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Best way to build a portable network?

Posted: Fri Oct 03, 2014 7:55 am
by Anonymous User
I'll be starting at a V10 soon, but my medium-term plan is to lateral home to a secondary/tertiary market for better QoL/CoL.

I've heard that having a good NYC network can be really helpful for one day generating buisness in a secondary market. (Of course I know no clients would follow me. I'm thinking more along the lines of referrals for local counsel.)

Other than doing good work, is there anything I should do now to build that network?

Re: Best way to build a portable network?

Posted: Fri Oct 03, 2014 8:03 am
by loomy78
Anonymous User wrote:I'll be starting at a V10 soon, but my medium-term plan is to lateral home to a secondary/tertiary market for better QoL/CoL.

I've heard that having a good NYC network can be really helpful for one day generating buisness in a secondary market. (Of course I know no clients would follow me. I'm thinking more along the lines of referrals for local counsel.)

Other than doing good work, is there anything I should do now to build that network?
start watching sportscenter. bullshit about sports with EVERYONE. pick a team in every sport (preferably from your home town). banter with clients.

Re: Best way to build a portable network?

Posted: Fri Oct 03, 2014 4:39 pm
by Anonymous User
loomy78 wrote:start watching sportscenter. bullshit about sports with EVERYONE. pick a team in every sport (preferably from your home town). banter with clients.
Is there a good way to follow sports with a lower time investment than sportscenter? (Not a huge sports fan here, though I get how important it can be.)

Re: Best way to build a portable network?

Posted: Fri Oct 03, 2014 4:59 pm
by el madrileno
grantland.com has some higher quality articles. The WSJ sports section is interesting at times.

Get a single digit handicap in golf.

Re: Best way to build a portable network?

Posted: Fri Oct 03, 2014 5:11 pm
by bl1nds1ght
el madrileno wrote:Get a single digit handicap in golf.
:lol: kind of hard for us blind people. I have my friends point me in the right direction when I swing and then have them tell me where my ball went. Rinse and repeat for all 18 holes, hahahaha.

My short game is baller, tho, so it evens out.

Re: Best way to build a portable network?

Posted: Fri Oct 03, 2014 5:15 pm
by el madrileno
bl1nds1ght wrote:
el madrileno wrote:Get a single digit handicap in golf.
:lol: kind of hard for us blind people. I have my friends point me in the right direction when I swing and then have them tell me where my ball went. Rinse and repeat for all 18 holes, hahahaha.

My short game is baller, tho, so it evens out.
You have awesome and patient friends.

Re: Best way to build a portable network?

Posted: Fri Oct 03, 2014 5:18 pm
by bl1nds1ght
el madrileno wrote:
bl1nds1ght wrote:
el madrileno wrote:Get a single digit handicap in golf.
:lol: kind of hard for us blind people. I have my friends point me in the right direction when I swing and then have them tell me where my ball went. Rinse and repeat for all 18 holes, hahahaha.

My short game is baller, tho, so it evens out.
You have awesome and patient friends.
Don't worry, they give me tons of shit for it :mrgreen:

But yes, they are like family.

Re: Best way to build a portable network?

Posted: Fri Oct 03, 2014 8:38 pm
by Anonymous User
el madrileno wrote: Get a single digit handicap in golf.
My understanding was that networking in NYC biglaw doesn't rely on golf as much as networking in other markets does (because lawyer have less time and most courses are further away). Is that incorrect?

Re: Best way to build a portable network?

Posted: Fri Oct 03, 2014 10:45 pm
by Lincoln
Anonymous User wrote:
el madrileno wrote: Get a single digit handicap in golf.
My understanding was that networking in NYC biglaw doesn't rely on golf as much as networking in other markets does (because lawyer have less time and most courses are further away). Is that incorrect?
I don't know of a single person at my firm who plays golf with colleagues, and the two associates I know of who are shoo-ins for partner do not play golf.

On a serious note, working with partners who regularly litigate in state courts or who do the types of cases that are often litigated locally might be helpful. For example, environmental litigation is typically in the forum where the site is located, while M&A and securities litigation is typically in Delaware or SDNY. Antitrust is also typically in SDNY or DDC. Obviously when state AGs sue, it's in local court even for the latter types of cases, but as a general matter...

Another thing to do is to try to be the person on your team who communicates with local counsel, which is often not seen as glamorous work, so even as a junior it's something you can take ownership of.

Re: Best way to build a portable network?

Posted: Sun Oct 05, 2014 12:55 pm
by bl1nds1ght
Lincoln wrote:
Anonymous User wrote:
el madrileno wrote: Get a single digit handicap in golf.
My understanding was that networking in NYC biglaw doesn't rely on golf as much as networking in other markets does (because lawyer have less time and most courses are further away). Is that incorrect?
the two associates I know of who are shoo-ins for partner
Just wondering, but what makes these associates shoo-ins for partner? Overall dedication to the firm, work more billables, something else?

Re: Best way to build a portable network?

Posted: Wed Oct 08, 2014 5:01 am
by Lincoln
bl1nds1ght wrote:Just wondering, but what makes these associates shoo-ins for partner? Overall dedication to the firm, work more billables, something else?
They certainly work a TON, but that's not how partnerships are decided at my firm. They (1) do good work, (2) shepherd cases in a way where partners don't need to pay attention, and have done so since they were barely mid-levels, (3) are liked by clients, and (4) are very liked by several of the most powerful partners in our department, who have worked very closely with them.

Re: Best way to build a portable network?

Posted: Thu Oct 09, 2014 11:20 am
by bl1nds1ght
Lincoln wrote:
bl1nds1ght wrote:Just wondering, but what makes these associates shoo-ins for partner? Overall dedication to the firm, work more billables, something else?
They certainly work a TON, but that's not how partnerships are decided at my firm. They (1) do good work, (2) shepherd cases in a way where partners don't need to pay attention, and have done so since they were barely mid-levels, (3) are liked by clients, and (4) are very liked by several of the most powerful partners in our department, who have worked very closely with them.
Thank you for the reply.