Professional Online ImageChapman Law School

Laurie Rowen and Erin GigliaCo-owners/founders - Montage Legal Group, LLC

Why is a Professional Online Image Important? Initial Job Search – Law firms will definitely Google you, so a professional

online image is step 1 in the job search process. Online image can break your job search!

Career Success - A professional online image can help you switch jobs or obtain clients, whether through referrals from lawyers or directly from businesses.

Social media is used for networking, and your online image is the only thing people see.

Potential employers and potential clients may currently be “friends” or “connections” with you, so start being professional TODAY.

Social Media Options LinkedIn

Facebook

Twitter

Google+

Blogging

New options will continue to arise

Social Media – General Advice Remain professional – professional photo, professional updates, and

professional comments on other people’s social media content. The same rules apply to Twitter.

Limit content - Don’t put anything up you that don’t want a prospective employer, client or contact to see.

Spend an appropriate amount of time on the appropriate social media pages (i.e. increase LinkedIn time and decrease Facebook time)

Social media is especially useful for shy people, who are able to appear confident and personable over social media

What is a Personal Brand? Your Personal Brand is the powerful, clear, positive idea that comes to mind

whenever other people think of you. It’s what you stand for—the values, abilities and actions that others associate with you. It’s a professional alter ego designed for the purpose of influencing how others perceive you, and turning that perception into opportunity.

Who are you?

What do you do?

How are you different or special?

Creating Your Personal Brand Brainstorm with friends.

What are your strengths? Emphasize them. Show, don’t just tell.

What is your specific specialty? There are thousands of lawyers, so what makes you unique?

Personal branding takes time. Every case you have, article you write, presentation you give will all contribute to your brand. Be strategic.

Refining Your Personal Brand What is your goal? Make sure your online image matches where you want to

be.

Controversial topics – politics, religion. Be mindful of alienating your audience.

How personal is too personal? Your call! Be aware of the consequences.

Your Online Photo LinkedIn – Your LinkedIn photo must be professional, and always in a suit or

similar business attire. Make the photo look like it’s professional, even if your friend is taking the photo. Get a headshot.

Facebook – While interviewing or searching for a job, even your Facebook photo should be professional, but less so than your LinkedIn photo.

Photos that you posted, or where you are tagged, can be “fun” but untag yourself in inappropriate photos.

Twitter – If you have a twitter account, the photo should match your LinkedIn photo.

Using Social Media ProperlyHumor has a time and place! Would you hire this guy?

Facebook Do’s and Don’ts Do - Share the successes of both your friends and some business contacts

Do – Be mindful of your online image. What are you trying to portray? Be consistent across mediums.

Don’t – Complain - about anything - ever.

Don’t – Over-share numerous personal details (how potty training is going, how many illnesses have befallen your house, what you just ate).

Don’t – Share any details at all about your past or current clients or cases, or about your interviews.

Linked In – What It Is, and Is Not What is Linkedin?

A social/business network; can be used as a contact management system. Gives people the ability to find you and your resume, use it as a tool to find others,

and manage your own contacts (assuming they are on Linkedin). A place to share and read business/professional information and articles.

What Linkedin Is Not. Linkedin is not a replacement for networking in person or for “real” relationships It’s not a fool-proof way to organize all contacts. A place to have social conversations

Linked In Advice Have a complete, accurate, and up-to-date profile, including areas of expertise, articles

published, presentations, honors/awards.

Create “vanity profile”: i.e. www.linkedin.com/in/eringiglia

Post updates, share your contacts’ accomplishments – they may return the favor.

Decide whether to be an “open” or “closed” networker; for “open,” connect w/ super connectors to increase 2nd and 3rd degree connections

Don’t use automatic request “I’d like to add you to my professional….”

#1 Tip: Add connections in “Linked Contacts” and a “Relationship Tab” will appear….PLEASE USE IT! http://contacts.linkedin.com/

New “Linkedin Contacts”

• Automatically knows the date you connected

• Records how you met

• Take private notes

• USE IT!

How to Use Linked Groups Linkedin Groups allow you to have connections that you never would have

met, and allows you to send “InMail” to these people.

Join all Alumni Groups (high school, college, law school, etc.)

Join local bar association groups, industry groups, or create your own

When you post an update in the group, it will automatically send a message to everyone in the group Don’t be annoying with too many post, don’t beg for a job, and don’t complain Post articles to start discussions

What is Twitter? Facebook is for friends and family, Linked-in is for business contacts, and

Twitter is for the general public, i.e. people you know and don’t know

Terms: Following, tweeting, retweeting (i.e. sharing) @ symbol and # symbol

If you have limited time, focus on Linked-in v. twitter

Should you even have a Twitter account while you are in law school?

Primary use during job search: Use it to “retweet” articles, ideas, and blog posts of various law firms and lawyers, giving them “publicity”

Social Media - Ethical Issues for Lawyers Read and Understand Bar Rules

All of the same rules of professional conduct that apply to lawyers apply to lawyers online – Duties of candor, to maintain client confidences, competence; advertising and soliciting rules; improper contact with parties; ex parte communications, etc.

Trouble arises because communications are easy, instant, and often informal or spur of the moment.

Online behavior is often permanent!

Advertising and Solicitation California Rule of Professional Conduct 1-400 – Communications may not: (1) contain

any untrue statement, (2) present anything false, deceptive, confusing, deceptive, misleading to the public, (3) omit facts necessary to prevent misleading the public, (4) fail to clearly indicate the communication is a solicitation, (5) be transmitted in any manner which involves intrusion, coercion, duress, compulsion, intimidation, threats, or vexatious or harassing conduct, (6) state “certified specialist” unless they hold a current certificate.

A member shall retain for two years a copy of any communication made by written or electronic media. Upon written request, the member shall make any such copy or recording available to the State Bar, and, if requested, shall provide to the State Bar evidence to support any factual or objective claim contained in the communication.

Common Mistakes Made OnlineComplaining online

Sharing too much information

Posting too much

Posting inappropriate information or photos

Exaggerating or flat-out lying in self-descriptions

Poor grammar and misspelling words

What to Do After Your Set Up Your Professional Online ImageUse LinkedIn to “follow up” with people you meet online or in

person

Continue to follow up with connections periodically using social media

Follow and write for legal blogs

Set calendar reminders to follow up, and then follow up MORE!

Following Up – Three Easy Steps #1 Send contact an email (same night/next morning…at least within 18-24 hours)

Where you met, or if online, who connected you Something personal you remember about them or your conversation Remind them you are a law student looking for opportunities Possibly attach your resume

#2 Connect on LinkedIn Use notes section/relationships tabs so you can remember when and where you met them later

#3 Follow up: How can YOU help them? What do they want? REFERRALS: Refer them cases in their specialty PUBLICITY: Share their articles or blog content on your social media PERSONAL: Offer to help with their charity, listen v. speak to learn more about them

Social Media – How to Benefit from Blogs Subscribe to law firm blogs…you might learn a lot!

Lawyers spend a lot of time blogging, and love when people read their posts. Let lawyers know you are reading them by:

Liking or commenting on post on Facebook Commenting directly on their blog Emailing them that you like their blog post Sharing their blog post

Offer to write a guest post for their blog Lawyers are busy and most would love for a law student to prepare a guest post for

their blog on almost any legal topic. Offer, and follow through.

Social Media is Here to Stay Social media is not a trend. Invest the time to learn about all types since it

can only benefit you in the future.

Like business Facebook pages, and continue to “like” their content.

Share their articles on your own social media pages

Congratulate contacts when they switch jobs or their Linked-in status changes

TAKE AWAY: Your online image matters from Day 1, never stop refining it