Networks For Counsel 2009

L E A D E R NETWORKS

2009 Networks for Counsel Study

A Global Study of the Legal Industry’s Adoption of

Online Professional Networking, Preferences, Usage

and Future Predictions


A Study Conducted by:

Leader Networks (http://www.leadernetworks.com)On behalf of LexisNexis Martindale‐Hubbell (http://www.martindale.com)On the Networks for Counsel Web site (http://www.networksforcounsel.com)

2Leader Networks © 2009

http://www.leadernetworks.com/

http://www.martindale.com/

http://www.networksforcounsel.com/


Study Goals

We examined the global adoption and use of social media

among counsel in order to:

• Surface lawyer preferences for online networking features

and uses • Identify key professional benefits experienced through

professional networking • Benchmark counsel’s expectations of the future impact of

social media on the legal practice• Compare 2009 results to 2008 to identify areas where the

greatest change occurs



Study BackgroundAnalysis:

• All results were examined by counsel type

(corporate counsel vs. private practice

lawyers)

• 2009 results were compared to the 2008

sample of 449 corporate counsel and 224

private practice lawyers

• Responses of U.S. counsel were compared

to those of international counsel

• Responses of counsel 45 years old and

under were compared to those 46 and

over

Sample Composition:

• The survey “Networks for Counsel”

was

administered to 1,474

counsel –

764 private

practice lawyers and 710 corporate counsel

– in May and June of 2009; 33 countries

were represented

• Financial Services, Manufacturing and

Healthcare were the top three industries

represented

• More than half of corporate counsel

surveyed work for companies with over

10,000 employees; private practice lawyers

generally work for firms with 100‐999

employees

• Age was well distributed with the greatest

proportion in the 26‐45 range

• Most respondents were either the decision

makers or influenced the decision maker

Leader Networks © 2009 44


Key Findings• Networking remains critical to the legal industry, yet resource constraints

make it more difficult than ever

• Use of social networking sites has grown significantly over the past year,

with three‐quarters of all counsel now reporting they are members of a

social or professional network

• Increasingly, counsel indicate a preference for a legal‐only professional

network – with nearly 10 % already having joined one

• Only a very small minority of counsel are engaging in other types of

popular social media activities such as microblogging

(e.g., Twitter), Wikis

and social bookmarking

• Inside counsel and private practice lawyers view the benefits of

online

networking differently

• While counsel are taking a “wait and see”

attitude about the strategic

value of the networks they’ve already joined, there is general belief that

online networking will change the business and practice of law over the

next five years

Leader Networks © 20095


Results

6


7

Question: What is the most effective method currently in use for finding new business? Please select the two methods you use most often. NOTE: This question was asked of private practice lawyers only.

NNPP: 764PP: 764

Networking Remains Critical to the Legal IndustryThe top three most effective means to get business involve networking; other sources trail far behindImportance of alumni relationships is declining (down from 26% in 2008)Importance of responding to RFPs and publishing both declined considerably, from 8% in 2008



8

Question: Please think about the following statements as they relate to your current networking practices. How strongly do you agree or disagree with the following statements? 1=Strongly agree, 7=Strongly disagree

Despite Its Importance, Networking Remains a Big Challenge for Corporate

Counsel and Private Practice Lawyers Globally Due to Resource Constraints


9%

15%18%

27%

23%

5%4%

20% 21%

7%8%

16%

24%

4%5%

11%

18%

25%22%

15%

4%

24%

15%

9%

20%

5%

24%

4%

StronglyDisagree

6 5 Neutral 3 2 StronglyAgree

CC 2008CC 2009PP 2008PP 2009

It’s harder to stay connected with my

colleagues and peers

I don’t have the time or resources to

leverage current opportunities to

network with my peers

5%

9%

23%

29%

8%11%

16%

24%

12%

5%

9%

25%

29%

21%

9%8%

15%

21%

25%

7%

25%

2%

28%

6%

2%2%

22%

2%

StronglyDisagree


NCC: 710PP: 764


Question: Please think about the following statements as they relate to your current networking practices. How strongly do you agree or disagree with the following statements? 1=Strongly agree, 7=Strongly disagree

2%3%

6%

31%

15%

23%

20%

4%6%

5%

29%

12%

21%

24%

2%4%

7%

24%

17%

28%

18%

4% 4%

8%

26%

11%

22%

25%

StronglyDisagree


CC 2008

CC 2009

PP 2008

PP 2009

Networking internationally is

particularly difficult

It’s hard to connect with everyone I want

or need to at conferences

2%

5%

11%

25% 25% 24%

9%7%

13%

29%

20%21%

6%

3%5%

10%

20%

28%

11%13%

23% 22%

9%

4%

25%

3%5%

25%

StronglyDisagree


In‐Person Networking Also Remains Difficult for Counsel


NCC: 710PP: 764


10

48%59%

71%78%

Corporate Counsel Private Practice

% Yes

Question: Are you a member of an online social network such as LinkedIn, Plaxo, Facebook, Xing or MySpace?

% Yes

Age

Are You a Member of an Online Social Network?

Counsel’s Use of Online Social Networks Is Expanding RapidlyBoth corporate and private practice lawyers are significantly more likely to report being a member of an online social network this year as compared to lastApproximately three‐quarters of counsel now report being a member of such a networkGrowth in online network use is seen across all age groups

NNCC: 710CC: 710PP: 764PP: 764


2008

2009

2008

2009

67%

49%36%

86%76%

66%

25‐35 36‐45 46‐55+

20082009


30% 27%

43%

28%

20%

51%

36%

8%

55%

23%

52%

26%

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

Personal Professional Both

CC 2008

CC 2009

PP 2008PP 2009

Online Network Use Is a Growing Trend

12%

24%

33%

8%

22%

35%

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

25‐35 36‐45 46‐55+

Question: Do you use your ONLINE SOCIAL NETWORK MEMBERSHIP personally or professionally?

Use of Online Social Networks

Professional Use by AgeUse by Role

2008

2009

The decline in CC use of professional‐only networks is largely offset by the increase in the number of CC using online networks overall for both personal and professional useMoreover, while the percentages by age of those who use a network professionally did not change appreciably, due to the large increase in those who have joined a network over the last year, professional use has grown overall


NCC: 710PP: 764


12

Question: What type of social media activities do you engage in professionally? Select all that apply. NOTE: New question for 2009.

Social Media Activities Engagement

More than half of counsel are members of professional online communities More than a third also read and add comments or ratings to online content Very few counsel participate in social bookmarking, microblogging (e.g., Twitter) or online collaboration tools

Counsel Rely Professionally on Many Social Media Activities, but

Twitter Has Not Yet Caught On, Especially Among Corporate Counsel


2%

4%

7%

12%

19%

25%

34%

35%

52%

4%

6%

5%

9%

13%

37%

28%

42%

58%

0% 20% 40% 60%

Use social bookmarking services (Digg, de.li.cious, etc.)

Microblogging (Twitter, Plurk, etc.)

Online collaboration tools (Wikis, Basecamp, etc.)

Online content sharing (SlideShare, Flickr, YouTube, etc.)

Online Q&A and expert search services (e.g., Yahoo! Answersor WikiHow)

Member of public social networks (Facebook, MySpace, Orkut,etc.) for professional purposes

Listening to podcasts

Reading and adding comments or ratings to articles, blogsand other online content

Member of professional online communities (LinkedIn,Viadeo, Xing, Martindale‐Hubbell Connected, etc.)

Private Practice

Corporate Counsel

NCC: 710PP: 764



31%

40%

43%

49%

50%

62%

64%

68%

75%

34%

39%

38%

45%

62%

75%

65%

73%

79%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Listening to podcasts

Online content sharing (SlideShare, Flickr, YouTube, etc.)

Online Q&A and expert search services (e.g., Yahoo!Answers or WikiHow)

Online collaboration tools (Wikis, Basecamp, etc.)

Member of professional online communities (LinkedIn,Viadeo, Xing, Martindale‐Hubbell Connected, etc.)

Reading and adding comments or ratings to articles, blogsand other online content

Use social bookmarking services (Digg, de.li.cious, etc.)

Microblogging (Twitter, Plurk, etc.)

Member of public social networks (Facebook, MySpace,Orkut, etc.) for professional purposes

Private Practice

Corporate Counsel

13

% Use Weekly or More

Of Counsel Who Do

Engage in Each of the Following Social

Media Activities, They Are Likely to Use Them RegularlyWhen counsel engage in activities such as social and professional networking, microblogging (e.g., Twitter), social bookmarking, commenting on content – they are likely to do so at least weeklyOther activities they are engaged in, such as online collaboration (e.g., Wikis and SlideSharing) and listening to podcasts – they do so less frequently

N=281N=173

N=48N=31N=31N=11N=318N=246

N=432N=365

N=38N=51N=97N=129N=70N=81N=216N=237

Question: How frequently do you engage in this online activity?NCC: 710PP: 764


14

Question: What do you think are the top advantages of participating in an online legal professional network? Select up to three.

AdvantagesCorporate

CounselPrivate Practice

Facilitates easier exchange of information and experiences between peers 48% 36%

Access to information I couldn’t get elsewhere 34% 23%

More quickly identify, evaluate and select outside counsel 27% 15%

Lower costs associated with traditional networking 27% 33%

Ability to increase my visibility among peers 24% 52%

Creates a formal and exclusive forum for professional collaboration 20% 18%

It increases the speed with which collaboration can take place 20% 21%

Facilitates finding the “right”

lawyer directly 16% 17%

Increase speed of selection and decision‐making process 14% 10%

Reduce scheduling demands associated with travel to and attendance at events 10% 8%

Improves the reliability of information 10% 8%

Corporate counsel identify ease of exchange of information and experiences between peers as the top advantage of an online legal professional network Private practice lawyers most value the ability to increase visibility among peers

While Lawyers See the Benefits of Online Networking, Corporate

and Private Practice Lawyers View Those Benefits Differently

NCC: 710PP: 764



15

Corporate Counsel Continue to Value Online Networking for

Access to Unique Content and Collaboration

10%

10%

14%

16%

20%

20%

24%

27%

27%

34%

48%

13%

13%

16%

26%

18%

21%

18%

29%

18%

46%

45%

0% 20% 40% 60%

Reduce scheduling demands associated with events

Improves reliability of information

Increase speed of process

Facilitates finding the “right” lawyer

Forum for professional collaboration

Increases speed of collaboration

Increase visibility among peers

More quickly select outside counsel

Lower costs

Access to information I couldn’t get elsewhere

Easier exchange of information

2008

2009

Corporate Counsel

Question: What do you think are the top advantages of participating in an online legal professional network? Select up to three.

Note: Item names have

been shortened for display

purposes

NCC: 710PP: 764


Easier exchange of information, desire to lower cost of networking and increase visibility among peers have grown in importance compared to last year; access to unique content, while still critical, is seen as less important compared to last yearOutside counsel selection remains an important driver for corporate counsel participation in online networking


16

Question: What degree of confidence do you have that the professional networks and online communities you belong to can help you do your job more efficiently and cost effectively? 1 = Not confident at all, 7 = Completely confident

6%

18% 19%

31%

20%

5%

1%

13%

19%21%

28%

17%

3%

0%

8%

21%24%

30%

16%

1% 1%

10%

21% 22%

28%

15%

3% 2%

No Confidence 2 3 4 5 6 CompletelyConfident

CC 2008CC 2009PP 2008PP 2009

Degree of Confidence

Despite Growth Trends, Counsel Continue to “Wait and See”

Regarding the Strategic Value of Networks They’ve Already Joined

Majority still respond neutrally regarding level of confidence that online networks will help them do their jobs more efficiently

NCC: 710PP: 764



17

Question: Would you be interested in joining an online professional network designed specifically for lawyers?NOTE: Response options changed in 2009 from Yes/No/Don’t Know to Yes/No/Already Belong.

41%

14%

45%

65%

28%

8%

48%

16%

36%

25%

9%

66%

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

Yes No Don't Know Belong

CC 2008CC 2009PP 2008PP 2009

49%44%

34%

67%71%

58%

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

25‐35 36‐45 46‐55+

% Yes

Age

Response by Role

Interest in Private Legal Networks Is Growing Significantly24% increase in corporate counsel interest; 18% increase in interest in private practice lawyersAlso growth in “No Interest” suggesting counsel are more educated on these networks and are taking a positionTrend to watch: Counsel are beginning to join legal‐only professional networks (8% of CC and 9% of PP have already joined)There has been an increase in the percent interested across all age groups


NCC: 710PP: 764

2008

2009


46%

41%

35%

44%

41%

33%

34%

26%

33%

39%

An emphasis on connections and legalrelationships

A large membership base

A variety of information and services forlegal decision makers (or to support legal

decision‐making processes)

A trusted brand behind the professionalnetwork

A secure membership process that isl imited to Legal Professionals

2008

2009

Counsel Are Seeking More From Their Legal Networks Today

Than They Were a Year AgoThe importance that counsel place on most features has increased in the past yearThis is true for both corporate and private practice lawyers

38%

42%

42%

44%

56%

30%

34%

42%

38%

47%

An emphas is on connections and lega lrelationships

A large membership base

A variety of information and services forlega l decis ion makers (or to supportlega l decis ion‐making processes)

A trus ted brand behind the profess ionalnetwork

A secure membership process that i sl imited to Legal Profess ionals

2008

2009

18

Question: How important are each of the following attributes in your decision to join a professional legal network? 1= Not at all important, 7= Extremely important

*Top Two Box = % of respondents who selected 6 or 7 on the 7-point scale


Top Two Box %* Top Two Box %*


NCC: 710PP: 764


1%

2%

3%

5%

6%

8%

10%

17%

20%

21%

35%

52%

0%

1%

3%

5%

13%

12%

23%

15%

26%

48%

44%

0% 20% 40% 60%

Avvo

Legal Onramp

Corporate Legal Exchange

Thomson

Chambers

Google

Findlaw

GC Roundtable

LinkedIn

ABA

ACC

LexisNexis Martindale-Hubbell

2008

2009

19

Corporate & Private Practice Lawyers Continue to View Martindale‐Hubbell

as Best Positioned

to Deliver a Professional Network for LawyersMartindale‐Hubbell grew supporters over the past year, while several other organizations were less likely to be identified as delivering on the value proposition* this year, including the ABA, ACC and GC RoundtableGoogle also lost ground compared to 2008LinkedIn gained some ground among corporate counsel, while increasing significantly (38% vs. 26%) among private practice lawyers

2%

2%

3%

6%

9%

18%

9%

3%

38%

26%

4%

52%

1%

1%

9%

20%

29%

13%

7%

26%

30%

5%

49%

0% 20% 40% 60%

Avvo

Legal Onramp

Corporate Legal Exchange

Thomson

Chambers

Google

Findlaw

GC Roundtable

LinkedIn

ABA

ACC

LexisNexis Martindale-Hubbell

2008

2009


*The value proposition statement was “An online global legal community where counsel can connect with peers and expand professional referral networks, share information and insights, and access compelling content essential to the business and practice of law.”

Question: Of the organizations listed below which two [2] do you believe can best deliver on this value proposition?


NCC: 710PP: 764


Question: Do you think online networks (i.e., social media) will change the practice and business of law in the next five years? 1 = Not at all likely, 7 = Extremely likely

Counsel Continue to Be Optimistic That Online Networks Will

Change the Business and Practice of Law in the Next Five Years

6%

11%

14%

25%27%

11%

5%4%

13%

16%

22%

26%

13%

6%4%

11%

16%

25%27%

12%

6%4%

10%

14%

17%

30%

15%

11%

Not at All Likely 2 3 4 5 6 Extremely Likely

CC 2008CC 2009PP 2008PP 2009

Likelihood of Change


NCC: 710PP: 764

About one in five corporate and one in four private practice lawyers feel that there is a high likelihood this will happenOnly about one in six corporate and one in eight private practice lawyers consider this a low‐likelihood eventPrivate practice lawyers increasingly (26% vs. 18% in 2008) believe this is a high‐likelihood event


Conclusions• Online networking is a fast‐growing strategy for legal professionals to accelerate or augment

traditional networking activities

• Online networking demographics are changing– Older professionals are now embracing social media more than in 2008– Personal and professional usage of social media are becoming intertwined and more counsel are

using online networking for both personal and professional reasons

• As legal professionals become more sophisticated, they are demanding a greater variety of Web 2.0

features to support their needs

– Access to exclusive information in a single destination site appears to be a critical requirement for

meaningful online engagement

– Information exchange and peer‐peer connections within a secure (private) network grows

increasingly more important

– Interactive engagement (e.g., blogging, online discussions and article exchange) is more important

than other services such as microblogging

(e.g., Twitter) or social bookmarking• Martindale‐Hubbell Connected online community remains the preferred network

that most counsel

feel is likely to deliver on the value proposition of a legal‐only network

– LinkedIn is considered the second‐most popular by private practice lawyers and the ACC as an

online resource specifically by corporate counsel

– Notably, Google’s position has declined since 2008• Online networking is anticipated by many, especially private practice lawyers, to change the business

and practice of law over the next five years



Supplemental Data

• Additional survey data on counsel’s use of social media, along with more

demographic details of the respondents, can be found in a supplemental

presentation• The supplemental presentation can be accessed and downloaded in the

Social Media for Lawyers group on Martindale‐Hubbell Connected• To join this group and download the supplemental deck, go to

www.martindale.com/connected

http://community.martindale.com/groups/social_media_for_lawyers/default.aspx

http://www.martindale.com/connected


Questions?

Contact Vanessa DiMauroCEO, Leader Networkshttp://[email protected]

Or visit the project Web site: http://www.networksforcounsel.com


http://www.leadernetworks.com/

mailto:[email protected]

http://www.networksforcounsel.com/


Demographics

24


5%

9%

32%

55%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Do research in support ofdecision maker

Not involved

Final decision maker

Participate in identifying,evaluating, selecting, but

do not make finaldecision

25

Question: Which of the following best describes your responsibilities regarding your organization’s need to hire outside counsel?NCC: 710

Close to Nine in Ten Corporate Counsel Reported That They Are Either the Final

Decision Maker in Regard to Hiring Private Practice Lawyers, or That They Participate

in the Process

Responsibilities



13%

23%

64%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Not directly involved

Majority of job is to seeknew businessopportunities

Small percentage of job isto seek new business

opportunities

26

Question: What is your role in new business development for your firm?NPP: 764

Close to Nine in Ten Private Practice Lawyers Reported Some

Role in Seeking New Business Opportunities for Their Firms

Role in New Business Development



0% 0% 0%

5% 6% 6%

19%

11%

26% 26%

10%12%

6%

18%

26%

19%

10%

0% 0% 0%

< 10 10‐49 50‐99 100‐249 250‐499 500‐999 1,000‐4,999 5,000‐9,999 10,000‐49,999

50,000 ormore

Corporate Counsel

Private Practice

27

Question: Approximately how many employees does your company have worldwide, including all divisions and locations?NOTE: Percentages may not total 100 due to rounding.

More Than Half of Corporate Counsel Work for Companies

With Over 10,000 Employees; Private Practice Lawyers

Generally Work for Firms With 100‐999 Employees


NCC: 710PP: 764

Number of Employees in Organization


0%

17%

52%

23%

8%

0%1%

33%31%

22%

11%

2%

20‐25 26‐35 36‐45 46‐55 56‐65 66 or Older

Corporate Counsel

Private Practice

28

Question: What is your current age?

More Than Half of Corporate Counsel and Almost a Third of Private

Practice Lawyers Report Being 36‐45


NCC: 710PP: 764

Age of Respondent


29

Question: Please tell us in which country your offices are located.

9%

87%

4%

UnitedStatesCanada

Other

Results Show That 87% of Counsel Report Their Offices Are in the

United

States; About Another Nine Percent Are in Canada, With the Remainder in

Other Countries

Office Locations by Country


NCC: 710PP: 764

Networks For Counsel 2009

Business

Transcript of Networks For Counsel 2009