by Janet Falk, Ph.D. | Falk Communications and Research

You have to be in it to win it. That slogan about the lottery applies to volunteerism as well. The more active you are as a member of Women Owned Law, the more you will benefit.

Activity includes attending events, contributing referrals and posting requests to the listserv and volunteering. Perhaps you have overlooked the considerable intangible values of volunteering for Women Owned Law.

Naturally, you may consider volunteerism as a way to network with members with whom you have established relationships, as well as connect with others, gain in professional development and, even, advance your practice.

Consider that volunteering is a platform for speaking up, whether as the chair or a member of a committee or inviting speakers to address the membership at an event. Maybe you will be the featured speaker at a program or moderate a panel. All these opportunities are moments for you to sharpen your presentation skills.

As a volunteer, you will collaborate with members who represent varied areas of the law and business in an informal setting. Through these conversations, you may keep current on developments in related areas. These casual encounters offer the benefit of hearing about a new topic. Additionally, you will concisely answer questions and explain trends in your own field. When you meet peers from other practice areas or another state, you gain insights from their experiences and perspectives and they learn from you as well.

Mentoring others in the profession, as you may recognize, is a two-way learning dynamic for the mentor and mentee. The senior member of the duo shares lessons learned and may suggest possible solutions to issues that typically arise for attorneys and business professionals. Often, the junior member’s contemporary viewpoint is a fresh take, perhaps including technology savvy.

The connections made among peers when serving on a committee, task force or nonprofit board are a platform for future professional conversations. Frequently, a member lands a new client or speaking engagement following discussions with a colleague who served alongside in a volunteer capacity.

To close, I’ll cite my own experience after serving as a volunteer for both a nonprofit and a professional membership client for several years. Recognizing my writing and media relations skills, the executive directors of these two organizations separately hired me as a consultant to work with their groups. The intangible satisfaction of supporting these organizations has turned into a most tangible and remunerative relationship and I wish the same for you.