Are You Networking for Your Firm or for Yourself?

This depressing but not entirely surprising report from Am Law Daily (“Citi MidyearReport Sees Signs of Trouble Ahead for Firms”) is a reminder that law firm employees as well as partners need to pay close attention to firm finances and protect themselves accordingly. Of course, figuring out how a firm is actually doing is far easier (though sometimes still very complicated) if one happens to have achieved partnership rank. For the masses, though, assessing just how well a firm is doing without having actual access to some data can be a matter of being internally well-positioned on the firm’s grapevine. Sure, firm administrators aren’t exactly fond of whispering campaigns and will likely do all they can to stop them, but anyone working anywhere during this Great Recession can’t afford to be blissfully unaware of a firm’s financial status.

If the business is not doing well, of course, people working for it should do all they can help it perform better. But in this day when firm loyalty and lifetime careers at a single firm are ever hazier memories, people also need to preserve their futures. Would you be ready to jump ship next month if your implodes by the end of this one?

Personally, I would be keeping my name out there. At networking functions—whether on my own time or that of my firm—I would be being ever more social, forward, assertive. I’d network on my firm’s behalf, but I’d also be certain that people learned who I am and became aware of my talents. In house, I’d be sure to keep my ear to the ground to get a better fix on what was actually going on. I wouldn’t wait until a firm service was cut off (access to a database, phone service, power) to figure out whether I was on a sinking ship. I would do what I could to support my firm, but I would also remember to protect myself.

—Lori Tripoli