How to Maintain Your Network:
Who’s in Your Top 5?
By Kristine M. Custodio, CP®
VP, Marketing, San Diego Paralegal Assoc.
Reprinted from the May-June 2008 San Diego Paralegal Association Newsletter
In this article, author and experienced “networker,” Kristine Custodio, examines the importance of networking in order to build a fulfilled personal and professional life.
Paralegal – n. a procedural know-it-all.
Now don’t get me wrong, I am not name-calling here, but as paralegals, it is our job to be procedural experts and masters of our domain when it comes to how to get things done in our respective practice areas. For my fellow civil litigation paralegals (I am certain that across most, if not all practice areas, these same principles apply), envision yourself and your attorney burning the midnight oil rallying to get your opposition to a motion to compel timely filed and served—deadlines are inherent to the legal field, right?
Regardless of what area of law in which you specialize, you cannot escape this reality. The legal arena is a high-pressure atmosphere that demands attention to detail, meticulous perseverance, and insatiable curiosity and dogmatic obedience to certain rules.
Of course, in Law Land utopia where document legal leprechauns and gnomes magically process your documents for you this does not apply; however, back here on planet earth, extraordinary modern innovations such the federal court’s CM/ECF electronic filing system literally permits timely filing of pleadings up until 12 a.m. of the date your document is due. Talk about burning the midnight oil.
Though many of us federal court junkies have unearthed the secrets to utilizing this electronic tool, first-time users may find their initial e-filing experience daunting and harrowing. Other than the knowledge acquired from the mandatory training offered by the court and the ECF help line (which, for California’s southern district is (866) 233-7983), who can you turn to in this time of need?
When in a predicament like this, who is in your top five phone-a-friend list? Who is your lifeline? In my case, I have identified a group of litigation gurus including cohorts, attorneys, former instructors, and the like, who I keep at hand at all times.
I have the luxury of simply picking up the phone or, thanks to the advent of modern technology, shooting an e-mail across cyberspace to this elite group and without fail, I have my answer. Invaluable. Instant. Ingenious. Networking.
I highlight the difference between personalized (specifically face-to-face or telephonically) and electronic (via e-mail) networking because “fair and balanced” is the key to a happy marriage between the two modes of communication.
Families dwelling in the same abode e-mail or text each other to announce that dinner is ready. E-mail is easy, but it is not king. Remember that electronic communications lack the tone and personal connection of in-person conversation and actual discourse that does not require a keypad. Also beware that as a paralegal and a crucial member of your legal team, the duty of confidentiality is yours to safeguard. Loose lips sink ships.
When asking others not within your legal team for help, tread cautiously about discussing your cases and disclosing, inadvertent or not, the identity of the clients you serve. Also be mindful of your surroundings. Casual conversation about Joe Smith’s capital murder case at your local Starbucks is likely not advisable.
Networking is important for one’s career not only for improving our skill sets but also for setting the stage for a productive and fulfilled life. But how does one go about finding and building a lasting network? Years of experience inevitably expose one to a variety of people thereby naturally building your network.
What else works? Extracurricular involvement with organizations outside of your place of employment (I know you litigation paralegals scoff as you read this because you are burning the midnight oil and there is no time for such things), invariably maximizes your exposure to like-minded individuals. There is such a thing as work-life balance and most employers acknowledge this.
Involvement in your local paralegal or other legal associations automatically affords you access to others in your area who are in the trenches just as you are; we can commiserate and lend an ear. We understand your dilemmas and are more likely to help you out in your time of need. Most of us want to help.
Networking, the sharing of knowledge and resources, is a reciprocal relationship and truly represents the best model of the underlying infrastructure a community. In your paralegal community and local association’s membership, you will find all walks of life from students, persons curious to obtain more knowledge about the field, the supportive sole practitioner or law firm, legal vendors, and paralegals with experience levels ranging from one year to many decades at your fingertips.
Often these associations offer mentoring programs which match up paralegal students and new paralegals with career veterans chock-full of experience and advice. Associations also typically have available pro bono opportunities for its members fostering interaction with not only the legal community but also with the community at large.
Get involved. Get active. This is how you will jumpstart your network. And most importantly, be true to self. When you are engaged in wherever your passion lies, be it public speaking, staffing a free domestic violence clinic or volunteering to read books to children at risk, remember like attracts like.
You will be surrounded with like-minded individuals with common interests and goal who will continue to inspire each other to see even loftier dreams and visions into fruition.
