One Year Later: How to Network After Your First NAMWOLF Annual Meeting
By: Oscar Lizardi, Rusing Lopez & Lizardi, PLLC, Tucson, Arizona
One year ago, our firm attended its first NAMWOLF Annual Meeting. I had no experience with NAMWOLF, nor did I have high expectations for what we would experience other than CLE credits. To admit that the NAMWOLF Annual Meeting is far more than CLE courses and that NAMWOLF’s mission of promoting true diversity within the legal profession far exceeded my personal expectations, would be an understatement. As “newbies” we were impressed to find the atmosphere throughout the networking events and Law Firm Expo to be one of inclusion which makes NAMWOLF so different from other associations. We were introduced and invited to participate freely.
I read an article written by NAMWOLF’s 2011 Executive Director where he made mention of Napoleon Bonaparte’s quote, “Ability is nothing without opportunity”. NAMWOLF is opportunity. The environment of NAMWOLF fosters relationships that produce opportunity. Nationally speaking, after joining several of the Practice Area Committees, we have had the opportunity to connect with other law firms from across the country and be introduced to potential clients that we would not have in the past. The quality of not only our fellow NAMWOLF member firms but that of the proposal requests has motivated us to seek a bigger national presence. Since joining NAMWOLF and because we have assembled in Tucson, a group of talented attorneys who possess various specializations, we look for the opportunity to enhance any team put together on a multi-state basis or to respond to requests put out by a national level client. The opportunities and relationships built within NAMWOLF give us this exposure. NAMWOLF provides an environment that affords all members the networking tools to participate in an inclusive profession.
Networking 101 – Knowing the right people can get you places that you might not reach otherwise.
Be visible (+)
Build solid relationships (+)
Diversity “Having a diverse network is just as important as having a large network” (+)
Maintain relationships (+)
Giving back (=)
NAMWOLF
I look forward to reconnecting with acquaintances from last year and to meeting new members and corporate counsel in attendance at this year’s Annual Convention in Hollywood. I feel privileged to have the opportunity to participate in the NAMWOLF experience once again.
Oscar Lizardi is a partner at Rusing Lopez & Lizardi, PLLC in Tucson, AZ. He has been practicing for over 19 years in corporate and transactional law and immigration law and is AV Preeminent Rated by Martindale-Hubbell.