The Importance of a Legal Community

Lawyers are lonely. After an average of seven years of classes, studying, and exams, new lawyers are thrust into the legal world to find their way. Some join law firms, while others strike out on their own–either way, endless hours are spent alone, away from family and friends. Each client brings new challenges to be addressed, and more time is spent in solitude. 

The law field is exceedingly stressful. It’s not surprising that in a recent study, 66% of respondents found the legal profession to be a detriment to their mental health. In addition, 46% of respondents also reported that they were considering leaving the legal field due to burnout. Some would argue that if you can’t take the heat, leave the kitchen, but that’s a mentality that perpetuates an unhealthy work environment, high-turnover, and shows a blatant disregard for the lives of lawyers and their families.

Lawyering doesn’t have to be lonely. By dismantling toxic cultures and leaning into the power of positive relationships, a new generation of lawyers finds that when they surround themselves with a strong legal community, they are given the opportunity to Be Seen, Be Paid, and Be Great in their personal and professional lives. 

Being a lawyer is an enriching experience when you have a community behind you. 

Be Seen

A successful legal career begins with being seen–being seen for your talents, aspirations, expertise, and integrity. Some lawyers achieve recognition through big wins or a braggadocious nature. They start on an adversarial foot, often making enemies of would-be collaborators who could massively contribute to their success in the field. This mentality has given way to the stereotype of the ruthless lawyer who’s only out for themselves.

Lawyering doesn’t have to rely solely on negativity, attacks, and one-upping–there’s another route–community. Embracing community and taking an inclusive approach to the legal field delivers better results than a selfish approach. (We discuss the benefits of inclusion in another article.)

Lawyering may be lonely, but you’re not alone. The isolation is an illusion created by the legal culture. Community brings a support group–other lawyers who understand. This group is the foundation of growing toward greatness in the legal field. When lawyers surround themselves with complementary colleagues, they allow themselves to truly be seen. This recognition is the first step to regain control over their lives. With control comes success, happiness, and positive mental health.  

Being seen in the legal community leads to our next benefit of a strong legal community–being paid.

Be Paid

Income is a leading cause of stress for most people, lawyers included. It’s hard for a lawyer to focus on clients’ needs when they are worried about their own. Some would say this stress is a good motivator for lawyers to work harder, get a bigger settlement, and take on more cases, but fear is the weakest of motivators. Once the legal community truly sees a lawyer for their expertise, opportunities to earn more income (and be less stressed) arise.

The legal referral industry is a juggernaut that sees lawyers buying leads from referral services without guaranteeing a return on investment. These services can be pricey, and only a handful of referrals turn into business. Growing a referral network within the legal community creates monetary relationships that pay dividends over and over again. Leveraging positive connections to make and receive referrals is a more cost-effective way to increase business while lowering overhead. (We further discuss the importance of growing a legal referral network here.)

The importance of community in increasing profit extends beyond referrals. With a legal community at their back, it can be easier to get noticed or to gain the recognition needed to unlock more opportunities to join specialized case teams. As lawyers display their expertise and legal superpowers to their community (be seen), they become the key piece to complete winning case teams, increasing their experience and leading to more opportunities.

Setting your compass correctly and continually recalibrating will get you to your destination in the most effective way. Trekking off as fast as possible in the wrong direction will only bring you farther from your destination. Having a community at your back, especially one filled with those who have already taken the path, can be life-changing–leading lawyers to Be Great.

Be Great

At the end of the day, most lawyers want to Be Great–be great at their job, in the courtroom, and in life. They want to make their mark. The road to being great in the legal field is not an easy one and is often fraught with unending challenges, but with a strong legal community brings the ability to reach new heights of greatness with the support of others.

As lawyers are Seen and Paid, their experience grows. With every case, every referral, every interaction comes the chance to grow from community experience. Those who once asked for advice begin to be the teachers, sharing what they’ve learned back to other lawyers and paying it forward through leadership and mentorship. Lawyers who are great become change-agents, guiding the next generation.

With a legal community, lawyering is no longer lonely–it’s limitless.

Investing time in the community will benefit you for the rest of your career. Start building your community now with Metwork, a first-of-its-kind exclusive business and social network for lawyers transforming the legal field. Connect to the right people and information to become better at what you do, be seen for what you’re great at, and make more money in the process. Exchange referrals, build teams, and share your knowledge on the legal networking platform that is changing the practice of law.

This is the place to make everything happen.

What are you waiting for?