Networking in San Diego: Tips for New and Aspiring Lawyers

In the first few years of practicing law, it is easy to focus solely on the hard skills associated with this profession. For most new lawyers, it is essential to focus on developing strong research and writing skills that will serve as a foundation from which to grow. The first few years are an endurance race—for each new task, a new lawyer must spend time learning the facts of the case, the law, the procedure, or the firm’s methods. Only then, can the new lawyer move on to actually completing the task. The learning often takes just as much time as the doing. Of course, you cannot bill the client for the hours you spend learning, so the days stretch well into the evenings. With schedules dictated by looming deadlines, it is often difficult to imagine voluntarily adding any more work to your plate. Many young lawyers are so focused on building the hard skills that they lose out on incorporating soft skills into their legal foundation. Soft skills are not the focus of law school or the bar exam, so they may not get the attention they deserve, but those who devote time and energy to developing those skills early have an advantage. Whether it is client management, communication, teamwork, or networking, soft skills make you a better lawyer. At work, many of these soft skills are reserved for the supervising attorneys, but networking is beneficial and accessible to all attorneys. 

You will often hear the sentiment that San Diego’s legal community is small, and it does not take long to realize just how true this is. This tightly knit community makes networking in San Diego an excellent use of energy for young attorneys. In its simplest form, networking for new attorneys is about learning and growing. Networking should never be approached as a transaction. If that were the case, young lawyers would have very little purchasing power. Instead, networking should be developed and refined the same way as any other skill. The goal should not be to get referrals, clients, or a job. Rather, the goal should be to get to know your community and/or the profession. 

One great option is to join an organization that furthers your interests. San Diego is full of opportunities to grow your network outside of the law. It could be as simple as signing up for a volunteer shift at a local nonprofit or as involved as running for local office, though most new lawyers will find the right balance somewhere in between. Walking groups, volunteer organizations, recreational sports, religious groups, and various clubs are easy ways to establish connections with members of your community. 

New lawyers need to be practical though. It is impossible to do everything and do it well. Therefore, a thoughtful approach is necessary. For many, the best use of energy is to join one (or more) of the dozens of law-related organizations in San Diego, many of which are listed here.  For busy new lawyers, finding organizations that serve more than one purpose is essential. Many law-related organizations host a variety of events, but trainings are often the best use of time for new lawyers. These trainings are frequently led by some of the top lawyers in our community who can offer a unique perspective and insight into specific topics. Often, these trainings delve deep into nuanced topics that were not covered in law school. San Diego is very fortunate in that there are so many lawyers willing to devote their time to share their perspectives with the larger community. Most of these trainings also incorporate a social aspect and offer CLE credit—three birds with one stone. In many instances, there is at least one good nugget of information that can be gleaned and shared with your team the next day. 

A key element of successful networking is repetition. It is hard to have a meaningful connection in passing, but if you routinely attend events for the same organization(s), you are bound to see some familiar faces. The American Inns of Court programs do an excellent job with incorporating both trainings and repetition. The Inns programs meet monthly, and each meeting generally has a training component. You can read more about our local American Inns of Court programs here. Other great options for legal networking include getting involved in a SDCBA section or joining one of the many affinity bar groups in the area. 

The San Diego legal community has so much to offer. I would encourage all new and aspiring lawyers to get involved as soon as possible—build networking into your legal foundation.