re renting a legal network that consists of specialists (other lawyers) you can work with. You receive a percentage of the value you generate for the firm through your paycheck, and some of the value you create is used by the firm for curating this network of specialists.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;To access the network at a firm, you have to make a meaningful commitment and join the firm. But if you’re exploring a new professional niche and want access to a new network, you can rent this network by going to a conference. That is, you can pay someone—the conference organizers—to curate a group of people with whom you can build relationships.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Law is a profession that places a high emphasis on professional connection, so conferences are particularly valuable platforms for lawyers.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;u&gt;How to get the most out of a legal conference&lt;/u&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Attending a legal conference for the first time can be daunting. It can seem like there are insiders and outsiders, those at the pinnacle of practice and those just breaking into the ranks.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Here are 18 proven &#160;tips for getting the most out of a conference:&lt;/p&gt;&lt;ol&gt;&lt;li&gt;Focus on the quality of interactions, not the quantity of them. Get to know a handful of people. Over time, you&#39;ll meet their friends and then their friends and so on, gradually building your personal network.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Evaluate the conference to determine whether it&#39;s one you want to attend again. You&#39;ll get the most out of a conference by returning year after year.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Ask people what they think the most interesting panels or events will be. This will help you allocate your attention and better understand the conference program.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Don&#39;t be shy about introducing yourself to the biggest stars of the conference. They&#39;re there to meet people.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;If some people don&#39;t seem to reciprocate your interest in connecting, don&#39;t let it upset you. You&#39;ll find your people. Keep introducing yourself.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Ask people why they came to the conference. People may surprise you with their responses.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Many of the best events held during a conference are unconnected to the official program, held off-site, and announced by word of mouth. Be flexible with your schedule, be inclusive, and be assertive about getting invited.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;After meeting a colleague, connect promptly on LinkedIn. Send a short message about your conversation and follow up in the next month to schedule a call. You’ve already done the hard part in making the connection; sustaining connections is both the easiest and most important part of building a lasting network.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Make sure you eat good food, get plenty of sleep, and stay hydrated. Don&#39;t feel pressured to go out or make choices you&#39;ll regret.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Feel free to take plenty of breaks to recharge. Don&#39;t feel like you have to be a part of everything.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Stretch yourself by walking up to a group of people you don&#39;t know and introduce yourself.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;People are watching; don&#39;t do anything you wouldn&#39;t want someone else to observe.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Research people who you want to meet in advance and reach out and invite them to connect at the conference.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Ask people in your network if they’re going to the conference you plan to attend. You’ll both have a better experience if you know someone there. Moreover, meeting up at a conference is another way to stay in touch with the people in your network.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Look for opportunities to connect with people who share interests or work in similar practice areas. The more connections you form in your network, the more valuable the network becomes.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Pick a conference you’re excited about attending, not the one you feel obligated to attend. You’ll get the most out of it if you’re excited to learn and meet people.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;The best opportunities to connect with people at a conference are in the lobby and hallway, not in the conference room during a panel discussion.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;You’ll get the most out of a panel presentation if you’re on the panel. You’ll learn and build relationships with the other panelists, and you’ll build your authority as a speaker and thinker.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ol&gt;&lt;p&gt;A great attribute of the legal profession is that it is full of inherently social people. Take advantage of this to grow your career opportunities.&lt;/p&gt;

Khurram Naik

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