Memory Lane for Law Career Goals and Throwback Content

When was the last time you reflected on the beginning of your law career up to now?

I mean have you actually sat down to think about what your goals were at the start of your law career and over the past years, and written down whether you achieved those goals? It likely has been a while, if at all, right?

Well, now is as good a time as any to go through this exercise. Why?

Reasons to stroll down memory lane include:

1. This exercise will help you identify points of significance to you in your law career and help you define goals in terms of what you’d like to achieve now and in the future.
2. Each of the points you identified can be a dot for you to connect to help you tell your story as a lawyer you’d like to be known for.
3. You can create a library of content for social media. This is very helpful if you find it a challenge to come up with content to share on social media on a regular basis. You can schedule the content into a social media management tool (e.g., Hootsuite or Buffer) to share over a period of time.

So where can you look for these memories, especially if you’ve never created a business plan or revisited it to evaluate your success?

Some suggestions are:

1.  Curriculum Vitae (CV)

This exercise can go back to the days before your first day of practice, such as when you went to law school or decided to become a lawyer. Your resume/CV is a good place to start, as it describes experiences, skills and accomplishments from the past.

In your review, think about how you want people to perceive you. Have you gained the desired experience and skills?

Share social media posts that help tell stories that are aligned with your professional goals to support your attributes and passions.

2.  Online Searches

Start with searching your name on Google. For example, you may be reminded by a quote you had given for an article you were interviewed for. You may want to share that article on social media with any relevant updates.

Even if you’re a recent social media user, search your name on social networking platforms. You may find yourself mentioned (along with a photo of you) even if at that time you didn’t have an account on that social networking platform.

3.  Emails and Drawers

Search your emails, drawers and file folders you collect thank-you messages in for positive words from clients.

Think about whether there is a pattern in terms of the type of matters you helped with and who you helped. Does it align with where you want to be in your law career?

4.  Photo Albums

Take a look at the photos on your smartphone and desktop. Look through physical photo albums and boxes of printed photos — you can take a photo of the photographs.

The photos you share on social media don’t have to show you receiving an award or speaking at a conference. For example, find images that show your journey of becoming a lawyer (e.g., being called to the bar, you in the first suit you bought, etc.), opening up your law practice, or your attendance for the first time at certain events.

Moreover, throwbacks don’t have to be about you specifically. It can relate to a topic or an object of a particular time you experienced and that experience would resonate with your audience.

If you’re not finding a lot of photos, now is a good time to start taking more photos!

5.  Colleagues, Friends and Family

Catch up with someone to talk about things “back in the day”. They may remember something about you, or have a photo, that you would want to share on social media.

While you’re catching up with others, don’t be afraid to discuss what your business plan goals are.  They may help you clarify your goals and reach them faster.

Enjoy your stroll down memory lane and sharing your #tbt (i.e. throwback to or throwback Thursday) content!