yOur neTwOrK iS yOur neT wOrTh , MAKe Sure yOu DiVerSiFy
Diversity & Inclusion Committee Chairs : Christina Potter Bayern – Kubiak Law Group & Antina Mobley – Public Defender ’ s Office , 13th Judicial Circuit
Diverse connections create a huge potential for future collaborations , mutual offers of assistance on important projects , or even future clients .
As the popular saying goes : “ Your network is your net worth .” so make sure you have diversity in your network . Here are some tips .
1 . Identify the Gaps in Your Network Your social network should be inclusive of people from outside of the law . Branch out to people from different industries and professions to develop a rich and holistic network base . For example , if you are a litigator at a large law firm , add lawyers in academia , government , and small firms to keep you informed of trends in other aspects of the legal industry . Do not just connect with other lawyers ; add other professionals to your social circle . These connections create a huge potential for future collaborations , mutual offers of assistance on important projects , or even future clients .
2 : Connect with People from Different Racial and Ethnic Groups According to the American
Bar Association ( ABA ), in 2020 , the racial make-up of lawyers in the United States is approximately 86 % White or Caucasian , 5 % Black or African-American , 5 % Latinx or Hispanic , 2 % Asian , and 2 % Multiracial . 1
It ’ s common to connect and affiliate with others who share your race and ethnicity . So you must be intentional to diversify your network by seeking out colleagues and other professionals of different cultures , races , and ethnicities . This type of diversity ensures you are getting different perspectives , exploring your biases regarding members of those groups , and creating resources when you seek to understand specific national or local issues that relate to the experience of racial and ethnic groups different from your own .
A great way to accomplish this task in Tampa Bay is to join one or all of the many affiliate organizations targeted towards specific racial or ethnic groups , like The George Edgecomb Bar Association , the Asian Pacific American Bar Association , and the Tampa Hispanic Bar Association .
3 : The Power of the Opposite Gender : It ’ s no secret that the legal industry is one long dominated by men . In the United States , approximately 63 % of lawyers are male and 37 % female . The amount of women entering the legal field has increased dramatically . But as the ABA Commission on Women Lawyers has continually observed , 2 women lawyers still seek recognition of their voices and contributions in the legal field , particularly at large law firms . Thus , all lawyers should seek meaningful experiences with people of different genders .
4 : Focus on Building Relationships : As Dr . Maya Angelou famously said : “ I ’ ve learned that people will forget what you said , people will forget what you did , but people will never forget how you made them feel .”
Contrary to popular belief , networking isn ’ t about buying or selling a product . Treat your
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Join the Diversity & Inclusion Committee in your Member Profile at hillsbar . com .
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