The State Bar Association of North Dakota Winter 2015 Gavel Magazine | Page 7

various substantive practice areas and
for alumni of most law schools and
colleges. By joining and participating in
these groups, you can connect with other
members you might never encounter
otherwise.

the many people you have encountered along
your life’s journey, any of whom could be in
the position of sending business your way. It
also allows you to maintain those connections
during job changes, yours or theirs.
Investing time in your profile is critical. This
is your online résumé, and it should represent
you at your best. A photo is an absolute must,
as people will relate to you much better visually,
and your profile will appear more polished. Use
a professional photo here – this is not the place
for an off-center photo (that’s Twitter) or a
picture of you on vacation (that’s Facebook).
Keep legal advertising rules in mind here.
For instance, saying you are a “specialist” in a
practice area is likely not permitted unless you
have been certified by an authority.
Making sure your profile is accurate is also
a must. Most lawyers understand that they
need to be completely truthful when creating
their profile, but many miss the importance
of keeping their profile up to date. Having a
profile that says you currently work somewhere
you don’t is misleading, and violates ethical rules
in any jurisdiction.
Once you have established your profile, it’s time
to connect. You will be amazed at the number
of people you have encountered through
school and work. While LinkedIn allows a
personalized invitation, it’s perfectly fine to send
the generic message. If you wish, then follow up
with a thank you. Don’t reach out to people you
don’t know at all, but don’t hesitate to connect
with people you know only slightly.
Also, take the time to connect with groups of
interest. There are groups for bar associations,

Once these steps are completed, LinkedIn
doesn’t require a tremendous investment of
time. Once a week or so browse potential
new connections. Use the status update to
share news, but not mundane information.
So, becoming a certified trial specialist or
having an article published is certainly
worthy of an update, but news like
“working on a summary judgment motion
today” is not. News about your firm or
achievements of your colleagues can also
be included in your status.
LinkedIn is also best used for b