Is LinkedIn Important for Lawyers?

Yes, LinkedIn is for Lawyers -- it's one of the top platforms for generating clients, networking, being found by recruiters, and more.

Just in time for the release of the new Star Wars films, I found an extensive How to Become a LinkedIn Jedi infographic by Gryffin Media over at Entrepreneur.com. The infographic itself is a bit dated so the numbers will be off, but the principles are the same. Some of the key takeaways for attorneys:

LinkedIn is huge and getting bigger.
LinkedIn is a critical platform for career development and business development.
Balance quantity of connections with quality of connections.
Keep it professional at all times.
Develop a strong LinkedIn profile that showcases your strengths, including who you help and how you help them.

I'll also add a few caveats for attorneys using LinkedIn:

Be careful not to give legal advice, even inadvertently
Double-check your rules of attorney ethics on social media and advertising
Double-check your employer's social medial policies
Be careful not to give away confidential, privileged, or other sensitive information
Hide your job seeking intent and activities from your current employer and others as much as possible