How to thrive on LinkedIn as a laywer

LinkedIn is the largest social network for professional networking, with over 20 million open jobs and 830 million users globally. Every day, recruiters use LinkedIn to find the next great candidate. Any lawyer hoping to grow their network or become established as a thought leader in their practice area can benefit from having a strong presence on LinkedIn. Success with LinkedIn for lawyers depends on conveying to prospects and clients that you’re at the top of your niche. We've put together a list of best practices and tips to help you enhance the appearance of your LinkedIn profile.

 

Know your audience

Are you primarily interested in finding new professional opportunities for yourself or advancing your practice within your current firm? You might simply want to connect with more people in the industry, or be looking for a new source of legal content. Whatever you want to accomplish, think about who you want to reach out to to help you achieve that goal. Have a think about your ideal customer profile. From there, you can better tailor your profile to appeal to your target audience.

 

Use the summary as a personal pitch

Take advantage of the summary section. This area should be used as your bio or even like your ‘elevator pitch’. Include a brief history of your noteworthy accomplishments. You can go a little further in-depth to describe your values and competencies in this part. To help recruiters identify you based on your knowledge and abilities, include keywords in your work history, summary, and headline that are highly relevant to your area of expertise. Consider your ideals and what you can offer a potential employer instead than only emphasising your experience and accomplishments. As a result, recruiters and hiring managers will be able to grasp how your experience relates to their open roles.

 

Don't limit your headline to just your job title

Your headline doesn’t need to limited only to your job title. Give people a brief overview of your background, experience, and skills in little more than 120 characters by using your headline. Make sure to convey your legal specialisations and knowledge clearly and try to make it interesting without being gimmicky.

 

Highlight your skills and expertise

You can highlight more talents in your field of expertise in the keyword section, which will make it easier for recruiters to find your profile when they search. Make sure you are just applying the abilities you have learned and those are applicable to the position you want.

LinkedIn is meant to highlight professional experience, so this advice seems obvious, but many people forget to include it. Just like on a résumé, be concise and straightforward, but don't forget to highlight any relevant experience for prospective clients. Building reputation is more crucial than ever in the modern digital age, because almost anybody may publish anything online. One method to achieve it is to highlight your areas of expertise and past accomplishments.

 

Outline your roles, responsibilities and achievements

Ensure your LinkedIn profile matches your resume. You only really need to include previous jobs that directly relate to your industry, skipping the irrelevant ones. Provide detailed descriptions of your responsibilities in each role, emphasising the impact you've had. Elevate your profile by incorporating a portfolio, links to interviews or articles, and other visuals showcasing your work. Opt for a clean and organised look, utilising bullet points for easy readability. Stay on top of updates – whether it's a promotion, job change, or a published article, promptly reflect it in your profile. Keep it sleek, relevant, and dynamic to truly stand out in the professional landscape.

 

Add photos to make your profile stand out

A lot of people overlook their LinkedIn background banner, however this can serve as a visual reinforcement of your identity, supporting the written facets of your profile. A compelling image holds the potential to significantly elevate your profile. Keep in mind that LinkedIn is a platform centred around personal branding. Crafting the right message, both visually and textually, can leave a lasting impression on clients, prospects, and referral sources. According to LinkedIn, professionals with a quality headshot are 14 times more likely to be discovered on the platform. Choosing not to include one may mean missing out on valuable opportunities. Ensure your profile stands out by giving it a visual edge.

 

Testimonials from colleagues

Make use of LinkedIn's endorsement and recommendation features to their fullest potential. Encourage past clients or colleagues to share brief reviews of your collaborative work or endorse your specific skills and specialties. Building a reciprocal relationship by returning the favour enhances the credibility of your network endorsements, so choose thoughtfully when seeking testimonials. Let your professional community speak on your behalf, adding a valuable layer of authenticity to your profile.

 

Try out using the Featured section

Highlighting the Featured section on LinkedIn is a strategic move with significant benefits. In a professional setting, self-awareness is key, and LinkedIn is the ideal platform to spotlight your experiences. The Featured section offers a subtle yet effective way to showcase your notable achievements and successes without people needed to scroll for too long through your profile.

Take advantage of this section to display your top-performing content, whether it's posts you're particularly proud of or those that garnered exceptional engagement. Additionally, use it to spotlight significant milestones, such as job anniversaries or promotions. By featuring your successes in this dedicated section, you provide tangible proof of your professional prowess.

 

How To Add Your Featured Section on LinkedIn:

• Go to your profile by clicking on me and view profile.
• Click Add Profile Section (next to the “Open to” button and below your connections number)
• Click the Recommended Dropdown Box
• Click Add Featured
• Scroll down and you will see your featured section
• How To Add Content To Your Featured Section
• Scroll down to your featured section in your profile
• Click the + Symbol
• Select your content in the dropdown box

 

Start making connections

Unlock the full potential of LinkedIn as a tool for expanding your professional network, both within and beyond your immediate contacts. Follow and connect with influential individuals who inspire you, enhancing your visibility in the process. If you’re reaching out to someone unfamiliar, send a personalised message introducing yourself and outlining your reasons for connecting.

It's crucial to recognise that LinkedIn isn't just a self-promotion platform for lawyers; it's a dynamic space for cultivating meaningful connections and showcasing thought leadership. Embrace the diverse opportunities LinkedIn offers to lawyers, going beyond mere self-promotion to build lasting relationships and establish yourself as a thought leader in your field. Taking the time to optimise your profile and engage with people will help you stand out from the crowd and attract attention from your target audience.