BarTalk June 2004
Volume 16, Number 3

Active participation brings rewards

By Susan Van Dyke

Hands up, how many of you who are on a board or hold a membership want to get more from your involvement?

Evaluating how you spend your limited non-billable time could bring you significant business development rewards. Consider how you can make the most of the time you’ve committed to a board or organization. Hint: get involved. Really involved. Direct your energy toward the biggest return. Start by choosing one thing and do it big.

Maximize the value you bring by making as significant a contribution as possible – better to have a productive, profile-building one-year term than a lukewarm couple of years. Make it your goal to be remembered as someone who is solution-oriented, knowledgeable and reliable. As you attend meetings or events, ask yourself, “Am I a spectator or a participant?” (Warm seats count not, dear reader.)

Norman Streu of Alexander, Holburn, Beaudin & Lang knows how to go big. He chairs the CBABC Construction Section, and the Board of Vancouver Regional Construction Association and is a B.C. Construction Association director. Here’s a lawyer who pens columns, emcees industry events and speaks at well-attended monthly meetings. He reaps enviable marketing, educational and collegial benefits.

“I would never have met the industry leaders I now know without the credibility of these roles. Some people are hesitant to get involved because of the perceived work load, but it’s worth it,” says Norm of his responsibilities. “If you keep within your limits and make the most of your role the work’s not onerous,” he says. “It’s a great way to generate opportunities, but it’s a cumulative effect. People get discouraged too early. I look at this as a long term approach that will bear fruit over the course of my career.”

Where to start? Try the CBABC. Consider the Lawyer Referral Service, Section membership or presidency of a local or county bar association.

Oliver Hui, Wilson King & Company, has been President of the Prince George Bar Association for approximately seven years. “As president, I’ve built networks that have provided indirect benefits.” In this role, Oliver welcomes new appointments to the bench, attends social events for lawyers and generally gets to know others in the community well.

He has positioned himself as a leader and undoubtedly received new work as a result. How much, though, is anyone’s guess. Agency business from other communities is an unexpected benefit. “Some areas of the province are under-serviced and firms need agents in other regions,” says Oliver.

Paul Pearson of Mulligan Tam Pearson, became President of the Victoria Bar in January after four years on the executive. Paul makes contact with others in the community he might not have otherwise met. “I’ve been making contact with other organizations – accountants, for instance – which, as a criminal lawyer, I wouldn’t normally do.”

Victoria Shroff, Shroff & Associates, has participated in the Lawyer Referral Service since 1997. “I looked at this as a way of giving back,” says Victoria of her involvement. I don’t participate for the economic benefit… I do it to help callers understand their rights and responsibilities. That’s my platform.”

Norm, Oliver, Paul and Victoria: when they get involved, they go big.

Susan Van Dyke, Principal, Van Dyke Marketing & Communications, is a law firm marketing consultant. She can be reached at 604.876.7769 or svandyke@telus.net.

This article was published in the June 2004 issue of BarTalk and is subject to the copyright by the British Columbia Branch of the Canadian Bar Association, 2005, all rights reserved.