questions to ask attorney when networking with

by Brant Effertz 8 min read

10 Top Questions to Ask a Lawyer You’re Meeting for the First Time

  • 1. How Long Have You Practiced Law? ...
  • 2. What Types of Cases Do You Manage? ...
  • 3. Who’s Your Typical Client? ...
  • 4. How Many Similar Cases Have You Taken On? ...
  • 5. What Kind of Special Training or Knowledge You Have Outside Your Law Degree? ...
  • 6. What Are Your Fees and Costs? ...
  • 7. How Would You Represent Me? ...
  • 8. What Alternatives Do I Have? ...

Full Answer

What are the best networking questions to ask potential employers?

Harvard has done you the favor by publishing a list of 26 key questions for networking with individuals or potential employers: 1. What are your primary job responsibilities? 2. What experience did you have to get your job?

What are the best tips for Attorney networking?

Top Attorney Networking Tips. 1 1. Do your prep work. If you approach a legal networking event like an obligatory annoyance and do minimal (or no) prep work, your results aren’t ... 2 2. Have a line ready. 3 3. Remember: It’s not about you; it’s about them. 4 4. Don’t just do it when you need to. 5 5. Follow up. More items

What is attorney networking and why does it matter?

In our digital world, attorney networking is no longer restricted to in-person events. Lawyer networking sites and community hubs like The Law Community can benefit lawyers in many ways.

How to question someone at a networking meeting?

When questioning someone at a networking meeting, you don’t want to spin off questions randomly from your head. You want each question to have a meaningful link to the next, so you can learn as much as possible about them to play your next moves. That’s why you should consider asking these questions in the order in which they appear here.

How to get better at networking?

What to say when someone asks you who you are?

How to stand out from everyone else?

Do you have to talk about your law firm?

Do you follow up with a lawyer?

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What are good questions to ask lawyers?

Questions to Ask Your Lawyer During a Consultation1) What kind of experience do you have with similar cases?2) What would be your strategy for my case?3) Are there any alternatives to going to court?4) What are my possible outcomes?5) Who will actually handle my case?6) What is my role in my case?More items...

What are good questions to ask when networking?

Career path questionsDid you always want to work in this field?How did you join this industry?Do you think your career path is like most others in your position?What skills are the most important for your job?What's the biggest obstacle you've faced in your career so far?What professional development do you do?More items...

What are 3 questions you should ask a lawyer before hiring?

Five Questions You Should Ask:Will you be the attorney personally handling my case?Will you take the case all the way to trial if necessary?What results have you obtained in the past for cases like mine?Can I call or email you directly with questions I have about my case?More items...

What questions should I ask in an attorney interview?

Litigation-related questions to ask a lawyer in an interview include:How many court and jury trials have you done and what is your win percentage? ... What is the chance that I receive a favorable outcome? ... What are the risks if the case does fail? ... What are the odds of a settlement? ... How long should I expect this to take?

What to talk about during networking?

Conversation starters for professional gatheringsWhat do you love most about your job?What's a fact about your position you didn't know before getting hired?What's the most interesting thing about your company?Which industry blogs do you follow?What would you say is the most important skill in your profession?More items...

How do you introduce yourself in a networking event?

6 Tips to Effectively Introduce Yourself at Networking EventsSmile. The first step in a great introduction is enthusiasm. ... Shake their hand. First impressions can be hard to beat. ... Say your full name. ... Explain what you do (not just your job title). ... Be brief. ... Understand when it's your turn to listen.

What is the hardest question to ask a lawyer?

12 Tough Questions to Ask a LawyerWhat's your opinion of the probate process?Under what conditions do you recommend a Living Trust?How do I protect my children from abusive relatives if something happens to me?Can I keep my kids from controlling their entire inheritance at 18?More items...•

What you should know before you talk to a lawyer?

10 Things You Should Know Before Contacting a LawyerHave Your Documents Ready. ... Research the Elements of Your Case. ... Don't Call if You Just Have a Question. ... You May Not Speak to a Lawyer Right Away. ... Do Not Ask the Legal Support Staff for Advice. ... Don't Provide Too Much Information. ... Answer the Lawyer's Specific Questions.More items...•

What is an attorney vs lawyer?

However, when practising law, lawyers can only provide legal assistance, advice, and counselling to their clients while an attorney can represent clients in court and initiate defendant prosecutions in addition to providing legal counsel and consultation.

What are the top 5 questions to ask an interviewer?

7 good questions to ask at an interviewCan you tell me more about the day-to-day responsibilities of the role? ... How could I impress you in the first three months? ... Are there opportunities for training and progression within the role/company? ... Where do you think the company is headed in the next five years?More items...

How do you introduce yourself in an attorney interview?

LawOF: Introduce yourself. Answer: My name is Utkarsh Goel and I am currently pursuing LLB-3 Year Program. LawOF: What made you chose LLB? Utkarsh Goel: Since my school days, I had always been interested in law.

What questions should I ask at a legal assistant interview?

Legal Assistant Interview QuestionsHow would you deal with an unreasonable lawyer? ... In what ways do you keep up with legal developments? ... In what ways have you contributed to the efficiency of a company's operation? ... How do you handle an interaction with a difficult client?More items...

What are the top 5 questions to ask an interviewer?

7 good questions to ask at an interviewCan you tell me more about the day-to-day responsibilities of the role? ... How could I impress you in the first three months? ... Are there opportunities for training and progression within the role/company? ... Where do you think the company is headed in the next five years?More items...

What should I ask a recruiter when networking?

Questions about their current position and responsibilitiesWhat does a typical day/week in your job look like?What do you enjoy the most about your job? The least?What skills have you found essential for success in this occupation?Could you tell me about one of the main challenges you face in this position?

How do I prepare for a networking interview?

Basic Networking Interview QuestionsHow are Network types classified? ... Explain different types of networks. ... Explain LAN (Local Area Network) ... Tell me something about VPN (Virtual Private Network) ... What are the advantages of using a VPN? ... What are the different types of VPN? ... What are nodes and links?More items...•

What are good getting to know you questions?

100 Getting to Know You QuestionsWho is your hero?If you could live anywhere, where would it be?What is your biggest fear?What is your favorite family vacation?What would you change about yourself if you could?What really makes you angry?What motivates you to work hard?More items...

26 Key Questions to ask While Networking

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How to Successfully Network in a Law Firm | BCGSearch.com

It would do us good to shift our view of what networking can be, and what its purpose is. Networking does not need to be a self-interested, shameless, forced acquaintance with others for the purpose of attempting to advance ourselves to positions we cannot attain on our merits alone.

How Attorneys Can Network: Why Networking is Essential to Attorney ...

This article examines the importance of networking to your legal career. First, this article discusses the value of networking in finding a job inside a law firm; second, it discusses the importance of networking to keeping a job inside a law firm; and, third, it discusses why the failure to network can be fatal to your career. As this article will demonstrate, few things are as important to ...

Lawyer Referral Network - Attorney at Work

LinkedIn Profile Update: How to Stand Out in 4 Simple, Achievable Steps. Tea Hoffmann: Here's how to conduct a step-by-step LinkedIn profile update — because when your business is running on virtual connections, a stale profile isn’t going to cut it.

3. Are you going to handle my case alone or with someone else?

You certainly cannot miss out to ask this very vital question. Most of the attorneys who have years of experience ended up assigning the work to paralegals. Therefore, always clarify this specific point!

4. Will I be interacting with You Directly or Someone Else?

As much as the earlier question matters, this is equally crucial to ask.

6. Do you have any Clients that can Stir up Differences?

This is one of the most common crucial parts to ask your attorney before hiring them.

7. What approach to communication do you prefer?

Having clear-cut and transparent communication is the key to any relationship. Hence, it is advisable to hire an attorney with whom your communication is attuned.

8. What Strategies do you prefer for my Case?

Once, you have undergone multiple lawyers then it is most likely that you have picked the lawyer to work with.

9. Do you work for specialized Law Firms or Associations?

Always hire an attorney who keeps up with the latest business and law trends.

10. Apart from the Law Degree, what sort of special training (or knowledge) do you have?

Different cases demand different qualities. Show your client that you’re more than a qualified professional to complete their cases successfully.

What are the two types of clients?

Before you wonder why this one’s asked when it sounds so much like the previous one, know this: there are two different types of clients…. Business and individual. If you’re just an individual looking for representation, you’re going to want a lawyer that works specifically with individuals and not businesses.

Can you arrange things out of court without an attorney?

In the legal industry, there a variety of processes moving forward. Sometimes an arbitrator would be suitable. You can arrange things out of court without the need for an attorney, too. And the reason for asking is that you might have considerably less cost to worry about. 9.

Do all lawyers charge the same percentage of your winnings?

In many areas of law, all lawyers will charge a similar percentage of your winnings for their attorney fees. That said, why not go with someone who has experience with your specific type of case?

How to get better at networking?

Continuously network, go to events, and meet new people. It’s a skill that you build over time and that needs to be honed constantly—and if it’s any consolation, it will only get easier each time. Attend local events, or industry-leading conferences like the Clio Cloud Conference where there are smaller networking events broken out by practice area or different areas of interest.

What to say when someone asks you who you are?

For example, if someone asks you the above question, you might want to say “I’m a family law attorney from Oakland, focusing mainly on no-fault divorces. How about you?”

How to stand out from everyone else?

The real work comes in finding ways to cultivate relationships as issues come up. To stand out from everyone else, you need to do good work—really good work.

Do you have to talk about your law firm?

What’s really interesting about this is it doesn’t necessarily have to be speaking about your law firm. You could speak about topics that you’re passionate about, or that are of interest to people who might be potential clients. Simply mentioning the fact that you are a lawyer will almost always lead to two or three people coming and asking you for free legal advice.

Do you follow up with a lawyer?

If you meet another legal professional who might send you business, follow-up with them! People meet tens, if not hundreds, of other professionals, and yes, that means unless you have a 3D-pop-up business card, it will probably get lost in the shuffle. Even if you’re highly talented at having outstanding and memorable conversations with every person you meet, following up with a quick email will cement your acquaintances’ memory of you and help you begin to cultivate that relationship.

Why do you ask questions about a job?

If you're interested in a particular job, asking questions about the day-to-day duties can help you decide if you want to pursue this career. These questions will help you learn about the person's current job:

Why is networking important?

Networking is an excellent way to grow your professional network and meet new business connections. Networking events make it easy to meet a variety of like-minded industry employees in one setting. Asking well-thought-out questions can help you get valuable information during the event.

What is a networking event?

A networking event is a meeting, after-work gathering, conference or other convention that brings people from the same industry or with similar goals together to meet and discuss their careers. You can build connections with like-minded professionals who can help you learn new skills or advance your career. The goal of most networking events is for career development and growth outside a person's workplace.

What can recruiters use to meet potential employees?

Recruit potential employees: Recruiters can use networking events to meet and even interview potential employees.

What are the most common types of networking events?

Here are some of the most common types of networking events: Career fairs: Also known as job fairs, career fairs are large recruiting events with a focus on interviewing and hiring potential employees. Often, career fairs are organized by industry.

Why are industry questions important?

Industry questions help you build strong relationships with professionals in your field. These connections can be useful if you need a reference or if you need guidance on a particular topic. These questions are about the field or industry as a whole:

What are the benefits of networking?

Networking events can offer many benefits to attendees, including: Build relationships: Networking events are a great way to meet new people in a professional setting and develop business relationships. Understand industry trends: Often, industry leaders share updates and trends in the field during networking events.

How to network at an event?

The easiest way to network at an event is to take advantage of the fact that people love to talk about themselves. Experts agree that questions are a great way to build rapport and demonstrate interest in others while also gathering important information. Networking events are the perfect time to stretch your questioning skills.

Is it difficult to make conversation while networking?

Making conversation while networking can be challenging. But, with the help of these networking questions, you’ll be a natural in no time.

Why do people attend networking events?

People attend networking events for various reasons; learning from industry leaders, showcasing their products, finding business partners, or for wannabes, getting inspiration.

Why do you want each question to have a meaningful link to the next?

You want each question to have a meaningful link to the next, so you can learn as much as possible about them to play your next moves.

Why is networking important?

A networking event is an avenue for professionals of a particular profession to meet and make connections.

What is the purpose of knowing how someone started their career?

Knowing how someone started their career in an industry could serve as a template for your professional career.

Can networking events be used to your advantage?

However, you can always use networking events to your advantage if you know how to go about it. Since these events usually feature top industry experts, you can build meaningful relationships to help you land a job in the future.

Is curiosity good for networking?

Like most other interviews, curiosity makes any networking meeting successful. But it’s hard to be curious when you don’t even know anything about the person in question.

Is having an extensive network good for you?

While these relationships could help you land a job in the future, there are more benefits to having an extensive network.

What is the last component of a good networking question?

Finally, the last component of a good networking question is that it’s not so easy that they don’t need to even think, but not so hard as to frustrate them.

What is an example of a question that you can’t find online?

An example of a question that you “can’t find online” and also that’s “specific to the person you’re chatting with”, but is too easy would be something like: “Do you enjoy your work?”

Why is asking the right questions important?

Asking the right questions is crucial to the success of your networking attempts. If the goal is to get a job or build a connection with the other person, they’re much more likely to help you out if you ask interesting and thoughtful questions.

Why is networking important?

Networking is one of (if not THE) best way to build connections and get jobs. Even beyond job-hunting, networking is still important for business. The most loyal customers and partners usually come from within your network. But how exactly do you network? By following 3 simple steps:

How to prepare for a future interview?

Avoid asking anything regarding how to prepare for a future interview. (Instead you could go for something softer like “how could I best position myself to apply for so-and-so position?”)

What is a question that both can’t be found online and is specific to someone might sounds like?

Instead, a question that both can’t be found online AND is specific to someone might sounds like: “what part of the job did you enjoy when you worked as a lawyer at XYZ firm?”

Is it hard to scare someone away?

This isn’t a yes or no question, but it isn’t so hard as to scare the person you’re talking to away. This question is open-ended and covers the previous two criteria (personal to the person you’re chatting with), but also is at a good level of difficulty.

How to get better at networking?

Continuously network, go to events, and meet new people. It’s a skill that you build over time and that needs to be honed constantly—and if it’s any consolation, it will only get easier each time. Attend local events, or industry-leading conferences like the Clio Cloud Conference where there are smaller networking events broken out by practice area or different areas of interest.

What to say when someone asks you who you are?

For example, if someone asks you the above question, you might want to say “I’m a family law attorney from Oakland, focusing mainly on no-fault divorces. How about you?”

How to stand out from everyone else?

The real work comes in finding ways to cultivate relationships as issues come up. To stand out from everyone else, you need to do good work—really good work.

Do you have to talk about your law firm?

What’s really interesting about this is it doesn’t necessarily have to be speaking about your law firm. You could speak about topics that you’re passionate about, or that are of interest to people who might be potential clients. Simply mentioning the fact that you are a lawyer will almost always lead to two or three people coming and asking you for free legal advice.

Do you follow up with a lawyer?

If you meet another legal professional who might send you business, follow-up with them! People meet tens, if not hundreds, of other professionals, and yes, that means unless you have a 3D-pop-up business card, it will probably get lost in the shuffle. Even if you’re highly talented at having outstanding and memorable conversations with every person you meet, following up with a quick email will cement your acquaintances’ memory of you and help you begin to cultivate that relationship.

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