The Power of Social Media

Building Your Brand

Admittedly, perhaps I’m such a believer in the power of social media because it has been an instrumental tool in my career. I certainly get that it may not work for everyone but for me, using Linked In specifically has helped me build my reputation as a specialist in employment law.

My journey with using social media professionally began when I joined Big Law after being at a small firm for the first five years of my practice. I was previously a commercial litigator at a small shop, and for Big Law to take a chance on me, I started at the firm as a first year associate despite being a fifth year.

As a newbie to the practice of employment law, I intentionally spent a lot of time reading employment law blogs and articles. Note that I was reading and learning — not drafting or creating them. While doing so, it dawned on me that sharing the articles that I found especially helpful on Linked In could be a way for me to establish myself as a subject matter expert and to find clients – and that’s how my relationship with Linked In began.

Within two years of posting articles to Linked In, I only got one client – but I discovered the real power of Linked In — building my brand. In only two years, I was nominated by my peers and ultimately selected by D Magazine as one of its best lawyers in Dallas for employment law – and that visibility has grown throughout the years.

As a counterpoint, I proffer that hardly any others were selected at my firm – despite all of them more experienced. My reason for sharing this — isn’t to gloat. On the contrary, I whole-heartedly believe that many at my firm were more deserving from a subject-matter expert perspective.

At the same time, I received the visibility because I was able to leverage social media to build and bolster my brand. That’s the power of social media.

Finding Community & Learning

Another reason why I’m such a fan of social media – is that it’s a great resource for networking (something we lawyers have been told that we have to do since day one of being a lawyer) and learning.

For things great and small, I have found that social media is an incredible resource:

• It is through my mommy network that I have found great books and ideas for activities with the tots (and solidarity in the struggle of not feeling enough in this space because I work so much outside the home).
• It is through my Peloton + lawyer network that I have discovered the best joggers ever – Vuori, (as well as get recommendations for inspiring workouts).
• It is through my lawyer network that I hear of job opportunities for my mentees and of interesting developments in the law.
• It is through my neighborhood network that I have a great maid and an excellent babysitter.

And on a deeper level, while social media has the effect of making others feel alone, I have had the opposite experience. It has made me feel less alone.

And reading diverse perspectives (yes, even those that I disagree with) have helped me develop, challenge and strengthen my worldviews. The suggestions of books to read on allyship itself was such a tremendous gift to me in 2020. I personally grew so much from embarking on a 21-Day Racial Equity Challenge.

Last, but not least, all the employment law blogs I still read weekly help make me a better, more informed lawyer.

Reflection

If I had to pick a favorite use for social media, it has been a tool for reflection.

Yes, I do understand and believe in the quote that: