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Why it’s important to build up your contact base as a lawyer
In a multifaceted legal profession, Vicky Martin underscores how nurturing a strong and extensive professional network is not only advantageous but also imperative as a lawyer.
Grace Robbie
In a recent episode of The Protégé Podcast, Vicky Martin, a special counsel for Queensland-based law firm Thynne + Macartney, emphasised how vital it is for legal professionals to cultivate a sustainable network of contacts. Drawing from her own experiences, Martin highlighted how developing a professional network can influence career growth and success.
Given its varied nature, establishing a robust professional network within the legal field can help lawyers access informed guidance from individuals with expertise beyond one’s specific area of focus.
“I believe it’s really important to have a good contact base for lots of reasons as there’s always someone you can reach out to on a particular point,” Martin said.
She provided a specific instance of where she leveraged her extensive network of contacts to seek assistance with legal matters that fell outside her area of specialisation.
“For example, I work in the will and estate space. Now, occasionally, other areas of law might crop up, and I’ve invariably have worked with somebody or, you know, somebody who knows somebody who can help with an issue that might arise,” she said.
One of the advantages that Martin provided for maintaining a well-established contact list is the ability to engage with individuals who can provide valuable guidance.
“It’s always good for you to be able to call on people and for a bit of advice or mentoring,” she said.
Another significant benefit of cultivating a professional network is the capability to both give and receive referrals. Martin reflected on how she still receives referrals from former colleagues with whom she continues to stay in contact.
“I still, even today, get lots of referrals from people [who] I used to work with over the years. They think of me and they know what I’m doing now, and they send the work my way. So that’s really important,” she said.
Beyond the tangible benefits that building up a contact base provides, Martin also expressed how these interactions foster a sense of collegiality and provide a platform for establishing valuable professional relationships.
“Sometimes, you can feel like it’s a difficult journey, especially when you’re an early-career lawyer, and it’s good to have other people to bounce off, just to talk to about different situations that might arise in practice,” she said.
However, Martin explained the significance of investing effort and intention with these professional connections and disclosed her approach to sustaining continuous communication with her network.
“I make a point of staying in touch with a lot of my contacts, either just a short note like a text or an email every now and again or catch up for a coffee or a drink just to sort of keep in touch. Or go to events that I know that some of my contacts will be out just to touch base with people,” she said.
“I think that’s really important, especially since the pandemic, to be able to socialise and keep in touch with people.”
