How Can Attorneys Get More Speaking Opportunities?
As an attorney, speaking opportunities are more than just a chance to share knowledge—they're a powerful way to build your reputation, demonstrate expertise, and connect with potential clients and colleagues. By positioning yourself as a thought leader in your field, you can increase your visibility and grow your practice. But how can you secure these coveted speaking engagements?
Why Speaking Opportunities Matter for Attorneys
Establishing Thought Leadership: Speaking at conferences or on panels allows you to share your insights on current legal issues, positioning you as a thought leader in your practice area.
Building Credibility: Engaging with audiences at legal events builds your reputation as an expert, increasing your visibility and helping you stand out from competitors.
Networking Opportunities: Each event introduces you to new lawyers, potential clients, and referral sources. The connections you make at speaking engagements can lead to new business and valuable partnerships.
How Attorneys Can Get More Speaking Opportunities
Securing speaking engagements requires a proactive approach. Here are several strategies to increase your chances of being invited to speak at events:
Use Your Online Presence: A strong online presence is critical for getting noticed by event organizers. Regularly share your expertise through blogs, op-eds, or podcasts. Ensure your website and social media profiles highlight your speaking experience and the topics you can discuss. Event organizers often search for speakers online, so make sure your digital footprint reflects your skills and knowledge.
Pitch Yourself to Event Organizers: Don’t wait for an invitation—reach out to event planners at legal conferences, bar associations, and webinars. When pitching, focus on your expertise, highlight your previous speaking experience, and explain why your topic would benefit their audience.
Network with Industry Leaders: Professional networks are a great source for speaking opportunities. Connect with other lawyers, clients, and industry leaders who may be organizing events. Attending legal conferences and offering to speak at future events can also help you secure more engagements.
Create a Speaker Profile: Develop a dedicated speaker profile that outlines your areas of expertise, videos of past speaking engagements, and testimonials from event organizers. Include this on your website and social media profiles so that it’s easy for organizers to see your qualifications.
Where to Find Speaking Opportunities
Bar Associations: Local and national bar associations frequently host events and are always looking for knowledgeable attorneys to speak.
Legal Conferences: Events like the American Association for Justice conferences or state bar seminars are ideal for attorneys looking to build their profile.
Webinars and Podcasts: The rise of virtual events has created even more opportunities for attorneys to share their knowledge. Join legal podcasts or co-host webinars to get your name out there.
Build off Your Speaking Engagement
Speaking at a conference should not be considered a “one and done.” There are multiple ways to repurpose that content. For example, could your speech be turned into an op-ed for a legal or more mainstream news outlet? Is there video that can go on your website? Are there insights from the speech and Q&A that can yield new topics for discussion and even social media content? Each address can build off eachother so that you provide potential clients and referral sources a library of material that establishes your trust, credibility, and expertise.
How RebuttalPR Can Help
At RebuttalPR, we specialize in helping attorneys secure speaking engagements and build their personal brand to grow their business. From pitching to event organizers to crafting compelling presentation materials, we offer the support you need to showcase your expertise and grow your practice. We also help you make the most of each opportunity, drafting social promotion and post-event posts to grow your online voice as well.