Will Volunteering Help Grow Your Law Practice?

A frequent question asked by attorneys and young associates is whether  non- compensated volunteer work for non-profits and other trade associations will pay off?

Volunteering almost always pays off in the long run. The problem is that most of us expect immediate gratification and become disillusioned when we don't see the results.

When in reality, it should be considered as an investment: after all it takes  several years to obtain professional credentials. If you invest the time, particularly if its a cause you are interested in, you will be amazed at the doors that will open and the opportunities that will arise from such a small investment of your time.

Volunteering can provide a convenient way to develop a new skill or sharpen old ones. One of the first things they taught us at broadcast journalism school was to volunteer at the local cable television station.

Volunteering gives you the opportunity to work with other talented folks, make new friends, broaden your social circles, and enhance your professional network with  valuable colleagues.  In short, volunteering is one of the best investments any attorney can make and should be part of all business development plans.

Action Items:

1. Are you interested in working for non-profits or trade associations
2. Compile a list of these organizations.
3. Assess of how much time time you're willing to spend each month.