Feature Article
Networking Tips
Maximizing Your Atlanta Bar Membership
By Jessica Wood
Bodker, Ramsey, Andrews, Winograd & Wildstein, PC
[email protected]
With contributions by Valentia Alleyne, Louis Cohan,
Brandy Hughes and Ellis Liu
A
s co-chair of the Membership Committee (along with
Steve LaBriola), please allow me to welcome you to
the Atlanta Bar. Whether you are a law student or a
seasoned practitioner, we hope that your membership will be
enjoyable and useful. Here are some tips to maximize your
experience.
1. Establish your networking goals. You may want to
make friends, volunteer, learn or build your book of business.
Atlanta bankruptcy and estate planning attorney Valentia
Alleyne notes that “it can sometimes be difficult to acclimate
yourself in the legal community, but the Atlanta Bar Association
has opened up a world of opportunity for me to engage others
and build camaraderie with my peers. In the
Solo Practitioner/Small Firm Section I have
been able to discuss cases and challenges with
lawyers I would not have otherwise met and
reciprocate by being a referral source to them.”
Ellis Liu, an ACYL and Membership Committee
member notes that “there’s no easier city for
networking than Atlanta. It’s where Southern
hospitality meets global aspirations: where
genuine and approachable professionals meet
to make a difference in our world.”
lawyers could be funny while singing and dancing? Who
would ever imagine that a big firm partner would have the
time to form a band, write songs, and rehearse for a contest?”
In addition to Sections, you could join the Membership
Committee or the Law School Outreach Committee (LSOC).
Hughes, an LSOC committee member, highlights the
advantages: “The LSOC has done a fantastic job of ensuring
that the Atlanta Bar is front and center on issues relevant to
law students. From job fairs, to mock interviews, to resume
workshops, the Atlanta Bar offers law students a unique
opportunity to meet, learn from and build relationships with
lawyers from all walks. This clearly benefits the students –
in addition to learning practical skills and life lessons, many
“there’s no easier city for networking than
Atlanta. It’s where Southern hospitality
meets global aspirations: where genuine and
approachable professionals meet to make a
difference in our world.”
Ask what YOU can bring to the Bar. Do you
want to give back to the community? Do you
have creative talent? Do you have leadership skills? Sections
have interesting volunteer opportunities, so please reach
out to various Section board members to find out more. For
example, the Women in the Profession Section in partnership
with Atlanta Legal Aid offers training to attorneys to assist low
income cancer patients with their legal needs. For additional
information, please visit the WIP Section page here.
If you are a talented performer, Brandy Hughes suggests
getting involved in the Bard Show or LawJam, fundraisers
for the Atlanta Bar Foundation. As Hughes points out, these
events “provide lawyers a nontraditional outlet for meeting
new people and showcasing their extralegal skills. Who knew
6 THE ATLANTA LAWYER
June/July 2014
are able to form valuable connections that can turn into job
opportu