How to Host In-Person Workshops to Grow Your Firm

There are plenty of benefits to both participants and firms hosting in-person workshops. To maximize return on the time and preparation that goes into hosting workshops, there are several factors that hosts should consider. With the changing landscape of a post-COVID world, there are also safety measures that hosts must put into place to encourage guests to attend. Below are a few simple steps firms can take when hosting in-person workshops to grow their firm.

Many hosts might believe that the main purpose of hosting an in-person workshop is to educate the audience or to provide them with the information they would not have gotten elsewhere. While in-person programs allow the host to provide guests with immediate help, there are also several benefits to the hosting firm. The host will establish themselves as an expert and will be able to highlight their knowledge to participants. Additionally, in-person workshops allow relationships to form between the host and the participants. This connection can potentially evolve into a co-counsel or consultative relationship or even mentorship.

Attorneys can partner with other lawyers to work on an event that covers a variety of topics or to add another perspective or area of expertise. For example, a business lawyer might partner with another attorney who specializes in estate planning for business owners to present a workshop to the small business community. It can sometimes be a challenge to find an attorney in your network that specializes in the area in which you would like to highlight in your workshop. Still, there are avenues that attorneys can utilize to find partners to add value to their workshops. One way is through a law firm community, such as LawBank. LawBank fosters a collegial, collaborative office sharing environment where attorneys can network and partner on workshops, presentations, and articles.

Hosting firms must consider how they intend to get guests to attend the in-person workshop. While the simplest and most efficient way to send invites may be to utilize mass mailing, one-on-one outreach could be more effective. This not only makes the invite more personal, but guests are more likely to respond to an individual email versus a mass mailing. And no need to worry about interfering with billable hours, as you can delegate this task to an administrative assistant or hourly virtual assistant. Just a bit of work on the backend, maintaining contact lists, and an email draft is all it will take to pass off this task and develop a more effective, personalized invite.

Another way to encourage guests to come to a workshop is to put safety measures to allow them to feel comfortable attending in person. Not only should your space be a welcoming environment, but hosts should plan for an efficient and safe event. This could include inviting guests to wear masks at their comfort level, offering socially distanced seating, or even offering a virtual option for guests who would like to participate but do not feel comfortable attending in person. To ensure that guests know the safety measures in place and the options available to them, add this to your invite or event page.

Hosting in-person workshops is a great way to grow your firm. Not only do workshops establish the host as the expert and bring knowledge to attendees, but workshops also strengthen networks, collaboration, and the potential to build your client roster. With the proper planning, firms can maximize their return on investment when it comes to hosting in-person workshops.

ABOUT LAWBANK

LawBank is the premiere community for independent law firms. Offering a variety of workspaces and benefits, LawBank is a collegial and collaborative environment where independent law firms can grow and thrive. Members may take advantage of professional development opportunities such as CLE programs, business advisory, and networking events—all at an affordable, flat rate. With central locations in Denver and Las Vegas, solo and small law firms can find a home at the LawBank location most convenient for the firm and its clients. To learn more about LawBank, schedule an in-person or virtual tour.

Authors: Jay Kamlet and Jordan Deifik