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[quote=Anonymous]The first step is assessing your current network.  Make a list of all of the people with whom you've had positive working relationships.  People who have seen your great work product, have worked with you in the past, people who could vouch for your professionalism and expertise, etc.   This can be former in-house counsel at clients, co-counsel, former colleagues who have moved on, former classmates at law school, etc.  Now, go through the list and make sure that you have up-to-date employment info on all of them.  Has Betty moved from law firm X to in-house counsel at company Z?  Has Geoff moved from former client A to trade association B?  Find out.

The next step is reaching out to your current network.  Prioritize the list made in step 1 according to (1) how well they know you, and (2) how likely to lead to business.  Reach out and say you noticed their new position at X and wanted to meet with them to discuss how you could help them do Y.  Or that you wanted to touch base with them since it's been awhile since you did A for them.  Or whatever.  The point is to reconnect, remind them that you're around, available, and kickass, and hopefully get your name into their mind so the next time something comes up they think, "Oh, Larla is an expert in that.  I should give her a call."

The third step is to grow your network.  You have to do this constantly.  Your firm should help you with this, but the idea is to raise your profile and meet people.  Give talks at conferences, write papers in business journals (not law journals, which are rarely read by clients, but business journals), go to industry events, etc.  You need to be constantly growing your network because you never know where the next client will come from.[/quote]

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