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How Can Lawyers Build Strong Networks?
Business development often gets a bad reputation. It can stir up a mix of feelings, like pressure, discomfort, and even dread. The most effective business development has nothing to do with selling. It’s about nurturing real relationships. What does that mean? It means checking in with care, showing up consistently, and staying curious about the people in your network.
Reframing Business Development
The first step is a mindset shift. Once you stop thinking of business development as pitching or chasing clients, it becomes easier to think about being thoughtful.
Instead, focus on cultivating relationships. Strong, authentic relationships create trust, keep you top-of-mind, and lead to opportunities over time. The goal isn’t to check a box. It’s to build a network that is engaged, supportive, and genuinely helpful to each other.
Relationship Development Is Not One-Size-Fits-All
Everyone has different strengths, comfort zones, and preferences. Some people love hosting dinners. Some are great at connecting on LinkedIn. Others shine through thoughtful one-on-one gestures.
All of these approaches can work. You have to find the version that works for you and the season of life you are in.
Intentional Outreach
Each action should have a purpose:
Strengthen a connection
Spark a conversation
Provide value
Even if you only have a few minutes each day, you can make micro moves that add up and lead to macro results.
Examples include:
Checking in with a client or colleague via email or LinkedIn to show them you’re thinking of them.
Sharing a relevant article, podcast, or event that aligns with their interests. Drop a line or two that states why you are sharing it.
Introducing two people together who you think could benefit from knowing each other.
Asking a thoughtful question about their work, industry trends, or challenges they’re facing.
Acknowledging and celebrating their milestones, such as promotions, recent awards, or company wins.
Done consistently, these actions compound. In the professional services world, relationships are the currency, and micro moves are how you invest.
Micro Moves in Practice
To make intentional relationship development actionable, lay out a 30-day calendar of business development activities.
This approach encourages small, purposeful actions every day that help you build or strengthen relationships without overloading your schedule.
A sample 30-day cycle of business development might include:
Day 1: Send a quick note or text to someone you haven’t spoken to in a while
Day 5: Share an article or resource relevant to a client’s business
Day 10: Congratulate someone on a recent achievement or milestone
Day 20: Follow up on a prior conversation to see how things are progressing
Day 30: Share an insight, idea, or tip that could benefit someone in your network
The idea isn’t to follow this rigidly. The goal is to make intentional outreach a habit that fits your style and schedule.
Consistency and Thoughtfulness
A common misconception about relationship development is that it’s about volume: more contacts, more emails, more events. In reality, consistency and thoughtfulness matter far more.
Start Small, Think Big
You don’t need to overhaul your schedule or attend every networking event.
You don’t need a massive database of contacts or a perfect outreach script.
Start small by identifying a handful of key relationships.
Pick a few micro moves that feel comfortable and commit to doing them consistently, even if that’s only five minutes every day. Start small, act intentionally, and let the power of micro moves work for you. Focus on relationships first and the business will follow.
View Full Article: How Women in Professional Services Build Strong Networks
What Makes Lawyers Stand Out to In-House Counsel (with Jessica Nguyen, and Head of Contract Nerds)
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“Trust is fundamentally about you do what you say you’ll do.” - Jessica Nguyen
How do you get 2,200+ legal professionals to show up for a contracts webinar?
In this episode of So Much To Say: A Legal Podcast for People, Jessica Nguyen, Deputy General Counsel of AI Innovation & Trust at DocuSign and Head of Contract Nerds, joins Megan Senese and Jennifer Ramsey to pull back the curtain on why most law firm marketing completely misses the mark, how DocuSign is using AI to build deeper trust with its clients, and the one outside law firm that truly stood out to her, and what one lawyer did that was different from every other law firm competing for attention.
From building one of the most engaged contract communities in legal to helping shape AI strategy inside a global tech company, Jessica shares what actually creates momentum and what kills it.
In this episode, you’ll hear directly from a Deputy General Counsel about:
Why Contract Nerds consistently attracts thousands of lawyers, and what lessons you can apply to your next webinar
How community becomes a long-term growth engine — not just a mailing list
What in-house counsel actually look for when hiring outside counsel
The positioning shifts that make lawyers stand out instead of blending in
The CLE mistakes all law firms make and how to change it
Why legal services feel commoditized and how to break that cycle
How AI can 10x your legal productivity without replacing your judgment
Why consistent execution, not just branding, is what builds real client trust
The role gratitude plays in sustaining a long-term legal career
This conversation is for lawyers who want a clearer understanding of how to attract the right clients—without chasing, posturing, or relying on generic marketing tactics.
Stay Connected:
Love So Much To Say? Let us know! Drop a review, give us 5 stars in your favorite podcast app, and tell us what made you laugh, think, or just go “yep, that’s me.” Every review helps us reach more awesome humans who want to make legal…well, human.
If you’re navigating BigLaw pressure, struggling with business development or marketing decisions, and want a confidential thinking partner, connect with us here:
Email stage at info@stage.guide
By Jennifer Ramsey and Megan SeneseHelping Minnesota (With Cari Brunkow, criminal defense and civil rights attorney on So Much To Say: A Legal Podcast for People)
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**Note: Before you listen**
This episode contains discussions of disturbing events that occurred in Minnesota. Please take care while listening.
“Shouldn't we as a society really be taking a step back and dissecting this hate, and realize that it is shameful and embarrassing?... Right now, you guys might be interviewing me about what's happening in Minneapolis. I hope nobody is ever interviewing you about what is happening in your neighborhoods.” - Cari Brunkow
What happens when the national headlines are in your neighborhood?
In this powerful and deeply human conversation, Megan Senese and Jennifer Ramsey sit down with Cari Brunkow, founder and counsel of Lotus Legal, a Minneapolis-based criminal defense and civil rights attorney who is living and lawyering in the middle of escalating community unrest.
Cari shares what it feels like to launch a human-centered law practice and watch violence unfold in her own city just days later. She speaks candidly about fear, grief, anger, and hope, and about what it means to show up as a lawyer, a mother, and a community member when the fight feels personal.
This is not a neat conversation. There are no easy answers. But there is honesty, proximity, and a reminder that we are not alone and we can all do something.
You’ll hear about:
Why Cari named her firm Lotus Legal, and what the lotus symbolizes in criminal defense and civil rights work
What she’s seeing firsthand in Minneapolis, and how it differs from national narratives
The emotional toll of witnessing violence in your own community
What it means to “get proximate” even if you don’t live in Minnesota
Practical ways to support affected communities
Why speaking up makes all of us safer
About Cari Brunkow:
Cari Brunkow is the founder and counsel of Lotus Legal, a Minneapolis-based criminal defense and civil rights firm. With more than a decade of experience representing individuals in law enforcement brutality cases and protecting constitutional rights, Cari launched her solo practice in 2025 to align her legal work fully with her values. She is a mother, a community advocate, and a fierce believer in proximity, truth, and collective courage.
Ways You Can Get Involved:
Support local journalism (e.g., Minnesota Public Radio)
Buy gift cards or directly support small businesses in affected communities - Learn more about Mercado Central
Call your congressional representatives
Check out the National Lawyers Guild
Check out the National Immigration Law Center
By Jennifer Ramsey and Megan SeneseWhy You Can't Be Prepared for Everything (Minis with Megan on So Much To Say: A Legal Podcast for People) (Copy)
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Even when a risk feels calculated, it’s still a risk.
In this mini episode, Megan Senese shares a memorable story about skydiving on her 18th birthday, and how it became a lasting lesson about control, fear, and the moments in life when all you can do is jump.
Who this episode is for:
Anyone standing on the edge of a big decision
People trying to calculate every outcome before moving forward
Lawyers, professionals, and creatives facing uncertainty
Anyone who needs permission to act without guarantees
Episode takeaways:
Why even “well-planned” risks can spiral out of control
How trying to manage every variable can give a false sense of safety
What happens when circumstances force you to move forward anyway
Why action, not certainty, is often the turning point
A reminder that courage doesn’t always mean feeling calm
A different way to think about taking risks:
You can set all the criteria, and still lose control
Risk doesn’t disappear just because you planned for it
Fear doesn’t mean you’re doing the wrong thing
Sometimes there is no perfect moment or exit strategy
Listen on Apple here:
By Jennifer Ramsey and Megan SeneseWhat If the Traditional Legal Path Isn’t the Right One?
In a recent episode of This Can’t Be It: Women Making Moves, Megan Senese sits down with host Amy Pons to share her journey leaving a high-paying law career to build a women-owned business development and marketing boutique. She discusses manifestation, goal-setting, and the importance of well-being and balance, especially for lawyers and other demanding professions. Megan also highlights how her approach helps professionals grow their businesses in a sustainable and meaningful way.
Listen on Apple
Listen on Spotify
By Jennifer Ramsey and Megan SeneseMasking Made Me Successful and Also Burned Me Out (With Sarah Ennor, Founder of Growth Counsel, on So Much To Say: A Legal Podcast for People)
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“I realized the reason I was so passionate about authenticity was because I hadn't had the opportunity to be that way myself in these corporate roles.” - Sarah Ennor
What does it take to be a different kind of leader in legal?
Sarah Ennor, former in-house compliance lawyer, joins Megan Senese & Jennifer Ramsey to talk about what happens when you stop chasing credibility through control, and start building it through presence, curiosity, and trust.
With humor, humility, and fierce honesty, Sarah shares her experience of navigating burnout, leaving a high-powered role, and redefining success on her own terms. They talk about psychological safety, the power of silence, why so many legal teams struggle with fear, and how to create more human workplaces where people feel safe to try.
You’ll hear about:
What Sarah wishes more legal leaders understood about team dynamics
The invisible weight of credibility, and how she learned to set it down
Why coaching helped her rewire how she showed up in the room
Her take on legal ops, burnout, and building trust in high-pressure roles
What makes a workplace feel safe (hint: it’s not perfection)
About Sarah Ennor:
Sarah Ennor is a legal operations consultant, certified leadership coach, and former in-house counsel who helps legal teams build trust, collaboration, and clarity. She brings nearly two decades of experience in legal leadership and now works with individuals and teams to create more human-centered legal cultures where people thrive.
Learn More:
Explore Sarah’s work at Growth Counsel
This episode #32 of So Much To Say: A Legal Podcast For People is accredited for 35 minutes of EDI Professionalism hours for lawyers in Ontario!
By Jennifer Ramsey and Megan SeneseOverwhelmed? Here’s Small Things You Can Do (Minis with Megan on So Much To Say: A Legal Podcast for People)
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When the news is overwhelming, and the world feels like it’s on fire, it’s easy to feel powerless.
In this mini episode, Megan Senese shares a deeply human check-in about why relationships matter, how small actions can help us regain a sense of agency, and why resilience, not “self-care”, is what we need most right now.
Who this episode is for:
Anyone feeling overwhelmed
Lawyers and professionals struggling to show up “as usual” when things aren’t normal
People craving connection, grounding, and reassurance that they’re not alone
Episode takeaways
How stage defines relationships as people, not transactions, optics, or metrics
How talking it out with someone you trust can shift how you show up at work and in life
Why one small action can interrupt feelings of helplessness
How resilience looks different for everyone, and doesn’t require perfection
A reminder that you don’t have to measure your response against anyone else’s
What you can do right now:
Start with one small action: Movement helps break the feeling of being stuck
Practice resilience, not perfection: Rest, pause, and refill your cup when needed
Protect your nervous system: Set boundaries around news, screens, and noise
Lean into community: Connection is a form of care and resistance
Engage in ways that feel aligned: Donating, volunteering, pro bono work, or reaching out
Learn More:
Donate if you are able: Support Minnesota
Volunteer, do pro bono work:
Stay Connected:
If you’re feeling overwhelmed, know this: you’re not alone.
If you need an ear, a place to land, or someone to remind you that small things matter, we’re here. Always.
Learn more about stage
Connect with Megan Senese
Connect with Jennifer Ramsey
Love So Much To Say? Let us know! Drop a review, give us 5 stars in your favorite podcast app, and tell us what made you laugh, think, or just go “yep, that’s me.” Every review helps us reach more awesome humans who want to make legal…well, human.
Listen on Apple here
By Jennifer Ramsey and Megan SeneseYou Just Made Law Firm Partner, Now What? (Minis with Megan on So Much To Say: A Legal Podcast for People)
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You made law firm partner, congratulations! But once the title settles in, many new partners ask the same question: now what? In this mini episode, Megan Senese walks through practical, people-first steps to help new law firm partners transition from employee to owner and start building real autonomy inside their firm.
Who this episode is for:
Newly promoted law firm partners
Senior associates preparing for partnership
Lawyers navigating the shift from biller to business builder
Episode takeaways:
Why becoming a partner doesn’t magically change your day-to-day, and what should
How gratitude and relationship-building set the tone for your first year
The right way to tell people you’ve made partner
Why understanding how you get paid matters more than you think
How to start building a portable book of business early
What to do after you’ve made partner:
Pause and acknowledge the milestone: Take a moment to recognize the work it took to get here.
Thank the people who helped you: Mentors, colleagues, and clients who supported your path.
Let people know about it - intentionally! Share the news by asking how you can support them.
Understand how your compensation works: Know where your income will come from and how origination is measured.
Start building your own book of business: Focus on long-term autonomy, flexibility, and ownership.
Read More:
By Jennifer Ramsey and Megan SeneseHow Can Lawyers Start 2026 Differently With Smarter Business Development?
Jennifer Ramsey and Megan Senese offer strategies for lawyers to make business development more effective and meaningful in 2026. They emphasize prioritizing existing relationships, reconnecting thoughtfully with clients and contacts, and sending personalized, consistent outreach rather than generic messages. By focusing on authentic connections over transactions, lawyers can build trust, strengthen professional networks, and create opportunities that grow naturally over time.
Read the Article: Start Differently This Year: 3 Smart Business Development Tips for 2026
By Jennifer Ramsey and Megan Senese