publication of the International Legal Technology Association
Issue link: https://epubs.iltanet.org/i/221442
LINKEDIN (OR LEFT OUT) FOR LAWYERS degree connections are friends of these friends. Third-degree connections are friends of seconddegree connections. Your level of visibility into third-degree connections is limited, and a request to connect must be routed through the second-degree connection that controls the relationship. When sending out your own invitations, start with your existing contact list. Include your firm's partners, associates and staff; members of professional, business and industry groups you belong to; and referral sources, clients and friends. if you just let it sit in the garage. You should take it out for a spin as often as possible. The more you 'drive' LinkedIn, the more you'll discover its usefulness — and the more you'll realize what a powerful tool it can be on a daily basis." "Never allow your network to stagnate," said Nugent. "It should grow continuously. When you meet a new contact, follow up within 48 hours with an invitation to connect on LinkedIn instead of (or in addition to) an email or a written note. To facilitate this tactic among those you meet, consider including your LinkedIn address on your business card." Your LinkedIn network is essential when conducting pre-interaction due diligence. "You can search your network in order to find out useful information about prospects, their companies, clients, competitors, consultants, referral partners, media sources and employees," said Nugent. "The quality of your results will be determined by the quality of your contacts and the size of your network. "The quality of your network is important," said Nugent. "If you accept too many random invitations, your network, although large, might not be sufficiently useful. If you accept (and send) too few invitations, you won't be able to use the database as it was designed. "Before accepting any invitation," explained Nugent, "ask yourself if this person is potentially a client or a source for the kind of work you really want to do. Strive for balance between the quantity and the quality of the invitations you accept." When vetting an invitation, check out the inviter's profile. Is the invitation from a real and (apparently) respectable individual? Does the inviter have quality contacts that might prove valuable? Does the inviter have a large number of contacts? Did the inviter include a personal note with the invitation? "Rely on these factors to determine if it makes good sense to connect," said Nugent. USING LINKEDIN FOR RESEARCH "A well-crafted LinkedIn network is like a finely tuned sports car," said Nugent. "It's really a waste According to Nugent, "LinkedIn can help provide answers to many important questions. These include: Who is the right person to talk to in a