1976, March, Pg. 376. On the Soapbox.

• Author: by Christopher R. Brauchli

5 Colo.Law. 376

Colorado Lawyer

1976.

1976, March, Pg. 376.

On the Soapbox

376On the Soapboxby Christopher R. BrauchliOn Developing a Clientele

"It is easier for a man to be loyal to his club than to his planet; the bylaws are shorter and he is personally acquainted with the other members."--- E. B. White, One Man's Meat

Some months ago I was called upon to speak to a service club on a matter of community interest and was met at the door by a lawyer who greeted me with ill concealed hostility and explained to me that this club was his territory and he did not want any other lawyer to join. After he was advised that I was only there to discuss a matter of civic interest camaraderie replaced hostility. His attitude, however, coupled with the fact that the evening opened with a recital of the pledge of allegiance followed by a singing of America the Beautiful, both done while facing a blank wall, followed by a 30-minute talk by me, convinced me there must be some reason for this lawyer's presence other than his love of fellowship and interesting meetings. There was and is. He is personally acquainted with other members and they are clients. Although the proposed revisions to Disciplinary Rule 2 offer vast possibilities to the innovative advertiser there are many young lawyers who, preferring the traditional ways of advertising, will not wish to begin running ads on television or in newspapers. Furthermore, they will be unable to afford it. This column, therefore, is directed at those who need to build up a law practice and are not sure how to go about it without help from a public relations firm.

The Method or Choice

The time-honored way to develop a stable of clients is to join a service club. If there is more than one lawyer in a firm each should join a different service club. Two reasons compel this. Service clubs often have dull meetings and invariably have poor food. If everyone in the firm has gone to the same service club for lunch the entire firm is apt to suffer indigestion and concomitant depression the rest of the day, thus diminishing the firm's effectiveness. Second, the greater the diversification of membership, the more opportunities to meet potential clients and the greater the possibility the firm will quickly expand.

In choosing a service club find one which does not already have a lawyer...