The ABA Journal’s July issue features an article “Women’s Work? Some Find Web 2.0 Plays to Female Attorneys’ Strengths,” which examines how social media levels the networking playing field for women. Networking, and in turn business success and law firm partnership, has been a man’s world. But women are increasingly taking advantage of networking via social media – Facebook, Linked In, Twitter, and Blogs – to increase their presence. The power of social media, if done correctly, can help propel female attorneys to an online and live presence that would have been impossible without the technology.
G.M. Filisko explores the ways and reasons that social media can be a powerful equalizer for female attorneys. Social media is flexible, which particularly benefits women trying to balance career and family. Social media also gives female attorneys a voice and a presence that may be difficult to attain without social media. Montage Legal Group’s Erin Giglia contributes to the conversation, noting that women are not shy about promoting others. Social media allows female attorneys to promote their friends, colleagues, and contacts, so that news and accomplishments can “go viral.”
Carolyn Elefant, Social Media for Lawyers co-author, wrote an article on women and social media in 2010, and offers a course on the topic. She states that “the problem is that women are not using social media enough – and it would make a big difference if they did.”
Networking appropriately with social media is a crucial aspect of building a legal practice. If you would like some tips on how to best take advantage of social media, please contact Laurie Rowen and Erin Giglia at Montage Legal Group. We’re happy to help!