Gillman Strategic Group is pleased to announce that Erin Alli has joined the firm as its Operations Manager. Erin will handle the day-to-day operations of Gillman Strategic Group including the management of client and vendor relationships, strategic growth planning, networking, and marketing support.

“Erin and I began working together on a few minor projects when I first started Gillman Strategic Group. As my business grew, I used Erin more and more to the point of becoming her largest client. It became clear that I needed Erin full-time and that she would be a great fit. Her work ethic, knowledge, intelligence and personality are a great asset to Gillman Strategic Group, our clients and our strategic partners,” says Jennifer Gillman, President of Gillman Strategic Group.

Before joining Gillman Strategic Group, Erin was a virtual assistant for 15 years. She is Certified as a copywriter with American Writer and Artist Institute, and a member of the Professional Writers Alliance. Erin earned her degree in Graphic Design.  Outside of work, Erin enjoys the outdoors, hiking and camping with her family and is an avid reader. She also has 6 rescue pets, 3 dogs and 3 cats.

Gillman Strategic Group, LLC, led by Jennifer Gillman, is a “law firm matchmaker” that helps successful partners find a better fit at a new firm. Gillman Strategic Group works with individual partners and groups of lawyers who have their own clients, but struggle with keeping those clients happy and maximizing their own compensation, because their current firm is simply the wrong fit. Gillman Strategic Group works with clients in New Jersey, New York, and Florida.

I recently read the article After COVID-19 Hiring Slowdown, Lateral Moves Pick Up in August in the New Jersey Law Journal.  According to the article there are some areas of law in demand. Intellectual property lawyers who handle patent prosecution are attractive right now. This is especially true for those with experience in the pharmaceutical and life sciences industries.  Firms are also seeking commercial litigators. The article specifically mentions class action defense, white collar defense and insurance coverage as areas of specialty. Obviously, bankruptcy and restructuring attorneys are in demand as clients face the pandemic and its financial consequences. Lastly, the article mentions that firms are seeking transactional and employment laterals. Many lateral partner moves are happening in these practice areas.

What I get from this article, combined with my own experiences, is that there are opportunities for established partners looking to make a move.  Firms are looking to add revenue, fill a strategic need, improve existing practice areas, and grow geographically.

Do you fit this profile?

Does your current firm satisfy your needs?

Are you making the money that you deserve?

 Do you have the support you need?

As lateral partner moves continue to increase, maybe it is the time for you to consider your options. Gillman Strategic Group can help. We specialize in helping partners with established business find the perfect fit at law firms. Please feel free to set up a call to discuss whether it’s possible to find a better fit for you and your clients.

I recently came across an article that discusses the reopening of law offices during the COVID-19 pandemic. The article confirms some themes that I have been hearing from my connections in the legal world. One, law firms would be wise not to reopen too soon. Two, some firms are really good at providing the right support to work efficiently and effectively from home. Some are not as good. Three, some law firms really care about the health and well being of their people. These firms support work from home and limit the number of people physically in the office. Some firms will rush to reopen causing anxiety and distress for staff.

The author of the article points out that New Jersey and New York law firms that forced employees to come to work during Superstorm Sandy, or other inclement weather, will probably push their people to come back too soon during this pandemic. While I do not necessarily agree with his premise, I do know that returning to work is a concern for many.

STRESSORS

The most common stress that I hear about is commuting. Many who rely on public transportation are concerned about being herded onto trains and buses with little protection. Likewise, many lawyers work at firms where elevators are necessary to get to the office. The closed space of the elevator is a concern when everyone heads back to work.

Another issue? People have become accustomed to working from home. In addition to no long commutes, lawyers have learned to be productive. They have also come to appreciate spending time with their families. Law firms should be aware of this when formulating their return to work policies.

BOTTOM LINE

The reopening of law offices is a complicated issue. Some law firms value the safety and well-being of their staff. These firms will listen to the concerns of their people. Further, they will make accommodations to alleviate stress while allowing for productivity. On the other hand, other firms will not make similar accommodations. It does not matter if you are a clerk or a successful partner, you will have to return to the office as dictated by management. If this is your situation, there are options.

To see how we can support you, set up a meeting with Jennifer here for a 15-minute exploratory chat.

As we begin Week 5 of working from home, it may be time to reconsider how you feel about Zoom job interviews.  With coronavirus still ravaging the country, it seems like we will be practicing social distancing for quite a while.  We predict that Zoom job interviews will become more commonplace and have already had candidates who interviewed using this technology.  If you had previously been planning to leave your law firm, or the last month has given you some new perspective about how it’s no longer the right fit for you, it’s time to embrace Zoom for the recruiting process.

Our overall advice is to keep in mind that Zoom job interviews are real interviews. There are real consequences to your job search and make sure to treat it accordingly.  Here are some tips that may help:

1. DRESS LIKE YOU WOULD FOR AN IN-PERSON INTERVIEW

For our law firm partner clients, dress as you would for court or to meet with your most important client.  Generally, this means a suit and a tie for men and a dress, suit, or the equivalent for women.  (If you’re reading this and you’re in a different industry, just make sure to dress in the attire that’s expected for an in-person interview in your industry.)

And please be sure to wear the whole outfit!  Not only is it better for your mindset to be dressed in your business clothes for a business interview, but if you’re not wearing pants you can’t jump up and adjust the computer/lighting/microphone or get a wandering child or pet to leave the room.

2. MAKE SURE YOUR TECH IS SUFFICIENT

Be sure that you have the strongest internet connection possible in the room you’ve chosen for the interview.  Depending on where you live and how good your service is, you may want to consider getting a router booster.

Make sure that you have Zoom loaded onto your device. Make sure that you know how to join the meeting and work the controls. If your office is currently using a different platform or not doing much videoconferencing, it’s worth investing some time to set up a Zoom meeting with your friends or family so that you can practice.

3. CHOOSE YOUR BACKGROUND

Everyone understands that we’re all working from home. That said, you should still try to find a background without toys, dirty dishes, empty bottles of alcohol or unmade beds that make it look unprofessional.

If you have a home office, that’s probably the ideal location.  If not, don’t worry, just try to find a plain wall or bookshelf to sit in front of.

There are also virtual backgrounds you can use. However, they can either look fake or are not opaque enough. Therefore, we recommend trying to use a real background in your home if it’s possible.

4. DECIDE ON YOUR OUTFIT AND CHECK IT ON THE ZOOM SCREEN AHEAD OF TIME

You may have a favorite outfit that you wear for important hearings or closings that has always worked for you in person, but you have to remember that it may not be the same on Zoom.  The person you’re speaking to is only going to see your face and part of your upper body, so what looks very professional full length may not look the same sitting down.

It is highly recommended that you actually get dressed in the outfit you plan to wear and sit down in front of the Zoom setup you’re going to use to test it out.  Simply go to Zoom.us and choose “Host a Meeting” and choose “With Video On” from the drop-down menu.  You will then get a chance to see exactly how your background and outfit will look on camera.

5. PAY ATTENTION TO GROOMING

Everyone understands that you can’t get to the barber or salon during this time. People will be much more forgiving than usual. Regardless, you should still give some thought to grooming.

If you’re shaving, make sure your shave is fresh.  If you’ve grown a “quarantine beard” just try to make sure it looks neat.  For anyone who is overdue for a haircut, some extra product in your hair may help keep it under control for the interview, or if it’s long enough, consider tying it back.

The camera tends to wash you out a little, so women who ordinarily wear makeup may need a bit more on video and women who don’t may want to consider some powder and blush.

6. DECIDE IF YOU WILL ADD LIGHTING OR ENHANCE THE SOUND

You should make sure to do a Zoom test of your sound and lighting.  Is there a lot of feedback when you use your computer speakers?  You may want to use Air Pods or other wireless headphones.  Make sure to test them with Zoom ahead of time so that you can get comfortable with the sound.  If that’s still not sufficient for you, there are many add-on microphones you can invest in, whether something you put on your desk or a lavalier style you wear.

How is your lighting?  The easiest way to get good lighting is to have your computer face a source of natural light.  Be sure not to have the sun behind you or it can cause shadows that change throughout the interview and may even block your face.  Also make sure not to have any lighting in the frame that causes a glare.  If the background you wish to use for the interview doesn’t have a good source of natural light nearby, there are lights you can buy for your desktop, a tripod next to your desk, or even to clip onto your computer screen.

Amazon is a good source of these items with a fairly quick turnaround and there are certainly some inexpensive options.

7. CHECK YOUR SET-UP WELL BEFORE THE INTERVIEW

For the best look on Zoom, you should position your device so that the camera is above you. Then angle it down.  This way, you will be more likely to look straight at the interviewer instead of looking down.  This is easiest to do with a laptop, but can also be accomplished with an iPad or other tablet.  You will probably need to position your device on some books or a box so that the camera can be raised a bit.

Again, test this out ahead of time by hosting a meeting with video so you can see the camera height and angle.  Once you’re satisfied with your setup, try to leave it the same way until the interview or at least remember how you had it so you can recreate.

8. TRY TO MAKE SURE YOU WON’T HAVE ANY DISTRACTIONS OR DISRUPTIONS

Everyone understands that you’re working from home and a certain amount of background noise or interruptions will be understood, but you should let everyone in your home know you’ll be on a very important video and can’t be interrupted.  You should also avoid running the dishwasher or washer/dryer during this time, or having the television on in the background.

You also need to make sure that you won’t be distracted. Put your mobile phone away and disable notifications on the device you plan to use for the interview.

9. MAKE SURE YOU’RE ON TIME (OR BETTER YET, A FEW MINUTES EARLY)

Just like for an in-person interview you check the address and make sure you know how to get there, you need to do that here.  Make sure you have the Zoom link that your interviewer sent and make you know how to sign onto Zoom.

Just like you leave a few extra minutes to account for possible transit delays or traffic when you head to an in-person interview, you should do so now.  Sometimes there’s a delay signing onto Zoom. You certainly don’t want your interviewer to think that you’re late or you forgot.  It’s better to plan to be 5 minutes early than to have to explain why you’re late.

10. MAKE SURE TO LOOK AND SEEM EXTRA-ATTENTIVE

Try to remember that to make Zoom job interviews as close to in-person as possible, you have to be extra engaged.  This may mean leaning into the camera to make a point or slightly exaggerating your facial expressions so that your interviewer knows you’re interested in the conversation.  We recommend using Speaker View instead of Gallery so that your interviewer takes up more of the screen and it’s easier to seem like you are looking him or her in the eye instead of looking down.

Whatever you do, don’t check your phone or other devices, send an email, or read a text during the interview.  This is the time to be completely focused on the conversation you’re having.

We hope that these tips will help get you started.  Treat Zoom job interviews just like in-person interviews. We’ll also be posting some videos to demonstrate.  Please feel free to reach out to Gillman Strategic Group with any questions.

Now that we’re into Week 7 of social distancing, if you haven’t already given virtual networking a chance, it’s time to start. With so many virtual networking events happening on any given day, there truly is a choice for every personality type.

THE SOCIAL BUTTERFLY

In B.C. (before coronavirus) times, you were frequently seen flitting around from networking event to networking event. You were wholly in your element, meeting new people every day. A true extrovert, you’re used to getting all of your biggest clients one person at a time, through face-to-face interactions. Although you’re dying for some new people to talk to and starting to worry that you’ll never get a new client if this pandemic doesn’t end soon, you’re skeptical that speaking to a face on a computer screen is anything like meeting in person. You thrive off the energy in the room. Since you’re sure a virtual meeting won’t be the same, you’ve put off even trying one. You’re secretly hoping social distancing will end sooner than expected so you can get back to ballrooms full of new people to meet.

Change your mindset

It’s time to change your mindset and look on the bright side. Virtual networking really is a lot like meeting in person if you give it a chance. Try to make it as close to a live meeting as possible for yourself. Put on business clothes (wear the whole outfit, it’s good for mindset and you want to be wearing something on the bottom if you have to jump up suddenly). Check your set-up, lighting, and sound to make sure you can be seen and heard as well as you would be in person. Set aside all distractions and really focus. You’ll be surprised at how quickly it begins to seem like a “real” meeting if you give it a chance. And now that you don’t have travel time, you can fit even more networking events into your day. A real boon for all of you social butterflies!

If you love the idea of speaking with as many people as possible, look for a group that’s billed as “open networking” perhaps run on Remo.co, where you actually have a chance to move from table to table on a ballroom map. You can also look for large groups that allow everyone a chance to make an elevator speech, or large groups that have several breakout sessions during the meeting. You know that you miss the excitement of meeting new people. It’s time to get out there and use this technology to your advantage!

THE INTROVERT

As an introvert, you’ve always hated networking events and were secretly glad when social distancing guidelines were implemented. You use social distancing as an excuse to avoid networking completely now and hope that it’s a very long time before you have to feel bad about skipping another big in-person networking event in the future.

There’s a bright side for all of you introverts too. Virtual networking is much easier and less awkward than having to walk into a big room full of strangers and try to start up a conversation. Most of the time, there is a plan to follow. The person running the event will introduce you to people and tell you when it’s your turn to speak. If you don’t like the idea of speaking in front of a large group of people, you can either participate in small networking groups or look for a larger group that is set up to introduce yourself only in the typed chat notes and then be broken into smaller groups for guided conversation. Try to avoid “open networking” events because they are much like the kind you didn’t enjoy in person.

Start Small

If you’re still nervous, take a deep breath and practice. Have a Zoom session with friends or family to start off. Once you’re comfortable with that, you may want to start with an interest group like a virtual meeting of your Rotary Club or religious institution. You can gradually work up to small group networking sessions with people you haven’t met yet. Just take it slow and you may be surprised at how comfortable it can become.

THE TECH PHOBIC

You hear a lot about virtual networking, but the whole thing makes you nervous. It’s not that you have anything against networking, but you can barely sign into your firm’s Webex or Zoom meetings. Why would you volunteer for additional torture?

There’s hope for you too. Since you’ve figured out how to sign into your firm’s meetings (however reluctantly) you’ll be able to sign into a virtual networking meeting too. And the good news is that once you’re signed in, the organizer does all the rest. He or she will tell you when it’s your turn to speak and when to put notes in the chat. All of those fancy-looking breakout groups are actually pretty simple. The best part is that they’re all done entirely by the organizer.

Just like for the others, the best advice is to practice ahead of time. Schedule a Zoom meeting with friends or family so that you can test your set-up. Make sure you know how to mute and unmute yourself, type notes into the chat, and press the button to allow yourself to be added to a breakout room. Once you try it a couple of times, it will be easy. Then try joining a virtual networking meeting for the first time with some people you feel comfortable with or where you know the organizer, just in case you have any trouble with the tech. Soon you’ll be virtual networking with the best of them!

Give it a Try

Whichever personality type above describes you, it’s important to get comfortable with virtual networking. Even when social distancing orders are relaxed, it may be a very long time before people feel comfortable meeting in large groups again. And many people have been enjoying how the lack of travel time makes virtual events more efficient. Therefore, all indications are that some form of virtual networking is here to stay.

You can’t put off business development and networking for much longer or your “new normal” will be an empty pipeline. It’s time to take a chance and try a virtual networking event. If you would like to join ours, we host two Zoom events and one Remo event every week. Just click here to sign up for the schedule and reminders.  Whatever you end up doing, just make sure you do something.

The reality of working from home. For a lot of people this used to be the dream, now it’s the reality for just about everybody. We’re all trying to figure out ways to make this new situation productive and having to figure it out on the fly. Creating a designated workspace within our home, setting our hours, staying sane while a million other things are going on around us, it’s all a lot to juggle!

A recent article offered some helpful tips to help navigate our new work from home offices. Like with any new job, it takes time to settle in, get comfortable, and create routines to help make the work day more productive.

Get Dressed

Tips like get dressed for work every day might seem a little silly. I’m at home, why should I have to get dressed for work? But it’s one way to differentiate the time of getting ready for work from just another morning at home. I’ve personally been wearing business clothes every day if for nothing else than to keep my dry cleaner in business. I recently did a Zoom call with a group I regularly meet with for in-person networking. Everyone was initially surprised of the requirement to dress up for the meeting as if it was an in-person meeting. But it makes sense, it’s a way to hold ourselves accountable to the same kinds of standards we’re used to. Plus we all have our work clothes in our closets, so they may as well get some use especially on days when we know we’ll have videoconferencing.

A career coach quoted in an article I just read says “Don’t underestimate the power of putting on clothes suitable for public viewing. It makes you feel human [and] confident ….” By now a lot of us have mastered the hair and makeup touchup, plus wardrobe refresh needed to be presentable for a video call. And not many of us thought we would suddenly have to consider good lighting or camerawork!

“One of the big challenges when it comes to working remotely is keeping your work and home lives separate. ‘For some people it becomes very blurry,” says Muse career coach Lynn Berger, who specializes in helping people navigate career transitions. If you never fully disconnect from work, your work productivity will suffer and your home life can take a hit as well’.”

Work Environment

Another thing to consider is your work environment, which used to be setting up our desk at the office. An issue now is space, obviously, both physical and head space to do what we need to do. Carving that out, in our heads and in our homes, is crucial. The article pointed out some of the challenges depending on your living situation. People generally fall into 1 of 2 groups, either they’re now isolated because they live alone and face that challenge. Or they’re in a different situation, maybe in a house full of other people doing their own work or schoolwork.

“If you live with other people, this separation is even more critical. Communicate with the people you live with to establish boundaries so you can cut down on distractions during the workday—and then disconnect and give the people you care about your full attention. Having a separate time and space to work will allow you to be more present in your home life.”

Create Structure

Coming up with plans to create some structure for your new daily life can really help. Establishing routines, setting aside designated times to take a coffee break, have lunch, or get some exercise can really help the days feel more normal. A lot of people are coming up with a daily timetable and really try to stick with it. For example, 8:00 breakfast, 8:30 check emails, 9:00 return phone calls, 10:00 work on projects, 12:30 lunch…. You get the idea.

Things may not go smoothly, and real life is likely to present challenges to the best laid plans for working from home. It’s important to not just recognize the problems, but to share ideas on dealing with them.
The article suggests that “the key to steering through these bumps is communication—especially with your manager and direct reports. Either before you make the switch or as soon as you know it’s happening, come up with a plan that lays out expectations for how often you should check in and how you’ll convey any changes or new assignments to one another. Do the same with anyone you usually work collaboratively with throughout the day. This plan is likely to change as you go. And that’s OK.”

Flexibility and patience are going to help all of us manage things better, whether dealing with co-workers or family. It’s important to go easy on ourselves and also be kind to each other. (A helpful skill when someone at home starts making a racket during your work call!) We all just have to hang in there. The reality of working from home is here.

To chat about how Gillman Strategic Group could support you, schedule a call with Jennifer here.

While we are all working from home, it’s a good time to take measures for self-care. Likewise, carving out a space to soothe anxiety and protect our mental health as much as possible.

Working in cramped quarters with family members nearby and pets underfoot, amid a national health crisis, creates some unique challenges. I read a recent article about how to stay calmer while dealing with the coronavirus pandemic and current political climate. The article talks about how we all can protect our mental health.

Step Away

One of the first suggestions to maintain a mental equilibrium is to refrain from obsessively following the coronavirus updates. The article states “Protect yourself from the mental fallout. Those include limiting your exposure to emotionally disruptive cues. . . Unless you’re an epidemiologist or public health official, chances are you don’t need a real-time play-by-play. As with most anxiety-inducing subjects, the big-picture awareness will probably suffice. As such, limiting social media and disabling worry-inducing notifications is a good idea. According to the CDC’s guidance for managing anxiety and stress during the coronavirus pandemic, you should “take breaks from watching, reading, or listening to news stories, including social media.”

Aside from trying to keep anxiety in check, it’s a good idea to turn off the frequent news notifications on our phones while we’re trying to get in a productive workday from home. The usual rhythms of how we work, go through our emails, and interact with clients have been upended. It’s important to cut out extraneous distractions wherever possible. Of course, sometimes news is really pressing or a family member really needs attention. That said, creating a general framework for business hours is helpful.

Isolation

During this challenging time, those working from home (and staying in all the time) are also facing an “increasing sense of isolation and loneliness. As events and get-togethers are canceled, trips are postponed and remote working and ‘social distancing’ increase, we’ll be getting less of something human beings are hard-wired to need—a sense of connection.”

It’s kind of a double whammy for the legal profession. That sense of connection is something that many lawyers have already found lacking in their daily lives during normal times. Statistics show that “lawyers already experience high levels of isolation and loneliness, both of which undermine physical and mental health and increase the risk of substance misuse and addiction.”

Lawyers

Therefore, lawyers working from home during social distancing should keep in mind purposeful ways to combat feelings of isolation. These feelings can no doubt exacerbate anxiety. The article had some suggestions for staying connected, including “schedul[ing] time to check in (by phone or video) with family and friends” because “in a time of increased stress, a sense of connection can be transformative and, for some, lifesaving.”

Maybe it’s a good time to check on colleagues you haven’t heard from in a few days. Just to make sure they are OK.

Another thing to keep an eye on for yourself and your friends and colleagues is the risk of overusing substances. Lawyers already have a heightened risk in this area. Health guidelines suggest that “excessive alcohol use disrupts and impairs the immune system” — something none of us need right now.

Stay Engaged

This year’s election also promises to be a potential stressor and the article points out that “it’s an environment that you’ll be required to take proactive steps to mitigate if you want to emerge unscathed.” Just as with the coronavirus coverage, the author recommends limiting exposure to negative social media and other news about the contentious election. It also recommended “prioritizing and nurturing a sense of connection with others” through activities like “joining social groups or clubs, engaging with your community, volunteering, and taking part in religious, spiritual or cultural activities.”

It may seem a bit ironic that when busy lawyers are forced to work from home and may finally have time for activities that can enhance their social connections, social distancing and shelter in place orders have made them seem impossible. However, some of these activities may be still be taking place virtually and that’s a great place to start.

Try to engage with your house of worship or watch services online, spread the word on charities that need help, attend a virtual club meeting, or stay involved in other virtual activities within your community. Then when things return to normal, you will hopefully have developed a different routine that includes more time for the things that matter to you and foster a sense of connection, such as family, faith, community, or service and you can do them in person, which the author points out is much better than through social media.

Law Firms

Law firms can also do their part. It will help the whole organization if as the article suggests they “promote activities to support health and well-being in the coming months…. it really is something that organizations of just about any size and budget can accommodate.” One thing to check out coming up in a while is Lawyer Well-Being Week in early May.

Anything individuals and employers can do to help manage stress and protect mental health will certainly benefit all of us. Focusing on taking positive steps which are in our control can help when things seem so out of control.

If you would like to read more you can also check out this article. Minds Over Matters: An Examination of Mental Health in the Legal Profession.

I also would like to invite you to join us weekly for networking.  There is no charge. It’s our way of getting a number of interesting people together and connecting in this time of social distancing.  You can learn more here.